Highlights of Perú, Bolivia & Chile - 14 Days

Day 1: Arrive in Cusco (Peru), Free Time to Explore

Welcome to Peru! Upon arrival in the capital of Lima, you'll catch a connecting flight one hour south to Cusco. Located high in the Andes mountains, this area has been settled for thousands of years. However, it wasn't until 1200 CE that Cusco was officially founded as a center for Inca rule. It remained the capital of the Inca Kingdom until the Spanish conquest in the 16th century. Today, this well-preserved historic city boasts an incredible mix of Spanish colonial architecture and ancient Inca archaeological sites.

Upon arrival at the airport, a driver will be waiting to transfer you to your hotel in the city. After checking in, you'll have the rest of the day free to discover Cusco's highlights at your own pace. You could start at the Plaza de Armas, the city's main square, where you'll also find the Cusco Cathedral, which dates to 1654. A few blocks from the plaza is Qoricancha (Temple of the Sun), Cusco's religious and political center during the Inca reign. As you explore, be sure to drink plenty of water and pace yourself as you adjust to the altitude—Cusco sits at 11,000 feet (3,000 m) above sea level.

Day 2: Tour Pisac & Ollantaytambo Tour, Train to Aguas Calientes

Get ready for your first full day of sightseeing in Peru. After an early breakfast, you'll join a group and transfer north of Cusco to the Sacred Valley. Your first stop is the hilltop ruins overlooking the town of Pisac. Along with your group and guide, you'll explore this archaeological site comprised of Inca burial grounds, irrigation systems, and astronomy centers. Then head into town and visit Pisac's famous textile market. It's a great place to pick up a handmade garment to take home as a souvenir or gift.

After a break for a traditional Peruvian lunch, you'll visit the ancient city of Ollantaytambo, one of the few remaining places in the Sacred Valley that has retained its original Inca urban planning. As you walk amid the site, you'll witness marvels of early civil engineering in the form of ancient canals and Inca-era homes still in use today. Then, hike up the terraced agricultural fields to enjoy sweeping views of the valley, towns, and ruins from the top. You'll even see some of the quarries from where the stone for Ollantaytambo was sourced. 

Later, board a train in Ollantaytambo for the two-hour ride west to Aguas Calientes. This little mountain town might not look like much, but it sits at the foot of the legendary Machu Picchu and is the main hub for excursions to the "Lost City of the Inca." Upon arrival, you'll check into your hotel and have the evening free. Try to get to bed early, because tomorrow you leave for Machu Picchu.

Day 3: Explore Machu Picchu, Return to Cusco

Get an early start as you leave from Aguas Calientes on a 25-minute bus ride up the mountain to Machu Picchu. This 15th-century Inca citadel is located at 7,970 feet (2,430 m) and is a masterpiece of engineering that served as a sanctuary and retreat for the Inca Emperor Pachacutec and his royal court. Among other accolades, Machu Picchu has earned UNESCO World Heritage status and is one of the New Seven Wonders of the World.

During a 2.5-hour tour led by an expert guide, you'll hike to all corners of the complex and visit its most famous features and landmarks. These include astronomical/ritual stone structures like the Temple of the Sun and the Temple of the Moon. Many landmarks, like the Sacred Plaza and Inca Bridge, showcase the Incas' architectural prowess and skill at cultivating crops on steep hillsides. After the tour, take the bus back to Aguas Calientes, where you can enjoy lunch in the town center before boarding a train back to Cusco via Ollantaytambo. In Cusco, you'll check into your hotel and have the evening free.

Day 4: Scenic Train Journey to Puno 

It's time to say goodbye to Cusco. This morning, you'll return to the train station and hop aboard the PeruRail Titicaca. This rail line offers various routes around the Andes, including today's journey from Cusco to Puno. A large and colorful city in southeastern Peru, Puno sits on the shores of Lake Titicaca, the largest lake in South America by volume and the highest navigable lake in the world at 12,507 feet (3,812 m).

The ride to Puno takes around 10.5 hours, and you'll travel in the ultimate style in Pullman-style rail cars inspired by the 1920s. During the trip, you'll enjoy onboard entertainment, live music, and gourmet dining. Head to the glass observation car for panoramic views of the passing Andean landscapes, including snowcapped peaks, terraced hillsides, and picturesque villages, then stop by the bar for a pisco sour tasting or some afternoon tea. When you pull into Puno for the evening, a driver will be waiting to help collect your bags and take you to your hotel.

