Do you dream of hiking in the Andes, watching the sunrise at Machu Picchu, experiencing the amazing Lake Titicaca, exploring witch markets in La Paz, going on a four-wheel adventure through the Salt Rising or tasting Chile’s amazing vineyards? Then this adventure trip is for you. Visit best-medical-schools for more about Peru.
This adventure trip offers lots of fantastic hiking experiences in Peru and Bolivia: a four-day hike to Salkantay and Machu Picchu, a day hike to Rainbow Mountain, and a two-day hike to Isla del Sol (the Bolivian side of Lake Titicaca). From Lake Titicaca, the trip goes to La Paz, where you can ride a mountain bike along the world’s most dangerous country road or shop at the local witch markets. From La Paz you fly on to Uyuni, where one of the world’s most beautiful highway adventures awaits you, namely the three-day journey in four-wheeled vehicles (4WD) from Uyuni in Bolivia to San Pedro de Atacama in Chile via the Salt Desert, impressive plateau landscapes, snow-capped volcanoes, flamingos , llamas, mud baths and much more. Enjoy a few days in the charming town of San Pedro de Atacama before traveling to the Maipo Valley.
Day 1: Departure from Scandinavia
Departure from Scandinavia to Peru, where you (depending on the selected airline) arrive the next morning.
Day 2: Arrival in Cuzco
Today you arrive in Cuzco, beautifully situated in the Andes at an altitude of about 3,400 meters. On a clear day, the approach to Cuzco is absolutely fantastic. In Cuzco you will be picked up at the airport and driven to your guesthouse.
Day 3: On adventures in and around Cuzco
You have all day to explore Cuzco on your own. Around Plaza de Armas, Cuzco’s pleasant squares surrounded by impressive colonial churches, there is always life and activity. Here you will find many restaurants, cafes and souvenir shops. You can also enjoy a smoothie at the city market, where you can experience the local trade. Around Cuzco you will find good hiking and biking tours to small villages, ruins and markets. ( F )
Day 4: Rainbow Mountain
Today you will hike to the fantastic color contrasts around Rainbow Mountain. The tour starts early in the morning with a car ride that takes a few hours. Then continue on foot with the guide and the rest of the group. After a few hours in the fantastic nature, the trip returns to Cuzco, where you arrive in the afternoon. ( F , L ) In the late afternoon, an information meeting will take place concerning the hike to Salkantay and Machu Picchu, where you can get answers to any further questions you may have before leaving the next morning.
Day 5: Cuzco (3,350 m) – Mollepata (start of the Salkantay hike) – Soraypampa – (3,850 m)
You will be picked up early in the morning at your hostel in Cuzco and take the group to Mollepata, which is the starting point of the hike. Today’s hike to Soraypampa is approx. 19 km. The first stretch is relatively easy and a good warm-up for the next few days of hiking. You will experience fantastic views of the mountains Salkantay (6,267 m) and Humantay (5,900 m), which belong to the highest in the Cordillera Vilcanota mountain range. Lunch is enjoyed in the beautiful surroundings, and there is time for some relaxation before you and the group hike the last bit up to Sorayapampa, which is the camp site for the night. ( L , M ) Hiking time: approx. six to seven hours Difficulty: Mild to moderate
Day 6: Soraypampa – (3,850m) – Salkantay Pass (4,650m) – Andenes (3,300m)
Enjoy breakfast with views of the beautiful countryside and the snow-capped mountains. From here, the trip goes to the Salkantay Pass at an altitude of 4,630 meters, a tough four-hour climb. The air is thin at these heights, but the views of the mountains are amazing. From the pass, the trip goes down again to Huayracpampa, where it’s time to have lunch. After lunch, about three hours of hiking to the camp in Andenes awaits. ( F , L , M ) Hiking time: Seven to eight hours. Difficulty: Moderate – hard
Day 7: Andenes (3,300m) – Llactapata (2,650m) – Agua Calientes (2,010m)
You can look forward to another beautiful day in the Andes. The day begins with an hour’s hike to Chaullay, where the group continues by car to Lucmabamba (2,000m). Here we continue on incursions to the archeological site Llactapata. From here you continue to the Hydroelectrica train station and on by train to Aguas Calientes. Here d spend the night at the guesthouse, not far from Machu Picchu. Here you have the opportunity to take a dip in the city’s thermal baths, which make you go after several days of hiking in the Andes. ( F , L , M ) Hiking time: Six hours. Difficulty: Mild to moderate
