19 Day Adventure through Peru, Bolivia & Chile Small Group Tour

Welcome to Lima, the "City of Kings". Upon arrival at the airport, make your own way to the hotel.

At 6:00PM, you will meet your tour leader for a welcome briefing & some tips during your stay in Peru.

Airport transfers are not included. Our transfer portal offers the option to book your airport transfers for an easier arrival experience (additional charges apply). Access to this portal will be available through your Traveller Hub once your booking is confirmed.

Today, embark on an active, full-day walking tour of Lima. We will start with a private vehicle transfer to the historical centre, where we begin our tour at Plaza de Armas, home to key buildings such as the cathedral, Government Palace, and Archbishop’s Palace. From there, visit the Central Market, which offers a variety of fresh produce, including local fruits and delicacies.

For lunch, we’ll head to ChinaTown to enjoy a meal at a "Chifa" restaurant, where Peruvian and Chinese cuisines blend.

After lunch, we return to Miraflores to continue our tour, visiting Parque del Amor (Love Park) and the Malecon, a scenic strip of parks and gardens along the cliffs overlooking the sea.

After returning to your hotel, enjoy an evening at leisure.

After breakfast, you will be transferred to the airport for our flight to Cusco, the historic heartland and former capital of the Incan Empire. Known for its unique blend of Inca and Spanish colonial architecture, Cusco is a favourite among visitors to Peru. Spend some time acclimatising to the city's altitude of 3450 metres (11,150 feet) and exploring its Baroque churches and ancient temples.

In the afternoon, our guide will take us on an orientation walk around the city centre. We will visit the Stone of Twelve Angles at the Inca Roca Palace on Hatun Rumilloc Street and see the façade of the Coricancha temple, regarded as the most sacred Inca building. We’ll then walk to the Plaza de Armas, surrounded by colonial arcades and four churches, including the beautiful 16th-century Cathedral of Cusco. Finally, we explore the traditional and picturesque neighbourhood of San Blas, known for its art studios, artisan workshops, bars, and restaurants. Following the tour we return to our hotel. 

The evening is free to relax.  Perhaps head out to exlpore one of the many local restaurants.

Today, we’ll be visiting the Sacred Valley of the Incas. First stop is at El Mirador, where we can see the entire valley and learn about Inca history. The Sacred Valley was a key settlement for the Incas, with its agreeable climate and fertile plains. Here, they sculpted the mountain flanks with terracing and irrigation channels. Our driver and guide will suggest the best points for pictures.

Next, we continue to the ruins of Pisac, where we'll learn about Inca culture and see fine stonework and agricultural terraces. We’ll then visit the Andean community of Amaru near Pisac, where the women will demonstrate ancient weaving techniques. Enjoy a traditional lunch with a local family, supporting their livelihood.

Afterward, we will drive through the valley, along the Urubamba River to Ollantaytambo, a magnificent example of Incan urban planning and one of the few places where the Incas defeated the Spanish. We’ll visit the ruins, including an impressive rock formation representing the Inca god Wiracocha. At the end of the day, we check into our hotel in this beautiful Inca town.

Today, we’ll embark on an exhilarating hike along part of the iconic Inca Trail towards Machu Picchu. Starting early, we make our way to the nearby train station to board a scenic train ride to Kilometre 104, the gateway to our adventure.  

We’ll cross the river and start our climb towards Machu Picchu. Our journey takes us past the Chachabamba archaeological complex before tackling an 8 km (5 miles) ascent. We’ll reach the stunning Wiñaywayna complex, known for its impressive agricultural terraces, religious sector, and urban area, after about four hours of trekking.

As we hike, we’ll be treated to breathtaking views of the Urubamba River valley, the Choquesuysuy archaeological complex, and a spectacular waterfall. We’ll refuel with a box lunch on the trail. Our adventure continues as we ascend to Inti Punku, or The Sun Gate, where we’ll be rewarded with our first glimpse of Machu Picchu. After descending to the main entrance, we’ll stop at a classic viewpoint for an unforgettable photo opportunity with Machu Picchu in the background.

Finally, we’ll board a tourist shuttle bus to Aguas Calientes, where we’ll unwind in a cozy hotel and prepare for our official exploration of the Machu Picchu site tomorrow morning.

Waking Time : 6- 7 hours, depending on physical conditions.
Hiking distance : 12.5 km approx.
Lowest Elevation : 2040 metre-high
Highest Elevation : 2700 metre-high

Please Note: For the 1-Day Inca Trail trek, you’ll need to take just a backpack with your personal items for the night in Aguas Calientes town. Your main luggage will be safely stored at your hotel in Ollantaytambo and will be collected the next day on the way back to Cusco.

