Tailor-made trip "Peru Bolivia"

Morning dedicated to visiting Lima, the capital, home to nearly a third of Peru's population, whose colonial center preserves the remains of an era when it was the most important city in South America. In the early afternoon, departure by first-class bus for Paracas. Arrival in the late afternoon in this village on the Pacific Ocean. Transfer and overnight at the Hotel La Posada del Emancipador.

Peru's coast is bathed by the cold waters of the Humboldt Current, which rise from Antarctica and allow the development of a very rich marine wildlife, unexpected at these tropical latitudes. In the morning, we will board for a short crossing over the ocean to the Ballestas Islands, home to thousands of sea lions, penguins, pelicans and other seabirds.

We then continue our trip to Nazca, where we arrive in the afternoon. After checking in at the hotel, we head to Palpa to observe the geoglyphs and anthropomorphic figures left in the desert by the inhabitants of this valley more than 1000 years ago. We will also go to a viewpoint that allows observation of figures and geometric lines belonging to the famous and mysterious Nazca lines. Return to Nazca in the late afternoon and overnight at the Hotel Casa Andina Classic.

The best way to observe the lines of Nazca, is to fly over them. Since not everyone wishes to take part in this activity, we have left it as optional. Another way to make the most of this free morning is to take an excursion to the Chauchillas cemetery, home to a large number of pre-Columbian mummies, or to the archaeological site of Cahuachi, which was a ceremonial center of great importance for the Nazca civilization and had several pyramids. In the afternoon, transfer to the bus station and departure for Arequipa by first-class bus. This is a long journey through the Pacific coastal desert, a little-known face of Peru, which offers spectacular landscapes. Arrival in Arequipa late in the evening. Transfer and overnight at the Hotel Casa Andina Classic.

Here we are in Arequipa, a resting point in the trip, a moderate-altitude stop (2300 meters) before tackling the high plateaus of Peru and Bolivia. Arequipa has a pleasant, sunny climate and colonial architecture in white volcanic stone. We will spend the morning visiting the city, the typical Yanahuara district with its magnificent view over the Misti volcano, the colonial center listed as a World Heritage Site, the cloisters of the Compañía, the market and the 16th-century Santa Catalina monastery, one of the largest religious complexes in South America. The afternoon will be free so you can explore the city at your own pace. Overnight at the hotel.

Alternatively, you can take a Peruvian cooking class or go rafting down a river instead of the Arequipa visit.

Today begins the truly Andean part of your Peru Bolivia trip with an excursion to the Colca canyon. You will discover the altiplano animals in their habitat, alpacas, llamas, vicuñas, and pass through an altitude of 4900 meters (the highest point of the entire trip). You will then descend into the Colca valley and have lunch in Chivay (not included). In the afternoon, a short walk will allow you to acclimatize to the altitude and reach the hot springs, where you can bathe in waters of nearly 40ºC (optional, entrance about 4 USD to be paid on site). Overnight at the Hotel Eco Inn.

Departure early in the morning, following the Colca valley to the natural viewpoint of the Cruz del Cóndor. Here you overlook the Colca canyon and the river, more than 1000 meters below, and you can observe the ballet of condors flying over the canyon, sometimes passing very close to the delighted visitors! Return to Arequipa in the late afternoon and overnight at the Hotel Casa Andina Classic.

Morning transfer to Puno, located on the shores of lac Titicaca, the highest navigable lake in the world, which stretches over more than 8000 square kilometers between Peru and Bolivia. This trip by first-class bus will take you across the immense and magnificent landscapes of the Peruvian altiplano. Check-in at the Hotel Hacienda Plaza, with the rest of the afternoon free to visit Puno and acclimatize to the altitude of 3800 meters. Overnight at the hotel.

Possibility of an excursion to Sillustani, to admire the "chullpas" or pre-Hispanic funerary towers of this spectacular site.

Day dedicated to discovering lac Titicaca, a highlight of your trip to Peru and Bolivia. You will leave in the morning for Socca, a peninsula where tourism is still non-existent and where the Aymara communities live mainly from livestock farming and agriculture. You will take a short hike of about 2 hours there, offering some superb views over Lake Titicaca and the Royal Cordillera, on the other side of the lake, in Bolivia. Picnic lunch in nature and return to Puno in the afternoon. Overnight at the hotel.

You can also opt for a more classic visit of the Uros, Amantani or Taquile islands, over 1 or 2 days.

Departure in the morning towards Desaguadero, along a road that offers some superb views over lac Titicaca. After crossing the Peru-Bolivia border, the trip continues across the Bolivian altiplano, through El Alto, a city of one million inhabitants located at 4000 meters of altitude, then descent to La Paz. Arrival in the afternoon and transfer to the Hotel Rosario. Free end of day. Overnight at the hotel.

In the morning, transfer to the airport in La Paz  to take a flight to Uyuni. You set off on a 4x4 excursion on the famous Salar de Uyuni, one of the most extraordinary natural wonders on the planet, which will be the highlight of your trip to Bolivia.

After a visit to the Uyuni train cemetery, you head to the village of Colchani, located on the edge of the salt flat, which lives off salt production. Then, the 4x4 will cross the salt flat for nearly 80 kilometers to Incahuasi island. From the top of this "island" there is an exceptional view over the whole salt flat and the surrounding mountains. You will enjoy a picnic in this unique setting and be back in Uyuni in the late afternoon. Overnight at the Hotel Tambo Aymara.

