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Peru, Bolivia, Chile. Three different countries, three different cultures, but all set within the spectacular landscape of the Andes. For those looking to experience South America’s history, culture and wilderness, this adventure is jam-packed with many of the continent’s most iconic and popular highlights. Explore the Sacred Valley and uncover Incan history at legendary Machu Picchu. View surreal landscapes across the Atacama Desert and the Salar de Uyuni salt flat in a 4x4 and encounter the vibrant traditions preserved by the locals on Lake Titicaca. The Southern Divide trip winds up in the modern Santiago, a springboard for trips to Argentina and Patagonia.
| Duration: 21 Days | Guaranteed Departure: Yes |
| For lovers of: Local Culture & Cuisine, Walking Tour | Physical rating: Average |
| Accommodation standard: Budget% | Traveller Tour Rating: 80.0% |
| Your Guide: English speaking | Tour code: 126782 |
| Starts: Lima, Peru | Finishes: Santiago, Chile |
Itinerary
Day 1: Lima
There are no planned activities until an evening welcome meeting.
Additional Notes:
Please note that hot water shortages and power outages can be fairly common in Latin America (even in upgraded hotels and private homes). We appreciate your patience and understanding that these occurrences are outside of our control.
Included Activities:
Arrival Day and Welcome Meeting
Day 2: Lima/Cusco (1B)
Transfer to the airport for the flight to Cusco. Spend the rest of the day relaxing and exploring this fascinating city, and getting used to the altitude.
Transport:
Plane (1.00-1.50 hours)
Day 3: Cusco (1B)
Spend a full day enjoying optional activities in the area.
Day 4: Cusco/Ollantaytambo (1B, 1L)
Travel through the stunning Sacred Valley of the Incas, visiting a G Adventures-supported women's weaving co-op. Meet the women and learn about traditional weaving and dyeing used in the Ccaccaccollo community. Opt to pick up some handmade souvenirs and textiles directly from the women who made them.
Take a guided tour of the impressive Pisac ruins, the colourful artisan market (on market days only), and a small indigenous village of Huchuy Qosco.
Have lunch at the G Adventures-supported Parwa community restaurant. Learn about the G Adventures for Good project and eat a delicious buffet-style lunch. Proceeds of this meal go directly back to the remote community.
Continue on to the town of Ollantaytambo. Take a guided tour of the large ruin site adjacent to the town. Ollantaytambo is the first taste of what lies ahead in Machu Picchu.
Included Activities:
Ccaccaccollo Community and Women's Weaving Co-op visit
Pisac Ruins Guided Tour
Parwa Community Restaurant the Sacred Valley
Ollantaytambo Ruins Guided Tour
Transport:
Private Vehicle (95km)
Day 5: Ollantaytambo/Aguas Calientes (1B)
Board a morning train that winds through the spectacular Sacred Valley to the end of the line: the village of Aguas Calientes, a frontier town nestled in the hills beneath Machu Picchu.
Take advantage of the opportunity to visit the butterfly house, botanical gardens or hot springs. Opt for a day hike to Mandor Gardens to see orchids and a waterfall, enjoying the lush, green scenery en route.
Additional Notes:
Those who have pre-purchased the "1-day Inca Trail" hiking option will disembark the train at km 104 to begin the trek.
Transport:
Train (1.50 hour(s), 43km)
Day 6: Aguas Calientes/Cusco (1B)
Rise early to catch the first bus up to Machu Picchu with your guide. Enjoy a guided visit of the ruins followed by free time to explore. When ready, head back down by bus to Aguas to meet up with the rest of the group and take a train back to Cusco.
Included Activities:
Machu Picchu Guided Tour
Transport:
Local bus (0.50 hour(s))
Train (1.50-2.00 hours, 118km)
Private Vehicle (2.00 hour(s))
Day 7: Cusco (1B)
Use a free day to explore more of Cusco or relax.
Day 8: Cusco/Puno (1B)
Travel through the high Altiplano region from Cusco to Puno, on the shores of Lake Titicaca. Titicaca is also the largest lake in the world above 3800m, and the views from both Amantaní and Taquile Islands are stunning. The trip takes the better part of the day, with stark, beautiful scenery en route.
Transport:
Local bus (7.50 hour(s), 389km)
Day 9: Puno (1B)
Head out by boat across Lake Titicaca. Visit the community on the Taquile Islands and enjoy a local lunch with spectacular views. Visit the floating islands of Uros before returning to Puno. Opt to visit to Sillustani burial site.
Included Activities:
Day Trip to Lake Titicaca
Day 10: Puno/La Paz (1B)
Enjoy the full-day drive around the lake and through the altiplano to La Paz. Bolivia is filled with spectacular views of the countryside. La Paz is at nearly 4000m (13,120ft) above sea level, so be prepared for cool evenings and mornings.
