Peru & Bolivia Highlights

Reception at the international airport of Lima by our agent. Transfer to your hotel by private transport (50 minutes). Accommodation in hotel.

Transfer in the morning to the airport, and flight to Arequipa. Reception and transfer to your hotel. In the afternoon, visit of the “Place d’Armes”, company of Jesus, Yanahuara district, miradors of Yanahuara and Carmen Alto, and Santa Catalina Convent, founded in 1580 by a rich widow, Maria Guzman. A real city within the city, the convent is a bricked in citadel with narrow streets, passageways, stoops and small squares. Night at the hotel.

Departure to Chivay, in the Colca Valley (Alt. 3600 m, 3h30 driving). We’ll pass by the Chachani volcano and see vicuna in the Salinas y Aguada Blanca natural reserve. We’ll discover lunar landscape, especially in Pata Pampa pass at 4900 m of altitude. Descent to Chivay, in the valley, surrounded by snowy peaks and its terraced hills. It’s possible to enjoy the thermal bath in Chivay (Optional activity, with a cost of 6 USD not included). Night at the hotel.

Early morning departure to the Condors Cross, peculiar observation site where the probability to see condors showing off is very high. Indeed, families of Andean condors live in the rocky walls. We’ll also walk in this canyon, the deepest in the world with a depth of 3000m in some areas, and the typical villages such as Maca. Departure by early afternoon in private transport to Puno (6 hours drive), driving through the wild landscapes of the Andean Altiplano. Arrival by early evening, reception and transfer to the hotel. Night at the hotel.

After breakfast, departure for a cruise on the Titicaca Lake, the highest navigable lake of the world. We’ll visit the famous artificial islands built with bamboo by the Uros, ethnic group from the Andean highlands. Then, we’ll go to the Taquile Island. Taquile is known as the island where men knit and women spin wool. Trek of about one hour before reaching the village centre, and enjoy the traditional clothes of the inhabitants. We’ll go down by the other side of the island, and then back to Puno by boat in the afternoon. Accommodation and night at the hotel.

The first part of the Peru - Bolivia combined tour ends here. Departure to reach the border with Bolivia. Meeting with the Bolivian team at Desaguadero checkpoint. Drive to Tiwanaku site, a major civilization in central Andes between the Vth and XIth century. We’ll discover the Akapana pyramid and its famous « Puerta del Sol » (Sun Gate), the Kalasasaya temple and the Beneth and Ponce monoliths, which some archaeologist compare with Moais of Easter Island. Visit of the small museum before going to La Paz.

Here starts the second part of your combined tour Peru Bolivia. Meeting at 9h00 at your hotel lobby with your guide. He will adapt the day to your desires; don’t hesitate to talk with him as soon as you meet. This day is dedicated to La Paz City discovery, so that you can feel the ambiance in the city. Visit of the coloured markets, the colonial district, Murillo Square or Jaen Street. We may take the cable car (The highest in the world), and enjoy an incredible view over La Paz City.

The combined tour Peru Bolivia includes flights. Departure in private vehicle to La Paz airport. Flight La Paz - Sucre. Reception at Sucre airport, and transfer to your hotel. Meeting with your guide at 2 pm, at the reception of your hotel. Your guide will adapt the day activities according to your wishes; don’t hesitate to talk with him as soon as you meet. We’ll visit the « white city » by foot, listed by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. We’ll see the Recoleta convent, the ethnographic museum of textile (ASUR) in the highlands of the city, the 25th of May square, and the “Casa de la Libertad” (House of Liberty, closed on Sunday afternoon and Mondays).

Departure in the morning from your hotel in private transport, to the colonial city of Potosi (approx. 3 hours). By early afternoon, we will visit the « Casa Real de la Moneda », a must-see museum which describe the glorious past of the city, and the story of Bolivia (Some rooms may be cold, so you may bring a jacket). If we have time, we will discover the centre and the churches of the Imperial City.

Meeting with your guide at 9 am at the reception of your hotel. Departure in private transport to the miner’s market. Then, we will discover the mines of the Cerro Rico (Activity reduced on Saturdays and Mondays, no visit on Sundays). Back to the city centre in the afternoon. Departure at 2 pm in private transport for Uyuni, located close to the salt flat.

The itinerary Peru Bolivia in 3 weeks will bring you to the South Lipez region. Departure in the morning, we will pass by the trains’ cemetery, on the outskirts of the city. We will cross San Cristobal, a village relocated after the arrival of a mining company. Anecdote, the church has been rebuilt stone by stone, for a cost of approximately half a million dollars. We will stop at the Rocky Valley, where erosion carved strange shapes of several meters, laid on the sandy soil, as by magic. Before reaching our destination, we’ll stop to enjoy a nice view of a canyon. Arrival at Villamar by late afternoon.

First, the track follows the Capina salt flat, where borax is extracted from. The track then leads to the thermal springs of Polques (Alt. 4.000m). The bravest may enjoy a dip with a view on the Chalviri lake. We’re heading now toward the Chile border. On the way, we will cross the famous Dali desert, and its supernatural landscape with ochre tones dotted with isolated rocks. Finally, we will arrive at the very end of Bolivia, at the White Lagoon, and most of all the Green Lagoon (Alt. 4300m) with its emerald colour and the Licancabur Volcano in the background. Take care: the wind can be very strong there. Then we’ll go through a pass at almost 5.000m of altitude, before arriving at a place called “Sol de Mañana” (Alt. 4850 m), a place with an important geothermic activity, many geysers, fumaroles or mud ponds. We continue toward the Laguna Colorada (Red Lake). Finally we can see it in the distance. A long break is necessary to enjoy this exceptional lake. It hosts many pink flamingo colonies, which strut around before our eyes. The track goes through the Siloli Desert, where you can see many geomorphological structures, one of them being the famous “Stone Tree”. The surroundings are also stunning with multi-coloured mountains. After a few more kilometres, we will arrive at the Desert Hotel. This day is one of the most intense one of the combined tour Peru Bolivia.

