SOUTH AMERICA: Trams between Andes and Pacific
09. - 25. March 2025

On this unique tram tour, we will explore the new networks in Aruba, Medellín, Cuenca and Cochabamba, stop to see some preserved trams in Peru and Bolivia, visit Valparaiso for its trolleybuses and funiculars, and also include some metro systems and cable cars. As an optional end to the tour, there will be another attempt to experience the legendary tram car 277 in Rosario (Argentina) during an exclusive charter. I've also slipped in a few tourist sights...

TOUR PROGRAM

Pre-Tour itinerary:
Day 1 Sunday 9. March 2025
Individual arrivals at Aruba Airport. International flights are not included in the tour price, as the choice of airline for the transatlantic flight also depends on the desired itinerary within South America. Air Europa, Lufthansa or KLM would be the first choices; I am happy to book flight tickets at current rates. Departures from Europe in the morning, arrival in Aruba late afternoon. Transfer to the hotel. Dinner and overnight stay in Oranjestad.

Day 2: Monday 10. March 2025
The tram in Oranjestad, the capital of Aruba, was officially opened on 19. February 2013, and operates on a 1.9 km long route connecting the cruise terminal on the outskirts of Oranjestad with the city center. Of the original four vehicles (two single-deck cars in green and orange and two double-decker, open-top cars in blue and red), only the double-deckers are currently running. The single-deckers had to be taken out due to some broken parts, and since the vehicles were custom-built in the USA, obtaining spare parts is now proving difficult. The use of the remaining tram cars depends on the number of cruise ships arriving per day, I have requested that we see all vehicles during our visit to the island regardless of demand. Dinner and overnight stay in Oranjestad.

Day 3: Tuesday 11. March 2025
Once again, there will be time until the afternoon to experience the colorful trams. Afterwards, bus transfer to the airport and flight to Bogota (Colombia). Domestic flight to Medellín. Arrival there shortly before midnight. Overnight stay in Medellín.

End of the pre-tour itinerary.

Main Program
Day 3: Tuesday 11. March 2025
Individual departures from Europe to Bogota. International flights are not included in the tour price, as the choice of airline for the transatlantic flight also depends on the desired program within South America. Air Europa, Lufthansa, Iberia, or KLM would be the first choices; I am happy to book flight tickets at current rates. Departures from Europe in the morning, arrival in Bogota in the early evening. After passport control and customs, we meet the Aruba group on the flight to Medellín in the evening. Transfer to the hotel. Overnight stay in Medellín.

Day 4: Wednesday 12. March 2025
The Ayacucho Tram in Medellín is the first and so far only Translohr system in South America. Translohr was awarded the contract because it was hoped that the steep hills of Medellín could be better mastered than with conventional trams. The route is only 4.3 km long and has nine stops on a two-lane track. Twelve five-section bi-directional vehicles of the type STE5 are used. At two tram stops, cable cars connect to the hills of the city. If there is still time and desire in the afternoon, we will take a brief look at the regular metro trains. In the evening, we will fly from Medellín to Guayaquil (Ecuador). Dinner and overnight stay in Guayaquil.

Day 5: Thursday 13. March 2025
After breakfast, we will travel directly by bus from the Pacific port city into the mountains to Cuenca, I estimate that we will be on the road for about 4-5 hours. The tram in Cuenca, "Tranvía de Cuenca", is one of the highest-altitude tram networks in the world at 2.550 meters above sea level. Part of the line uses the Alimentation Par Sol (APS) system, a ground-level power supply system that avoids overhead lines in the historic city center. The tram uses 14 articulated vehicles of the Alstom Citadis X051 type on the 10.3 km long route with 20 stops. The route runs largely on its own right-of-way and uses grass tracks outside the city center. There are currently no concrete plans for the expansion of the tram in Cuenca. The existing route was only fully put into operation in 2020 and the city administration is currently concentrating on optimizing operations and improving integration with other modes of transport. After arriving in the city, we will use the rest of the day for shots of the regular operation of the Tranvía de Cuenca. Dinner and overnight stay in Cuenca.

