- Combined Peru / Bolivia
- 15 days
- Year round
- Private
- English and Spanish speaking
Along the way......
Fifteen days to visit the most important sites of Peru and Bolivia.
We visit the center of the world: Cuzco and Machu Picchu the Inca city and mysterious Lake Titicaca. We then explore the uniquely “Andean” atmosphere of the city of La Paz, and discover the dreamy landscapes of the Salar and Lipez …
Have a great trip!
Day 1 :
Pick up at the Jorge Chavez airport. Private transfer to your hotel. Meals open.
Day 2 :
Private transfer to the Lima airport for the fight to Cuzco.
Airport pick up and private transfer to the hotel.
In Quechua, Cuzco means “the center of the world”, because this town, which was the capital of the Inca Empire, was the common origin to the four regions of the world according to the cosmic vision of Incas. Cuzco is without a doubt one of the most beautiful cities of the Peruvian Sierras.
Rest to help acclimatizing at the altitude.
Early afternoon, guided visit of Cuzco and its surroundings: the temple of the Sun or Koricacha – the cathedral and the four ruins of: Tambomachay, Pukapucara, Sacsayhuaman, Q’enko.
Return to the hotel early evening.
Meals open.
Note: flight without a guide.
Day 3 :
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 4 :
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 5 :
Transfer to the bus terminal at 7:30AM for the trip to Puno.
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. Arrival in Puno at around 4:30 p.m. Transfer to the 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 6 :
In the morning, transfer to the port of Puno to embark for the islands of Uros and Taquile. After a 25-minute cruise, we visit of the floating islands. These islands are not natural; the Uros tribe, whose main activity is fishing, built them.
We then head for Taquile (around 2-hour cruise), an island of great cultural interest, where residents live in harmony with the ancestral traditions. Visit and lunch in a typical restaurant, not included.
Back to Puno in mid-afternoon.
Transfer to the hotel.
Meals open.
Please note: Option to plan a two days excursion with one night at a local resident’s place on the island.
Day 7 :
In the morning, we depart for Desaguadero in our private vehicle. On the road, while skirting the lake, we visit the villages of Chucuito, Juli and Pomata. At 11:30 a.m. (Peruvian time), we meet our Bolivian driver (At the Bolivian immigration post, after the bridge) who will drive us to the archeological site of Tiwanaku. Guided visit of the Pre-Columbian vestiges counting amongst some of the most important on the continent.
Arrival in La Paz in the evening.
Lunch and dinner open. Hotel ***.
Note: Every Friday, Desaguadero hosts a market that can make traffic heavy and delay immigration procedures.
Day 8 :
Departure from the hotel at 9:00 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.
In the afternoon, the vehicle takes us back in the city center and drops us at the lively and colourful andean market of La Paz. Back to the hotel, accompanied by your guide.
Lunch and dinner open. Hotel ***
Day 9 :
We start the long north to south crossing of the Altiplano to Uyuni, small town on the edge of the Salar (12 to 14-hour trip). We meet at the hotel one hour before the bus departure, for a transfer to the bus station of La Paz.
- Tuesdays and Fridays, departure of the bus for Oruro at 10 a.m. Arrival in Oruro at around 2 p.m., then departure of the train Expreso del Sur for Uyuni at 3:30 p.m. Arrival in Uyuni at 10:20 p.m. Pick up by our team upon arrival.
- Wednesdays and Sundays, departure of the bus for Oruro at 2 p.m. Arrival in Oruro around 6 p.m., then departure of the train Wara-Wara for Uyuni at 7 p.m. Arrival in Uyuni at 2:20 a.m. the next day. Pick up by our team upon arrival.
- Other days, departure on the bus for Oruro at 3:30 a.m. Arrival in Oruro at 7 p.m. Bus change. Departure at 8 p.m. Arrival in Uyuni at around 5 a.m. Hotel available in Uyuni until the departure of the expedition. Lunch and dinner open (bar-restaurant La Loco recommended). Hotel ***.
Note 1: for your own comfort, we advise you to do this trip on the train.
Note 2: Dining car on board
Day 10 :
In the morning, we depart for the world’s largest salt desert: the Salar de Uyuni (el. 3650 m.a.s.l.).
