21 Day Itinerary
£15,100pp
Take a voyage through three countries, across vineyards, lakes and mountains on trip for the ultimate South American adventure.
Welcome to Chile!
Your first stop is a visit to the capital city of Chile, Santiago. You’ll spend 2 nights staying at Hotel Magnolia, located a few steps away from the central neighbourhood of Lastarria, which is packed with excellent restaurants, interesting boutiques and colourful street art. During your time in Santiago, you’ll have the opportunity to really get to know the city and its history with a privately guided tour.
During your second full day in the city, you’ll be taken a couple of hours’ outside the city to Valparaiso. This beautiful and bohemian hillside port city is known for its winding streets, steep funiculars and colourful, clifftop homes. Each corner of Valparaíso is filled with history and stories, you’ll discover something new at every turn. You’ll be exploring its architecture and visiting many of its hidden attractions. Stroll along its narrow colourful streets, climb its endless staircases, ride its historic funicular, and enjoy panoramic views from its many lookout points. Enjoy lunch at a restaurant that is highly praised by food critics in Chile.
Over the next two days, you will be staying at a renowned Chilean winery, Matetic, on a full board basis. You’ll be able to relax, enjoy fantastic wine and top quality local dishes, as well as take part in a number of excursions on offer. During your stay, you’ll have a tour of their wine cellar with tastings of their ultra premium wines, a self-guided wine flight, as well as a guided excursion through the beautiful Rosario Valley, which could be in the form of hiking, horse riding or a scenic tour by van. Otherwise, you can enjoy your time here relaxing, taking a dip in their refreshing pool with a glass of wine and soaking up the Chilean countryside.
Next stop – the awe-inspiring Atacama Desert. Your days here will be filled with activity, but you’ll always be able to come back to the beautiful Tierra hotel and their lovely Uma spa to relax in! Expect an early start exploring the Moon and Death Valley – named for its moon-like appearance with craters and fascinating rock formations. You’ll also have the chance to experience the Tatio Geysers, float in the salt lagoons, hike or cycle in the valleys and canyons, visit the ancient petroglyphs as well as the Atacama Salt Flat. The Atacama Desert is renowned for its incredible skies and you’ll most certainly want to spend some time stargazing – arguably the best place in the world for it!
Today you’ll make the magnificent crossing from Chile to Bolivia. After entering the National Park Eduardo Avaroa in Bolivia, the scenery embraces you with its unique lagoons, salt pans, fumaroles, volcanoes, snow capped peaks, plains, thermal springs and rivers. You’ll visit the Green Lagoon, which looks almost like a giant emerald due to its high magnesium content, backed by the impressive Licancabur Volcano. You’ll then continue to the Sol de Mañana Geysers, as well as the Red Lagoon. Continue to the town of Uyuni passing through the Rock Valley and the Dali Desert, spotting vicuñas, llamas and vizcachas en route.
You will be visiting one of South America’s marvels: the Great Uyuni Salt Flats. At the amazing Uyuni Salt Lake, the sound of silence makes the heart beat faster and the surreal pentagons of crystalline salt, the pure sky and the giant cacti certainly make you feel that there is no other place comparable on the planet. The landscape against the background of the salt pans extending into the horizon makes it an ideal place for photography-lovers.
Today you’ll be exploring the magical city of La Paz. The city and its surroundings can transport you to a mysterious past where every street and corner is a hidden treasure where adventure begins; a living history which treasures the pre-Hispanic times with all their traditions and magic rites on its streets. The indigenous, colonial and modern areas, Indian Market, Witch Doctor’s Market and breathtaking panoramas are all framed by the majestic Illimani mountain. In the afternoon, you’ll visit the Moon Valley, a clay formation resembling the face of the Moon, and you’ll also take La Paz’s renowned 21st century cable car, offering you a unique bird’s eye view of the city concluding this memorable experience.
On your second day in La Paz, you’ll enjoy a visit to one of Bolivia’s most magnificent ruins, Tiwanaku, which is also one of the oldest civilisations of the Americas. You’ll explore The Sun Gate, the Temple of Kalasasaya and the Pyramid of Akapana and learn about the fascinating Tiwanaku culture.
The next stop will be Huatajata, a small town located on the shores of Lake Titicaca, where you will spend the afternoon learning about the cultures and natural healing traditions in the area. In the evening, you’ll be able to visit the Native Observatory Alajpacha, learning from the Aymara cosmo worldview and watching the southern constellations.
Today you will take the hydrofoil cruise to Moon Island, visiting the Sun Virgins Temple “Iñak Uyu”, an important sacred place on Lake Titicaca where the insistent beating of the waves whispers memories of the past. The next stop will be Sun Island, a pastoral paradise, where you’ll visit the Pilcocaina Palace, and then embark on a llama-trek to Posada del Inca. On arrival, you’ll enjoy a welcoming coca tea in the garden and have the evening at leisure to enjoy the beautiful scenery.
