All Aboard the Hiram Bingham Train to Machu Picchu with Belmond

Begin your journey in Lima, the capital of Peru. After gathering your belongings, a Belmond representative will escort you to your personal driver. You’ll then be transferred to Miraflores Park, A Belmond Hotel. Check into one of their Junior Suites, each exquisitely decorated and features fine cotton linens for you to dive into and recharge in. Get ready for a special dinner at Huaca Pucllana, located within ancient ruins constructed 1500 years ago.

Jumpstart your day with a private transfer back to Lima Airport for your flight out to Cusco, the Imperial City. Upon arrival after this two hour flight, you’ll be met by the Belmond team and ushered to Rio Sagrado, A Belmond Hotel. En route, enjoy a scenic drive through a stunning landscape to the Sacred Valley of the Incas. On your way, your guides will make time for a stop at the Awana Kancha Center. This living museum of the Andes is where you’ll find bounties of vibrant Andean textiles on full display, handcrafted onsite by the local communities. Here you’ll also have the opportunity to meet up to four different types of South American camels.

Afterwards, check into Rio Sagrado and dine in the hotel’s garden, a green space set beside the rumbling Urubamba River. Your lunch – accompanied by live musicians – will be sourced from local purveyors. Top off your meal with a decadent dessert and a walk through their on-property market featuring weavers, alpaca encounters, and a shaman. Rest up for your dinner this evening at Hacienda Huayoccari Restaurant, a special spot tucked away in the lush, vegetation-filled private estate of the Lambarri-Orihuela family.

This hidden gem gives you a breathtaking look at Southern Peru’s expanse of mountains and valleys.

If you’re seeking some cultural immersion, day three of your custom Peru itinerary can begin with a scenic drive to the famed town of Ollantaytambo, the oldest settlement in the Americas. After passing through rolling fields and snow-capped peaks of the Urubamba and Vilcabamba mountain ranges, arrive at the home of one of the most impressive Incan fortresses in the region. Then, ascend on foot to Ollantaytambo’s peak and take in the views of the Andean valley and Temple of the Sun.

Following your hike, replenish yourself with an outdoor picnic by the stunning Huaypo Lagoon. This hidden gem gives you a breathtaking look at Southern Peru’s expanse of mountains and valleys. Return to your hotel after exploring the shoreline for a delicious Andean dinner served in the outdoor gardens, to be complete with a traditional Incan performance.

Today, you’ll be spending your time aboard Belmond’s luxurious Hiram Bingham train for a guided tour to Machu Picchu. This train’s sumptuous 1920s-style carriages – which exclusively accommodates eighty-four passengers – guarantee you a comfortable passage to the Incan citadel. Freely pass between the two dining cars, a bar and kitchen car, and an open-deck observation car as you take in the stunning Urubamba Valley.

Machu Picchu needs no introduction, but here’s a rundown of your picture-perfect day in the Lost City of the Incas: after checking into Belmond Sanctuary Lodge, begin your half-day private guided tour of the Inca citadel and its surrounding complexes. This legendary historical site stands 2430 meters above sea level amidst a tropical mountain forest rich with life. Your guide will walk you through each of the historical landmarks, including passage into the citadel itself. The towering walls, terraces, and ramps seem as if they have been carved out of the natural rocky escarpments. After your tour, enjoy some afternoon tea at the hotel or perhaps a spa treatment. Then, recharge with a full night’s rest in your personal hideaway edged with orchids and teeming with butterflies.

Hit the ground running with a guided scenic hike through the Lost City. Your guide will help you ascend to Inti Punku, famously known as the Sun Gate. The vista is an ideal location to take in highly Instagrammable sights of the ruin. Your guide will also offer to lead you to the peak of Huayna Picchu, which soars 260 meters above the majestic ruins below.

Following your descent, refresh and check out of Sanctuary Lodge and climb back aboard the Belmond Hiram Bingham for a journey back to Cusco. An elegant dinner accompanied by live music and plenty of bottles of rich Peruvian wines and pisco await onboard. Relish in your delectable four-course feast, then disembark at Poroy train station to check into Palacio Nazarenas, A Belmond Hotel.

After waking up to a hearty breakfast prepared by Palacio Nazarenas’ expert culinary crew, you’ll be guided to the Fortress of Sacsayhuaman, a bastion that features spectacular views of the Imperial City. This 3000-acre sanctuary was built by the Incas using massive stones that fit together like puzzle pieces. There’s an air of mysticism as you walk through the fortress’s galleries and towers. Your guide will walk you through the monumental battles that define this fortress’s history, from the empire’s expansion to the Incas attempt to reclaim their capital from the Conquistadors.

Enjoy a delightful mix of Peruvian dishes and an exclusive selection of wines…

After the private guided tour, you’ll be transferred to the cobblestone-laden Colampata, home to the palace of the first Inca ruler. Enjoy the stunning views of Cusco with a three-course lunch. Afterward, begin a walking tour of the city which includes a visit to the Cathedral on the Plaza de Armas and the Santo Domingo Temple. The Santo Domingo Temple is a Dominican church and convent built on the foundations of the Koricancha, an important Inca temple devoted to worshipping the sun. In the evening, you’ll then be guided to the Museum of Pre-Columbian Art (MAP) for a dinner in their glass dining house. This cube-shaped space – fit for only fifty guests – breathes modernism into the museum’s colonial surroundings, making this a unique dining experience. Enjoy a delightful mix of Peruvian dishes and an exclusive selection of wines before retiring for the night back at Palacio Nazarenas.

For your final day in Peru, board a flight back to Lima and touch down in the early afternoon. After checking back into Miraflores Park, a Belmond Hotel, your on-the-ground guide will help you through the districts of San Isidro, Miraflores, and Barranco. Each district is alive with its own distinct identity. And with an afternoon at your leisure, now is the perfect time to pick up the perfect Peruvian memorabilia! Feel free to shop through Miraflores’s high-end shopping centers, or experience the lush local art that fills the bohemian streets of Barranco. Cap off your evening with a farewell at Tragaluz Restaurant, known for its stylish take on South American cuisine.

As they say, all good things must come to an end. After checking out of your final Belmond hotel, board your flight back home where you can recount the incredible memories made on your Peruvian #smartflyertakemeto adventure with our friends at Belmond.