We communicate to our passengers and tourism operators that, due to the modification in the circuits to visit the Llaqta of Machu Picchu, made by the Ministry of Culture, from June 1st the Hiram Bingham, A Belmond Train service, will purchase the following circuits for its passengers in a prioritized way:

• Circuit 2 – Designed Classic Route
• Circuit 2 – Lower Terrace Route

Optionally, we will purchase the low route:

• Circuit 3 – Royalty Designed Route

In any of the circuits purchased, the schedule will be from 13:00 or 14:00 hours.

We specify that these changes are in accordance with the new circuits that group 10 routes to visit the Inca City of Machu Picchu.

We also inform that, the Hiram Bingham, A Belmond Train service can only guarantee the entry tickets to the archeological center for the passengers who have tickets issued 45 days before their travel date.

Due to the capacity and demand of visitors to the Llaqta, the purchase is always subject to availability and we are not in a position to ensure entry tickets to Machu Picchu for the passengers who buy at the last moment.

We appreciate your understanding and commit ourselves to providing unforgettable experiences on board the Hiram Bingham, A Belmond Train. Our personalized service consists of taking care of all the details on each and every trip to Machu Picchu.

For more details and assistance, please contact us at our central office at the telephone 01 6254848.

Sincerely,
Sales Team, Belmond Trains.

As of the above date, only the Peruvian Highlands route will be in operation with departures on Thursdays, and the Andean Plains & Islands of Discovery route will be in operation with departures on Sundays, according to the following itinerary:

PERUVIAN HIGHLANDS (Cusco – Puno – Arequipa)

DAY 1 – Thursday
10:00 Check-in
11:00 Departure of the train from Cusco
12:30 Lunch on board
14:00 Visit to Raqchi Archaeological site
15:45 Afternoon tea in the bar car
17:20 Arrival at La Raya
19:00 Cocktails and canapés at the Piano bar car 19:30 Dinner on board
23:30 Arrival at Lake Titicaca station – Puno Dock

DAY 2 – Friday
06:00 Breakfast on board
08:30 Tour of Lake Titicaca
14:00 Return to the train station and boarding
16:50 Departure to Saracocha
19:00 Cocktails and canapés at the Piano bar car
19:30 Dinner on board
21:15 Arrival at Saracocha
* Observation of stars and constellations
(Subject to weather conditions)

DAY 3 – Saturday
06:00 Breakfast on board
09:50 Tour to the Sumbay Caves
11:30 Stop at Km 93: Disembark for guests going independently to the Colca Canyon
12:30 Lunch on board
15:30 Arrival to Arequipa. An optional guided transfer to the airport is available

ANDEAN PLAINS & ISLANDS OF DISCOVERY (Arequipa – Puno – Cusco)

DAY 1 – Sunday
09:00 Check-in at Arequipa Station
10:00 Departure of the train from Arequipa
12:30 Lunch on board
14:10 Tour to Sumbay Caves
18:20 Arrival at Saracocha
19:00 Cocktail and canapés on board
19:30 Dinner on board
23:00 Arrival at Puno Muelle

DAY 2 – Monday
06:00 Breakfast on board
08:30 Tour of Lake Titicaca
16:00 Return to the station and boarding
16:50 Departure to Marangani
19:00 Cocktails and canapés on board
19:30 Dinner on board
23:30 Arrival at Maranganí

DAY 3 – Tuesday
06:00 Breakfast on board
07:30 Departure to Cusco
08:35 Visit to the archaeological site of Raqchi
11:30 Brunch in the bar car
13:15 Arrival in Cusco – Wanchaq Station

These itineraries will also have the option of boarding in short sections, according to the following days of the week:

Thursday: Cusco – Puno
Friday: Puno – Arequipa
Sunday: Arequipa – Puno
Monday: Puno – Cusco

The changes in our operations will come into effect starting next year. We will announce the opening of the 2025 inventory in a timely manner.

