Backpacking Through South America 12

 The straight-line distance between Lima and Huancayo, where the railway ends, is just under 200 km, but the journey takes over 10 hours. And not just because Peruvian railways are poorly organized and the tracks are rickety and poorly maintained. 

The Peruvians made a bit of a mess: they tried to modernize their railway by buying new diesel locomotives to replace the old coal-fired ones. But an unexpected problem arose. At 5000 meters, the air is so thin that the new locomotives lost almost all their power. So now they’re forced to use two at a time, or one that consequently travels much slower. Usually the latter...

Janin Klemenčič (to be continued)

Backpacking Through South America

 So we first headed to the Peruvian Altiplano, a high plateau where almost no foreigner has dared to go for a long time.. 

We hoped the guerrillas from the insurgent movement would take a few days off, since there is simply no other route to the southeast across the plateau except through Ayacucho, which is the center of their activity.

Janin Klemenčič (to be continued)

Backpacking Through South America

 
When I was about ten, I saw a TV report about the highest railway in the world: a marvellous mountain train zigzagging from Lima to a 5000-meter-high pass at the top of the Cordillera. 

That’s when I decided I had to ride that train someday, no matter the cost.

Janin Klemenčič (to be continued)

Backpacking Through South America 9 By Train to the Altiplano

 In mid-July, the coastal capital was muggy and full of smog. Time was pressing us, and thieves were a threat. So we left the city the very next day – would see it on the way back, if we even had any time left.

 There are two routes to Bolivia. The valley route through Arequipa is much faster and safer, but the one through the mountains is certainly more interesting, and we would be returning through the valley from Chile anyway.

Janin Klemenčič (to be continued)

Domingo , Foto: Janin Maj

 

Domingo , Foto: Janin Maj

 

Domingo , Foto: Janin Maj