Lima to Huancayo Train Journey
Riding Peru's One Time Highest Railway in the World
the world reknown Lima to Huancayo Train Journey in Peru's Central Andes is celebrating its 100th Anniversary. Here are the details.
The world’s one time highest railway, running from Lima to Huancayo, Peru is up and running again on a regular basis and will celebrate its 100th anniversary in late 2008.
The railway was built between 1870-1908 by Polish engineer Ernest Malinowski, who once claimed that he “could build a railway anywhere a llama could climb.” Its main function was to transport copper and zinc from mines and farm produce from the Mantaro Valley to the port of Callao, but eventually began carrying passengers.
The approximate 11 hour trip passes through 69 tunnels, over 58 bridges and 6 switch-backs. The trip starts at almost sea level and climbs to an altitude of over 4,782 metres. Rail cars have been refurbished and are comfortable, modern, and have a bar wagon with a windowed balcony. The 535 kilometer trip departs from Lima’s Desamparados Station on Thursdays and Fridays and returns from Huancayo’s station on Sundays.
The Lima-Huancayo Railway is divided into two main parts:
- Lima to La Oroya (222.00 km)
- La Oroya to Huancayo (124.00 km)
Stops and Sights:
-Estación Desamparados - At just 100 meters above sea level in Lima, this is the lowest point of the journey.
-Estación Ticlio - At 4758 meters above sea level, this is considered to be the highest rail point on the trip (the recently constructed Pan-Himalayan line in Tibet is now considered to be higher by a few hundred meters). Here the train stops briefly to strecth your legs, catch your breath, and perhaps drink a cup of coca tea.
-La Oroya - The train changes tracks and directions at La Oroya. The snow covered Andean peaks and treeless tundra of the altiplano slowly begins to change jus before Jauja.
-Huancayo and the Mantaro Valley - From La Oroyo to Huancayo the train edges its way lower into the fertile green Mantaro Valley, one of the craft centers of the Andes.
The 100th anniversary trip, will depart on September 24th, 2008. Huancayo’s famous tourist agency Incas del Peru is offering package deals combining passage on the trian, tours in the central Andes, hotels, combined with other excursions around Peru on Lake Titicaca, Cusco, and Machu Picchu.
Tickets can be purchased through Incas del Peru, or direct from the rail company, Ferrovías Central Andino(FCA).
The once great South American rail system has fallen apart except for a few key routes:
Ecuador’s Devil’s Nose Railway, Peru’s Cusco-Juliaca/Puno and Cusco-Aguas Caliente/Machu Picchu, Chile’s Arica-Tacna, Peru and Chile’s central rail network.
