On the journey, the train makes a gentle climb to
higher, and cooler, altitudes. The first half of the journey is dominated by the
magnificent Andean mountains which towers over the deep valleys of the
meandering Huatanay River. It then reaches the gentler, rolling Andean Plains,
where vicuсa and alpaca can be seen. If travelling aboard the Andean Explorer,
the glass-walled observation car provides the perfect opportunity to view the
beautiful scenery.
The journey is broken by a scenic stop at La Raya,
which is also the highest point on the route.
Travellers can choose to travel on either the first
class carriages of the Andean Explorer or the Backpacker carriages.
Train journey between Cuzco (Cusco) and Lake
Titicaca (or vice versa), three-course lunch. In additional to the complimentary
lunch a Breakfast Menu, along with various snacks and a continuous Restaurant
and Bar service is available at an additional cost.
JOURNEY
Cuzco - from Cuzco (Cusco), the train heads south-east, following the Huatanay
River through green fields dotted with willow trees and eucalyptus groves, and
passing outlying communities gathered around colonial churches.
25 Km from Cuzco - the train passes through Oropesa, an early-rising community
whose forty-seven bakeries have provided Cuzco (Cusco) with its daily bread for
generations.
32 Km - before reaching Lake Muina, the train turns to the left, crossing the
valley road, to join the Vilcanota River at Huambutio as it plunges sharply into
its gorge before widening into the great Urubamba canyon.
40 Km - at Rumicolca, we are close to the great stone gateway of the same name
which, for the Incas, silently guarded the southern approach to Cuzco (Cusco).
For the much earlier Wari culture it served as an aqueduct, channeling water
from the picturesque Laguna de Lucre to their walled city at Pikillacta.
45 Km - the church at
Andahuaylillas
is one of the jewels in Cuzco’s colonial crown and boasts a magnificent series
of murals and superb colonial-era paintings, all on diverse religious themes.
59 Km - at Urcos lies the lake which gives the
village its name. Urcos is both a popular spot for weekenders from Cuzco (Cusco)
and as local legend suggests, the repository of Inca gold hidden there forever
by local chieftains, anxious to prevent the Spanish from melting down their
sacred objects.
80 Km - the two villages of Cusipata and Checacupe
(at 99 km) hide unexpected treasures of both pre-Columbian and colonial origin,
from fine Inca and pre-Inca remains, to yet another ornately-decorated 17th
century church.
120 Km - at
Raqchi, just
before the San Pedro railway station, the remains of the great temple of
Viracocha, the creator god, can just be seen to the left of the train. Raqchi
has been described by John Hemming as "probably the largest roofed building ever
built by the Incas". Seventeen km beyond San Pedro, the train stops at Sicuani,
a bustling island of commerce amid a barren landscape. Aymara women ferry their
goods around this important market town on nimbly-chauffeured taxi-tricycles, or
sit impassively before their wares awaiting a buyer.
186 Km - at Marangani, where an English-style manor
house built in the last century is still home to the descendents of the wool
barons who established the regions only textile factory there more than one
hundred years ago, Cuzco’s fertile hills give way to the high plain known as the
Altiplano.
The train continues to climb for another 27 Km, past
the thermal baths at Aguas Calientes to La Raya, 210 Km from Puno. At 4,321
meters above sea level this is the highest point on the journey, a cold, remote
place whose surrounding snow-draped peaks are often shrouded by mist or fine
rain, and whose eerie silence is at least partly attributable to eardrums
blocked by the dizzying altitude. Crossing this great watershed, the train
travels across a sea of seemingly-endless coarse grassland through villages lost
to time for all but the Coca Cola company and local breweries.
281 Km - the train reaches Juliaca, a commercial
railway-junction town of around 150,000 inhabitants, whose rampant buying and
selling seems at times to virtually spill onto the tracks and force the train to
pick its way through their stalls.
Juliaca is the last stop on this journey through
Andean highland culture before reaching Puno (3,855 meters), an expanding,
low-roofed university town spread around an austere cathedral, which, since its
foundation in 1668, has strengthened its tenuous grip on the shores of Lake
Titicaca by gradually scaling the surrounding hills.
WHAT'S INCLUDED
Lunch and afternoon tea are included on the train ticket. Restaurant and Bar
service is available at an additional cost.
Gourment Lunch on board, Tea
Time in the afternoon
Luggage carriage, No extra
cost willbe charged for your luggage on this route
Entertainment on board
Stop at the hightest point of
the route: La raya
DEPARTURE
Departure: Wanchaq station
(Cusco)
Duration of the Trip: 10
Hours.
Arrival: Station Puno
November - March: Trains run
Monday, Wednesday, Saturday
April - October: Trains run on Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday
Cusco Station Address: Av
Pachacutec s/n Distrito de Wanchaq
Puno Station Address: Av. La Torre 224
Passengers have to be at the train
station 30 minutes before departure.
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This
spectacular rail journey begins in historic