Day 8: Agua Calientes (2,010m) – Machu Picchu (2,430m) – Cuzco (3,350m)
Today awaits the real highlight of the hike: Machu Picchu. The ruin is so well hidden deep in the mountains that the Spaniards never found it when they came here. Machu Picchu therefore remained a well-kept secret until the beginning of the 20th century. For four hours, you will be guided around by an English-speaking guide in the fantastic ruin, designated one of the world’s seven new wonders. You can visit the beautiful moon temple or climb Wayna Picchu (admission not included). Wayna Picchu is 2,720 meters high and is 360 meters higher than the Machu Picchu ruins. From here you get a magnificent panoramic view of the entire ruin and Machu Picchu. It takes about an hour to get up, but it is a tough hike with small steep steps, and you have to be in good shape to reach the top. Only a limited number of visitors may be on top per day, so if this is something you want to experience, you should book and pay for it from home, while booking the tour. The tour may be canceled during the rainy season if the trail is too slippery. From Machu Picchu, take the bus down to the town of Aguas Calientes, located at the foot of the mountain. Here you can have lunch or shop at the market at the train station. In the afternoon, the tour continues by train to Ollantaytambo and from there on by bus to your guesthouse in Cuzco. ( In the afternoon, the tour continues by train to Ollantaytambo and from there on by bus to your guesthouse in Cuzco. ( In the afternoon, the tour continues by train to Ollantaytambo and from there on by bus to your guesthouse in Cuzco. (F )
Day 9: Relaxation in Cuzco and night bus to Copacabana
You can enjoy the day in Cuzco on your own, before boarding a night bus to Copacabana ( F ) in the evening
Day 10: Copacabana to Isla del Sol, Lake Titicaca
You arrive by bus to Copacabana in the morning and continue by boat to Isla del Sol, a beautiful and less touristy island on Lake Titicaca. Here you live in a small cozy guesthouse on the island and can freely explore it on your own. ( M )
Day 11: On a voyage of discovery on Isla del Sol, Lake Titicaca
Lake Titicaca is located in the Andes, 3,812 meters above sea level, making it one of the Earth’s highest lakes. Lake Titicaca is about 190 kilometers long, at most 80 kilometers wide and has a maximum depth of 284 meters. There are 36 islands in Lake Titicaca, all of which are of great importance to the Inca people. You live on one of the most important – Isla del Sol – which was considered by the Inca people as the birthplace of the sun itself. Therefore, you will find lots of Incas and Inca ruins all over the island. The whole day can be spent exploring Isla del Sol. ( F , L , M )
Day 12: Lake Titicaca to La Paz
Today, the tour continues back to the mainland by ferry and from there on by bus to Bolivia’s characteristic capital La Paz. Once you have checked in at your hostel, you are free to explore the city. ( F )
Day 13: On a voyage of discovery in La Paz
The day is free at your disposal. La Paz is the world’s highest capital. The city center is located in a ravine at an altitude of 3,600 meters and is characterized by buildings from the Spanish colonial era. Here you will find many nice and steep cobbled streets as well as nice shops and restaurants. The El Alto district is located at the top of the ravine at an altitude of over 4,000 meters. From here you get a wonderful view of the city and the surrounding, snow-capped mountain peaks. You can also visit one of the city’s “witch markets”, such as the Mercado de Las Brujas, where you can buy macabre things like dried frogs and llama fetuses, but also more traditional things like colorful blankets. You will also find many exciting day trips to, for example, Tiwanaku ruins or mountain bike rides along the Road of Death (El Camino de la Muerte). ( F )
Day 14: La Paz to Salar de Uyuni
