Andean Explorer Train Full Journey from Puno to Cusco

The Fifth day of my South America Trip.
This spectacular rail journey begins in the beautiful city of Puno, on the shores of Lake Titicaca and travels North to historic Cuzco (Cusco)
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 vicuña 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.
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
Juliaca is the first stop on this journey through Andean highland culture after departing 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.
281 Km from Cusco - 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.
186 Km from Cusco - 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.
120 Km from Cusco - 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.
80 Km from Cusco - 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.
59 Km from Cusco - 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.
45 Km from Cusco - 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.
40 Km from Cusco - 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.
32 Km from Cusco - 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.
25 Km from Cusco - the train passes through Oropesa, an early-rising community whose forty-seven bakeries have provided Cuzco (Cusco) with its daily bread for generations.
Cusco
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[@TheEulerID]

I did that very journey back in 1996, and it looks like not much changed in the intervening 16 years or so. I found Peru to be absolutely astonishing. I wasn't fully able to appreciate the train ride as I was suffering the after effects of food poisoning (which reached it's peak a couple of days before where we spent a night on Taquile Island on lake Titicaca).

[@luziapereira6491]

I liked this very much .I have seen this way ( opposite side / Cuzco - Puno ) . The full journey was 10 hours , but it was not sunny day . I think with the sun is so much wonderful . I like Andean culture . Thank you for share it .

[@robertpalmer2262]

I LOVE PERUVIAN FOOD SO MUCH !!!!!!!!!!!

[@theoryg]

I have even gotten through 15 minutes and im touched. Its one of those train rides I will never take and it shows a special side of life I may never see.

[@JohnSmith-xi3sq]

Rode the new version of the Andean Explorer a few weeks back from Cusco to Puno. Beautiful train fantastic staff, a once in a lifetime experience.

[@jardinero55]

Fantastic video! Especially loved the street and market scenes and the children, the waving kids and school kids. Feel like I was there. Liked the scenes outside the train much better than the activities inside. Thanks!

[@mercyoslave8781]

Thank you for the beautiful video,, Gracias.

[@romulovargas247]

Your video is wonderful,I saw beautiful pictures, the Peru is a beautiful country.Thank you for the video I felt I was traveling on the train.

[@travelshorts]

+Romulo Vargas Thanks for watching

[@travelshorts]

+Romulo Vargas Thanks for watching

[@exilesmith4729]

Great video my friend

[@Koslita77]

Please keep the original costumes, I remember my trip to Puno, Bolivia, during Candelaria, the carnival; it is a wonderful recollection, pandilla punena around the streets of Puno, diablada of Oruro, during the carnival; what can I say: wonderful, I do not remember any costume that short and with no sleeves, I want to comeback and take my family, so many years. I am glad your train experience is unique, I think the Hiram Bingham is way worth to try. See you soon.

[@aquatek100]

Great video - The music especially !

[@fandyo100]

Than U for Upload this video..

[@adrianmezza4880]

welcome cuzco!!

[@chloechong3437]

Very informative!

[@EVNL576]

That’s my beautiful country except that music on the train and the dancer that is not a Peruvian dance. (More like Bolivian dance) The train itself is a magical experience.

[@divox9pqr]

Can you tell me what the beautiful dancer is twirling up and down the isle of the lounge car while the musicians are playing?

[@peterbrennan4242]

Passing through the Juliaca market,l hope nobody was taking a dump. ..

[@user-mb2ci4mt8t]

Train through the market square huh!

[@leanderian]

That camera-work: I share your travel sickness...!

[@Willie_Melendez_4723]

awesome train but i did not get a chance to ride it

[@Koslita77]

Las mujeres del imperio eran todas cubiertas, no lucian grotescas y con ridiculas minifaldas, por favor. Conserven su origen, los turistas no quieren ver eso, es tan bello el traje largo, con disenos tipicos, las chaquetitas de colores, y para la zona de Puno y Bolivia, la mestiza con sus blusas brillantes, esos son los recuerdos de mi visita a Puno y Bolivia, la pandilla punena, la diablada de Oruro, La Llamerada, jamas vi danzantes en minifalda, necesitan mostrar eso a los turistas? creanme en estos paises ellos estan llenos de eso.

[@semsemeini7905]

Any Altitude sickness? Were you bored?

[@Ausejo1948]

ALGUIEN CONOCE EL NOMBRE DE LA CANCIÓN ANDINA QUE SE VE AL MINUTO 20?

[@danitzacazorla7013]

+Ausejo1948 Es Flor de cactus

[@muchotunel]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/r4Xdh6Sjjqh5maM

[@100kkathy]

cancion de puno flor de cactus

[@user-zj1eh3nq1y]

Thank you for a great video! How much is a ticket for the train to Cusco?

[@travelshorts]

I can't remember how much but think It was around $270 i booked it on perurail.com

[@user-zj1eh3nq1y]

***** Thank you!

[@Willie_Melendez_4723]

+travelshorts i like trains right

[@mautufaraniioapo2515]

mautu ioapo andean explorer train full joumey from puno to cusco thonk you youtube videos inmy loaptop compter thonk you 3.1.2015

[@LovelyLolitaa]

How about the Altitude sickness?

[@mercyoslave8781]

Called soroche, just w e need to travel with empty stomach, maybe a cup of tea, of have a coca tea, leaves of inkas, that make strong to continue trip, no dizzy or nauseas , etc.. now peoples made cocaine with gasoline etc, to make mo ney, no using in medicinals ways ,

[@martin38pe]

Todo es muy lindo, excepto ese horrendo mercado que da tan mal aspecto y que deberían erradicar de la ruta (por muy pintoresco que parezca).

[@germanmuller2711]

Omg is so ugly there??

[@rja5748]

u mouth is ugly