seat38a

We didn't have this issue with our Andean Explorer reservations. After I made the purchase, it sent me all 3 tickets as PDF e-tickets which I printed out.

transportprof

How did you cope with the high altitudes? Any health issues during your time in Cusco?

seat38a

After 3 nights in Puno, Cusco was much better since Puno is higher altitude than Cusco. We tried Coca tea but really did not help. Time was really the only thing that seemed to solve the issue. There were others in our hotel who needed oxygen but non of us three went that far. It probably would have helped, but we questioned the sanitation of the oxygen mask being used.

seat38a

After 3 nights in Puno, it was time to head to Cusco on the Andean Explorer. We arranged for a cab to pick us up and take us to the station with the hotel's front desk for 7 soles.

When we arrived at the station, it still was not open, but about 10 min later, the big wooden doors were unlocked and we were let in.

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Not sure how safe it is, but these outside gas heaters being used indoors seems to be a common thing in this town.
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There was a baracade but, couple of us asked if we could take pictures and we were allowed to pass.
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Coffee and Coca tea service while waiting.
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Every group of passengers are escorted group by group to the train and to your seat by one of the crew. We were the second to board.
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Bar car with the viewing platform in the back.
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The open platform. Best place for taking pictures. No reflections, blur or dirty windows to deal with.
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View from the open platform.
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View of the passenger car.
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The menu. Lunch and afternoon tea are included. Breakfast is not.
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Right after the train departed, another tea and coffee service onboard.
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Getting close to Juliaca
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My dad and I decided to have a pisco sour. Wine is included in lunch but other hard beverages must be paid for. They run a tab and you pay at the end.
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We stopped at Juliaca station but no one got boarded.
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Entering Juliaca market area. People setup all there stuff on and over the rails and move them or keep them on the center of the tracks when the train come through.
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Welcome mimosa.
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Normally people are not allowed in the kitchen car, but I asked and was told I could at 11:30. The train manager showed me around personally.
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After the tour, I went back to my table and soon preparations for lunch began.
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The climb to La Raya
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The train also carries a bunch of mechanical crew who also manually work the switch. I'm guessing they are there due to the infrequency of train service and remoteness of the route.
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While I was taking pictures from the mirador, these three native women scared the sh$% out of me by popping out trying to sell their stuff.
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My mom felt sorry for them so told me to buy 1 llama each from the 2 women on the right who made no sale.
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We met the train heading to Puno from Cusco. Here there was a bunch crew swap but not the onboard service staff.
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As we were moving to the next switch, these women ran and chased after the train trying to make more sale.
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We stopped in La Raya, which is the highest point in the journey and where the Urumbamba river starts. The Urumbamba river eventually meets with the Amazon and then dumps into the Atlantic.
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Things for sale.
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Our waiter and the train manager.
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The two llama's that we bought.
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There is a fashion show onboard showing off alpaca spun clothing from Sol Alpaca.
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Afternoon tea before arrival into Cusco.
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Cusco station
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Before arriving into Cusco station, the train manager went around asking if people needed transportation to their hotel. We requested a taxi to our hotel, Palacio Del Inka. The manager told us it would cost 12 soles but the taxi driver tried to pull a fast one and say it was 15 soles when we arrived at the hotel. The train manager gave me his business card so I could write a review before getting off the train. I pointed to the business card and told the taxi driver that I would email the manager and MAKE SURE to give him the drivers plate number and inform him that we were ripped off, at which point the driver changed his tune real quickly.

travellingwineO

Nice report. We are headed to Peru in June for the first time, so I'm hoping you share some trip details as well as the flight info.

gkbiiii

Outstanding, I was wondering how much the train is? Your next train is around $600 RT, as I have been quoted in the past.

seat38a

The Hiram Bingham was $790 per person. That includes all taxes as well. Peru's sales tax is 18%. Ironically, they don't charge taxes for hotel stays if your a foreigner in the country for less than 30 days.

The Andean Explorer cost $176.00 per person including all taxes.

offerendum

Interesting train journey and the lamas look some kind of cute.

seat38a

Those llamas immigrated back to the US and now look cute on my parents bookcase.

seat38a

Take plenty of meds with you. Take the usuals and then even the ones you think you might need.

seat38a

After 2 nights in Cusco, it was was the day for the "Crown Jewel" of our visit to Peru. We booked a roundtrip private car from the concierge of our hotel for 40 Soles each way between the hotel and Poroy train station.

We got to the station early, as an earlier Vista Dome train (I think) was about to depart. The Hiram Bingham stuff were not setup yet.

