Machu Picchu Travel Forum

Hello,

I have some questions about Peru Rail. The "backpacker" option seems well priced and some friends and I were planning to take the train from Cuzco to Puno (Lake Titicaca) but then a friend didn't think the train was a good idea.

Can anyone tell me how safe the train is. Also, can you buy at the station or must you reserve ahead of time online. Does the train usually stick to the schedule listed on the site:

http://www.orient-express.com/web/tper/journeys/4_53405.jsp

THANKS FOR ANY INFO!

H.

Way back in the dawn of time, or so it sems, I took the train from Cuzco to Puno. In those days it was just a regular train for ordinary folk and the majority of the passengers were Peruvians or other South Americans, plus a couple of "westerners" besides ourselves. I should think it was more along the lines of the "backpacker" deal advertised now BUT the whole train was like that; however, as we travelled so-called "first class" given food and drink was included, and very good it was too. Considering the size of the kitchen and the difficulties of cooking at altitude, what was produced was nothing short of miraculous - four or five hot courses, etc. It was one of the memorable rail journeys of my life. At that time I felt the train was extremely safe and as it has been updated since then, I should imagine it is still safe. The stops along the way were wonderful, although if you are going to go the "backpacker" way, then I would start off with a supply of food and drink. In our day the train was bang on time and we had a couple of hours in Puno before transferring to the boat across the lake to Bolivia. (The boat is now a museum my son tells me!!). The whole jounrey from Cuzco to La Paz was absolutely wonderful and I wouldn't have missed it for the world. Puno I could have done without as it isn't very attractive or particularly interesting. When we were travellling Puno was considered to be unsafe and a hot bed of extremism but we felt perfectly safe. My advice is, go and have a simply marvellous trip. This hasn't been much help regarding booking but I expect someone will come up with some advice. The only thing I will say is if you are going to book at the station, then allow plenty of time!!

Check out my reply here:

http://forum.virtualtourist.com/discussion-384254-1-1-Travel-0-1601007-Puno-discussion.html

Thanks.

No problem with this train at all. We took it in late July. Trip is long, about 10 hours, but train is comfortable and very affordable. It is very safe. We only saw tourists on train.
You need to buy the tickets at the station. Get up early and be prepared to spend some time in line. Buy tickets before day of trip.

The reason you only saw tourists on the train is because only tourists can now afford to buy the tickets!