The Belmond Andean Explorer, launched in May 2017, is South America's first luxury sleeper train.[1] It replaced the eponymous Pullman day train which ran between Cusco and Puno, on Lake Titicaca. With the new train, this trip is converted to a one-night journey, and extended from Puno for another overnight ride to Arequipa in southern Peru.[2]
From Cusco the train climbs to 4800 m on the Altiplano, before arriving at Lake Titicaca to pause for excursions to the lake's floating islands. It then continues to Arequipa, a city with a UNESCO World Heritage Site centre, stopping en route at Sumbay Caves. It is possible to add on a visit to the Colca Canyon, known for its condors.
The trainset used to serve as the Great South Pacific Express in Australia between 1999 and 2003. The since-mothballed carriages were shipped to Peru in February 2016,[3] where they were refurbished. The three accommodation levels of the GSPE with double, twin and bunk beds, all of them with en-suite bathrooms, have been kept,[4] as well as the two dining and bar cars, and the last car having an open-air observation deck.[5]
Belmond Andean Explorer is owned by PeruRail, and is a 50%/50% joint venture between Belmond and Peruvian investor Lorenzo Sousa Debarbieri, founder and chairman of the board of PeruRail SA. It is operated by PeruRail, which also operates the Hiram Bingham Pullman train running from Cusco to Machu Picchu.
Belmond Andean Explorer cars
[6][7] (Belmond Andean Explorer cars retained their original Australian numbers. However, Southern Peru-related car names were added.)
External links
References
- Introducing Belmond Andean Explorer belmond.com^
- John O'Ceallaigh. Belmond Andean Explorer, South America's first luxury sleeper train The Telegraph, 3 June 2016^
- Great train mystery solved as luxury carriages ship out