Day 6: Friday 14. March 2025
We will photograph the tram again until the afternoon. Then we bus to the airport and depart at around 18:30 for the capital Quito and continue on to Lima (Peru). Late arrival and transfer to the hotel. Overnight stay in Lima.

Day 7: Saturday 15. March 2025
The restoration of tram number 97 in Lima began in 1997, when one of the few remaining cars from Lima's regular tram era was to be restored to its original and operational condition. The Lima tram was originally discontinued in 1965, and many of the original parts of the car were no longer available or in poor condition after such a long period of disuse. Therefore, some parts had to be rebuilt or replaced with similar components. An important aspect of the restoration was the preservation of historical accuracy in both functional and visual terms. Today, car 97 runs on a short, approximately 600-meter-long track. 

For the rest of the day, I have no program planned, as our night will be short: at 01:00 the only direct flight connection between the Peruvian and Bolivian capitals takes off. Those who wish can still take an afternoon look at the metro in Lima... for everyone else, there is an early dinner and possibly a few hours of sleep. Our hotel rooms are available to us until our bus departs for the airport around 22:00. Dinner and overnight stay in Lima.

Day 8: Sunday 16. March 2025
01:00 departure to La Paz. Arrival there at 02:20, transfer to the hotel and check-in. There are not many hours left until breakfast, as we want to take one of the city's most spectacular cable cars to the suburb of El Alto in the morning. From there, we will take our tour bus to Puerto Guaqi and visit the "Museo de Locomotoras" there. Here we will find two of the former trams from La Paz - also a system that fell victim to the car craze of the 1960s and 70s. In addition to the two tram cars, the museum also houses a very interesting collection of diesel locomotives and railcars. In the afternoon, we will board a boat and sail across the legendary Lake Titicaca. Lake Titicaca is the largest freshwater lake in South America and lies on the Altiplano plateau in the Andes (3.812 meters above sea level). It is the highest commercially navigable lake in the world and is considered the birthplace of the Inca culture. It is home to numerous historical sites, including the famous Isla del Sol and the floating islands of the Urus. Return to the hotel in the evening. Dinner (on the ship) and overnight stay in La Paz.

Day 9: Monday 17. March 2025
After breakfast, we return to the airport and enjoy a short domestic flight to Cochabamba. The Cochabamba tram, also known as "Tren Metropolitano de Cochabamba", is a modern light rail system with current plans for three lines (red, green, and yellow) with a total of 43 stops and a total length of about 42 kilometers, mostly single-track. However, only parts of the network are in operation right now: the red and green lines use the platform of former railway lines, the yellow line runs mainly elevated over the Río Rocha. The central hub station is the newly built Estación Central San Antonio. Low-floor trams from Stadler are used. Inaugurated in September 2021, "Mi Tren" is the first rail-based public transport system in Bolivia! Dinner and overnight stay in Cochabamba.

Day 10: Tuesday 18. March 2025
We will spend another full day along the tram tracks in Cochabamba. Dinner and overnight stay in Cochabamba.

Day 11: Wednesday 19. March 2025
Originally, we planned to continue to Iquique to see the two museum trams there. Unfortunately, they have ended up in the scrapyard already. From Iquique, we would have traveled on to Santiago de Chile - but now, having to cancel the visit to Iquique, our itinerary has changed to Cochabamba - Santiago. Unfortunately, Bolivia is one of the least interesting tourist destinations in South America (according to all South Americans except Bolivians), but the fact is that there are hardly any attractive flight connections to neighboring countries. Multiple changes, long layovers, and expensive fares do not work in our favour. There are hardly any train connections - and the few existing lines are almost exclusively used for freight. So we'll do it like the locals: we'll take the bus!

Our first leg starts from Cochabamba to Oruro (220 km), where we will visit the Church of Socavón (Santuario de la Virgen del Socavón). The church is a significant religious and cultural landmark, home to the statue of the Virgin del Socavón, the patron saint of miners. The church is an important pilgrimage site and a symbol of the connection between Christian and indigenous traditions in Bolivia. Particularly impressive are the architecture and the elaborate decorations inside the church. Conveniently, the valley station of the city's only cable car line is located right next to the church. We will take the cable car to the final station "Monumento Virgen", where we can admire the impressive statue of the Virgin: at 45.4 meters, it is one of the tallest and most modern monuments in the world.

