For many of us, thinking of trains is reminiscent of our childhood dreams. But what about the Andes: their secrets and mysteries, their thousands of colors and their millennium of history; are they not just as fascinating? Why not combine these two pleasures in a unique journey; the train being the best way to discover South America!
Our adventure begins in the Northwest of Argentina. Starting in Salta there is a train that supposedly climbs to the clouds! This is the highest train in the World, taking us all the way to San Antonio de los Cobres, at an altitude of 4200 meters. We travel through the heart of the Great Cordillera of the Andes, and its startling scenery that the pace of the ride allows us to appreciate in the best conditions possible.
We then enter Bolivia and cross it entirely. The Altiplano unrolls under our eyes... From the pleasant town of Tupiza, the railroad tracks lead us to the Salar de Uyuni, the world’s largest salt desert. The scenery is surreal... We then head for La Paz, the most typical Andean city with its colorful markets and its narrow and steep streets.
Further north, we come upon Lake Titicaca, cradle of the great civilizations of the Altiplano and natural frontier between Bolivia and Peru. From Copacabana and the Island of the Sun otherwise known as la “Isla del Sol” (where, according to the legend, Manco Capac, the first Inca, was born), we head to Puno where we take the train to Cusco. Other marvels are waiting there for us such as the citadel of Machu Picchu dramatically perched in the mountains. This site is only attainable on foot, following a steep path, or... by train! Jump in!

Airport pick up and transfer to the hotel.
Salta, the Northwestern Argentinean capital, is surrounded by high mountains and sits on a high deserted plateau rich in vestiges left by the Inca Empire.
Meals open. Night in hotel in Salta.

We leave in a 4WD vehicle for the colonial village of Cachi located at an altitude of 2200 meters above sea level, at about 157 km from Salta by route RN33. We drive through spectacular landscapes: the pass of Piedra del Molino at 3600 meters above sea level, the deep canyon of Quebrada de Escoipe where the green forest contrasts with the burnt color of the earth, the dry mountains of Cuesta del Obispo and finally Los Cardones national park, an arid lands covered with cacti candelabros…
Cachi is a quiet Indian village with low white houses at the center of which sits the San José church dating from the 18th century.  The roof of this church is made out of sculpted wood coming from local cacti. We visit the small archaeological museum exhibiting a beautiful collection of pre-Inca and Inca ceramics more precisely from the Santa Maria culture. Further on, we reach Molinos, small colonial village founded in 1659 and its majestic church and elegant farm owned by the last governor of Salta, Don Isasmendi.
We leave Molinos to return towards Salta following the impressive Quebrada de las flechas, surrounded by mysterious lunar landscapes. The appearance of white dunes tells us that we are approaching Cafayate, the most important town of the Calchaquies valleys and which economy relies on viticulture. Evening spent wine tasting.
Meals open. Night in hotel in Cafayate.
Note: 295 km, about 6-hour ride

This morning we return to Salta via the quebrada de las conchas offering the most spectacular landscapes of the Argentinean Northwest: imposing mountains and semi arid deserts and their multi colored stones sculpted by erosion. An astounding scenery that took centuries to shape!
Meals open. Night in hotel in Salta.
Note: 290 km, about 5-hour ride.

We depart early in the morning for the Salta train station where we board the famous “train of the clouds”. We start our journey winding along 214 kilometers of railroad until we reach the viaduct of Polvorilla at 4 220 meters above sea level. An unforgettable excursion! From there, a vehicle awaits us to continue our trip by road or more precisely by dirt road. We enter a vast white expanse strongly contrasting with the pure blue sky. We are in the center of one of the biggest salt deserts of Argentina (1 200 km2).
After a few miles of sinuous dirt track we reach the Lipán Pass 4170 meters above sea level, and our destination of the day: Purmamarca signifying village of the Sacred Earth in Aymara. This hamlet is famous for its mountain of seven colors “Cerro de los siete colores” like a mineral rainbow.
Meals open. Night in hotel in Purmamarca.
Note 1: train-ride not accompanied by a guide Note 2: If for any reasons: change in departure days, stop of the line or other unexpected events, train unable to leave; this portion of the trip normally done by train would be replaced by a trip by car following the same path (Quebrada del Toro, Viaduc de la Polvorilla and San Antonio).

