Peru and Bolivia Explorer 19 or 21 days

A small group adventure both on and off the beaten track in Peru and Bolivia

On this trip you will be travelling with a group of like-minded travellers and staying at small hotels and guesthouses and using a variety of local transport, from coaches, trains and planes to hiking and reed canoes. Our tour leader will accompany you to some of the most famous sites in Peru and Bolivia as well as some less well known gems. If you would like to trek the Inca Trail, explore Machu Picchu, sand board down dunes, sleep in the desert and get to know the residents on Lake Titicaca, then read on...

19 days Lima to Lima
£750 plus US$475 Local Payment

21 days Lima to La Paz
£775 plus US$490 Local Payment

(+44) 01963 363400

Itinerary / Highlights

Day 1 (breakfast included)
The capital of Peru, Lima is a city of contrasts. Here you'll encounter both abundant wealth and grinding poverty, modern skyscrapers next to some of the finest museums and historical monuments in Latin America. You will have a free day to explore its many museums, markets and colonial plazas.

Day 2 (breakfast)
Our first stop, south of Lima, is at the Ballestas Islands in the Paracas National Reserve. Here we take a boat trip to view one of the most important marine reserves in the world with the highest concentration of rare and exotic sea birds and sea mammals.

Day 3 & 4 (breakfast x 2, dinner x 1)
An hours drive inland in the heart of the Ica Desert is Peru's main wine centre. Here we visit the Tacama winery, originally a Jesuit run Bodega it now produces export quality wines as well as Peru's national drink, Pisco. After our own tasting session we continue a few kilometres to the nearby Oasis of Huacachina. A palm fringed lake surrounded by impressive sand dunes, you can relax on the beach, go for a swim and then if its an adrenaline rush you're after head out with your Tour Leader on a custom made dune buggy and roar across the desert sands to the top of enormous dunes and then sand board down them - imagine snowboarding but on sand instead! Tonight, after an unforgettable desert sunset, we sit around the campfire while our guides cook up a storm, followed by a night sleeping out under the stars.

Day 5 (breakfast)
Next is one of the world's greatest archaeological mysteries - the Nazca Lines. Only discovered 70 years ago from the air, these huge figures carved into the desert floor are best viewed by light aircraft. Thought to have been made by three different civilisations going back more than 2000 years, there are many contrasting theories about what they signify and why they are there, it is worthwhile asking local opinion - you may well be surprised with the replies, this will undoubtedly be one of the best experiences on your trip. Also memorable is a visit to Chauchilla Cemetery with its well-preserved mummies. Leaving the Atacama Desert we begin to climb into the Andes mountain range towards Arequipa.

Days 6 to 8 (breakfast x 3)
Four days are dedicated to exploring this beautiful colonial city and the spectacular surrounding area. Continuing as always with our theme of adventure travel, Peru offers many options such as white water rafting, cycling, trekking, horse riding as well as a visit to the Colca Canyon, which at 900m is not only one of the deepest in the world but also the home of the majestic Condors. Here you can view the condors circling lazily in the thermals rising from the canyon floor.

Days 9 & 10 (breakfast x 2, dinner x 1)
A short flight over the dramatic Andes Mountains takes us to Cuzco, the outdoors capital of Peru and our base for the next 7 days. A mecca for adventure travel, Peru's famous Inca Trail begins near this city. Although Cuzco is today a colonial city most of its churches and museums are built on top of original Inca stonewalls which are clearly visible. We include a day tour of the beautiful Urubamba or Sacred Valley of the Incas where you'll find temples, terraces, local communities and markets and finally our comforatble campsite at km82, the start of the Inca Trail!

Days 11 to 14 (breakfast x 4, lunch & dinner x 3)
In the Urubamba Valley we begin our 4 day hike along the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu. This moderate to strenuous hike is a once in a lifetime experience and anyone with a good level of fitness can master it. A stunning combination of awesome views, Inca ruins, magnificent mountains and exotic adventure. There are also the options to undertake either a shorter hike travelling by train part of the way to the ruins, or to take one of three alternative treks, the Salkantay, Lares or Vilcabamba. Our route back to Cuzco for all options is by train.

Day 15 (breakfast)
A free day in Cuzco to relax and recover as well as explore more of the city and its museums and churches or look for local crafts from Alpaca woollen jumpers to musical instruments.

Days 16 to 18 (breakfast x 3, lunch & dinner x 1)
We travel by bus to Puno on the shores of Lake Titicaca. Bordering Peru and Bolivia at 3800m lies Lake Titicaca which will be one of the most memorable stops on your tour. Lake Titicaca is the original place of the Uros Indians who have made their homes on floating reed islands. By boat we visit the floating islands during the day and then we go that one step beyond the average and spend the night with one of the Indian families on the lesser known islands Isla Amantani or Taquile. Spending some time in these local communities is a definite highlight of travel to Peru and is almost like stepping back in time. This experience will provide a unique opportunity to learn more about the traditional lifestyle of the Andean people and their customs as well as supporting these families with some extra income.

Day 19 (breakfast)
Today, those on the 19 day trip will board the plane to Lima, where the trip ends on arival. However if you wish to spend some extra time in Lima we can help arrange post tour accommodation for you.

Those on the 21 & 27 day trips continue on to Bolivia.

Day 20 (breakfast)
Just across the border in Bolivia is the picturesque lakeside village of Copacabana where we spend the night. From Copacabana we travel by bus to the impressive city of La Paz. Bolivia is considered the most indigenous of all South American countries & this is clearly visible in La Paz. The capital is a hilly city full of markets & traditionally dressed people. It's a great place to spend a few extra days at the end of your trip, sightseeing, shopping or visiting museums. There are also several excursions you can take outside the city.

Day 21 (breakfast)
For those on the 21 day trip, the tour finishes after breakfast. However if you wish to spend some extra time in La Paz we can help arrange post tour accommodation for you.

Other Details

Accommodation Details

Accommodation is in small, simple hotels and guesthouses plus one night in the desert, one night family stay and four nights camping on the Inca Trail.