- Combined: Peru / Chile / Bolivia
- 19 days
- Year round
- Private
- English and Spanish speaking
Along the way......
The borders of modern Bolivia, Peru and Chile are the result of contemporary wars. They are not natural. The Incas used the Andean topography to define their Empire. This itinerary, which we called “The Andean Trilogy” was designed, after years of local experience, with the goal to allow you to discover this natural expanse. Our objective is to abolish frontiers so we can enjoy this geographic area condensing today various cultures, nationalities and offering diverse folkloric and gastronomic treasures.
The historical base of this area is common to all three countries: the Inca Empire and the Conquista Espanola…
This is a multi-facetted journey that will allow you to tap all of your senses, day after day. Cultural interests (the greatest Inca sites and colonial cities) are added to a 4WD adventure in regions seldom visited of the Bolivian Altiplano.
But what will be most unforgettable about this journey is the wealth of ecosystems and of scenery: Pacific Coast, Volcanic Cordillera of Sajama National Park, colorful Indian markets of La Paz, Lake Titicaca, the desolate expanse of the Altiplano and the semi tropical valleys of Macchu Picchu. A complete display of the Andean marvels!
Day 1 :
Pick up at the Jorge Chavez airport. Private transfer to your hotel. Meals open.
Day 2 :
Private transfer to the airport for your flight to the white city of Arequipa (1h15-flight).
Pick up and transfer to hotel.
Three impressive volcanoes and their snowed-in summits dominate the town of Arequipa: the Misti (el. 5 821 m.a.s.l.), the Chachani (el. 6 075 m.a.s.l.) and the Picchu Picchu (el. 5 425 m.a.s.l.). This town certainly deserves the name of White City as its constructions are principally made out of Sillar, a whitish volcanic stone abundant in the area and used to embellish the walls of its buildings and churches.
In the afternoon, we follow our guide for a three-hour visit of the colonial center as well as of the Santa Catalina convent.
Return to the hotel.
Meals open.
Note: flight without a guide
Day 3 :
In the morning, departure in a private vehicle for Colca, whose canyon is one of the deepest in the world, with 3680 meters depth (12073 feet).
Crossing of the National Preserve and of the Patapampa pass.
On the way, we admire magnificent landscapes and possibly observe vicunas and other camelids.
Transfer to the hotel in Colca. Option to take a bath in the village hot springs (not included).
Meals open.
Please note: 99 miles – around 5-hour of travel time.
Option: entrance fees to the hot springs to be paid directly on location.
Day 4 :
In the morning, departure in a private vehicle for Arequipa, the White City.
First stop at Cruz del Condor, at the heart of Colca, to observe the condors.
Visit of picturesque villages, including Maca.
Transfer to the hotel in Arequipa.
Meals open.
Day 5 :
We depart at around 7 a.m. from the white city in our private vehicle in the direction of Tacna and eventually Santa Rosa, border between Peru and Chile.
We follow the Pan-Americana, crossing this arid and desolate region, to the Moquegua valley. After 375 Kilometers, we reach Tacna at around 2 p.m. and stop there for lunch. There we can taste ceviche, typical Peruvian plate of marinated raw fish in lemon juice (facultative). We get back on the road and clear the Chilean border (at around 3 p.m. Peruvian time).
There we meet our Bolivian driver and guide, who will stay with us until the end of our trip. We skirt the Pacific Coast in the direction of Arica, a seaside resort on the coast of Northern Chile (2 -3 h).
Lunch and dinner not included. Hotel ***.
Day 6 :
We depart at 8:30 a.m. In the space of a few hours, following an impressive road crossing a wide variety of scenery: an oasis, a desert of sand and much more, we reach the first highlands of the Andes and arrive at Lauca National Park, refuge of a rich fauna (vicuñas, viscachas, flamingos, ibises, lamas).
After a cold meal, we enter the park’s lunar plains, surrounded by volcanoes of altitude higher than 6000 meters and known for hosting the highest lake in the world: Lake Chungara.
