train journey south america

Ben Lerwill | 09 November 2017

8 unforgettable train journeys across south america.

From Andean highs to coastal lowlands, South America's railroads cross some of the most dramatic scenery on Earth...

The train was a boxy grey express that had seen better days, but it pulled out of Oruro on time. I boarded late and breathless, having lost track of the hour in town. Breathlessness was nothing new to me in Bolivia - it being a country where altitudes of 3,500m are routine - but this time it was self-induced. I unshouldered my backpack and collapsed into my seat, clutching paper bags full of half-squashed saltenas (pastries), and looked out of the window. Within minutes the show began.

The train was making its way by bridge across Lake Uru-Uru, a broad expanse of water just outside town. A belt of low grey hills rumpled the horizon. On the water, meanwhile, an unexpected sight: hundreds of flamingos feeding in the shallows. And as we moved, so, too, did the birds. It was gradual at first, with one or two stick-thin flyers flapping above the lake, then great flocks emerged, as a pale blizzard of pink peeled off from the water and followed the train south. I watched the silhouettes of the birds disappear into the distance as the train nosed its way onto the vast emptiness of the altiplano . Our journey was just starting but had already been worth the ticket price.

South America isn't veined with extensive train routes in the same way as Europe or India, but the continent still offers some hugely memorable rail experiences. They range from the no-frills to the luxurious, and from the staggeringly scenic to the boldly ambitious. Here are eight of the best.

Expreso del Sur, Bolivia

Bolivia's salt flats (Dreamstime)

The south-west of Bolivia is a land of extremes: high altitudes, colossal views and mind-bending landscapes. Little wonder, then, that this rail journey finds its way on to so many travel itineraries. Yet the Expreso del Sur is rather misleadingly named - it takes some seven hours to cover the 300km between mining town Oruro and the salt flats hub of Uyuni. Luckily, its twice weekly afternoon departure (2.30pm Tue & Fri) means you can enjoy the trip during daylight hours, as the views are spellbinding.

Oruro (a three-hour bus ride from La Paz) is best visited at carnival time, when La Diablada sees locals dressed as demons hit the streets in early November for a riotous week-long festival. At other times, a side-trip to the flamingo-frequented waters of Lake Uru-Uru - which you'll later pass - is well worth it as a precursor to the altiplano vistas through which the train trundles.

But the big draw here is the vast salt flats of Uyuni - the largest in the world. It is one of Latin America's most incredible natural spectacles, and often takes on a very different feel between December and April, when seasonal rains can turn its cracked, crusty surface into a giant liquid mirror of the sky.

From here on, it's an overnight trip through the cowboy country of Tupiza (good for treks and horseriding) to Villazón on the Argentine border. But there are no sleeper carriages and it can get cold on board, so pack accordingly.

Duration: 15.5 hours (one-way)

Best for: Altiplano scenery and visiting the salt flats

Route: Oruro - Uyuni - Atocha - Tupiza - Villazon

Bogotá to Zipaquirá, Colombia

Underground chapel in Colombia (Dreamstime)

A fleet of five restored steam trains and two diesel locomotives - all of them salvaged from old railroad workshops in the 1990s - plough a route that was once part of the Bogotá Savannah Railway. This line was completed in 1896 but was latterly abandoned as Colombia's state-owned rail company collapsed less than a century later. Thankfully, in 1993 it was resurrected and reborn - like much of the nation's railways - as a tourist train route.

Today, the Tren Turístico de la Sabana (or Turistren ) makes the three-hour trip north from Bogotá's historic Sabana Station to Zipaquirá once a day (from 8.15am; Sat, Sun & public holidays). Here, passengers hop off to explore the town's famed salt cathedral.

The site is an extension of the old shrines that the salt miners would carve, long before the first cathedral was built here in 1954. This was closed in the early 1990s for safety reasons, but a second one replaced it in 1995. Naves and chapels have been carved into vast tunnels that extend up to 75m (and 180m below the surface at its lowest point). It can reputedly hold up 8,400 people, with crowds packed in like sardines for its Sunday service.

Before making the return trip to Bogotá, the train stops at the town of Cajicá for a meal. It's by no means a luxurious ride but expect lively traditional music performances once the journey's underway. And last but by no means least, the countryside scenery - all sweeping savannah - is astonishing.

Duration: 9 hours (return)

Best for: Underground chapels and travel by steam train

Route: Bogotá - La Caro - Zipaquirá - Cajicá - Bogotá

Tren Crucero, Ecuador

Through the Andes on the Tren Crucero (Dreamstime)

Billed as journeying from 'The Andes to the Pacific', the Tren Crucero goes from the 2,850m heights of Quito to the lowland coastline of Guayaquil. En route, it covers the continent's most dramatic stretch of track: the Nariz del Diablo , or Devil's Nose.

Its fame stems from the complexities of building a railway across the Andes, requiring many dramatic switchbacks. Completed in 1908, the result is an engineering masterpiece - and the views are just as magnificent.

Since 2013, the route has been operated by the high-end Tren Crucero , which runs four-night itineraries in either direction. Between the 17th-century colonial facades of Quito's Old Town and the vibrant metropolis of Guayaquil, you'll pass over a dozen volcanoes, as well as river gorges, cloud forest, fruit plantations and a national park.

It's also possible to catch a shorter tourist service that takes in the Devil's Nose section from sleepy Alausi, a town midway along the line. This is also a good jumping-off point for treks along the old Inca Trail (from Achupallas) or trips out to its many thundering waterfalls.

Duration: 4 nights (one-way)

Best for: Volcanic views and dramatic rail engineering

Route: Quito (bus to Otavalo Station) - Valley of the Volcanoes - Riobamba - Devil's Nose - Bucay - Duran (Eloy Alfaro Station, Guayaquil)

Belmond Andean Explorer, Peru

Cusco train, Peru (Dreamstime)

When the Belmond Andean Explorer service through the Peruvian mountains launched earlier this year, headlines proclaimed it 'the most luxurious train in South America'. And for those keen on seeing the Andes' high altitudes in serious comfort, the hype is justified.

Passengers - up to 48 at any one time - can expect mahogany panelling, chandeliers and plush compartments. There's even an on-board library, for those times when staring out of the window at the cascading highland scenery doesn't cut it. But such moments should prove few and far between.

Starting in the one-time Inca stronghold of Cusco (gateway to the Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu), the route takes in natural marvels such as Lake Titicaca - the planet's highest navigable body of water - and Colca Canyon, a ravine twice as deep as the Grand Canyon and well primed for spotting Andean condors. It almost goes without saying that the route forges one of the highest railway lines in the world (over 4,250m in places).

The terminus - or start-point, depending on which direction you travel - is Arequipa, a city arguably less well known than Cuzco but just as spectacular on the eye. Ringed by volcanoes, its UNESCO-listed historic core is a vision of baroque buildings created from local white igneous rock. Pay a visit to its vast cathedral, which was first founded in the mid-1600s - even earthquakes and rebuilding work haven't dimmed its glory.

Duration: 2 days (one-way)

Best for: Luxury travel and ancient Inca heritage

Route: Cusco (Wanchaq Station) - Lake Titicaca - Arequipa (Arequipa Station)

La Trochita, Argentina

The Old Patagonian Express (Dreamstime)

As Paul Theroux wrote in his 1979 travelogue The Old Patagonian Express : "I wanted something altogether wilder, the clumsier romance of strangeness." Few quotes sum up this part of Patagonia better. The final leg of Theroux's trip was made on the steam train still known locally as La Trochita , or ' The Little Gauge ', though the name that he christened it has since entered into common usage, even if the service is a much reduced one these days. However, for rail - and travel - enthusiasts it remains a thrilling prospect.

Today, only the odd charter runs the full 402km route between Esquel and Ingeniero Jacobacci. The most viable option now for travellers is the weekly 20km run between Esquel and the native Mapuche settlement of Nahuel Pan (45 mins), as you ride along in old vintage carriages. Less frequent services cover the 165km journey between Esquel and El Maitén (9 hours), usually coinciding with maintenance work on the engines.

But whichever route you take, it's worth exploring the area. Just south of Esquel is Trevellin, the archetypal 'green valley' sought by Welsh settlers in the late 19 th century - Welsh is still heard in its tea rooms and chapels today. To the east lie the steppe-like plains of the Chubut, or head north of El Maitén for the Argentine Lake District - a genteel mix of snow-capped peaks and beech forests flanking crystalline waters. Still, little can compete with the romance of chugging the wild foothills of the Andes.

Duration: 45 minutes or 9 hours (one-way)

Best for: Far-flung wilderness and the romance of the past

Route: Esquel (Esquel Station) - Nahuel Pan - El Maitén (El Maitén Station)

Serra Verde Express, Brazil

Serra Verde Express (Dreamstime)

Without doubt, it takes a certain bloody-mindedness to construct a railway through the middle of a rainforest. Indeed, when plans for a route across southern Brazil's Atlantic Forest were first raised more than 150 years ago, several engineers deemed it impossible. Yet by 1885, thanks to the toil of some 9,000 workers, it was complete, and what started as a way of transporting grain to the coast is now one of Latin America's most thrilling journeys.

The so-called Serra Verde (or Green Saw ) Express operates a daily there-and-back route between Curitiba and Morretes. Take time to stroll both, with the former famed for its eco-minded layout - its pedestrianised downtown was one of the first big streets in Brazil to ban cars. Visit the eye-shaped Oscar Niemeyer museum, a fascinating insight into the architect who designed much of the country, or stretch your legs on the 15km trail to Paranaguá through Marumbi NP. Meanwhile, the whitewashed Portuguese houses of Morretes are surrounded by forested hills and plenty of trails leading to a series of waterfalls amid the Serra da Graciosa range.

The train departs Curitiba at 8.15am and returns by 6.30pm each evening, with around 3.5 hours of journey time in each direction. Along the way, you'll skirt bridges, mountain canyons and plenty of lush rainforest. But it's definitely worth booking ahead, particularly between the summer months of December and February, with the best views on the outbound trip found on the left-hand side.

Duration: 10 hours (return)

Best for: Riding through Brazil's wild rainforest

Route: Curitiba (Curitiba Station) - Morretes

Sabores del Valle, Chile

Colchagua Valley (Dreamstime)

Aimed squarely at the thirsty end of the leisure market, this day-long rail-and-bus trip starts and ends in the Chilean capital of Santiago, making it an easy addition to any travel plans.

The Tren del Vino departs shortly after 9am and heads south for two hours, as far as San Fernando, crossing the region's main wine-producing valleys. Live music and - even at this early hour - wine tastings provide plenty of on-board entertainment.

When the engine stops, passengers head by bus into the nearby Colchagua Valley for a winery tour, lunch and a 90-minute visit to the renowned Colchagua Museum - a truly fascinating collection of pre-Columbian artefacts, Mapuche silver and cowboy gear. From then on, it's back to San Fernando for the return rail journey to the capital, during which (surprise) there's the chance to sample more of the local wine. Happily, it's a mighty pleasant drop - the reds from the region are especially well thought of.

Departures on the service are sporadic, running two or three times a month, usually on Saturdays. It's a tourist train plain and simple, but the fact that it attracts so many locals tells its own story. Plus, it'll leave time to test out your new tasting skills in the wine bars of the capital's Lastarria and Bellavista areas, or at least walk off your hangover the next morning in Cerro Santa Lucía, the city's green lung and a good spot for a wander.

Duration: 12 hours (return)

Best for: Wine tasting and captivating valley views

Route: Santiago (Alameda Station) - San Fernando - Santiago

Tren a las Nubes, Argentina

Tren a las Nubes (Dreamstime)

Since being inaugurated in the late 1940s, Argentina's famous Tren a las Nubes - or Train to the Clouds - has been regularly ranked among the world's top rail adventures. It's also been frequently out of action, hampered by everything from financial problems to a derailment, and it's impacted on the route.

The service is currently running as a bus-and-train combination journey (Tuesday, Thursday & Saturday), with only the most westerly section between San Antonio de los Cobres and the Polvorilla Viaduct covered by rail. This is likely to remain the case until around 2022, when the full line is due to reopen.

It remains, however, one of the simplest ways of witnessing the country's towering north-west. Buses connecting with the train depart the attractive colonial city of Salta at 7am, though it's worth arriving here a day early to explore. Wander the crumbling 17th-century buildings or visit the curious Museum of High Altitude Archeology, where you can see mummified remains found in an Inca burial site on nearby Mount Llullaillaco.

The bus makes multiple photo stops en route as it snakes west through the tobacco fields of the Lerma Valley, passing forests of red-blossoming ceibo (the national flower of Argentina). From there, it rises into the brightly coloured rocky ravines of the Quebrada del Toro, slowly twirling up into the high-altitude desert plains of La Puna and - five hours after leaving Salta - the old mining town of San Antonio de los Cobres. This is where you'll board the train and set out across the high plateau to reach the Polvorilla Viaduct, a structure that sits at an atmospherically thin 4,200m above sea level, seemingly on top of the world.

Duration: 13 hours (return)

Best for: High-altitude scenery and dramatic ravines

Route: Salta (Salta Station) - San Antonio de los Cobres - Polvorilla Viaduct

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Train travel UK & Ireland...

Train travel in europe..., train travel in asia..., train travel in africa..., train travel in america..., train travel in australasia, train travel in mexico, central & south america.

Unlike in Europe, or parts of Asia or Africa, there's no real coherent international rail network, and most journeys must generally be made by long-distance bus or plane..  Indeed, most countries have no coherent national rail network.  But here and there you'll find odd rail lines that make an interesting way to travel and are worth knowing about. 

More information...

If you have any information, feedback or photos that would be relevant to travellers in South America, please e-mail me .

