Photo tour of South America

Arrival to Lima, reception at the airport and transfer by private vehicle to your hotel, 3 star Tambo 2.

After an early breakfast, transfer to the airport for the flight to Cuzco. Arrival to Cuzco at 11am. Transfer to your hotel. Free morning to acclimatize to the high altitude. 3 star Casa Andina. Free day at leisure.

Today, enjoy a private tour of Cuzco including the Cathedral, Qoricancha temple, the Inca fortress of Sacsayhuaman overlooking Cuzco, Qenko and Puka Pukara. Cuzco’s history extends back to before 1000 BC when the Marcavalle Culture was the dominant power; indeed organized life in the City began practically with them. In the second phase of its history, around 800BC, Cuzco was home to the Chanapata culture and later developed several regional states. What is traditionally known as the Inka civilisation began around 1200 AD in its initial phase, with the first Inka, Manko Capaq and Mama Ocllo. It is also suggested that Pachakuteq, the ninth king, elaborated another foundation in 1438 which is also known as the expansive phase. Inca builders hereafter laid out the city in the form of a puma, with the fortress of Sacsayhuaman as the head. After the arrival of the Spanish to the city on November 15th 1533, Francisco Pizarro re-founded it for the Spanish King on March 23rd 1534. In 1536 Manko Inka began a long and bloody war against the Spanish invaders with a siege lasting over 8 months over the city. Finally in 1572, after a war that lasted 36 years, Tupaq Amaru I, the last emperor of the Inka dynasty was defeated, captured and executed in the city’s main square. The Spanish subsequently destroyed many of the structures in the city or used them as foundations for many of their own churches and buildings.

Full-day private excursion to the beautiful Urubamba, the Sacred Valley of the Incas, situated between Pisac and Ollantaytambo. It is an exceptionally fertile valley that was and remains the larder of Cuzco. Visit the market at Pisaq before enjoying a buffet lunch. Visit to Ollantaytambo, the only Inca town that was not defeated by the Spanish with an opportunity to explore the ruins which tower above. Late afternoon return to your hotel.

Today you will have an early start and enjoy breakfast before your train to Aguas Calientes. The train will depart at 06.30am for the 3 ½ hour journey. Arrive to Aguas Calientes train station, gateway to the lost city of the Incas. Check-in to your hotel, the El Mapi. The short ride up to Machu Picchu will meander through breathtaking mountain scenery up to the ancient Inca citadel. Shortly after, a guided tour of Machu Picchu, the most spectacular ancient city in the world. Built by the Inca Pachacutec, and comprising stone blocks fitted with masterful precision, Machu Picchu harmoniously blends into the mountain landscape. There are many theories as to the origins behind Machu Picchu but three of the most popular ideas include a temple to the sun, a fortress against the jungle inhabitants or a sanctuary for the Incas. This fabulous city has houses, temples, warehouses, a large central square, all connected by narrow roads and steps, and is surrounded by terraces cut into the mountain side which were used for agriculture. Dinner at your hotel.

Today you will enjoy a free day in Machu Picchu with an opportunity to see the site at sunrise. Today no guide is provided as we feel that Machu Picchu requires a certain amount of self discovery to be fully understood. Take any of the several paths around various parts of the site, for example walk down to the Inca’s bridge. Let Machu Picchu unfold all its mysteries for you, take in the breathtaking cloud forests and jagged mountains, or marvel at the extraordinary Masonic precision of the ancient Incas. Return train back to Cuzco and transfer to your hotel.

After breakfast, depart by private vehicle to just outside Chinchero where you arrive at the Inca site of Moray. This is a fascinating, unique ruin; with several fabulous amphitheatres of terracing that were used as an agricultural experimental site by the Incas by taking advantage of the microclimates produced by the varying altitude to breed new varieties of their crops. After the tour, we continue onto the village of Maras and the salt pans of Maras. The salt pans are an unforgettable site the people from Maras have diverted a salt-laden spring coming out of the hillside, evaporating the water to collect salt, as their ancestors have done for centuries. We will walk among the salt pans, witnessing a scene largely unchanged from Inca times. After the salt pans we return to the hotel.

Transfer to the airport for the flight to Puerto Maldonado. Reception and transfer by bus to the River port for the canoe trip to your jungle lodge. After arrival a short orientation and a complete briefing on the lodge before commencing your jungle lodge programme, which includes the following: visiting a 35 metre scaffolding tower for a spectacular view of the river, depending of your choice of lodge. With an opportunity to observe birds from the canopy including parrots, toucans and macaws. Return to the lodge.

Early wake at dawn for a visit to the oxbow lake. Here we will take a long, easy canoe ride around the lake looking for giant river otters, turtles, hoatzin, and wading birds. The giant river otters that are seen in the Oxbow Lake belong to a resident family. Return to the lodge for lunch before embarking on your afternoon outing to the community’s ethno botanical centre. We will hike the trails around the centre with one of the residents who will explain the everyday uses of forest resources in medicine, construction, food and fibre.

