"High in the remote Andes, far from tourists" Huancavelica by adelinemmc

Ever read Tintin and the Temple of Sun? Well, this line, the highest in the world, from Lima to Huancavelica is the one that Tintin travelled on.

The Lima to Huancayo section of the line only opens a few times a year, including on Peru's national day.

The Huancayo to Huancavelica section is operating almost year round, a few times a week. If the timetable does not suit you, you can even arrange for a private one-carriage train.

We took the normal service. The promise 8-hour trip turned into 11. The train is very slow.
Note that when night falls, there is no lights in the train, you just go on travelling in pitch black. Candles are available for sale at a stop though, but then the insects will target you!

Fantastic views, well worth it.

View from the start of the Death Mine trek

Huancavelica is and looks like a poor town. It is remote and isolated at 2,800 mts in the middle of the Andes.

There is no easy onwards travel options to Ayacucho. You must rent a van or try your luck with 2 buses. The connection is miles from anywhere and you may wait an hour ...or ten for the bus that will take you to Ayacucho.

It's a great place to visit though. Far from the Gringo Trail, you will be one of a handful of tourists in town

Alpacas

Coming back from the Death Mine trek, we bumped into these guys at the edge of town.

• Pros:Authentic Andes, far from the tourists.
• Cons:Difficult to get to and leave from