3 Weeks in Chile, Bolivia & Peru
Itinerary
Day 1 – Arrival in Santiago de Chile
Your adventure kicks off the moment you land in Santiago. If it’s a clear day, you’ll get a fantastic view of the city as you land. An English-speaking guide will be waiting to take you straight to your hotel in the heart of the city. Once you’ve settled in, take a stroll and get acquainted with your surroundings and the vibe of the city, which is home to about 5 million people. In the city centre, you’ll see old colonial buildings and churches mixed in with modern offices, international restaurants, and fancy boutiques. And all of this is set against the stunning backdrop of the snow-capped Andes.
Day 2 – Guided tour through Santiago de Chile
Today, you’ll head out on a half-day tour to explore Chile’s capital with a guide. You’ll be picked up from your hotel and join a small group of fellow travellers. The tour shows the blend of old and new in Santiago, with stops at La Plaza de Armas (the main square), Santa Lucia Hill, and the Cathedral. You’ll also get to see some key landmarks including La Moneda (the Government Palace) and the Post Office building. The best views can be enjoyed from Cerro San Cristobal, set in the city’s largest urban park. The rest of your day is free to continue exploring independently.
Day 3 – Flight to San Pedro de Atacama
It’s time to move on and you’ll be transferred to the airport in time to catch a flight to Calama. On arrival you’ll be met and transferred to San Pedro – a journey of around 2.5-hours. Once you’ve settled into your hotel, the evening is yours to do as you like – there are plenty of places to eat. San Pedro de Atacama is located in the heart of the dry Atacama Desert. Just outside town, you’ll find the “Salar de Atacama,” a mirage-like salt flat, with the 5,916-metre Licancabur volcano towering behind it.
Day 4 – Discover the Valle de la Luna
Take it easy this morning with a relaxed walk through the charming streets of San Pedro. Most of the buildings, including the 17th-century church, are made of adobe. It’s worth visiting the Gustavo Paín Anthropological Museum, where you’ll find artefacts from the ancestors of today’s locals. In the afternoon, you’ll be picked up from your hotel for a trip into the Atacama Desert with an international group. There will be a few stops on the way at lookout points. Then you’ll enter the Valle de la Luna, where wind, sun, sand, salt, and stone have created the strangest landscapes. In the distance, you’ll see the Andes peaks towering proudly. Find a quiet spot on top of a hill to enjoy the sunset and moonrise, as the surroundings transform into magical shades of red, purple, green, and blue. You’ll be back in San Pedro by early evening.
Day 5 – Across the Atacama
You’ll start your morning with an early pick-up, and meet your guide, cook, and fellow travellers for the next few days of adventure in the desert. The first stop is crossing the border into Bolivia at Hito Cajones—one of the highest and possibly most basic customs points around. After getting through the quick formalities, the journey continues as you climb into the Altiplano, where you can enjoy stunning views of the towering Licancabur volcano and the striking green waters of Laguna Verde.
After a break at Laguna Verde, continue on to the volcanic geysers of Sol de Mañana, and then on to Laguna Colorada. This lake has a fascinating twist: it’s home to algae that give the water a unique red hue, which also draws in large flocks of flamingos that feast on the algae. The sight is pretty surreal! From there, you’ll continue through the desert landscape until reaching your high-altitude lodge, where a warm meal, a sky full of stars, and thick blankets will be waiting.
Day 6 – The desert and the volcano
Today, you’ll keep travelling through the unique landscape as you head toward Uyuni. It’s quite a long journey, but you’ll make plenty of stops along the way. You’ll pass several beautiful lagoons, home to different types of flamingos, and cruise through the Salvador Dalí Desert, named after its bizarre rock formations shaped by the winds over millions of years. In the afternoon, you’ll visit the massive Thunupa volcano, where you might spot some of the local ducks and gulls that hang around this area. Afterward, you’ll continue descending and spend the evening in a simple lodge close to the region’s most iconic sight – the sprawling Salar de Uyuni.
Day 7 – Across the Salar de Uyuni
Make sure you’ve charged your camera because today you’re off to the world’s largest salt flat! If you’re travelling during the rainy season (January to April), you might catch a mirror effect from a thin layer of water. The rest of the year, it’s an endless stretch of flat white salt against the blue sky. If you get lucky with the weather, you’ll stop at a cactus island in the middle of the Salar for some amazing panoramic views. There will be plenty of time to explore the salt surface, take photos, and enjoy the incredible surroundings. By late afternoon, you’ll head to Uyuni, where we’ve booked a cosy hotel for you to relax and unwind.