Not our train. We were a little bit early.
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Checkin For Hiram Bingham
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Performers in the parking performing for arriving Hiram Bingham passengers.
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Our train backed into the platform.
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Hiram Bingham activity schedule.
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Each traveling group of passengers were escorted by staff to the train and to their table. Before boarding, champagne was on offer along with another milky white stuff. My parents and I stuck to the champagne.
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In total, there were only 19 passengers on the Hiram Bingham today going to Machu Picchu. The train consisted of 1 engine, 1 kitchen car, 1 dinning car, 1 bar car.
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Kitchen Car
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The Hiram Bingham train cars were much more plush and luxurious than the Andean Explorer train. Also the Hiram Bingham was temperature controlled while the Andean Explorer was not (at least it did not feel like it.)
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Once everyone was checked in and on the platform, the musicians moved to the train platform and a group of dancers joined them.
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The bar car was much more luxurious than the Andean Explorer as well.
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The dancers and musicians waiving the train as we leave.
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Brunch menu. All the pisco sour, house white / red wine and cusquena you can drink are included.
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View from the platform.
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Pisco Sour 1 of ????(I lost count)
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The band. With only 19 passengers, it was very quaint feeling, and mix in all the free flowing pisco sour, wine and beer, people were dancing, singing etc. including my mom.
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Since Machu Picchu, is at a much lower elevation, there is some switchbacking action on our way to Aguas Caliente.
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Snacks in the bar car.
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A short stop at Ollantaytambo station.
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Brunch begins.
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Smoked trout appetizer. My parents did not want any fish, so they substituted sliced avocados with dressing.
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Petite Four
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Each passenger also gets a travel bag. The bag is inside the case.
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Bottled water were handed out for Machu Picchu.
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Separate waiting room with clean bathroom, TV, beverage refrigerator.
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Our group guide Angela, took us all to the bus stop for the winding switchback road ride up to the citadel.

The entrance.
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The back half of the line for the bus back to Aguas Caliente.
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The front half of the line. The wait for the line for the bus easily run into 2+ hours EACH WAY. If your on the Hiram Bingham, you get to bypass all of this.
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There it is. The citadel and the "face of god" behind it.
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Inca trail into Machu Picchu
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The front gate or door into the city from the Inca trail.
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Important buildings and temples were built with the precisely carved and cut stones while not so important ones had rougher cuts.
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The city pretty much goes down all the way to the river. There ar still parts coverd up and not yet excavated.
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Temple to the sun god.
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Last look before heading out.
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All the green on the bottom still has parts of the city covered. Waiting to be excavated.
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After almost a 3+ hour guided tour, it was time for afternoon tea which is included in the price of the Hiram Bingham. The tea is at the Belmond Sanctuary Lodge.
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After the tea, our bus arrived to take us back to the train station.
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There is a separate guarded entrance for Hiram Bingham passengers that leads directly to the VIP waiting room.
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The band is playing in the waiting room.
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More bubblies
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Again we were escorted group by group by an employee to the train and to our table. The tables were all setup and prepped for dinner.
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Peruvian grains (two types of quinoa), corn and potato as decoration.
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After the train departed and orders for our main course was taken, we headed to the bar car. The band was prepping to play. Since there is no way to turn the train in Aguas Caliente, only the engine is moved to the front, now the bar car and the lookout doors are closed.
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Close up of the decoration. The foods for dinner tonight will include all of these.
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The train is much quieter on the return trip since lot everyone returns on the same day. I believe we only had 14 people total returning. That is including new people.
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Dinner started around 7 ish.
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We arrived back into Poroy station on time and before arrival, the band played the famous Peruvian music El Condor Pasa.

In conclusion, was the $790.00 per person cost worth it? ABSOLUTELY. There are cheaper options to get to Machu Picchu, but if you don't want to have to think, wait in line etc etc. the Hiram Bingham is the way to go.

With the cheaper option, you yourself or a travel agency has to buy the entrance tickets, bus to and from all separately and that is not including the waiting time of easily 2+ hours each way. The $790 dollars buys you piece of mind, and cut in line pass plus all the food and beverages.

offerendum

Looks like a good deal at 790. Not cheap of course, but looks nice.

seat38a

When one takes the value of "your time" into factor, it really comes out to a good deal.

Also, while getting quotes for next years trip at the Auto Club, my dad saw the flier for Peru trip offered by the Auto Club.

For 11 days, they were charging $5500.00 ish per person. This does not even include Nazca Line or Paracas area, Hiram Bingham, or 5 star hotels. This is just to get there, and does not include all the extras like tips food etc.

The total cost of our trip which was all paid for, no miles or points came out to about $5600 per person for the three of us, which included (14 days):
- Roundtrip Business Class from LAX - LIM on United.
- Avianca LIM - JUL
- Avianca CUZ - LIMA
- Four Points Lima, Hotel Paracas, Palacio Del Inka, Tambo del Inka, Sonesta Posada. (4 SPG property and 1 non SPG)
- 3 days of private car tour in Paracas
- 2 days of private car tour of Cusco and the Sacred Valley
- 1 day tour of Lake Titicaca and the islands
- Andean Explorer
- Hiram Bingham
- Private pickup from the airport to hotels, hotel to the airport, hotel to train station.
- All Food and beverages.
- Other miscellaneous from cash such as tips etc.

If your planning a trip to Peru, it comes out a much better deal if you plan it yourself vs leaving via a tour operator. We used tour companies while in Peru that we pre arranged ahead of time, but you don't want to leave on one of the lumped together packages.

krazykanuck

I won't disagree it looks nice, but I find it hard to call a good deal at nearly $800/pp. Round trip train tix on the mid tier Vistadome train for me were $170/pp. Add another $25 for the bus and we're at $195. While the OP quoted bus wait times of 2+ hours, he never waited in those lines. My mom and I did and we waited probably 5 mins on the way up and 15 mins on the way back, and that was at close to peak time (7am on the way up and noon on the way down).

I won't argue the Hiram Bingham is the luxury way to travel to Machu Picchu, but for me there was no value proposition for it. If the OP thinks it was worth it, that's all that matters.

blueferrari

those trainrides look grand. beautiful.

how long were the duration for Hiram Bingham and Andean Explorer, each?