Afterwards, we will take our comfortable long distance bus to the railway museum in Machacamarca (35 km). The museum is located in the former workshops of the Patiño mine, where the railway company "Ferrocarril Machacamarca-Uncía" (FCMU) was founded in 1911. Highlights of the collection include the first German steam locomotive, which was delivered to Oruro in 1913. The museum offers a fascinating insight into the history of railways and the mining industry in Bolivia.

After another 270 km, we arrive at Uyuni. Dinner and overnight stay in Uyuni.

Day 12: Thursday 20. March 2025
About 400 km of driving distance lies ahead today: we start after breakfast visiting the world-famous "Salar de Uyuni", the largest salt flat in the world. One of the most remarkable sights is the locomotive graveyard, where old, rusty steam locomotives and railway carriages from the 19th century are left to rust. In the late 1940s, traffic between the mines in the Bolivian highlands and the port city of Antofagasta collapsed, and the railway company decided to simply leave the no longer needed rolling stock where it was. The salty winds of the Salar de Uyuni have strongly corroded the metal over the years, and local metal enthusiasts also like to help themselves with the remains of the railway. The endless white salt flats offer a surreal landscape, which is particularly impressive after rainfall when the sky is reflected in the water. Located in the middle of the salt flat is Isla Incahuasi, covered with giant cacti, from where you have a breathtaking panoramic view of the salt flat. 

My preferred route takes us then along the revived meter-gauge railway line of the FCAB, the "Ferrocarril de Antofagasta a Bolivia", which, as a hundred years ago, mainly serves freight traffic between Bolivia and Chile. Then as now, minerals are the main freight, including lithium transport for export via the Pacific. The FCAB plays a crucial role in the mining and freight transport sector of the region and contributes significantly to economic development. However, usually only one pair of trains operates during daylight hours, if we are lucky we will see one of these trains in the impressive landscape.

In Ollgüe, we cross the border into Chile and continue to Calama. We pass an active volcano and the salt lake "Salar de Ascotán" and will certainly also discover some wildlife along the road: vicuñas, wild relatives of alpacas, or flamingos at the salt lakes. Our flight to Santiago de Chile leaves Calama only at 23:59, so we should still find some time to stock up on food in the city. Overnight stay in Santiago.

Day 13: Friday 21. March 2025
Arrival in Santiago at 02:00, transfer to our hotel and a short night until breakfast and our excursion to Valparaiso. Here we find Canadian trolleybuses from the 1940s and former Swiss cars that came to Valparaiso in the 1980s. The trolleybus network is the oldest and only still existing trolleybus network in Chile. But also the famous funicular railways ("Ascensores") are on our bucket list. These historical, partly over 100 years old lifts are an indispensable part of the city and were created in the 19th century when Valparaíso was a booming port city. During the ride, passengers enjoy a breathtaking view of the city, the harbor, and the Pacific coast. Late afternoon return to Santiago. Dinner and overnight stay in Santiago.

Day 14: Saturday 22. March 2025
Free time in the morning, around noon bus transfer to the airport and flight home (arrival there on the next day, 23. March 2025).

End of the main program.

Extension tour:
Day 14: Saturday 22. March 2025
After breakfast, transfer to the Santiago airport and flight to Buenos Aires. From there, we will continue by bus to Rosario. Dinner and overnight stay in Rosario.

Day 15: Sunday 23. March 2025
Since 1963, tram-traffic has been at a standstill and most of the tracks have been removed from the street of Rosario. Only a short section in the city center still sports tracks. Nevertheless, a very dedicated group of tram enthusiasts has made the surviving car #277 operational again. The only problem: the car is parked in a bus workshop, without a rail connection and far from the nearest possible deployment. This problem is solved with the help of a low loader, that takes car 277 to the remaining track section on each day of operation and picks it up again at the end of the day. However, the city administration only wants to approve the use of the tram on holidays, so as not to scare off normal motorists with the car on weekdays... And as the low loader is owned and operated by the city council´s office, wheel will only turn if the mayor nods.

