Cusco to Calama and Vice Versa

Day 1: Arrive Cusco & transfer to your hotel

Upon arrival in Cusco you will have a private transfer to your chosen hotel.  The rest of the day is free to start exploring the city or relax and acclimatise to the altitude.  Spend the night at our Standard hotel in Cusco.

Day 2: Half Day Group Cusco City Tour

After breakfast at your hotel, you will join a group with an English speaking local guide for a Cusco City Tour, including the Main Plaza, the Cathedral and the Koricancha temple in the centre of town.  Your tour also takes in the archaeological sites of Kenko, Tambomachay, Puka Pukara and the fortress of Sacsayhuaman located on the hills overlooking Cusco.  You will be back in the City Centre in time for lunch, where there are plenty of restaurants to choose from.  The rest of the afternoon is free to enjoy Cusco.  Spend the night at our Standard hotel in Cusco.

Day 3: Sacred Valley Tour and train to Aguas Calientes

Day 4: Machu Picchu Tour and return to Cusco

Day 5: Free Day in Cusco

Day 6: Tour bus from Cusco to Puno

Travelling on a comfortable coach you will be accompanied by a local guide on the journey from Cusco to Puno.  You will stop at places of interest along the way, including the village of Andahuaylillas, and the ruins of the pre-Inca site of Raqchi where you will have a guided tour.  Between stops sit back and enjoy the incredible view of the herds of alpaca and llamas grazing on these highland pampas against the majestic backdrop of the Andes.  Enjoy a buffet lunch at a local restaurant on the way.  You will arrive in Puno at around 5pm.  Spend the night at our Standard hotel in Puno.

Day 7: Tour from Puno to Sun Island

Day 9: Half Day Group City tour La Paz

Join a group today for a tour of the City Centre including the important Plaza Murillo and the intriguing Witches’ Market.  Here you can buy good luck charms and objects used in Andean religious ceremonies.  Next you will head a little out of the city to visit the spectacular landscape of Moon Valley before returning to the centre of La Paz in time for lunch.  Maybe try a traditional Bolivian pasty, known as a salteña. You have a free afternoon to relax and enjoy the city.   Spend the night at our Standard hotel in La Paz.

Day 10: Arrival in Uyuni and Full day Salt Flats tour

Very early in the morning you will have a transfer to La Paz airport.  (Flight not included – see below).  You will be met upon arrival in Uyuni and set off straight away for your tour of the Uyuni salt flats with a private English speaking local guide, and driver.  You will make a stop at the train cemetery and the village of Colchani on the way in, before entering the salt flats and heading towards Incahuasi Island.  The largest of a group of islands within the salt flats, Incahuasi Island is covered with cacti measuring up to 12 metres in height.  Please note that during the rainy season in the Salt Flats (December to March) it is sometimes not possible to access Incahuasi Island if the salt flats are flooded.  It is still possible to enter the salt flats, which are even more impressive when covered in a thin layer of water as they create a giant mirror, you might visit another island if any are accessible at the time.  Next you will visit Coquesa village and after lunch, ascend the Tunupa Volcano to visit the Coquesa Mummies or the Chantani Museum.  Later you will head to your Salt hotel for the night where dinner is included.  Spend the night in a hotel made entirely of salt blocks in Colchani.

Day 11: Ollague and Ojo de Perdiz

After breakfast at your salt hotel you will set off to the south with your private guide and driver.  Today you will visit the Ollague viewpoint and pass several lagoons on the way to Ojo de Perdiz.  Lunch will be served en-route and you will have dinner once you arrive at your hotel.  Spend the night in a basic lodge in Villamar.

Day 12: Siloli Desert, Red and Green Lagoons and Transfer to San Pedro de Atacama (Chile)

After an early breakfast you will set off for the Eduardo Avaroa National Park via the Siloli Desert where you are likely to see llamas, vicuñas and viscachas as well as the famous rock formation known as the Stone Tree.  You will pass several lagoons on the way before arriving at the Red Lagoon which is impressive due to its vivid colour caused by a certain type of algae.  This lagoon is populated by 3 species of flamingos.  After lunch you will visit the Sol de Mañana (Morning Sun) geysers and volcanic area where you can warm up in the natural hot springs.  The last lagoon you will visit is the Green Lagoon, which is a particularly bright colour in the mornings and evenings.  From here you can see the Licancabur Volcano (5,868m) on the border between Bolivia and Chile.  After passing through the border formalities from Bolivia into Chile, you will leave your private guide and vehicle in Bolivia, and meet your Chilean driver who will take you to your hotel.  The rest of the afternoon is free to relax and enjoy the comparatively warm climate of San Pedro de Atacama.  Spend the night at our Standard hotel in San Pedro de Atacama.

Day 13: San Pedro & Moon Valley Sunset Group Tours

After breakfast you will be picked up from your hotel to explore the small town of San Pedro de Atacama and learn about its history from your bilingual guide.  Your tour includes a visit to the Le Paige archaeological museum, the 16^th century colonial church, and the Pukara de Quitor fortress outside the town.  You will have free time for lunch before being picked up at around 4pm for your sunset tour.  You will drive to Moon Valley for spectacular views and to watch the snow-capped peaks changing colour as the sun sets in the desert – an impressive sight!  You will return to San Pedro in time for dinner.   Spend the night at our Standard hotel in San Pedro de Atacama.

Day 14: El Tatio Geysers and Machuca

A very early start (around 4am) is needed today to reach the geothermal field known as El Tatio in time to see the geysers at their most active, around sun-rise.   You will need warm clothes as the geysers are at an altitude of 4.300 m / 14.108 ft and temperatures can get down to -20˚C in winter.  As soon as the sun hits the area, the geysers bubble and spurt steam and boiling water into the air.  You will have time to walk around the area taking pictures before we head back to San Pedro, stopping in at the small traditional village of Machuca on the way.  You will be back in town in time for lunch, and the rest of the afternoon is free to enjoy San Pedro de Atacama, or maybe have a siesta.  Spend the night at our Standard hotel in San Pedro de Atacama.

Day 15: San Pedro to Calama

After breakfast you have a transfer to Calama airport at the appropriate time for your onward flight.