The Scenic Route - Lima to Buenos Aires
Experience Overview
Imagine an entire month (30 days, to be exact) to explore the very best highlights and cultures of Peru, Bolivia, Chile, and Argentina. Visit the ancient site of Machu Picchu, learn from locals at Lake Titicaca, drive across the white desert in Bolivia, get active in Pucón, and experience life at a genuine gaucho ranch in Bariloche. Don't just see a part of South America; cover a massive and adventurous portion of it over a month that'll change your life.
Highlights
- Experience the wonder of Machu Picchu
- Explore local markets in Bolivia
- Cross the Salar de Uyuni and mountain wilderness by 4x4
- Hit the Chilean coast and explore Valparaiso
- Live like a gaucho at a ranch in Argentina
- Enjoy the food and energy of Buenos Aires
Trip Details
Product Code: 2886
Tour Type: Small Group
Accommodation: Budget
Transport: Plane, train, boat, public bus, 4x4 vehicles
Guide Language: English
Travel Styles:
Budget
Tour Operator:
G Adventures
Supplier Code: SPLB
Starts: Lima, Peru
Finishes: Buenos Aires, Argentina
Duration: 30 days
Departures: Guaranteed
Physical Rating:
Average
Includes
Activities
- Your G for Good Moment: Ccaccaccollo Community and Women's Weaving Co-op visit, Ccaccaccollo Your G for Good Moment: Parwa Community Restaurant the Sacred Valley, Lamay Your G for Good Moment: Luquina Chico Community Visit, Lake Titicaca Your G for Good Moment: Jukil Community Experience & Lodge, Santiago de Agencha Your Welcome Moment: Welcome Moment - Meet Your CEO and Group Your Discover Moment: Cusco Your Discover Moment: Sucre Your Foodie Moment: Santiago Region Winery Tour, Santiago Your Discover Moment: Pucón
- Sacred Valley guided tour
- Pottery making demonstration
- Train to Machu Picchu
- Machu Picchu guided tour
- Floating islands of Uros visit
- Lake Titicaca guided tour
- 4x4 excursion to the Salar de Uyuni (3 days), tour of Valley of the Moon (San Pedro de Atacama)
- City tour of Santiago
- Driving tour through the Seven Lakes district
- Estancia visit and barbecue lunch (full-day)
- Local flights
- All transport between destinations and to/from included activities
Accommodation
- Hotels/guesthouses (26 nts), overnight bus (1 nt), G Adventures-supported lodge/basic hotels on Salar de Uyuni excursion (2 nts, multi-share).
- 27 breakfasts, 5 lunches, 2 dinners
Transport
- Plane, train, boat, public bus, 4x4 vehicles
Group Leader
- CEO (Chief Experience Officer ) throughout, local guides
Price
Price per person: (Double Occupancy) CAD $6,722 ($224 /day)
Itinerary
Day 1: Lima
Arrive at any time.
There are no planned activities until an evening welcome meeting.
Day 2: Lima/Cusco
Hop a flight to Cusco. Enjoy a free day for shopping and exploring the city. Choose to pre-book an optional Cusco Cooking Class. Opt for a city tour.
Transfer to the airport for the flight to Cusco. Spend the rest of the day relaxing and exploring this fascinating city, and getting used to the altitude.
Day 3: Cusco
Spend a full day enjoying optional activities in the area.
Opt to visit and hike the famed Rainbow Mountain, pre-book on the checkout page to include this optional activity on your tour or ask your GCO or travel agent for assistance.
Day 4: Cusco/Ollantaytambo
Stop at the G Adventures-supported women's weaving co-op before visiting a local pottery making community. Break for lunch at the G Adventures-supported Parwa Community Restaurant in Huchuy Qosco. After lunch, opt to head out on a hike to the Ollantaytambo storehouses and look out over the ruins. Or, wander around the cobblestone streets and visit a local Chicheria (corn beer bar).
Travel through the stunning Sacred Valley of the Incas, visiting a G Adventures-supported women's weaving co-op. Meet the women and learn about traditional weaving and dyeing used in the Ccaccaccollo community. Opt to pick up some handmade souvenirs and textiles directly from the women who made them.
Have lunch at the G Adventures-supported Parwa Community Restaurant. Learn about the G Adventures for Good project and eat a delicious buffet-style lunch. Proceeds of this meal go directly back to the remote community.
Day 5: Ollantaytambo/Aguas Calientes
Catch the scenic train to Aguas Calientes. Opt to visit the local hot springs or shop in the local market.
Board a morning train that winds through the spectacular Sacred Valley to the end of the line: the village of Aguas Calientes, a frontier town nestled in the hills beneath Machu Picchu.
Take advantage of the opportunity to visit the butterfly house, botanical gardens or hot springs. Opt for a day hike to Mandor Gardens to see orchids and a waterfall, enjoying the lush, green scenery en route.
Day 6: Aguas Calientes/Cusco
Enjoy a guided tour of Machu Picchu before returning to Cusco in the evening.
