THE WONDERS OF PERU & BOLIVIA
Peru Bolivia Travel
Visit two wonders of the world in one trip. Machu Picchu and Salar de UYUNI! Follow in the footsteps of the Incas in Cusco, the Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu. Experience the colourful Lake Titicaca and explore the rough city of La Paz. Experience the beauty of Salar de UYUNI in a 4×4 jeep, drive across the largest salt flats in the world, admire the coloured lagoons filled with flamingos and surrounded by the most beautiful volcanoes and see the largest starry sky of the southern hemisphere. Enjoy this combination of the 4 elements of fire, water, wind and earth!
Day 1 - Lima
Day flight to Lima. Upon arrival at the airport, there’ll be a transfer to the hotel.
You are free to spend the evening as you wish. Did you know that Peru was voted best culinary destination in the world multiple times? In the evening, you can enjoy yourself at one of the great local restaurants or perhaps in one of the Michelin star restaurants that can be found in South America. Here, ingredients are still used in the same way as the inhabitants of the Andes used them centuries ago.
Day 2 - Lima
City tour of Lima: Historic centre, Pisco Sour tasting and Larco Museum
Our city tour takes you through 3 historical periods: Pre-Hispanic, colonial and modern. The tour starts with a panoramic view across the impressive Huaca Huallamarca. You visit the colonial centre where you view the Convent of St. Dominic, which has been declared a Cultural Heritage. At the end of the tour, you stop for a Pisco Sour tasting, the most delicious and famous drink of Peru. Lastly, you visit the beautiful Larco Museum, which shows the most beautiful collection of the pre-Peruvian art of the country. This helps you understand the 5000 year old history of Peru, giving an even greater appreciation of the country. End of the day flight to Cusco.
Day 3 - Cusco
Cusco! Seductive, striking and natural. History is alive in the streets, squares, valleys and villages. In the ruins surrounding the city, you see the remains of refined architecture.
You will get a guided city tour through the old Inca capital, located at 3400 metres. You start at the Plaza de Armas square with its beautiful cathedral and walk through the narrow cobblestone streets with old Inca walls and nicely preserved colonial homes. After a short stop at the market, you’ll visit the Corichancha, the most important temple of the Inca empire, dedicated to the sun god Inti. The temple was, just like Machu Picchu, an Inca masterpiece.
Day 4 - Sacred valley
After a free morning you will have an afternoon trip to the village of Ollantaytambo. Steep terraces lead to the actual fort. In the village itself, many houses are now built on top of the Inca ruins. For the free morning, there’s ample choice of possibilities: 1) Pisac market: a large traditional market, is held here on Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday. 2) Moray and Maras: the excursion starts in Moray, the village that’s famous for the circle-shaped agricultural terraces that are laid out as an amphitheatre. Scientists think it used to be a farming station in the time of the Icas. The salt terraces of Maras are spectacular to see: the thousands of small basins, filled with salt spring water, are found in all stages from wet to dry. 3) Rafting on the Urubamba: rafting for one and a half hours at level 2-3. 4) Cycling in the Sacred Valley: go along trails past the Urubamba by mountain bike. How great is that! 5) Walk through the Sacred Valley. Level: hard. With a climb from the valley to the hills for beautiful panoramas!
Day 5 - Machu Picchu
At an altitude of 2430 meters, on the border of the misty Amazon and the high Andes is the location of the Inca’s masterpiece: Machu Picchu. The city was built around the year 1440 and inhabited for almost a century. The masterpiece is hidden in such a way that the Spaniards never discovered it and as such, the city is excellently preserved!
You don’t see much of it in the valley, but the drive towards it is therefore spectacular. With the Vistadome train, you’ll drive to the village of Aguas Calientes in a breathtaking ride. The train has panorama windows so you’ll become one with the landscape. From Aguas Calientes take a short bus ride to the gates of Machu Picchu. The guide will take you through the streets, down stairs and past alleys in the old city; a magical experience. You also have plenty of time to walk around by yourself. You travel back to Cusco in the same way.
Day 6 - Cusco
You can decide what to do today. You can keep enjoying the magical Machu Picchu a little longer in the idyllic setting of Cusco.
Missed something in the Sacred Valley? Whether you want to have a leisurely stroll through the streets in Cusco, marvel at the beautifully woven wares or languish in one of the wonderful coffee bars; the choice is yours.
There’s also the option of taking a cooking class. You’ll buy the ingredients in the local market with the help of a chef, and go on to master cooking the delicious Peruvian cuisine. A great experience!