Europe to South America by sea

There are no regular passenger ships from the UK or Europe to Central or South America.  If you have the time and money, it's possible to cross the Atlantic from Southampton to New York with Cunard, catch an Amtrak train from New York to New Orleans then somewhere like El Paso, followed by buses down through Mexico.  See the United States page for more information.  Alternatively, some freight ships have a limited number of passenger places, and there may be the occasional cruise especially in spring & autumn when cruise ships relocate across the Atlantic. 

For Europe-South America cruises, try www.cruise.co.uk on 0800 408 6200 or www.cruisedirect.co.uk on 0800 093 0622.

For travel by freighter, the best place to start your research is www.freightercruises.com .  UK agencies booking travel on cargo ships include www.strandtravelltd.co.uk  & thecruisepeople.wordpress.com .

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Train travel in Argentina

There are InterCity services on quite a number of routes.  Trains in Argentina are experiencing something of a revival, since the government intends to re-establish long-distance passenger trains between all major cities.  The network or British & French-owned lines was nationalised in 1948, re-privatised in the 1990s and renationalised again in 2015.

You can now get timetables for all passenger routes at www.sofse.gob.ar/servicios/horarios-larga-distancia.php

Also try www.sateliteferroviario.com.ar/horarios (in Spanish only), which has info on all Argentinean train services.  Also try www.argentina.gob.ar/transporte/trenes-argentinos .  See map of Argentina .

El Tren a las Nubes

The Train to the Clouds (El Tren a las Nubes) is a tourist service runs from Salta in northern Argentina, see www.trenalasnubes.com.ar and also this report, www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserReviews-g312822-d313778-r49377372-Train_to_the_Clouds_El_Tren_a_las_Nubes-Salta_Province_of_Salta_Northern_Argentina.html

Buenos Aires - Mar Del Plata

Buenos aires - rosario, buenos aires - rosario - cordoba, buenos aires - rosario - tucuman, buenos aires - bahia blanca, carmen de patagones - viedma - s.c. de bariloche .

Traveller Ian Hunter says  "As in North America, people travel on the long distance trains in Argentina because they like travelling by train and dislike buses or flying. This creates a very convivial atmosphere in which the journey becomes a worthwhile experience for its own sake.  It means the trains are busy so buy your ticket a day or two in advance if possible, especially if you want a sleeping car berth. The trains  are cheaper than buses, so popular with students and young people. After years of decline, decay and neglect there is a political initiative to restore long distance trains, but progress is slow in rehabilitating track and rolling stock. There are reports that the 'Trans-Andino' line between Mendoza and Santiago de Chile will be operating again by 2010. I f this happens I would love to return to travel on it.  The experience of train travel is unique in each country, and somehow manages to capture so much of a nation's character, but buses and planes are the same everywhere!"

Train travel in Bolivia

There are a few train services in Bolivia, operated by two train companies, eastern and western. 

For the western network see www.fca.com.bo .

This network is more tourist-orientated, with trains from Oruro to Tupiza.  There are two types of train, the expresso and WaraWara (the slower train makes more stops).  There are 3 or 4 classes, ejecutivo being the best.  It can get very cold in the train, with trips in both directions mainly made at night.  The main line from Oruro to Tupiza runs almost daily.  See map of Bolivia .

For the eastern network see www.fo.com.bo .

The rail hub is Santa Cruz, and trains go east to the Brazilian border and South to the Argentine border.  There is a train every day from Santa Cruz east to Puerto Suarez.  However, there are a mix of services.  There is a normal train that locals take and takes the longest.  There is an express train.  And there is a fast but expensive ferrobus which is a modern railcar, fare about 150 bolivianos per person.  Different services go on different days but there is some sort of service every day.  Tickets can only be bought the day of departure at the ticket counter (train & bus stations are located together) which opens at 08:00 but the queue starts to form earlier.  The service south to Villamontes has similar service and a complicated schedule and goes almost every day.  The train is comfortable and for the eastbound journey pretty much the only way to go overland. 

You can find train times to & from Santa Cruz at www.fo.com.bo/SERVICIOS/ Pasajeros/SitePages/TarifasItinerarios .

Train travel in Brazil

Vitoria - Belo Horizonte:  Intercity train services operate on one route, from Vitoria to Belo Horizonte ( see map ).  This train is cheaper and more comfortable than a bus.  It leaves daily at 07:00 from Vitoria and 07:30 from Belo Horizonte, arriving at its destination around 19:30-20:00.  The train has two classes,  Executivo is the best with AC and aircraft-style seating with a decent amount of legroom or Econômica.  There's a restaurant car, although the food does not get good reports.  Operated by the most prosperous freight railway in Brazil, the journey is very scenic and it's a pleasant way to spend a day.  The most scenic section is towards the Belo Horizonte end of the trip, so you'll see more of this in daylight if you start at the Belo end, travelling in the Belo to Vitoria direction.  The train information part of their website is www.vale.com/brasil/pt/business/logistics/railways/trem-passageiros/paginas/default.aspx (the English version appears to omit the train info, so stick with Portuguese and remember that 'preç os' is prices and 'horarios' means 'timetables').

Traveller Pietro Ferreira reports:   "The Vitoria-Belo Horizonte journey is indeed a wonderful way to spend the day.  If you are travelling on weekends, it is highly advisable to buy your ticket two or three days in advance, as they may sell out quickly. Executive-class cars are comfortable and silent, although somewhat cold. Meals are charged separately and can be served at your seat. Drinks trolleys are frequent and are available on both classes. A great way to spend your time is to stand in the smokers area, where large windows are kept open throughout the journey. It is also a nice place to engage in conversation with other travellers."

The other operating train is a steam tourist oriented train but it offers transport in between two important Brazilian tourist towns, Sao Jao del Rei and Tiradentes.  The steam train makes a nice alternative to the bus. The trip takes an hour and is about 20km. It runs daily leaving Sao Jao del Rei at 10:00 and returning in the afternoon. The train ticket gives free entry to the train museum at the station in Sao Jao del Rei.  Internet info:  www.antt.gov.br/destaques/anexos/TremDelreiTiradentes.htm .

There is now no train service at all between Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo.  There's a list of all Brazilian train services (regular and tourist-orientated) at www.antt.gov.br/destaques/TrensDePassageiros.asp .

Train travel in Chile

The Chilean state railways official website is www.efe.cl , although for passengers trains use www.trencentral.cl .

Several Terrasur trains per day link Santiago's Alamada station with Curico, Talca, Linares and Chillan on the electrified main line.  The trains are air-conditioned, standard class & preferente class with a refreshment car.  Three of these trains have a bus connection from Chillan to Concepcion.

There's an overnight train between Santiago & Concepcion weekly in summer (January, February) and on key holiday weekends through the year, see tren.cl .  It leaves Santiago on selected Fridays around 22:30 and arrives Concepcion around 07:00.  It leaves Conception on selected Sundays at 21:20 arriving in Santiago next morning.  The car has 3 classes of seat (but no sleepers) and a restaurant car. 

Sadly, the rest of Chile's main line south from Chillan towards Temuco and Puerto Montt is currently not working, though there are plans afoot to restore service in the future.  There are odd trains on a few other routes, such as Valparaiso to Limache (which crazily no longer goes on to Santiago).  See map of Chile .   If you have any feedback, please email me .

Traveller Kalle Michielsen reports from the Santiago-Concepcion night train (2023):   "The train itself had 6 passenger cars, 2 Salón Turista, 1 Súper Salón, 2 Preferente and, to my surprise, a restaurant car. The price seems to fluctuate a bit depending on the departure date, but is around 22.000 pesos for Salón Turista, 26.000 pesos for Súper Salón and 32.000 pesos for Preferente. I decided to get a Preferente seat. The Súper Salón seemed most popular by the locals, and was sold out. Additionally, there were some large ancient cars at either end, though I have no clue what their purpose was. Just after departure, an attendant gave an extensive explanation of on-board rules to all participants. As most things in Chile, everything was in Spanish and you should not expect the staff to speak English. Most people were carefully listening and did not seem acquainted with train travel at all, quite an interesting contrast to Europe. Afterwards, a pillow and small blanket was provided. At around midnight the lights were lowered and everyone tried to keep quiet. The Preferente seat was quite comfortable, with a significant recline (though not completely flat). It also has electricity outlets (Type L, like in Italy) and a tray hidden in the armrest. I did not have time to explore the restaurant car or other classes, though it seemed like the restaurant car was open all night with drinks and snacks. The ride itself started smoothly, however the last section to Concepción is less well maintained. As the complete journey is in darkness I can’t say anything about the view, but I am quite sure that it would be spectacular during daytime hours, especially when the tracks follow the Biobío river. The arrival in Concepción was a tad chaotic, as the platform was not large enough for the train, so the last two carriages all had to go to the front to get off. The platform itself was a hole-filled mess, but it seems like they are working on fixing it."

Traveller Douglas Clark reports (2014):  "I took the Terrasur train from Santiago (confusingly, listed as Alameda on the online booking system).  This is an excellent service with two classes - standard and Preferente.  The train consists of a three-car electric unit with one carriage of Preferente stock in a 2+1 seating format.  There is then a standard carriage that features a cafeteria and then another open standard 2+2 carriage.  There are two services a day to Chillan, one leaving at 0840hrs and the other at 1830hrs. The Preferente seating is extremely comfortable with wide, well-upholstered seats that recline fully.  There is an at-seat service of refreshments in Preferente (for which you pay the normal cafeteria prices).

I tried to book my tickets to Talca and return online but the site rejected my credit card. In the event, I was glad I had to go to the booking office at Alameda station on the morning I was intending to travel. The cost of a return ticket online was 44,000 CLP (about£46) whereas at the station I was able to buy Promo fares that reduced the return ticket price to 19,000 CLP.

I stayed overnight in Talca so that I could catch the 0730hrs train the next morning to Constitucion.  I got to the station a little before 0700hrs and just as well that I did as there were few tickets still available to non-residents at that time.  Residents get priority on the train and you can only buy tickets in the couple of hours before the train departs.  The train was full to capacity when it left Talca and we picked up lots of passengers en route.  I travelled on a Sunday morning and after leaving the station at Gonzalez Bastia we picked up people at lineside halts most of the way to Constitucion - local farmers who were bringing produce to the Sunday market in Constitucion.  Long before we arrived at our destination the train was overflowing with people standing in every available space and with baskets full of tomatoes and other vegetables.

I had intended to take the train back to Talca. I turned up at the station in Constitucion at about 1430hrs, two hours before the train was due to leave, only to find a notice on the door of the closed station to say that were no spaces available to Talca on the train that afternoon.  Fortunately, the bus station is right by the railway station and there are several bus companies offering services to Talca. I was able to get a space on the 1515hrs PullmanSur bus to Talca for about the same price as the train and was transported by air-conditioned bus (in contrast to the rickety Buscarril) in a little under two hours (the train takes 3.5hrs).  However, the Buscarril is an experience as the last branch line in Chile.  The train trundles through a part of Chile that you would not otherwise see - along the Maule River valley - where there are no proper roads. For the sparsely-scattered communities along much of the line, the train is the only transport link that they have. 

I am so glad I managed to travel by train in Chile. It is such a pity that the rail network has been allowed to decay as it has: the coaches that ply frequently between the towns and cities provide an excellent service but there is no comparison with the Preferente class on the train. Unfortunately, the train is much slower than the coaches as the Chileans have invested heavily in the road system, whereas the rail network has been allowed to decline. There are signs of a revival, at least in the suburbs south of Santiago, where new track is being laid and new stations built for what I assume is to be a new fast suburban rail service by MetroTren. I think this should also allow the acceleration of the Terrasur service to Chillan, as many level crossings are being closed with overbridges and underpasses replacing them. Who knows how much longer the Buscarril service will operate? There were rumours when I was in Chile that the government is considering withdrawing the subsidy that allows the Buscarill to operate. That would be a pity - the line is not really marketed as a tourist attraction but it could become a well-used one. I would estimate that about 75% of the passengers from Talca were tourists, almost exclusively Chileans."

Train travel in Colombia

There are few working railways in Colombia, after the State rail operator went bankrupt a few years ago.  However, a useful tourist train links Bogota with Zipaquira , where the salt cathedral is not to be missed.  The train makes a daily round trip at 08:30 from Estación de la Sabana in Bogota, with time in Zipaquira and Cajica.  For times, fares & online booking see www.turistren.com.co .

Traveller Sebastien Ferenczi reports: "It's a touristic train, but aimed at tourists, not railway buffs, as it's the best way to visit the tourist attractions of Zipaquira, famous for its salt cathedral listed as "not to be missed" by Lonely Planet, which is how I found the existence of the train. All information is on their website www.turistren.com.co. I used the train in June 2013. With only a short week-end in Bogota, I tried the online booking but they refused my credit card. So on saturday afternoon I rushed to La Sabana station where I grabbed one of the last seats, not on the steam train which was already full, but on the Autoferro they put as a relief train (technically, a two-car dmu pulling two more cars, quite comfortable). Touristically, this was even better as it left Bogota later (9.15) and left more time in Zipaquira. The train was full of local families, the trip was pleasant and Zipaquira is a very nice place, otherwise reachable only by crowded local buses or expensive taxis. In Bogota, La Sabana station is close to the district of La Candelaria where all tourists stay, and served by the Transmillenio express bus network; a stop is also made at Usaquen to serve the "beaux quartiers" of Bogota."

Train travel in Ecuador

The famous 446 km Guayaquil to Quito railway was completed in 1908, and was described even then as The most difficult railway in the world in terms of the Andean landscape through which it passes.  The line rises from around sea level at Duran (across the river from Guayaquil) to over 2,500 metres above sea level at Quito, with parts of the line above 3,000 metres.

