Chile, Bolivia and Peru Adventure Tour

Flight to Calama, set in the middle of the Atacama desert. Arrival and transfer to San Pedro de Atacama. Accommodation at the Altiplanico lodge or similar. Visit to the Cordillera de la Sal (Salt mountain range) and the only view of the massive salt flat with the Licancabur volcano in the background. Continue to the Valle de la Luna (Valley of the Moon) which astonishes visitors with its geological formation of salts and carbonates and where nature has shaped an astonishing landscape. Return to your hotel in San Pedro de Atacama.

After breakfast, transfer from San Pedro de Atacama in Chile to the Bolivian border at Hito Cajon. You will be pick up by our Bolivian driver and guide at the Bolivian / Chilean border so-called Hito Cajon. Not far from the frontier, within the Bolivian territory, the first highlight of the Nature Reserve Eduardo Avaroa; the turquoise shiny "Laguna Verde" located at the foot of the majestic volcano "Licancabur". After a stop you will travel through the Bolivian desert into the valley "Valle de las Damas del Desierto" or also know as the "Salvador Dali desert" so called because of the rocks formed by wind erosion and weather, unique in their shape and place scattered in this vast desert. Afterwards, you will pass the "Salar de Chalviri" to reach the hot springs of Polques in which you will enjoy a relaxing bath surrounded by majestic landscapes. After this relaxing activity you will arrive to the geyser "Sol de Mañana", a spectacle of hissing steam columns, located at almost 5,000 meters above sea level. In the heart of Eduardo Avaroa Nature Reserve you will reach the highlight of this southern desert region; the "Laguna Colorada", with legions of flamingos. Then you will visit the "Arbol de Piedra", a stone figure created by wind erosion before reaching the Siloli desert where your hotel is located right in the middle of a desert-style landscape. Overnight in the Hotel Tayka del Desierto.

After breakfast, start with a visit to the colorful mountain lakes: Cañapa, Hedionda, Chiarkota, Honda and Ramaditas where you can spot a large number of flamingos or other birds of the area. On the shore of these lakes you will enjoy the view of the currently active Ollague volcano whose peaks are often covered with a snow cap in the desert sky. For lunch we will stop in San Pedro de Quemes at the Hotel Tayka de Piedra. After a short walk through the "Pueblo Quemado" (burnt village) we will finally enter to the biggest highlight of your tour in Bolivia: the "Salar de Uyuni", the largest salt desert in the world, approximately 12,000 km2. You will cross the salt lake from north to south, passing the Campanas islands enjoying "white" landscapes with salt crystals that provide optical illusions. Here at the foot of the Tunupa volcano you will find a place not normally visited. There is a visit to the ruins known as the "Pucara de Ch'jini" which have several hundred years of history and are testimony of an ancient fortress with residential buildings, storage reservoir, guard posts, etc., you will then reach the "Cathedral" to enjoy an exposed lookout for an unforgettable view of the salt lake. You will finally arrive to the village of Tahua where the Hotel Tayka de Sal is located.

Today we get up early in the morning to admire the unique sunrise over the Salar! You will return to the hotel for breakfast. Enjoying the view at the flanks of the Tunupa volcano you will ascend to visit the cave and the mummies of Coquesa. From here the Salar lies literally at your feet. And because it is so beautiful and hard to describe, today you will also have the opportunity again to enjoy the landscape of the Salar itself, crossing the Salar de Uyuni from north to east. Here you will visit the Incahuasi Island which is located in Salt Lake and is completely covered by a forest of giant cacti. A short trail takes you across the island where you can admire the centuries-old cacti that rise up to 12 meters tall. From the peak of the island you have a 360 ° viewpoint of the entire Salt flat. In the afternoon you will leave the Salar at Colchani where you will come near to the shore where the salt mounds are piled up to dry and are a sample of the method of salt processing in this region. You will visit one local family that's runs a micro enterprise based on the salt to know how the local economy works, based on a cooperative local model. At your arrival to Uyuni you will enjoy a short tour of the train cemetery. Arrival to Uyuni. Transfer to the airport for the flight to La Paz. Arrival and transfer to your hotel.

After breakfast, transfer by bus to Copacabana, close to the Peruvian border, where you will have a look around the small town before a visit to the Isla del Sol on Lake Titicaca. Return and continueonto the border where after immigration procedures you will enter Peru and continue onto Puno. Overnight at your hotel.

After breakfast, transfer to the bus terminal for the tourist bus to Cusco. You will visit several archaeological sites along the way and enjoy a buffet lunch. Arrival and transfer to your hotel, the Novotel or similar.

Today you will enjoy a full day hike to Lake Humantay allowing to appreciate the Peruvian Andes. Lake Humantay is a glacial lake surrounded by Andean mountains Salkantay and Humantay which contrast with the turquoise-colored waters. Early pick up time from your hotel around 5:00 am to embark on a 2 ½ hour drive to the trail head of lake Humantay. A 2 ½ hour uphill hike from the trail head leads to lake Humantay The hike back down takes around 2 hours. Once in Humantay Lake, you will have enough time to enjoy the breathtaking scenery and listen to the guide's explanations. Lunch will be in Mollepata before returning to Cusco.

Today you will have an early start and enjoy breakfast before boarding of the train to Aguas Calientes. Arrive to Aguas Calientes train station, gateway to the lost city of the Incas. Take the short bus ride up to Machu Picchu which will meander through breathtaking mountain scenery up to the ancient Inca citadel. Enjoy 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.

Return to Machu Picchu in the morning for sunrise before the majority of tourists arrive from Cusco. In the afternoon, return to Cusco by train. Transfer to your hotel.

After breakfast at your hotel, start of a full-day's 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. 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 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, you will 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 breakfast, tour of Cusco including the Qoricancha temple or temple of the Sun, the Inca fortress of Sacsayhuaman overlooking Cuzco city, Qenko, Tambomachay and Puka Pukara. Transfer to the airport for your flight to Lima (not included).

End of our services.