Introducing the Hiram Bingham
Take the Hiram Bingham and forget hiking the Inca Trail; instead, enjoy sumptuous service and gourmet food as you travel in style along tracks that take you through lush fields and past colourful villages in the Sacred Valley to the ancient ruins of Machu Picchu.
Rail itinerary
From Cusco to Aguas Calientes by train, then by bus to Machu Picchu.
About the Hiram Bingham
With its distinctive blue and gold carriages and elegant interior upholstery, the Hiram Bingham offers a warm and inviting atmosphere and reflects the luxury of the 1920s Pullman era.
Named after the American explorer who discovered the Lost City in 1911, the train consists of two dining cars, an observation bar car and a kitchen car. It can carry up to 84 passengers on the luxury day return trip to Machu Picchu.
Dining
The Hiram Bingham offers a brunch of champagne, smoked trout and roast alpaca loin as it winds up to the ancient ruins. Arriving at Machu Picchu three-and-a-half hours later, passengers are given a guided tour of the ruins, as well as lunch and high tea at the Machu Picchu Sanctuary Lodge.
Once back on board for the 6pm departure, pre-dinner cocktails are served in the bar accompanied by live entertainment and followed by a five-course à la carte dinner, served during the return trip to Cuzco.
Other amenities/activities onboard
Guides are present to explain points of interest en route, as well as in the ruins at Machu Picchu.
Price inclusions
The cost includes welcome drinks, water, tea, coffee, meals, a cocktail and wine selection, musical entertainment, a professional tour guide for every 15 passengers, access to the sanctuary of Machu Picchu and transport to and from the Sanctuary.
Best time to journey on the Hiram Bingham
The best time is during the dry season from April to October when it’s warm, with clear sunny skies and temperatures averaging 23˚C.
Highlights en route
Experience the ancient citadel at Machu Picchu in relative solitude and for a longer period of time: the 12.30pm arrival at Machu Picchu gives passengers the advantage of entering the Sanctuary at an hour when the majority of visitors are already beginning to leave for their journey back to Cusco.
Machu Picchu
Beyond the ancient town of Ollantaytambo at the end of the stunning Inca Trail – a 33km hike over three Andean passes – lie the most famous ruins in South America. Clinging to sheer cliffs, the awe-inspiring city of Machu Picchu is believed to have been an important ceremonial centre or possibly a royal retreat abandoned at the time of the Spanish invasion.
Cuzco
Built by the Spanish on the remains of Inca temples, Cuzco is the oldest continuously inhabited city in South America. Dominated by the imposing fortress of Sacsayhuaman, Cuzco’s unspoiled, whitewashed, stone-walled streets and red-tiled roofs are home to a wealth of traditional culture, from Quechua-speaking Incan descendants who still crowd the centuries-old streets, to fascinating museums, walks and tours. |