Bolivia to Peru: Lakes, Salt Flats & Machu Picchu

Bolivia to Peru: Lakes, Salt Flats & Machu Picchu
Bolivia to Peru: Lakes, Salt Flats & Machu Picchu


(3 reviews)

From:

CAD $3,861 Was CAD $5,149

25 Days

Best Rate: Guarantee

Trip Type: Small Group

Activity Level: Demanding

Combine two of South America’s must-see countries on a 25-day adventure through Bolivia and Peru.

Price based on per person in Double Room for departure 07 Feb 2025

Experience Overview

Combine two of South America’s must-see countries on a 25-day adventure through Bolivia and Peru. From inspiring geography, to cities rich in colonial history, and Indigenous culture, immerse yourself in these destinations and come home completely changed. Explore the highest capital city in the world, travel to the crest of the Andes, spend three days exploring the Uyuni Salt Flats, and conquer the mighty Inca Trail, soaking up the stunning views of majestic Machu Picchu. If you are looking for an authentic experience away from the tourist track, while still hitting the highlights, well, you've found it.

Highlights

  • Explore the winding streets and markets of La Paz
  • Experience the Salar de Uyuni and high mountain wilderness by 4x4
  • Discover colonial cities and historic cultures in Bolivia
  • Trek the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu
  • Explore the pre-Incan ruins of Tiahuanaco
  • Witness life on Lake Titicaca
  • Soak in the views and culture of the Sacred Valley.

Trip Details

Product CodeProduct Code: 8540

Tour TypeTour Type: Small Group

AccommodationAccommodation: Budget

TransportTransport: Public bus, plane, train, boat, ferry, hiking, 4x4 vehicle.

Guide LanguageGuide Language: English

Travel StylesTravel Styles: Budget

Tour OperatorTour Operator: G Adventures

Supplier CodeSupplier Code: SBLM.A

StartStarts: La Paz, Bolivia

FinishFinishes: Lima, Peru

DurationDuration: 25 days

DeparturesDepartures: Guaranteed

Physical RatingPhysical Rating: Demanding

Includes

Activities

  • Your G for Good Moment: Jukil Community Experience & Lodge, Santiago de Agencha Your G for Good Moment: Lake Titicaca Homestay, Lake Titicaca 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: Handmade Biodegradable Soap Products Your Discover Moment: Sucre Your Discover Moment: Cusco
  • 4x4 excursion to the Uyuni Salt Flats (3 days)
  • Tiahuanaco visit
  • Floating islands of Uros visit
  • Lake Titicaca guided tour
  • Sacred Valley guided tour
  • Pottery making demonstration
  • Inca Trail guided hike with cooks and porters (4 days)
  • Machu Picchu guided tour
  • Internal flights
  • All transport between destinations and to/from included activities

Accommodation

  • Hotels (17 nts), G Adventures-supported lodge/basic hotels on Salar de Uyuni excursion (2 nts, multi-share), Overnight Bus (1 nt), Camping (3 nts), Homestay (1 nt).
  • 23 breakfasts, 8 lunches, 6 dinners

Transport

  • Public bus, plane, train, boat, ferry, hiking, 4x4 vehicle.

Group Leader

  • CEO (Chief Experience Officer) throughout, specialist Inca Trail CEO on the hike, local guides.

Price

Price per person: (Double Occupancy) CAD $3,861 ($154 /day)

Itinerary

1

Day 1: La Paz

Arrive at any time.
There are no planned activities until the evening welcome meeting.

2

Day 2: La Paz/Sucre

Hop on a flight to Sucre. Arrive to the Constitutional Capital of Bolivia and explore the city along with your CEO.

3

Day 3: Sucre

Enjoy free time to explore all that Sucre has to offer.

4

Day 4: Sucre

Enjoy another free day in Sucre, a South American city filled with food, beautiful architecture, museums, and outdoor adventure activities that make it a must-see destination for any Bolivian adventure. Opt to visit one of the world's largest collections of dinosaur footprints from some 68 million years ago. Or maybe stroll through the Tarabuco market to catch a glimpse of daily Bolivian life. Feeling adventurous? Embark on a hike through the scenic area or maybe book a mountain biking experience. If you're hungry, grab a salteña, which is a juicy, sweet-doughed, empanada-like snack.

5

Day 5: Sucre/Potosí

Journey from Sucre to Potosí. Spend the afternoon exploring the city.

6

Day 6: Potosí/Uyuni

Head south to Uyuni, the starting point for the salt flats excursion.

7

Day 7: Uyuni/Salt Flats

Enjoy a 3-day 4x4 excursion to the Salar de Uyuni and surrounding desert altiplano, with spectacular scenery.
Travel through the Bolivian landscape to the town of Uyuni. Despite its isolation and challenging climate (cold and blustery most of the year), the town of Uyuni has earned the nickname of Hija Predilecta de Bolivia (Bolivia's Favourite Daughter).

It is also the starting point for our 2-night excursion through the spectacular Salar de Uyuni (Uyuni Salt Flats) in 4x4 vehicles.

Settle in to your G Adventures-supported community salt-brick bungalow, complete with salt floors and furniture, after a guided walking tour up to the sacred Jukil mountaintop for sweeping valley views and a dinner of local ingredients prepared by ladies from the community.

8

Day 8: Salt Flats

Continue to discover the Salar de Uyuni on a 4x4 excursion. Last stop for the evening is a G Adventures-supported community lodge in a traditional agricultural village in the heart of a desert oasis.

