fbpx
Take Me To 11.08.2023

All Aboard the Hiram Bingham Train to Machu Picchu with Belmond

Intro Stay Highlights itinerary

If you’re craving adventure in South America, Peru’s exciting, highly-Instagrammable sights are perfectly paired with Belmond’s unique properties and Hiram Bingham train.

Over the course of seven nights, our Creator trip crew took a deep dive into Peruvian culture with exclusive access across some of South America’s most historic locations. With their collection of stunning hotels and trains, Belmond guarantees immersion into the magic of Peru.

Tick all the must-see Peruvian highlights off your bucket list with this tailored itinerary through the pulsating capital of Lima and the heart of Cusco’s awe-inspiring Inca sites. You’ll also have time to soak up the Sacred Valley’s stunning sanctuaries after exploring sites brimming with Andean history. And not to forget a photographic highlight of your Belmond Peru journey aboard the Hiram Bingham train.

Our Smarties know you’ll want to stay in properties that are equally as enchanting as the landscape you’re exploring. Luckily, we tailored our selection of Belmond’s historic hotels on this Peru itinerary to fit all your needs. Plunge into rooftop pools amidst the capital city’s electric urban landscape. You’ll also dine in an oasis rich with lush gardens by the Urubamba River. In Machu Picchu, get ready to experience the only lodge with immediate access to this UNESCO World Heritage site’s entrance. Finally, wake up in a stunning hotel that blends Inca foundations with contemporary Peru.

Contributed By

SmartFlyer

Duration

Eight days, seven nights

We Love it For

First-timers to South America and seasoned explorers alike. Belmond’s Peru itineraries are ideal options for travelers looking to get acclimated with adventure travel.

Trip Style

A guided alpine adventure across the ancient sights and sounds of historical Peru

Agent Notes

Dine and dance your way between Cusco and Machu Picchu aboard the Hiram Bingham, Belmond’s enchanting 1920s-style luxury train

Stay

SmartFlyer Picks

Miraflores Park, A Belmond Hotel

Each of Miraflores Park’s suites flaunt warming interiors and décor rich with accents native to Peru. Marble bathrooms and private terraces make for your ideal spot to slow down in style. Top floor presidential suites sport ocean vistas and private plunge pools, each offering the perfect respite after a day spent exploring the City of the Kings.

More

Río Sagrado, A Belmond Hotel

Situated at a lower altitude than nearby Cusco, the hotel is an ideal base to explore the Sacred Valley. Each hideaway at Río Sagrado sits on a raised terrace that cascades down to the water’s edge. Private balconies offer sublime vistas onto the Sacred Valley. The hotel weaves alpaca fabrics and indigenous design flourishes into each bright and airy space.

More

Sanctuary Lodge, A Belmond Hotel

Sitting in the shadows of the Lost City, Sanctuary Lodge is an oasis to recharge in before or after a day exploring Machu Picchu. This lodge enjoys an unrivaled position near the entrance to the Inca citadel. Sit out on the terrace and savor Peruvian cuisine based on produce grown on the Lodge’s own plot. Then, retire to one of your terraced accommodations with exquisite views of the mist-laced mountains.

More

Palacio Nazarenas, A Belmond Hotel

Palacio Nazarenas blends original Inca stonework, colonial frescos, and gold-framed paintings with Belmond’s modern touches. Lovingly restored, the 17th-century architecture gives each artistic room and suite a distinctly colonial feel. Recline on a four-poster bed splashed with hand-embroidered silk coverlets. Bathe beneath hand-painted frescos using soap perfumed by the Palacio’s own flowers. Select suites boast balconies with hypnotic views of Cusco’s distant, mist-wrapped mountains.

More

Highlights

  • Enjoy a special welcome dinner at Huaca Pucllana Day 1
  • Feast on a picnic lunch at Huaypo Lagoon Day 3
  • Board the Hiram Bingham train towards the Lost City Day 4
  • Hike to the peaks of Huayna Picchu Day 5
  • Soak up the charms of Cusco Day 6

ItineraryItinerary

1 Lima, Peru
Arrival to Lima

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.

2 Cusco, Peru
Depart for The Imperial City

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.

3 Cusco, Peru
Explore Ollantaytambo

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.

4 Machu Picchu, Peru
Sacred Valley to Machu Picchu

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.

5 Cusco, Peru
Machu Picchu to Cusco

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.

6 Cusco, Peru
Machu Picchu to Cusco

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.

7 Lima, Peru
Cusco to Lima

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.

8 Home
Return home

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.

Book Now

Contact your SmartFlyer travel advisor to plan your customized Peru itinerary.

You May Also Like

Take Me To

Your Two-Week Japan Itinerary

A Japan itinerary done “right” is characterized by stellar stays, exclusive experiences, world-class dining, and knowledgeable guides that culminate in...

Take Me To

Austria Meets Bavaria: 10 Days Exploring Central Europe

As your go-to resources to craft creative itineraries that go beyond the expected, our recent scouting trip to Austria and...

Take Me To

Turkish Delight: Twelve Day Itinerary

As the bridge between Europe and Asia, Turkey has long held an allure for the curious traveler; in this twelve-day...