Day 8 – Flight to La Paz
Today you’ll take a flight from Uyuni to La Paz, where you’ll spend the next two nights. La Paz is nestled in a deep gorge at over 3,500 metres above sea level, surrounded by the snowy Andes peaks. It’s a spectacular setting. With its bowler hat wearing locals, colonial churches, colourful markets and sunny weather, the city has a totally unique Bolivian vibe. You’ll be staying in a colonial-style hotel right in the centre of La Paz, within walking distance of the main sights. Take it easy today as you adjust to the altitude and drink plenty of water to stay hydrated.
Day 9 – Explore La Paz
Since everyone reacts differently to altitude, there are no planned activities for today. If you’re feeling OK, take the opportunity to explore the city at your own pace. Start with a cable car ride for some fantastic views of north and central La Paz. Then wander through the winding streets and plazas, check out the local markets and sample a Bolivian empanada. Not to be missed is the Witches’ Market – a unique street packed with knitted hats and other local souvenirs.
Day 10 – Cross the Bolivian border to Isla del Sol
This morning, you’ll be picked up at your hotel and taken to the bus station where you board a bus for the three hour journey to the Bolivia border. After roughly two hours, you’ll hop off the bus to cross a branch of the lake, since there’s no bridge. The bus will go on a raft, but you’ll take a smaller boat instead for a few Bolivianos. You might even reach the other side before the bus, so you can grab some snacks from the stalls. Then, it’s back on the bus for the final hour along Lake Titicaca to Copacabana.
Your hotel is right by the lake, and you’ll arrive just in time for lunch. In the afternoon we’ve arranged a boat trip across the lake to Isla del Sol, which is known as the birthplace of the first Inca king. On a guided walk around the island, your guide will share all about the local lifestyle and the importance of Inca religion. The Incas believed this island was where the sun was born, which is why many temples here are dedicated to the Sun God. Opposite Isla del Sol is quite appropriately Isla de la Luna, island of the moon. As you walk, enjoy views of the lake with the snow-capped Andes in the background—it really gives the place a magical atmosphere. Later that afternoon, it’s time to hop back on the boat and head back to the mainland.
Day 11 – Across the border into Peru
Your morning is free to explore Copacabana. Take a stroll by the lake, visit the local church, or hike up the hill behind your hotel for a stunning view of the lake and the village. In the afternoon you’ll take a bus to the Peruvian border. It’s just a quick 20-minute ride to the border, where you’ll need to get your bags off the bus for the border checks. The bus will be waiting for you on the Peruvian side for the two-hour trip along Lake Titicaca to Puno. You’ll be staying at a cosy hotel in a quiet area just a few blocks from Plaza de Armas, the lively centre of Puno. The place has a colourful, traditional vibe that adds to its charm.
Day 12 – Lake Titicaca boat tour
Puno sits on the west coast of the vast Lake Titicaca. This morning, you’ll take a boat tour of the lake. Your first stop is Taquile, where about 2,000 islanders live. There are no hotels here, so the island keeps its charm and traditions alive. You’ll take a stroll with your guide to discover what life is like on this beautiful little island. Next, you’ll head over to the Capachica peninsula, where the Santa Maria locals will be cooking lunch for you using traditional underground ovens heated by hot stones. The final stop is the floating reed islands of Uros. With fewer fish around, these communities have started relying more on tourism and will be selling handmade souvenirs. The floating islands might seem a bit less authentic these days, but they still offer an insight into this ancient way of life and help support the local people.
Day 13 – All roads lead to…Cusco
Time to move on and after breakfast, you’ll take a bus to Cusco which was once the capital of the Inca Empire. Our local representative will be waiting for you when you arrive, to transfer you to your hotel. Settle in to your hotel and then head out to explore. Wander through the streets of San Blas, where artists sell their colourful creations, and grab a coffee on the balcony of Café Trotamundos overlooking the Plaza de Armas. This is the heart of Cusco, and here you’ll find plenty of shops to explore and no shortage of great restaurants to try.
