Itinerary
- Day 1
Flight to Santiago de Chile
Your South American adventure kicks off with a flight to Santiago de Chile. This is your travel day, so you'll spend most of the time in transit getting to where it all begins.
Landmarks/POIs Santiago de Chile - Day 2
Santiago de Chile
After arriving in Santiago, you'll transfer to your hotel and settle in. This afternoon, head into the vibrant city center and walk through historic Plaza de Armas with its cathedral and presidential palace. From there, make your way up one of the nearby hills to catch views of the Andes in the distance. By evening you'll get a real sense of the city's layout and the mountains that surround it.
Included Activities
- City tour of Santiago de Chile (approx. 4 hours)
- Visit to Plaza de Armas
- Visit to the cathedral
- Visit to the neoclassical presidential palace
- Visit to modern government district
- View from Cerro San Cristobal or Cerro Santa Lucia
Landmarks/POIs Plaza de Armas Santiago Cathedral Presidential Palace (La Moneda) Cerro San Cristobal Cerro Santa Lucia - Day 3
Calama to San Pedro de Atacama
Early on you'll fly to Calama and then drive through the Atacama Desert landscape toward San Pedro de Atacama. The colorful oasis village appears after hours of arid terrain. In the afternoon, head out to Moon Valley where sand dunes and rocky peaks display reds and golds, especially as the light shifts. It's a dramatic introduction to the desert terrain you'll see more of over the next several days.
Included Activities
- Transfer to airport
- Flight to Calama
- Drive through Atacama Desert to San Pedro de Atacama
- Visit to Moon Valley (Valle de la Luna)
Landmarks/POIs Moon Valley (Valle de la Luna) San Pedro de Atacama - Day 4
San Pedro de Atacama
Spend your day getting to know the Atacama Desert properly. Walk across the Salar de Atacama salt flat with salt formations and mountains around you. Later, head up to the highland lagoons of Miscanti and Miniques at 4100 m/13,450 ft elevation. If you're lucky, flamingos might be spotted on the salt flat. Back in San Pedro by evening, grab dinner at a local restaurant and wander around the village a bit.
Included Activities
- Tour of Salar de Atacama
- Walk on salt flat
- Visit to highland lagoons of Miscanti and Miñiques
- Scenic exploration
Optional Activities
- Dining at charming restaurants in San Pedro de Atacama
Landmarks/POIs Salar de Atacama Laguna Miscanti Laguna Miñiques - Day 5
San Pedro de Atacama to El Tatio and Machuca
You'll start before sunrise and drive to El Tatio geysers at 4300 m/14,100 ft. Watch the geysers with their white steam columns as the sun comes up, then walk through the fumaroles and hot springs landscape. On the way back, stop in Machuca village. The afternoon is yours to either visit the colonial church or check out the pre-Columbian settlement of Tulor. The high altitude takes some getting used to, so a relaxed afternoon helps.
Included Activities
- Drive to El Tatio geysers (approx. 4300 m)
- Morning walk through geyser landscape
- Visit to village of Machuca
Optional Activities
- Visit to colonial church in Machuca
- Walk to pre-Columbian village of Tulor
Landmarks/POIs El Tatio Geysers Machuca Tulor - Day 6
San Pedro de Atacama to Laguna Colorada, Bolivia
Cross into Bolivia at 4500 m/14,760 ft riding in a four-wheel drive. The route takes you past lagoons at the base of the Licancabur volcano and through the surreal Salvador Dali desert landscape. By afternoon you'll reach the Laguna Colorada with its distinctive red coloring in the Eduardo Avaroa National Reserve. Andean flamingos populate the area, and the high-altitude wilderness provides countless photo opportunities as the day winds down.
Included Activities
- Border crossing at Hito Cajon (4500 m)
- Drive past Verde and Blanca lagoons
- Drive through Salvador Dali desert
- Visit to Laguna Colorada in Eduardo Avaroa National Reserve
Landmarks/POIs Licancabur Volcano Laguna Colorada Eduardo Avaroa National Reserve Verde Lagoon Blanca Lagoon Salvador Dali Desert - Day 7
Siloli Desert to Tahua, Bolivia
Head north into the Siloli Desert, the world's highest desert. Along the way you'll see rock sculptures carved by wind over centuries, including the famous Arbol de la Piedra. Pass through a series of colorful lagoons as the landscape shifts. By evening you'll arrive in the small village of Tahua on the northeast shore of the Salar de Uyuni, where things are quiet and peaceful.
Included Activities
- Drive through Siloli Desert
- Visit to Arbol de la Piedra (stone tree)
- Pass Laguna Charkota, Laguna Hedionda, and Laguna Cañapa
Landmarks/POIs Siloli Desert Arbol de la Piedra Laguna Charkota Laguna Hedionda Laguna Cañapa - Day 8
Salar de Uyuni, Bolivia
Today you cross the Salar de Uyuni, the planet's largest salt desert at over 10,000 square kilometers. In the middle sits Isla Incahuasi, covered with giant cacti that reach up to 12 m/39 ft and are around 1,200 years old. The salt flats create optical illusions with mirages and salt crystals, making for a surreal and somewhat disorienting but fascinating experience.