After breakfast, we’ll return to Machu Picchu by shuttle bus. This is truly a magical place, and the sight of the site emerging from the mist is unforgettable. Perched high in the Andes and surrounded by lush cloud forest, Machu Picchu sits on a ridge, hidden from view below and maintaining its secret until 1911.

We’ll embark on a guided tour along “circuit 3,” exploring various ruins including temples, palaces, and living quarters. It’s mesmerising to look down on the city from above and imagine what it was like during the height of the Inca empire. After our 2-3 hour tour, we’ll catch the shuttle bus back to town for a delicious “celebration” lunch at a local restaurant before making our way back to Cusco.  Our return journey will be via a scenic train journey to Ollantaytambo where we will collect our luggage before continuing by road back to Cusco.

Today is a day for rest and rejuvenation. For those feeling adventurous, an optional hike to the stunning Rainbow Mountain is recommended.

Today, we’ll say goodbye to Cusco and head to Puno, the gateway to the famous Titicaca Lake. We’ll travel by private vehicle (approx. 10 hours), with the journey offering a range of landscapes. The first part of the trip features the dramatic Andean mountains and deep valleys, transitioning to the gentler rolling Andean plains where we might spot vicuñas and alpacas. Along the way, we’ll pass notable sites such as the Andahuaylillas church, known as the Sistine Chapel of the Americas, the Raqchi archaeological site, and the scenic La Raya pass with views of the Chimboya Glacier.

Lunch will be included at a local restaurant on our route. We’ll arrive in Puno around 6:00 PM and settle into our hotel in the city centre. Puno is renowned for its location by Titicaca Lake, the highest navigable lake in the world, surrounded by vibrant islands and rich wildlife. The area is steeped in history, with ancient Quechua communities like the Aimaras, Uros, Pacajes, and Paquinas. Founded by the Spanish in 1668, Puno is a colourful and welcoming city that beautifully blends tradition and culture.

Today, we’ll explore and navigate the stunning Lake Titicaca, the highest lake in the world. Our full-day boat tour will offer a glimpse into Andean culture. The lake is dotted with islands where the locals continue to uphold ancient customs and traditions.

Our first stop will be the Uros Floating Islands, with its unique community that has lived on these reed islands for decades. Originally created by the indigenous Uros tribe to protect themselves from rival tribes, these floating islands are made from bundled reeds and feature reed houses and canoes, forming a small, self-sustaining world.

After exploring the floating islands, we’ll head to Taquile Island, where about 2,200 residents live. Taquile is renowned for its warm hospitality, skilled weaving traditions, pre-Columbian constructions, and picturesque landscapes. 

Included is a traditional lunch at a local family's home before returning to Puno by boat in the afternoon.

Bid farewell to Peru as this morning you will be transferred from Puno to the Peru-Bolivia border, accompanied by a local guide.  After clearing Peruvian and Bolivian immigration you will meet with your tour leader who will accompany you throughout the journey.  Please remember to keep your passport handy.

Continue by road to the city of La Paz (approx. 5 hours).  At around 3,600 m, La Paz feels like the top of the world. Although Sucre is the official capital of Bolivia, La Paz is the centre of commerce, finance and industry. Despite the abundance of colonial architecture, La Paz's indigenous roots run deep, and the atmosphere in the market-filled streets is both modern and traditional.  

On arrival in La Paz, check into your hotel.  This evening there will be a group meeting to discuss the next 10 days and meet any joining passengers.

Note: Due to Peruvian and Bolivian regulations, it is necessary to change transport and guides in Desagüadero. 

This morning enjoy a half day tour to experience the city.   Visit the Killi Killi viewpoint where you can take impressive pictures of the city. Then visit the historic centre of the city of La Paz including Plaza Murillo, Executive Palace, Legislative Palace, and the Metropolitan Cathedral.  We will then continue to the Valle de Luna, or Moon Valley, to see amazing geological formations.  Created by erosion, the valley resembles a lunar landscape. 

On return to the city centre, we will take a ride on the yellow line cable car for a beautiful panorama of the city of La Paz. One of the most picturesque means of urban air transport, the cable car will allow you to witness the secrets of the city from the air as well as admire the snow-capped mountain of Illimani.

Finally, visit the Mercado de las Brujas (Witches Market), a place full of traditions and objects to carry out ancestral Andean rituals.  Other stalls display colourful handi-crafts.  Later transfer back to your hotel.  

The remainder of the day is at leisure.

In the morning, you’ll be transferred to the airport to take your included flight to Sucre. On arrival, you'll be transferred to your hotel. 

Sucre is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful cities in Bolivia and South America. Enjoy a guided walking tour through the enchanting streets of the city, where the neoclassical facades, magnificent colonial churches, and the warm hospitality of its people create a captivating atmosphere.

