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Days
5
Price from
1373
Map of Machu Picchu by Hiram Bingham Train Experience - Independent including Peru

Trace Inca history in style, from city to sky-high valleys

Imagine adventurer Hiram Bingham’s wide-eyed awe when he first saw Machu Picchu, the Inca ruins buried deep in the Peruvian Andes. Thankfully, today the journey to the citadel is far more comfortable than what the intrepid explorer would have experienced in 1911. However, the sight of the incredible ruins remains as powerful now as it was 100 years ago. This five-day Independent Experience takes you from the well-trod streets of Cusco to Machu Picchu and the breathtaking Sacred Valley on a journey that traces the history of the empire and the Spanish conquest.

Start
Cusco, Peru
Finish
Cusco, Peru
Destination
Peru
Style
Independent Experiences
Theme
Independent Experiences
Code
PSHBX
Physical rating
Trip rating
2 reviews
Ages
Min 15
Group size
Min 1, Max 4

Why you'll love this trip

  • Travel to Machu Picchu on the luxury Belmond Hiram Bingham, enjoying incredible views and a seasnoal three-course meal en route.

  • Wander the ancient streets of Cusco on a guided tour and witness the mingling of Inca and Spanish colonial architecture.

  • Tour the breathtaking hills of the Sacred Valley, exploring ancient agricultural sites and enjoying lunch with locals at a traditional farming community.

Is this trip right for you?

  • This trip visits places that are at high altitude, and as a result, some people can suffer from altitude sickness, regardless of age or physical health. Please see the ‘Medical and Health Information’ section of the Essential Trip Information for more important details on this.

  • This is an Independent Experience, a mini-tour designed for 1–3 travellers with frequent departures. You will have local Peregrine guides for excursions and site tours but might not have a group of fellow travellers to explore with.

  • Please note, on this trip not all services are private. During the Machu Picchu tour you will have a local guide employed by Belmond Hiram Bingham and there may be up to 14 people in the group for this tour.

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Itinerary
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Bienvenido! Welcome to Cusco, the historic heartland and former capital of the Inca Empire. If you are flying into Alejandro Velasco Astete Airport today, you will enjoy a complimentary transfer from the airport to your hotel. Your local guide will meet you this evening at approximately 7 pm at the hotel to explain the schedule for the next few days.
Accommodation
  • San Agustin Plaza Hotel or similar (1 night)
Meals Included
There are no meals included on this day.
Special Information
Included in your trip price is a 'Full Boleto Turistico Pass', which gives you access to 16 archaeological sites in and around Cusco. The ticket is valid for ten days, so if you wish to make use of the ticket prior to the tour start date please contact us to reschedule the first meeting you’re your guide (usually held on Day 1) to an earlier date.

At 3450 metres (11,150 feet) above sea level, it’s not unusual for visitors to Cusco to experience symptoms of altitude sickness. Please see the ‘Medical and Health Information’ section of the Essential Trip Information for details.

Leave the hotel between 8 am and 9 am this morning for a walking tour with your local guide. The walking tour lasts approximately 4 hours and will visit a number of key sites in Cusco. One such site is Koricancha, which was once the richest temple in the Inca Empire, but all that remains today is the temple’s masterful stonework. Afterwards, visit the cathedral in Plaza de Armas, which took almost a century to build. In the same plaza, you’ll also see the 12 Angled Stone – a masonry marvel that demonstrates the engineering skills of the Inca. Continue to the San Pedro Market, where you have the chance to sample local cheeses and chocolates. The walking tour comes to an end just in time for lunch. The rest of today is free for you to explore at your leisure.
Accommodation
  • San Agustin Plaza Hotel or similar (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Cusco - Full Boleto Turistico Pass (access to 16 archaeological sites, transport & guides not included)
  • Cusco - Coricancha Temple entrance fee
  • Cusco - Cathedral Entrance Fee
  • Cusco - Leader-led orientation walk
Meals Included
  • Breakfast