Landslides blocked the line in the 1990s and for some years only parts of the route remained operational with occasional tourist trains.  However, the line was rebuilt and in summer 2013 the whole line reopened, offering a 4-day 3-night cruise train from end to end.  Unfortunately, the pandemic hit, Ferrocarril Ecuador went bust in October 2020 and operations ceased.  Money is being raised to perhaps resume operations in 2023.

Train times, routes, prices used to be at www.ferrocarrilesdelecuador.gob.ec .

The route:   The main line runs Quito (0km) - Machachi (45km) - El Boliche - Latacunga (110km) - Ambato (149 km) - Riobamba (223 km) - Palmira (298 km) -  Alausi (321 km) - (Devil's Nose) - Sibambe (334 km) - Yaguachi - Duran (446 km, just across the Guayas River from Guayaquil). 

For background information on the amazing Quito-Guayaquil railways, see en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Empresa de Ferrocarriles Ecuatorianos . For a route map, see railroadinthesky.com .

Train travel in Mexico

Mexico used to have a good train service linking all major cities, with restaurant cars, sleeping-cars and observation cars, many inherited from the USA.  Sadly, the Mexican government pulled the plug on almost all long-distance passenger train service in the 1990s, leaving buses and planes the only way to get around Mexico, apart from a couple of services in remote areas such as the famous scenic Copper Canyon service.  However, a new network called Tren Maya started operating with modern trains in 2023, and it's due to expand.  For a summary of remaining Mexican train services see www.mexlist.com/pass.htm .

The first section of a modern train network around the Yucutan peninsula opened in late 2023, for a map and details see www.trenmaya.gob.mx (in Spanish, use Google translate).

Ferrocarril Interoceanico

A new railway service started in December 2023, crossing Mexico from Coatzacoalcos in Veracruz state on the Atlantic coast to Salina Cruz on the Pacific.  It uses ex-Amtrak cars and even some second-hand British Intercity 125s.  Trains seem to run every second day, once a day.  See www.pasajerosinteroceanico.com.mx (in Spanish, use Google translate).

A former British Rail Intercity 125 in Mexico, interiors unchanged from service with LNER.  Courtesy of Stellan Danielsson.

Mexico's Copper Canyon Train from Chihuahua to Los Mochis

The famous Copper Canyon train from Los Mochis to Chihuahua deserves a special mention.  In fact, there are two trains, the tourist-orientated Chepe Express 3 times a week between Creel & Los Mochis with Executive & Tourist class, and the Chepe Regional all the way between Chihuahua, Creel & Los Mochis 3 times per week with Regional Tourist & Economy class.   For times and prices see chepe.mx .  There's no online booking, but their website gives phone numbers and email addresses.   You should book several months ahead in high season (July-August, Christmas & Easter).

Traveller Martina Donkers reports:   "I travelled the Copper Canyon Train (called El Chepe locally) in June 2016. It was a fabulous experience. The train station in Los Mochis is easy to reach by taxi, and was fairly uncrowded at 5am. I bought my ticket at the window. It's only possible to buy tickets in Los Mochis, Creel or Chihuahua, but you can stop at any of the villages in between, and if you book your stops in when you purchase the ticket it doesn't cost extra. I booked myself to Bahuachivo with an onward journey to Creel 3 days later for 1600 MX. The train left on time, and the seats were quite comfortable - thy use old first class carriages on the economy trains. The scenery was excellent, as promised. The windows don't open but you can stand between the cars where things are open and get closer to the view. I alternated this with being back in my air-conditioned seat every so often - it was hot! Seeing the train zig-zag and loop back on itself to gain altitude was really, really cool. The dining carriage served ok food. At Bahuachivo station, you're met by a group of hotel operators. There's a bus that goes from Bahuachivo to Urique at the bottom of the canyon - it's well worth it, but you have to wait for the last train of the day to arrive, which might be delayed as it was the day I did the journey. I grabbed a lift to Cerocahui with one of the hotel operators and had a look around the village while I waited. The bus to Urique is a hectic 39km 3 hour ride on an old yellow school bus straight down the sheer side of the canyon!! It's incredible, though not exactly comfortable. Getting back on the train 3 days later was simple - I had my ticket already, and just jumped on. The train stops for 20 minutes at Divisadero - use the time wisely! It's the best view on the whole trip, and the vendors there sell the best gorditas in all of Mexico! You'll want to divide time between the view and the food, and maybe the handicraft stalls too. Be careful not to miss the train - a blast of the horn is your cue to get straight back on. Twenty minutes goes fast!! Technically hot food isn't allowed, but they waved me on with my gordita in hand. At Creel station you get bombarded by touts and it's a bit intense. The station is right in the middle of town just off the plaza, so it's not too hard to get your bearings once you've made it through the crowd. After Creel, the road follows the train line, and arrives into Chihuahua after dark, and unfortunately it's one of those cities where you really don't want to be in the streets once the sun is down - it's amazing how quickly the streets empty!"

Traveller Graham Norman reports:   "We took Amtrak's Sunset Limited from Houston to Tucson and then a bus down to Los Mochis.  Although the Copper Canyon train starts there, we took a taxi to the next stop at El Fuerte and stayed the night.  We joined the Primera Express at El Fuerte at about 9am and travelled to Bahuichivo, where we spent a night at a lodge on the Canyon’s rim. We picked up the train the following day at 1pm and travelled to Creel where we spent two nights (there’s plenty to see).  We took the last stage of the train from Creel, at 4pm, arriving in Chihuahua around 9pm.  Many people use the bus from Creel as it’s quicker and the scenery from the train not so spectacular.  We took a bus back to the US border at El Paso and travelled on the Amtrak train back to Houston.  I used a local agency called 3 Amigos ( www.amigos3.com ) to book the train for us (although there are other agencies), but we paid for the tickets on board.  They also booked the Copper Canyon hotels for us and the taxi from Los Mochis to El Fuerte.  I booked the Amtrak ( www.amtrak.com ), hotels in the US and Chihuahua on the internet.  The Copper Canyon train was a very memorable experience and the scenery was spectacular.  Although most passengers on the Primera Express train were tourists, it doesn't feel like a tourist train and I assume the other daily train, the Clase Economica, is more for local people.  There were armed guards on the train and in Creel but we never felt threatened at any stage.

Further feedback would be very welcome !

Train travel in Panama

The Panama Canal Railway provides one daily train between Ciudad Panama and Colon on Mondays-Fridays.  It leaves Ciudad de Panama at 07:15 on Mondays-Fridays only, arriving Colon at 08:15.  It leaves Colon Mondays-Fridays only at 17:15 arriving back in Panama City at 18:15.  It has air-conditioned Executive class coaches with refreshments available.  The new station for Panama City is in the northern suburb of Allbrook, not far from the domestic airport - the old station in Panama City is now a MacDonald's!  The distance is 77 km (48 miles).  See www.panarail.com for info.  Service ceased during the pandemic, it's not clear if services have resumed.

Train travel in Paraguay

There are no passenger trains in Paraguay, other than a tourist steam train on Sundays from Asunción botanical gardens station.

Train travel in Peru

Train travel in uruguay.

Train service was restored on the line between Tacuarembó and the Brazilian border at Rivera in 2019.  The train is operated once a day by AFE, for times and fares see www.afe.com.uy .  It's roughly 110 km, journey time around 2h10.

 There is also a limited suburban service in Montevideo.

Recommended guidebooks

Buy Rough Guide to South America online at Amazon.co.uk

Accommodation in South America

Backpacker hostels.

www.hostelworld.com :  If you're on a tight budget, don't forget about backpacker hostels.  Hostelworld offers online booking of cheap private rooms or dorm beds in backpacker hostels in most cities at rock-bottom prices.

Flights to South America

Overland travel by train & bus around South America is an essential part of the experience, so once there, don't cheat and fly, stay on the ground!  But a long-haul flight might be unavoidable to reach SA in the first place.  For flights to South America, start with Skyscanner.

Travel insurance & VPN

Always take out travel insurance.

Never travel overseas without travel insurance from a reliable insurer, with at least £1m or preferably £5m medical cover.  It should also cover cancellation and loss of cash and belongings, up to a sensible limit.  An annual multi-trip policy is usually cheaper than several single-trip policies even for just 2 or 3 trips a year, I have an annual policy with Staysure.co.uk myself.  Here are some suggested insurers.  Seat61 gets a small commission if you buy through these links.

Get an eSIM with mobile data package

Don't rely on WiFi, download an eSIM with a mobile data package for the country you're visiting and stay connected.  Most newer mobile phones can download a virtual SIM card so you don't need to buy a physical SIM, including iPhone 11 & later, see device compatibility list .  Maya.net is a reliable eSIM data retailer with a 4.5 out of 5 Trustpilot rating and a range of packages including unlimited data .

Get a Curve card for foreign travel

Most banks give you a poor exchange rate, then add a foreign transaction fee on top.  A Curve MasterCard means no foreign transaction fees and gives you the mid-market exchange rate, at least up to a certain limit, £500 per month at time of writing.  The money you spend on your Curve card goes straight onto one of your existing debit or credit cards.

How it works:   1. Download the Curve app for iPhone or Android .  2. Enter your details & they'll send you a Curve MasterCard - they send to the UK and most European addresses.  3. Link your existing credit & debit cards to the app, you can link up to two cards with the free version of Curve, I link my normal debit card and my normal credit card.  4. Now use the Curve MasterCard to buy things online or in person or take cash from ATMs, exactly like a normal MasterCard. Curve does the currency conversion and puts the balance in your own currency onto whichever debit or credit card is currently selected in the Curve app.  You can even change your mind about which card it goes onto, within 14 days of the transaction.

I have a Curve Blue card myself, it means I can buy a coffee on a foreign station on a card without being stung by fees and lousy exchange rates, just by tapping the Curve card on their card reader.  The money goes through Curve to my normal debit card and is taken directly from my account (in fact I have the Curve card set up as payment card on Apple Pay on my iPhone, so can double-click my phone, let it do Face ID then tap the reader with the phone - even easier than digging a card out).  I get a little commission if you sign up to Curve, but I recommend it here because I think it's great.  See details, download the app and get a Curve card , they'll give you £5 cashback through that link.

Get a VPN for safe browsing.  W hy you need a VPN

When you're travelling you often use free WiFi in public places which may not be secure.  A VPN encrypts your connection so it's always secure, even on unsecured WiFi.  It also means you can select the geographic location of the IP address you browse with, to get around geoblocking which a surprising number of websites apply.  See VPNs & why you need one explained .  ExpressVPN is a best buy with a 4.7 out of 5 Trustpilot ranking which I use myself - I've signed up as an ExpressVPN affiliate, and if you go with expressvpn.com using the links on this page, you should see a special deal, 3 months free with an annual subscription.  I get a small commission to help support this site.

Carry an Anker powerbank

Tickets, reservations, vaccination records and Interrail or Eurail passes are often held digitally on your mobile phone, so it's vital to keep it charged.  I always carry an Anker powerbank which can recharge my phone several times over if I can't get to a power outlet.  Buy from Amazon.co.uk or from Buy from Amazon.com .

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South America Luxury Train Tours 2024

Although less renowned than in Asia and Europe, South America luxury train tours provide a glorious escape from the hectic modern world as you explore Latin America. Our 2024 train tours in South America were meticulously curated to offer total opulent rail journeys and are perfectly positioned to be incorporated into a more comprehensive tour of the region.

Luxury Rail Tours in Peru & South America

Just click on any of the tours listed below to open up or download a PDF file with the tour’s full details including dates and pricing. Note that we offer the Andean Explorer in conjunction with a wider luxury tour in Peru with our sister company – The Latin America Travel Company .

● Please remember that booking as far ahead as you can in advance is essential for these trains ●

12 Nights From UK £ 9,450/ US $ 12,280

Contact us for quotes in other currencies

Lima ● Arequipa ● Belmond Andean Explorer ● Lake Titicaca ● Cusco ● Machu Picchu ● Sacred Valley

18 Nights From UK £ 11,370 / US $ 14,780

Lima ● The Amazon ● Sacred Valley ● Machu Picchu ● Cusco ● Belmond Andean Explorer ● Lake Titicaca ● Arequipa

South American Regional Highlights

The following highlights of this region can be visited on our luxury rail tours and offer world class experiences. Contact us about rail tours we cna tailor in South America.

At an altitude of 2,380 meters this Peruvian city is surrounded by three volcanoes and has a rich mix of Spanish & indigenous culture.

Cusco was the capital of the Inca Empire and the gateway to the famous sites of Machu Picchu and the Sacred Valley of the Incas.

Puno is a picturesque port city at an altitude of over 3,800 metres, on the shores of Lake Titicaca on the Altiplano of Peru.

Experience The Finest Luxury Train Journeys South America Offers

Train trips in South America are nothing new, but now you can travel by train in South America at the height of luxury. Opulence abounds on these train journeys through Latin America, from onboard accommodations, dining experiences, and world-class service provided by the crew onboard the trains. Many people choose to nourish themselves in a South America luxury rail holiday while exploring the region on a wider exploratory tour.

Passengers onboard these luxury trains in South America can saturate their souls while breathing in the fresh, crisp Andean air from one of the train’s open decks. You’ll also be able to revel in menus with the finest seasonal dishes prepared by top-class chefs while taking a train across South America. After enjoying your fine meal, maybe relax by having a treatment at the onboard spa or retire to your luxury cabin for a comfortable night’s rest and prepare for the following day’s activities on your South America luxury train tour.