Today your morning will be at leisure. You will have time to visit the Grand Inca Stairs and the Sacred Foundation – tasting the water is believed to give you eternal youth and happiness! You’ll have lunch at the Uma Kollu archaeological restaurant and have time to visit a small handicraft market. You’ll then embark on your journey to Puno, the main town on the Peruvian side of Lake Titicaca. You will arrive at the beautiful Titilaka Lodge with its incredible views across the lake. During your fully inclusive stay here, you’ll have the chance to explore the famous Uros islands, or do something a little different, such as a day out cycling, kayaking or observing the movement of the stars and the Aymara constellations. Sit back in the evenings with a beautifully presented Relais & Chateaux meal or a cocktail overlooking the lake.
Today you’ll enjoy the fabulous Titicaca train journey to Cusco, offering unforgettable panoramic landscapes that can be enjoyed from the comfort of this great day train. The train features an open-air observatory car where you can relax, breathe fresh Andean air and appreciate the stunning mountain views. The two dining cars, decorated in 1920’s style, are the perfect place to wind down and enjoy a gourmet meal and personalised service.
In Cusco, enjoy a guided walking tour, during which you’ll visit an authentic market, and then visit the legendary Koricancha, which is the most important temple with walls once plated with sheets of gold and devoted to worshipping the Sun deity. Continue to the Plaza de Armas or main square to visit the cathedral, and end your tour in the bohemian quarter of San Blas.
This morning, you will be transferred to the Sacred Valley and along the way, visit the archaeological site of Sacsayhuaman. Continue for lunch at a local Hacienda, where we invite you to learn how the Incas developed such a unique corn variety, and how their ancestral techniques have survived along with the modern production of corn. Afterwards you will enjoy a delicious 4-course set menu lunch based on both indigenous ingredients and cuisines brought in during colonial times.
On your full day in the Sacred Valley, you’ll start with a visit to the village of Chinchero, where you will enjoy a visit to its charming church. Then, visit the home of artist and master weaver Nilda Callañaupa. You will enjoy a highly educational weaving demonstration, where you will learn about wool spinning, natural dyes, traditional patterns and weaving techniques used in this region of the Andes. From Nilda’s home, cross the Chinchero pampa and take the turning to the town of Maras and the archaeological site of Moray. You will begin your tour by visiting the ‘agricultural laboratory’ of Moray, which consists of circular concentric geological depressions, reinforced by agricultural terracing that follows the shape of these geological lines.
Then, leave this interesting archaeological site to follow the path to Maras Pampas, where people farm the land to rear cattle and sheep. The Urubamba mountain range and its snow-capped peaks provide a spectacular background for your hike. Continue your walk through spectacular Quechua scenery, to arrive at the salineras of Maras (Maras Saltpans), where the bright white glow can be seen from a distance. These salt mines have been exploited for centuries and continue to be worked (recently elegant bath products and table salt made from Maras salt have come on the market). Enjoy a sumptuous picnic lunch and return to your hotel.
This morning you will head to Ollantaytambo station to board the Vistadome train to Aguas Calientes. Enjoy a unique train ride towards the marvellous Inca ruins of Machu Picchu. Get the most outstanding views of the Urubamba River, which cuts its way through green fields beneath the high peaks of the Andean glaciers.
On arrival, take a shuttle bus and climb up the hillside to Machu Picchu, the Lost City of the Incas. Machu Picchu, which means ‘Old Mountain’, is a UNESCO World Heritage site and one of the seven new wonders of the world.
Enjoy a delicious buffet lunch at the famous Belmond Sanctuary Lodge Hotel, in its unequalled location at the entrance of the Inca Citadel ruins. We will spend the rest of the afternoon visiting the Sacred Inca citadel, exploring its main temples and hidden corners. Later, we will take the bus back to town and proceed to your hotel, where you will enjoy dinner in the evening.
This morning you have the option to climb the Huayna Picchu or the Machu Picchu Mountain, where one can experience spectacular views across Machu Picchu as well as the valleys and mountains that surround it. In the afternoon, you’ll hop back on the train for a wonderfully scenic journey back to Cusco for your final night before you fly home from Lima.
Day Itinerary
£15,100pp
7 Day Itinerary
Guide Price: £8,700pp
Take in the highlights of Peru, with a four day Amazon cruise before trekking through the Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu in an action packed week with the family.
10 Day Itinerary
Guide Price: £7,700pp
Discover Chile’s impressive highlights by exploring its diverse landscape featuring the scenic Lake District, sprawling vineyards and the historic architecture of colonial towns such as Santiago.
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