This new proposal aims to provide our passengers with a more complete experience and with more travel options to enjoy the journey offered by the only luxury train with sleeping cabins in South America, and to contemplate the beauty of the Peruvian Andes in its maximum splendor.

For more information and assistance, please contact your sales executive or our telephone center at 016254848.

Kind regards,
Sales Team, Belmond Trains

Foto 1: Titicaca Lake

Have you thought of exploring this lovely city? Join us as we fully convince you to take this journey.

Why is Puno considered the Capital of Peruvian Folklore?

Puno is the land of more than 300 dances that are highlighted by their costumes, choreography, music, and tradition which are each steeped in their own story. All of this led to the city’s recognition on November 7, 1985 as the Capital of Peruvian Folklore.

These dances are mostly performed at the different festivities celebrated in the city of Puno:

• The Feast of the Virgin of Candelaria (February 2)
• Carnival – Feast of Joy (Between February and March)
• Easter Week (Between March and April)
• Feast of the Alasitas (May 1)
• Feast of Santiago Apostol (July 25)
• Feast of All Saints and All Souls (November 1 and 2)
• Puno’s Anniversary (November 4)

Let’s take a deeper look into the iconic dances of the Department of Puno.

La Diablada

This is the main folk dance troupe and one of the most iconic that Puno has to offer. A popular legend linked to the worship of the Virgin of Candelaria says that, in 1675, some miners who were trapped in a mine shaft dreamt of the Virgin and prayed to her, and this led to a battle that represented the fight between good and evil.

Foto 2: Diablada

However, recent studies take its origin further back to 1577, when the Jesuits settled in Juli, which today is the capital of the Province of Chucuito.

The dancers make their offerings to Pachamama to the tune of their panpipes, dressed in dazzling costumes and completely masked.

Sikuris

This dance originated on the Altiplano, the highland plateau, particularly because of their worship of mythical Andean beings such as the condor, the suri (the ostrich of the high Andes), the Pachamama (Mother Earth), the apus or mountaintops, the sun, and the moon.

Foto 3: Sikuris

The dance carries a martial rhythm and expresses the deepest sentiments of the inhabitants of Puno. It features the panpipe (or siku), the wind instrument made of pipes of different diameters and lengths, and the drums that set the pace.

Pandilla Puneña

The Marinera and Pandilla Puneña is a hybrid that originated in Puno and is danced the length of the country. It is an unhurried but happy rhythm that expresses the elegance of the women of Puno and the gallantry of the men.

It begins as a marinera, with features similar to the different marinera dances in other regions and is then followed by a Huayno Pandillero or Pandilla. This Pandilla traces its origins to an urban setting in the city of Puno, created in a low social stratum known as “cholada” and then adjusted for a higher social status.

Foto 4: Pandilla Puneña and Huyano Pandillero

The women wear colorful and finely woven shawls and their traditional skirts or polleras. They also wear white blouses and bowler-type hats, with their hair tightly combed into two braids.

The men wear a jacket, white shirt and trousers and a Borsalino-type hat. Many of the clothes are a mix of black and white. They also wear a colorful shawl on their shoulders, which Puno men used to wear in days gone by.

Tundique, Tuntuna and Caporales

The Tundique dance is a reminder of how the black slaves lived during the Colonial period until they were freed. Its origin is a controversy between Peru and Bolivia. The dance is performed mainly by black dancers who play the different roles of slaves, a lawyer, a ranch formal and a female slave.

Foto 5: Tundique

The Tuntuna dance is an offshoot of the Tundique. It tells the story of how the black slaves were forced to work in the mines in the Altiplano. Their rhythms and dances were blended with the local dances, giving shape to a new way of expressing their dance.

Foto 6: Tuntuna

The dance of the Caporales is an offshoot of the Tuntuna, taking on more colorful and dazzling costumes. The movements are more expressive and acrobatic.

Foto 7: Caporales

Besides these already mentioned, there are also many more dances: the Wifala, Morenada, Tucumanos, Qhapu, Tita Titas, Papa Tarpuy, Kajchas, Casarasiri, etc.