South America Luxury Train Tour Itineraries That Offer A Unique Perspective

Our South America luxury train holidays offer travellers a truly unique way of experiencing this incredibly beautiful region. While many people opt to fly throughout South America, rail travel in South America allows you to get on the ground and actually experience the incredible landscapes, cultures, and people that other forms of transport just can’t give you. We offer the best train rides in South America that have been designed with total luxury in mind.

These South America train travel itineraries have been curated to provide an unsurpassable Latin American experience. South America train tours with The Luxury Train Travel Company allow you to experience a myriad of magical destinations, from the picturesque port city of Puno on the shores of Lake Titicaca to departing from Quinto in Ecuador. If you desire to travel by train in South America, and want to do it in style and luxury, we’d gladly assist in making it happen.

Luxury South America Train Tours Curated By Leading Industry Experts

If you’re considering train travel in South America, there’s no better place to go than The Luxury Train Travel Company. We are industry-leading experts at organising train tours in South America and have a wealth of experience to call upon to offer the greatest itineraries for Latin America rail travel. In South America, travellers have such a monumental choice of destinations and activities, and we curate South America train tours that ensure you don’t miss out.

Regardless of the length of each tour or its destination, these train trips in South America are designed to provide travellers with the ultimate onboard experience. Whether you take a three-hour trip via train across South America or a four-night Andes to the Pacific South America luxury rail holiday that takes in some incredible volcanic views and spectacular rail engineering, you can be confident that you are getting the finest possible tour created by the best in the business.

Luxury Train Travel in South America via Peru, Bolivia, Argentina, Brazil, Chile & Patagonia

We often find that travellers head for Latin America due to the diversity it offers in landscapes, incredible city destinations, history, and intriguing cultures. South America train travel provides a wonderful way of seeing many of the region’s unique gems. A journey on a luxury train in South America will undoubtedly be the journey of a lifetime for many people, and choosing train journeys in South America with the most suitable itineraries is crucial for the overall experience.

You may opt for Bolivia as a destination you want to visit when you travel by train in South America. Bolivia truly is a land of extremes, with spectacular views, high altitudes, and astounding landscapes. Argentina and Brazil are also astonishingly popular for South America train tours. Peru, Chile, and Patagonia are also very favoured for South America luxury train holidays, and The Luxury Train Travel Company is here to ensure you get the best tour itinerary.

Find the Best Train Journeys in South America with The Luxury Train Travel Company

The Luxury Train Travel Company have been the go-to agency for train travel in South America for many years. Our entire team is passionate about luxury train journeys and the opportunities on offer from such an incredible mode of transport. Because we focus on train travel, we are in the position of being able to offer the best train journeys in South America.

You can choose from a wide variety of luxury trains in South America that will take you to many of the most popular destinations and attractions in Latin America. South America train travel makes a great addition to a tour itinerary or as a full holiday tour in its own right. You can search our luxury South America train tours to find the journey you want or speak to an expert, and we’ll help curate a bespoke itinerary that includes some incredible train trips in South America.

Interested In A South America Luxury Train Holiday in 2024? Speak to Our Experts Today!

The Luxury Train Travel Company has specialised in first-class rail travel for many years and has provided world-class travel itineraries for travellers worldwide. We are passionate about rail travel and train tours in South America. South America luxury train tours are often overshadowed by more famous Asian and European routes. Still, our beautifully curated journeys offer the best train rides in South America, and there’s no better time than now to book your South America train travel for 2024 than now!

If you’re in the early stages of planning a trip on a luxury train in South America, know exactly what you want, or you’re confused by all the choices you have and want to learn more and get some professional guidance, The Luxury Train Travel Company is here to help. The Luxury Train Travel Company can help with any queries concerning luxury train travel in South America and curate your dream trip. Please contact a member of our team who will be happy to chat and arrange a South America luxury train tour for 2024.

THE MOST POPULAR QUESTIONS

South america luxury train tours faqs, can you travel through south america by train.

If you’ve experienced any part of Latin America before, you’ll know just how stunning the countries are that make up this part of the world. With countries such as Peru, Bolivia, Argentina, Brazil, Chile, and Ecuador, you’re spoilt for choice when it comes to immersing yourself in new cultures and exploring some incredible destinations. Train travel in South America is a prevalent choice of transport for seeing Latin America at a slower pace that allows you to enjoy the journey rather than simply moving from point A to point B. You can travel by train in South America on a number of different routes and trains. Luxury train travel in South America is less talked about when compared to well-known routes through Europe and Asia. Still, the best train rides in South America provide travellers with something truly unique, from the opportunity of visiting glaciers and mountains to interacting with the indigenous people and experiencing new cultures and culinary delights that you simply can’t find elsewhere. One of the great things about train travel in South America is the number of route options. You could take a journey on a luxury train in South America with a duration of a couple of hours that is incorporated into a Latin America tour itinerary, or you could sit back and relax onboard one of the train tours in South America that wind its way through the region over the course of several days. Whatever the duration you decide to travel by train in South America, you’ll be creating an unforgettable experience that will instil a lifetime of wonderful memories.

Are there international trains in South America?

There is no longer a coherent international rail network in South America, but you can still choose individual railway networks as a fabulous way to see Latin America. Train travel in South America gives rise to boundless wonderful opportunities for travellers. In particular, Bolivia, Peru, and Ecuador are spectacular countries to explore on South America luxury train holidays. Brazil is also one of Latin America’s gems and well worth exploring. The country has some captivating rail journeys. Argentina and Chile would also be high on the list of countries to visit using South America train travel as your preferred mode of transport. Patagonia is a magical place to visit during a South America luxury train tour. If you’d like to explore all your options for train travel in South America, we’ve got experts that can help. The Luxury Train Travel Company has many years of experience creating itineraries and travel plans for clients looking for the best train travel experiences. Whether you want to experience a couple of short South America train tours during your trip or go cross-continent utilising luxury train travel in South America, we’ll help you design your ultimate train tour package that ticks all the boxes for you and ensures you get the finest South America train travel vacation.

What is South America’s most luxurious train?

The definition of luxury differs for different people. Still, as highly experienced luxury train experts, the Andean Explorer must be at the top of our list of luxury trains in South America. The train is operated by Belmond and strays away from more traditional interiors with a more contemporary aesthetic. The carriage interiors were completed using light earthy tones, and each carriage was given the name of flora or fauna that can be found along the train route. Passengers on these South America luxury train tours can choose between any of the beautifully appointed cabins. There are 35 cabins onboard, and you can enjoy either bunk beds, or twin, or suite cabins. Guests can enjoy an en suite bathroom with a shower on this luxury train in South America, a wardrobe, a 24/7 call button, a robe and slippers, and air conditioning. While onboard, passengers can relax in the lounge car and then indulge themselves in a genuinely wonderful fine dining experience in one of the train’s two luxury dining cars. Train travel in South America just doesn’t get better than this, which is why it is so popular among new and seasoned travellers. They’ve even taken luxury one step further with their train trips in South America by having the Picaflor Spa car. There surely can’t be a better way to relax during a journey than a spa treatment. They even provide an altitude acclimatisation treatment that helps to alleviate the effects of climate sickness when travelling at altitude. The choice of routes available is incredible, and you’ll be able to travel along one of the highest rail routes in the world, making it one of the best train rides in America, all done onboard the most luxurious and opulent train.

What’s the transcontinental rail route in South America?

An agreement was signed in 2017 for an Atlantic-Pacific railway, and work began in 2019. Due to be completed in 2024, the transcontinental railway will stretch some 3750 kilometres and make for wonderful train journeys in South America. There are two proposed routes that will be available for taking a train across South America. Both routes are expected to end in Santos, Brazil, with the Pacific coast ending in Ilo and Matarani, Peru. Passengers fortunate enough to be able to enjoy rail travel in South America along this route are in for a real treat. If you’re interested in taking a South America luxury rail holiday along the transcontinental railway, contact us here at The Luxury Train Travel Company, and our experts will gladly assist you in booking your dream train travel in South America.

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This Luxury Train Company Now Offers Trips to Machu Picchu, the Amazon Rainforest, the Galapagos, and More — With Some 25-day Itineraries

Eight- to 25-day train trips are now bookable in Peru, Argentina, and Ecuador.

Courtesy of Railbookers

Exploring South America by rail just got a whole lot easier. Independent train vacation company Railbookers announced that it launched itineraries on the continent by debuting 21 new itineraries, all available to book now.

While the trips are all centered around Peru, they encompass some of the country's flagship destinations, including Machu Picchu and the Amazon rainforest, as well as the Galapagos in neighboring Ecuador. Several of the journeys include segments on Andean Explorer and Hiram Bingham , both Belmond Trains and among the most luxurious trail experiences in the world. 

“South America — whether it's Peru, Argentina, the Galapagos Islands, or beyond — is a once-in-a-lifetime travel destination for many of our customers … and we are thrilled to offer a comprehensive collection of independent train vacations in Peru that check all of the boxes,” Frank Marini, Railbookers’ President and CEO, said in a statement shared with Travel + Leisure . He added that the trips offer “some of the best sightseeing and scenery, accommodations, and luxury experiences available anywhere.”

Richard James Taylor/Courtesy of Railbookers

Vacations vary from eight to 25 days in length, including departures as early as this month and into 2025. Besides the upscale train journeys, several itineraries also include overnight stays on luxury cruises to the Galapagos, as well as river cruises through Peru’s Amazonian forest. Every itinerary can be customized to include all the elements you prefer, including adding cruise extensions to existing sailings.

Among the trips is an eight-day Essential Peru trip, roundtrip from Lima, including stops in the Sacred Valley, Machu Picchu, and Cusco. There's also a 14-day Luxury Trains of Peru , that goes to Colca Canyon and Arequipa, including a ride on the Hiram Bingham and two overnights on the Andean Explorer. Also available is a 25-day itinerary to 10 destinations in both Peru and Ecuador, including Puno, Paracas, Quito, and the Galapagos Islands, with a train ride on The Titicaca Train and Nazca Lines, plus four nights on Yacht Isabela II.

Emi Cristea/Courtesy of Railbookers

Every trip includes a personalized welcome, private transfers, and hosted experiences, plus the freedom of traveling on your own. Internal flights and transfers are included, as is access to an around-the-clock emergency line in case things go awry. The company also released a “South America by Train” brochure to help travelers better navigate the rails. 

For more information or to book your South American Railbookers getaway, visit railbookers.com .

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Most Scenic Rail Journeys in South America

Blog our favorite routes, argentina , ecuador , peru.

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Discovering any country by rail – or luxury rail – is a joy. More comfortable than driving, more scenic than flying, and overall an intimate way to see the countryside, rural settlements and even archeological sites at a pace that suits the spirit of vacation. 

Without question, South America boasts some of the most scenic railway journeys in the world. This beguiling continent of towering mountains, glaciers, craggy valleys, wildlife-rich countryside and endless cultural intrigue is primed for exploration. For us at Atelier, an unforgettable train journey is the way to do it. 

In truth even local trips and stops will throw up something worth seeing, but what about those truly iconic railway routes? Here, we take a look at our top 6 most scenic rail journeys in South America to give you inspiration for your next Atelier tour.

The Belmond Andean Explorer – Cusco, Puno and Arequipa, Peru

The Hiram Bingham – Machu Picchu, Peru

The Train to the Clouds – Salta, Argentina 

Tren Crucero & The Devil’s Nose – Ecuador 

La Trochita. The Old Patagonia Express – Argentina 

The Serra Verde Express – Brasil 

1. The Belmond Andean Explorer

Where else to start, but the Belmond Andean Explorer? Touted as Peru’s first luxury sleeper train, this journey – connecting ancient Cusco near the Sacred Valley with Puno on the shores of Lake Titicaca – is simply spellbinding. 

The Belmond brand is well-known as one of the foremost luxury hotel, cruise and experience providers in the world, always culturally sensitive and always first-class, too. Their Andean Explorer train is no different. 

Inside, you can expect ornate brass and gilded fittings, royal boutique cabins, fine dining Peruvian cuisine and impeccable service throughout. There’s a lounge bar, restaurant, even an observation deck and spa for extra indulgence! Yet it’s what lies outside that makes the Belmond Andean Explorer just so special…

There are several options to choose from, each as stunning as the next though differing in length. And, as you roll through the foothills of the Andes you’ll pass rugged plains, lakes, remote archeological sites and of course, have that dramatic mountainscape as your backdrop all the while. With plenty of chance for stops and excursions along the way, the Andean Explorer Train is a true travel experience.

2.The Hiram Bingham Train to Machu Picchu

Staying in Peru, the Belmond Hiram Bingham Train links ancient Cusco with Ollantaytambo in the Sacred Valley, and Machu Picchu itself. Onboard you can expect the same high standards as the Andean Explorer. Think fine fabrics and ornate furnishings, and a traditional exterior that would not look out of place in Victorian England.

There’s more magic inside on this rail journey too. On top of welcome cocktails, gourmet cuisine and other creature comforts, you’ll be treated to cultural entertainment, live musical performances, and a bit of fun for all the family as you travel through the Sacred Valley. 

Then there’s the route. Peru’s Sacred Valley is home to some of the world’s greatest ruins and archeological sites, the center of the mighty Inca Empire. None more so than your final destination aboard the Belmond Hiram Bingham Train, Machu Picchu – the Lost City. In fact, the train is named after the explorer who rediscovered Machu Picchu in 1911.

To get there, you’ll rumble past pretty streams that become pounding rivers, lush forest, sharp hillsides and open plains. It all makes for a beautiful introduction to the Lost City once you arrive.  

