It has been named one of the world’s most beautiful train rides and rightfully so. The journey from Cusco to Puno on the Andean Explorer is worth every penny. Not only is the scenery breathtaking, but the experience is unforgettable.
All aboard!
If your budget permits, this 10 hour train trip is a truly unique experience. At $210, it doesn’t come cheap, but I loved every minute of it (well at least the first 6 – 7 hours and then I started to get antsy).
Riding this train makes you feel as though you’ve stepped back in time. Red roses adorn the tables and a three course lunch, as well as afternoon tea, are served during the trip. The service is immaculate and staff take pride in their jobs. The Andean Explorer has a bar car serving the infamous Pisco Sours and an observatory car, where you can sit and watch the world go by.
Train interior
The train departs at 8 a.m. from the city of Cusco and arrives in Puno around dinner time. Be prepared for a serious temperature change though, as Puno, home to Lake Titicaca, the highest navigable lake in the world, can get pretty chilly at times (think sweater, jacket and a hat at night).
Riding the rails
There’s very little to do on the journey, expect sit back, relax and watch the world go by. On a trip where you’re going non-stop, this can be a welcome change. The train travels hundreds of kilometers through what it at times is a desolate, barren landscape. Herds of llamas and alpacas roam the vast fields and the train rumbles through the small towns, that feel as though they could be a set for a country and western film.
One of the many small towns along the way, this one felt like a movie set
I was in awe of the women, hard at work out in the fields. Interestingly, it seemed to be predominantly women toiling away outdoors. This did not look like an easy life and it made me feel extremely grateful to be taking this train ride.
Hard at work
Stops were made throughout the trip and we were able to disembark at one point. Locals from nearby villages had brought their colourful sweaters, hats and scarves to market stalls near the train stop. I bought a soft alpaca scarf, which helped to keep me warm in Puno.
Local woman whom I purchased my scarf from
A remote corner of Southern Peru taken on our stop at the market
We passed the hours sipping coffee, pisco sours and local beer and enjoying the hot sun out on the observatory car – it was one of the most relaxing experiences of the entire trip.
Watching the world go by
If you’re planning on visiting Puno, there are obviously other transportation options, but if time and money permit, a trip on the Andean Explorer is a day well spent.
Middle of nowhere Peru
July 6, 2012 at 3:07 pm
I would have never expected the train to appear that “fancy” (for lack of a better word). The price is a little steep but I bet it was a cool experience.
July 6, 2012 at 4:51 pm
Thanks for the comment Elle! Fancy is the perfect word choice actually. The price was steep, but it was a great opportunity to see a different part of the country. We could have flown, or crammed into a bus, but this allowed for a really special experience. I don’t think I’ll be back in Peru any time soon, so this gave us the chance to see as much of the landscape as possible.
November 2, 2012 at 1:17 pm
Nice overview! It reminds me of a blog post one of my colleagues recently wrote about the bus journey from Puno to Cuzco (http://www.saluxuryexpeditions.com/blog/seeing-the-sites-puno-to-cuzco/).
Now we just need someone to go from Puno to Cuzco via train, and return via bus, and let us know which is better!
November 2, 2012 at 4:12 pm
Thank you! I enjoyed reading her post. The bus sounds like a great option as well and includes what look like some really interesting stops. Will have to try it, if I make it back there.