Latest news with #HiramBingham
Los Angeles Times
27-03-2025
- Los Angeles Times
A Luxurious Trip to the Clouds
In 1911, former U.S. senator and explorer Hiram Bingham rediscovered what would become one the 'Seven Wonders of the Modern World,' a legendary ancient Incan citadel: Machu Picchu. Perched high on a lookout-like terrace 50 miles outside of Cusco, Peru, the 15th-century ruins are believed to be an ancient Incan religious site. And, while there are multiple ways to arrive at this unreal destination, those looking for a luxe and unique experience can take advantage of travel brand Belmond's experiences, which include luxurious hotel stays coupled with exclusive and unique train trips. A true 'hotel-to-rail' style of travel, Belmond's train through the Andes to Machu Picchu creates a truly spectacular experience. This odyssey begins in Lima, the beating heart and capital of Peru, where the modernity meshes seamlessly with the region's history. Landing in this sprawling metropolis (LATAM Airlines offers a daily nonstop from LAX), find sanctuary in Belmond's Miraflores Park Hotel, nestled in one of Lima's most upscale neighborhoods. Its oceanside locale is a perfect jumping-off point to explore the city's rich tapestry. From the historic El Parque Reserve to the grandeur of Plaza Mayor and its Presidential Palace to the eerie allure of the San Francisco Basilica's catacombs, Lima offers a grand variety of diversion for the first leg of this journey. A brief flight gets you to Cusco, the ancient capital of the Incan Empire. Here, amid the peaks of the Andes and sitting at an astounding 11,000 feet of elevation, the Monasterio and the Palacio Nazarenas Belmond hotels await. The former, a 16th-century monastery transformed into a 5-star hotel, offers Baroque splendor and serene courtyards, while the latter, created as a nunnery, offers oxygen-enhanced suites to ease your acclimation to the high altitude. Cusco itself is a gateway to the past, and as you amble down cobblestone lanes taking in the mix of ancient and Classical styles, the city prepares you for the wonders that lie ahead. The journey to Machu Picchu is a spectacle in itself, aboard the Belmond Hiram Bingham train, named in honor of the aforementioned explorer. This 1920's Pullman-style consist, featuring elegant vintage dining cars, bar car and outdoor observation deck as it transforms the journey into an event. The restored carriages allow travelers to 'time travel,' as riding these rails harkens to the most majestic era of train travel. The scenery helps as well – as you pass through the Peruvian countryside sipping on a Pisco Sour, unparalleled views create a full sensory feast. Having already been acclimated to the luxe experience, you'll find familiar Belmond luxury onboard, while the landscape's raw beauty serves as a prelude to the marvel that is Machu Picchu. Aguas Calientes, the nearest town to the Machu Picchu site, is mere moments away from the sanctuary you've journeyed so far to witness. To rest and prepare, stay at Belmond Sanctuary Lodge, the only hotel adjacent to the ruins. The hotel, featuring only 31 rooms, gives visitors exclusive pre- and after-hours access to the site, since other travelers must take a bus to the ruins. Imagine breakfast on your terrace with Machu Picchu as your backdrop, or a twilight champagne toast from the hot tub, as fellow travelers from across the globe share tales of adventure under the stars. The Sanctuary Lodge offers not just a place to rest, but an exclusive proximity to one of the world's most exceptional sites. Your journey doesn't have to end with Machu Picchu. You can extend your adventure to the Sacred Valley or explore other enchanting highlights within Peru. All the destinations (many of which can be organized as part of the trip) offer their own unique blend of luxury, history and breathtaking landscapes, ensuring that your Peruvian adventure matches your spirit of discovery.
