Day 1
Overnight flight to Lima.
Day 2
Upon arrival, transfer to your hotel. Afternoon city tour of Lima—one of the most important cities in South America since its founding in 1535. Journey through the historic center of the city. Admire the beauty of San Martín and Major squares, the Cathedral, the Government Palace, and visit San Francisco Convent, a religious building from the late 16th century, and its catacombs. Also drive through the residential districts of San Isidro and Miraflores.
Note: Check-in is normally after 2 p.m. Early check-in may be granted subject to availability (not confirmed).
Day 3
Morning transfer to the airport to take the flight to Cuzco. Upon arrival in Cuzco, transfer to your hotel. Afternoon city tour of Cuzco, visit the Korikancha Temple or Temple of the Sun and the Cathedral and its Art Museum. After your visits, you will continue to the nearby water shrine of Tambomachay (the Inca Fountains), Puca Pucara (the Red Fortress), the amphitheater of Kenko and finally the Sacsahuaman Fortress. After the tour, return to your hotel.
Note: Because of the altitude in Cuzco, we recommend that this tour be done privately at your own pace, at an additional cost of $28 per person, based on two people.
Day 4
Morning transfer to the train station. The train takes us through the Sacred Valley of the Incas up to the town of Aguas Calientes. From here, we will board a bus to the mountaintop citadel of Machu Picchu. We will then have a guided tour of the ruins. Machu Picchu, the Lost City of the Incas, was a flourishing ceremonial and agricultural site, probably the gateway to the jungle marshes of the Inca Empire. The central buildings were erected with the polished stone works of the Cuzco Imperial style, though the site was probably occupied well before the Incas started their expansion. It was associated with the earth cult revolving around the coca leaf, which was a privilege of the Inca royal family and priests. You will have time to enjoy a light lunch or snack and return to your hotel at your leisure. In the evening, we will have a wonderful dinner at the hotel or in the village of Aguas Calientes.
Note: Government regulations limit the number of visitors to Machu Picchu daily. Entrance is subject to availability. Please book with plenty of notice so we may confirm your entrance to the ruins.
Day 5
Day at leisure. You may choose to return to Machu Picchu, hike Huayna Picchu or relax in the village of Aguas Calientes and its hot springs. In the afternoon, we will board the train to return to Cuzco. Upon arrival, train station reception and transfer to your hotel.
Note: Entrance tickets to Machu Picchu on this day are not included. Please contact your Yampu travel consultant if you think you would like to go back to the ruins or hike the Huayna Picchu at time of booking (subject to availability).
Day 6
Transfer to the airport to take the flight to Lake Titicaca. En route to the hotel, visit the necropolis of Sillustani (12,000 feet above sea level), the lagoon of Umayo and the fabulous “chullpas,” cylinder-shaped tombs. Transfer to your hotel.
Note: You may also take the Andean Explorer train from Cuzco to Puno (10 hour scenic ride), although it operates only on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday. Additional cost of $ 125 per person applies.
Day 7
Transfer from hotel in Puno and overland transfer to Copacabana, Bolivia. En route we will stop at the church of Pomata. Upon arrival in Copacabana, we will visit the famous shrine of the Dark Virgin. Then we will board a hydrofoil cruise that will take us to Moon Island and visit the Sun Virgins Temple, Ińak Uyu. Continue to Sun Island, to visit the Pilcokaina Sun Temple. Llama trek to Posada del Inca (25‒40 minute trek), and enjoy lunch at Posada del Inca Eco Lodge. Afternoon at leisure to explore the surroundings, and dinner at the Posada del Inca Eco Lodge.
Note: Soft trekking involved.
Day 8
After breakfast, visit the Inca “Grand Stairs” and the sacred fountain, where we will drink the water believed to give eternal youth and happiness. We will enjoy lunch at the “Uma Kollu” archeological restaurant, and visit the small handicraft market. After lunch, take the hydrofoil cruise to Huatajata, where we will visit the Andean Roots Eco Village: the Altiplano Museum; handicrafts village, the Mud Igloos and the mortuary towers of the Urus Chipayas. We will meet the Limachi family, builders of the RA II and Tigris for epic expeditions across the Atlantic Ocean. Bus transfer to La Paz, on a road running parallel with the Royal Range of the Andes. Arrival in La Paz and transfer to your hotel.
Day 9
Full-day city tour of La Paz. We will visit the Gold, Murillo and Costumbrista museums and the Mirador de Laikakota with a beautiful overview of the city. We will also walk through various street markets including the Uruguay Market, where you can see the highland agricultural products of quinua, tunta, chuno (dehydrated potato) and oca (sweet potato) and a variety of small animals such as guinea pigs, pigeons and chickens; the semi-legal black market where imported clothing and other products are sold at very reasonable prices; and the Witch Market where the locals still buy their supplies from a variety of traditional products used in the ritual ceremonies like the Ch’alla and offerings to the Pachamama (Mother Earth). The tour continues, going through the modern residential area of the city and ends in the Valley of the Moon, with its impressive geological formations. Tour includes lunch at a restaurant with typical Bolivian food.