After an early breakfast departure by boat and bus back to the city of Puerto Maldonado, directly to the airport, for your return flight to Cuzco and transfer to your hotel.

Today is a full day and quite challenging. We will pick you up early from your hotel and set out on a drive through the South Valley. The drive to the trailhead at Quesiuno (4,326 m / 14,189 ft) is 3 hours long. Once we reach the Inkintuyoc bridge, we will have breakfast. We then start off on our hike, following a lovely stream with horses as backup transport. You will be immediately surprised by literally herds of alpacas and llamas. We will have consistent views of the Ausangate Mountain. We will hike through villages and interact with the local residents. We will stop for a box lunch along the trail. Back on the trail, we encounter more of the traditional elements of this trek. This includes potato fields and unique fauna. We have the prospect of seeing chinchillas and vicunas. Vicunas are the only non-domesticated animal of the llama family in Peru. Many red mountains are also a highlight of this portion of the hike. After a total hike of approximately 5 hours, we finally reach our destination, what we came to see the Rainbow Mountains (5,020 m / 16,466 ft). After getting over its beauty, you will have time to explore the area. You will have time to take pictures and enjoy the setting. We will spend approximately 30 minutes at the top. We then hike downhill the way we came. The hike will take 4 to 5 hours. A private van will be waiting for you when we return. We will embark on the 3 hour drive back to Cusco and drop you off at your hotel. Approximate arrival time is between 8 and 9 PM.

After early breakfast, transfer to the bus terminal for the 08.00 tourist bus to Puno. This trip will be with other passengers and will begin by ascending gradually out of the Cuzco Valley until arriving at the town of Andahuaylillas where you will visit the “Sistine Chapel of the Andes”. This colonial era Chapel features mainly interesting canvasses which illustrate the use of Andean Symbology being incorporated into traditional Catholic images. From here you will travel further to Raqchi which is the tallest set of Incan Ruins. The road from here climbs slightly to La Raya which is the highest point at 4200 m. There will be a brief stop here and there are views across to the snow-capped mountain peak. From here the road gradually descends to Pukara where you will visit the museum and ruins of this pre-incan civilisation. This civilisation was said to be at its peak around the same time as Mesopotamia and Egypt and the leader was known as the “Great Beheader”. From this visit you will continue to Puno situated on the edge of Lake Titicaca. Lunch will be buffet at a restaurant during the trip. Arrival to Puno at about 17.30, lying on the shores of Lake Titicaca, the highest navigable lake. Transfer to your hotel, the Casa Andina.

After breakfast, a full day excursion to the islands of Uros and Taquile with your guide. Uros, a group of islands made entirely of tortora reeds is home to a small community dating back to a pre-Inca culture. The inhabitants of Taquile are more closely related to the Aymara people of Bolivia than the Quechua Incas of Peru. Lunch on the islands. Return to Puno and your hotel.

After breakfast, transfer to the bus station for the tourist bus to La Paz. Cross the border, after the formalities, continue onto La Paz, the highest capital in the world and transfer to your hotel.

Morning city tour of La Paz, with a unique topography containing few flat areas and protected by its eternal guardian, the snow peak of Ilimani (6402m). Housing the seat of government, La Paz is a city of contrast, between both ancient and modern. A visit will also be made to the Valley of the Moon. The city centre sites include the Plaza Murillo (with its presidential palace, national congress and metropolitan cathedral), museums, and many interesting markets. Free afternoon.

After breakfast, very early transfer to the airport for the 6.30am flight to Uyuni. Arrival at 07.15 and pick up for the private tour to Colchani. Colchani is a village that lives off the Salt production on the Salar. We will see how they mine and process the salt with their rustic instruments and tools. From Colchani we will drive west into the great Salar de Uyuni. Stopping at the Salt Mounts where the locals dry the salt before they process it. Next we will drive into the blinding whiteness of the Salar and head towards the Isla Incahuasi. This is the official visitor’s island on the Salar. Here we hike around one of Bolivia´s most amazing sites. The surreal island surrounded by a sea of salt is home to huge cacti, some over 1000 years old. As well as a stranded colony of Vischachas (rabbits akin to the chinchilla family). After hiking on the ‘Island’, a packed lunch before continuing towards Ojo de Perdíz, visiting en route ‘la Gruta de las Galaxias’ (famous for its geological formations). We will arrive to the Hotel Tayka Del Desierto for dinner and accommodation. Please note accommodations are rustic in this part of the world with limited electricity and water.

