Hola! Around South America on LAN

[love_the_life]

The Belmond at MP (previously Orient Express) cannot be beaten for location and convenience, though I do hope they have improved the road from AC up there! Hiram Bingham is great fun for one of the directions. We did the dinner train back though perhaps not great for kids as lots of drinking and partying (that was a hoot!).

 

[RooFlyer]

The Belmond at MP (previously Orient Express) cannot be beaten for location and convenience, though I do hope they have improved the road from AC up there! Hiram Bingham is great fun for one of the directions. We did the dinner train back though perhaps not great for kids as lots of drinking and partying (that was a hoot!).

Having seen it last April I can't imagine that the road has improved much! In fact they were repairing one corner which was almost taken out a few months before by a landslide :shock: .

 

[kpc]

Another ripper of a resource for our trip planning. Thinking we'd like to see MP and Iguazu.

Just booked Belmond Sanctuary as there was only two nights available that align with our dates in May 2016 :shock: Thought I best secure the rooms and work everything around it.

LOL - I haven't completed bookings for upcoming xmas holiday

When we visited MP in 2012, we stayed here when it was known as Machu Picchu Sanctuary lodge...it cost an "ouch" amount but it is the ONLY hotel at MP itself; the hotel at best was 3.5 stars but as they say...location, location,location....we figured we would only visit MP once in our lives, so we coughed up! If you are visiting Iguazu Falls, you must stay at Starwood Hotels & Resorts It is the only hotel within the National Park (Argentina side), and you can get rooms with a view of the Falls themselves...nothing better than going to the Falls before breakfast and enjoying the Falls with solitude and peace before the hoardes of tourists arrive by bus from their hotels in Puerto Iguazu. If you intend to see the Falls from the Brazillian side, don't forget to get a Brazillian visa.... we thought we could slip a few dollars to the officers at the border as was the common practice but this was clamped down just before we got there. If you are visiting Iguazu, then you should spend a few days in BsAs.... a great city also known as "Paris of the South"

 

[love_the_life]

Belmond Hotel das Cataratas is within the National Park on the Brazilian side, however. We stayed at the Sheraton on the Argentine side and whilst the location is great, the hotel was pretty poor in terms of general service and amenities. If I were to return I would head to the Belmond instead I think.

 

[amaroo]

The Belmond at MP (previously Orient Express) cannot be beaten for location and convenience, though I do hope they have improved the road from AC up there! Hiram Bingham is great fun for one of the directions. We did the dinner train back though perhaps not great for kids as lots of drinking and partying (that was a hoot!).

No kids this trip Special birthday special for SWMBO ... can't help being within the school term

We've got two nights (incl the B'day) at Bingham MP and we're going to book the BHB train back to Cuzco based on your recommendation ... hope its good

 

[amaroo]

When we visited MP in 2012, we stayed here when it was known as Machu Picchu Sanctuary lodge...it cost an "ouch" amount but it is the ONLY hotel at MP itself; the hotel at best was 3.5 stars but as they say...location, location,location....we figured we would only visit MP once in our lives, so we coughed up! If you are visiting Iguazu Falls, you must stay at Starwood Hotels & Resorts It is the only hotel within the National Park (Argentina side), and you can get rooms with a view of the Falls themselves...nothing better than going to the Falls before breakfast and enjoying the Falls with solitude and peace before the hoardes of tourists arrive by bus from their hotels in Puerto Iguazu. If you intend to see the Falls from the Brazillian side, don't forget to get a Brazillian visa.... we thought we could slip a few dollars to the officers at the border as was the common practice but this was clamped down just before we got there. If you are visiting Iguazu, then you should spend a few days in BsAs.... a great city also known as "Paris of the South"

Decided our 10 days is not enough to fit in the falls ... so we're focusing on Sacred Valley, MP and Peru in general. Amazingly, I've spent the day reviewing and have just about sorted all bookings. I'm glad I started looking today given the limited availability in MP.

Belmond MP looks small, tired and $$$$$ ... however, the location is spectacular, it's a birthday, and I hate bus rides up and down winding roads.

 

[love_the_life]

.....and we're going to book the BHB train back to Cuzco based on your recommendation ... hope its good

So do I We had a great time - pisco sours in the bar car with singing and dancing (all included) then a three course dinner.
You're right about the hotel - it's certainly not 5 star but is much more convenient that travelling that road! And the bar is OK, especially as drinks are all included.