The trip continues north, close to the border with Chile, following the track of the 1001 lakes, a succession of many beautiful lakes (Honda, Ch’arkota, Hedionda and Cañapa), some of them hosting pink flamingo colonies... Stunning. In the background, the surroundings are also gorgeous with multicoloured mountains. During this trip, each part will bring its specific landscape and eclectic facets. Later, we will stop to stretch our legs and contemplate Ollagë and Tomasamil volcanoes. Then we’ll cross Chiguana salt flat which will conclude this marvellous day. By late afternoon, we will arrive at San Pedro de Quemez.

First, we make a small detour to visit the Galaxies Cave, a very unique place... We take the road to Uyuni Salt flat. Expected, eagerly awaited, or even seen in photos, it goes utterly beyond the bounds of anyone’s imagination, with its pristine surface, a virgin terrain for imagination. Dotted with “islands” which will turn into view points for observing, taking photos, picnic, and meditating on world’s beauty. We will discover the Incahuasi Island, with an approximately 45mn walk on an equipped trail. There you’ll find a forest of cactus, laid there as by magic...Indescribable. If we have time, we may visit a small exploitation of salt in Tahua and the small museum of Chantani. Night in Tahua Sunset on the salt flat included in this combined tour Peru Bolivia

Departure in the morning in vehicle to the neighbour village of Coquesa, at the foot of Tunupa Volcano. First, we’ll visit the pre-Columbian mummies site, dating from about 700 AC. Then we’ll start a progressive and easy walk to the mirador (Approx. 2 hours). From there, you will enjoy a gorgeous view on Tunupa volcano crater, an amazing explosion of colours of yellow sulphur and volcanic ochre tones. Down below, lays the immensity of Uyuni salt flat. Then we’ll go down, using the same path, and we’ll cross the salt flat to reach the city of Uyuni. Flight Uyuni - La Paz, reception at the airport and transfer to your hotel.

End of the second part of the Peru - Bolivia tour. Departure to La Paz airport. Flight La Paz - Cusco. Reception at Cusco airport, and transfer to the hotel. Rest of the day free.

On the third week, our combined tour Peru Bolivia continues on the heights of Cusco. Departure in the morning, in private vehicle. We’ll visit Cusco cathedral and the temple of the sun (Qorikancha), as well as the four Inca archaeological sites around Cusco: Sacsayhuaman (Ancient fortress famous for it annual celebration of Inti Raymi or « Festival of the Sun »), Puca Pucara, Tambo Machay and Q’enqo. Free afternoon to continue visiting the town, local market of San Pedro, where you will find all typical products, food and fruit juice as well as souvenirs, and the bohemian neighbourhood of San Blas. Night at the hotel.

After breakfast, departure to the Sacred Valley of Incas. This region, 600m below Cusco, has a pleasant climate and fertile soil, of which the Incas have been able to take advantage of. First stop is in Awanacancha, handcraft centre for high quality fabrics, where we’ll see women weaving. You will have access to a small museum about alpaca wool fabric making. You will get close to different camelids (Lamas, alpaca, vicuna) which wander around on the site, and which wool is the base for all Andean fabrics. We‘ll drive for a short time to Pisac, and then visit the market and the archaeological site overlooking the Sacred Valley and considered as the most important after Machu Picchu. The last visit will be at Ollantaytambo where we’ll discover the ancient Inca fortress where took place a great victory of the Incas upon the Conquistadors. By late afternoon, departure to Aguas Calientes, the small city at the foot of Machu Picchu, in the famous Andean Train that winds through the mountain. Accommodation and night at the hotel.

Shuttle to the site entrance, and guided visit from 6h to 9h (or from 9h to 12h or from 12h to 15h to be confirmed upon reservation) of the most famous of the Incas sites, with its agricultural sector, urban sector, and incredible buildings on the mountainside. About 30mn free time to enjoy the magic of the place. Return to Aguas calientes with the shuttle, and departure to Cusco in the afternoon. Arrival in the evening (train Aguas Calientes-Ollantaytambo). Night in hotel in the Sacred Valley.

We’ll continue visiting the Sacred Valley with a first stop in Moray, stunning site with its circular terraces which supposedly were an agricultural experiments site. We will then visit a real natural curiosity in the middle of the mountains: the Salinas of Maras count with more than 3000 pools on the mountainside. Short drive to the typical village of Chinchero and visit of its baroque church. Back to Cusco by late afternoon. Night at the hotel.

Transfer to Cusco airport in the morning, short flight to Lima. Arrival and transfer to the hotel. In the afternoon, visit of the central and colonial part of the city, (Cathedral, San Francisco and the catacombs, Mayor square), and the modern district with the residential neighbourhood on the Pacific coast.

End of the combined tour Peru Bolivia. Transfer to the airport, and international flight.