We dedicate this morning to the visit of the village of Purmarmarca and its surroundings.
After our lunch, we cover the 25 km separating us from Pucará de Tilcara, pre-Hispanic Omaguaca village founded over 900 years ago. We visit the site and the remarkable collections exhibited in the museum. Amongst the most interesting objects kept there we find mummies, mortuary vases, jewelry and other artifacts from archaeological sites of the Northwest of Argentina.
Meals open.Night in hotel in Tilcara

We reach the town of La Quiaca after a two-hour journey, a town located at the extreme North of Argentina. We clear the Bolivian border at La Quiaca. Our 4WD awaits us on the other side of the Argentina – Bolivia border. We head for the pleasant town of Tupiza (3-hour trip on dirt roads).
Lunch and diner open. Hotel **.
Note: 200 km to la Quiaca, a 3-hour trip to the border (not including the visits)

5 to 6-hour walk – Good physical condition required
This beautiful loop takes us through canyons and interesting geological formations of the mountains West of Tupiza: Puerta del Diablo, Valle de los Machos (rock formations resembling phallic figures), Canyon of the Inca and Petrified forest of Waykho… View over Tupiza, Río Juan de Oro and the site of the “Sillar”…
The effects of the light on the Quebrada de Palala, when we return to Tupiza in the afternoon, will definitely please photographers.
Transfer to the train station early evening. Departure of train Wara-Wara at 7:05 p.m. Arrival in Uyuni at 1:15 a.m. the next day. Transfer to Hotel.
Cold lunch (included). Dinner open. Hotel ***.
Note 1: Hotel available in Tupiza to shower before train departure.
Note 2: dining car on board

9 a.m. departure from the Hotel with our 4WD for the Salar de Uyuni (el. 3650 m.a.s.l.), the world’s largest salt desert. On the way, we visit the salt exploitation of Colchani and the Salt Hotels (closed since November 2001). We then stop in the heart of the Salar on the Island of Incahuasi (of volcanic origin, covered with stromatolites and giant cacti). In the afternoon, we traverse the Salar until we reach its Northern extremity at the foot of volcano Tunupa.
Cold lunch. All included. Lodging at Doña Lupe and Don Carlos’ in the Aymara village of Jirira (basic comfort).

With guide – No technical difficulty – Good physical condition required
We depart early in the morning for the ascent of the volcano dominating the entire Salar (our 4WD drops us off at the end of the dirt road above the village). In about 4 hours, we reach the viewpoint (el. 4700 m.a.s.l.) offering an exceptional panorama. The summit (el. 5400 m.a.s.l.) can’t be attempted because of the potential danger due to the necessity of climbing over cliffs. Return to Jirira in the afternoon and arrival in Uyuni by early evening, after visiting the Salt Hotels and the salt factory of Colchani.
Cold lunch (included). Dinner open (bar-restaurant La Loco recommended). Hotel ** available until the train departure.
Ascent time: 7 h; Elevation gain: +850m/-850m
Departure of the train Expreso del Sur for Oruro at midnight. Arrival in Oruro the next day at 7 a.m. then bus to La Paz (4-hour trip). You have to buy your own bus ticket and make the transfer train / bus yourself in Oruro. There is no pick up at the bus station in La Paz).
Cold lunch (included). Diner open (restaurant La Loco recommended). Hotel * available until train departure.

We pursue our travels on a paved road from where, if we are lucky, we may spot some dirt devils, as we exit Oruro. Arrival in La Paz before noon. Rest of the day open.
Lunch and dinner open. Hotel ***.

Departure from the hotel at 8:30AM in our private vehicle, to discover the most spectacular viewpoint over the city, unbelievably located in the “pit” of the Choqueyapu river canyon, with the Royal Mountain Range “Giants” as the background: Huayna Potosi, Mururata and Illimani.
This tour, particularly designed for photo lovers, first takes us to the K´Illi K´Illi Mirador and to the Laykakota Park, on the Northwestern side of the city. Afterwards, we cross the Americas Bridge in the direction of the “Plaza de España” Mirador, in the colonial neighborhood of Sopocachi. From there, an abrupt descent leads us to the “South Zone”, passing through Llojeta and the “Garden Cemetery”, and finally to the Valley of the Moon, a place where we will be able to walk between psychedelic looking sandstone formations.
Return downtown in the afternoon. Lunch and dinner open. Hotel ***.

