Full-Day: Hiram Bingham luxury train to Machu Picchu

The Belmond Hiram Bingham does not just offer a train ride, that can be had from many of the other trains out of Poroy (near Cusco). The Hiram Bingham train experience has all that you'd expect from a world-class resort. The porters handle your check-in, provide you with champagne at the station, invite you to experience a traditional Peruvian ceremony, then you disembark on your way to the Sacred Valley while enjoying live music, drinks and a wonderful brunch until you reach Agua Calientes where you unload into another luxury waiting area before your guided tour through the majesty of Machu Picchu, which needs no review, then they treat you to tea at the Sanctuary Hotel on the Machu Picchu grounds as you recover form the exhaustive tour and prepare to be shuttled back to Agua Calientes where you can stay at your local hotel for a little hiking or return to the train and get back to Cusco in yet more luxury, having an exquisite 4-course dinner on the way back. I'd recommend flying into Cusco and boarding the train as son as possible, Cusco's elevation makes breathing very hard if you're a low-lander and the train quickly descends into much more bearable altitudes. Stay at the Sanctuary Hotel and enjoy Belmond's excellent service as well.

Can it get any better? NO! The Hiram Bingham Train is the ultimate transportation to and from Machu Picchu. At the Poroy train station (near Cusco) we had a warm welcomed by the train staff as well as a traditional Peruvian band and dancers. After a glass of sparkling wine, just before the train was leaving the passengers made a short Pacha Mama (Mother Earth) ceremony. Then the train staff showed us our table in the dining waggon where we left all the things we didn't want to carry around. Then we went to the saloon waggon with its view deck and enjoyed the excellent life music. Pisco sour, sparkling wine, beer and any other kind of – also non-alcoholic - drinks were served (free of course). After some drinks went to our table where a wonderful lunch was served. Very good white and red Peruvian wines as well as beer etc. was served with the food. If you wish, there is a wine list with some well-known brands, but these are not included in the package. We were very happy with the Peruvian wines that we included. After arrival in Aguas Calientes a guide led us to the bus up to Machu Picchu and then guide us through the historical site. The tour ends at about 16:00 with a high tea at the Sanctuary Lodge. You then have the option of staying for the night at the Sanctuary Lodge which located next to the entrance of the parc or you can take the bus down to Aguas Calientes and stay there for one night. Or maybe you choose the option to catch the train back to Cusco which is leaving around 17:50.

Ya había teñido referencias de este tren, pero sencillamente supero mis expectativas. Es lujoso confortable y con una atención esmerada de todo su personal, desde que llegas a la estación donde te reciben con música y bailes tradicionales peruanos y una selección para desayuno, ya te haces una idea de lo que te espera a bordo de este tren. Su costo es algo elevado comparado con otras opciones pero lo vale, el menú muy bueno servido a tiempo, las opciones del bar también muy variadas y el mantenimiento de sus instalaciones. La mejor forma de viajar a Machu Pichu.