Known as the "Ciudad Blanca" or White City, Sucre preserves the colonial architecture of past centuries in its historic centre. Explore the most attractive places and important historical monuments, including the May 25th Square, the Cathedral, the renowned House of Freedom (where Bolivia's declaration of independence was signed on August 6th, 1825), the museum, The Recoleta (which served as a convent, barracks, prison,and museum), the Church of San Francisco, and much more.

For your flight today, any tickets that are required will be provided for you on tour by your tour leader.

This morning is free to further explore the city.

In the afternoon you will be transferred to Potosi by private transport (approx. 3 hours). Once the wealthiest city in the Americas thanks to its location at the base of silver ore-rich Cerro Rico (Rich Hill). The discovery and extraction of the silver led to a financial boom for the Spanish empire; however, the city’s riches quickly diminished and its citizens soon slipped into poverty once the silver dried up.

Begin your morning with a guided walking tour through the significant streets of Potosi, exploring the local market, and venturing to a silver mine, where we hear from a former miner about its history and tragic legacy.

Note: To ensure a safer and enriching experience, we've collaborated with a local operator to provide a secure option for your mine visit. This tour involves a visit to the miner's market, a minerals distillery, and an external exploration of the mine. We believe this experience offers a great understanding of the socio, cultural, and economic importance of the mine to Potosi and the region while avoiding the risks associated with entering the mine. Please be aware that your group leader is strictly prohibited from recommending or assisting travellers in booking alternative mine tours.  

In the afternoon, leave Potosi behind and embark on a journey to the town of Uyuni (approx. 3-4 hours). Nestled on the edge of the high Altiplano, Uyuni serves as a gateway to the expansive Salt Flats. Notably, it is situated above the world's largest lithium reserve, boasting around 100 million tons. While this won't jumpstart a dead battery, the extracted lithium from Uyuni has the potential to fuel the planet's smartphones and electric cars for the next century. Upon arrival, take advantage of free time to relax before the thrilling Salar de Uyuni excursion scheduled for tomorrow. 

Today we take an exciting full day excursion to the incredible salt flats of Bolivia.  First stop will be the Train Cemetery. Later, we'll head to the town of Colchani, where the salt processing centre is located. You'll receive a comprehensive explanation of the drying, grinding, and packaging process. 

Afterward, we'll proceed to the salar, making our first stop at the Ojos de Salar, offering a glimpse of the internal activity of the salt flat. Following that, we'll visit Playa Blanca, home to the unique "Salt Hotel-Museum," the first of its kind.

Around noon, we'll explore "Incahuasi Island" situated in the heart of the Salt Flat. Here, you'll encounter extraordinary calcareous rocks, extensive populations of cacti, caves, tunnels, and a breathtaking 360- degree panoramic view of the Salt Flat. 

By late afternoon, we'll return to the hotel.  

Note: Transport today will be by 4x4 with 4 guests per vehicle to ensure a window seat.  Your tour leader will rotate between vehicles throughout the day.

An early start today as we head to the Bolivia and Chile border.  Please remember to keep your passport handy. 

The journey will take most of the day but offers stunning scenery along the way as you pass by geysers, salt flats and snow-capped volcanoes on your way to San Pedro de Atacama in Chile.  There will be opportunities to stop for photos and stretch your legs.  Lunch is included enroute.

As a small oasis town, San Pedro is surrounded by extraordinary scenery. Your night is free to explore the town and its many restaurants.

This morning is at leisure to relax and enjoy the hotel facilities or explore the many shops and cafes of the township.

In the afternoon, indulge in a private tour to the Moon Valley, one of the key highlights of the salt mountain range. Explore the duna mayor, the amphitheatre, the tres marías, and the scenic viewpoint known as “Piedra del Coyote.” As the day concludes, savour the breathtaking sunset against the backdrop of the Andes Mountain range, accompanied by a delightful cocktail for your enjoyment. 

Today is free to explore the local area and its stunning scenery.  We recommend booking an optional tour to make the most of your time in this unique landscape.

Note: the below mentioned tours may be shared with other travellers. Due to timings, only 1 optional tour may be booked for this day.

Your tour comes to an end today and there are no activities planned. If you want to spend more time in San Pedro, we’ll be more than happy to assist in booking additional nights.

At the appropriate time, you’ll be transferred to Calama airport to take your flight (flight is not included).  Please note that the airport is approximately 90 minutes drive from San Pedro de Atacama.  We recommend booking a flight after midday to partake in the included transfer.

We hope you have been inspired by the spectacular scenery of Bolivia & Chile.

Departure transfers are included as part of your package. You will be collected from your hotel at the appropriate time and transferred to the airport to meet your flight.

If Inspiring Vacations has not provided your international airfares, please ensure you provide your flight details via your Traveller Hub portal no later than 90 days prior to travel so that your transfers can be confirmed.