Journeys: Treasures of Peru & Bolivia - 16 Days

Itinerary

• Days 1-0: LimaArrival Day

  Arrive at any time. Arrival transfer is included. Get ready for a very busy tour exploring the best of Peru in a week. We recommend booking a pre-night in Lima (in particular if your flight arrives into Lima in the evening) to recover from international flights and rest up before the excitement.

• Days 2-1: Lima/Urubamba

  Board an early flight to Cusco, once the capital of the Inca empire, then drive to Urubamba through the scenic Sacred Valley. Explore the terraced salt pans of Maras, which have been used for salt extraction since pre-Inca times, and tour the Inca site of Moray—believed to have been an agricultural laboratory where priests would test soils and crops. Later, we’ll enjoy a meal of local specialities, prepared in a pachamanca, or underground stone oven.

• Days 3-2: Urubamba

  Continue exploring the Sacred Valley with a visit to the the tour operator–supported Parque de la Papa, or Potato Park, a rural Andean community working to preserve hundreds of varieties of native potato. During this exclusive experience, you'll walk through the park with a local guide to learn about potato cultivation, traditional weaving, and the importance of both these practices to Andean culture. We’ll also tour the fascinating Inca ruins of Ollantaytambo and Pisac and enjoy a meal at the the tour operator–supported Parwa Community Restaurant in Huchuy Qosqo.

• Days 4-3: Urubamba/Aguas Calientes

  Catch an early transfer to the Ollantaytambo station and board a train to Aguas Calientes, the gateway to Machu Picchu. Ride through lush Andean scenery, enjoying breathtaking views of ancient ruins and everyday life. Settle into your hotel in Aguas Calientes, and choose from a variety of optional activities: take a relaxing soak in the local hot springs, visit a beautiful botanical garden, or wander the handicraft stalls in town as you prepare for an early start the following day to go up to Machu Picchu.

• Days 5-4: Aguas Calientes/Cusco

  This morning, embark on a guided tour of Machu Picchu—the 15th-century Inca citadel famously introduced to the world by archaeologist Hiram Bingham in the April 1913 issue of National Geographic magazine. After being taken through the temples and terraces of this awe-inspiring UNESCO World Heritage site, return to Cusco by train.

• Days 6-5: Cusco

  Spend the day exploring charming Cusco. Opt to visit Plaza de Armas, the historic main square; the 15th-century Sacsayhuaman fortress; or some of the city’s museums and ornate churches. This evening, we’ll head to the Cusco Planetarium to learn about the importance of astronomy to the ancient Inca and, weather permitting, look out at the glittering, starry sky through telescopes. Please remember that star gazing is completely weather dependent and sometimes there can be cloudy skies.

• Days 7-6: Cusco/Lima

  Fly back to Lima. Spend the rest of the day at your leisure in the Peruvian capital. Visit the San Francisco Monastery, part of Lima’s World Heritage-listed historic center, and descend into its famed catacombs. Wander across Plaza Mayor, the city’s oldest public square, and enjoy Peruvian tapas and a tasting of pisco sours before returning to your hotel.

• Days 8-7: Lima/Copacabana

  Fly to Juliaca this morning and travel across the Bolivian border to Copacabana on the shores of Lake Titicaca. En route the group will stop at the Luquina Chico Community, taking in the sweeping views of the lake and its islands. Join a local family for a delicious lunch in their home, where you’ll experience a personal perspective of everyday life in rural Peru. You’ll also learn about Inca culture, Quechua language and meet other local families. Continue on to Copacabana for a Chief Experience Officer-led walk through town before enjoying dinner and the rest of the evening on your own.

• Days 9-8: Copacabana/La Paz

  The day begins with a boat tour of Isla del Sol—known as the birthplace of the sun and the Inca bloodline. On the island, you’ll explore Inca ruins, learn traditional weaving techniques and take in some of Lake Titicaca’s most stunning vistas. Afterwards, take a boat ride back to Copacabana and continue to La Paz.

• Days 10-9: La Paz/Sucre

  Catch a flight to charming Sucre, then enjoy an orientation walk around the main square. This afternoon, relax at a local café, explore on your own, or opt to take an immersive tour of Sucre with a local expert that focuses on the city’s stunning colonial architecture and historic sites, best viewed from the ubiquitous rooftop terraces.

• Days 11-10: Potosi Countryside

  Enjoy free time this morning before travelling into the southern highlands to our historic hacienda. Surrounded by lush agricultural fields and rolling hills, this working farm offers unique opportunities for cultural exchanges with the resident family. Get a glimpse into daily life here while lending a hand at the dairy and in the fields, and step back in time during visits to the property’s private rooms, chapel, and museum. Cap off your experience with an authentic farm-to-table dinner featuring an array of local specialities.

• Days 12-11: Potosí/Uyuni

  Make the short drive to the centre of Potosí and enjoy a guided tour of the Casa Nacional de la Moneda, the old silver mint and now a museum dedicated to Bolivian art and history. Take a scenic drive to Uyuni, gateway to the world's largest salt flat. Learn about the industrialization of salt and the geographical history of the region while driving across this mirror-like landscape.

• Days 13-12: Uyuni

  Journey deeper into the salt pans to explore their varied geographical features. Along the way, stop for a visit to the small community of Coquesa, located at the base of the Tunupa Volcano on the edge of the Salar. After this, have lunch on the salt flat before continuing our exploration of the desert and its pans. Cap off the day with a sunset picnic on the salt flats before returning to the hotel.

• Days 14-13: Uyuni/La Paz

  Catch a flight to La Paz and enjoy free time to explore before joining the group for an optional dinner.

• Days 15-14: La Paz

  Awake in lofty La Paz, the highest capital city in the world. Spend the morning at leisure, or opt to take an excursion to see the stunning maze of canyons and spires in the Valley of the Moon. This afternoon, set out by foot, van, and cable car to discover this sky-high city with your guide. Explore vibrant squares, historical landmarks, and lively markets, learning about the balance of old and new along the way. In the evening, enjoy an interactive culinary experience at a popular local restaurant, including demonstrations on how traditional foods such as quinoa are integrated into modern fusion dishes. With a local chef as our guide, we’ll sample a variety of dishes and discuss the growing popularity of La Paz as a culinary destination.

• Days 16-15: La Paz

  Depart at any time.