Itinerary
- Days 1 - 8
Lima to Cusco
Your journey kicks off in Lima, then you'll head out to the Ballestas Islands where you can see sea birds and marine mammals from boat. After that comes the Huacachina Oasis in the Ica Desert, where there's the option to try dune buggies and sandboarding before watching the sunset and sleeping under the stars. Moving on, you'll reach the Nazca Lines with optional flights available if you want to see them from above, followed by Chauchilla Cemetery to see the mummies. You'll camp at Puerto Inca and then drive to Arequipa for a two-night stay, giving you time to walk around the colonial architecture and catch views of El Misti Volcano (5,822m/19,101ft). From there it's into Colca Canyon, which runs twice as deep as the Grand Canyon, where early morning brings chances to spot condors. A couple of days of driving with bush camping gets you to Cusco.
- Meals
- Dinner (Campfire cooking followed by night sleeping out under the stars in the desert)
Included Activities
- Boat tour to Ballestas Islands to observe sea birds and mammals
- Visit to Huacachina Oasis
- Desert campfire cooking and overnight camping under the stars
- Visit to Nazca Lines archaeological site
- Visit to Chauchilla Cemetery
- Overnight camping at Puerto Inca beach
- Exploration of Arequipa colonial city
- Visit to Colca Canyon
Optional Activities
- Dune buggy and sandboarding experience in Ica Desert
- Optional flights over the Nazca Lines
Landmarks/POIs Ballestas Islands Paracas National Reserve Huacachina Oasis Ica Desert Nazca Lines Chauchilla Cemetery Puerto Inca El Misti Volcano Colca Canyon - Days 9 - 14
Cusco and Sacred Valley
You're based in Cusco for six days, positioned in the Sacred Valley of the Incas. The main draw here is reaching Machu Picchu, which you can do via the Classic Inca Trail, Lares Trail, Salkantay Trek (all need advance booking and are optional), or take the train instead. While in Cusco, you can walk through the city to see its distinctive architecture and spend time browsing the colorful markets around town. If you're interested, you can also arrange an optional ticket beforehand to climb Huayna Picchu mountain, which sits right next to Machu Picchu and offers different perspectives of the site.
Included Activities
- Exploration of Cusco city architecture
- Visit to colorful surrounding markets in Sacred Valley
Optional Activities
- Classic Inca Trail trek to Machu Picchu
- Lares Trail trek to Machu Picchu
- Salkantay Trek to Machu Picchu
- Train visit to Machu Picchu
- Huayna Picchu summit ticket at Machu Picchu
Landmarks/POIs Machu Picchu Sacred Valley of the Incas Huayna Picchu - Days 15 - 20
Lake Titicaca and La Paz
You'll travel to Lake Titicaca on the Peru-Bolivia border at 3,800m/12,467ft elevation, then take a boat out to see the floating reed islands where the Uros Indians live. The highlight here is spending a night with a local family on one of the smaller islands like Isla Amantani or Taquile, where you'll learn about traditional Andean life and customs firsthand. After a day's drive, you reach La Paz, Bolivia's capital, where you can ride the cable car network that climbs up the hillsides, check out a peña club for Andean folk music, and browse authentic markets including the witches market for local crafts and souvenirs.
- Meals
- Meals with local family (Meals during overnight stay with Indian family on Lake Titicaca island)
Included Activities
- Boat tour visiting Uros floating reed islands on Lake Titicaca
- Overnight stay with local Indian family on Isla Amantani or Taquile
- Exploration of La Paz city and cable car network
- Visit to authentic markets in La Paz including witches market
Optional Activities
- Visit to peña club for Andean folk music in La Paz
- Souvenir shopping in La Paz markets
Landmarks/POIs Lake Titicaca Isla Amantani Isla Taquile Witches Market - Days 21 - 26
Bolivia: Sucre, Potosi and Uyuni
From La Paz you head into rural Bolivia where roads are largely unpaved and Aymara and Quechua communities farm small plots. A couple of days driving with a bush camp overnight brings you to Sucre, known locally as the '4 Names City' because of its layered history, and the lower altitude here makes it warmer and greener than La Paz. Don't miss Cretaceous Park with its thousands of dinosaur footprints on display. A short drive takes you to Potosi at 4,060m/13,320ft, the world's highest city of its size, which was the Americas' largest city 400 years ago. You can visit the Casa Nacional de Moneda to learn the city's silver mining past, or go into one of the historic mines where methods haven't changed in centuries (for those up for it). After leaving the Altiplano behind, you'll reach Uyuni's white Salt Flats, where you can optionally take a jeep across them.
- Meals
- Meals (Cooking and meals during overnight bush camp)
Included Activities
- Overnight bush camp during drive to Sucre
- Exploration of Sucre colonial city
- Visit to Cretaceous Park with dinosaur footprints
- Visit to ancient mint in Potosi
- Visit to Casa Nacional de Moneda (National Money House)
Optional Activities
- Mine tour in Potosi
- Jeep trip across the Salt Flats of Uyuni
Landmarks/POIs Sucre Cretaceous Park Potosi Casa Nacional de Moneda Salt Flats of Uyuni - Days 27 - 39
Argentina and Chile: Salta to Santiago
You cross from Bolivia into Argentina through high mountain passes with dramatic desert and red rock views in the Tupiza River Valley, passing Cerro de los Siete Colores before reaching the colonial city of Salta. After a couple of nights relaxing at cafes around Plaza 9 de Julio, you'll see the neoclassical Salta Cathedral and El Cabildo, an 18th century town hall turned museum. Heading south through lakes and baked cliff formations, you reach Cafayate, Argentina's first wine region known for white wines where you can tour wineries on foot or by bike. Continue on Route 40, Argentina's longest highway, to Mendoza, the main wine region with opportunities for wine tastings and local steak. From there, cross the Andes into Chile via the Inca Bridge and San Martin's Pass to reach Santiago, the modern capital, where you'll have free time for exploring, trying Chilean restaurants, visiting wineries like Casillero del Diablo, and skiing if it's winter season.
Included Activities
- Exploration of Salta colonial city
- Visit to Salta Cathedral
- Visit to El Cabildo in Salta
- Exploration of Cafayate wine region
- Exploration of Mendoza wine region
- Free time exploration of Santiago
Optional Activities
- Winery tours on foot or by bicycle in Cafayate
- Wine tasting in Mendoza
- Fine dining at Chilean steakhouses in Santiago
- Visit to Casillero del Diablo winery in Santiago
- Skiing in Santiago (winter season)
Landmarks/POIs Tupiza River Valley Cerro de los Siete Colores Salta Cathedral El Cabildo Plaza 9 de Julio Cafayate Mendoza Inca Bridge San Martin's Pass Casillero del Diablo Winery