3.The Train to the Clouds

Tren a las Nubes, the Train to the Clouds in Salta, Argentina, is a high-altitude (over 4,200m above sea level) journey on parts of a line that once connected Salta and San Antonio de los Cobres. This narrow-gauge ride through the remote north of Argentina makes for a fantastic day trip and on of the best ways to see the incredible surrounding rock formations this area is known for.

The Train to the Clouds is a real feat of engineering, too. Along the way you’ll wind along gorges and hillsides, passing over deep valleys on huge, towering bridges that can make you feel like you’re floating above the ground! The landscapes here are stark. It’s a place where arid plains roll into hazy hills, and red-hued mountains beyond. 

Not just for tourists, Tren a las Nubes is actually a working railway line in Argentina, so you’ll be sharing the experience with locals, too. So for anyone traveling to the north of the country, this exciting tour is a must when in Salta.

4. Tren Crucero & The Devil’s Nose

Ecuador’s Tren Crucero & The Devil’s Nose, connecting the capital Quito and Guayaquil on the southwest coast, is worth traveling to the country for alone. An incredible South America railway journey that is as culturally/historically significant as it is beautiful, interesting, relaxing and at times, thrilling. 

The full route typically takes 4 days, with plenty of scenic stops and planned excursions available along the way. You can extend your itinerary up to 12 days if looking to spend extra time at certain locations along the way. 

Starting with the train however, there are different cabin and coach styles to choose from – some more family-friendly, others ornate and luxurious, though service is always first-class no matter which you choose and snacks/drinks are always available. Overnight, you will stay in boutique hotels at each major stop, though it’s daily life onboard that really makes Tren Crucero & The Devil’s Nose so special. 

The route and line were constructed over 100 years ago, a fact which becomes more perplexing as you travel deeper into what seems an impenetrable landscape at times. Passing no less than 10 volcanoes, verdant hills and valleys, local settlements and farming communities, wild plains and so much more besides – Tren Crucero takes you through Ecuador in a way no journey by road ever could.

And then there’s the Devil’s Nose. Available as a tour in itself (between Alausi to Sibambe) if not looking to do the full 4 days, the Hair-raising Devil’s Nose is one of the great engineering masterpieces of the 20 th Century. It’s also one of the most memorable train rides in South America, crisscrossing a narrow gorge near the Chanchán river and at times defying belief as you cling to sheer mountainsides and navigate steep drops. Sadly, many people died constructing this line back in 1872, an important point to acknowledge while absorbing what is an exceptional travel experience.

5. La Trochita. The Old Patagonia Express

Patagonia is an otherworldly place. Glacial lakes, beautiful forests, uninhabitable plains, icebergs, penguins, whales, and the southernmost city on Earth, Ushuaia. In truth there are countless train routes and journeys around Patagonia that are breathtaking, but the 5-day La Trochita tour stands out as one that’s both historic and intoxicating from start to finish.

Traveling aboard a 1922 steam train, the Old Patagonia Express takes you into bewildering scenery throughout, including the Nahuel Huapi National Park, Los Alerces National Park, past Bariloche and the Seven Lakes Route, to name just a few.

Staying in hotels along the way, your time onboard will be filled with wonder and awe as you traverse this captivating part of the world, one that looks different – though equally spectacular – in every season. Patagonia is a fairytale place, and La Trochita is the way to see it. 

6. The Serra Verde Express, Brazil

Brazil is a great destination for day trips by rail, with lots of short tours and handy lines able to whisk you around without the hassle of traffic or inevitable crowds on the streets. There are plenty to choose from, but one we particularly like is the Serra Verde Express, an especially pretty route through preserved Atlantic Forest from Curitiba to Moretes in the Parana State of southwestern Brazil.  

Built in the 1880s as a part of Brazil’s wider expansion on rail, the Serra Verde Express takes you through lush forest and into open countryside, along bridges and past the historic towns like Antonina, where you can stop for a tour. Life onboard is supremely comfortable too, particularly in the higher-grade coaches which are all leather armchairs, sofas and polished wood paneling. 

One of the many highlights on this scenic route is the cloud forests around Pico do Marumbi State Park, where no picture can truly capture the feeling of nature as you descend from there down to sea level. An essential day trip for anyone in southwest Brazil.

No matter where you choose to go or whatever your areas of interest, this is just a taste of some of the incredible travel experiences to be had across South America. 

Speak to an Atelier specialist today, and let them craft your dream tailormade tour at  [email protected]  

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Travel along one of the highest train routes in the world

Step aboard this luxury Peru train and explore the breathtaking country in unrivalled style. Experience vibrant cities and spellbinding natural wonders.

Andean Explorer, South America’s first luxury sleeper service, offers a choice of one- or two-night journeys. From Cusco, the ancient capital of the Inca Empire, traverse the highest plains of the Andes before arriving at the reflective beauty of Lake Titicaca. Continue towards the city of Arequipa, a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Peruvian Highlands

2 nights: Cusco – Puno – Arequipa

Embark on the ultimate Peruvian escape and journey from Cusco to Arequipa in style, visiting charming Puno and the majestic Lake Titicaca. Tours each day let uncover the hidden gems of this fascinating land.

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Spirit of the Andes

1 night: Puno – Cusco

Discover the Spirit of the Andes as you journey aboard this luxury train from Puno to Cusco. Let yourself be enchanted by some of South America’s most beautiful scenery as you travel along one of the highest train routes in the world.

Spirit of the Water

1 night: Cusco – Puno

Be swept up in the beauty of Lake Titicaca, the stunning final destination as you travel from Cusco to Puno. Train journeys aboard Andean Explorer promise countless memories to treasure.

Andean Plains and Islands of Discovery

2 nights: Arequipa – Puno – Cusco

Travel from Arequipa to Cusco in unforgettable style. Savor the unforgettable indulgence of Andean Explorer as you are whisked through Peru’s most spectacular destinations, including the spellbinding Lake Titicaca.

Top Train Trips for Sightseeing in South America

Long distance and train travel between South American countries is a thing of the past, but local passenger and sightseeing train trips are still available, and in many cases, an attraction in themselves. Some are for fun only, others are a viable way to travel.

For serious, long distance travel, take a bus, or fly. Rent a car if you are experienced with South America driving and roads.

Hiram Bingham Orient Express Train to Machu Picchu

"The 'Hiram Bingham' is a luxury train service that runs from Poroy Station to Machu Picchu taking 3 and a half hours." Expensive, luxurious and a marvelous way to travel.

The Devil's Nose

Called the " Most Difficult Train in the World,"  the train trip between Riobamba and Alausí is one of Ecuador's most famous attractions. The railroad was originally built to connect the Andes with the coast, and the route goes up and down steep slopes, along river valleys and has to negotiate a wall of rock called Nariz del Diablo, the Devil's Nose. Travelers today can choose to sit inside ​or ride the roof for a better view.

La Trochita

The Viejo Expreso Patagónico", or Old Patagonian Express, is represented by this ride on the old narrow-gauge tracks through Argentine Patagonia. The site is in Spanish.

Curitiba-Paranaguá Train Ride

The train trip from Curitiba to Paranaguá in Brazil is exciting, spectacular and a favorite with visitors. The route, over 67 bridges and through 13 tunnels, descends a steep mountain to the seaport, and most travelers do a round trip in one day.

Tren a los Nubes

The railroad in Argentina was built in the 1920's for British railways, designed by an American engineer, to provide access to the nitrate mines in Chile. It reaches 14,000 ft. The train is back in service.

Andean Explorer: Cuzco to Puno, Peru

Called the second most beautiful route in the world, the scenery from Cuzco to Puno, Peru takes you from mountains, through the high plains called Altiplano, to the shore of Lake Titicaca.

Journey by Train to Machu Picchu

"To travel by train to Machu Picchu, PERURAIL, the company that operates the Southern Railways, offers a wide variety of services which cover the needs of the different types of travelers to the former Inca citadel or the nearby area." Choose between the Inca Route from Cuzco, the Ollanta Route through Ollantaytambo, or the Poroy 18 km route from Cuzco, right in the Urubamba Valley. All trains go to Aguas Calientes for Machu Picchu.

Tren del Vino

The train takes the Wine Route through the scenic Colchagua valley near Santiago, Chile, visiting wineries for tastings, stopping for meals and a tour of the Colchagua Museum.

Tren de la Costa

Climb aboard the train in Buenos Aires for the short trip along the Rio de la Plata shore to the Tigre Delta, where you can choose to tour the delta and Isla San Martin, amuse yourself in an amusement park or the casino, shop and dine in waterfront restaurants.

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South America’s greatest railway journeys: Peru’s Andean Explorer & Ecuador’s Tren Crucero

By Audley Peru and Ecuador specialist Holly

This may come as a surprise, but you don’t exactly travel on Peru’s Belmond Andean Explorer for the scenery. Comparatively little travel takes place during daylight hours, and you can look out onto exactly the same mountainscapes, desolate Altiplano and river valleys if covering the route by car (at one point, the road even runs parallel to the tracks).

No, the experience is really about the giddy romance of exploring Peru by Agatha Christie-esque sleeper train, and all that entails. Conversely, Ecuador’s Tren Crucero, though not as plush as the Andean Explorer or a sleeper service, takes a decidedly scenic route, passing active volcanoes and cloudforest in its journey to the coast.

The Belmond Andean Explorer (Arequipa to Lake Titicaca to Cuzco)

Just as I was taking a sip of my pisco sour, the train gave a judder. Not that anyone seemed perturbed. Someone was tickling the ivories in the piano bar car, which hummed with conversation. We were, after all, journeying on a restored sleeper across the Peruvian Altiplano, and a bit of joggling or clickety-clacking every now and again — along with a few periods where the train only crawled along — was par for the course. Occasionally, the train would stop altogether for engineers to hop off and change the points.

Here’s what I really like about Belmond’s service: it manages to evoke something of the mystique of the golden age of train travel through several imaginative, nostalgia-inducing touches (more on those, shortly). And yet, at the same time, you never forget you’re in Peru while you’re on the train.

The walls are hung with vibrant, zigzag-patterned textiles and other handicrafts. The cabins and cars are furnished with alpaca and vicuña wool blankets. There’s a library of Peruvian books, and framed pictures of Amazonian butterflies and Andean villages decorate the dining car.

And then there’s the food, which is completely high-end while remaining in touch with the country’s roots. You can expect canapés and amuse-bouches using cuy (guinea pig), alpaca tortellini, homemade quinoa breads, and dishes using corn and other seasonal vegetables.

The route, day-by-day

I caught the service from Arequipa , journeying to Lake Titicaca and then winding up into the Andes to end in Cuzco . It’s also possible to travel this three-day, two-night route in reverse.

Day 1: Arequipa to Lake Titicaca

Arequipa’s train station has received a facelift thanks to Belmond (it was previously only used by coal trains). Since we boarded at 5:30pm, dusk fell quickly as the train began its journey. You travel throughout the night, stopping, if possible, in a siding. The cabins are comfortable, but I admit I did wake in the night once or twice, aware we were ascending in altitude. (As always with travel to Peru, altitude sickness is a risk, although there are ways of mitigating it).

Day 2: Lake Titicaca

You wake up to breakfast overlooking the lake in the train station at Puno , a city on the water’s edge.

Included in the trip is a day-long visit to the floating islands of Uros that pepper the lake waters. Your guide will introduce you to the hardy inhabitants who make the islands from meshed-together springy tortora reeds gathered from the lake, which they also use to craft their homes and boats.

After a lunch of fresh trucha (trout), you head to Taquile Island . It looks, on approach, like little more than a grassy hump, but its sides are contoured with terraces for growing crops. The Taquilenos, dressed in bright chullo hats, will show you their dexterous knitting and weaving industry, by which they live as a largely self-sufficient community.

When you get back to the train station, ready to board for the final leg to Cuzco, you’re treated to afternoon tea. A saxophonist plays, and I remember being grateful for the roaring log fire in the grate. It was now around 5pm, and the air (due to the altitude) had a sharp chill. The train departs for its final leg at around 5:30pm.

En route to Cuzco , you stop for a while to spend the night in a siding, which most people find gives them a more refreshing sleep. (You’ll also stop in a siding for the night on the Puno to Arequipa routing.)

Day 3: travel to Cuzco

Peeking out the window once it’s light, you find you have reached the Andes proper.

After breakfast, you disembark and travel for about 20 minutes by private mini-bus to the pre-Inca ruins of Raqch’i, where you can explore the Temple of Wiracocha, the Inca creator-god.

It’s an enormous site of mostly adobe structures, and the complex includes a row of columns with carved stone foundations, an artificial lake, bathhouses and qollqas (grain storehouses). You’ll also find local handicrafts for sale in and around the ruins, including some excellent ceramics.

The best scenery of the entire journey occurs once you board the train again for the last leg into Cuzco, snaking along the Urubamba Valley floor with mountainscapes on either side. Don’t be surprised if you see locals standing and waving from the sidings, especially as the train nears Cuzco, your journey’s end.

If you’re planning to go on to visit  Machu Picchu , I suggest continuing your journey in style by taking the Belmond Hiram Bingham service from Poroy Station, just outside Cuzco. If you can, catch the service that departs around 9am (with an elegant brunch served on board). The alternative evening service travels largely in the dark and thus you miss out on the  Sacred Valley  scenery. Compared to the inhospitable Altiplano, you’re in a much gentler, greener and more compliant-looking landscape: fields are sown with crops, and the agriculture gives way to more and more jungle the closer you get to Machu Picchu. You might even spot hummingbirds.

Reversing the route

It’s worth pointing out that if you reverse the route, departing from Cuzco and terminating in Arequipa, you have the opportunity to visit Sumbay Caves. These former dwellings, located in a canyon in the shadow of the stratovolcano known as El Misti, contain a veritable gallery of Paleolithic pictograms and paintings, including figures hunting vicuña.

