Instead of hiking, I took a $170 luxury train to the top of Machu Picchu, and it was totally worth it

I stayed at Tambo Del Inka, a Luxury Collection Resort & Spa in the Sacred Valley region of Peru, where guests can take a unique train ride up to Machu Picchu. The hotel had its own private train station on the property — talk about the luxury of convenience.

Although it takes hikers multiple days to reach Machu Picchu on foot, this train ride was only 2 ½ hours each way.

On the route booked through PeruRail, we hopped on the Vistadome train at the hotel's Urubamba station, made one stop, and ended our journey at Machu Picchu.

The price can vary depending on the season, but it cost us $170 roundtrip per person. A ticket includes an assigned seat, expansive views, onboard snacks, herbal teas, informative audio, and soothing music played along the way.

At 6 a.m., I grabbed a coffee, walked down to the hotel lobby, and took a short five-minute walk to the Urubamba station to start our journey.

We were the only ones boarding at our private station, so I took in the complete quiet and serenity, which isn't typically what I experience right before boarding a train.

As I boarded the train, I was in awe of the 1920s-style carriage.

As soon as I sat down, I felt instant relief and internal confirmation that I made the right decision to take a train instead of hiking.

The seats were comfortable and there was space to store bags or personal belongings. Two seats faced each other, with a small expandable table in between.

Our panoramic observation car was such a unique way to get to the top of the mountain while enjoying views of the Sacred Valley mountains and Urubamba River.

The massive windows ensured we didn't miss a thing.

Since I woke up early and didn't have time to eat breakfast, I happily accepted the complimentary snacks and tea on the train.

The staff came around with a cart to give us a snack box that included quinoa cookies, granola bars, a piece of chocolate, and coca candy.

The one drawback of traveling in Peru was experiencing bad altitude sickness.

The locals told us that coca candy is made in part from coca leaves — a plant that local people have chewed on for thousands of years — and is meant to help with high-altitude travel sickness.

I was grateful our snack boxes included a few pieces.

After 2 ½ hours, we finally arrived and departed the train.

We then took a 30-minute bus ride to the top of the Machu Picchu Citadel, one of the most well-known and well-preserved Inca sites of the Andean region.

A tour guide led us through Machu Picchu for about three hours and taught us about the remarkable craftsmanship of the Inca people.

We also learned about the site's intriguing abandonment and rediscovery. It was truly a dream come true.

I returned to the private train station, just steps away from my room at Tambo Del Inka.

The hotel's Kallapa spa was a perfect way to end a long day of walking, with water-massage beds, hydromassage pools, and other amenities overlooking the mountains.

The luxury train ride was worth the money, and the breathtaking views along the way made it feel super quick.

If I ever return to Machu Picchu, I'll definitely do it this way again.