Day 10
This morning we will transfer to the airport in La Paz to take the flight to Uyuni. Upon arrival in Uyuni, you will be greeted for airport reception and transferred to your hotel.
Day 11
We begin in Uyuni and enjoy a tour visiting Colchani, Ojos de Agua geysers and the local Salt Museum. We will continue to Isla Pescado, historically named Inka Wasi. This island is located in the center of the Uyuni salt pan and has a rock surface containing fossils of marine algae. This is the largest island here and has an isolated oasis-type ecosystem. The landscape of the endless horizion against the background of the salt pans is a great place for pictures.
This afternoon, after lunch, we will visit the Galaxy Cave and Devil`s Cave before continuing to San Pedro de Quemez and overnight in the Stone Hotel.
Day 12
This morning after breakfast we will visit Frog`s Valley, and Chiarcota, Ramadita, and Hedionda Lagoons.
After lunch we will continue to Siloli’s desert where we can find the Laguna Colorad, located 4,278 meters above sea level. This lagoon is known for its reddish waters and is home to the different species of flamingos. After our visit we will continue to Soniquera and overnight at Ojos de Perdiz Hotel.
Day 13
After breakfast this morning we will take one last visit to Laguna Colorada and its surroundings. This morning we will also visit Sol de Mañana Geysers, on route to Chalviri Salt Pan. This area has intense volcanic and fumarole activity. This is an amazing site with boiling lava deep at the bottom of the crater and spouts of steam pouring out the top.
We will also explore the Chalviri Salt Flats, visiting both the White and Green Lagoons. The Green Lagoon is named after its brilliant green hues, due to the waters high magnesium content, and gives the appearance of a giant emerald. From here we will be able to see Licancahur Volcano in the distance.
We will enjoy lunch en route to Hito Cajon where we will change cars before continuing to San Pedro de Atacama and overnight in our hotel here.
Day 14
Tulor, Quitor, Atacama Salt Lake and Toconao. Morning, half-day archeological tour to Tulor and Quitor. Departure at 9 a.m. to visit the Padre Gustavo Le Paige Museum, which has an important anthropological collection of Atacameńan culture. Then continue to the indigenous fortress of Quitor where the first shepherds of this civilization lived. Continue on to one of the “ayllus” or settlements which reflect the social system and communal aspects of this subsistence society and the ruins of Tulor, which are composed of a series of round rooms connected to each other with communal patios. Today, this site is covered partly by the sands of the desert and represents an archeological enigma. Afternoon, half-day excursion to the Atacama Salt Lake and Toconao. Upon leaving San Pedro de Atacama (3 p.m. in the winter, 4 p.m. in the summer), we head along the side of the huge salt flat and continue until arriving at Toconao, a village where the inhabitants dedicate themselves to working the local liparite stone. Visit the old church and wander around the handicraft shops before a short visit to the Jeri Valley, an oasis in the center of the desert. Continue to the Chaxa Lagoon, where three types of pink flamingoes breed. Return to San Pedro de Atacama.
Day 15
Full day Tatio Geysers with Machuca Village. Early departure (around 4am) from San Pedro towards the El Tatio Geysers.
A guided walk around the geothermal field as the fumaroles of steam which appear at dawn rise into the sky. Journey through the Andes mountains, with wonderful views of the Putana volcano and the peaks of Torcopuri. Return to San Pedro, stopping on the way to visiting Machuca, picturesque village of shepherds where the ancient llama caravans used to rest from their travels on the "Inca Highway".
Day 16
San Pedro, Calama, Santiago. Transfer to the Calama airport to take the flight to Santiago. Upon arrival at the Santiago airport, transfer to your selected hotel in the heart of the city.
Afternoon city tour of Santiago. We will pick you up from your hotel to explore the historic and modern sights of Santiago de Chile. We will start our tour at the Alameda Bernardo O’Higgins, Santiago’s main avenue, visiting La Moneda, the Government Palace, where we will explain to you the historical and actual meaning of this place. We will enjoy a walk through the pedestrian streets of Huerfanos and Ahumada, where the main commercial activity of the city is concentrated. We will then visit the famous Plaza de Armas, the main square of the city, which is surrounded by the Metropolitan Cathedral and other historical buildings such as the City Hall and the Post Office, both dating from colonial times. Next we head to Santa Lucia Hill, the hill upon which the Spanish founded Santiago in 1541. It is a lone steep rock, with many plants and an antique building rising steeply from the city below. From here you can see the Parque Forestal (park) on one side and the Mapocho River on the other. We will cross the river to visit Bellavista, the cultural and artistic neighborhood of Santiago. Return to your hotel.
Note: Check-in is normally after 2 p.m. Early check-in may be granted subject to availability (not confirmed).
Day 17
Full day of touring around Santiago. On this day, you may choose from one of the following excursions: Vina del Mar, Valparaiso, Valle Nevado, Isla Negra, Pablo Neruda Museum, and Cousińo Macul and Concha y Toro wineries
Day 18
Transfer to airport for international flight back home.
South America Combined Country
Uyuni Salt Flats
La Paz
Lake Titicaca
