There are moments in life that feel almost outside of time. When a place you’ve seen only in photographs suddenly becomes part of your own story. For Engage!25 Peru guests, that moment came at magnificent Machu Picchu. Rising high above the Sacred Valley, this Inca citadel has long been a symbol of wonder and resilience. And for our attendees, the journey there was every bit as unforgettable as the site itself. It was a day of history, culture, and celebration. From the legendary Belmond Hiram Bingham train to the terraces of the Sanctuary Lodge and a spirited return journey after nightfall, this was Engage! at its most iconic.
All Aboard the Hiram Bingham
For Engage!-ers, the adventure to Machu Picchu began not with a climb, but with a whistle. At Poroy Station, just outside Cusco, our group was greeted with music and dance from performers dressed in traditional Incan clothing, and a sparkling welcome drink. It was the first hint that this would be no ordinary journey. As we stepped into the polished carriages of the Hiram Bingham, the world shifted to one of timeless elegance. Polished wood panels, gleaming brass, and plush upholstered armchairs evoked the golden age of travel. Meanwhile, attentive staff ensured every detail ran on schedule.
As the train pulled out, anticipation built with every turn of the wheels. A lavish meal was served in the dining car, while the bar car thrummed with live Peruvian music. Guests watched fields of corn and potato crops slip past, before the valley gave way to soaring peaks and the rushing Urubamba River. Clouds dotted blue skies and curled around the jagged mountains as we descended into the lush forest. Attendees mingled between cars, trading stories as the champagne flowed, and every view outside seemed more dramatic than the last. By the time we rolled into Machu Picchu station, it was clear that the journey had already cemented itself as one of the trip’s highlights.
Of course, no Engage! journey would be complete without a few signature flourishes woven in along the way. Each table in the dining car was set with a bespoke art deco–inspired menu created by TPD Design House. Cleverly designed to echo the train itself, the piece featured an illustrated carriage scene. A turning wheel that revealed not only the day’s culinary delights but also the shifting landscapes outside the window. Plush cushions embroidered with the Engage!25 Peru insignia were also scattered across seats for both comfort and style. Meanwhile, the attendees themselves completed the picture in hats, ponchos, stripes, and patterns galore.
The Citadel in the Clouds
The final approach to Machu Picchu is as dramatic as the site itself. A winding road cut into the mountainside delivered our group toward the entrance, climbing steadily through mist and forest. Trees clung to sheer cliffs, and the valley seemed to fall away beneath us. Then, almost suddenly, the path opened and there it was: the citadel with its terraces spilling down toward the valley, stone walls gleaming in the late afternoon light. However familiar the image might be from books or screens, nothing prepares you for the real thing.
Built in the 15th century during the reign of Emperor Pachacútec, rediscovered in 1911, and now preserved as a UNESCO World Heritage site, Machu Picchu remains a symbol of both human ingenuity and deep harmony with nature. Nearly 200 structures, including temples, observatories, plazas, and homes, are arranged with astonishing precision against the backdrop of the Andes peaks. At this meeting point of mountain and jungle, the citadel also shelters rare plants and wildlife, a living sanctuary as well as a cultural one. For our attendees, gathered from across the globe, the effect was overwhelming: awe, wonder, and a shared sense of connection, standing together in one of the world’s great wonders.
Sacred Pause: Sanctuary Lodge & Coca Leaf Blessing
After exploring the citadel, the group gathered at Sanctuary Lodge, a Belmond Hotel. The only hotel perched beside Machu Picchu itself, its terrace looks out over the ridgelines. Here, surrounded by the mountains and the fragrance of herbs from the lodge’s own gardens, we stepped into a ritual even older than the stones of the city we had just walked through.
A shaman led us in a traditional coca leaf blessing, an ancestral practice deeply rooted in Andean culture. It involves reading the shapes and patterns of the leaves as they fall, offering guidance and connection to Pachamama, Mother Earth. For many, it was a moment of grounding. A reminder that Machu Picchu is not just an archaeological marvel but a living landscape still imbued with spiritual meaning. It was a chance to honour the sacred before the celebration rolled on.
Party on Rails
If the outward journey set the stage, the return ride was a joyful encore. As dusk settled over the Sacred Valley, the Hiram Bingham shifted gears from stately to spirited. The whole carriage seemed to sway in time with the rails, a moving dance floor carried along by momentum and music. Somewhere between Ollantaytambo and Cusco, there was a true highlight: a once-in-an-Engage! duet between Alex of ALR Music and Jordan Kahn, their voices rising together as the train sped through the darkness. It was the kind of unscripted moment that no timetable could predict, but everyone was glad to be on board for.
And when the brakes finally hissed and the wheels slowed, no one was ready for the celebration to stop. The party simply changed platforms, rolling back into the bar at Monasterio. The late-night hours were spent with more drinks, more dancing, more laughter.
Machu Picchu will always be a wonder, a place where stone and spirit meet. But for Engage!25 Peru, it became an experience lived in full: the anticipation of the train, the reverence of the site, the grounding of the coca leaf blessing, and the joy of a celebration that refused to fade. For those who were there, it will remain not just a checkmark on a bucket list, but a deeply etched memory. A wonder of the world, experienced the Engage! way.
To see more from the trip, visit our gallery.
