Rail holidays in South America

Summary

There are several interesting train journeys in South America, including the southern-most railway in the world in Tierra del Fuego, Argentina (built by convicts) and the highest in the world in Peru. Sadly many of the tracks now suffer from a serious lack of maintenance, although several routes continue to take tourists. These include the Devil's Nose in Ecuador (an ingenious switchback), the beautiful trip down through the Atlantic rainforest from Curitiba to Paranagua in southern Brazil, and in Argentina the Tren de las Nubes (Train of the Clouds) which runs from Salta, and of course the Old Patagonian Express near Esquel. In Peru there are two principal passenger railway lines, well-managed by Orient-Express, from Cusco to Machu Picchu and a luxury train between Cusco and Puno (on Lake Titicaca). In Mexico one can travel to the awesome Copper Canyon on the famous Chihuahua-al-Pacífico railroad.

Images
MLP trek: Day 6 - The Inca Trails, Peru San Antonio - Altiplano, Argentina Hiram Bingham train - Cusco, Peru Panama canal - Canal Zone, Panama Puno/Cusco train - Lake Titicaca, Peru Hiram Bingham train - Cusco, Peru Puno/Cusco train - Lake Titicaca, Peru Hiram Bingham train - Machu Picchu, Peru Panama locomotive - Canal Zone, Panama Puno/Cusco train - Lake Titicaca, Peru

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Itinerary ideas

Here are some sample itineraries that feature trains:

  • Argentina - Salta, Iberá, Misiones and Iguassu
    View details. This itinerary visits Buenos Aires, Salta, the Iberá marshlands, Misiones and the Iguassu Falls.
  • Bolivia/Chile - La Paz, Lake Titicaca, Uyuni and the Atacama Desert Multi-country logo
    View details. This itinerary visits La Paz, Lake Titicaca, Salar de Uyuni, Atacama Desert.
  • Brazil - Paraty, Whales and the Pantanal
    View details. This itinerary visits Paraty, Curitiba and Paranagua, Florianopolis, Bonito, The Pantanal.
  • Ecuador - Quito, Cotopaxi and Devil's Nose Train
    View details. This itinerary visits Quito, Otavalo and the Northern Sierra, Cotopaxi and the Southern Sierra, Cuenca and Ingapirca.
  • El Chepe Train, Copper Canyon and Mexico City highlights
    View details. This itinerary visits Pacifico - Chihuahua railway, highlands and lowlands of the Copper Canyon and Mexico City highlights.
  • Mexico - Colonial Cities, the Copper Canyon and the Pacific coast
    View details. This itinerary visits Colonial Heartlands, Copper Canyon, Pacific Coast.
  • Peru - Lima, Arequipa, Lake Titicaca, Cusco and the Amazon
    View details. This itinerary visits Lima, Arequipa and the Colca valley, Lake Titicaca, Cusco and the Sacred Valley, Machu Picchu and the Amazon.

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