Itinerary
- Days 1 - 4
Taganga - Tayrona National Park
Starting in Cartagena, you'll walk through the colonial old town with its cobbled streets, churches, and Las Murallas walls that ring the city. A boat trip takes you out to Playa Blanca beach for swimming and relaxation. After heading east by truck, there's a stop at Volcan de Lodo el Totumo, a mud volcano you can actually climb and soak in. From there, you'll reach the laid-back beach town of Taganga, then spend time exploring Tayrona National Park's jungle trails and beaches with optional snorkeling or scuba diving. You'll sleep in hammocks while staying in the park, which gives the whole experience a pretty unique feel.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- City tour of Cartagena
- Playa Blanca boat trip
- El Totumo Mud Volcano dip
- Tayrona National Park exploration with entrance included
- Trails to beaches in Tayrona National Park
- Hammock accommodation in Tayrona National Park
Optional Activities
- Chiva Bus Tour in Cartagena
- Cerro de Monserrate Cable Car in Bogota
- Snorkeling in Tayrona National Park bays
- Scuba diving in Tayrona National Park bays
Landmarks Las Murallas Playa Blanca Volcan de Lodo el Totumo Tayrona National Park - Days 5 - 10
Salento
Heading south through Colombia with a bush camp stop along the way, you'll arrive in Medellin where options include taking salsa or tango lessons and checking out local discos, or visiting art galleries and museums if that's more your style. From there, you'll continue into the mountains to reach Salento in Colombia's coffee region, where you can tour coffee farms and see how everything's grown and processed. Next comes Parque Los Nevados with its peaks over 5000m and those unusual tall palm trees scattered across the landscape. The town itself has funky bars where you'll hang out in the evenings.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Coffee plantation tour in Salento
Optional Activities
- Salsa lessons in Medellin
- Tango lessons in Medellin
- Disco and club visits in Medellin
- Art gallery visits in Medellin
- Museum visits in Medellin
- Local bus trip to Santa Fe de Antioquia
- Coffee farm visits in Salento
- Parque Los Nevados day trip
Landmarks Parque Los Nevados - Days 11 - 13
Parque Purace
You'll travel through the Tatacoa Desert with its dramatic eroded cliffs and distant 5000m+ peaks visible on the horizon. Camping here at night gives you excellent stargazing opportunities without much light pollution. Moving west through mountain scenery, you'll head toward Parque Purace where you can spot Colombia's only condors and hike various trails through the park. There are options to scale Volcan Purace if you're up for it, or visit the Sulphur Mine and Termales de San Juan hot springs that have water slides. A possible stop at San Agustin Archaeological Park adds another dimension if time allows.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Tatacoa Desert exploration with camping
Optional Activities
- Volcan Purace summit climb (4750m)
- Sulphur Mine hike
- Termales de San Juan hot springs visit
- San Agustin Archaeological Park visit
Landmarks Tatacoa Desert Parque Purace Volcan Purace Termales de San Juan San Agustin Archaeological Park - Days 14 - 21
Ipiales - Quito - Otavalo
Starting in Popayan, the white city, you'll see impressive colonial architecture throughout the town before heading south following the Andes toward Pasto. A stop at Santuario De Las Lajas brings you to a striking neo-Gothic church built on a stone bridge spanning a gorge, which is quite a sight. Crossing into Ecuador and reaching Quito, a historic mountain capital, you'll find plenty of hiking and mountain biking options around the city. Stopping at Otavalo on the way, you'll see the famous colorful craft market and cross the equator, which is a popular photo opportunity.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Popayan visit and colonial exploration
- Santuario De Las Lajas viewing
Optional Activities
- Santuario de las Lajas Museum visit in Ipiales
- Quito city exploration
- Cable car network exploration in Quito
- Hiking activities in Quito area
- Mountain biking in Quito area
- Otavalo craft market shopping
Landmarks Santuario De Las Lajas Equator Otavalo Market - Days 22 - 29
Amazon Basin - Banos - Cuenca
Departing Quito, you'll head east on narrow mountain roads down to the edge of the Amazon basin. Here you'll explore the jungle with experienced guides and stay at a forest lodge to experience the rainforest environment. Continuing south takes you to Banos, a mountain spa town nestled in the Andes where you can enjoy thermal baths, waterfalls, and adventure activities like rafting and canyoning. After that, you'll head south toward Peru, stopping in Cuenca along the way.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Amazon jungle exploration with guide