Day 5: Lake Titicaca Cruise & Uros & Taquile Floating Islands Tour

Spend a full day exploring Lake Titicaca on a scenic boat tour, starting at the Uros Floating Islands. The human-made islands were constructed from totora reeds by the Uros people, one of the first ethnic groups to populate the Andean region. As you step onto one of the islands, enjoy a welcome from the friendly locals, who'll teach you about their traditional way of life. Tour their thatched houses, built from the same reeds that form the islands as they grow in abundance around the lake. Then, learn about their traditional practices like fishing, weaving, and reed boatmaking.

After the tour, thank the Uros people for their time and continue to Isla Taquile for lunch at a local restaurant. Reaching the restaurant requires a strenuous climb up 500 steps, then on arrival, enjoy regional dishes like quinoa soup, fresh fish caught in the lake, and vegetables. Afterward, wander around the island, where you'll see thatched-roof houses, terraced fields, and local artisans proudly showcasing their handmade textiles. As you walk, you'll learn more about the Taquileños' communal and isolated way of life, as there are no cars and minimal electricity on the island.

Day 6: Scenic Transfer to La Paz (Bolivia)

Swap Peru for Bolivia today when you join a private driver for the five-hour drive south along the shores of Lake Titicaca to Desaguadero on the Bolivian border. Here, a guide will be waiting to help you clear customs, then you'll switch to another car for the two-hour journey east to La Paz. Rising above the vast Altiplano plateau and surrounded by snowcapped peaks, this is the world's highest administrative capital at 11,975 feet (3,650 m). Check into your hotel and rest after your drive, then spend the late afternoon getting to know the city. 

You could start with a visit to Plaza Murillo, home to the Cathedral and Presidential Palace, or take a stroll along Calle Jaén, a long, perfectly preserved colonial street lined with cobblestones and colorful historic buildings. For dizzying views, take a ride on the Mi Teleférico, the world's highest urban cable car system.

Day 7: Fly to Uyuni, Explore the Uyuni Salt Flats by 4WD

 After a restful night in La Paz, return to the airport for a one-hour flight to Uyuni, your starting point for a three-day tour of the Salar de Uyuni, a vast salt flat stretching over 3,861 square miles (10,000 sq km). Upon arrival, your driver will take you to a local restaurant for a hearty breakfast. Then, hop into a rugged 4WD vehicle and set off toward the small town of Colchani, where you'll visit a traditional family-run salt factory.

From there, your guide and driver will take you on a 50-mile (80 km) journey across the salt flats to the fascinating volcanic island of Incahuasi. This is the largest island in the salt flats, and it's renowned for its impressive landscape of giant cacti, some of which reach heights of up to 39 feet (12 m). Break here to enjoy a delicious picnic lunch surrounded by a sea of white, then take a one-hour hike along the trail of giant cacti to the island's summit, where you'll be rewarded with 360-degree panoramic views. In the afternoon, your driver will drop you at your hotel to settle in for the night.

Day 8: Scenic 4WD Transfer to Siloli via Route of Volcanoes & Lagoons

Hop back in your 4WD vehicle with your guide this morning and set off along the scenic Route of the Volcanoes. Your first stop is the Ollagüe volcano viewpoint, offering a clear view of this still-active volcano on the Bolivian-Chilean border. The route continues to Laguna Cañapa, where high mountain peaks are reflected in its glassy waters, and on to Laguna Hedionda, where you'll have a picnic-style lunch and the opportunity to observe and photograph pink flamingoes in their natural environment.

Sit back and watch the landscapes shift as you continue south and into the Siloli Desert, an arid expanse known for its natural, wind-carved rock formations. During the drive, you'll make a stop at the spectacular Laguna Colorada, known for its striking red waters caused by an algae that thrives in its salty environs. Snap more photos of flamingoes and desert vistas against this remarkable backdrop, then get back on the road and continue to your nearby hotel, where dinner will be waiting.  

Day 9: Scenic 4WD Transfer to San Pedro de Atacama (Chile)

It's the final day of your 4WD desert adventure, and it starts when you set out early in the morning for a journey through some of the Altiplano's most iconic landscapes. Your first stop is the Sol de Mañana Geysers, where you'll witness powerful steam vents and bubbling mud pools at sunrise—a dramatic display of geothermal activity at nearly 16,404 feet (5,000 m) above sea level.