This day we will continue toward the Mala Mala Bahia, to find the Galaxia Cave where we will find a cactus sanctuary and petrified stromatolites and finally a Chullpas cemetery (ancestral burying) . The cave presents a very weird sub-aquatic geological formation from the era of the Michin Lake (300 000 years ago) and from the Tauca Lake (40000 years ago). We will continue the expedition towards San Pedro de Quemes where we will have lunch and a rest in the Tayka Stone Hotel. In the afternoon, we will head towards the lagoon chain of Cañapa, Hedionda, Chiarkota, Honda and Ramaditas, where we will see three types of flamingo and other kinds of birds. These birds live on the lagoons alongside the volcanoes After the last lagoon, you will enter the huge and great desert area with no roads. Here you will find the Tayka Desert Hotel, with private bathroom, hot water and heating .

We will start early to visit the Stone Tree which is a stone in a tree shape. Then we will arrive to one of the gems of the Eduardo Avaroa Reserve, the Coloured Lagoon. This lagoon is the main nesting centre of the three kinds of flamingos and its colour produced by algae and plankton activated by the sun and the wind give the red and pink colour to the flamingos. Then we will witness the geysers of Sol de Mañana. At this point we will be at the most elevated altitude of the trip (5000m above the sea level). The cold is intense and we will walk among the smoky and noisy vapour springs. In Polques, we can even have a bath in the hot springs and have a good open air breakfast. We will then approach another huge place the Desert Ladies Valley. After this valley we will head towards the Green Lagoon which is at the foot of the Licancabur Volcano. We will arrive at lunch time, which is the best time to see how its waters change colours from emerald green to deeper green. After this, we will continue toward the Chilean border and cross the border into San Pedro de Atacama. Arrive to your hotel in San Pedro de Atacama in approximately 2 hours from the border.

After breakfast, transfer to the airport for your flight to Santiago.

After breakfast, transfer to the airport for the flight to Punta Arenas. Reception and transfer by private coach to Puerto Natales (2 ½ hours), the gateway to the Torres Del Paine National Park. A visit to the penguin sanctuary at Seno Otway. The Magellanic Penguins return here annually between the months of October and March to lay eggs and raise their young. There will also be a chance to view dolphins. Arrival to Puerto Natales and accommodation for one night. We recommend the Costa Australis 4 star hotel.

After breakfast, a full day excursion by boat to the beautiful Balmaceda and Serrano glaciers. Boxed lunch is included. Return to Puerto Natales and transfer to your hotel.

After early breakfast, transfer by comfortable minivan for the two and a half hour drive to the heart of Torres Del Paine, Chilean Patagonia. Accommodation for two nights in the park. A tour of the beautiful Torres del Paine National Park (a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1978). The Torres Del Paine are spectacular granite pillars which soar almost vertically for more than 2000m (6560ft) above the Patagonian steppe. Cascading waterfalls, sprawling glaciers, dense forests, and the chance to see Patagonian guanaco make it an incredible destination.

Continue exploring the park with a cruise on the Lake Gray to see the fantastic icebergs before returning to your hotel.

After breakfast, private transfer back to Punta Arenas for the return flight to Santiago and transfer to your hotel.

After breakfast, transfer to the airport for the flight to Rapa Nui (priced separately), otherwise known as the Easter Islands. The flight will take approximately 5 hours. Arrival, traditional welcome and transfer to your hotel. . For 3 star hotels, we recommend Taha Tai. Rapa Nui is the most isolated, inhabited island in the world. Located 2000 miles (3200 km) west of Chile and over 4000 km from Tahiti, it was discovered by the Dutch in 1772, Admiral Jacob Roggeween landed there on Easter Sunday and gave the island its present name. He was the first European to describe the unusual statues carved from the volcanic rock from Rano Raraku. Standing as tall as 18 ft (5.5 m) and weighing up to 100 tons, the statues are known as moai, and each are supposed representations of clan chieftains. These moais, were placed on top of platforms called ahu, which in turn served as a family burial vault.

After breakfast, a full day's tour visiting Vaihu, where eight toppled Moai lie, Akahanga, Rano Raraku volcano, where the statues are half buried, Ahu Tongariki, where the largest Ahu (or platform) is located, Te Pito Kura (a large rock believed to have been brought from Tahiti) and Ahu Nau Nau (where the Moai are in particularly good condition).

Today, a half day's excursion to Rano Kau volcano, site of ancient petroglyphs and the ceremonial temple of Iorongo, Vinapu (site of meticulous stonework found nowhere else on the islands) along with the Anakai Tangata caves. Excursion to Ahu Akivi, the famous seven Moais, believed to be one of the last built around 1460 and measuring 14 feet in height and weighing 12 metric tons. The caves of Ana Tepahu and Puna Pau, a quarry, from where the red hats that are worn by some of the Moai were made is also visited today

After breakfast, transfer to the airport for the return flight back to Santiago and your connecting flight home.

End of our services.