Cusco to La Paz (23 days) Peru & Bolivia Encompassed

Do Peru and Bolivia justice with this comprehensive tour encapsulating the best this incredible region has to offer!

An intoxicating amalgam of Peru & Bolivia: hike the imperious Inca Trail, visit an old silver mine, the vibrant City of La Paz and the giant Uyuni Salt Flats.  Look for the dinosaur footprints in Sucre and overnight on floating reed islands on Lake Titicaca.  Finish it all off with a visit to the Amazon Jungle.

Itinerary

Days 1 to 2

• You will be met at the Airport in Cusco and transferred to the group joining hotel.  An orientation walk will take place in the afternoon with a local guide.
• Either a free day to explore the interesting City of Cusco - a colonial city with churches & museums built on top of original Inca stonewalls - OR
• Urubamba or Sacred  Valley of the Incas - an optional day tour with a local guide, where you'll find temples, terraces, local communities, markets as you follow the Urubamba River through the ancient valley.
• Breakfast x 1

Days 3 to 6

• Inca Trail - a trek of 4 days, which combines stunning mountain views and Inca ruins which anyone of reasonable fitness can master.
• Machu Picchu - finally we reach the world famous ruins in all their glory, well worth the trek of the previous 3 days! There are also the options to undertake a shorter hike travelling by train part of the way to Machu Picchu, or take one of the alternative treks, the Salkantay or Lares which includes the last night in Aguas Calientes.  If you wish to do any of these alternative treks or the train, you must request this at the time of booking.
• Our route back to Cusco for all options is by train.
• Breakfast x 4, Lunch & Dinner x 3

Days 7 to 8

• Cusco - 2 free days to relax, optional excursions into the Sacred Valley, Rainbow Mountain and other activities available.  2 x breakfast.

Days 9 to 11

• Lake Titicaca - Travel by road to Puno - our base to visit the Uros Indians and floating reed islands.  
• By boat we visit the floating islands during the day and then spend the night with one of the Indian families on the lesser known islands of Amantani or Taquile. This experience provides a unique opportunity to learn more about the traditional lifestyle of the Andean people and their customs.
• Puno - free time to relax on the shores of Lake Titicaca & experience Puno's rich Andean culture.
• Breakfast x 3, Lunch & Dinner x1

Days 12 to 13

• Bolivia
• Today we continue our journey and enter Bolivia
• La Paz -  Few cities can boast such an impressive setting - here we have free time to explore this hilly capital city with it's markets and traditionally dressed people and perhaps visit a pena for some live Andean pipe music.
• Breakfast x2

Day 14

• La Paz City Tour (approx. 4 hours).  We visit Murillo Square & Cathedral, Congress and Government Palace, The Incan Gold Museum, Valley of the Moon and the famous Witches Market. Tour ends at Killi Killi lookout point to enjoy a 360 degree view of the city!
• Rest of the day to explore at your leisure to maybe enjoy a Huari (local beer).
• Breakfast

Day 15

• Free morning (dependant on train times) to browse the local markets, find a café and watch street life go by or visit one of the museums.
• Bus to the mining town of Oruro, followed by a high altitude train ride to Uyuni - home to the vast Salar (Salt flats).
• Transfer to Hotel.
• Breakfast

Day 16

• 3 day 4x4 Expedition to explore the Salar (Salt Flats) and stunning lakes, deserts and volcanoes.
• We take short excursions to the Train Cemetery to view old steam locomotives and Colchani village to see the traditional Salt bagging process.
• We drive to Inca Huasi Island in the centre of the 10,000 square km Salar.  We can hike to the top of the island, passing giant cactus, to take in the spectacular views.
• After lunch we head for San Juan Village, to visit a Pre Inca Cemetery and a small museum.
• Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
• Basic Accommodation

Day 17

• Heading south we are surrounded by huge volcanoes (up to 5850mtrs!)  There is time for photo stops and if we're lucky we should see pink Flamingoes and many other species of birds at Canapa Lagoon.
• We make a quick stop at Hedionda (Stinky!) Lagoon and continue past scenic lakes to the amazing Siloli Desert (4600mtrs). Here incredible natural rock formations are formed by powerful eroding winds.
• Tonight we stay close to the shores of Red Lagoon, a wildlife sanctuary to 3 endemic species of Andean Flamingo.
• Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
• Basic Accommodation

Day 18

• An early start for sunrise at Sol de Manana Volcano Crater.  Here beautiful steam geysers and colourful boiling volcanic mud pools await us.
• We breakfast on the banks of Challviri Lagoon where those of us that want to can enjoy a hot spring!
• Passing through the barren volcanic environment of Dali's Desert, in the southwestern tip of Bolivia, we see the breathtaking Green Lagoon, at the foot of Licancabur Volcano (5900mtrs).
• Heading back to Red Lagoon, we take another route back to Uyuni via Rock Valley, stopping off in some small villages along the way.
• We complete our day by visiting the highest pizza restaurant in the world!  (Optional).
• Breakfast, Lunch

Day 19

• Travel to Potosi, enjoying the beautiful mountain views and bouncy gravel roads along the way!
• In the afternoon there is the option to visit the once famous Silver Mines in Cerro Rico (Rich Mountain) and step back in time to experience life as a miner in these harsh conditions.  The tour is not for the faint hearted!
• Other attractions include the ancient Mint, which tells the history of the silver mined here and shipped to Spain in Colonial times or view the city from the roof of the San Francisco Church!
• Breakfast

Day 20

• We have a free morning at leisure to do some last minute exploring of Potosi before we head to one of Bolivia's most beautiful cities, Sucre, via bus.
• Sucre is known as 'The 4 Names City' because of its long and varied history
• Free afternoon to wander the charming streets and possibly visit Liberty's House where Bolivia was created a new free Republic in 1825.
• Breakfast

Day 21

• After breakfast we visit The Cretaceous Park, where we can see thousands of dinosaur footprints, including the world's biggest!
• More free time to explore in the afternoon - why not visit Asur, Bolivia's best Textile Museum (some textiles are at least 1500 years old!)
• In the late afternoon we transfer to the bus station and join our Bus Cama (bed bus) which will be our ride and accommodation to La Paz!
• Breakfast .There is an optional flight from Sucre to La Paz -subect to availability.

Day 22

• On arrival in La Paz we transfer to our hotel and the rest of the day is yours to wander and maybe pick up some souvenirs, such as Andean blankets, ponchos and jewellery from the hilly market streets.
• Breakfast

Day 23

• The tour ends after breakfast.