Claire Dean
Travel in South America is a joy to behold. The rich variety of destinations, experiences, landscapes and geography fascinated me so much, that I chose to relocate here, over 20 years ago! The best thing I ever did! Allow me to share my knowledge and passion for Central and South America with you and help you plan your holiday of a lifetime!
WHY TRAVEL PERU BY TRAIN
Written by:Claire Dean
Published: 2023-05-15
Train travel is rare in Peru, with rail networks limited to a handful of lines in only a few sections of the country. The train lines that do exist, however, offer travelers an exciting and generally spectacular journey spectacular. The most used and famous is the train to the Inca citadel of Machu Picchu, which is the only way to reach the site besides walking there. Here is a short guide to train travel in Peru. You can backpack, and you can fly, but seeing Peru by train offers a deeper glimpse into the culture, a means for those who wish to savor the experience. If you are planning to visit Peru, I would encourage you to spend a few days exploring Peru by rail. If it will be your first trip to South America, you may be a little concerned about getting around, or about going beyond the major tourist areas.
Peru Rail Trains
Train to Machu Picchu
The most popular train line runs to the town of Aguas Calientes, directly. Travel in Peru by rail to the destination on everybody’s bucket list item in Peru, Machu Picchu. Of all Peru train journeys, this is the most popular. Some trains leave from Cusco, from The Poroy station but most travelers take the train from Ollantaytambo, in the Sacred Valley. Tickets are available from Peru Rail or Inka Rail. These are owned by the same company and only give the impression that there is competition in the market. The company is in fact a monopoly and fixes prices extraordinarily high. However, unless you want to walk to Machu Picchu, the train is the only way to get there, as there are no roads. The train to Machu Picchu comes in 4 different classes.
The route to Machu Picchu
Cusco or Ollantaytambo to Machu Picchu
Machu Picchu, located in the high Peruvian Amazon on a rocky outcrop between The Amazon and The Andes, is not accessible by road. The only quick way to join Aguas-Calientes town to Cusco is by train. There are other ways to reach this small town at the base of Machu Picchu, but you have to take local buses, which will take you as far as the hydroelectric plant, and then take a 3-hour walk along the train tracks to Aguas Calientes.
The Local Train
The Local Train can only be taken by Peruvian citizens. This is a subsidized service for local people as the general tourist class train is out of the price range for local people. Tourists are not allowed to use this service.
Local Train
The Expedition Train
The Expedition train is the tourist class train. This service Onboard comforts, with Inca-culture flare and panoramic views at an unbeatable price, is how Peru Rail describes this option. With food and beverages which are optional, for a fee. Frequent departures daily.
Expedition Train
The Vistadome Train
The Vistadome service offers unparalleled vistas through panoramic windows, so you not only see but experience the view from your own seat. Return Vistadome trips include “an on-board alpaca show, featuring baby alpaca wool collections…all available for purchase. Snacks and a non-alcoholic beverage are also included.
Vistadome
The Hiram Bingham
Hiram Bingham's luxury train cars are painted in blue and gold and furnished in 1920s Pullman style. Each carriage has been decorated with polished wooden panels and brass finishing, with large chairs and plenty of space to stretch out. This service is the most exclusive option to arrive at Machu Picchu on a luxurious train. Considered by several travel magazines as the most refined travel by train, this is a real top-end experience.
The service is accompanied by:
- Brunch and dining car on board.
- Exclusive shuttle and round trip to the Machu Picchu citadel.
- Entrance to Machu Picchu citadel.
- Guided tour of the citadel.
- Afternoon tea in the hotel Machu Picchu Sanctuary Lodge *****
Hiram Bingham
Train to Machu Picchu
Train from Cusco to Puno- Andean Explorer
The most comfortable way to see the Altiplano is the train from Cusco to Puno. Imagine a trip on the Orient Express with all the glamour and luxury of train travel from years gone by. Like most of the trains, the train to Machu Picchu is a service designed for foreign travelers, with comparably high prices. Puno is one of the two towns from which you can visit the Titicaca islands on Lake Titicaca and offers the best access to the floating islands of Uros. An over-nighter, Peru Rail claims this service is “South America’s first luxury train that combines genuine daytime getaways with sleeping accommodations.” A southbound journey from Cusco to Lake Titicaca, and then on to Arequipa, this train rolls across the Andean Mountain range and bills itself as “one of the highest train routes in the world,” crossing breathtaking landscape on its way from Cusco to Puno and Lake Titicaca and to Arequipa.
The Andean Explorer
Titicaca Train
A luxury train, with 1920s-style Pullman carriages, dining cars, and an open-air observation deck. Approximately 10:30-hour day trip, meaning, you get to see the majestic mountains of Peru in all their daylight glory. This is a favorite option for photographers and those travelers looking for a stress-free exploration option. As you traverse the unforgettable route from Cusco to Puno, you will get to embrace the endless panoramic views of the Altiplano, snow-capped Andes, and other spectacular onboard experiences. Included in your ticket is a three-course lunch with wine, afternoon tea, and a welcome cocktail. The meal is prepared with local produce and is served in a comfortable dining carriage. The freshly mixed Pisco sours prepared by the Titicaca barman are a definite ‘not to be missed’. You’ll also get to experience some incredible local treats along the way such as dancing and local live music.
Titicaca Train
Train to Huancayo
it is likely that you have not heard about the second-highest railway in the world, which is a train from Lima to Huancayo that runs through the heart of the Andes. The train passes through breathtaking Andean landscapes during a 12-hour journey that ends in the city of Huancayo in the central Andes, the capital of a region known for its fertile land and traditional handicrafts. If you want to go inland from Lima, there’s a train to Huancayo on Ferrocarril Central Andino, which takes 14 hours. Due to the geology of the Andes, the train goes through 69 tunnels and over 58 bridges. There’s a stop in San Bartolomé where passengers can buy food and souvenirs before the second half of the trip. From Huancayo, another train goes south to Huancavelica.
Huancayo Train
Tacna to Arica
Located in the far south of Peru and cut off from other lines, the isolated Tacna to Arica rail service runs passengers across the Peru-Chile border. The 37-mile (60 km) route from Tacna to Arica takes a little over one hour to traverse, making it a slow but exciting alternative to the standard road crossing. There are typically two departures daily from Monday to Saturday, one leaving early in the morning and the other in the late afternoon. Train buffs should set aside time to visit the Museo del Ferrocarril (Rail Museum) located at the Tacna train station.