Puno dances not only celebrate history and folklore but also invite us to join in a vibrant weaving of rhythm, color and meaning. With each step, gesture and costume, these dances capture the essence of the soul itself of the Andes, transporting us to a world of beauty connected to the place’s roots.

You can get to the city of Puno aboard our PeruRail Titicaca train, on which you can enjoy a luxurious experience you will always remember. Cross the Peruvian Andes to reach the shores of the mystical Lake Titicaca on a completely exclusive train on a route that has been prized for its beauty

This majestic experience includes a three-course gourmet lunch, a show and taste session of the famous Pisco Sour, live typical music and dances and, of course, one of the best views you can ever have of the Peruvian Andes. Get your tickets here!

Our Hiram Bingham service will be operating during all week, except the last Sunday of the month on its regular itinerary Cusco – Machu Picchu – Cusco or with boarding from Ollantaytambo station according to the bellow schedule:

For more information and assistance, please contact us through our Call Center at 01 6254848.

Kind regards,
Sales Team, Belmond Trains

The reestablishment of the railway operations in Cusco is possible after receiving the notice from Ferrocarril Transandino S.A., concessionaire of the railway, authorizing the circulation of passenger trains through the Pomatales gorge on the indicated date.

We are pleased to announce that our tourist train services with departure from and arrival to the stations of San Pedro and Poroy will be operational again. We will also continue providing the bimodal service (bus + train) between the stations of Wanchaq and Ollantaytambo in their regular itineraries.

The tourist train services with regular itineraries from & to Ollantaytambo station will continue operating with their usual schedules.

For more information and assistance, please contact us through our reservation department at 01-6254848.

Kind regards,
PeruRail S.A.

As of the above date, the meeting point for the check-in of the itinerary operated on Tuesdays and Thursdays will be Monasterio, A Belmond Hotel, according to the following specifications:

• Since 10:00 a.m., passengers will be able to enter by the chapel of the hotel and register their luggage.
• Once registered, our team will get you around. Passengers will be able to go to the lobby bar of the hotel.
• At the end of the procedure, passengers will be transported to the Wanchaq station by private sprinters in order to board our Andean Explorer, A Belmond Train service.

While this registration and check-in process is being carried out, passengers will have the opportunity to enjoy live music and a welcome drink or hot beverages, according to the guest’s preferences.

The changes in our operation are a sign of continuous improvement commitment in the services and assistance of the company in order to offer a luxury experience in the journey of our passengers. This measure is the guarantee of the care with which we intend to serve the users who choose our trains.

For further information and assistance, please contact our call center at 01 6254848.

Kind regards,
Sales Team, Belmond Trains

This measure is taken in compliance with the notification send by the concessionaire Ferrocarril Transandino S.A. by suspending the railway operations between Machu Picchu and Hydroelectric until the indicated date, due to the landslide registered on February 25th.

We regret any inconvenience these measures may cause to our passengers; nevertheless, these natural events registered in the area are not related to our company’s will.

We also let you know that the concessionaire will perform restoration works in the affected area; therefore, our railway operations may have delays in their travel itineraries since the affected sector is used for operations. In that case, we will let our passengers know on time.

PeruRail will continue providing assistance and flexibility to change and refund tickets to the passengers. Therefore, passengers who wish to change their travel date will be able to do so without additional cost at all our points of sale in Lima and Cusco, which can be found in the following link: https://www.perurail.com/find-us/. If passengers decide to cancel their trip, a refund of their tickets can be requested through the refund form posted on our website: https://www.perurail.com/tickets-refund/.

For travel agencies, changes will be made through our Call Center, while refunds will be managed through the sales and reservations web system (Travel Studio).

For more information and assistance, please contact our Call Center at the following number: 01 6254848 or to your sales executive.

Kind regards,
PeruRail S.A.

This measure is taken in compliance with the notification send by the concessionaire Ferrocarril Transandino S.A. by suspending the railway operations between Machu Picchu and Hydroelectric until the indicated date, due to the landslide registered on February 25th.

