Peru and Bolivia

Arrival in Lima, the vibrant capital of Peru. Upon arrival, you will be greeted at the airport by your private English-speaking guide and transferred comfortably to your hotel. Settle in, relax, and begin your South American adventure.

Enjoy a private city tour through Lima’s historic center, a UNESCO World Heritage Site renowned for its magnificent colonial architecture and elegant plazas. In the evening, immerse yourself in Peru’s world-famous gastronomy during a hands-on cooking experience. Learn to prepare traditional Peruvian dishes and savor your creations over a memorable welcome dinner - the perfect way to begin an unforgettable journey.

We fly to Cusco, the ancient capital of the Inca Empire. Upon arrival in Cusco, you will be transferred to the hotel in Cusco. It’s time to rest and acclimatize for the altitude. Later afternoon you will visit the Inca Temple of the Sun, or Qorikancha, the cathedral of the city. The archaeological centers of Tambomachay, Puca Pucara, Qenqo and Sacsayhuaman.

Today you will enjoy an excursion through the Sacred Valley of the Incas. We will drive you to circular terraces of Moray, visit the site and continue to Maras, where you will have a lunch in a family restaurant with typical Peruvian food. Afterwards you continue to the salt mines of Maras, to the site, drive you Inca village of Ollantaytambo and then you will return to the hotel in the Sacred Valley.

A private transfer will take you to the train station in Ollantaytambo, where you will begin your scenic train journey to Aguas Calientes. Upon arrival, you will take the shuttle bus up to the entrance of Machu Picchu and enjoy a guided visit of the citadel. You will receive an approximately 2.5 – 3 hour guided tour through the archaeological site. After the visit, you will return by shuttle bus down to Aguas Calientes. In the afternoon, you will board the train back to Ollantaytambo, where a private transfer will be waiting to take us to our hotel in Cusco.

We depart early in the morning, driving south from Cusco toward Cusipata along the road to Puno (99 km). Along the way, you visit Andahuaylillas Church, whose remarkable baroque church is often referred to as the “Sistine Chapel of America” because of the magnificent frescoes decorating its interior.

You then continue along the main road for about an hour and a half before turning onto a scenic 25 km unpaved route surrounded by dramatic rock formations and deep canyons, leading us closer to Rainbow Mountain.

Before starting the trek, you will enjoy a hot breakfast. We begin a gradual hike through highland pastures dotted with alpaca herds, accompanied by breathtaking views of Ausangate and the surrounding snow-capped peaks. Upon reaching Rainbow Mountain, you hike to the summit to admire its extraordinary natural colors before descending for lunch. After the excursion, you continue to the picturesque colonial village of Checacupe for an overnight stay, avoiding the long return to Cusco and making the journey to Puno the following day far more comfortable and efficient.

Leaving the comfort zone in hotel in Checacupe, and you board to the bus traveling from Cusco to Puno and continue our journey across the beautiful southern Andes and the vast Altiplano.

Along the route, you visit the archaeological site of Raqchi, an impressive complex of great extensions featuring numerous adobe structures. Its main highlight is the Temple of Wiracocha, one of the most remarkable Inca constructions in the region, dedicated to the creator god of the Incas.

You then continue to La Raya Pass (4,338 m.), the highest point of the journey and the natural boundary betyouen the Andes and the Altiplano, with opportunities to stop for photographs and enjoy the spectacular scenery. The journey also includes a visit to Pucará, renowned for its traditional pottery and the iconic “Toritos de Pucará,” symbols of protection and prosperity. Upon arrival in Puno, transfer to your hotel.

Let`s explore together a mythical lake whose waters gave birth to the couple Manco Capac and Mama Ocllo and founded the Inca Empire. Tour to the floating island of the Uros Indians, whose way of life, costumes and tradition are a source of inspiration and admiration. They live in small thatched houses, made of the same material as their boats, and they live by fishing and hunting. You will visit Taquile Island, home to a very different but equally fascinating Titicaca Quechua community.  An enchanting but arid and rocky place, beautifully terraced since Inca times, the island offers magnificent views of the lake and the barely populated island landscape. Long stone walls of ancestral aspect delimit the fields and terraces of the different community groups, contrasting with the blue sky and the waters of the lake. In the distance, the white peaks of the Cordillera Real can be clearly seen. You will return to Puno.