Life on board

Staying on the train really is like heading back to the travel ambience of the roaring twenties.

It’s the novelty of going to bed in a traditional sleeper train bunk-bed cabin, complete with en suite shower, slippers, a robe, a safe box and chocolates left on your pillow in the nightly turn-down service. It’s spending several hours idling in the piano bar. Or slipping out onto the train’s observation deck at night, well wrapped-up, for a spot of stargazing (you’re passing through areas with minimal light pollution, and this, combined with the altitude, makes for superb visibility).

I also appreciated being able to chat to the all-Peruvian staff, who’ll willingly point out anything of interest through the window. One lady once stopped what she was doing to explain to me that the farmers in the passing fields were freeze-drying potatoes.

I’ll stop waxing lyrical for a moment to throw in a small tip about the cabin choices: as fun as the bunk-bed cabins are, I’d recommend booking a double cabin, if you can. They’re so much more spacious (I could barely open my suitcase in the bunk-bed cabin).

Remember, too, to admire your room’s ceiling. It’s delicately painted to look as if it’s made out of tiles (in fact it’s tin), an Art Deco technique that I first saw in the hotel Casa Gangotena in Quito .

Practicalities of riding the Andean Explorer

• The Andean Explorer also offers a one-night sleeper option between Cuzco and Lake Titicaca. Your specialist will be able to advise you on whether this suits your travel plans better than the two-night route.

Start planning your trip to Peru & Ecuador

Amazon, Cuzco, Machu Picchu & Lake Titicaca

12 days from $6,900pp

The Andean Explorer: Cuzco, Machu Picchu & Lake Titicaca

10 days from $7,640pp

Luxury Peru tour by rail: Cuzco, Machu Picchu & Lake Titicaca

11 days from $13,800pp

Start thinking about your experience. These itineraries are simply suggestions for how you could enjoy some of the same experiences as our specialists. They’re just for inspiration, because your trip will be created around your particular tastes.

Further reading

• What to do in Peru: our highlights guide
• What to do in Ecuador: our highlights guide
• More Audley train journeys

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Traveling by train through South America is a unique opportunity to discover the vastness of the continent while avoiding the occasional stresses of land-based travel. Train journeys mean no traffic jams, a relaxing atmosphere, top-quality hospitality service while legendary South American landscapes roll before your eyes. If you want to explore South America at a relaxing pace, check our train tours to Peru, Ecuador and Argentina

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22 Epic American Train Journeys You Won't Forget

Posted: April 21, 2024 | Last updated: April 21, 2024

Exploring America's railroads

The US is prime road-trip country but, to get the best views and the most relaxing experience, you really can't beat a trip on one of America's railroads.

Read on as we round up our favorite journeys from across the land, taking in everything from epic cross-country escapes to short-run heritage routes in beautiful natural surroundings. 

Rocky Mountaineer: Rockies to the Red Rocks

A new Rocky Mountaineer route takes passengers on an exciting two-day journey between Denver, Colorado and Moab, Utah, with an overnight stay in Glenwood Springs, Colorado. The Rockies to the Red Rocks was launched in August 2021 and all packages include meals onboard as well as accommodation in Moab, Glenwood Springs and Denver. 

California Zephyr: Chicago, Illinois to San Francisco, California

Whichever way you travel – Chicago to San Francisco or vice-versa – the 2,438-mile (3,924km), 51-hour cross-country journey on the California Zephyr is a breathtaking experience. From the impossibly majestic mountain ranges of the Rockies and the Sierra Nevada to the vast expanse of the Utah desert, the route offers stunning scenery from start to finish.

There's a variety of accommodation on the train, from coach class seats to superliner bedroom suites, and travelers in private rooms have access to flexible dining that includes breakfast, lunch, dinner and a wide selection of drinks. A ride in the observation car, called Sightseer Lounge, is an unmissable experience, especially when passing through the rocky Colorado scenery.

Pacific Surfliner: San Diego to San Luis Obispo, California

The Pacific Surfliner skirts 350 miles along California’s Pacific Coast between San Diego and San Luis Obispo. Skimming the gleaming coastline and the Pacific Coast Highway, the Surfliner passes the narrow Simi Valley towards the Santa Susana Mountains and the Simi Hills. Leaving Los Angeles, the train then runs parallel with the Old Pacific Highway before re-joining the Californian waves and various coastal towns and nudging into San Diego.

The full journey takes just over eight hours. Normally, the route offers 13 daily round-trip services between San Diego and Los Angeles, five to Santa Barbara and two to San Luis Obispo, so travelers can be flexible with their itinerary. Schedules have recently changed and the service is also impacted by track closures so do check for updates before booking.

Cape Cod Central Railroad: Hyannis to Buzzards Bay, Massachusetts

A heritage railway dating back to the mid-1800s, the Cape Cod Central Railroad offers scenic excursions, swanky dining journeys and special events from May to October. The standard circular two-hour trip starts from Hyannis, known as the Capital of the Cape. It winds its way through the quaint villages of West Barnstable and Sandwich (the oldest on the Cape), along the Cape Cod Canal and across the landmark Buzzards Bay vertical lift bridge.

On the way, travelers see sand dunes, salt marshes and cranberry bogs and hear fascinating commentary about Cape Cod Canal and other points of interest. Tickets are available on the company's website.

Cardinal: New York City, New York to Chicago, Illinois

Cardinal, Amtrak’s thrice-weekly service, takes travelers overnight from New York City to Chicago, calling in at Washington DC, Charlottesville, Cincinnati and Indianapolis. Three other routes connect these busy cities, but the Cardinal is easily the most scenic of them all. The views get especially arresting across the Shenandoah Valley, over the Blue Ridge Mountains and the Allegheny range, before winding through West Virginia’s gorgeous New River Gorge.

Heading westward, the train rolls along the banks of the Ohio River to the skyline of Cincinnati. From there, the journey continues via Indianapolis, before wending its way up to Chicago in time for breakfast. There's a wide range of accommodation and dining options available – check the Amtrak website for current information on service times and amenities offered.

Grand Canyon Railway: Williams to Grand Canyon Village, Arizona

The trip on the Grand Canyon Railway begins in Williams, a small town 30 miles west of Flagstaff. Meandering its way through ponderosa pine forests and open prairie, the train terminates in Grand Canyon Village on the South Rim of the Grand Canyon National Park, before heading back to Williams. The train departs at 9.30am daily.

Those who pick the Dome car will have access to a private bar service with incredible views on the side. Opt for the luxury Parlor and you'll be able to step out onto the open-air rear platform and see the changing landscape from a different perspective. Passengers can keep their eyes peeled for wildlife including elk, mountain lions, mule deer, bald eagles and horned owls too.

Strasburg Rail Road, Pennsylvania

America’s oldest operating railroad, the Strasburg Rail Road first puffed off the buffers in 1832. Today it takes its passengers on a whistle-stop tour through Pennsylvanian Amish country. Touring the farmlands of Lancaster County, tended by the Amish, the regular excursion is a short but sweet 4.5 mile journey each way.

Four steam locomotives still pull original rolling stock on the 45-minute round trip to and from Paradise, and an audio commentary dispenses nuggets of knowledge on the nation’s oldest continuously operating short line railway. There are typically numerous special outings, such as the Wine & Cheese ride, themed dinner trains and unique friends and family experiences, like escape rooms, trivia nights and even a cabaret. Keen trainspotters can also look out for the Amtrak trains racing past on a parallel line.

Southwest Chief: Chicago, Illinois to Los Angeles, California

The Southwest Chief train beats a 40-hour-journey through the American West, escorting travelers from the shore of Lake Michigan to the Pacific Ocean. It passes through eight states and calls in at Kansas City, Albuquerque and Flagstaff along the way. The epic journey is often billed as Amtrak's most scenic and crosses the Mississippi, sweeping past wheat fields, pueblos, peaks and deserts.

The train, departing three times a week, carves its way through canyon passages so narrow you could almost touch the walls as you pass. The Chief also follows the weathered wagon path of the old Santa Fe Trail – an experience impossible to recreate on the road. Passengers might have to hustle for a spot in the Observation Car to soak up the best views, but it's well worth it. 

Coast Starlight: Los Angeles, California to Seattle, Washington

The Coast Starlight is a wonderful 35-hour journey, linking some of the West Coast’s finest cities, including Los Angeles, Oakland, Portland and Seattle. Soon after leaving LA’s sprawl behind, the Starlight treats travelers to some of the most glittering Californian views on the Pacific Coast. After that, there’s the snow-capped peaks of the Cascade Range and Mount Shasta, lush forests and fertile valleys to enjoy.

The train departs daily (check the Amtrak site for details) and is grouped among the most spectacular train routes in America. As with all long-distance Amtrak trains, there's a wide range of accommodation available, as well as the Sightseer Lounge to soak in those sparkling views of the Pacific shoreline.

Tennessee Valley Railroad, Tennessee

The Tennessee Valley Railroad is a rolling museum of vintage trains, offering a variety of trips that show what traveling was like during the Golden Age of Rail. Excursions include a 50-mile half-day round trip to the Hiwassee Loop from Etowah, as well as a six-hour tour of the historic Civil War town Chickamauga, Georgia, via the former Central of Georgia Railroad.

The Copperhill Special ride heads south, winding up in the twin towns of Copperhill, Tennessee and McCaysville, Georgia by lunchtime, before returning in the afternoon. Meanwhile, the Summerville Steam Special follows a historic nine-hour route from Grand Junction depot in Chattanooga, Tennessee to Summerville, Georgia and back. Trains run on select dates from April to November. 

Cass Scenic Railroad, West Virginia

The Cass Scenic Railroad State Park is a charming lumber heritage railroad in the mountains of West Virginia's Pocahontas County. The 11-mile each way route takes in gorgeous country views and the historic company town of Cass. Steam locomotives whisk passengers to the summit of Bald Knob, the highest point on Back Allegheny Mountain, on a 4.5-hour round trip. Passengers ride on open-sided log cars and a traditional "King of the Road hobo lunch" (meat and potatoes cooked in foil) is served on board after passing Old Spruce junction.

There's a 30-minute layover at Bald Knob, 4,842 feet (1,476m) above sea level. One of West Virginia's highest mountains, it's the perfect spot to enjoy fine views across two states. Back in Cass, a company town founded in 1901 by the West Virginia Pulp and Paper Company, passengers can soak up the atmosphere and imagine it in its logging heyday.

Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad, Colorado

The coal-fired locomotives are originals from the 1880s and the route follows in the tracks of countless miners, cowboys and gunslingers from the Old West. There are four classes to choose from during the summer season from May through to October. Check the company's website for the latest information.

Adirondack: New York City, New York to Montréal, Canada

The train leaves daily from NYC's Penn Station and the morning departure is perfect for taking in the views as you head north – fall is the best time to travel to witness the colorful trees lining the tracks in all their splendor. Check the Amtrak site for the latest updates. 

Mount Washington Cog Railway, New Hampshire

The Mount Washington Cog Railway, the first of its kind in the world, runs scenic rides to the summit of Mount Washington. Located in stunning Bretton Woods, New Hampshire, in the heart of the White Mountains, this National Historic Engineering Landmark is certainly a fun way to discover rural New England. Passengers ride in brightly colored vintage cars from 1869 and three-hour round trips depart daily from May to October.

Thick forest gives way to rough terrain as the train chugs along the roughly 3.5-mile track, at a 37% gradient at certain points. At the summit, travelers have an hour to walk around the Sherman Adams Visitor Center and visit its Cog Railway Museum. Weather permitting, the 360-degree views embrace five states, Canada and the Atlantic.

Crescent: New York City, New York to New Orleans, Louisiana

Amtrak’s Crescent train ties together two great and vastly different cities: New York and New Orleans. The 30-hour journey kicks off from New York City’s Penn Station, rattling its way down through some of the most populous cities of the northeast corridor in an afternoon, including Philadelphia, Baltimore and Washington DC. On the second day the views get more scenic: travelers pass through forests of dogwood trees into the Deep South via Atlanta and Birmingham, Alabama before arriving in the Big Easy in the late evening.

Departing three times a week, the journey is at its best in summer, when passengers in the Lounge Car are normally joined by guides from the National Park Service, who are able to share plenty of interesting facts about the points of interest along the way. Check the Amtrak website for the latest updates. 

Redwood Forest Steam Train, California

California’s Roaring Camp Railroads offers two contrasting heritage services, both of which are great fun. Their Redwood Forest Steam Train experience offers the chance to ride on a narrow-gauge steam train over trestle bridges and through towering redwoods. The train is pulled by one of the original 1890s narrow-gauge steam locomotives that were used to haul the giant redwood logs out of the mountains, and are among the oldest and most authentically preserved in America.

The train travels from Felton in the Santa Cruz Mountains to the summit of Bear Mountain for 75 breathtaking minutes. Conveniently, conductors are on hand to narrate the history of Roaring Camp, the railroad and the forest. Adults can typically book an Engineer For The Day experience and ride in the cab to assist in the locomotive's running, while little ones will love a day out with Thomas the Tank Engine.

Great Smoky Mountains Railroad, North Carolina

All the GSMR's excursions leave from Bryson City and there's a choice between steam or diesel locomotive journeys. As well as the standard scenic excursions, there are also special events for kids such as PEANUTS Easter Beagle Express and PEANUTS The Great Pumpkin Patch Express. The summer season runs between March and November, while the steam train journeys run from June to December – check the GSMR website for the latest information.