Rise early to catch the first bus up to Machu Picchu with your guide. Enjoy a guided visit of the ruins then take a train back to Cusco.
Day 7: Cusco
Use a free day to explore more of Cusco or relax.
Day 8: Cusco/Puno
Travel day by bus from Cusco to Puno. Spend some time on arrival wandering the small city.
Travel through the high Altiplano region from Cusco to Puno, on the shores of Lake Titicaca. Titicaca is also the largest lake in the world above 3800m, and the views from both Amantaní and Taquile Islands are stunning. The trip takes the better part of the day, with stark, beautiful scenery en route.
Day 9: Puno
Enjoy a guided tour of Lake Titicaca including a visit to Uros and Taquile islands.
Head out by boat across Lake Titicaca. Visit the community on the Taquile Islands and enjoy a local lunch with spectacular views. Visit the floating islands of Uros before returning to Puno. Opt to visit to Sillustani burial site.
Day 10: Puno/La Paz
Travel by bus and cross the border into Bolivia, arriving in La Paz.
Enjoy the full-day drive around the lake and through the altiplano to La Paz. Bolivia is filled with spectacular views of the countryside. La Paz is at nearly 4000m (13,120ft) above sea level, so be prepared for cool evenings and mornings.
Day 11: La Paz
Enjoy a free day in La Paz. Opt to visit the Witches' Market, the city's museums or the Valley of the Moon.
Explore the city's many fine museums or its historic structures, like the Iglesia de San Francisco. The city is also renowned for its many markets, including the Mercado de Hechicería (Witches' Market).
With streets lined with market stalls and vendors, the pace on the street and the vibrant atmosphere is an incredible experience.
To the south of the city is the Valley of the Moon, with crater-like formations made of sand.
Thrill seekers can pre book a Death Road mountain biking adventure.
Day 12: La Paz/Sucre
Fly to Sucre and explore this beautiful colonial city.
Optional activities include mountain biking, hiking, and searching for dinosaur footprints.
Day 13: Sucre
Free time to explore the city, the former capital of Bolivia. For more active options opt to go hiking in the surrounding area or mountain biking.
Day 14: Sucre/Potosí
Travel by bus to Potosí and get a view of the mountain Cerro Rico looming over the city.
Day 15: Potosí/Uyuni
Travel through the Bolivian landscape to the town of Uyuni, the jumping off point for the three day 4x4 excursion to the Salar de Uyuni.
Day 16: Uyuni/Salt Flats and Desert Crossing
Enjoy a three-day 4x4 excursion to the Salar de Uyuni and surrounding desert altiplano with spectacular scenery. Today you will be heading into the Salar de Uyuni. Our groups like to get creative with photography, as the endless white of the salt flats creates some great depth illusions that are fun to play with in photos. Last stop for the evening is a G Adventures-supported community lodge in a traditional agricultural village in the heart of a desert oasis.
Day 17: Salt Flats and Desert Crossing
Explore the desert altiplano on a 4x4 excursion. Admire the spectacular scenery while passing red and blue lagoons and interesting rock formations along the route. Spot wild llamas, alpacas and even flamingos deep within the desert.
Day 18: Salt Flats and Desert Crossing/San Pedro de Atacama
Rise early to cover more ground of the unique landscape of the Salar de Uyuni. Continue to see incredible scenery, including volcanoes, salt lakes and geysers. Travel to the border and descend by bus to San Pedro de Atacama, Chile. It's a long but scenic drive.
From the high Bolivian altiplano descend almost 2000m to the edge of the Atacama Desert, arriving at the small desert oasis of San Pedro de Atacama, just across the Chilean border. Said to be one of the driest places on the planet, this little town is an oasis in an otherwise barren, dry landscape.
Day 19: San Pedro de Atacama
Enjoy an Included excursion to the Valley of the Moon. In San Pedro, opt to go sandboarding or mountain biking.
Enjoy an included excursion to the Valley of the Moon to learn about and appreciate the beautiful uniqueness of the landscape.
There are plenty of optional excursions in San Pedro de Atacama, including biking, exploring nearby ruins, and horseback riding. Despite its size, San Pedro offers some great restaurants as well as numerous handicrafts and artisan stores for those looking for souvenirs.
Day 20: San Pedro de Atacama/Santiago
Drive to Calama and fly to Santiago, a vibrant capital city.
From the nearby city of Calama, fly to Santiago, the capital of Chile. The city is surrounded by mountains, and there are both internationally recognized vineyards and Andean ski resorts within a couple of hours from the city centre.
Explore the city's many museums and parks and visit the vibrant neighbourhood of Bellavista with its handicrafts, trendy cafés, and San Cristobal Hill with its views of the city and the surrounding area.
Day 21: Santiago
With a free day in Santiago, opt to visit nearby wineries.
Day 22: Santiago/Valparaíso
Explore some of Santiago's neighbourhoods on a city tour, visit the Museum of Memory and try some local specialties. After, take a public bus to the seaside town of Valparaíso where brightly coloured houses perch on the hills.
