Peru & Bolivia Discovery

Welcome to the Peruvian capital. On arrival, you will be collected and transferred to our hotel. Once you're settled in, you can spend the rest of today unwinding in the hotel, or head out to explore the city.

Tour Style: This tour is made up of a selection of excursions and activities, with transportation and a choice of standard or superior accommodation. You will have different bi-lingual (English & Spanish speaking) local guides for each excursion. Some excursions are on a shared basis, meaning you will be joined by travellers from outside of the group and the group size may exceed 16. Please note: Internal flights are not included in the cost of the tour but we can book these for you on request.

Today we explore Lima, the 'City of Kings'. Our half day tour of the capital city begins in the pretty district of Miraflores, before we head to the equally lovely San Isidro, stopping for a quick look at a 'huaca', a sacred pre-Inca archaeological site. Making our way to the city centre, we stroll around some of the city's most important streets, arriving at last at the central Plaza de Armas. There will be free time to soak up the colonial architecture of Lima's main square.

Moving on, we visit the historic Convent of Santo Domingo, another well-preserved example of colonial architecture. Our final stop is the privately-owned Larco Museum, where there is plenty of time to browse an astonishing array of archaeological treasures. Then it's back to the hotel and a free evening for you to head out and sample some of Lima's nightlife. Make sure to try a Pisco Sour, it's an excellent local cocktail!

Lima - Cusco. After breakfast at the hotel and check out, transfer to the airport for your domestic flight to Cusco. Note that this flight is not included in the cost of your tour. We can assist with booking this flight. See the Trip Notes for suggested flight information.

Arriving in Cusco, the rest of the day is free to spend at leisure, independently exploring this charming city.

Alternatively, join our optional tour of Cusco. Visit iconic San Pedro market before we head to the ruins of Koricancha Temple, an ancient Inca palace, dedicated to the Sun God. On this tour we also visit the fortress of Sacsayhuaman, the Q’enqo archeological site and the Plaza de Armas, home to the majestic Cathedral.

Cusco - Sacred Valley. Today is dedicated to exploring three jewels of the Sacred Valley of the Incas: Maras, Moray and Misminay. Leaving Cusco, we head to the Maras salt mines, where the world's finest salt is extracted and exported around the world.

We then visit the archaeological site of Moray, home to huge terraces where the Incas used to grow food and other crops. We can also meet members of the Misminay indigenous community, who will warmly welcome us to their village with traditional music and dancing. Learn about the lives of these rural villagers and join them for some of their daily activities, including planting, harvesting and textile work. After our visit, we continue to the our hotel in the Sacred Valley.

Sacred Valley - Machu Picchu - Cusco. This morning we transfer to Ollantaytambo station and board the train to Aguas Calientes, admiring the spectacular scenery en route. After a short bus ride from Aguas Calientes, we find ourselves at one of the Seven Wonders of the World, magnificent Machu Picchu. This ancient citadel was once known as the Lost City, forgotten for centuries until its rediscovery by Hiram Bingham in 1911. Even the Spanish conquistadors never found this hidden treasure.

After the guided tour of this spectacular site, we return to Aguas Calientes. There's free time to have lunch and explore the streets, before we take the train back to Ollantaytambo and continue our journey by road to Cusco.

Today is free for you to relax at the hotel or further explore Cusco. Alternatively, you can join an optional full-day tour to the Vinicunca Rainbow Mountain.

If you join the tour, we depart Cusco early, crossing the South Valley towards Cusipata and then Phulawasipata. Here we begin our hike, ascending to Vinicunca, the Rainbow Mountain. Take in the bright colours, created by a plethora of minerals in the soil and rocks here. There's plenty of time to take photos and explore the area before we walk back to our vehicle and return to Cusco for the night.

Cusco - Puno. After breakfast, you will be picked up from the hotel and transferred to the bus station for our bus journey to Puno. Our first stop will be Andahuaylillas, where we'll visit a beautiful 17th-century church. Next, we’ll explore the well-preserved ruins of Raqchi, also known as the Temple of Wiracocha.

After time for lunch, we make a stop at the archaeological site of Puca-Pucara, a military camp and administrative centre. Finally, we'll arrive at the bus station in Puno and be transferred to our hotel, not far from the shore of Lake Titicaca.

Please note: Some members of the group may be ending their tour in Cusco.

Puno - Copacabana (Bolivia) - Sun Island. We travel by tourist bus from Puno, enjoying stunning views of Lake Titicaca along the three-hour journey, until we reach the Bolivian town of Copacabana. This charming town lies on the shores of the lake, and we will visit the church and the renowned Virgen Morena.