Departure from the hotel at 8:30 a.m. with a private 4WD. We skirt Lake Titicaca and the Cordillera Real before descending towards Copacabana (3h30 about). From there a motorboat takes us to the Northern extremity of the Isla del Sol (island of the Sun). Visit of the Inca site of Chincana and of the Inca’s sacred rock, from where God Viracocha created his son Manco Capac, the first Inca. Short hike on the island to the village of Challapampa, where is located the Marka Pampa museum.
Cold lunch. All included. Night with host in the village of Challapampa (Basic comfort).
Hiking time: 1h; Elevation gain: +100m / -100m

In the morning, a nice hike across the cultivated terraces covering the slopes of the island leads us to the village of Yumani (2 hour-hike– possibility to link Yumani and the Fountain of the Inca by boat). The view over the lake is superb. We then descend the beautiful stone staircase to the Fountain of the Inca (Fuente del Inca), where we meet our boat (around 500 steps!).
A short hop takes us to the temple of Pilkokaina. We then traverse to the Isla de la Luna (Island of the Moon), where we visit the temple of the “Ñustas”, temple of the virgins. Return by boat to Copacabana in the afternoon and transfer to the border. Pick up (3 p.m. in Peru) by our Peruvian team for the transfer to Puno. On the way, we visit the site of Chucuito; a temple dedicated to fertility and stop in a few typical Aymara villages Transfer to hotel.
Lunch and dinner open
Note: 156 km– about a 2 hour-trip

Private transport to the Puno train station to catch the train Orient Express (lunch on board) and head in the direction of Cusco. We travel through superb landscapes.
Departure from Puno at 7:30 a.m., arrival in Cusco at 5:30 p.m. Private transfer to the hotel.
Lunch included. Diner open.
Note 1: The train only leaves Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays and does not stop. The tourist bus leaves everyday and stops along the way to visit various locations.
Note 2: train-ride without a guide.
Note 3: 1st class cabins

Afternoon dedicated to the visit of the historical center of Cusco.
We start our tour by the visit of Koricancha (Temple of the Sun), major Inca religious building dedicated to the cult of the Sun. Our tour eventually takes us to the Cathedral, which construction started in 1560 and finished in 1669. This church exhibits numerous paintings from the Cusquenian’s school, as well as numerous treasures of metal, silver and precious stones.
Return to the hotel early evening.
Meals open.

8 a.m. departure in our private vehicle for the Sacred Valley.
After about one hour on the road, we reach the ruins of Pisac, which used to be one of the most important fortresses of the Inca Empire, primarily erected to store their food supply. Guided visit of the Inca site. We descend on foot to the small colonial village of Pisac and stroll through the Indian market (Sundays, Tuesdays and Thursdays). We eat lunch in a local restaurant where we taste a typical local buffet. Early afternoon, we visit the superb and strange site of Maras: salt extraction in the middle of the Cordillera!
We descend on foot to Urubamba where our vehicle awaits us. From there, we drive 30 minutes more to Ollantaytambo where we visit the fortress, which was a strategic military, religious and agricultural center.
Transfer to hotel.
Lunch included. Dinner open.
Note 1: 1 hour 15 minutes walk Note 2: It is also possible to visit the site of Ollantaytambo the next morning at 7 a.m.

The American anthropologist, Hiram Bingham, discovered Machu Picchu in 1911. Archaeologists estimate that the citadel was erected in the middle of the 15th century. Today, a few hypotheses exist on the role attributed to the inaccessible citadel. Was it a military post? A type of secret harem dedicated to the service of The Inca? A resting place for The Inca? It is still an enigma!
Departure at about 8:30AM by train to reach the village of Aguascalientes; arrival at around 10:10 a.m. and direct bus connection for the citadel of Machu Picchu.
Day dedicated to the visit of the site. Return to Aguascalientes by bus and connection to train departing for Cusco at 3:55 p.m., arrival at 8:20 p.m. Transfer to the hotel in Cusco.
Meals open.   
Suggestions: You can climb Huayna Picchu peak. The ascent is relatively difficult. You need to have good shoes, to not carry too much weight and to not suffer from vertigo. From the top you will enjoy a magnificent view over Machu Picchu.  Plan about 2 hours round trip.
Otherwise, you can walk to the “Puerta del Sol”-less dangerous and also offering a superb view over the site. Plan an hour and a half round trip.

Private transfer to the Cusco airport for the flight to the Peruvian capital.
Pick up and private transfer to the hotel located in the neighborhood of Miraflores.
Meals open.
Option: to do a tour of Lima (about 4-hours). Let us knows.

Three hours before take off, private transfer to the Lima airport for you international return flight.
Meals open.