A short trek is possible. Night in the Indian village of Parinacota.Cold lunch. All included.
Lodging with local host (basic comfort).
Day 7 :
Heading south, we pass by Volcano Guallatiri (still active) before arriving to the Salar de Surire (2h30) owing its name to the presence of ñandus in this region (suri in Aymara).
We can spot three varieties of flamingoes as well as numerous lamas, alpacas and vicuñas. We take a lunch break near some Hot Springs. Later on, we take a narrow path leading south, through lands populated by the lamas of the Isluga Park.
We pass the colonial villages of Enquelga (el. 3850 m.a.s.l.) and Isluga (el. 3980 m.a.s.l.). We arrive in Colchane by the end of the afternoon (2 to 3 hours from Surire).
Cold lunch. All included. Lodging with local host (basic comfort).
Day 8 :
We return to Bolivia in the morning, entering by the border crossing of Pisiga located on the West side of the Salar de Coipasa. This immense salt desert has a bad reputation. Often flooded, it is not unusual to find vehicles that have been stuck there for a whole season. For this reason, it is not often visited except by the huge trucks transporting the salt extracted from the Salar.
We can, nonetheless, enjoy the unusual deserted scenery it offers before reaching the other Salar, larger and better known, the Salar de Uyuni (el. 3650 m.a.s.l.).
We drive around volcano Tunupa and reach, in the early evening, the village of Jirira, on the outskirt of the salar de Uyuni (6h approximately).
Cold lunch. All included. Lodging at Don Lupe and Don Carlos’ house (basic comfort).
Day 9 :
In the morning we visit Coquesa, little village on the shores of the salar, famous for its Chipayas mummies. Then we enter the Salar of Uyuni (el. 3650 m.a.s.l), the biggest salt desert in the world.
The feeling is unique. The horizon blends with the immaculate salt surface of the Salar de Uyuni. We stop in the heart of the salar on Incahuasi Island.
This island of volcanic origin, it is covered with stromatolites and giant cacti. Then we visit the little known Isla del Pescado (Fish Island) located nearby. Beautiful walk on the island. The viewpoints over the salar are mind blowing.
Return to Jirira at the end of the afternoon.
Cold lunch. All included. Night at Doña Lupe and Don Carlos’s (basic comfort)..
Day 10 :
Early departure for our long crossing of the Altiplano (8 to 10-hour journey). At around noon, we arrive in the village of Challapata, where the dirt road ends and the pavement starts.
Lunch on the way (included). Dinner open. Hotel ***.
Day 11 :
Departure from the hotel at 8:30 a.m. in our private vehicle, to discover the most spectacular viewpoint over the city, unbelievably located in the “pit” of the Choqueyapu river canyon, with the Royal Mountain Range “Giants” as the background: Huayna Potosi, Mururata and Illimani.
This tour, particularly designed for photo lovers, first takes us to the K´Illi K´Illi Mirador and to the Laykakota Park, on the Northwestern side of the city. Afterwards, we cross the Americas Bridge to go to the “Plaza de España” Mirador, in the colonial neighborhood of Sopocachi.
From there, an abrupt descent leads us to the “South Zone”, passing through Llojeta and the “Garden Cemetery”, and finally to the Valley of the Moon, a place where we will be able to walk between psychedelic looking sandstone formations.
Return downtown in the afternoon.
Lunch and dinner open. Hotel ***
Day 12 :
Departure from the hotel at 9:00AM in our private vehicle for the archaeological site of Tiwanaku (1h30). Guided tour of the pre-Colombian vestiges counting amongst the most important of the continent.
Alter lunch (which can be taken at Tiwanaku), we leave for Desaguadero.
At 1:00PM (time in Peru), we meet with our Peruvian team at the border post (after the bridge) for our transfer to Puno.
