A Belmond Train · Sleeper
Andean Explorer
South America's first luxury sleeper — Cusco (Wanchaq) · Puno, Lake Titicaca · Arequipa
Belmond calls it South America's first luxury sleeper train, and the claim holds: nothing else crosses the Peruvian altiplano with a bed in it. The midnight-blue carriages run between three stations — Cusco's Wanchaq, Puno's Lago Titicaca and Arequipa — climbing to around 15,000 feet on one of the highest rail routes in the world. Belmond has been welcoming guests in Peru since 1999, but this train is the newest thing it runs there.
There are 35 sleeper cabins in three published tiers, Suites, Twin Cabins and Bunk Bed Cabins, and the interiors lean on Peruvian materials — earthen tones, leather and alpaca wool. The two dining cars are named Llama and Muña, the first for the country's most recognisable animal and the second for a soothing Andean herb. There is also a Piano Bar Car, a Spa Car and an open-air Observation Car.
The altitude is not a detail to gloss over. Cabins carry oxygen enrichment, and it is the single feature that most changes how the first night feels. Journeys run one or two nights depending on which pair of cities you connect, and Belmond adds dated departures — a wellness journey created with the yoga teacher Annie Moves, and a New Year's Eve run through the Andes.
The journeys
Peruvian Highlands
2 nights
Cusco to Arequipa via Lake Titicaca, the fullest crossing. Departs Thursday morning, arrives Saturday afternoon.
Andean Plains and Islands of Discovery
2 nights
The reverse run, Arequipa to Cusco, taking in the floating Uros islands on Lake Titicaca.
Spirit of the Water
1 night
Cusco to Puno over the La Raya range, with the Raqch'i archaeological site on the way.
Spirit of the Andes
1 night
Puno back up to Cusco, again with Raqch'i.
Spirit of the Islands, and Spirit of the Valley
1 night
The Arequipa–Puno pair in both directions, one passing Lake Saracocha, the other adding stargazing at Saracocha and the Sumbay caves.
Wellness Journey Above Peru
2 nights
A dated departure created with the yoga teacher Annie Moves, which suits the altitude better than it sounds.
On board: the cabins
Suite
The top tier of the 35 cabins, and the ones with the most window.
Twin Cabin
Twin beds and an en-suite bathroom — the standard way most guests travel.
Bunk Bed Cabin
The entry category. Note that agency sites still sell retired names like Deluxe Double Bed Cabin; these three are what Belmond publishes today.
The carriages
Llama and Muña
The two dining cars, serving Peruvian cooking with Andean produce — named for the animal and the herb.
The Spa Car
A spa carriage at altitude, which is a more useful thing than it is on any other train.
The Observation Car
Open-air at the back, and where the altiplano actually registers.
Oxygen enrichment
Available in the cabins, and the feature that decides whether the first night at 3,800 metres is restful or not.
Booking this train
Choose the journey by which cities you want to link rather than by name: Cusco–Arequipa via Lake Titicaca is the full two-night crossing, and the one-night Spirit journeys connect a single pair. Almost everyone pairs this train with Machu Picchu, which means the Hiram Bingham day train and Belmond's Cusco and Sacred Valley hotels — we sequence the whole route, trains and guides included. Acclimatise in Cusco before boarding rather than arriving and going straight up; the oxygen enrichment helps but it is not a substitute for a night at altitude first.
Questions, answered
How high does the Andean Explorer go, and is the altitude a problem?
Belmond puts the route at up to 15,000 feet, one of the highest rail journeys in the world. Cabins can be oxygen-enriched, which makes a real difference to the first night. We still recommend acclimatising in Cusco for a night or two before boarding rather than flying in and going straight up.
What are the cabin categories?
Belmond publishes three across the 35 cabins: Suites, Twin Cabins and Bunk Bed Cabins. Older agency listings still advertise names like Deluxe Double Bed Cabin, which Belmond has retired — if you see those, the listing is out of date.
Which journey should I take?
Pick by the cities. Peruvian Highlands runs Cusco to Arequipa via Lake Titicaca over two nights and is the fullest version; Andean Plains and Islands of Discovery is the same in reverse with the Uros floating islands. The one-night Spirit journeys connect a single pair of cities and suit a shorter trip.
Does this train go to Machu Picchu?
No — that is the Hiram Bingham, Belmond's day train up to the citadel from Cusco or the Sacred Valley. The two work together, and most Peru itineraries we build use both, with Belmond's Cusco and Sacred Valley houses in between.
Enquire
Hold a cabin on the Andean Explorer
Tell us your dates and we will confirm live availability, hold the strongest cabin category, and plan the hotels at either end around the journey.
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