Machu Picchu Holidays

The ruins of Machu Picchu, rediscovered in 1911 by Yale archaeologist Hiram Bingham, are one of the most beautiful and enigmatic ancient sites in the world. Built by the Incas on an Andean mountain top 8,000 feet above sea level in Peru, this extraordinary city covers five square miles. Machu Picchu is a building masterpiece. Many of the blocks of stone weigh 50 tons or more and yet are precisely sculpted and joined together.

Two thousand feet above the Urubamba River, the cloud-shrouded ruins have palaces, baths, temples, storage rooms and some 150 houses, all in a remarkable state of preservation. Invisible from below and completely self-contained due to the surrounding agricultural terraces, which provided sufficient food for the inhabitants and were watered by natural springs.

It is no wonder that Machu Picchu is considered one of the New Wonders of the World.

Getting to Machu Picchu by train

The Hiram Bingham luxury train service, operated by Peru Rail, offers a magnificent journey between Cusco and Machu Picchu. Named after the American explorer who rediscovered the Inca citadel, the train departs from Cusco in the morning. It takes passengers on a spectacular trip through a changing landscape while enjoying breakfast. The train climbs out of Cusco and descends into the Sacred Valley, passing by picturesque villages and lush fields with breathtaking views of the mountains and the Urubamba River.

If you want to appreciate the amazing journey to Machu Picchu fully, Peru Rail’s Vistadome is an excellent choice. The Vistadome offers passengers large panoramic windows, stunning views, and excellent opportunities to capture amazing pictures. The train is equipped with air conditioning and heating, and the leather seats are designed to adjust to your body, providing optimal comfort and relaxation throughout the trip. The train departs from two stations, Cusco (Poroy) and the Sacred Valley (Ollantaytambo).