Southern Divide: Peru, Bolivia and Chile, South America

Southern Divide: Peru, Bolivia and Chile

South America

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. View incredible landscapes at Salar de Uyuni and the Atacama Desert, and encounter vibrant culture at Lake Titicaca.  Get off the beaten track and embrace the best of this incredible region.

Price based on Jan-Feb 2023 departures

NB International flights are not included in the cost of this trip but can be arranged for you, if required.  If you would like to add extra nights at the beginning or end of your trip, please ask for details.

Day 1 - Lima, Peru

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

Day 2 - Lima/Cusco, Peru

Hop on a flight to Cusco. Enjoy a free day for shopping and exploring the city. or pre-book an optional Cusco Cooking Class. Meals included: Breakfast

Day 3 - Cusco, Peru

Spend a full day enjoying optional activities in the area. Opt to visit and hike the famed Rainbow Mountain. Meals included: Breakfast

Day 4 - Cusco/Ollantaytambo, Peru

Stop at a women's weaving co-op before visiting a local pottery making community. Break for lunch at a 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). Meals included: Breakfast | Lunch

Day 5 - Ollantaytambo/Aguas Calientes, Peru

Catch the scenic train to Aguas Calientes. You might 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 and trek to the Sun Gate for the first glimpse of Machu Picchu before re-joining the group at Aguas Calientes for the night. Meals included: Breakfast

Day 6 - Aguas Calientes/Cusco, Peru

Enjoy a guided tour of Machu Picchu before returning to Cusco in the evening. Meals included: Breakfast

Day 7 - Cusco, Peru

Use a free day to explore more of Cusco or relax. Meals included: Breakfast

Day 8 - Cusco/Puno, Peru

Travel during the day by bus from Cusco to Puno. 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. Spend some time on arrival wandering the small city. Meals included: Breakfast

Day 9 - Puno, Peru

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. Meals included: Breakfast

Day 10 - Puno/La Paz, Bolivia

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. Meals included: Breakfast

Day 11 - La Paz, Bolivia

Enjoy a free day in La Paz. 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. Thrill seekers can pre book an optional Death Road mountain biking adventure. Meals included: Breakfast

Day 12 - La Paz/Sucre, Bolivia

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

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. Meals included: Breakfast

Day 14 - Sucre/Potosí, Bolivia

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

Day 15 - Potosí/Uyuni, Bolivia

Travel through the Bolivian landscape to the town of Uyuni, the jumping off point for the three day 4x4 excursion to the Salar de Uyuni. Meals included: Breakfast

Day 16 - Uyuni/Salt Flats and Desert Crossing, Bolivia

Enjoy a three-day 4x4 excursion to the Salar de Uyuni and surrounding desert altiplano with spectacular scenery. Today you will be heading into the Salar de Uyuni. Our groups like to get creative with photography, as the endless white of the salt flats creates some great depth illusions that are fun to play with in photos. Last stop for the evening is a community lodge in a traditional agricultural village in the heart of a desert oasis. Exclusive Inclusions: Jukil Community Experience & Lodge Meals included: Breakfast | Lunch | Dinner

Day 17 - Salt Flats and Desert Crossing, Bolivia

Explore the desert altiplano on a 4x4 excursion. Admire the spectacular scenery while passing red and blue lagoons and interesting rock formations along the route. Spot wild llamas, alpacas and even flamingos deep within the desert. Meals included: Breakfast | Lunch | Dinner

Day 18 - Salt Flats and Desert Crossing/San Pedro de Atacama, Chile

Rise early to cover more ground of the unique landscape of the Salar de Uyuni. 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. Meals included: Breakfast | Lunch

Day 19 - San Pedro de Atacama, chile

Enjoy an Included excursion to the Valley of the Moon to learn about and appreciate the beautiful uniqueness of the landscape. In San Pedro, opt to go sandboarding or mountain biking. 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.

Day 20 - San Pedro de Atacama/Santiago, Chile

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

Day 21 - Santiago, Chile

Depart at any time. Meals included: Breakfast

Included in cost:

Accommodation

Hotels/guesthouses (18 nts)
Lodge/basic hotels on Salar de Uyuni excursion (2 nts, multi-share)

Meals

18 breakfasts, 4 lunches, 2 dinners

Transportation

Internal flights, all transport between destinations and to/from included activities

Activities

Visits and excursions as indicated in itinerary:

  • Ccaccaccollo Community and Women’s Weaving Co-op visit;
  • Sacred Valley guided tour;
  • Pottery making demonstration;
  • Machu Picchu guided tour;
  • Floating islands of Uros visit;
  • Lake Titicaca guided tour;
  • 4×4 excursion to the Salar de Uyuni (3 days);
  • Tour of Valley of the Moon (San Pedro de Atacama).

Guides

Tour leader throughout, local guides

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