A Luxurious First For South American Rail

PHOTO: Lake Titicaca is just one of many sights you will see on the Belmond Andean Explorer. (photo via Flickr/Emmanuel Dyan)

You may have seen Peru, but never like this.

The Belmond Andean Explorer is being billed as South America’s first luxury sleeper. Not that you will want to sleep much when rolling through some of the most gorgeous landscapes on this planet.

Delicious.com.au sampled the good life aboard the year’s newest complement to the region. From the sound of it, Belmond did a great job in bringing rail life more in line with the accompanying scenery.

Other than the plush insides, you will have quite the view of places like Lake Titicaca and Colca Canyon as you meander from cities including Cusco and Arequipa.

The trip is a quaint one as only 48 passengers make a journey at a time.

According to Delicious,com.au, your stomach will be in good hands. Noted chef Diego Muñoz supplies what sounds like the perfect taste experience for an excursion that already dazzles the eye:

“Menus adorned with fish freshly drawn from the Moquegua Coast, and trout from Lake Arapa, broad beans and lemons from Cusco and quinoa from the Altiplano are all transformed into a unique offering complimented by a glorious, rambling landscape reaching out into the distance.”

Belmond’s website promises some of the highest routes in the world with trips that include a journey from Cusco to Arequipa (two nights); a return of the same route (two nights); a trip from Cusco to Puno (one night); and a return option.

As for departures, the site explains that trips commence on various days throughout the week. Those seeing the Peruvian Highlands, for example, will head out on Thursday morning.

This much luxury will cost you. The Telegraph quoted a price of $462 (£320) for the one-night journey in an article posted last June.

Peru has some competition, as Japan recently announced its own super posh train boasting remarkable interior design and viewing cabins that feature glass ceilings and walls. The Train Suite Shiki-shima is just a bit more expensive, with tickets going for as much as $10,000.

But if you have the cash, there are now more options to see some of the planet’s more astounding landscapes while riding in elegant style.

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