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Southern Divide

For those looking to experience the history, culture and wilderness of South America, this three-week adventure through Peru, Bolivia, and Chile is packed full of some of the continent’s most iconic and popular highlights. Explore the Sacred Valley and uncover Incan history high in the Andes at legendary Machu Picchu. Explore incredible landscapes at Uyuni Salt Flats and the Atacama Desert, and encounter vibrant culture at Lake Titicaca. Because we have years of experience and established operational offices in the region, we’ll take care of the hassles so that you can focus on the highlights. Get off the beaten track and embrace the best of this incredible region.

Latin America
Southern Divide

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  • Duration: 21 Days
  • Guaranteed Departure: Yes
  • For lovers of:
  • Physical rating: Average
  • Accommodation standard:   Budget%
  • Traveller Tour Rating: 80.0%  
  • Your Guide: English speaking
  • Supplier Tour ID: SMS/126782
  • Starts: Lima, Peru
  • Finishes: Santiago, Chile
You will Visit
  • Lima
  • Cusco
  • Ollantaytambo
  • Aguas Calientes
  • Puno
  • La Paz
  • Sucre
  • Potosí
  • Uyuni
  • Salar de Uyuni
  • San Pedro de Atacama
  • Santiago

Itinerary

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Day 1: Lima

Arrive at any time.
There are no planned activities until an evening welcome meeting.

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Day 2: Lima/Cusco

Hop a flight to Cusco. Enjoy a free day for shopping and exploring the city. Opt for a city tour.
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.

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Day 3: Cusco

Spend a full day enjoying optional activities in the area.

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Day 4: Cusco/Ollantaytambo

Stop at the G Adventures-supported women's weaving co-op before visiting a local pottery making community. Break for lunch at the G Adventures-supported Parwa community restaurant in Huchuy Qosco. After lunch, opt to head out on a hike to the Ollantaytambo storehouses and look out over the ruins. Or, wander around the cobblestone streets and visit a local Chicheria (corn beer bar).
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.

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.


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Day 5: Ollantaytambo/Aguas Calientes

Catch the scenic train to Aguas Calientes. Opt to visit the local hot springs or shop in the local market. Those who have pre-booked and purchased the '1-day Inca Trail' hike will disembark the train at 104km and trek to the Sun Gate for the first glimpse of Machu Picchu before re-joining the group at Aguas Calientes for the night.
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.

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Day 6: Aguas Calientes/Cusco

Enjoy a guided tour of Machu Picchu. Opt to visit the Inca Bridge before returning to Cusco in the evening.
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.

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Day 7: Cusco

Use a free day to explore more of Cusco or relax.

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Day 8: Cusco/Puno

Travel day by bus from Cusco to Puno. Spend some time on arrival wandering the small city.
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.

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Day 9: Puno

Enjoy a guided tour of Lake Titicaca including a visit to Uros and Taquile islands.
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.

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Day 10: Puno/La Paz

Travel by bus and cross the border into Bolivia, arriving in La Paz.
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.

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Day 11: La Paz

Enjoy a free day in La Paz. Opt to visit the Witches' Market, the city's museums or the Valley of the Moon.
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.

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Day 12: La Paz/Sucre

Fly to Sucre and explore this beautiful colonial city.
Optional activities include mountain biking, hiking, and searching for dinosaur footprints.

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Day 13: Sucre

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.

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Day 14: Sucre/Potosí

Travel by bus to Potosí and get a view of the mountain Cerro Rico looming over the city.

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Day 15: Potosí/Uyuni

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.

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Day 16: Uyuni/Salar de Uyuni

Enjoy a three-day 4x4 excursion to the Uyuni Salt Flats and surrounding desert altiplano with spectacular scenery. Last stop for the evening is a G Adventures-supported community lodge in a traditional agricultural village in the heart of a desert oasis.


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Day 17: Salar de Uyuni

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.

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Day 18: Salar de Uyuni/San Pedro de Atacama

Rise early to cover more ground of the unique landscape of the Uyuni Salt Flats. Continue to see incredible scenery, including volcanoes, salt lakes and geysers. Travel to the border and descend by bus to San Pedro de Atacama, Chile. It's a long but scenic drive.
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.

