The Essential Peru & Bolivia Experience

Arrive into Lima airport. Transfer to your hotel.

After breakfast pick up for your private visit of colonial and modern Lima, starting in the centre of this vibrant, metropolis. The tour will include a visit of the cathedral, dating from 1654 which still houses the remains of the conquistador Pizarro in the foyer; the Main Square, with the original bronze fountain built in 1650, the Government Palace where the President has his official residence and the San Francisco Convent, with its famous catacombs. Lima, known as the city of the kings, was founded in 1535 by Pizarro and after several devastating earthquakes was rebuilt in 1991; the same year that UNESCO declared Lima a world heritage site. Return to your hotel.

After breakfast, with boarding passes in hand, you will be driven to the airport for your quick-check-in and brief one hour flight to Cuzco, the ancient Inca capital of the Incas. In Cuzco, you will be warmly welcomed and assisted with your luggage before your short private drive to your hotel. In the afternoon, a private tour of Cuzco including the Qoricancha temple or temple of the Sun, the Inca fortress of Sacsayhuaman overlooking Cuzco city, Qenko, Tambomachay and Puka Pukara. Return to the hotel in the evening.

After breakfast at your hotel, start of a full-day's 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. You will visit the village of Pisac, founded during colonial times, and set at the foot of a hill crowned by the remains of an ancient Inca city. On Sundays, Tuesdays and Thursdays, you will witness Indians bartering their products in the main square and artisans from around the area sell their woven alpaca wool blankets and ponchos, engraved gourds, antique reproductions, jewellery, etc. Visit to Ollantaytambo, the only Inca town that was not defeated by the Spanish with an opportunity to explore the ruins which tower above. You will then return to Cuzco after this full day.

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 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.

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. Return train back to Cuzco and your hotel.

After early breakfast, tourist bus to Puno visiting several sites along the route. Transfer to your hotel.

After breakfast, pick-up to start your full day's excursion to the islands of Uros and Taquile. Your first stop will be to the communal islands of Uros, otherwise known as the reed islands, whose islands are made entirely of tortora reeds and home to a small community dating back to a pre-Inca culture. You will appreciate how these people toil out an existence on such a remote setting complete with its own school. After the visit, boarding of the yacht as you continue your trip to the Island of Taquile whose inhabitants are more closely related to the Aymara people of Bolivia than the Quechua Incas of Peru. You will enjoy a walk on the islands before returning to Puno on-board your yacht and return to your hotel.

After breakfast, transfer to the bus station for the tourist bus to La Paz. Cross the border, after the formalities, you will visit the charming Bolivian border town of Copacabana which is famous for its February Festival of St Mary before continuing onto La Paz and to your hotel.

After breakfast, 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. A visit to the valley of the moon in the 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.

After breakfast, we traverse the incredible desert and appreciate the interesting formations such as the rock trees along with witnessing llamas, vicuñas and the small rabbit like rodent, the vizcacha. We enter the National Reserve of Andina Eduardo Avaroa and visit the magical Laguna (lake)Colorada, with its beautiful red coloration due to the accumulation of sediments and specific algae present in the water. Box lunch is included.
The lake is of vital importance for the survival of 3 different species of flamingos in the area We continue the trip and visit the Sol de Mañana, famous for its geysers and volcanic activity. We finally arrive to Laguna Verde (greeen), an incredible mirror like lake of emerald brilliance, most noticeable in the morning and afternoons. The colour is due to the presence of magnesium in the algae.
Close to the lake you will be able to see the Volcano (5,868 m.)
Continue the journey onto Villamar and your lodge where you will have dinner.

After breakfast, we shall depart Villamar towards Uyuni visiting enroute the valley of the La Paz. Continue onto the airport for the return flight to La Paz and transfer to your hotel.

After breakfast, transfer to the airport for the flight to Lima. Arrival in time for your flight home.

End of our services.