The road skirts the lake and passes through numerous villages where we can stop and visit: Pomata, Juli and Chucuito.
Lunch and dinner open.
Note: Desaguadero hosts every Friday a market that makes traffic
Day 13 :
Transfer to the pier of Puno to embark, early in the morning, for the Islands of Uros and Taquile.
After a 40-minute boat ride, we visit, with a guide, the floating Islands of Uros. The Islands are not natural; they have been built by the Uros tribe living mainly from fishing.
After a visit of about forty minutes we return to our boat and head for Taquile two hours away from Uros.
Taquile offers an important cultural interest. Its inhabitants still live there, following ancestral traditions. Guided visit of the island and if its Inca vestiges.
Lunch open in one of the typical restaurant of the island. Relaxation and return to Puno in the middle of the afternoon. Transfer to the hotel.
Lunch and dinner open.
Note 1: It is not possible to navigate on the lake at night.
Note 2: The level of English of the guides in that area is very basic
Day 14 :
Private transfer to the bus terminal at 8 a.m. for our trip to Cusco.
The ride offers beautiful scenery.
The tourist bus stops at different sites such as Raqchi and the village of Andahuaylillas with its famous “Sixteen Chapel” constructed in the middle of the 17th century.
We also take our lunch break in the village of Sicuani.
We arrive in Cusco at around 5h00PM. Private transfer to hotel.
Lunch included. Dinner open.
Note: Bus trip without a guide. Nonetheless a Spanish/English speaking guide from the bus company will give you information on the way.
Option: Train of the Andes Orient Express – Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays..
Day 15 :
Afternoon dedicated to the visit of the historical centre of Cuzco.
We start our tour by the visit of Koricancha (Temple of the Sun), major Inca religious building dedicated to the cult of the Sun.
Our tour eventually takes us to the Cathedral, which construction started in 1560 and finished in 1669. This church exhibits numerous paintings from the Cusquenian’s school, as well as numerous treasures of metal, silver and precious stones.
Return to the hotel early evening.
Meals open.
Day 16 :
In the morning, departure in a private vehicle for a day dedicated to the discovery of the Sacred Valley. First stop at the ruins of Pisac. Visit of the site and walk around the handicraft market.
Typical lunch and stop in a ceramic workshop in Urubamba (Ayllu if opens). Continuation of the journey to Maras: salt mines in the middle of the Cordillera!
Walk down to the Urumbamba River where the vehicle awaits us. Continuation to the Incan village of Ollantaytambo. Visit of the fortress. Lunch included. Dinner open.
Day 17 :
In the morning, departure from the train station of Ollantaytambo for the journey to Aguascalientes.
Direct connection to the shuttle service that will drive you to the citadel of Machu Picchu.
Day dedicated to the visit of the site; one of the wonders of the world, discovered in 1911 by the American anthropologist Hiram Bingham.
Meals open.
Note: depending on availabilities, the return journey can be done by train to Ollantaytambo and then by private vehicle to Cuzco.
Day 18 :
Private transfer to the Cusco airport for the flight to the Peruvian capital.
Pick up and private transfer to the hotel located in the neighbourhood of Miraflores.
Meals open.
Option: to do a tour of Lima (about 4-hours). Let us knows.
Day 19 :
Three hours before take off, private transfer to the Lima airport for you international return flight. Meals open.
Included:
All tours mentioned in this program
Private English-speaking guide
Aforementioned transport: domestic flights, trains
Private transfer to airport / station / bus terminal / hotel with Spanish-speaking chauffeur
Entrance to sites, museums and natural parks
Hotels with double or triple room including breakfast
Aforementioned meals
Guide expenses (transport, hotels, meals, etc…)
Not Included:
International return flight
Individual equipment (sleeping bag, torch lamp, etc…)
Obligatory travel insurance
Entrance fees if mentioned
Drinks
Tips
Airport tax ($US 6 per person for national flights, $US 30 per person for international flights)
Aforementioned free meals