Day 14 – City tour in Cusco
After a good night’s rest, you’ll head out on a history-packed walking tour of the city with an English-speaking guide. About 500 years ago, Cusco was the heart of the Inca Empire, which stretched all the way from Ecuador to Bolivia and Chile at its peak. These days, it’s a lively modern city, but reminders of its Inca past are everywhere. Take a walk down Calle Loreto, the oldest street in Cusco, and you’ll see perfectly preserved Inca walls still standing strong, without a bit of concrete. You’ll start your tour at Qurikancha, the most important temple of the Inca Empire. Then, you’ll visit Cusco’s cathedral before heading to the artisan neighbourhood of San Blas, where you can check out some beautiful religious paintings inside the church. After the tour you are free to continue exploring independently.
Day 15 – Inca jungle trail: Cusco to Santa Maria, with a mountain bike ride
You’ll start your day from a pre-arranged meeting point and head to the Sacred Valley. It’s a three-hour drive to the 4,300-metre-high Malaga Pass. After a quick briefing and getting geared up, you’ll hop on your mountain bike for a 2,000-metre descent over three hours, passing through villages, fruit plantations, and rivers. The ride ends in Huamanmarca. Then it’s a 30-minute drive to Santa Maria, where the jungle’s warm, humid air replaces the cool Andes breeze. You’ll stay overnight in a simple, family-run hotel with private facilities.
Day 16 – Inca jungle trail: hike from Santa Maria to Santa Teresa
After breakfast, you’ll set off on today’s guided hike, passing through coffee, cocoa, and coca plantations, along with orchards and flowers like orchids. Your guide will point out different plants and birds along the way. You’ll stop by a local family’s home to refill your water and try some fresh fruit. The trail continues along an original Inca path toward Machu Picchu, where your guide will share some Inca history. After taking in the views from a canyon, you’ll head to the village of Quellomayo for lunch and a break in a hammock. Then, it’s a two-hour walk to the Cocalmayo hot springs, where you can relax before finishing the day in Santa Teresa.
Day 17 – Inca jungle trail: hike from Santa Teresa to Aguas Calientes
Another scenic trek is planned today. Begin with a three-hour walk through the valley to Hydroelectrica, the end of the train line from Cusco to Aguas Calientes. The group will meet up here for lunch before setting off on a final three-hour walk along the tracks toward Aguas Calientes. You’ll walk through lush, tropical surroundings, pass rivers, and be surrounded by the towering Machu Picchu and Huayna Picchu mountains. If you’re lucky, you might catch a glimpse of an ancient Incan sundial or even parts of the Machu Picchu citadel in the distance. In the evening, enjoy dinner and some time to explore the village before heading to bed early. Tomorrow, you’re off to the highlight of your trip: Machu Picchu!
Day 18 – Visit Machu Picchu, then train to Cusco
Early in the morning, you climb the 1,500 steps to Machu Picchu’s entrance, which takes about an hour. If you’d rather take it easy, you can buy a bus ticket in the village for a quick 25-minute ride to the gates. We aim to get you an early entrance ticket so you can watch the sun rise behind the mountains, clearing the mist and revealing the ancient city. Your guide will share fascinating stories about Machu Picchu’s history and buildings. Discovered by accident in 1911 by Hiram Bingham, the site still feels magical as you wander through its temples, terraces, and corridors. You’ll spend the morning exploring Machu Picchu, and when you’re ready to leave, there will be buses waiting to take you back to Aguas Calientes. You can grab lunch on your own, and in the afternoon, you’ll hop on the train back to Cusco, where you will stay for the night.
Day 19 – Flight to Lima
This morning you’ll take a flight from Cusco to Lima – the final stop on your epic journey. Once you arrive, our local partners will take you to your hotel in the heart of Miraflores, the city’s trendy coastal area filled with fantastic restaurants and bars. Take it easy this evening—relax after your travels, explore the neighbourhood, and treat yourself to some delicious Peruvian food!
Days 20 & 21 – Market and city tour in Lima & depart
Today, your local guide will take you to a bustling market in Miraflores. You’ll get to sample various fruits and vegetables, and even coca leaves, plus learn about the numerous different potato varieties grown here. After that, you’ll hop on a local bus to head to the city centre, where you’ll get a chance to mingle with the locals. Expect a wild ride as the bus weaves through streets packed with taxis, vans, cars, and other buses, all honking like they’re in a race! Your guide will show you some interesting spots and share insights that you won’t find in any guidebook. You’ll get a mini history lesson about the different types of buildings and how Lima has evolved over time. Plus, there’ll be some tasty local treats for you to try along the way! The next day you’ll make your own way to the airport in time to catch your homebound flight.
Accommodation