We then take a boat across the lake to the Island of the Sun, a one-hour trip. On arrival we enjoy an included Aptapi, a traditional highland lunch. The boat journey continues to the ruins of the Pilkokaina Inca temple. Finally, we hike to La Estancia, enjoying breathtaking views of Lake Titicaca on the hour-long trek.

Tonight, we are staying at an eco-lodge on the southern part of Sun Island. Our accommodation combines traditional Andean architecture with modern comforts, respecting the natural surroundings. The adobe brick and thatch cabins are set among pre-Inca terraces.

Sun Island - Copacabana - La Paz. Don’t miss an early sunrise! We will hike down through Yumani, visiting the Inca stairs and the Fountain of Eternal Youth, before taking a one-hour boat trip to the Island of the Moon to explore the Inca ruins of the Inak Uyu temple.

From here, we head back to Copacabana, a journey of an hour and a half, and continue with shared transport to La Paz, a three-and-a-half-hour drive with stunning views of the Andes Royal Range along the way.

Today's half-day tour of La Paz will be guided by a “lustra bota” a shoe-shiner, offering us a different perspective of the remarkable Bolivian capital city. We meet our guide outside the old train station in La Paz and hop on one of the city’s many cable car lines, disembarking at the city's main cemetery, where our walking tour begins.

After a brief visit to the cemetery, we continue to the Fish Street Market, the Flower Market, and the Uruguay Market, important hubs for shopping and trade. The tour then takes us to Eloy Salmon Street, lined with shops and stalls selling the latest technology, and to the “Cholitas Market,” where local women, known as Cholitas, shop for traditional skirts and blankets. We conclude the tour at the famous Witches’ Market on Linares and Sagarnaga Streets.

If you would prefer to pay an additional cost for an alternative tour of La Paz, you can book an optional tour that combines La Paz with the nearby geological formations known as the Valley of the Moon.

City Tour and Valley of the Moon - (Minimum 02 passengers)
Begin with a tour of La Paz, visiting bustling street markets, the colonial quarter, San Francisco Church, the Gold Museum, Murillo Square, and the "Mirador de Killi Killi" viewpoint. We’ll also see an outdoor replica of the Tiwanaku temple before heading to the Valley of the Moon, a large clay pan shaped by erosion. Our tour ends back in La Paz with a cable car ride over the city.

La Paz - Uyuni. This morning we transfer from our hotel to the airport for your flight to Uyuni. Note that this flight is not included in the cost of your tour, we can assist with booking this flight. See the Trip Notes for recommended flight information.

We’ll collect you at the airport and begin our exploration of the Uyuni salt flats, covering more than 10,500 square kilometres. We head first to Isla Incahuasi, a unique island known for its volcanic rocks and giant cacti. Next, we travel north to visit the pre-Columbian fort of Ayque Pucara and the nearby chullpares, both situated on the foothills of the Thunupa volcano. We then continue east to Colchani, where we will spend the night at a salt hotel. This is an amazing hotel where the walls, ceilings, chairs and tables are made from salt!

You can join two optional activities this evening:

Luxury Cocktail during the sunset
Enjoy a luxury cocktail in the heart of the vast salt desert during an incredible sunset. You’ll be treated to snacks including ham, cheese, nuts, olives, and bread, along with wine.

Stargazing Experience
Have an extraordinary experience in the middle of Uyuni salt flats at night, where the lack of light pollution promises incredible stargazing opportunities. Hot beverages are included!

Uyuni - La Paz. This morning, you can join an optional sunrise excursion into the Uyuni salt flats, or enjoy a lie in.

Later, we transfer to the airport in Uyuni for our flight back to La Paz. This flight is not included in the cost of your tour, we can assist with booking this flight. See the Trip Notes for recommended flight information.

On arrival, transfer to the hotel and enjoy a free afternoon to relax or further explore La Paz. You can also join an optional excursion to tour the Tiwanaku Ruins.

Half Day Tour to Tiwanaku Ruins
Tiwanaku is an hour and half drive from La Paz, and is one of the most significant pre-Inca civilizations. Our tour includes visits to the main sites, such as the Kalasasaya temple, the Gate of the Sun, the Ponce and Fraile monoliths, the Akapana pyramid, and the semi-underground temple. We’ll also explore two local museums as part of our tour.

After breakfast and check out, there is an included transfer to the airport.