From Peru to Chile, the Adventures Path

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

After breakfast, private transfer south to Paracas, some 4 hours by road through the coastal desert strip. Arrival and transfer to your hotel, the Bahia Paracas Hotel.

After breakfast, transfer to the airport for the flight over the Nazca Lines; Gigantic drawings and geometrical figures, representing animals, such as a spider, a monkey and several birds which are engraved in the desert sands of Nazca. Visible only from the air, these huge markings were once believed to be an enormous astronomical calendar. The flight will take 1 hour 10 minutes. Please note airport tax is not included and is paid locally, $6 per person. After the tour, a visit to the museum of Ica and the natural desert oasis at Huacachina before the return drive to Lima and return to your hotel.

Transfer to the airport for your flight to Arequipa, the most beautiful city in Peru. After the flight, reception and transfer to your hotel, the Tierra Sur. Free day to explore the city on your own.

After breakfast, early departure with a guide in private service, passing the thermal baths of Yura and climbing up towards the National Reserve of Pampa de Cañahuas at 3800m. Here groups of alpacas, vicuñas and sometimes-even guanacos can be seen. After driving several hours more, the descent to the Colca Valley begins. The trip continues down the valley, passing next to several villages until you arrive at Chivay, the most important town of the valley. Accommodation at the Colca lodge set in the Colca Valley itself.

After breakfast an early departure to descend into the valley to visit some of the villages, all of which have beautiful, colonial-style churches. You shall also see the Inca terraces, some of which are still in use and can be seen all along the valley. Start the ascent up to the Cruz del Condor, a few kilometres before Cabanaconde. Here one can appreciate a fine view of the flight of the condors as well as of the depth of the canyon. Return to your hotel in Arequipa.

After breakfast, with boarding passes in hand, you will be driven to the airport for your quick-check-in and brief flight to Cuzco. Arrival to Cuzco and transfer to your hotel, the Los Andes . Free morning to acclimatize to the high altitude.
In the afternoon, enjoy a group guided 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.

Inca Trail to Machu Picchu

After an early morning breakfast, you will be transferred to Chilca by private car where you will meet with your Quechua porters and prepare for the Inca Trail. You will cross over the turbulent Vilcanota River, with magnificent views of Nevado Veronica (5,900m/19,000ft) and continue along the trek admiring the Llactapata archaeological site, and stopping at the Huayllabamba River for lunch. After lunch, we will visit the archaeological sites of Patallacta, Qente, and the valley of Cusichaca along with the magical Polylepsis forest before continuing the hike. We also encourage talking with our porters to learn a little about their ancient customs and ways or life. Our hiking today will last approximately 7 hours. Dinner and overnight camping on the trail.

An early start today as this is the most demanding day of the entire trek and we shall gain considerable altitude. We will see outstanding views to the east of the Huayanay peaks and to the west of the rugged Vilcabamba Range. After breakfast, we shall begin the climb up through the first pass at 4200 m/13,750 feet at Warmiwanusqa. Passing 3 ecological zones such as the Yunga, Quechua and Puna, we shall ascend 1000 metres in 5 hours. Lunch will be taken before the final two sections of ascent. Upon reaching the summit of Dead Woman's Pass, we shall descend into camp. Dinner and overnight camping on the trail.

After breakfast, we shall begin the ascent of the second pass, although still demanding, this is easier than the previous day's ascent. A visit to the famous archaeological site of Runquraqay. We will continue on to the restored town site of Sayaqmarka ("Town in a Steep Place") and explore the Sayaqmarka Ruins, admiring at the same time the fabulous cloud forest which is now all around us. The third pass of the Inca Trail in this section is a long white granite roadway, with some ascents and descents traversing a thickly forested mountainside. We will finally descend to the magnificent archaeological site of Phuyupatamarka ("Cloud Level Town") where a fine lunch will await us. After lunch, we will then begin the decent to Winaywayna, an outstanding Inca complex built into the mountainside. A visit of the ruins before our last dinner carefully prepared by our chef. We shall also meet with our porters for the very last time and exchange thanks and talk about the ancient paths upon which we have trekked for the last few days. Overnight camping on the trail.

