June 6, 2016: Journeying through the untrammeled Peruvian Andes just got a little posher with Belmond’s first South American luxury sleeper train – Belmond Andean Explorer.
Slated to commence operation in May 2017, the train will chug through four routes of breath-taking sceneries, which once belonged to ancient kingdoms. The courses include “Peruvian Highlands,” a two-night, three-day jaunt into the realms of the regal condor. The road ventures from Cusco, the one-time capital of the Inca Empire, through plains at 4,800m altitude to Puno on the bucolic lake Titicaca to Arequipa, a UNESCO World Heritage site. The considerably shorter “Spirit of the Andes” is, nevertheless, equally enticing – an overnight escapade through the Altiplano, from lake Titicaca to Cusco.
Joining Belmond’s existing fleet of seven luxury trains, the Andean Explorer will accommodate 68 guests in refined cabins, designed by Inge Moore to reflect the Peruvian culture, down to the earthly hues of hand-woven, Alpaca wool fabrics. The menu, concocted by the chefs at Cusco’s Belmond Hotel Monasterio, also features local ingredients and flavors and is to be served in two dining cars.
The open-air Observation Car allows for 360-degree views, while the Lounge Car offers a comfortable place to relax, refresh with a drink and reflect on the memorable adventure.
More information about the luxury exploration of the Peruvian Andes, priced at $462 and up, is available at Belmond’s website