National Geographic
24-02-2025
- National Geographic
Go on a luxury rail journey through Peruvian mountains
This article was produced by National Geographic Traveller (UK). Holding aloft pairs of dry coca leaves, the dancers pause, drums beating faster, before they burst into song. Over shouts of 'Heh! Heh! Heh!', they play melodies on a quena (an Andean flute) while passengers gather around, squinting through the smoke from offerings burning on the platform at Poroy Station. Coloured with vegetable dyes, the welcome troupe's skirts flare as they hop from one foot to the other, setting the tone for the next four hours: a journey filled with music, colour and Indigenous Quechua culture. I'm here to ride the luxury Hiram Bingham, run by Belmond Trains, from the district of Cusco in southeastern Peru to the town of Aguas Calientes in the foothills of the ancient Inca citadel of Machu Picchu. Named after the US explorer who rediscovered the ruins in 1911, the train service launched along the route in 2003, making a 47-mile journey that's impossible to do by road. The costumes of Indigenous Quechuan dancers are traditionally dyed with vegetable-derived pigment. Photograph by Collin Hughes Find the traditional pisco sour on the board's menu, a brandy-based cocktail beloved in Peruvian and Chilean cuisine. Photograph by Collin Hughes As the smoke clears, I can see the polished body of the Hiram Bingham, blue and trimmed with gold, gleaming in the morning light. Tied-back cream curtains frame the windows and I can just make out art deco table lamps and crystal glasses laid out for lunch. Champagne in hand, I make my way on board. The sun floods the carriage, winking off satin-smooth wooden walls and brass fittings. A group of friends from Ecuador spread out their ponchos on upholstered armchairs, then make their way to the back of the train from where I can already hear the bang and shake of a tambourine. On the way through the bar carriage, I realise the train is already on the move, huge agave plants waving their spikes in farewell. Leaning over the railings in the open-air section of the observation car, I watch the line of carriages snake into the distance behind us and get chatting to a Peruvian writer named Hugo Flores. At almost 11,155ft above sea level in Cusco, I'm feeling the vice-like pressure against my temples from the altitude. Passengers have been advised to stay off alcohol, hydrate and drink infused coca leaves to lessen the symptoms. 'Coca tea is okay,' says Hugo, 'but muña tea is better. It's an Andean mint and it gives a slow feeling of wellness, not the sudden shock from coca tea, which can make you feel too…' He shakes his hands wildly, looking startled. It's not even 10am and there's a full-blown party in the observation car, with half the passengers dancing to La Bamba. The less extroverted stand in the open section, content to brace against the breeze, tapping one foot with a pisco sour in hand. Tart, frothy and dangerously drinkable, the Peruvian cocktail is one of the best I've tasted, but on Hugo's advice I grudgingly switch to muña tea and soon find that it works to clear the effects of altitude. En route to Machu Picchu, rolling hills and dry bushes line the way. Photograph by Collin Hughes Eucalyptus trees line the track, throwing slim shadows across furrowed fields, where cows flick their tails and farmers with scythes look up and wave as we pass. Squeezing through towns of half-built brick houses, the train brings us close enough to see butchers displaying chickens with feet in the air and painted mototaxis parked in alleys. Nearing the town of Ollantaytambo, the Urubamba River rushes towards us, flowing over boulders and fighting with fallen trees. Returning to my seat for lunch, I find the table covered with bowls of food to share: slivers of pork belly with tucupi (a sauce made from fermented cassava root); Andean potatoes flecked with ají chilli; and a purée of choclo (a type of large-kernel corn that grows in the surrounding Sacred Valley). In the final half hour, the anticipation peaks as we pass under canopies, the Urubamba roaring below. Pads of prickly pear rise up the slopes, creepers swing down from branches and invisible birds call from in between the leaves. It's quiet in the observation car. The party people have moved into the bar, slumped in their seats after lunch, leaving it empty for me and one other passenger who closes her eyes to the breeze. No sooner have we breathed in the surroundings than I spot three porters walking across the tracks behind us, bags on their backs. We're approaching our destination, pink cantuta flowers brushing past the railings. With a wail of brakes, we draw into the station, coming to a halt with a hiss. From £477, one way. National Geographic Traveller (UK). To subscribe to National Geographic Traveller (UK) magazine click Published in the March 2025 issue of(UK).To subscribe to(UK) magazine click here . (Available in select countries only). Save $5 on a Nat Geo Digital Subscription Your interests, backed by facts and science—now only $19 SAVE NOW
