| Travelling through Andean Explorer was the best in my whole trip of Peru. I enjoyed more in the train than when I reach Lake Titicaca. Sean Ervin Naples, Florida | Cocoa Leaves Don't be confused, it may be a ingredient of cocaine, but still Cocoa leaves is perfectly legal to buy in Peru. But it is illegal in most of the neighboring countries, so don't carry the cocoa bag with you while leaving Peru and entering another country. | Cusco Tourists Tickets -Boleto Boleto (Boleto Turístico General, or BTG) is the admission tickets to some sites in around Cusco. If included sites matches with your plan, it is wise to purchase the Cusco Tourist Ticket. | Inca Stone Wall | Inca Mystery How do they lift those 15 tons stones? How they place those stones so neatly? | |
You will be happy to know that they have train service between Cusco and Puno, Andean Explorer Train . The Andean explorer runs from Cusco to the beautiful city of Puno on the shores of lake Titicaca. The train is decorated in the manner of 1920's great Pullman trains and boasts a full fleet of refurbished coaches. It offers a luxurious 10 hour train ride which includes full lunch service and most importantly a large window. In Peru most people never forget the journey in Andean Explorer. Not only the service and decoration of the train is excellent, also the route and exceptionally scenic.  The Andean Explorer As the train travels it continues it's journey to Higher and colder altitudes. In the first half of the journey you can enjoy the magnificent sceneries of Andean mountains and in the second half of the journey it reaches the Andean rolling plains where vicuña and alpaca can be seen.  The route between Cusco to Lake Titicaca (Puno) The Passengers are served a three course lunch in their dining car, followed by coffee in the observation Bar- car. A part of the observation deck is open, ideal for photography. Lunch and afternoon tea are included in the train ticket and restaurant and bar services are also available at an additional cost. During the ten hour train ride not only natural sceneries change but also climate alters so passengers should be ready for these changes. After almost 4 hours of the journey the train arrives at La Raya a picturesque stop at 4321m(about 14,200ft) and it stops there for 10-15 minutes. The train carries oxygen supplies for the people who get altitude sickness. Sometimes people feel dizziness, nausea, trouble breathing as they travel from Cusco(3300m) to Puno(3900m). Shortly after leaving La Raya lunch will be served. For the main dish you can choose from chicken, Tuna or Vegetarian whichever dish you like. At tea time (around 5pm) tea or coffee is served with snacks.  During the second half of the journey the landscape will change from mountains to flatter lands and farms will change from crops to animal farms. Herds of llamas, alpacas and sheep are seen. The train has to make some unscheduled stops here and there if there is something on the tracks. Travelers can choose to travel on either the first class carriages of Andean Explorer or the Backpacker carriages.  Open-air observation deck Cusco-Puno-Cusco: Departure station: Wanchaq, Cusco Arrive Station: Juliaca, Puno Name of train | Departure | Arrival | Price($) | Andean Explorer | 08:00 | 18:00 | US$ 220 | Service Dates: November - march: Train runs Monday, Wednesday, Saturday April - October: Train runs Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday Buying Tickets: You can either purchase your tickets online from the website www.perurail.com or you can buy it from following train stations: TRAIN STATIONS | TICKETING HOURS | ADDRESS | Monday to Friday | Saturday, Sunday & Bank Holidays | Wanchaq, Cusco (MAIN TRAIN STATION) | 07:00-17:00 | 07:00-12:00 | Av. Pachacuteq s/n, Distrito de Wanchaq. | San Pedro, Cusco | 05:00-12:00 | 05:00-09:00 | Calle Ccascaparo s/n, Cusco | Ollantaytambo, Valle Sagrado | 05:00-17:00 | 05:00-21:00(EXCLUDING BANK HOLIDAYS) | Ollantaytambo s/n | Machu Picchu, Machu Picchu Town | 05:00-21:00 | O5:00-21:30 (EXCLUDING BANK HOLIDAYS) | Aguas Calientes s/n | Puno | 07:00-17:00 | 07:00-12:00 | Av. La Torre 224, Puno | OFFICE | TICKETING HOURS | ADDRESS | Monday to Friday | Saturday, Sunday & Bank Holidays | Larcomar, Lima | 11:00-22:00 | 11:00-22:00 | Malecón de la Reserca 610, stand 26, Larcomar. Miraflores | |