Day 23: Valparaiso/Santiago
Enjoy a free morning in Valparaiso to soak it all in. Later, head to the Casablanca Valley, stop at a winery to indulge in a wine tasting. After, head back to Santiago with free time before boarding an overnight bus to Pucon.
Day 24: Pucón
Enjoy free time in Pucon, try whitewater rafting or explore the area by foot.
Day 25: Pucón
Enjoy another free day to take part in the many activities on offer in Pucón. Opt to hike Villarica volcano (it's active!) or soak in the nearby natural thermal pools.
Day 26: Pucón/San Carlos de Bariloche
Cross the Andes to Argentina. Travel by local bus to San Martin and take a private van the rest of the way to Bariloche in the Lake District with a local guide.
Day 27: San Carlos de Bariloche
Transfer to a Gaucho Ranch just outside of Bariloche. Enjoy a barbecue for lunch and take to the saddle with a Gaucho by your side.
Day 28: San Carlos de Bariloche
Enjoy a free day to explore the beautiful area in and around Bariloche. Take a hike in the countryside or wander the town, known for its shops and in particular, artisan chocolate.
Day 29: San Carlos de Bariloche/Buenos Aires
Fly to Buenos Aires. Opt to enjoy a Tango show and dinner.
Fly north to the buzzing metropolis that is Buenos Aires, it is a vibrant city full of life.
Day 30: Buenos Aires
Depart at any time.
Book extra accommodation in Buenos Aires to have more time to explore the city.
Similar Tours
Tour Operator
G Adventures
G Adventures is an operator of small-group escorted tours. It is based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada with 28 offices worldwide. It offers more than 700 itineraries in more than 100 countries, and carries 200,000 travelers from 160 countries each year.
In Business Since 1990
Reviews
Deborah P. - Traveled, June 2024
Great trip and experience . I would
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 07/09/2024
Daniel H. - Traveled, May 2024
A great was to see a lot of South America.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 06/30/2024
Mehdi R. - Traveled, May 2024
Fantastic experience
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 06/30/2024
Edward W. - Traveled, May 2024
We saw some great places and had some great experiences. The scenery was often ridiculously good, especially in Peru. The CEOs and some of the guides were great, other guides were good. Parts of this trip would have been better outside of winter. You do ..
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 06/29/2024
Susan A. - Traveled, May 2024
Overall the trip, with its ‘once in a lifetime and jaw dropping’ experiences, is amazing.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 06/18/2024
John L. - Traveled, May 2024
Everyone we meet connected to G Adventures were very professional and made the trip exceptionally briliant.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 06/10/2024
Rebecca P. - Traveled, May 2024
Travelling with G Adventures has been a fantastic experience! Group travel gave me that extra bit of security whilst also only travelling in small groups, so it never felt too much. The CEOs were all excellent; very knowledgeable, helpful and brilliant f...
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 06/08/2024
Marie-Reine L. - Traveled, May 2024
Great experience, well looked after, the first tour was by far the best on all counts - loved Bolivia and Peru!
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 06/05/2024
Gaurang M. - Traveled, April 2024
I would like the tank G Adventures for a fun filled action packed Amazing trip. It was very well organised. Hardly any hiccups Amazing CEOs And I hope to do it again in another country
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 05/19/2024
Camille R. - Traveled, April 2024
The activities and places were fantastic and unforgettable, but the accommodations were a bit lacking. Amazing CEOs as always!
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 05/05/2024
Faramarz E. - Traveled, March 2024
I enjoyed my trip. And will do another one with you if the itenary and price is right for me
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 04/28/2024
Richard T. - Traveled, March 2024
Absolutely brilliant but G Adventures must address the awful and unsanitary accommodation on the salt flats.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 04/14/2024
Russell L. - Traveled, March 2024
My overall experience was on the tours was very positive. Very enjoyable and I will book again with Gadventures
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 04/04/2024
Solange B. - Traveled, February 2024
Great tour!
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 03/18/2024
Martina T. - Traveled, February 2024
It was - once more - an amazing tour! 30 Days with 15 strangers are not easy to handle, but our guides did great and made sure we all had a fantastic time. Highly recommend!
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 03/17/2024
James D. - Traveled, February 2024
It was great
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 03/16/2024
Yan S. - Traveled, February 2024
a wonderful trip and unforgettable memories.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 03/14/2024
Jacqueline H. - Traveled, February 2024
So glad we did it. Amazing life time experience. Did so much in 30 days. Met some great people and a pleasure to have David and Freddy as our first G adventure CEOs. Already planning the next trip. Thank you.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 03/10/2024
Cindy M. - Traveled, February 2024
We had a fabulous time. The perfect advertising for G Adventures was the number of people on the tour that had been on multiple G adventure experiences.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 03/09/2024
Andrew B. - Traveled, February 2024
The overall experience was amazing considering we toured four different countries in 4 weeks.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 03/09/2024
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