Included Activities
- Cross Salar de Uyuni
- Visit to Isla Incahuasi
Landmarks/POIs Salar de Uyuni Isla Incahuasi - Day 9
Uyuni to La Paz, Bolivia
Fly from Uyuni to La Paz in the morning. Once there, take a short sightseeing tour through this extraordinary city that sits between altitudes of 3200 and 4100 meters. Visit the famous witches' market to see traditional herbs and lucky charms. Ride the Teleferico, the world's largest urban cable car network, for spectacular views across the city and surrounding mountains.
Included Activities
- Flight from Uyuni to La Paz
- Short sightseeing tour of La Paz
- Visit to witches' market
- Ride on Teleferico cable car system
Landmarks/POIs Witches' Market (Mercado de las Brujas) Teleferico La Paz - Day 10
La Paz to Copacabana and Tiwanaku, Bolivia
Travel to Copacabana, one of South America's most important Christian pilgrimage sites on Lake Titicaca's shores at 3800 m/12,470 ft. Along the way, stop at Tiwanaku, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the continent's oldest cultures. The pre-Columbian ruins offer insight into civilizations that came long before the Incas.
Included Activities
- Visit to Tiwanaku (UNESCO World Heritage Site)
Landmarks/POIs Tiwanaku Copacabana Lake Titicaca - Day 11
Lake Titicaca Islands, Bolivia
Board a boat to the Island of the Sun with a brief stop at Isla de la Luna to visit an Inca archaeological site. According to legend, the first Inca emerged from Lake Titicaca here, making the Isla del Sol the birthplace of the Inca empire. You'll hike with views of snow-capped peaks from the Royal Cordillera rising above the blue lake.
Included Activities
- Boat trip to Isla de la Luna
- Visit to archaeological Inca site on Isla de la Luna
- Hike on Isla del Sol
Landmarks/POIs Isla del Sol Isla de la Luna Lake Titicaca Royal Cordillera - Day 12
Isla del Sol to Puno, Peru
The boat takes you back to Copacabana where you have free time to visit the impressive church or climb the local mountain Calvario. Your guide escorts you to the bus station for the comfortable public bus ride across the border into Peru to Puno. A transfer driver meets you there and takes you to your hotel.
Included Activities
- Boat trip back to Copacabana
- Bus transfer to Puno across border
Optional Activities
- Visit to impressive church in Copacabana
- Climb Calvario mountain
Landmarks/POIs Copacabana Church Calvario Puno - Day 13
Puno to Sacred Valley, Peru
Head toward the Sacred Valley of the Incas. Stop at Sillustani, a burial site of three cultures with a natural backdrop that's quite striking. Continue through the Andean highlands past indigenous villages and alpaca herds grazing along the way. By evening you'll reach Pisac in the Sacred Valley.
Included Activities
- Visit to Sillustani ruins
Landmarks/POIs Sillustani Sacred Valley Pisac - Day 14
Sacred Valley to Machu Picchu, Peru
Travel by train through the Urubamba Valley with mountains and beautiful landscapes visible the whole way. A bus then takes you up to Machu Picchu at 2430 m/7,970 ft, the UNESCO World Heritage Site. Join a guided tour through the famous Inca city, and after that you'll have time to explore on your own. Later, the train takes you back to Ollantaytambo or Poroy, then a bus returns you to Cusco.
Included Activities
- Train ride through Urubamba Valley
- Bus transfer to Machu Picchu
- Extensive guided tour of Machu Picchu
- Train return from Machu Picchu
Landmarks/POIs Machu Picchu Urubamba Valley Ollantaytambo - Day 15
Machu Picchu to Cusco, Peru
An early morning bus gets you to Machu Picchu while the morning fog still covers it. As the mist lifts, the Inca city reveals itself. You'll join a guided tour to learn about the site, then have free time to wander on your own. In the late afternoon, board the train back to Ollantaytambo or Poroy. From the train you'll see the mountain scenery and the gradual transition from cloud forest to the Sacred Valley before the bus takes you back to Cusco.
Included Activities
- Bus transfer to Machu Picchu
- Extensive guided tour of Machu Picchu
- Train return from Machu Picchu through Urubamba Valley
- Bus transfer back to Cusco
Landmarks/POIs Machu Picchu Urubamba Valley Cloud Forest - Day 16
Cusco
Explore Cusco, the former capital of the Inca Empire, on a city tour. You'll see buildings from both Inca and colonial periods mixed throughout. Then head out to two impressive ruins near the city: Sacsayhuaman and Kenko, both offering views over Cusco and insight into Inca construction.
Included Activities
- City tour of Cusco
- Visit to Inca and colonial buildings
- Visit to Sacsayhuaman ruins
- Visit to Kenko ruins
Landmarks/POIs Cusco Sacsayhuaman Kenko - Day 17
Cusco to Departure
The morning is yours for final exploring around Cusco and picking up souvenirs before a transfer takes you to the airport for your flight home. If you want, it's possible to stay an extra day in Cusco instead of departing.
Optional Activities
- Stay another day in Cusco
- Visit to Rainbow Mountain (optional)
Landmarks/POIs Rainbow Mountain (Vinicunca) - Day 18
Departure
After all the experiences and memories you've gathered along the Andes, you'll head to the departure airport for your journey back home.