- Forest lodge stay
- Cloud forest exploration in Banos area
Optional Activities
- Jungle Activity Package
- Banos rafting
- Banos canyoning/rappelling/abseiling
- Banos hot springs
- Banos waterfall treks to Del Diablo waterfall
- Banos massages
- Whitewater Rafting in Banos (Grade 4/5)
Landmarks Amazon Basin Banos Del Diablo Waterfall - Days 30 - 38
Punta Sal - Mancora - Chan Chan - Lima
Crossing into Peru, you'll notice the landscape shift dramatically from Ecuador's lush farming country to tropical forest and banana plantations, eventually reaching Peru's dry desert region. Relaxing for a couple days at Punta Sal and Mancora beaches gives you time to adjust and enjoy the coast. You'll visit Chan Chan ruins, the largest pre-Inca mud brick city built by the Chimu kings, then continue to Lima, Peru's capital, where modern skyscrapers sit alongside fine museums and historical monuments from various periods.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Chan Chan Ruins entrance and guided tour
Optional Activities
- Punta Sal beach relaxation
- Mancora beach relaxation
Landmarks Punta Sal Mancora Chan Chan Ruins - Days 39 - 46
Huacachina - Nazca Lines - Arequipa
From Lima, a boat trip takes you to Ballestas Islands in Paracas National Reserve where you'll see exotic sea birds and marine mammals up close. Next is Huacachina Oasis in the Ica Desert, offering optional dune buggies and sandboarding on massive dunes, followed by desert sunset and starlit night camping. You'll visit the Nazca Lines, viewing the mysterious ancient figures from the air with optional flights included. Chauchilla Cemetery is a stop to see well-preserved mummies, then you'll camp at Puerto Inca beach. Heading into the Andes brings you to Arequipa at 2325m for acclimatization, where you'll explore the colonial city and see El Misti Volcano. Taking multiple days, you'll visit Colca Canyon, one of the world's deepest, watching condors circle overhead.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner (Sunset dinner at campfire with guides cooking in Huacachina)
Included Activities
- Ballestas Islands boat trip
Optional Activities
- Dune buggies and sandboarding combo in Huacachina
- Nazca Lines flight (weather permitting)
- Chauchilla Cemetery visit
- Colca Canyon National Park entrance fee and guided overnight tour
- Horse riding
Landmarks Ballestas Islands Paracas National Reserve Huacachina Oasis Nazca Lines Chauchilla Cemetery Puerto Inca El Misti Volcano Colca Canyon - Days 47 - 52
Sacred Valley - Machu Picchu
After a couple days driving from Arequipa, you'll arrive in Cusco where you'll base yourself for 6 days. The Sacred Valley surrounding this historic city offers numerous trekking and cultural options to explore. Visiting Machu Picchu, considered the tour highlight, happens via one of several trek options like the Classic Inca Trail, Lares, or Salkantay when the Classic route isn't available, or by train if trekking isn't your preference. You'll explore Cusco's architecture and colorful markets during your time there. An optional addition includes summiting Huayna Picchu next to Machu Picchu if you want the extra challenge.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Inca Trail Trek to Machu Picchu - 4 day trek including all meals and guide
- Entrance to Machu Picchu including guide
- Cusco city exploration
Optional Activities
- Inca Trail Trek - Classic Trail (must book when available)
- Inca Trail Trek - Lares alternative
- Inca Trail Trek - Salkantay alternative
- Machu Picchu train visit (must be booked and paid in advance)
- Huayna Picchu summit ticket (must be requested at time of booking)
- Sacred Valley Tour
- Cusco Museum Day Pass
- Sun & Moon Temple entrance
- Cusco market exploration
Landmarks Machu Picchu Sacred Valley Huayna Picchu 
- Days 53 - 58
La Paz
Heading to Lake Titicaca at 3800m, you'll visit the Uros Indians who live on floating reed islands built entirely from the lake's vegetation. A boat takes you out during the day to explore these islands, then you'll spend the night with a local family on the lesser-known islands of Isla Amantani or Taquile, experiencing traditional Andean lifestyle firsthand. Driving to La Paz, Bolivia's capital, you can visit a peña club for Andean folk music, shop authentic markets including the witches market, and ride the city's cable car network that stretches up the hillsides.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Lake Titicaca boat tour
- Overnight stay with local family on Isla Amantani or Taquile island
Optional Activities
- La Paz city day tours
- La Paz witches market shopping
- La Paz peña club Andean folk music visit
- La Paz cable car network exploration
Landmarks Lake Titicaca Isla Amantani Taquile
