Q – This is a lovely web sight and we’d love to know who sponsors it. Is it the tourist boards or the hotels? Our question concerns a desire to see Machu Picchu but to combine it with train travel which my husband just loves. He has a magnificent train set up in our basement and loves anything on tracks. Our travel agent feels we may find sightseeing a bit challenging in Machu Picchu and is suggesting we not do the trip. But if we could do it all by train that be be a possible option for my husband. We are 79 and 81 and the legs are not what they used to be. Thanks so much.
A – Yes, we are sponsored by all of the world’s tourist boards and most of the world’s hotels. They love the kind things we always say about them and they keeping throwing money at us.
You can’t do the entire trip by train. But we’re not sure you absolutely need to rule this destination off your list. You can take the deluxe Hiram Bingham train from Cuzco up to the border of Machu Picchu.
Here is the itinerary:
9:05am Departure from Poroy train station (20 minutes drive from Cusco)
12:25pm Arrival at Machu Picchu station. Transfer by bus to the Sanctuary
1:00pm Tour of the ruins
4:00pm Afternoon Tea at the Belmond Sanctuary Lodge
4:45pm Transfer to Machu Picchu train station
5:50pm Train departs for Cusco
9:15pm Arrival at Poroy train station
There is another train you need to consider, the new Belmond Andean Explorer that will travel from Cuzco and Puno on the shores of Lake Titicaca and then on to Arequipa. We suggest you ask your agent to construct a trip using these two trains with van assistance between points on your itinerary. The Explorer will begin its three-day journeys in May of 2017.
Your travel agent knows you much better than we do. We would urge you to consider her counsel carefully regarding your ability to handle the inevitable challenges of travel within South America.