 

[UpInTheAir:)]

No kids this trip Special birthday special for SWMBO ... can't help being within the school term

We've got two nights (incl the B'day) at Bingham MP and we're going to book the BHB train back to Cuzco based on your recommendation ... hope its good

Sounds great! Hope you both have a wonderful time

 

[Bindibuys]

And if you can score the front 2 seats on the train (which we did) then you have nothing in front of you except the view (the driver sits in a small compartment next to you)

 

[Milboo]

Don't go back to Cusco! Stop at the Belmond Rio Sagrado for a day or 2! You will not regret it!

And RooFlyer - I know the corner you are talking about and they were still working on it in August!

 

[amaroo]

Stop at the Belmond Rio Sagrado for a day or 2! You will not regret it!

Booked in down the road at Tambo del Inka. Have started negations with Belmond about releasing an extra night at their MP property ... our offer, that we're prepared to move to Rio Sagrado seems to have done the trick.

 

[RooFlyer]

A few bonus pics, mainly for amaroo


That's the Belmond in the LH pic, and swivelling right, that's the entrance to Machu Picchu. yes, it is a bit of a zoo here - where the busses decant their passengers, and there's the bottleneck to get in. But beyond this, its not too bad.




This was in my hotel in Aguas Calientes. Bartender started off making my complimentary pisco sour. Lovely. That consumed, he got cracking - two at a time (only one of them was for me!)




Meanwhile, on the train to Cusco, very good service. I'd like to see this on QF

 

[amaroo]

Chévere! Thanks to RooFlyer and the many others that have taken the time to point me in the right direction.

All Belmond and Titilaka Lodge bookings are confirmed Have started reviewing internal flights - have 5 flights all up so I'm thinking I'll push some business towards Avianca (Amigo) to cement that Dia SM they gave me

 

[RooFlyer]

Chévere! Thanks to RooFlyer and the many others that have taken the time to point me in the right direction.

All Belmond and Titilaka Lodge bookings are confirmed Have started reviewing internal flights - have 5 flights all up so I'm thinking I'll push some business towards Avianca (Amigo) to cement that Dia SM they gave me

Avianca with Amigo is Avianca Brazil of course; different airline than Avianca based in Colombia, but still *A.

 

[Beckk]

Great itinerary!

 

[Gem56]

This is the ONLY way you would get me going up and down those hills

Ha ha, love it. I agree, I haven't seen THOSE hills up close and personal yet, but the photos make me feel the same way.

 

[Straubs]

RooFlyer - I really enjoyed this TR - thinking of adding Iguassu Falls to our May trip now. Thanks again!

 

[Myrna]

Just read this TR - particularly the section on Iguazu Falls. Thank you RooFlyer. We plan a trip there in September 2019. Still a long way but I like to read as much as I can to get ideas before doing our itinerary.
[PS - I am one of those people who take photos using ipads! I find it easier to see the large screen. I use my iPhone too.]

 

[JohnM]

I just happen to be sitting on the terrace of The Belmond at Iguassu Falls right now. Not staying here as that is only for plutocrats like @RooFlyer...

But I have a booking for dinner. The hotel shuttle will take me to the park entrance and they will also book a taxi to meet me there and take me back to my hotel in town.

WiFi at this 5-star joint seems too slow to easily upload pics, so I’ll skip the sunset view.

Time for a caipirinha...

 

[Myrna]

I just happen to be sitting on the terrace of The Belmond at Iguassu Falls right now. Not staying here as that is only for plutocrats like @RooFlyer...

But I have a booking for dinner. The hotel shuttle will take me to the park entrance and they will also book a taxi to meet me there and take me back to my hotel in town.

WiFi at this 5-star joint seems too slow to easily upload pics, so I’ll skip the sunset view.

Time for a caipirinha...

Have read about the Belmond on the Brazil side of the falls and the Melia (formerly Sheraton) on the Argentina side. Have budgeted 2 nights at the Melia. We have been to Victoria Falls twice (on the Zimbabwe side) and Niagara Falls twice (one on the US side and one on the Canadian side). So it will be interesting to see Iguazu falls on both Brazil and Argentina sides.

Anything interesting we should be made aware of about Iguazu falls? Sounded like you are enjoying yourself.