Included Activities:
Border Crossing (Peru - Bolivia)
Transport:
Local bus (2.50 hour(s))
Local bus (3.00 hour(s))
Day 11: La Paz (1B)
Explore the city's many fine museums or its historic structures, like the Iglesia de San Francisco. The city is also renowned for its many markets, including the Mercado de Hechicería (Witches' Market).
With streets lined with market stalls and vendors, the pace on the street and the vibrant atmosphere is an incredible experience.
To the south of the city is the Valley of the Moon, with crater-like formations made of sand.
Day 12: La Paz/Sucre (1B)
Optional activities include mountain biking, hiking, and searching for dinosaur footprints.
Transport:
Plane (2.25 hour(s))
Day 13: Sucre (1B)
Free time to explore the city, the former capital of Bolivia. For more active options opt to go hiking in the surrounding area or mountain biking.
Day 14: Sucre/Potosí (1B)
Travel by bus to Potosí and get a view of the mountain Cerro Rico looming over the city.
Transport:
Local bus (4.00 hour(s), 185km)
Day 15: Potosí/Uyuni (1B)
Travel through the Bolivian landscape to the town of Uyuni, the jumping off point for the three day 4x4 excursion to the Uyuni Salt Flats.
Additional Notes:
During the rainy season the locations visited may change due to some routes being covered by water.
Transport:
Local bus (7.00 hour(s), 230km)
Day 16: Uyuni/Salar de Uyuni (1B, 1D)
Enjoy a three-day 4x4 excursion to the Uyuni Salt Flats and surrounding desert altiplano with spectacular scenery. Stay in simple hotels upgraded with solar panels to provide electricity and hot water.
Additional Notes:
We offer unique accommodation in the Uyuni Salt Flats. Instead of very basic refuges and homestays most operators use, we have upgraded to simple hotels that are equipped with solar panels to provide electricity and hot water. Rooms are multi-share and each have a private bathroom. Meals are made from local ingredients, most of which are grown on-site.
Included Activities:
Salt Flats Excursion
Day 17: Salar de Uyuni (1B, 1L, 1D)
Continue exploring the Uyuni Salt Flats on a 4x4 excursion. Admire the spectacular scenery while passing red and blue lagoons along the route. Spot wild llamas, alpacas and even flamingos deep within the desert.
Included Activities:
Salt Flats Excursion
Day 18: Salar de Uyuni/San Pedro de Atacama (1B, 1L)
From the high Bolivian altiplano descend almost 2000m to the edge of the Atacama Desert, arriving at the small desert oasis of San Pedro de Atacama, just across the Chilean border. Said to be one of the driest places on the planet, this little town is an oasis in an otherwise barren, dry landscape.
Included Activities:
Border Crossing (Bolivia - Chile)
Transport:
4x4 (5.00 hour(s))
Local bus (5.50-6.00 hours)
Day 19: San Pedro de Atacama
Enjoy an included excursion to the Valley of the Moon to learn about and appreciate the beautiful uniqueness of the landscape.
There are plenty of optional excursions in San Pedro de Atacama, including biking, exploring nearby ruins, and horseback riding. Despite its size, San Pedro offers some great restaurants as well as numerous handicrafts and artisan stores for those looking for souvenirs.
Included Activities:
Valley of the Moon Visit
Day 20: San Pedro de Atacama/Santiago
From the nearby city of Calama, fly to Santiago, the capital of Chile. The city is surrounded by mountains, and there are both internationally recognized vineyards and Andean ski resorts within a couple of hours from the city centre.
Explore the city's many museums and parks and visit the vibrant neighbourhood of Bellavista with its handicrafts, trendy cafés, and San Cristobal Hill with its views of the city and the surrounding area.
Transport:
Local van (3.00 hour(s))
Plane (5.00 hour(s))
Day 21: Santiago (1B)
Depart at any time.
- Activities
- Sacred Valley and Ollantaytambo ruins guided tour with visit to a G Adventures-supported women's weaving project (full-day)
- Lunch at the G Adventures-supported Sacred Valley Community Restaurant in Huchuy Qosco, an indigenous village
- Train to Machu Picchu
- Machu Picchu guided tour
- Floating islands of Uros visit
- Lake Titicaca guided tour
- 4x4 excursion to the Uyuni Salt Flats (3 days)
- Tour of Valley of the Moon (San Pedro de Atacama)
- Internal flights
- All transport between destinations and to/from included activities
- Hotels/guesthouses (18 nts), basic hostels on Uyuni Salt Flats excursion (2 nts, multi-share)
- 18 breakfasts, 3 lunches, 2 dinners
- Plane, train, boat, public bus, 4x4 vehicles, hiking
- Chief Experience Officer (CEO) throughout, local guides
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- Explore the Sacred Valley
- Marvel at the views from the train to Machu Picchu
- Witness traditional life on Lake Titicaca
- Encounter colonial cities and historic cultures in Bolivia
- Cross the Uyuni Salt Flats by 4x4
A really well thought out tour. It took in lots of excellent trips and we visited a really good range of places with well planned rest days in between.
