zBelmond Andean Explorer: Cuzco to Arequipa + Lake Titicaca

We include this morning’s chauffeured transfer from your hotel to the rail station in Cuzco for the start of your luxury rail adventure. Board the Belmond Andean Explorer and settle in to your private cabin. Freshen up in your en suite bathroom and take in the views outside your picture window as we depart the ancient Inca capital and begin our journey through the magnificent Andes Range towards Puno and Lake Titicaca.
 
Around midday, you’ll sit down in one of the elegant dining cars for an attentively served lunch featuring freshly-sourced Andean ingredients. This afternoon’s guided excursion visits the remote archaeological site of Raqch’i. There is still much scholarly debate regarding many of the ancient structures here, but there is much speculation that this Inca site served as a control point on the main road that traveled south from Cuzco to other points of the Empire. As you explore with our expert guide, you might draw your own conclusions about these ancient structures – whether they served as barracks or some other religious or administrative function.
 
Return to the train for Afternoon Tea and enjoy the passing Andean scenery including the rugged landscapes of Abra la Raya, a spectacular mountain pass that marks the highest point on the journey between Cuzco and Lake Titicaca. Your evening onboard our luxury train is highlighted by dinner and the opportunity to enjoy the congenial camaraderie of your fellow passengers – perhaps as you sip a Pisco Sour at the bar or while listening to music in the Lounge Car. The Andean Explorer will stop for the night at a scenic spot overlooking Lake Titicaca.  Meals L+D

You may wish to arise this morning to experience the breathtaking sight of the sun casting its first golden rays across the sacred waters of Lake Titicaca. After a delightful breakfast, you’ll step off the train to explore the myriad wonders of this high mountain lake. Setting out in a traditional boat, your guided excursion begins with the remarkable floating islands, home to Uros communities that are built on layers upon layers of hand-woven Totora reeds.

Continue to Taquile Island where residents still speak Aymara, the ancient language of the high Andean plateau, and craft colorful textiles using techniques that have come down across the generations. A specially arranged al fresco lunch on a pristine island beach is accompanied by traditional dance and a chance to watch the island’s weavers and artisans at work.
 
Return to the train for Afternoon Tea as your luxury journey continues toward the Colonial-era town of Arequipa. You can take in the passing scenery from the privacy of your cabin or suite, or join your fellow travelers in the inviting Lounge or Observation Car. This evening, you’ll sit down to another elegant dinner in the Dining Car. Afterwards, you can enjoy some live piano music and the collegial company of your fellow rail passengers before retiring to your cabin for the night.  Meals B+L+D

Enjoy a hearty breakfast onboard before stepping off for an early-morning guided excursion. Behold the breathtaking panorama of Lake Lagunillas, cradled amidst the peaks of the Peruvian Altiplano and home to a seasonal colony of pink flamingos. Continue to the high-mountain Sumbay Caves to see their remarkable collection of ancient cave paintings, believed to be the legacy of a nomadic people who hunted in the area 6,000 to 8,000 years ago.
 
Return to the Belmond Andean Explorer for a final lunch in the Dining Car as we make the final leg of our journey to Arequipa, a Baroque gem surrounded by three majestic snow-capped volcanoes that soar to nearly 20,000 feet! Upon arrival, disembark and explore Arequipa’s finely preserved Colonial architecture including centuries-old white stone buildings that gleam under the southern sun. After sightseeing, we’ll take you to the airport for your onward journey.  Meals B+L