SELECT REGION

CURRENT LOCAL WEATHER

Provided by The Weather Channel

Lake Titicaca by Train, All Aboard the Andean Explorer, a Peru Tour Trip Extension by Rail

Machu Picchu & Lake Titicaca Peru Highlights Best of Peru Inca Trail & Lake Titicaca Discover Peru Adventure Peru Lake Titicaca Extension(3D)

Cost: $120/Person
The spectacular Andean Explorer Peru tour begins in historic Cusco and travels south to the beautiful city of Puno, on the shores of Lake Titicaca. We offer this rail alternative to the Cusco/Puno road trip on any of the five tours and trip extensions listed to the right, for an upgrade fee of $120, turning this journey into a first-class luxury trip. The Andean Explorer departs Cusco Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays only.

On this very pleasant train adventure, you'll climb to higher and cooler altitudes. The first half of the trip is dominated by the magnificent Andes that tower over the deep valleys of the meandering Huatanay River before eventually reaching the rolling Andean plains, home to herds of alpaca and the endangered vicuna. Return to Previous Page

All Aboard the Andean Explorer

Andean Explorer Upgrade Service Description

The Andean Explorer is a luxury train of international standards, built by Peruvian craftsmen from designs by James Parks and Associates who designed Singapore Airlines' acclaimed first class cabins. The train is exquisitely appointed. In the fine manner of the great 1920s Pullman trains, it boasts a full fleet of refurbished coaches including dining cars and an open-air observation bar car, unique in South America. All materials are Peruvian with two exceptions: the lamps which are a standard model used in all Orient-Express trains; and the toilet fixtures, due to characteristics and specifications not available in Peru. The Andean Explorer is one of the most luxurious Peru tours available.

During the trip, passengers may participate in any of the following activities:

Make your own Pisco Sour:
Classes are held in the observation bar car for small groups to ensure maximum comfort.
Observe the ritual of an Inca Day-Worshiping Ceremony:
This ceremony is held during the short stop-over in La Raya, the highest journey's point of elevation.
Live Andean Music Show and Happy Hour:
This enjoyable event takes place from 3 PM to 4 PM, during which drinks are offered two for the price of one.

Dining Services

Onboard dining services feature an excellent three-course lunch followed by coffee served in the observation bar car.

Appetizer
- Pisco Sour
Entrée
- Garden Salad of avocados, gherkins pickles, cabbage and palmitos
- Andean Quinoa soup
Main Course
- Papillote Trout, vegetable soufflé and steamed asparagus
- Beef Tournedos in Neapolitan sauce, mashed potatoes and vegetable ratatouille
- Vegetarian Lazagna
Dessert
- Dessert-of-the-day offers a variety of temptations to choose from!
In addition to the above lunch menu options, a breakfast menu is available (at an additional charge) along with various snacks, as well as continuous restaurant and bar services throughout the trip. Since the menu includes alternatives for vegetarian passengers, it is unnecessary to make special arrangements.

Schedule

CUSCO - LAKE TITICACA (PUNO)	LAKE TITICACA (PUNO) - CUSCO
Departs Cusco @ 8:00am Scenic stop in La Raya, highest point on the journey Arrives Juliaca 4:30pm Departs Juliaca 4:35pm Arrives Puno 5:30pm	Departs Puno @ 8:00am Arrives Juliaca 9:10am Departs Juliaca 9:15am Scenic stop in La Raya, highest point on the journey Arrives Cusco 5:30pm

Journey Description

Cuzco
From Cusco, the train heads southeast, along the Huatanay River, through green fields dotted with willow trees and eucalyptus groves, passing outlying communities built around colonial churches.
Mile 15 from Cusco
The train passes through Oropesa, an early-rising community with forty-seven bakeries that have provided Cusco with its daily bread for generations.
Mile 20
Before reaching Lake Muina, the train turns left, crossing the valley road, to join the Vilcanota River at Huambutio as it descends into a deep gorge before widening into the great Urubamba canyon.
Mile 25
Rumicolca is close to the great stone gateway of the same name which guarded the Inca's southern approach to Cusco. For the much earlier Wari culture, Rumicolca served as an aqueduct, channeling water from the picturesque Laguna de Lucre to the walled city at Pikillacta.
Mile 28
The church at Andahuaylillas is one of the jewels in Cusco's colonial crown, boasting a set of magnificent murals and superb colonial-era paintings on diverse religious themes.
Mile 37
At Urcos is the lake that gives this village its name. Urcos is a popular weekend getaway spot for Cusco residents, and according to local legend, a repository for gold hidden by the Incas to prevent the Spanish from melting down their sacred objects.
Mile 50
The villages of Cusipata and Checacupe (at Mile 62) contain Incan and pre-Incan ruins as well as ornate colonial architecture.
Mile 75
At Raqchi, approaching the San Pedro railway station, ruins of the great temple of Viracocha, the Creator God, may be seen off to the left. John Hemming has described Raqchi as "probably the largest roofed building ever built by the Incas." Eleven miles beyond San Pedro, the train stops at Sicuani, a bustling island of commerce amidst a barren landscape. Here Aymara women ferry their goods around this important market town on nimbly-chauffeured taxi-tricycles, or sit before their wares awaiting a buyer.
Mile 115
At Marangani, a 19th century English-style manor house is still home to the descendents of the wool barons who established the region's only textile factory more than a century ago. Here the fertile hills give way to the high plain known as the altiplano. The train continues to climb for another seventeen miles, past the thermal baths at Aguas Calientes to La Raya, 130 miles from Puno. At 14,176 feet above sea level, this is the highest point on the journey, a cold, remote place surrounded by snow-draped peaks often shrouded by mist or fine rain. Crossing this great watershed, the train travels across a sea of seemingly-endless coarse grasslands through timeless villages.
Mile 175
The train reaches Juliaca, a railway-junction town of about 150,000 inhabitants whose bustling commerce at times spills onto the tracks and forces the train to pick its way through market stalls. Juliaca is the last stop on this journey through Andean highland culture before reaching Puno (12,648 ft), an expanding, low-roofed university town which, since its 1968 founding on the shores of Lake Titicaca has gradually scaled the surrounding hills.

SOUTHERN EXPLORATIONS
IS A PROUD
MEMBER / SPONSOR OF THE FOLLOWING ORGANIZATIONS

CONTACT A BOOKING AGENT

CALL
1.877.784.5400
TOLL FREE
OUTSIDE
THE U.S.A. CALL
1.206.784.8111

The journey is broken by a scenic stop at La Raya, which is also the highest point on the route. A small exhibition of local crafts has been arranged by PeruRail at this juncture.

Travellers are advised that this train leaves from a different station in Cusco, Wanchaq Station.

Excellent dining is served which includes a three-course lunch, followed by coffee served in the observation car.

SELECT REGION

SOUTH AMERICA TOURS

CENTRAL AMERICA TOURS

NEW ZEALAND TOURS

TRIPS BY ACTIVITY