For many, heading to the ancient Inca citadel of Machu Picchu is a dream come true but now tourists will be able to make the incredible journey with 360° views of Peru by rail. The new service run by Inca Rail began operations on 1 March, 2018 and offers travellers views with dome-like high visibility panoramic windows with inbuilt UV protection.
Said to be Peru’s “most scenic train”, the windows have been custom-designed to give passengers the best possible views of the soaring Andes mountain range to and from Machu Picchu. Unlike other existing services on the route, the 360° Machu Picchu Train will be fully inter-connecting and hosts an open-air observation area at the centre of the train, from which passengers can step out and breathe in the mountain air and take photos of the astonishing landscape.
The service will carry up to 248 passengers a day on two routes between Poroy and Machu Picchu, and between Ollantaytambo and Machu Picchu.
With USB ports on each seat for charging devices, the train aims to cater to the modern traveller and will also serve up local delicacies from their onboard trolley that will change with the seasons. By summer 2018, the company plans to have a GPS activated app that will give tourists a lowdown on the culture, history, and countryside that they’ll see on their journey.
The 360° Machu Picchu Train is bookable here and tickets are priced from US$78 (€63) per person one way during low season and will rise according to seasons. This new launch follows the recent upgrade of the company’s First Class fleet which saw the carriages double their capacity. The First Class train runs four times a day and boasts two dining carriages, with live music and an outdoor observation balcony.
