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Decorated in the style of the Pullman trains of the 1920s, the Andean Explorer boasts a full fleet of refurbished coaches. The train operates on a scenic railroad built at the beginning of the twentieth century to link the highlands of Cusco with the Lower Urubamba Valley and the Amazon Basin beyond. A rail tour on the Andean Explorer service is a perfect way to experience this stunning region of Peru, with a range of dining options available on-board the train.
On selected Great Rail Journeys tours, the Andean Explorer travels from Lake Titicaca to Cusco. Beginning on gentle, rolling plains, the train travels through Chachabamba, a place known to travellers as the starting point of the 'Inca Trail' to Machu Picchu. Upon reaching La Raya, the highest point of the route, the train stops for passengers to take advantage of the open-air observation car, and enjoy the unfolding scenery. The railway then continues down through broad areas of terracing, dotted with the ruins of Inca fortresses. Here, passengers can see the remains of a long-abandoned highway used in the late 19th century to travel between Cusco and the rubber plantations of the Amazon lowlands.
After travelling through Cachimayo, and passing the small town of Poroy, the Andean Explorer continues its descent to the plateau of Anta. This area is reputed to have been the battleground upon which the armies of Pachacutec repelled the invading Chanca tribe, thereby marking the start of the Incan 'Golden Age'. The journey ends with a descent into Cusco, a city at the foot of the magnificent Andean Mountains, in the basin of the meandering Huatanay River.