The 8 Best Scenic Train Journeys in Peru

1.Excursion to the Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu by Panoramic Train

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 45 reviews · 2 days (approx.) · from $590Our pick

Travel from Cusco through Pisac, Urubamba, and Ollantaytambo to Machu Picchu on a two-day small-group trip. Guides such as Rubin and Samuel lead the visits, with trains, hotel, park tickets, buses, and a Sacred Valley buffet included.

“Fantastic experience, our guides Rubin and Samuel were the best! Enjoyed beautiful sites and learned a lot. Highly recommended this trip! All of the logistics were planned flawlessly”

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2.Inca Trail 4 Day Adventure to Machu Picchu with Panoramic Train

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 34 reviews · from $950

Walk the classic Inca Trail from Km 82 to Machu Picchu with a bilingual guide, porters, cook, tents, meals, and permits included. The route crosses Dead Woman’s Pass, Wiñay Wayna, and the Sun Gate before a two-hour Machu Picchu tour. Paulo and Raul are among the guides associated with this operator.

“We had an incredible 4 day 3 night trek with local trekkers, led by our amazing guide Paolo! The food was wonderful and the support provided by the incredible porters was top notch. Paulo was an incredible source of information about the trail and the archaeological siteRead more”

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3.Private Machu Picchu Day Tour by Panoramic Train

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 32 reviews · 14 hours (approx.) · from $399Best value

Travel from Cusco to Machu Picchu by private vehicle and panoramic train, with station assistance, a private guide, Circuit 2 entry when available, and time for lunch in Aguas Calientes. Guides may include Carlos, Martin, or Edwin, though assignments are not guaranteed.

“The tour guide was nice, but the problem was that we book the tour on 7.12 because we came to Cusco on 5.12 to acclimatise. But that was not possible, the agency informed us 3 days before that Machu Picchu was not possible to see on 7.12 in whole 3 circuit just circuit 1, where you see the machu piccu just on the top and not whole. There was other tours before available but we took this one which was more expensive because you come afternoon back to Cusco and when you travel with small kids we must always compromise. So ok the tour was ok. But not what we…”

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4.4-Day Lares Trek to Machu Picchu with Panoramic Train

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 20 reviews · 4 days · from $690

Spend four days trekking from Lares to Machu Picchu, with hot springs, weaving communities, a 4,750-meter pass, two nights of camping, Maras salt mines, Ollantaytambo, and a Vistadome train ride. English and Spanish guides, cooks, muleteers, and a 7-kilogram duffle allowance are included.

“Un excellent trek a faire en famille ou entre amis, la difficulté est abordable. Cependant il faut noté que le manque d’oxygène et le froid la nuit diminuent nos capacités physiques. Il fait déjà être sportif ou à minima en bonne condition physique. Les paysages sont époustouflants et le guide suit notre rythme (vous pouvez faire autant de pauses que nécessaire) ! Nos chefs cuisiniers étaient excellent, je recommande vivement !!”

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5.4-Day Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu, Panoramic Train

★★★★★★★★★★4.3 · 17 reviews · 4 days · from $552

Spend four demanding but rewarding days hiking from Cusco through Humantay Lake, the 4,630-meter Salkantay Pass, cloud forest, and Hidroelectrica to Machu Picchu. You’ll sleep in glamping tents, Andean huts, and a 3-star hotel, with trail meals, a Pachamanca barbecue, coffee-making, and a Vistadome or 360° train return.

“Thank you so much for this truly unique experience! Our guide, Filio, was incredible; he took care of us with such patience, professionalism, kindness, and was clearly passionate about his job and providing us with cultural and historical information. I really appreciated the attention to detail and warmth Filio and the team provided during our trek. Our chef, Dionissios, was very good and made sure all our needs were taken care of, serving us delicious hearty meals and surprise treats! Another team member that was always ready to help and always with a smile was Alberto- thank you as well! I would highly recommend Filio as a guide and Trexperience…”

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6.Machu Picchu: 1-day tour by Vistadome Panoramic train

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 15 reviews · 12 hours · from $460

Leave Cusco around 4:00 a.m. for Ollantaytambo, then ride the Vistadome train to Machu Picchu with wide windows, drinks, and snacks. A guide leads your 2 to 3-hour citadel visit before you return by train and van. Small groups, English or Spanish guides, and lunch in Aguas Calientes at your own cost.

“From start to finish, everything about my Machu Picchu trip was arranged to absolute perfection. A huge thank you to Christian Perez, who handled all the planning and coordination with such care and professionalism—his communication was excellent from the very beginning right through to the end of my journey. On the ground, Artudo was an exceptional tour guide. His deep knowledge, passion, and storytelling made the experience truly unforgettable. I couldn’t have asked for a better team to make this dream trip come true. Highly recommended to anyone wanting a seamless, well-organized, and memorable visit to Machu Picchu! PS: also big thanks to Katheryn Vargas for being very responsive to…”

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7.2-Day Inca Trail Hike to Machu Picchu & Panoramic Train

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 7 reviews · 2 days · from $624

Start at Km 104 and follow the Inca Trail through Chachabamba and Wiñay Wayna to the Sun Gate. A small group, an English or Spanish-speaking guide, one night in Aguas Calientes, and a Vistadome train return keep this two-day route focused and practical.

“Très belle marche à partir du km 104, accompagnée des interessantes explications de notre guide Noemie. Le lendemain, lever à l'aube pour admirer le Machu Picchu encore enveloppé dans la brume matinale. Après la visite, pas grand chose d'intéressant à faire à Aguas Calientes”

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8.Machu Picchu Private Day Trip on Panoramic Train

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 6 reviews · 15 hours · from $460

You’ll travel from Cusco to Machu Picchu by panoramic train, with a private English or Spanish-speaking guide, round-trip buses, entrance tickets, and private hotel transfers. Expect a long 15-hour day, Sacred Valley views, free time in Aguas Calientes, and optional Standard train savings.

“It was a well-organized tour! I am satisfied with everything!”

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