White Pass & Yukon Route, Alaska

The snow-dusted mountains, pink and yellow wildflowers and rambling hills along the White Pass and Yukon Route appear almost Alpine – but they're actually a snapshot of Alaska's wilderness. The railroad has its roots in the Klondike Gold Rush of the late 19th century, when it was constructed to help gold prospectors get out of Skagway and into Canada. Today, the 110-mile stretch can be traveled in vintage cars via two excursions. On the journey, passengers take in a panorama of mountains, glaciers, gorges and waterfalls.

The two-and-a-half-hour Summit Excursion retraces the original route to the White Pass Summit, 3,000 feet above sea level. It's scheduled to run between April and October and tickets are already available to book. The eight-hour Bennett Scenic Journey between Skagway, Alaska, and Carcross, Yukon in Canada travels along the same route taken by gold prospectors.

Empire Builder: Chicago, Illinois to Portland or Seattle, Washington

The Empire Builder is yet another of Amtrak’s epic cross-country routes covering vast swathes of the USA and incredibly varied terrain. There’s a historic dimension to the journey too, since the train follows portions of the Lewis and Clark Trail. Departing from Chicago, travelers glide past the Mississippi River before hitting the illuminated night skyline of Minneapolis and St Paul.

The 46-hour journey takes travelers through the North Dakota plains and through Glacier National Park towards Spokane on day three. From there the route forks: there's a Portland option, heading down through the Columbia River Gorge past sublime views of Mount Hood and Beacon Rock, or a journey to Seattle via Leavenworth, dubbed The Bavarian Village. Trains depart daily – visit the Amtrak website for the latest information.

Denali Star: Anchorage to Fairbanks, Alaska

Passengers can typically pair their train journeys with day trips in Talkeetna, an excursion in Denali National Park, or even plan a multi-day itinerary with overnight stays along the way. In addition to the standard stops, the train will provide a flagstop service between Talkeetna and Hurricane. The trains depart daily between May to September. 

Napa Valley Wine Train, California

It isn’t just about the wine, though. There’s a lot of history packed into these century-old railcars, which trundle elegantly along a route stretching back more than 150 years. The carriages, with opulent velvet-upholstered seats, mahogany paneling and brass, have been sensitively restored to evoke the glamor of vintage train travel.

Sky Railway, New Mexico

Sky Railway in New Mexico is a heritage line that's recently gotten a new lease of life, with new routes debuted in December 2021. The 141-year-old Santa Fe Railway was saved by a group of enthusiasts ( Game of Thrones author George RR Martin among them) in 2020 and now the historic rail line has been turned into a fantasy-filled adventure ride.   

Departing from Santa Fe, adventures range in length and offers a wide range of themes, from culinary experiences to an opportunity to journey back in time to the days of the Wild West. Guests can also do a murder mystery or board the StarGazer Express at night to take in the glorious celestial show the Galisteo Basin offers.

Now discover beautiful rail journeys that don't cost a fortune

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The Evolving Danger of the New Bird Flu

An unusual outbreak of the disease has spread to dairy herds in multiple u.s. states..

This transcript was created using speech recognition software. While it has been reviewed by human transcribers, it may contain errors. Please review the episode audio before quoting from this transcript and email [email protected] with any questions.

From “The New York Times,” I’m Sabrina Tavernise, and this is “The Daily.”

[MUSIC PLAYING]

The outbreak of bird flu that is tearing through the nation’s poultry farms is the worst in US history. But scientists say it’s now starting to spread into places and species it’s never been before.

Today, my colleague, Emily Anthes, explains.

It’s Monday, April 22.

Emily, welcome back to the show.

Thanks for having me. Happy to be here.

So, Emily, we’ve been talking here on “The Daily” about prices of things and how they’ve gotten so high, mostly in the context of inflation episodes. And one of the items that keeps coming up is eggs. Egg prices were through the roof last year, and we learned it was related to this. Avian flu has been surging in the United States. You’ve been covering this. Tell us what’s happening.

Yes, so I have been covering this virus for the last few years. And the bird flu is absolutely tearing through poultry flocks, and that is affecting egg prices. That’s a concern for everyone, for me and for my family. But when it comes to scientists, egg prices are pretty low on their list of concerns. Because they see this bird flu virus behaving differently than previous versions have. And they’re getting nervous, in particular, about the fact that this virus is reaching places and species where it’s never been before.

OK, so bird flu, though, isn’t new. I mean I remember hearing about cases in Asia in the ‘90s. Remind us how it began.

Bird flu refers to a bunch of different viruses that are adapted to spread best in birds. Wild water birds, in particular, are known for carrying these viruses. And flu viruses are famous for also being shapeshifters. So they’re constantly swapping genes around and evolving into new strains. And as you mentioned back in the ‘90s, a new version of bird flu, a virus known as H5N1, emerged in Asia. And it has been spreading on and off around the world since then, causing periodic outbreaks.

And how are these outbreaks caused?

So wild birds are the reservoir for the virus, which means they carry it in their bodies with them around the world as they fly and travel and migrate. And most of the time, these wild birds, like ducks and geese, don’t even get very sick from this virus. But they shed it. So as they’re traveling over a poultry farm maybe, if they happen to go to the bathroom in a pond that the chickens on the farm are using or eat some of the feed that chickens on the farm are eating, they can leave the virus behind.

And the virus can get into chickens. In some cases, it causes mild illness. It’s what’s known as low pathogenic avian influenza. But sometimes the virus mutates and evolves, and it can become extremely contagious and extremely fatal in poultry.

OK, so the virus comes through wild birds, but gets into farms like this, as you’re describing. How have farms traditionally handled outbreaks, when they do happen?

Well, because this threat isn’t new, there is a pretty well-established playbook for containing outbreaks. It’s sometimes known as stamping out. And brutally, what it means is killing the birds. So the virus is so deadly in this highly pathogenic form that it’s sort of destined to kill all the birds on a farm anyway once it gets in. So the response has traditionally been to proactively depopulate or cull all the birds, so it doesn’t have a chance to spread.

So that’s pretty costly for farmers.

It is. Although the US has a program where it will reimburse farmers for their losses. And the way these reimbursements work is they will reimburse farmers only for the birds that are proactively culled, and not for those who die naturally from the virus. And the thinking behind that is it’s a way to incentivize farmers to report outbreaks early.

So, OK, lots of chickens are killed in a way to manage these outbreaks. So we know how to deal with them. But what about now? Tell me about this new strain.

So this new version of the virus, it emerged in 2020.

After the deadly outbreak of the novel coronavirus, authorities have now confirmed an outbreak of the H5N1 strain of influenza, a kind of bird flu.

And pretty quickly it became clear that a couple things set it apart.

A bald eagle found dead at Carvins Cove has tested positive for the highly contagious bird flu.

This virus, for whatever reason, seemed very good at infecting all sorts of wild birds that we don’t normally associate with bird flu.

[BIRD CRYING]

He was kind of stepping, and then falling over, and using its wing to right itself.

Things like eagles and condors and pelicans.

We just lost a parliament of owls in Minneapolis.

Yeah, a couple of high profile nests.

And also in the past, wild birds have not traditionally gotten very sick from this virus. And this version of the virus not only spread widely through the wild bird population, but it proved to be devastating.

The washing up along the East Coast of the country from Scotland down to Suffolk.

We were hearing about mass die-offs of seabirds in Europe by the hundreds and the thousands.

And the bodies of the dead dot the island wherever you look.

Wow. OK. So then as we know, this strain, like previous ones, makes its way from wild animals to farmed animals, namely to chickens. But it’s even more deadly.

Absolutely. And in fact, it has already caused the worst bird flu outbreak in US history. So more than 90 million birds in the US have died as a result of this virus.

90 million birds.

Yes, and I should be clear that represents two things. So some of those birds are birds who naturally got infected and died from the virus. But the vast majority of them are birds that were proactively culled. What it adds up to is, is 90 million farmed birds in the US have died since this virus emerged. And it’s not just a chicken problem. Another thing that has been weird about this virus is it has jumped into other kinds of farms. It is the first time we’ve seen a bird flu virus jump into US livestock.

And it’s now been reported on a number of dairy farms across eight US states. And that’s just something that’s totally unprecedented.

So it’s showing up at Dairy farms now. You’re saying that bird flu has now spread to cows. How did that happen?

So we don’t know exactly how cows were first infected, but most scientists’ best guess is that maybe an infected wild bird that was migrating shed the virus into some cattle feed or a pasture or a pond, and cattle picked it up. The good news is they don’t seem to get nearly as sick as chickens do. They are generally making full recoveries on their own in a couple of weeks.

OK, so no mass culling of cows?

No, that doesn’t seem to be necessary at this point. But the bad news is that it’s starting to look like we’re seeing this virus spread from cow to cow. We don’t know exactly how that’s happening yet. But anytime you see cow-to-cow or mammal-to-mammal transmission, that’s a big concern.

And why is that exactly?

Well, there are a bunch of reasons. First, it could allow the outbreak to get much bigger, much faster, which might increase the risk to the food supply. And we might also expect it to increase the risk to farm workers, people who might be in contact with these sick cows.

Right now, the likelihood that a farmer who gets this virus passes it on is pretty low. But any time you see mammal-to-mammal transmission, it increases the chance that the virus will adapt and possibly, maybe one day get good at spreading between humans. To be clear, that’s not something that there’s any evidence happening in cows right now. But the fact that there’s any cow-to-cow transmission happening at all is enough to have scientists a bit concerned.

And then if we think more expansively beyond what’s happening on farms, there’s another big danger lurking out there. And that’s what happens when this virus gets into wild animals, vast populations that we can’t control.

We’ll be right back.

So, Emily, you said that another threat was the threat of flu in wild animal populations. Clearly, of course, it’s already in wild birds. Where else has it gone?

Well, the reason it’s become such a threat is because of how widespread it’s become in wild birds. So they keep reintroducing it to wild animal populations pretty much anywhere they go. So we’ve seen the virus repeatedly pop up in all sorts of animals that you might figure would eat a wild bird, so foxes, bobcats, bears. We actually saw it in a polar bear, raccoons. So a lot of carnivores and scavengers.

The thinking is that these animals might stumble across a sick or dead bird, eat it, and contract the virus that way. But we’re also seeing it show up in some more surprising places, too. We’ve seen the virus in a bottle-nosed dolphin, of all places.

And most devastatingly, we’ve seen enormous outbreaks in other sorts of marine mammals, especially sea lions and seals.

So elephant seals, in particular in South America, were just devastated by this virus last fall. My colleague Apoorva Mandavilli and I were talking to some scientists in South America who described to us what they called a scene from hell, of walking out onto a beach in Argentina that is normally crowded with chaotic, living, breathing, breeding, elephant seals — and the beach just being covered by carcass, after carcass, after carcass.

Mostly carcasses of young newborn pups. The virus seemed to have a mortality rate of 95 percent in these elephant seal pups, and they estimated that it might have killed more than 17,000 of the pups that were born last year. So almost the entire new generation of this colony. These are scientists that have studied these seals for decades. And they said they’ve never seen anything like it before.

And why is it so far reaching, Emily? I mean, what explains these mass die-offs?

There are probably a few explanations. One is just how much virus is out there in the environment being shed by wild birds into water and onto beaches. These are also places that viruses like this haven’t been before. So it’s reaching elephant seals and sea lions in South America that have no prior immunity.

There’s also the fact that these particular species, these sea lions and seals, tend to breed in these huge colonies all crowded together on beaches. And so what that means is if a virus makes its way into the colony, it’s very conducive conditions for it to spread. And scientists think that that’s actually what’s happening now. That it’s not just that all these seals are picking up the virus from individual birds, but that they’re actually passing it to each other.

So basically, this virus is spreading to places it’s never been before, kind of virgin snow territory, where animals just don’t have the immunity against it. And once it gets into a population packed on a beach, say, of elephant seals, it’s just like a knife through butter.

Absolutely. And an even more extreme example of that is what we’re starting to see happen in Antarctica, where there’s never been a bird flu outbreak before until last fall, for the first time, this virus reached the Antarctic mainland. And we are now seeing the virus move through colonies of not only seabirds and seals, but penguin colonies, which have not been exposed to these viruses before.

And it’s too soon to say what the toll will be. But penguins also, of course, are known for breeding in these large colonies.

Probably. don’t have many immune defenses against this virus, and of course, are facing all these other environmental threats. And so there’s a lot of fear that you add on the stress of a bird flu virus, and it could just be a tipping point for penguins.

Emily, at this point, I’m kind of wondering why more people aren’t talking about this. I mean, I didn’t know any of this before having this conversation with you, and it feels pretty worrying.

Well, a lot of experts and scientists are talking about this with rising alarm and in terms that are quite stark. They’re talking about the virus spreading through wild animal populations so quickly and so ferociously that they’re calling it an ecological disaster.

But that’s a disaster that sometimes seems distant from us, both geographically, we’re talking about things that are happening maybe at the tip of Argentina or in Antarctica. And also from our concerns of our everyday lives, what’s happening in Penguins might not seem like it has a lot to do with the price of a carton of eggs at the grocery store. But I think that we should be paying a lot of attention to how this virus is moving through animal populations, how quickly it’s moving through animal populations, and the opportunities that it is giving the virus to evolve into something that poses a much bigger threat to human health.

So the way it’s spreading in wild animals, even in remote places like Antarctica, that’s important to watch, at least in part because there’s a real danger to people here.

So we know that the virus can infect humans, and that generally it’s not very good at spreading between humans. But the concern all along has been that if this virus has more opportunities to spread between mammals, it will get better at spreading between them. And that seems to be what is happening in seals and sea lions. Scientists are already seeing evidence that the virus is adapting as it passes from marine mammal to marine mammal. And that could turn it into a virus that’s also better at spreading between people.