You will travel from Puno to the border town of Kasani, where border formalities are completed before continuing by vehicle to Copacabana, a charming lakeside town on the shores of Lake Titicaca.  Known for its religious traditions, colorful festivals, and red-roofed houses, Copacabana is home to the Cathedral of the Virgin of Candelaria, an important pilgrimage site featuring Moorish-style domes and the revered image of the Virgin. The town offers a unique blend of spirituality, local culture, and beautiful lake scenery. After the visit you continue the journey to La Paz (153 km / approximately 3.5 hours), including the memorable crossing of the Tiquina Strait, where you will cross by local boat while vehicles are transported on barges.

Let`s all explore the tour of La Paz. You begin at Plaza Murillo, the historic heart of the city, surrounded by the Presidential Palace—known as the Palacio Quemado following the uprising of 1875—and the Metropolitan Cathedral. You continue to the San Francisco Church La Paz, a remarkable example of Andean Baroque, where European elements blend with local symbolism, incorporating representations of fauna and flora into its ornamentation. The visit also includes the traditional Witches Market La Paz, where the enduring ancestral beliefs of the Aymara culture can be observed, reflected in amulets, offerings, and ritual items still in use today.

At the scheduled morning time, a private transfer specially equipped 4x4 vehicles will take us from hotel to the airport for our flight from La Paz to Uyuni. Upon arrival, transportation will be waiting for us at the airport to begin your program. You start our adventure through the spectacular landscapes of the Bolivian Altiplano begins. The first stop is the famous Train Cemetery of Uyuni, where abandoned locomotives recall the region’s mining past. Afterwards, continue to the small village of Colchani, where local families still work in traditional salt extraction and processing. The journey then continues into the impressive Uyuni Salt Flats (3 650 m.a.s.l.), the largest salt desert in the world, covering more than 10,500 km². Afterwards, exploration of Inca Wasi.

Depending on the water level, you will visit the first hotel entirely built from salt blocks. Afterwards, there will be time to take creative perspective photographs on the vast salt surface. At sunset, return while enjoying the spectacular light over the salt flats. After dinner, departure to observe the starry sky of the southern hemisphere in a unique setting with a breathtaking sunset as the colors of the sky reflect over the Salar de Uyuni.

Early in the morning, our journey continues south Laguna Blanca and Laguna Verde (approx. 50 km), located near the Chilean border at the foot of the majestic Licancabur Volcano (5,916 m.a.s.l.). The journey crosses high-altitude desert landscapes characterized by vast plains, volcanic formations, and striking mineral colors. Upon arrival, visit Laguna Blanca (4 350 m.a.s.l.)., known for its pale waters rich in minerals, folloyoud by Laguna Verde (4 300 m.a.s.l.)., whose intense emerald color varies depending on the wind and sunlight conditions. Both lagoons are set against the dramatic backdrop of the Licancabur Volcano, creating one of the most iconic landscapes in the region. The area is also home to Andean flamingos, often seen feeding along the shores, adding life and color to this remote environment. Time is allocated to explore the surroundings, enjoy the scenery, and take photographs. Return by the same route, with stops along the way to appreciate the unique high-altitude desert scenery. You will close our day by arrival and stay overnight in hotel in Colchani.

Early in the morning you take a transfer to Uyuni Airport to take a flight to La Paz. You will transfer by vehicle from La Paz International Airport to Tiwanaku via one of the most significant archaeological sites in Bolivia. Tiwanaku is located near the shores of Lake Titicaca. During the visit, you will explore its fascinating ceremonial temple complexes, featuring impressive monolithic architecture, finely carved stone sculptures, a ritual pyramid structure, and the site museum displaying artifacts uncovered during excavations. Continuation to the border town of Desaguadero. Border crossing on foot into Peru (immigration procedures may be slow and take longer than expected). The journey continues to Puno, where you will spend the night in the hotel.

In the morning, you will take a transfer to Juliaca airport, via route visit Sillustani, a burial complex where one can see a series of impressive ancient tombs belonging to the Colla culture that flourished in the northern part of the Umayo Lake peninsula, in the area known as Hatuncolla. You continue our trip to the airport of Juliaca Flight to Lima. You are absorbing our strong memories and getting ready to take a flight back home.