Belmond Hiram Bingham, Peru

Overview

Evoking the colonial-era rails of Machu Picchu’s rediscovery, the Hiram Bingham glides along the Sacred Valley in velvet-backed Pullman carriages. Interiors are polished mahogany, mirrored ceilings, brass fittings, and hand-embroidered upholstery, while live Andean musicians perform along the aisle, weaving ancient melodies through lacquer-walled carriages.

Lunch is served in booths overlooking terraced valleys, with dishes like ceviche de trucha followed by lime sorbet served from crystal cart. As the train approaches Aguas Calientes, the light shifts to a golden hour haze, and guests disembark to a private entrance at Machu Picchu – timed precisely for sunrise over the ruins. On return, the train glides past settlements, terraced slopes, and rivers as dusk falls.

Though the journey spans just one day, it feels transformative. Champagne is offered at sunset, live music drifts under stitched canopy, and the mood is both formal and playful – stories and laughter echoing as we share fleeting glimpses of highland panoramas between gourmet courses and itinerary moments spun from the era of discovery.