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I had a wonderful time. The places we visited were amazing and I will have a lifetime of memories under my belt :)
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What a trip 22 days of fun and adventure definitely recommend this one especially the drive through salar de uyuni
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Really nice group, had a lot of fun. Many good memories.
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We really liked the trip. It had great variety in culture, activities and hotels.
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I really enjoyed my trip. It was what I had expected. I didn't feel rushed. I thought the timing was good.
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The whole trip was very interesting and full of new experiences. We had a really super group and a fantastic group leader.
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The trip was fantastic, so different to any other holiday we've been on.Great to become immersed in different cultures and be surrrounded by beautiful scenery. Being in a small group was really good to meet people.
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Trip was great. Machu Picchu was wonderful, Bolivian salt flats were breathtaking.
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High points Machu pichu and salt lake in bolivia
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I have had an amazing time. A great introduction to South America - a fantastic tour leader, very well organized with the right amount of fun!
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highlights included Machu Picchu, Lake Titicaca and the Salt flats
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A big adventure without any perils and dangers.
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Great fun, visiting an amazingly diverse number of places, great guide.
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Great trip, covering highlights of 3 countries, diverse and amazing.
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overall , the trip was well organized and balanced,starting in peru thru bolivia was the best direction.
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The best part of this trip was the people on it. As far as locations go, Machu Picchu and the salt pans were stand outs.
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I had a wonderful time, everything was organized and I did not have to worry about a thing.
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I loved all of the sites we saw; especially the salt flats.
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The tour was great and well worth every penny. I will have the memories from this trip for the rest of my life.
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The tour was very well organized and I felt safe at all times.
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3 countries in 3 weeks! A great way to experience so many different cultures and wildly different landscapes. Amazing!
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We are very pleased with our tour through Peru, Bolivia and Chile. The tour leader was very helpful, and made the whole trip a lot easier for us.
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Overall an excellent trip with a variety of interesting items to see and do. Thoroughly recommended.
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Well organized and the trip went very smoothly.
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i loved the tour it is very well sorted and i could not have asked for any more 10 out of 10.
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The tour was fantastic thanks to Barbara our leader. She was informative, easy to deal with, and great to share the experience with.
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To be honest, I have never been a tour person. Working for STA Travel has prompted me to take a different style of traveling approach and after taking this tour, I can honestly say that it is one of the best journeys I have every experienced. The tour was amazing and in the space of 3 weeks I saw and did so much without having sacrificed anything or been left wanting.
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It was great getting to see so much in a confined period of time. The tour leader Barbara was fantastic at accommodating additional requests outside the tour such as bringing us to local markets and acting as interpreter between us and the local vendors.
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The tour was well set up with a wonderful leader and itinerary. It was easy to socialise with people or to do your own thing at will. We were well looked after but not babied and I had a wonderful time. I would definitely go again.
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This was the best travel experience of my life! I've done a lot of solo backpacking and was unsure how I'd like being on a tour but this trip took care of all the annoying details of traveling so that I could focus on the cultural experiences and having fun with the amazing new friends I made on this trip. I could never have covered so much ground in so little time, yet it never felt rushed or like I was moving on before I was ready. I can't recommend this tour enough.
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We were really impressed overall. I would recommend this trip to a friend.
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Overall an enjoyable tour. Highlights are Machu Picchu, Uros islands and the salt flats.
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It was a good tour. Walter is a good tour guide. I thought Machu Picchu would have been the highlight but it was tough call between it and the Bolivian salt flats and desert. San Pedro de Atacama was an unexpected surprise too! It was just too cold in the Bolivian desert.
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Very good itinerary. The range of scenery and activities made this a very interesting journey.
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Our guide was very organized and knowledgeable, but at the same time fun and easy to travel with. It was so nice to have everything taken care of and be free to enjoy the tour.
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Very professional guide who made sure that everything went smoothly and that everyone had a great trip - an experience of a lifetime.
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Very well organized! It was great to have great travel companions, and I felt very well taken care of the entire time.
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The content of the tour was as expected.
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It was a very good tour, in large part because of such a great tour leader.
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I thought the tour provided a good variety of city and culture as well as an insight into three very different countries. It was a good mix of adventure and culture.
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Very competent tour guide, all transfers, hotels, etc. were booked correctly and transfers on time. The accommodations were better than expected and always clean. Also the transportation was excellent.
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I had a fantastic time on this trip! I traveled with wonderful people and loved exploring the three countries with them. The trip highlight was the salt flats of Bolivia, which blew me away.
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