We regret any inconvenience these measures may cause to our passengers; nevertheless, these natural events registered in the area are not related to our company’s will.

We also let you know that the concessionaire will perform restoration works in the affected area; therefore, our railway operations may have delays in their travel itineraries since the affected sector is used for operations. In that case, we will let our passengers know on time.

PeruRail will continue providing assistance and flexibility to change and refund tickets to the passengers. Therefore, passengers who wish to change their travel date will be able to do so without additional cost at all our points of sale in Lima and Cusco, which can be found in the following link: https://www.perurail.com/find-us/. If passengers decide to cancel their trip, a refund of their tickets can be requested through the refund form posted on our website: https://www.perurail.com/tickets-refund/.

For travel agencies, changes will be made through our Call Center, while refunds will be managed through the sales and reservations web system (Travel Studio).

For more information and assistance, please contact our Call Center at the following number: 01 6254848 or to your sales executive.

Kind regards,
PeruRail S.A.

This measure is taken in compliance with the notification send by the concessionaire Ferrocarril Transandino S.A. by suspending the railway operations between Machu Picchu and Hydroelectric due to the landslide registered last night between kilometers 114 and 115.

We regret any inconvenience these measures may cause to our passengers; nevertheless, these natural events registered in the area are not related to our company’s will.

We also let you know that the concessionaire will perform restoration works in the affected area; therefore, our railway operations may have delays in their travel itineraries since the affected sector is used for operations. In that case, we will let our passengers know on time.

PeruRail will continue providing assistance and flexibility to change and refund tickets to the passengers. Therefore, passengers who wish to change their travel date will be able to do so without additional cost at all our points of sale in Lima and Cusco, which can be found in the following link: https://www.perurail.com/find-us/. If passengers decide to cancel their trip, a refund of their tickets can be requested through the refund form posted on our website: https://www.perurail.com/tickets-refund/.

For travel agencies, changes will be made through our Call Center, while refunds will be managed through the sales and reservations web system (Travel Studio).

It is important to mention that the Machu Picchu Archaeological Complex continues to operate normally, as well as the train services connecting Cusco, Ollantaytambo and Machu Picchu Pueblo.

For more information and assistance, please contact our Call Center at the following number: 01 6254848 or to your sales executive.

Kind regards,
PeruRail S.A.

Arequipa is known as the White City because of its architecture, built with white volcanic stone, called sillar. However, many people have thought of giving it another name, since their landscapes are surrounded by four imposing volcanoes.

Get to know a little more about these great volcanoes in this small tour, starting with the highest:

The snowy top of the Ampato Volcano in Arequipa

At the highest peak of the plateau, the volcano Ampato emerges at 6,288 MASL. Its name means “frog” in Aymara, referring to its imposing shape. If you want to visit it, a 4×4 vehicle will guide you to the base camp. From there, only the bravest climbers begin the ascent to the top.

Chachani volcano between the clouds of Arequipa

The Chachani volcano is located in the south of the Ampato volcano, at 6.075 MASL. It is the favorite of every traveler because the ascent is easy and can be done in a single day with an expert. Because of global warming, the top of the volcano is losing its glaciers. Do not miss the opportunity to visit it as soon as possible and enjoy the purest air of the Andes.

The Misti volcano with its snowy top and the city of Arequipa at the bottom.

A few kilometers to the south, the Misti volcano is located, at 5,825 MASL. The city of Arequipa is born at the bottom of the volcano. Because of this, it is the best–known volcano by tourists and settlers. The ascent to the summit has to be done gradually during two days, and once at the summit, you can appreciate the city from a distance.

The sunrise of the Pichu Pichu volcano with its snowy summit in Arequipa.

To finish the tour, at the south of the Misti the Pichu Pichu volcano is located, at 5,644 MASL. It has the lowest altitude of the four, reason why the ascent to the top only lasts seven hours. A perfect trek for all travelers who wants to enjoy the highlands from the clouds.

When you travel to Arequipa do not hesitate to visit some of these imposing volcanoes that protect the white city.