PeruRail / Belmond · South America · Luxury

Andean Explorer

Andean Explorer is Belmond's luxury sleeper train in Peru, operated with PeruRail, linking Cusco, Lake Titicaca and Arequipa. Its flagship journeys cover the route in two nights, with guided visits and time in the Andean landscape. Suite, Twin and Bunk accommodation all provide private bathrooms. The train is distinct from services to Machu Picchu and from PeruRail Titicaca's daytime journey, so match the train name carefully to your intended trip.

For the right route, service level and date for your journey, email our rail specialists with your preferred travel period and number of guests.

Email our luxury rail experts Share your journey details WhatsApp 1-702-900-9975

Signature geography

Cusco, Lake Titicaca, Arequipa and the Andean altiplano

The journey in perspective

What makes Andean Explorer distinctive?

The focus is southern Peru's high plateau rather than the Sacred Valley rail approach to Machu Picchu. The open-air observation car offers a different relationship with the landscape from a cabin window, while the piano bar, dining spaces and spa create places to spend time between stops. Lake Titicaca visits and archaeological excursions depend on the chosen itinerary. Cabin selection is practical: a Bunk Cabin uses vertically arranged beds, a Twin suits travellers wanting separate lower beds, and a Suite adds a double bed and seating. Compare the off-train programme as carefully as the sleeping arrangement.

Bedrooms, suites and your private retreat

Choose accommodation by the way you want to travel: sleeping arrangement, bathroom facilities, room to move and daytime seating. Category names alone do not make two trains equivalent.

Bunk Bed Cabin
Twin Bed Cabin
Suite Cabin

Bunks, lower twins or a double-bed suite

All three accommodation types provide private en-suite bathrooms. Bunk Bed Cabins turn a banquette into upper and lower berths, while Twin Cabins convert to two ground-level single beds. That makes the Twin a practical step up for companions who want separate beds without a ladder. The distinction is especially useful when comparing an attractive cabin photograph with the room category actually quoted.

Suites provide a double bed and a seating area with two chairs and a table, giving couples another place to spend quiet time between visits. Storage remains train-sized, so plan a manageable cabin bag. The choice of room does not alter the high-altitude setting or the amount of touring in the itinerary; leave space in the wider Peru plan for an unhurried arrival.

Bunk Cabins use upper and lower berths.
Twin Cabins provide two ground-level single beds.
Suites add a double bed and separate seating.

Ask us to compare the available categories and applicable offers for your dates. We will confirm the exact seating or sleeping arrangement in your proposal.

Food, dining and the daily rhythm

Menus draw on Peruvian ingredients, with dining and lounge spaces shaping the time aboard. Confirm the meals, beverages and any spa arrangements included in your selected journey. Smart casual clothing and warm layers are useful for high-altitude mornings.

Peruvian ingredients in Llama and Muña

Llama and Muña are the train's two dining cars, where the menus draw on ingredients from Peru's Andean regions. Published examples include local grains and fruit at breakfast, with fish, quinoa and Andean vegetables appearing across later meals. These examples indicate the style of cooking rather than a guarantee of particular dishes during your journey.

The piano bar adds a different setting for drinks and canapés between dining and observation time. On a short two-night trip, meals are a significant share of the time aboard, so check the sequence alongside sunrise stops and excursions. Explain dietary restrictions early and confirm the selected journey's beverage inclusions. Do not assume a spa appointment, premium bottle or private cabin order is covered simply because principal meals are included.

Read our guide to meals, wine and dietary planning.

Tell us about dietary requirements when you inquire. Included beverages, special menus and the pace of off-train visits should be confirmed for the exact departure.

How to plan this journey well

Build the train into a wider Peru itinerary with time to adjust to elevation and seek appropriate health advice if altitude is a concern. An onboard oxygen provision is not a guarantee against altitude illness. The clearest starting comparison is the two-night Cusco–Arequipa route versus its reverse via Lake Titicaca. Shorter sectors appear in current Belmond listings, but confirm their departure dates directly. Review final stations, timings and any onward road transfer before arranging a tight connection.

Who will enjoy it most?

Travellers who want a scenic, overnight exploration of southern Peru alongside, rather than instead of, a separately planned Machu Picchu visit.

Accessibility and individual needs

High altitude, steps, narrow carriage connections and excursions on uneven ground require advance discussion. Travelers with cardiac or respiratory concerns should obtain medical advice before committing.

Share mobility needs, luggage concerns and any important personal requirements before paying a deposit. We will request the relevant details; an inquiry is not a guarantee that a particular request can be accommodated.