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Day 19: San Pedro de Atacama

Enjoy an Included excursion to the Valley of the Moon. In San Pedro, opt to go sandboarding or mountain biking.
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.

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Day 20: San Pedro de Atacama/Santiago

Drive to Calama and fly to Santiago, a vibrant capital city.
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.

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Day 21: Santiago

Depart at any time.

Inclusions:
    Activities
    • G Adventures for Good: Ccaccaccollo Community and Women's Weaving Co-op visit, Ccaccaccollo G Adventures for Good: Parwa Community Restaurant the Sacred Valley, Lamay G Adventures for Good: Jukil Community Experience & Lodge, Santiago de Agencha
    • Sacred Valley guided tour
    • Pottery making demonstration
    • 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
    Accommodation
    • Hotels/guesthouses (18 nts), G Adventures-supported lodge/basic hotels on Uyuni Salt Flats excursion (2 nts, multi-share)
    • 18 breakfasts, 3 lunches, 2 dinners
    Transport
    • Plane, train, boat, public bus, 4x4 vehicles, hiking
    Group Leader
    • Chief Experience Officer (CEO) throughout, local guides
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Tour Highlights:
  • 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


Reviews (43)
Genevieve R. Posted on: 

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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Eve G. Posted on: 

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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Benjamin H. Posted on: 

What a trip 22 days of fun and adventure definitely recommend this one especially the drive through salar de uyuni

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Camilla L. Posted on: 

Really nice group, had a lot of fun. Many good memories.

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Anna-Marije V. Posted on: 

We really liked the trip. It had great variety in culture, activities and hotels.

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Josephine V. Posted on: 

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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Ornella B. Posted on: 

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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Gayle R. Posted on: 

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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Anne B. Posted on: 

Trip was great. Machu Picchu was wonderful, Bolivian salt flats were breathtaking.

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Hugo P. Posted on: 

High points Machu pichu and salt lake in bolivia

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Alison W. Posted on: 

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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Emma H. Posted on: 

highlights included Machu Picchu, Lake Titicaca and the Salt flats

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Elizabeth H. Posted on: 

A big adventure without any perils and dangers.

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Ronan M. Posted on: 

Great fun, visiting an amazingly diverse number of places, great guide.

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Katerina T. Posted on: 

Great trip, covering highlights of 3 countries, diverse and amazing.

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Mark H. Posted on: 

overall , the trip was well organized and balanced,starting in peru thru bolivia was the best direction.

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Trina W. Posted on: 

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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Elizabeth L. Posted on: 

I had a wonderful time, everything was organized and I did not have to worry about a thing.

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Katherine K. Posted on: 

I loved all of the sites we saw; especially the salt flats.

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Jennifer K. Posted on: 

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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Katrina V. Posted on: 

The tour was very well organized and I felt safe at all times.

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Clare L. Posted on: 

3 countries in 3 weeks! A great way to experience so many different cultures and wildly different landscapes. Amazing!

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Margit B. Posted on: 

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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Rania B. Posted on: 

Overall an excellent trip with a variety of interesting items to see and do. Thoroughly recommended.

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Eric Gregory Alexander W. Posted on: 

Well organized and the trip went very smoothly.

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Benjamin W. Posted on: 

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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Craig H. Posted on: 

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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Craig H. Posted on: 

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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Gareth F. Posted on: 

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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Kirsty A. Posted on: 

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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Rose H. Posted on: 

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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Dannielle O. Posted on: 

We were really impressed overall. I would recommend this trip to a friend.

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Samuel B. Posted on: 

Overall an enjoyable tour. Highlights are Machu Picchu, Uros islands and the salt flats.

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Dannielle O. Posted on: 

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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Nancy S. Posted on: 

Very good itinerary. The range of scenery and activities made this a very interesting journey.

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Ellen L. Posted on: 

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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Sandra C. Posted on: 

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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Suo L. Posted on: 

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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Graham S. Posted on: 

The content of the tour was as expected.

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Michael M. Posted on: 

It was a very good tour, in large part because of such a great tour leader.

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Rachel T. Posted on: 

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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Deborah V. Posted on: 

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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Charlotte W. Posted on: 

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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