Peru's Luxury Train, The Belmond Explorer
This isn't your average Amtrak
Train travel—the form of transportation we used to think of as cumbersome, inconvenient and slow—has finally made its comeback. Between breathtaking journeys through the Scottish Highlands and scenic day trips through the good old continental U.S., it's never been a better time to ditch your airline booking for a train ticket. And while we've been on our own fair share of Amtrak rides, trust us when we say you've never experienced a train trip like this before.
Meet the Belmond Andean Explorer, South America's first luxury train line introduced earlier this year in Peru. More moving hotel than actual train, the Explorer coddles passengers in individual cabins resembling luxe boutique hotel rooms versus the rickety carriages you grew accustomed to on your college backpacking trip through Europe. Walk through each of the carriages, and you'll also encounter a piano bar (with an actual grand piano, not a shrunk-down electronic keyboard), a dedicated library for when you need a book in hand while watching the Andes whizz by, a fully functioning spa and a separate bar with an outdoor deck.
Oh, and of course there's also the cool destinations you'll be visiting: Itineraries include a journey to the Peruvian highlands, where the train climbs to an altitude of 16,000 feet, as well as shorter one-night excursions that take you to places like the floating islands of Lake Titicaca.
Nightly rates for the Explorer start at $462, and while it's certainly not the budget-friendly way to travel, chances are you'll never step foot on a train as luxurious as this one.