On our first tram-adventure through South America in 2023, we failed at Rosario because the day of our trip was chosen by the government for the second round of the presidential election just a few weeks prior to our arrival. Since voting is compulsory in Argentina, the entire administration is closed to allow all residents to vote. Thus, the city low loader was also not available... My suggestion to carry out the special trip today was also initially met with disapproval and rejected, as it was considered strange to see cheerful tram enthusiasts on 23. March, Remembrance Day. But then it was discovered that the 23. March was part of a long weekend - and on a long weekend, all Argentines are happy, so our tram charter might take place this time. Rosario also has an interesting trolleybus network... Dinner and overnight stay in Rosario.

Day 16: Monday 24. March 2025
Around noon, our bus takes us back to the airport in Buenos Aires where the tour ends. International flights are not included in the tour price, as the choice of airline for the transatlantic flight also depends on the desired program within South America. Air Europa, Lufthansa, Iberia, or KLM would be the first choice; I am happy to book flight tickets at current prices. Arrival in Europe in the morning of the following day (25. March 2025).

End of the tour.

Tour Price:
The exact price is not yet fixed. I want to be completely honest: a long-haul flight costs around €1,000, our flights within South America another €1,000. And although the northern countries of South America have a lower price level than the expensive south, we will end up with a final price of €5,000+.

Notes:
For German citizens, entry into Argentina, Aruba, Bolivia, Chile, Ecuador, Colombia, and Peru is possible without a visa. A tourist card must be filled out for most countries upon entry. A valid passport, which must still be valid for at least 6 months upon entry, is mandatory. Passports with a "poor appearance" such as frayed pages, stains, or damage can lead to refusal of entry. Please also note that your passport has enough blank pages for many entry and exit stamps. All details regarding entry- and travel requirements can be found on the website of the German Federal Foreign Office. Special travel vaccinations are not required; all details can be found at the Tropical Institute´s website. Travelers of other nationalities should inquire about the entry requirements that apply to them.

This trip will be more physically demanding than, for example, our tram trip to Latvia. On some days of our itinerary, due to the long distances and sometimes sub-optimal transport options, we will be on the road or in the air for long periods with irregular meal times. We will travel from sea level to almost 3.000 meters above sea level and do not always have time to acclimatize softly. Occasional short nights are foreseeable. I would be happy if you would like to join me, but I also ask you to be honest with yourself and to check whether you are up to these physical challenges. Please consult your doctor!

South America is a continent full of contrasts and surprises. The people are warm and hospitable, but it is important to be prepared for some cultural differences. Time often plays a different role here, being late is normal and should not be seen as rude. You'll likely hear the word "mañana" (meaning "tomorrow") quite often. Embrace the South American pace and be prepared for things to happen in a more relaxed way. It's common for discussions to take longer than expected, so patience is key. Rigid adherence to schedules or insisting on Swiss-like timekeeping won't get you far. If something doesn't go as planned, try to stay calm and adapt to the situation. Embracing a more laid-back Latin American approach will make your trip more enjoyable. South American countries have a reputation for being less safe than others, but only petty crime can be an issue, especially in popular  tourist areas - as it happens at many other tourist destinations around the world. However, with a few simple precautions, you can minimize your risk.

I can not emphasize enough how important it is to have good and reliable insurance protection with at least a travel-insurance that covers medical expenses abroad and a cancellation-cost insurance. A customer of mine had booked a 5.000 € tour when a close family member died just a week ahead of the tour. The participation on the trip had to be cancelled but being without an insurance, basically all of his paymwnts were lost.
On another tour, I had to go to a dentist in India. While the costs were manageable, I was happy being able to send the receipts to my travel insurance that reimbursed me in full. Please: do not throw yourself under the bus. Sign up for insurances! I can not offer you German insurances when you are not a resident here but similar products exists everywhere.

This trip is not suitable for people with limited mobility. Please note that our tour involves getting on and off on uneven ground, in high-entry vehicles, or in environments that do not comply with German DIN standards. If you are unsure whether this trip is suitable for you, please contact me.

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