Relive the golden age of train travel as you visit the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Machu Picchu aboard the elegant Belmond Hiram Bingham train. Start this VIP trip with hotel pickup, transferring you to Cusco’s Poroy Station where you board your first-class train for a trip you won’t soon forget. Grab a complimentary welcome drink as you step aboard the train, bedecked in blue and gold trim, entering a world of luxury, top-notch food, and exquisite service.
Admire the train’s lavish interior, decorated with shining brass, polished wood, and rich upholstery, as you head to your seat. Soon the train pulls out of the station, heading on an unforgettable journey to the famous Incan citadel. During your ride, check out the train’s observation platform for stellar views of the Andes, and then proceed to the bar car and dining room, where you can enjoy the gastronomic delights of a 3-course lunch (see sample menu in the Itinerary below). Pair your meal with a selection of Argentinean, Chilean, or Peruvian wines, or sample other local libations such as a Pisco Sour or Cusqueña beer.
Once you’ve had your fill of lunch, sit back and relax as the train’s on-board musicians perform traditional Peruvian songs using guitars and Cajon box drums. Or head back to the observation platform, where you can soak up the incredible views of the surrounding Andean peaks, lush green valleys and roaring river that surround you on all sides.
Upon your arrival at Aguas Calientes, board the luxury transfer bus specially reserved for Hiram Bingham passengers for the quick ride up to Machu Picchu. Enjoy this dedicated shuttle when you see the waiting hordes at the station queued up by the hundreds as they wait for mass transport.
Then snake your way up the winding switchback roads to the 7,000-foot (2,134m) mountaintop that is home to this most famous of Andean archaeological sites. Stroll the incredible terraces, elegant buildings and mysterious temples of this superlative site with your guide, making sure to admire the solar clock and engineering marvel of its intricate irrigation system. Following your guided tour, continue your exploration of the grounds at your leisure before heading to the mountaintop Belmond Sanctuary Lodge for afternoon tea. Have a scone or a sandwich with your tea and coffee, or try an appetizer with your choice of wine.
Finish your Machu Picchu journey with a shuttle ride back down to Aguas Calientes, where you climb back on board your luxury train for the return trip to Cusco. During the ride back partake in a 4-course gourmet dinner (see sample menu in the Itinerary below) and celebrate your amazing day with the onboard musicians, singing and dancing as you make your way back to Cusco for hotel drop-off.