You will be picked up in the morning and driven to the airport, from where you will fly on to Uyuni. You will be picked up at the airport and begin your journey from Uyuni in Bolivia to San Pedro de Atacama in Chile. The trip is carried out in a 4WD (four-wheeled vehicle) together with a small group, driver and English-speaking guide. You set course for the Salt Desert together. Bolivia’s salt desert is the largest in the world with its 10,000 km2. The huge flat and white landscape and the blue sky provide a fantastic contrast, and you can take absolutely wonderful pictures out here. On the way there you visit the small town of Colchani, where you can learn about salt extraction from the desert. You also pass a salt hotel which – just as the name suggests – is built entirely of salt! Lunch is taken on Isla de los Pescado or Isla Incahuasi, where you can see giant cacti up to 12 meters high. From Saltöknen, the group sets course for their lodge. Remember warm clothes – it gets cold at night. The trip to the salt desert Salar de Uyuni and Bolivia’s golden highlands takes place at an altitude of approximately 3,600-5,000 meters. It is therefore important that you have acclimatized before you embark on this tour. When you have already hiked in the Andes, you have received the best “warm-up” you can get. However, always pay attention to symptoms of altitude sickness. (F )
Day 15: Eduardo Avaroa NP, Siloli Desert and Red Lagoon
The adventure on land continues today to Eduardo Avaroa NP, where you have the opportunity to enjoy the view of the active volcano Volcán Ollagüe. From here, the journey continues to the highest and driest desert in the world, Siloli, at an altitude of 4,550 meters. Here you can see the beautiful lava formation Árbol de Piedra, which represents a tree in the middle of the golden desert landscape. The journey continues via beautiful lagoons such as Cañapa, Hedionda, Honda and Chiarkota. Here you can also be lucky enough to meet up to three different flamingo species. The last stop is at Cueva Del Diablo (Devil’s Cave) and Galaxies Cavern. Filled with experiences, you and the group arrive at the lodge. ( F )
Day 16: Geyser Solar de Manaña, Laguna Colorada, Laguna Verde and San Pedro
Early the next morning, the tour continues towards the Sol de Mañana geyser at an altitude of 5,000 meters. There is a lot of thermal activity in the area, and you can see boiling water, bubbling mud and gas seeping out of the ground. You can take a dip in the 35 degree hot spring. The next stop is the Dali Desert. This lunar landscape inspired Salvador Dalí to paint his pictures, and it is an incredibly surreal experience to drive here. From here you drive on to Laguna Colorada, a beautiful lagoon colored by red algae and flamingos – a beautiful contrast to snow-capped volcanoes and blue skies. The next stop is Laguna Verde, located at the foot of the Licancabur volcano (6,000 m) on the border with Chile – a beautiful finale to a fantastic journey on land. This is where the tour ends, and when you have crossed the border into Chile at Hito Cajun, a car with a driver is ready to take you the last bit to San Pedro de Atacama. (F )
Day 17: On adventures in and around San Pedro de Atacama
You can spend the whole day in the small charming village of San Pedro, located in the middle of the dry Atacama desert of northern Chile. In the village you can visit the Museo Gustavo le Paige, which deals with the Atacameño culture and the beautiful colonial church Iglesia San Pedro. Outside the village you will find a fascinating lunar landscape with dunes and sandstone cliffs, which are best explored by mountain bike. Experiencing the sunrise in Valle de la Luna is a must. The Atacama Desert is one of the world’s best places for star gazing. Therefore, you will also find some of the world’s largest and most advanced observatories out here. It is possible to visit some of the observatories. ( F )
Day 18: San Pedro de Atacama to Pirque
You will be picked up at your hotel and driven to Calama Airport, from where you will fly to the Chilean capital Santiago de Chile. There you will be picked up and driven to a nice little hotel outside the village of Pirque. Here you can relax in the hammock, go horse riding in the scenic area, swim in the pool or explore the area’s vineyards. At the hotel’s restaurant, you can sample Chilean dishes using local ingredients.
Day 19: Wine tasting and relaxation in Pirque
The day is completely at your free disposal. You can buy a wine tasting at wineries such as Concha & Tora, Haras de Pirque or Santa Alicia. ( F )
Day 20: Departure from Chile
You will be picked up at your hotel in Pirque and driven to the airport to begin your journey home to Scandinavia. ( F )
Day 21: Arrival in Scandinavia
Arrival in Scandinavia. Arrival time to Sweden depends on your airline.
Overnight stays
Fifteen nights in a hotel / lodge
One night on a long-distance bus
Two nights in a tent