The atmosphere is special: the horizon seems to not have any limits and the immensity is overwhelming. We stop in a salt factory in Colchani and the Salt Hotels (Closed since November 2001). Then, we stop at the heart of the Salar on the Incahuasi Island. This island of volcanic origin is covered with stromatolites and giant cacti. Return to Uyuni. If we still have time, we can visit the train cemetery near the city. Cold lunch. Dinner open (bar-restaurant La Loco recommended). Hotel ***.
Day 11 :
We leave towards 08:30 for Potosi.
We cross the Cordillera Frailes on a dirt track (6 hours) before reaching the Imperial town in the afternoon. On the way, we stop in Pulacayo that used to be the second most important silver mine on the continent during the XVII and XVIII centuries. Today, it has become an abandoned village, where still remains a museum about its glory past. End of the day open (visit of the Santa Teresa Convent recommended). Lunch included. Diner open. Hôtel ***.
Day 12 :
We dedicate this day to the discovery of Potosi, nominated as a World Heritage site by UNESCO.
At 9 a.m., we meet in the hotel lobby to visit the mines of Cerro Rico where we can see miners at work. In the afternoon, we visit the Casa de la Moneda (closed Sunday afternoons and Mondays), where the Spanish minted the coins for the crown until the 19th century.
At 4 p.m., we leave for Sucre in our private vehicle. We leave the high plateau behind to descend in the valleys of Chuquisaca.
We pass the Río Pilcomayo by the Sucre Bridge, and its interesting architecture (further South, this río separates Argentina from Paraguay) before arriving in Sucre, at the end of the day (3-hour trip on a paved road).
Lunch and dinner open. Hotel ***.
Day 13 :
We meet in the hotel hall at 9 a.m. for a guided visit of the colonial city registered as a World Heritage city by UNESCO.
Amongst others: ethnographic textile museum (ASUR), Casa de la Libertad (closed on Sunday afternoons and Mondays), Recoleta convent, cathedral and San Felipe Nery monastery.
Lunch and dinner open. Hotel ***.
Day 14 :
Private transfer from the hotel to the airport 2 hours before take-off.
Flight Sucre – La Paz (50-minute flight, see time table). Pick up at the airport and transfer to the hotel. Afternoon open.
Lunch and dinner open. Hotel ***.
Day 15 :
Pick up at our hotel in a private vehicle, 3 hours prior to flight departure time, for transfer to airport / international flight number and time to be confirmed.
Prices:
2 persons: US $ 2555 per person
3 persons: US $ 2265 per person
4/5 persons: US $ 2140 per person
6/7 persons: US $ 2030 per person
8/10 persons: US $ 1900 per person
11/12 persons: US $ 1800 per person
We sell all available trips, tours, and services in Bolivia, this proposal is an example of what can be done. It can be modified in terms of length, contents, options, hotel categories, amount of services offered ...
Please let us know where you would like to visit and what you would like to do. A professional travel advisor will contact you in order to build with you a taylor made program which suits your desires.
We wish to offer you high-quality, individualized attention before and during your trip to guarantee a problem free vacation.
Hotels
Above mentioned prices include:
Hotels in PERU: LIMA: 1 night at Casa andina Miraflores*** CUSCO: 2 night at Casa andina Classic*** SACRED VALLEY: 1 night at Boutique Lodge Urubamba*** PUNO: 2 nights at Intiqa hotel***
Hotels in BOLIVIA: LA PAZ: 3 nights at Rosario*** SUCRE: 2 nights at Independencia*** POTOSI: 1 night at Hotel Colonial*** UYUNI: 2 nights at Tambo Aymara ****
4/5 star hotels additional cost US$ 260 per person:
Hotels in PERU: LIMA: 1 night at Country Club***** CUSCO: 2 nights at Casa andina Private Collection**** SACRED VALLEY: 1 night at Libertador Valle Sagrado***** PUNO: 2 nights at Royal Inn hotel****
Hotels in BOLIVIA: LA PAZ: 3 nights at Plaza**** SUCRE: 2 nights at Su Merced**** POTOSI: 1 night at Coloso**** UYUNI: 2 nights at Tambo Aymara ****
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