DESTINATIONS — LATIN AMERICA
Sumaq Machu Picchu Hotel
Inca Trail departure on the classic route for those aged 11 and older.
Hiram Bingham train
l TREK-FREE CHOICES Of course, it’s not obligatory to hike to see Machu Picchu. Hundreds of thousands of people visit every year without going anywhere near a tent or a pair of walking boots. The site may be remote, but it benefits from a finely oiled tourist infrastructure, with buses shuttling visitors on a 20-minute journey to and from the ruins, from the nearby town of Machu Picchu Pueblo (formerly known as Aguas Calientes). Packed with hotels, clothing
stalls and tourist restaurants, the town lacks an authentic Peruvian feel but is nicely set up for short-term visitors. Notable accommodation options include the 60-room Sumaq Machu Picchu Hotel, or for visitors looking to be as close as possible to the main attraction, the upmarket 31-room Belmond Sanctuary Lodge is the
only property adjacent to the ruins. With the release of the new
Paddington movie, fans may be keen to see the critically endangered spectacled bears. Guests at the 85-apartment Inkaterra Machu Picchu Pueblo Hotel can combine the two, with access to the nearby Inca site, and a visit to the Inkaterra Machu Picchu Spectacled Bear Project, where bears harmed by human impact are reintroduced to their mountain habitat. Reaching the Machu Picchu
region is best done by rail. Luxury- seekers will enjoy the 1920s-style Hiram Bingham train, which runs a three-hour journey from the Cusco area and offers quality dining and an observation car. A large number of standard rail services also operate. Make sure that train tickets and Machu Picchu passes (officially, up to 2,500 people can visit the site daily) are both purchased well in advance so clients aren’t disappointed. TW
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travelweekly.co.uk — 4 December 2014
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