Morning transfer to Potosi. Free end of day to visit this small town, located at 4000 meters of altitude, which was in colonial times one of the most important and prosperous in South America and even the world. You can stroll through the historic center, whose colonial remains bear witness to Potosi's past splendor, and visit the Casa de la Moneda, founded in the sixteenth century to mint coins for the Viceroyalty of Peru with silver from the city's mines. Overnight at the Hotel Coloso Potosi.

In the morning, we will visit the mines of Cerro Rico, this mountain extremely rich in silver that overlooks Potosi. The mining of the deposit from colonial times to the present day has created a huge network of tunnels and galleries. We will go inside and see the work of the miners who continue to work the deposit. After lunch, we head to Sucre, a 2 to 3-hour journey by road. Located in a valley, Sucre is undoubtedly the prettiest city in Bolivia, and it enjoys a much milder climate than that of the altiplano. Overnight at the Hotel Capital Plaza, in the historic heart of the city.

After several days at an altitude of nearly 4000 meters, the city of Sucre marks a more relaxing stage in your Peru Bolivia trip. Guided tour of the city in the morning, starting with the Recoleta viewpoint, offering a panoramic view over the entire colonial center. We will then visit the interesting textile museum, which shows the richness of the fabrics and weaving techniques of the Andes, from pre-Columbian times to the present day. We will also visit the Casa de la Libertad, the historic site where Bolivia's independence was proclaimed, now a museum on the country's history. The afternoon will be free to let you enjoy the charm of this pleasant city. Overnight at the hotel.

In the morning, we head to the airport to take a flight to La Paz, where we check in at the Hotel Rosario. The afternoon will be dedicated to a visit of the Bolivian capital, which spreads over nearly 1000 meters of altitude. In the lower part of the city, we will visit the Valley of the Moon, a geological curiosity where erosion has formed a landscape of fairy chimneys. We will head back up to the city center and Plaza Murillo, home to the presidential palace, the parliament and other colonial-era buildings. We will also go to the Kilikili viewpoint, which offers a panoramic view over La Paz with the Nevado Illimani in the background. In the historic center, we will end the visit at the "witches' market". Overnight at the hotel.

In the morning, transfer by road to Peru, marking the end of the Bolivian part of your trip. Arrival in Puno in the afternoon and transfer to the Hotel Hacienda Plaza. Free end of day and overnight at the hotel.

Your Peru Bolivia trip enters its final major part, that of the region of Cuzco and its Inca treasures. In the morning, departure towards the capital of the Inca empire by tourist bus, which will make several stops and visits along the way. You will first see the archaeological site of Pukara, one of the oldest cultures of the altiplano. You will stop at the La Raya pass (4370 meters), which marks the end of the altiplano and the beginning of the Vilcanota valley, where Inca civilization flourished. After lunch, you will visit the Inca site of Raqchi and its temple of Viracocha, as well as the pretty village of Andahuaylillas, on whose square stands the San Pedro church, nicknamed the "Sistine Chapel" of the Americas because of the richness of its decoration. In the late afternoon, you arrive in Cuzco. Transfer and overnight at the Hotel San Agustin Internacional, in the historic center.

We have saved the best for the end of the trip. Cuzco is probably the most beautiful city in Peru. In the morning, you will take a guided tour that begins with a panoramic view from the heights of the city. There, you can admire Sacsayhuaman, an impressive Inca fortress whose stone blocks reach colossal dimensions. The descent to the city center is done on foot, passing through the San Blas district with its narrow streets. On certain streets, you can see the walls that belonged to ancient Inca constructions, with their perfectly carved stones fitted together without the slightest gap. You will cross the entire historic center to reach the San Pedro market, the main one in Cuzco, a place full of life with a typically Andean atmosphere. In the afternoon, you can freely explore every corner of the city of Cuzco. Overnight at the hotel.

This visit is mostly done on foot and includes about 1h30 of easy walking (flat and downhill). However, you can opt for a more classic visit with transportation entirely by vehicle, which includes visits to the sites of Kenko, Tambomachay and Puka Pukara as well as the temple of the sun or Koricancha.

Today, you will discover the Sacred Valley of the Incas, with its contrasting relief and green landscapes, among the most beautiful of the trip. You will visit the site of Pisaq, one of the largest Inca sites, and the village of Pisaq, where a large craft market is held every day. In the afternoon, you will go to the amphitheaters of Moray, terraces used by the Incas for agricultural purposes, and to the Maras salt pans, where salt is still worked today. Finally, you will arrive in Ollantaytambo, where you will visit the impressive Inca citadel. Overnight at the Hotel Samanapaq in Ollantaytambo.

Early in the morning, you will take the train in Ollantaytambo towards Aguas Calientes, the village at the foot of Machu Picchu. From there, a shuttle bus takes you to the site itself. The visit to Machu Picchu is, for almost all travelers, the high point of a Peru Bolivia trip. The natural beauty of the landscapes echoes that of the Inca constructions to create a truly extraordinary place. You can explore it far and wide, and take the train back in the afternoon to return to Cuzco in the late afternoon. Overnight at the Hotel San Agustín Internacional.

Your Peru Bolivia trip is drawing to a close. One last free day in Cuzco will be ideal to let you enjoy this magnificent city with its very special atmosphere and say your goodbyes to Peru. Overnight at the hotel.

Transfer to the airport in Cuzco, flight to Lima and the end of your Peru Bolivia trip. Connection with your international return flight.