Today you’ll encounter Peru’s iconic citadel: Machu Picchu. You will be picked up at the hotel at approximately 7.15 am and transferred to Poroy Train Station. Board the Belmond Hiram Bingham train, named after the explorer who publicised the existence of Machu Picchu in 1911. Depart at 8.10 am and enjoy an included brunch on board, including a glass of sparkling wine or freshly squeezed juice with a traditional Peruvian appetiser, followed by a main course and dessert. The menu is seasonal but usually includes delicious dishes such as quinoa tabouleh and smoked trout, or a traditional lomo saltado (similar to a beef stir fry). Arrive in Aguas Calientes around 12.30 pm and board a bus to Machu Picchu for a guided tour of the ruins. After working up an appetite, enjoy tea and snacks at the Belmond Sanctuary Lodge – the only hotel that operates at Machu Picchu. In the early evening, take the Vistadome train to Ollantaytambo. Arrive around 8 pm then transfer to the hotel. Dinner is at your own expense in either the hotel or in town.
Accommodation
  • Tunupa Lodge Hotel or similar (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Machu Picchu - Guided tour
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
  • Lunch

Rise and shine for a day exploring. Begin with Ollantaytambo, one of the few places where the Inca were able to successfully repel the Spanish. This is partly due to the town’s location at the base of the mountains and its steep terraced fortress, which is the main archaeological site today. Try and spot the faces that appear in the surrounding cliffs and hear how the food was precariously stored at height. Next, embark on a bus tour of the Sacred Valley, greatly treasured because of its climate, fertile land and the presence of the Urubamba (Sacred) River. Explore ancient aqueducts, irrigation canals, dams, agricultural terraces and centres of worship dedicated to Pachamama (Mother Earth). Visit a local community to gain greater insight into their lifestyle and enjoy lunch with the locals. If your visit happens to coincide with market day there will be an opportunity to wander the stalls. Return to Cusco in the afternoon, stopping en route just outside the city to visit the stone fortress of Sacsayhuaman. The rest of your day is free for you to relax or sightsee at your leisure.
Accommodation
  • San Agustin Plaza Hotel or similar (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Sacred Valley - Community visit & lunch
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
  • Lunch

This Independent Experience comes to an end today after breakfast. If you have booked an onward flight today, you can take a complimentary airport transfer. If you would like to extend your stay in Cusco, we will happily organise additional accommodation on your behalf. Simply tell a Peregrine representative at the time of booking.
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
Special Information
In order to organise your complimentary airport transfer, please provide us with your flight details at the time of booking or no later than 15 days before your Independent Experience begins. The transfer is only offered to travellers who are flying out today.
Want to tailor this itinerary?

Meals

4 breakfasts, 2 lunches

Transport

Bus, On foot, Private van, Train

Accommodation

Comfortable hotel

Included Activities

  • Cusco - Full Boleto Turistico Pass (access to 16 archaeological sites, transport & guides not included)
  • Cusco - Coricancha Temple entrance fee
  • Cusco - Cathedral Entrance Fee
  • Cusco - Leader-led orientation walk
  • Machu Picchu - Guided tour
  • Sacred Valley - Community visit & lunch

Dates & availability

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Important notes

This trip includes a one-way ticket on the luxury Belmond Hiram Bingham train. The return train used is the Vistadome.

Please note, on this trip not all services are private. During the Machu Picchu tour, you will have a local guide employed by Belmond Hiram Bingham and there may be up to 14 people in your group.

Recently, Peruvian authorities released a new list of regulations for visiting Machu Picchu. The main points impacting our visits are:

1. Tickets are now only valid only for one entry, that means that passengers cannot leave the site and re-enter as we have in the past.
2. Once passengers begin on a chosen circuit (there are three options) they cannot walk backwards and once they finish the circuit, they must leave the site. They cannot explore afterwards.
3. The two allotted times to visit are 6 am–12 pm and 12–4.30 pm.
4. It is technically mandatory to have an official site guide (not our local leaders) to visit the site. However, as there are not enough official guides to cover the large number of people visiting, authorities are being flexible.

Essential trip information

Want an in-depth insight into this trip? Essential Trip Information provides a detailed itinerary, visa info, how to get to your hotel, what's included - pretty much everything you need to know about this adventure and more.

View Essential Trip Information

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