Peru, Bolivia & Chile (+Easter Island Extension)14 days / 13 nightsLima (2N) + Cusco (2N) + Puno (2N) + La Paz (2N) + Uyuni (2N) + San Pedro de Atacama (1n) + Santiago de Chile (2n)
Discover the most beautiful places of South America in one trip. This tour through Peru, Bolivia and Chile guides you through the most fascinating places. Machu Pitchu, Lake Titicaca, Uyuni Salt Flats and Atatacama Desert are magnificent natural wonders and can’t be missed on a trip to this region. Furthermore, famous cities as Lima, Cusco, Puna, La Paz and Santiago are worth your time to explore. If all this is not enough you can even extend your trip to Easter Island where temples, ruins and Moai can be witnessed.
Day 1: LIMAWelcome to the Great South America Tour!
Arrival in Lima. Meeting at the airport with a guide and transfer to hotel. After check in, the day is free of your leisure.
Lima is the capital and the largest city of Peru. It is located in the central coastal part of the country, overlooking the Pacific Ocean. The city was founded in 1535 by the Spanish discoverer Francisco Pizarrounder and was named “Ciudad de los Reyes” (City of Kings). The historic center was declared World Heritage Site by UNESCO.It’s a city with great cultural diversity- which has a large number of museums. Another amazing thing it has to offer is its great food which has been recognized worldwide through many years. Lima offers a wide range of restaurants and bars, where you can taste delicious Peruvian dishes and drinks. In Lima you will find everything you are looking for diversity of cultures, adventures, beaches, variety of food, entertainment and everything you can imagine.Day 2: LIMAAfter breakfast, you have a guided tour that includes visits to the main Colonial attractions such as the Main Square with the Cathedral, San Francisco Convent, and many elegant buildings with their traditional wooden balconies, which had been restored. Afterwards you will visit Lima’s residential areas: San Isidro with its Olive Grove, Country Club and Golf course and Miraflores with its Central Park, City Hall and Main shopping streets such as Larco Avenue. Return to the hotel.
Day 3: LIMA / CUSCOBreakfast. Transfer to the airport for your departure flight to Cusco. Arrival in Cusco, reception and transfer to the Hotel.
In the afternoon we will get away from the crowds to visit Sacsayhuaman, an impressive citadel full of colossal constructions surrounded by beautiful landscapes in complete communion with nature. We will then continue to the Inca shrine of Qenqo, with its awesome altar for sacrifices embedded in the side of the rock. We will finally reach the Puca Pucara watchtower and Tambomachay, a monument of noticeable architectural excellence, considered one of the pillars of the Andean view of the world.
Climb to the Archaeological park of Sacsayhuaman, in the higher part of Cusco. Our first stop will be Tambomachay, a source of spring water that it is believed was once worshipped. Next we will visit the remains of Qenqo, a stone made labyrinth with a sacrificial altar in its center. At the Fortress of Sacsayhuaman we will enjoy a wonderful view of Cusco while admiring the massive stones that make up the fortress. Our last stop will be to see the Tower of Pucca Pucara before transferring back to the city and your hotel.
Day 4: CUSCO/ MACHU PICHU/ CUSCOBreakfast at the hotel. Transfer from your hotel to the train station. After arrival at the small town of Aguas Calientes, and finally a 30-minute bus ride up to Machu Picchu. Machu Picchu, an Inca city with a maze of fine stone temples, houses and fountains, is spectacularly situated on a ridge between two peaks. It was hidden by dense vegetation when Hiram Bingham discovered it in 1911. We include a guided tour. In the afternoon lunch and return to Cusco by train.
Return to lodge.
Day 5: CUSCO / PUNOBreakfast. You have a transfer to the bus station from where we take a bus from Cusco to Puno. The route is scenically stunning, and there are stops at cultural sites such as Pikillaqta, the baroque church at Andahuaylillas, the Temple to Viracocha at Racqchi. Lunch at Sicuani. The bus climbs to the high pass of La Raya, at 4,200 meters, from here the scenery changes dramatically.
Arrival in Puno, reception and transfer to the hotel.
