Rail experts suggest the best train journeys across Mexico, Central America and South America for 2018.
1. Machu Picchu Train, Peru
The Inca citadel of Machu Picchu was once famously lost, but is now found by more than 2,500 tourists a day. Most of them arrive by rail, on the services of either Peru Rail (part of Belmond, the company that operates the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express), which includes the luxury Hiram Bingham train, or on those of Inca Rail. Next month Inca Rail starts a new service in the hope of stealing some customers from its bigger competitor with its new Machu Picchu Train, which will have taller and wider panoramic windows, stretching into the dome of each carriage, in the style of Canada’s Rocky Mountaineer. The custom-designed train will consist of two sets of three carriages, carrying up to 240 passengers a day on two departures between Poroy and Aguas Calientes (for Machu Picchu), and six departures between Ollantaytambo and Aguas Calientes. Unlike most services on the route, it will have interconnecting carriages, enabling passengers to walk to an open-air observation carriage at the centre, from which they can breathe the mountain air and take photographs as they pass through the Sacred Valley.
Cox & Kings has an 11-day/nine-night private tour to Peru that includes a trip on the new train. From £1,995, including flights, transfers, accommodation throughout and excursions; 0203 642 0861; coxandkings.co.uk