And if somebody walks out onto a beach and touches a dead sea lion, if their dog starts playing with a sea lion carcass, you could imagine that this virus could make its way out of marine mammals and into the human population. And if it’s this mammalian adapted version of the virus that makes its way out, that could be a bigger threat to human health.

So the sheer number of hosts that this disease has, the more opportunity it has to mutate, and the more chance it has to mutate in a way that would actually be dangerous for people.

Yes, and in particular, the more mammalian hosts. So that gives the virus many more opportunities to become a specialist in mammals instead of a specialist in birds, which is what it is right now.

Right. I like that, a specialist in mammals. So what can we do to contain this virus?

Well, scientists are exploring new options. There’s been a lot of discussion about whether we should start vaccinating chickens in the US. The government, USDA labs, have been testing some poultry vaccines. It’s probably scientifically feasible. There are challenges there, both in terms of logistics — just how would you go about vaccinating billions of chickens every year. There are also trade questions. Traditionally, a lot of countries have not been willing to accept poultry products from countries that vaccinate their poultry.

And there’s concern about whether the virus might spread undetected in flocks that are vaccinated. So as we saw with COVID, the vaccine can sometimes stop you from getting sick, but it doesn’t necessarily stop infection. And so countries are worried they might unknowingly import products that are harboring the virus.

And what about among wild animals? I mean, how do you even begin to get your head around that?

Yeah, I mean, thinking about vaccinating wild animals maybe makes vaccinating all the chickens in the US look easy. There has been some discussion of limited vaccination campaigns, but that’s not feasible on a global scale. So unfortunately, the bottom line is there isn’t a good way to stop spread in wild animals. We can try to protect some vulnerable populations, but we’re not going to stop the circulation of this virus.

So, Emily, we started this conversation with a kind of curiosity that “The Daily” had about the price of eggs. And then you explained the bird flu to us. And then somehow we ended up learning about an ecological disaster that’s unfolding all around us, and potentially the source of the next human pandemic. That is pretty scary.

It is scary, and it’s easy to get overwhelmed by it. And I feel like I should take a step back and say none of this is inevitable. None of this is necessarily happening tomorrow. But this is why scientists are concerned and why they think it’s really important to keep a very close eye on what’s happening both on farms and off farms, as this virus spreads through all sorts of animal populations.

One thing that comes up again and again and again in my interviews with people who have been studying bird flu for decades, is how this virus never stops surprising them. And sometimes those are bad surprises, like these elephant seal die-offs, the incursions into dairy cattle. But there are some encouraging signs that have emerged recently. We’re starting to see some early evidence that some of the bird populations that survived early brushes with this virus might be developing some immunity. So that’s something that maybe could help slow the spread of this virus in animal populations.

We just don’t entirely know how this is going to play out. Flu is a very difficult, wily foe. And so that’s one reason scientists are trying to keep such a close, attentive eye on what’s happening.

Emily, thank you.

Thanks for having me.

Here’s what else you should know today.

On this vote, the yeas are 366 and the nays are 58. The bill is passed.

On Saturday, in four back-to-back votes, the House voted resoundingly to approve a long-stalled package of aid to Ukraine, Israel and other American allies, delivering a major victory to President Biden, who made aid to Ukraine one of his top priorities.

On this vote, the yeas are 385, and the no’s are 34 with one answering present. The bill is passed without objection.

The House passed the component parts of the $95 billion package, which included a bill that could result in a nationwide ban of TikTok.

On this vote, the yeas are 311 and the nays are 112. The bill is passed.

Oh, one voting present. I missed it, but thank you.

In a remarkable breach of custom, Democrats stepped in to supply the crucial votes to push the legislation past hard-line Republican opposition and bring it to the floor.

The House will be in order.

The Senate is expected to pass the legislation as early as Tuesday.

Today’s episode was produced by Rikki Novetsky, Nina Feldman, Eric Krupke, and Alex Stern. It was edited by Lisa Chow and Patricia Willens; contains original music by Marion Lozano, Dan Powell, Rowan Niemisto, and Sophia Lanman; and was engineered by Chris Wood. Our theme music is by Jim Brunberg and Ben Landsverk of Wonderly. Special thanks to Andrew Jacobs.

That’s it for “The Daily.” I’m Sabrina Tavernise. See you tomorrow.

• April 24, 2024   •   32:18 Is $60 Billion Enough to Save Ukraine?
• April 23, 2024   •   30:30 A Salacious Conspiracy or Just 34 Pieces of Paper?
• April 22, 2024   •   24:30 The Evolving Danger of the New Bird Flu
• April 19, 2024   •   30:42 The Supreme Court Takes Up Homelessness
• April 18, 2024   •   30:07 The Opening Days of Trump’s First Criminal Trial
• April 17, 2024   •   24:52 Are ‘Forever Chemicals’ a Forever Problem?
• April 16, 2024   •   29:29 A.I.’s Original Sin
• April 15, 2024   •   24:07 Iran’s Unprecedented Attack on Israel
• April 14, 2024   •   46:17 The Sunday Read: ‘What I Saw Working at The National Enquirer During Donald Trump’s Rise’
• April 12, 2024   •   34:23 How One Family Lost $900,000 in a Timeshare Scam
• April 11, 2024   •   28:39 The Staggering Success of Trump’s Trial Delay Tactics
• April 10, 2024   •   22:49 Trump’s Abortion Dilemma

Hosted by Sabrina Tavernise

Produced by Rikki Novetsky ,  Nina Feldman ,  Eric Krupke and Alex Stern

Edited by Lisa Chow and Patricia Willens

Original music by Marion Lozano ,  Dan Powell ,  Rowan Niemisto and Sophia Lanman

Engineered by Chris Wood

Listen and follow The Daily Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon Music

The outbreak of bird flu currently tearing through the nation’s poultry is the worst in U.S. history. Scientists say it is now spreading beyond farms into places and species it has never been before.

Emily Anthes, a science reporter for The Times, explains.

On today’s episode

Emily Anthes , a science reporter for The New York Times.

Background reading

Scientists have faulted the federal response to bird flu outbreaks on dairy farms .

Here’s what to know about the outbreak.

There are a lot of ways to listen to The Daily. Here’s how.

We aim to make transcripts available the next workday after an episode’s publication. You can find them at the top of the page.

Special thanks to Andrew Jacobs .

The Daily is made by Rachel Quester, Lynsea Garrison, Clare Toeniskoetter, Paige Cowett, Michael Simon Johnson, Brad Fisher, Chris Wood, Jessica Cheung, Stella Tan, Alexandra Leigh Young, Lisa Chow, Eric Krupke, Marc Georges, Luke Vander Ploeg, M.J. Davis Lin, Dan Powell, Sydney Harper, Mike Benoist, Liz O. Baylen, Asthaa Chaturvedi, Rachelle Bonja, Diana Nguyen, Marion Lozano, Corey Schreppel, Rob Szypko, Elisheba Ittoop, Mooj Zadie, Patricia Willens, Rowan Niemisto, Jody Becker, Rikki Novetsky, John Ketchum, Nina Feldman, Will Reid, Carlos Prieto, Ben Calhoun, Susan Lee, Lexie Diao, Mary Wilson, Alex Stern, Dan Farrell, Sophia Lanman, Shannon Lin, Diane Wong, Devon Taylor, Alyssa Moxley, Summer Thomad, Olivia Natt, Daniel Ramirez and Brendan Klinkenberg.

Our theme music is by Jim Brunberg and Ben Landsverk of Wonderly. Special thanks to Sam Dolnick, Paula Szuchman, Lisa Tobin, Larissa Anderson, Julia Simon, Sofia Milan, Mahima Chablani, Elizabeth Davis-Moorer, Jeffrey Miranda, Renan Borelli, Maddy Masiello, Isabella Anderson and Nina Lassam.

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Touring South America over Long Distances by Train

Is it possible to travel over long distances by train in South America? Yes, indeed. There are long-distance trains in Argentina, Chile, Bolivia, Brazil, Peru, and perhaps soon in Ecuador.

Argentina has the densest railway network of all South American countries. The center of the Argentinean railway network is in Buenos Aires. Currently, it appears that Argentineans are rediscovering the comfort of traveling by train over long distances. The demand for train travel is increasing, and some lines offer multiple rail connections per day, especially just before and on the weekends.

It can be challenging for a foreign visitor to buy tickets and obtain reservations on some Argentinean trains, and it is nearly impossible for a non-Argentinean citizen to get a train ticket from Buenos Aires to Tucuman.

Available long-distance trains in Argentina include:

- Buenos Aires - Rosario - Tucuman - Buenos Aires - Rosario - Cordoba - Buenos Aires - Bahia Blanca - Buenos Aires - Mar del Plata - Viedma - Bariloche

Check-out our Argentina Tours:

• Buenos Aires to Lima: High Andes and Machu Picchu
• Patagonian Rail & Cruise

Argentina's Rail Travel Website:

• Trenes Argentinos

All long-distance passenger trains in Chile leave Santiago Alameda Railway Station and run from Santiago de Chile southward to Chillan for over 398 km (247 Miles). From there, on specific dates, night trains continue to Temuco or Constitucion.

Between Santiago de Chile and Chillan, various passenger trains circulate each day. Trains from Santiago to Temuco or Constitucion are overnight trains that run on specific dates only.

Passenger trains in Chile have two classes, "Preferente" (First Class) and Salón (Second Class).

No long-distance passenger trains run north of Santiago.

Check-out our Chile Tours:

Chiles rail travel website:.

• EFE Trenes de Chile

Bolivia has two independent railway networks: One runs across the Andean Altiplano from the small border town of Villazon to Lake Titicaca. The other operates in the eastern lowlands, one line of which goes southward to Yacuiba at the Argentinean border and the other eastward to Puerto Quijarro at the Brazilian Border.

Regular passenger trains run on the Andean Rail Network between Ouro and Villazon, and one monthly tourist train runs from El Alto (La Paz) to Guaqui at Lake Titicaca.

Between Ouro and Villazon, four trains run in each direction. Expreso del Sur is the fastest of these, taking  15-16 hours to travel 600km (373 Miles). The Wara Wara Express travels on the same route but makes more stops. Both trains offer the same classes and services onboard.

The tourist train from El Alto to Guaqui runs the second Sunday of every month. The train stops in Tiwanaku, one of Bolivia's most important archeological sites, before it reaches Guaqui on the shores of Lake Titicaca.

The eastern lowland network has two lines on which passenger trains run for long distances. The train from Santa Cruz de la Sierra travels southward 536km (333 Miles) to Yacuiba at the Argentinean border. There are two weekly runs in each direction on this tropical railway. The train has no air-conditioned carriages, however, and for this reason the journey is not very comfortable.

From Santa Cruz de la Sierra to Puerto Quijarro in the east, the train is called "Expreso Oriental" and is much more comfortable than the Yacuiba train. The Expreso Oriental is air-conditioned, has a restaurant carriage, and offers various travel classes. Even better and faster on the same route is the Ferrobus, which stops at larger villages only. Both trains run three times per week in each direction.

Check-out our Bolivia Tour:

• Buenos Aires to Lima: High Andes & Machu Picchu

Bolivia's Rail Travel Websites:

• Ferrocarril Oriental - Railway in the eastern Bolivian Lowlands
• Ferroviaria Andina - Andean Railway

Vale, one of the world's largest mining companies, manages the remaining long-distance passenger trains in Brazil.

The first of these runs between Belo Horizonte and Vitoria at the Atlantic Coast. This train departs daily in both directions and takes about 13 hours to travel the 664 km (413 miles).  The journey is very comfortable in the climatized carriages in Executive and Economic classes. The train also has a Bistro Car for drinks and light meals.

The other passenger train runs in northern Brazil from Sao Louis to Parauapebas over 664 km (413 Miles). This train runs on Saturdays from Sao Louis to Parauapebas and on Sundays from Parauapebas to Sao Luis. The train offers various travel classes, while the Executive Class provides a similar level of comfort to the Belo Horizonte Vitoria train.

Check-out our Brazil Tours:

• Grand Rail Tour of Brazil

Brazilian Railway Website:

• VALE Corporation, Brazil

Peru has three long-distance passenger trains, all of them pure tourist trains. The one that travels the longest distance is the Andean Explorer, which runs between Cusco, Lake Titicaca, and Arequipa. A second train runs on the same railroad but only from Puno to Cusco. The third train is the most adventurous because it travels from Lima to Huancayo, passing through the second highest railway station in the world.

The luxurious Andean Explorer train, operated by Belmond, travels from Cusco to Lake Titicaca and then on to Arequipa. The only luxury sleeper train in South America, the Andean Explorer runs once per week in either direction. 

The Titicaca Train travels from Cusco to Puno three times per week in either direction. Perurail operates this train, which was the "old" Andean Explorer train. The train travels for 10 hours across 390km (242 Miles). The daylight journey on the Titicaca Train is among the most scenic train trips of the Peruvian Andes. Lunch is included in the ticket price.

The third Peruvian long-distance passenger train runs from Lima to Huancayo and calls at the second highest railway station in the world, 4812 m (15,681 ft) above sea level. The journey takes 12-14 hours. Because of the high altitude, the train has oxygen available and carries a nurse on board. "Clase Turistico" corresponds to first class and "Clase Clasico" to second class,” and the ticket price includes meals on the train. The train runs only sporadically, mostly during public holidays in Peru.

Check-out our Peru Tour:

Peru's railway websites:3.

• Ferrocarril Central Andino

Sounds interesting? Then check out these tours I organize:

Rail South America hosts world-class small-group tours utilizing rail travel whenever possible to discover the most renowned, unique, and unforgettable destinations in South America.