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Wexas Travel · Tailor-made rail & stay journey

Highlights of Peru by Rail

Peru rail loop from Lima through Machu Picchu to Lake Titicaca in ten days

Illustration of Highlights of Peru by Rail

Wexas Travel operates this ten-day tailor-made journey across Peru's Andes, beginning in Lima and ending on the shores of Lake Titicaca. The trip balances guided cultural exploration with two nights of rail travel: an afternoon ride on the Vistadome train to Machu Picchu and an overnight journey on the Belmond Andean Explorer, a luxury sleeper train from Cusco to Puno. Days two and three are spent in the Sacred Valley exploring Inca fortresses, ruins and salt pools with a private English-speaking guide. Day four brings the ascent to Machu Picchu and time to walk the site's main plaza and temples. Days five and six are anchored in Cusco, where you visit the Temple of the Sun and the Fortress of Sacsayhuaman, with option to return unguided to Machu Picchu if you wish. The overnight Belmond Andean Explorer, carrying no more than eighty passengers in deluxe cabins, takes you southward through mountain valleys past remote villages to Lake Titicaca, where day eight includes a cruise to the floating reed islands of the Uros Indians.

What to know before you look closer

  • High altitude in Cusco (11,000 feet) and on the train may affect those not acclimatized; day 5 includes optional unguided visits to Machu Picchu, so confirm your energy level the night before.
  • The from-price is for April to May or October to November; travel June to September costs from £7,765.
  • Itinerary involves three flights (London to Lima, Lima to Cusco, Puno back to Lima), so this is a rail and fly experience, not continuous rail travel.

Day by day

  1. Day 1overnight: Hotel B, Lima (Deluxe)

    UK/Lima

    Depart the UK on a daytime flight to Peru. Arriving into Lima, transfer to your accommodation in the bohemian Barranco district, with restaurants, bars and boutiques looking out to Pacific Ocean views.

  2. Day 2overnight: Hotel Sol y Luna, Sacred Valley (Superior)

    Lima to Sacred Valley

    A morning city tour of colonial and contemporary Lima, visiting the Plaza Mayor, Government Palace, City Hall, the Cathedral, the Archbishop's Palace, the San Francisco Convent and the Larco Museum. Board an afternoon flight to Cusco and transfer to your hotel in the Sacred Valley.

  3. Day 3overnight: Hotel Sol y Luna, Sacred Valley (Superior)

    Sacred Valley

    An included tour into the heart of the Sacred Valley of the Incas to explore the Chinchero ruins, Moray and the salt pools of Maras. After lunch, visit Ollantaytambo's Inca fortress.

  4. Day 4railovernight: Inkaterra Machu Picchu Pueblo Hotel, Aguas Calientes/Machu Picchu (Deluxe)

    Machu Picchu

    Transfer to Ollantaytambo train station to board the Vistadome train to Aguas Calientes, gateway to Machu Picchu. A guided tour reveals the main plaza, royal quarters, Temple of Three Windows, circular tower and the sacred Sun Dial and burial grounds.

  5. Day 5overnight: Casa Andina Premium, Cusco (Superior)

    Cusco

    An opportunity to return to Machu Picchu for an unguided visit, perhaps climbing Huayna Picchu or walking to the Sun Gate, before returning to Cusco.

  6. Day 6overnight: Casa Andina Premium, Cusco (Superior)

    Cusco

    A half-day city tour showcasing this ancient Andean city, visiting Korikancha (Temple of the Sun), the Plaza de Armas, the San Blas district, the Fortress of Sacsayhuaman and the Baths of the Inca at Kenko and Tambomachay.

  7. Day 7overnight: Belmond Andean Explorer (Deluxe)

    Puno (Lake Titicaca)

    Board the Belmond Andean Explorer for an 11-hour journey to Puno on the shores of Lake Titicaca, passing through the valleys of the high Andes with grazing llamas and vicuñas. Arrive this evening for a gourmet dinner onboard.

  8. Day 8overnight: Casa Andina Premium, Puno (Superior)

    Lake Titicaca

    Disembark and transfer to your hotel in Puno before an included cruise to the Island of Taquile and the floating islands of the Uros Indians.

  9. Day 9

    Depart Lake Titicaca

    Transfer to the airport at Juliaca for your overnight flight, via Lima, back to the UK.

  10. Day 10

    Arrive in the UK

    Arrive in the UK to continue your journey home.

The moments this trip is built around

  • Day 4Board the Vistadome train from Ollantaytambo station to Aguas Calientes, then ascend to explore Machu Picchu's main plaza, royal quarters and Temple of Three Windows with a private guide.
  • Day 7Embark on the Belmond Andean Explorer for an eleven-hour overnight rail journey from Cusco to Puno, passing through high Andean valleys with grazing llamas and remote mountain villages.
  • Day 8Cruise on Lake Titicaca to the Island of Taquile and the floating reed islands of the Uros Indians.

Included

  • Complimentary UK airport lounge access
  • Return flights from London to Lima
  • Domestic flights from Lima to Cusco and from Puno to Lima
  • Private transfers
  • 7 nights accommodation in 4* (Superior) hotels on a B&B basis, 2 lunches and 1 dinner
  • 1 night aboard the Belmond Andean Explorer train ('Spirit of the Water') from Cusco to Puno on a full-board basis including an Open Bar
  • Private excursions with English speaking guides

Questions travellers ask

Is train travel included?
Yes. The package includes the Vistadome train from Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes and one night aboard the Belmond Andean Explorer luxury train from Cusco to Puno with full-board meals and an Open Bar. Domestic flights are also included.
Is the tour escorted or independent?
It is a tailor-made journey with private excursions led by English-speaking guides. You travel as your own group, not in a larger party.
What hotels are included?
Seven nights in four-star Superior hotels: Hotel B in Lima, Hotel Sol y Luna in the Sacred Valley, Inkaterra Machu Picchu Pueblo Hotel in Aguas Calientes, Casa Andina Premium in Cusco and Puno, plus one night aboard the Belmond Andean Explorer train.
When does this trip run?
Departures run year-round. The package is priced from £7,460 for April to May and October to November, and from £7,765 for June to September.
What meals are included?
Seven nights of bed and breakfast in hotels, plus two lunches and one dinner in Lima and the Sacred Valley, plus full-board dining with an Open Bar aboard the Belmond Andean Explorer train.
How much walking is involved?
Expect city walking tours in Lima and Cusco, guided exploration of Machu Picchu ruins, and the option on day 5 to climb Huayna Picchu or hike to the Sun Gate. A lake cruise to Taquile and the Uros islands is also included.

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