Day 7 - Puno
You’ll travel to Puno by bus. On the way, you can enjoy the beautiful landscapes of the southern valley of Cusco. In La Raya, the highest point of the route, you’ll stop for a fabulous photo moment and visit the ruins of Racchi. Also you make a stop in the town of Andahuaylillas with a splendid colonial church. Finally, you’ll arrive in Puno!
Day 8 - Lake Titicaca by boat
You’ll visit Lake Titicaca on a comfortable speedboat. You moor at one of the floating islands of the Uros natives. The life of the Uros is strongly linked to the sedge that covers the waters of the lake. The sedge is used for all kinds of things, for example for food but also to build houses and boats. Then, you continue on to Taquile, a rocky island which you’ll explore on foot. The inhabitants have strong Spanish influences and keep the ancient weaving traditions alive. Enjoy the colourful traditional clothing and beautiful panoramas across the Lake Titicaca!
Day 9 - La Paz
La Paz lies in the heart of the Andes and is surrounded by snowy mountain peaks. It’s also the centre of the indigenous native culture, an Inca heritage, where you can see it in the colourful population. Tomorrow, you can fully enjoy this.
Day 10 - La Paz
La Paz is the highest capital in the world (3600 metre) and you’ll notice that the air there is thin. We’ll show you the city today, not just by foot but you’ll also enjoy the most beautiful view by cable car. You’ll also visit the bizarre ‘witches’ market’ where you can buy herbs, cocoa leaves and mountains of dried llama foetuses. Do you want to experience some history? We’ll go to the old city centre and visit the colonial street of Calle Jaen, where you can visit the Cocoa Museum, definitely worth it! Did you know that La Paz has the highest ski slope in the world? At 5200 metres, you don’t just enjoy the snow but also a fantastic view of the Lake Titicaca and La Paz.
Day 11 - Uyuni salt flat tour
The spectacular Bolivian Altiplano is one of the natural wonders of the earth and without a doubt the most breathtaking phenomenon of the Andes.
With a 4×4 Landcruiser, you set off on the 3-day adventure! First, you visit the train junkyard to see the first steam locomotive of Bolivia, a fascinating sight in the desert. Then, you’ll view the salt mining process in Colchani and are taken to the largest salt flats in the world: the Salar de Uyuni. Here, there’s plenty of opportunity to take funny perspective photos, the guides are adept at this and will happily help! After lunch, you visit the Inca Wasi Island, where you walk between giant cactuses and coral rock formations that are spectacularly located, in the middle of the salt flats. After a splendid sunset on the salt flats, we drive to our first hotel, where you’re greeted with hot coffee or chocolate and a delicious dinner.
Day 12 - Uyuni Salt flat tour
Continue your trip further into the desert by jeep, surrounded by volcanoes, both dormant and actively smoking. You pass by colourful lagoons with hundreds of flamingos. Vicuñas and llamas can be spotted on the plateaus. You travel through the Siloli dessert, this plateau is covered with volcanic ash and is graced by surreal rock formations. You stop at the Stone Tree, a ‘must-see’ phenomenon formed by thousands of years of erosion. We lunch at a splendid location from the back of the jeeps. There’s also the chance to walk amongst the wild llamas on a green meadow! Later in the day, you make another stop at the splendid Red Lagoon, where the brightly coloured flamingos match the water. Afterwards, you drive to the summit of the Sol de Mañana volcano, at an altitude of 5000 metres from where you can see the crater and boiling pools of mud (100 Cº). We drive towards our accommodation, a very unique place where, after a delicious glass of wine, you can bask in the hot springs and enjoy the largest starry sky in the southern hemisphere. Can it get any better…?!
Day 13 - Uyuni Salt flat tour
After a breakfast of pancakes, yoghurt and cornflakes, we visit the Salvador Dali dessert, where magical colours flow into each other. On the horizon, vicuñas finish the painting-like picture. We drive towards the Green Lake, a large poisonous lake at the base of the imposing Licancahur volcano. You continue your trip to Chile.
Day 14-15
After that flight back home.
The end of an unforgettable trip through Peru and Bolivia!
Included:
* All accommodations with breakfast
* Mentioned meals
* Transport like mentioned in the program
* Excursions like mentioned in the program, unless stated otherwise
Not included:
* International and domestic flights
* Not mentioned meals
* Entry fees national parks, unless mentioned differently
* Optional and not mentioned services and excursions
