El Tren Macho

Location:
Huancayo, Peru

Other Activity

By Lorraine Caputo

“These vitamins are guaranteed to make a fat man slim, a flat woman shapely, the blind to see,” the man shouts as he sways down the aisle in rhythm with the train. Up further in this car, a woman plunks her cloth-wrapped bundle on a table between benches of passengers. As she opens it and begins carving the meat, the aroma of roasted lamb and potatoes wafts towards you.

This is El Tren Macho, clacking alongside the Ríos Mantaro and Ichu, towards Huancavelica. It is the only real local train left in all of Peru. Tourists journey together, unsegregated, with inhabitants of the pueblos scattered along its route. This is a heck of a ride, with a breathtaking landscape and vendors vying each other for your business. The train traverses 128 Kilometers punctuated by 38 tunnels and 15 bridges. So hop aboard. Eat, chat with your seatmates—and experience the Peru behind the tourism façade.

November 2006, Ferrocarril Central Andino announced plans to totally overhaul the system. The narrow-gauge tracks will be replaced with standard 1.435-meter tracks and the engines up-graded. All will be ready by July 2008. Service is not expected to be disrupted.

Getting There
Departs from /arrives at Huancayo’s Chilca Railroad Station, on Avenida Ferrocarril and Jirón Junín.

Travel Tips: Huancayo-Huancavelica: Tren Expreso—Monday-Friday, 6:30 a.m. Tren Normal—Monday-Friday, 12:30 p.m.; Sunday, 2 p.m.

Huancavelica-Huancayo: Tren Expreso—Monday-Friday, 6:30 a.m. Tren Normal—Monday-Friday, 12:30 p.m.; Sunday, 2 p.m.

For complete information on schedules and fares, visit: www.fahrplancenter.com.

Price Description: 9 soles ($3).

Relative price: Very cheap

Travel Skills: beginner/easy.

To See and Do: In Huancayo, Torre Torre, Cerrito de la Libertad and Wali Wasi.

Contact Information:
URL: www.ferrocarrilcentral.com.pe