Puno is a port city at an altitude of over 3,800 msnm, on the shores of Lake Titicaca on the Altiplano of Peru. Despite its picturesque hillside setting, the city itself is a ramshackle collection of mostly unfinished modern buildings – its biggest attraction is as a departure point for the famous floating islands on the Peruvian side of Lake Titicaca. Day 6: PUNO / LAKE TITICACA / PUNOIn the morning, we take a short boat ride to visit the Uros Islands, the famous floating reed islands of Lake Titacaca. A unique feature of this part of the lake is the traditional settlement of Uros people on floating islands made entirely of reeds-the same material they use to build their canoes. The islanders also use totora reeds to make boats, and even as food. Although fishing is still an important activity, nowadays the inhabitants earn their living mainly through selling handicrafts to tourists. Our next destination is Taquile Island, known for the kindness of their residents, their ancestral skill in weaving, their pre-Columbian constructions, and lovely countryside. Return to Puno and transfer to the hotel.
Day 7: PUNO / LA PAZAfter breakfast you will be Picked up from your hotel to take a Tourist bus from Puno to Copacabana and Continue the trip towards La Paz. In La Paz, your driver picks you up to bring your to your hotel.
Day 8 : LA PAZThis day you will have the City Tour by the heights – Charming La Paz
Pick up from the hotel to visit the embroiderers street of typical costumes where colorful folk dresses are displayed. Excursion to the historical center of the city of La Paz, visit to the Witches Market (mystical articles of Andean region), Church of San Francisco, Murillo main square, Executive Palace, Legislative Palace, Metropolitan Cathedral and Killi Killi view Point. Transfer by cable car to enjoy a beautiful panorama of La Paz city in one of the most picturesque and long cable urban air transport in the world. Unmissable visit to the impressive Moon Valley located at 10 km far from La Paz city center, these curious geological formations were created by the erosion of the winds and the heavy rains forming an attractive lunar landscape.
Day 9: LA PAZ / UYUNITransfer out to airport with a driver for your flight to Uyuni. Visit the train cemetery and the great Salt Flats and on the way pass by the town of Cochani where you will visit the local artisan plant where the salt is processed and learn how the salt is extracted from the Flats. From there you will visit the famous Hotel Palacio de Sal, the first hotel in the world to be constructed entirely of salt. From the hotel you will proceed to the Incahuasi Island, also known as Fish Island where one can observe the giant cactus. Lunch is served on the Salt Flats. Then you will visit the 800 year old mummies of Coquesa and continue on to the small town of Tahua.
Day 10: UYUNIDeparture towards “Ojo de Perdiz”, continuation to Cache lagoons; Chiarcota Lagoon Hedionda Lagoon, Cañapa Lagoon, Honda and Ramaditas. Box Lunch will be served on route. Arrival and accommodation at the Tayka del Desierto Hotel. (Breakfast, Box Lunch, Dinner).
Day 11: UYUNI – SAN PEDRO DE ATACAMARoad trip to the Laguna Verde (Green Lagoon), on the way visit the “Laguna Colorada” (Red Lagoon) and side trips around the place to see the famous JAMES FLAMINGOS a species unique to the Andean region. You will see the Borax sediments commonly known as “The Perennial Ice” and the Sol de Mañana Geysers. Visit the Chalviri Lagoon and the Polques hot springs. Continuation to San Pedro de Atacama.
Day 12: SAN PEDRO DE ATACAMA – CALAMA – SANTIAGO DE CHILEToday you have a transfer to the airport to take your flight to Santiago de Chile.
Meeting at the airport with a guide and transfer to hotel. After check in, the rest of the day is free.
Santiago de Chile has very interesting historical, residential and business districts. Take a walk through the historic center and you will see the Plaza de Armas with a monument dedicated to the founder of the city - Pedro de Valdivia, as well as the monument called "Freedom America" and a monument to the first Chilean Cardinal - Jose Maria Caro. Furthermore you can have a look at the Presidential Palace of La Moneda, which is the largest neoclassical building as well as the Cathedral and the Central Post Office building.Day 13: SANTIAGO DE CHILEAfter your breakfast, you will have a city tour to the most interesting sites in Santiago, beginning with a general view of the city by driving halfway up San Cristobal Hill. Then, we continue to the historic downtown district, visiting Main Square, Cathedral, Post Office Headquarters, and Santiago City Hall. We will also see the Government House "La Moneda". Afterward, we will take you to East Santiago, where you may appreciate modern buildings, with offices, apartments, shopping centers and restaurants. Return to hotel and overnight.
Day 14: SANTIAGO DE CHILE / BACK HOMEBreakfast at the hotel. Transfer out to airport to take your departure flight back home !