Next, visit Laguna Polque, where you can soak in warm thermal waters surrounded by views of the high Andes, and continue through the surreal Salvador Dalí Desert, named for its dreamlike scenery that resembles one of the artist's paintings with its vast expanse of colored sands and sculpted rock formations. The journey concludes at Laguna Verde, a bright turquoise lake with a dramatic setting set at the base of the Licancabur volcano, right on the border with Chile. Here, you'll say your goodbyes to your guide and switch vehicles for the crossing into Chile, ending at your hotel in San Pedro de Atacama.

Day 10: Sunrise at the Tatio Geysers, Transfer to Calama, Fly to Santiago

Today you'll wake up in San Pedro, surrounded by the volcanoes, salt flats, and hot springs of the Atacama Desert. Spend the day exploring these expanses with a tour of one of the most remarkable geothermal fields on the planet. You'll start with a drive to the Tatio Geysers, located at 13,780 feet (4,200 m) above sea level and home to the most extensive set of geysers in the Southern Hemisphere. Your early predawn start will be worth it when you witness the steam of over 80 geysers at sunrise, sending towering steam columns into the cool morning air.

The return journey takes you through more hills and mountains of the Andean Altiplano, listening as your guide explains its unique high-altitude ecosystems, such as the Vados de Putana wetlands, home to exceptional biodiversity. Your last stop is at the charming village of Machuca, where you can get a glimpse of the region's local culture and traditions amid an authentic desert settlement. Once you're back in San Pedro, it's time for the final leg of your journey as you transfer to the airport in Calama and board a flight to Santiago. 

Day 11: Fly to Rapa Nui (Easter Island)

Leave mainland Chile this morning on a grand adventure in the South Pacific. Transfer to the airport in Santiago and catch a five-hour flight to Rapa Nui, also known as Easter Island. One of the most remote inhabited islands in the world, this volcanic wonderland is most famous for its nearly 900 monumental statues called moai. These were created by native inhabitants during the 13th to 16th centuries and range in height from 13-33 feet (4-10 m).

After you've settled in at your hotel in the central town of Hanga Roa, meet and drive about 15 minutes north to Ahu Akivi. This ceremonial platform is home to seven moai, and in ancient times, it doubled as a celestial observatory. The seven moai (said to represent the first Polynesian explorers to reach the island) face the sunset during the spring equinox, and their backs are to the sunrise during autumn. Your guide will time the visit perfectly to catch a dramatic sunset over the island and the ocean, before taking you back to your hotel in time for dinner.

Day 12: Discover the Rapa Nui Moais & Visit Anakena Beach

Take a guided tour of some of the most important geographical and cultural sites of the island today. One highlight is a stop at the Rano Raraku quarry, where over 900 of the famous moai statues were originally carved. Many partly-completed moai can still be seen, illustrating the stages of construction and transport, and you'll settle in among these remarkable surroundings for a picnic lunch.

In the afternoon, you'll visit the island's largest beach (and the best spot for swimming), Anakena Beach. Usually white, the coral sand can gain a beautiful pink hue depending on the light. Legend says that this is where the Polynesian chief Hotu Mau first arrived. Spend some time enjoying the fine sand and gentle surf, then take a walk to explore two small caves and continue to the smaller Poike and Ovahe beaches. At the end of the day, your driver will drop you back at your hotel.

Day 13: Visit the Orongo Ceremonial Center & Rano Kao Volcano 

This morning, your guide will take you to the extinct volcano of Rano Kau. From here, you'll get a 360-degree view of the island and an up-close look at the round crater lake and other geological features. Your guide will point out examples of the crater's fascinating ecology and explain how its steep walls and sheltered environs create a unique habitat for rare plants. Then, continue to the nearby village of Orongo, the ceremonial center of the island's Birdman cult. Learn about the annual competition to be chief, and seek out some of the many spectacular petroglyphs around the village before you return to town.

Day 14: Fly to Santiago, Depart

This marks your last day on the island. Depending on your flight schedule, you should have some time to explore Rapa Nui a bit more before transferring to the airport. Once you do, you'll hop a flight back to Santiago and catch your connecting flight home.

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