Make the train part of a complete holiday

Explore our Peru destination guidance for context around the rail journey. Consider your arrival city, a comfortable night before boarding and the onward connection before committing to flights.

Also considering another style of journey? Read our Hiram Bingham guide, then compare the trains side by side.

Continue planningCabins & suites Packing & dress Compare trains

Cities along the journey

Discover the places beyond the platform

Plan time for the city as well as the train. These guides suggest sights and local flavors for a separately arranged stay; they do not promise included excursions.

Peru

Arequipa

Arequipa brings a distinctive architectural and culinary identity to a Peruvian rail holiday. Pale volcanic stone gives much of the historic centre its character, while Santa Catalina's internal lanes and courtyards create a more intimate setting for exploration. The city's picantería tradition offers an equally compelling reason to stay. Give both the buildings and the table sufficient time rather than treating Arequipa as a brief transfer between the coast and the Andes. A well-paced visit can be based around the centre, with longer journeys into the surrounding region reserved for genuinely additional days.

A taste of the city. Arequipa's picanterías connect regional cooking with a long tradition of sociable meals. Rocoto preparations, solterito de queso and substantial soups or stews offer different introductions, with recipes and availability varying by kitchen. Ask about the heat of a dish and its filling rather than assuming a pepper-based speciality is vegetarian. Give lunch adequate time, and choose a modest selection if unfamiliar flavours or a forthcoming train departure make a large meal less appealing.

Explore sights, food and arrival planning

Peru

Puno

Puno is a gateway to Lake Titicaca and a living highland city, not a synonym for every island or archaeological site in the region. A stay can bring together lakeside scenery, community-led visits and an introduction to the Altiplano's history. The surrounding landscape is extensive, so choose an excursion that matches your interests rather than trying to cover every celebrated name. The high-altitude setting also calls for a measured schedule. Around a rail journey, an extra night provides breathing space for boat arrangements and local transfers, helping the city feel like part of the experience rather than an overnight necessity.

A taste of the city. Puno's regional cooking belongs to the broader Andean tradition, with soups, grains, potatoes and meat preparations reflecting highland life. A warm, uncomplicated meal can be especially appealing after time on the lake. Ask about local dishes such as chairo and the ingredients used in that kitchen's version. Portions and recipes vary, so begin with a manageable order. A restaurant meal also gives time to learn about regional produce without turning every food experience into a formal tour.

Explore sights, food and arrival planning

Peru

Cusco

Cusco deserves time as a destination, not simply as the approach to another famous site. Inca stonework, later religious architecture and a living Andean city meet within streets that reward careful observation. Qorikancha offers one introduction to that layered history, while Sacsayhuamán places monumental building in the surrounding landscape. The high-altitude setting is an important part of planning, particularly after a flight from lower elevations. Build a gentler arrival day and avoid an overly ambitious opening itinerary. For rail travellers, the precise departure station may be outside the centre, making an organised connection essential to a relaxed start.

A taste of the city. Andean cooking makes generous use of corn, potatoes, beans and regional herbs, with soups and stews offering approachable introductions. Corn with cheese or a small serving of another local preparation can be a useful first taste. Choose meals according to your appetite rather than trying to cover the whole regional repertoire at once. Ask about meat stocks, dairy and sauces when discussing dietary requirements, and leave more elaborate dining for a day when you feel settled.

Does Andean Explorer go to Machu Picchu?

No. It serves the Cusco–Lake Titicaca–Arequipa corridor. Machu Picchu requires a separate train and visit arrangement; Hiram Bingham is a different Belmond train.

Are Andean Explorer cabins en-suite?

Yes. The Suite, Twin and Bunk categories have private bathroom facilities. Choose by bed layout and space rather than assuming that the least expensive cabin shares a bathroom.

How long should I plan for Andean Explorer?

The flagship journeys between Cusco and Arequipa via Lake Titicaca take two nights. Belmond also lists shorter sectors; obtain current dates and a confirmed itinerary before planning around them.

Is altitude relevant on Andean Explorer?

Yes. This is a high-Andes journey. Discuss personal health concerns with a qualified clinician before travel and allow an appropriate acclimatisation plan; oxygen availability does not remove altitude-related risk.

Check the right route and cabin

Request a personalized Andean Explorer proposal.

We will check the current dates, direction, accommodation or seating choices, inclusions and complete-trip options.

Email our luxury rail experts Share your journey details WhatsApp 1-702-900-9975