Early morning wake up at 4:30 AM for breakfast and to begin the final trek to Intipunku, and the first site of the archaeological complex of Machu Picchu. We will descend rapidly from cloud forest into high jungle habitat. Orchids and hummingbirds are commonly seen along this spectacular section of the trail high above the river. We will arrive at Intipunko "Gate of the Sun" to observe the sunrise over Machu Picchu from an elevated vantage point. We will then continue down to the royal road and at last the "Lost City of the Incas". We then immediately begin our tour of Machu Picchu. 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 and a sanctuary for the Incas. This fabulous city holds houses, temples, warehouses, a large central square and all connected by narrow roads and steps, which is surrounded by terraces cut into the mountain side which were used for agriculture. We shall visit the Main Plaza, the Royal Quarters, the Temple of Three Windows, the Circular Tower and the Sacred Sun Dial and Burial Grounds. After the guided tour, you can enjoy an afternoon of self-exploration and discovery. Boarding of the train back to Cuzco and transfer to your hotel.

After breakfast, transfer to the bus terminal for the journey to Puno. Visiting various archaeological sites along the route enjoy lunch before arriving to Puno and your hotel. 3 star Colon Casona Hotel

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.

Early transfer in private service to the airport for the flight to Uyuni. Transfer to Colchani and the start of your incredible trip to the Salares de Uynui, or Salt lakes.
We will have an unforgettable trip across 12 000 km2 of fantastic salt landscape. We will enter the Salar by Colchani, where we will stop to visit the salt factory and we will receive comments on the salt family economy which command the life of this village. Once the first visit done, we will enter the Salar and stop at the salt mounts from where we will continue to the dominating and magic Thunupa Volcano. We will ascend a part of the volcano with the car to the Coquesa Mummies. From this point we will have a nice view upon the monumental Salar. Then we will descend to Tahua where we will have lunch at the comfortable Tayka Salt Hotel. In the afternoon we will depart for Chillima village, at the north, from where we will start the second ascension still with the car toward La Pucara. We will start 60 to 90 minutes walk to the impressive flat landscape of La Pucara de Chillima. We will spend the night in the Tayka Salt Hotel with private bathroom, hot water and heating.

This day we will cross the Salar from north to south with the first visit at the Incahuasi Island which is one of the central tourist attractions. We will follow the little path to arrive at the top of the island from where we will get the amazing 360° view on the Salar. Then 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.

Tour of San Pedro de Atacama, cradle of the Atacama Culture during the pre-Columbian period. Followed by a 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. We will then visit the Pukara de Quitor. In the afternoon, excursion 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, we will visit the Archaeological Museum Padre Le Paige where we will witness an exhibition showing the evolution of Atacamanian life over the last 11,000 years. We will then visit the town church, The Main Square, the house of Pedro de Valdivia (a conquistador and the founder of Santiago). Toconao stands out with its bell tower, alleys and craft workshops. After lunch, a visit to Lake Chaxa to view the three species of flamingoes amongst many other birds.

Very early morning departure to the Tatio Geysers to experience this spectacular demonstration of volcanic activity. In the middle of the Andean mountains, the El Tatio Geysers at 4,500 metres above sea level gush fumaroles at dawn. We will also visit the village of Caspana with its fertile terraces, architecture in Liparita stone and characteristic mud-roofs. We will continue with visits to the villages of Toconce and Vegas de Turi on an awe inspiring route which takes us through Chiu-Chiu and Lasana, with their important cultural and historical legacies including one of the oldest and most beautiful churches in Chile. Box lunch on route. Return to Calama in the afternoon for your transfer to the airport and your return flight to Santiago and transfer to your hotel.

After breakfast, free day. Transfer to the airort in time for your flight home.