Belmond Andean Explorer

Belmond Andean Explorer, launched in May 2017, is South America's first luxury sleeper train.[1] It replaces the eponymous Pullman day train, between Cusco and Puno, at Lake Titicaca. By the new train this trip is converted to a one-night journey, and extended from Puno for another overnight ride to Arequipa.[2]

From Cusco the train climbs to 4,800 metres (15,700 ft) on the Altiplano, before arriving at Lake Titicaca to pause for excursions to floating islands. It then continues to Arequipa, a city with a UNESCO World Heritage Site centre, stopping en route at Sumbay Caves. It is possible to add on a visit to the Colca Canyon, known for its condors.

The trainset used to serve as the Great South Pacific Express in Australia between 1999 and 2003. The since-mothballed carriages were shipped to Peru in February 2016,[3] where they were refurbished. The three accommodation levels of the GSPE with double, twin and bunk beds - all of them with en-suite bathroom - has been kept,[4] as well as the two dining and bar cars, and the last car having an open-air observation deck.[5]

Belmond Andean Explorer is owned by PeruRail, and is a 50%/50% joint venture between Belmond and Peruvian investor Lorenzo Sousa, founder and chairman of the board of PeruRail SA. It will be operated by PeruRail, which also has the Hiram Bingham Pullman train from Cusco to Machu Picchu.

Belmond Andean Explorer Cars
Car Number Car Name Type of Car Eponyms
1825 Kiwicha Sleeping car Species of Flowering Plant (Quechua)
1826 Totora Sleeping car Giant Bulrush Sedge (Quechua)
1830 Ichu Observation car Peruvian feathergrass (Quechua)
1831 Coca Sleeping car Coca
1832 ...... Baggage and power car ......
1834 Capuli Sleeping car Species of Fruit Tree (Aztec)
1836 ...... Kitchen car ......
1838 Llama Dining car and train shop Llama
1839 Maca Piano bar car Type of Root Vegetable (Quechua)
1841 Tara Sleeping car Species of Small Tree (Quechua)
1843 Tola Sleeping car Species of Shrub (Quechua)
1847 Chilca Sleeping car Baccharis genistelloides, Dye-Plant (Quechua)
1850 Picaflor Spa car Hummingbird (Spanish)
1852 Muña Dining car Love; also An Andean Mint Plant (Quechua)
1853 ...... Crew car ......
1854 ...... Crew car ......
1858 Molle Sleeping car Peruvian Pepper Tree (Quechua)
1859 Yareta Sleeping car Slow Growing Flowering Plant (Quechua)

[6] (Belmond Andean Explorer cars retained their original Australian numbers. However, Southern Peru-related car names were added.)

References
  1. "Introducing Belmond Andean Explorer". belmond.com.
  2. O'Ceallaigh, John (June 3, 2016). "Belmond Andean Explorer, South America's first luxury sleeper train". The Telegraph.
  3. "Great train mystery solved as luxury carriages ship out". Queensland Times. 25 February 2016.
  4. "Peru's First Luxury Sleeper Train | Belmond Train Journeys". www.belmond.com. Retrieved 2017-04-07.
  5. "Luxury Peruvian Sleeper Train | Sister to the Belmond Hiram Bingham Train". www.belmond.com. Retrieved 2017-04-07.
  6. Hancock, Basil (2019). “The Great South Pacific Express goes west,” 57 Railway Digest, No. 4 (April 2019), at 52-55; Zachario (2019). Belmond Andean Explorer arriving to the city of Puno, YouTube r0JE_tvlYHk

External Web Sites
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