9

Day 9: Salt Flats/La Paz

Enjoy a final day of exploring the Salar de Uyuni before boarding an overnight bus back to La Paz .

10

Day 10: La Paz

Enjoy a free day in the capital, walk along the winding streets, shop in the markets and enjoy the nightlife. For the thrill seekers opt to bike the famous "death road".
Spend the day exploring and shopping in the many markets of the city -- it is an especially good place to buy textiles and leatherwork. Visit the Witches' Market or take one of the several optional excursions available.

11

Day 11: La Paz

Enjoy another day in beautiful La Paz. Choose to join one of the optional activities in the area like, the Death Road Biking Adventure, Witches' Market Visit, Valley of the Moon tour, Chacaltaya Visit, or the La Paz City Tour. The best part about two free days in one city is getting to try all of the activities you didn't have time for yesterday.

12

Day 12: La Paz

Today, visit the pre-Incan ruins of Tiahuanaco.
Little is known about the Tiahuanaco people who constructed the great ceremonial centre on the southern shore of Lake Titicaca over 1000 years ago. Spend most of the day visiting these mysterious ruins—a cradle of Incan civilization—before returning to La Paz.

13

Day 13: La Paz/Puno

Travel by bus through the altiplano, crossing the border to the Peruvian city of Puno, on the shores of Lake Titicaca.
Peru is made up of three main geographical areas: the Andes, the Amazon, and the desert coastal area.

Enjoy spectacular views of the countryside on a full day of travel from La Paz, around Lake Titicaca, and on to Puno.

14

Day 14: Puno/Lake Titicaca

Enjoy a guided tour of Lake Titicaca with a homestay in a small village.
Head out by boat across Lake Titicaca. Visit the community on the Taquile Islands and stop at a restaurant and enjoy a local lunch with spectacular views.

After, cruise to the another village (this can vary based on community availability) for an overnight homestay on the shores of the lake. This experience provides an opportunity to learn more about rural life in the Peruvian highlands and to participate in local traditions. Eat with the family, pick up some Quecha and Spanish language skills, try on traditional costumes, and help out with daily chores around the village.

15

Day 15: Lake Titicaca/Puno

Visit the floating islands of Uros before returning to Puno. Opt to visit the Sillustani burial site.
Leave the homestay families late in the morning and visit the Uros Islands on the way back to Puno. A popular optional activity in Puno is a visit to the spectacular chullpas (funerary towers) of Sillustani, a pre-Inca archaeological site only a short drive away.

Opt to pre-book the Lake Titicaca Kayaking on the checkout page to include this optional activity on your tour or ask your GCO or travel agent for assistance.

16

Day 16: Puno/Cusco

Hop on the bus for a full day's drive to Cusco.
The bus trip from Puno to Cusco takes the better part of the day, with stark, beautiful scenery en route as you travel through the high Altiplano region. Check out a bit of Cusco, find a spot for dinner, or get prepared to head into the Sacred Valley.

17

Day 17: Cusco

Enjoy a free day to explore the city's museums and local markets. Choose to pre-book the optional Cusco Cooking Class. Opt for a city tour to see some of the ruins as well.
While most ruins are just outside of the city, the main ruin within is that of the Coricancha, once the Inca Empire's richest temple. It forms the base of the colonial church of Santo Domingo. There are several good museums in Cusco, including the Archaeological Museum, which also houses a small art museum, the Regional History Museum, and the Religious Art Museum.

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.

18

Day 18: Cusco/Ollantaytambo

Enjoy a full-day guided tour of the Sacred Valley. 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. 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.

19

Day 19: Inca Trail

Depart Ollantaytambo by van to km 82 where the Inca Trail begins. Ease into the adventure with a straightforward day of hiking the meandering streams, stunning Andean scenery, and ancient Incan ruins.
Trek through beautiful scenery, with a variety of flora that changes with the seasons, passing several smaller ruin sites like Llactapata.

20

Day 20: Inca Trail

Start early to climb the long steep path to Warmiwañusca, better known as Dead Woman's Pass. This is the highest point of the trek at 4,198m (13,769 ft). Most hikers reach camp by early afternoon, with ample time to rest and relax.

21

Day 21: Inca Trail

Cross two more passes and ruins on today's trek. The first pass is Runquraqay at 3,950m (13,113 ft) where, on a clear day, hikers can catch a glimpse of the snow-capped Cordillera Vilcabamba. Hike through the cloud forest on a gentle climb to the second pass of the day, walking through original Incan constructions. The highest point of the pass is 3,700m (12,136 ft). On a clear day, enjoy the spectacular views of the Urubamba Valley. At 3,650m (11,972 ft), reach the ruins of Phuyupatamarca, the "town above the clouds." Camp here or go another 1.5 hrs to the Wiñay Wayna ruins ("forever young") located at 2,650m (8,694 ft).

22

Day 22: Machu Picchu/Cusco

The final day of the hike starts pre-dawn to reach the Sun Gate before sunrise. Catch the first views of the breathtaking ruins of Machu Picchu on a clear day. Hike down for a guided tour of the ruins, before your train back towards Cusco.

23

Day 23: Cusco

Enjoy a free day to explore Cusco or relax. Active options include, horseback riding and mountain biking.

24

Day 24: Cusco/Lima

Fly to Lima. Opt for a city tour or wander the neighbourhood of Miraflores.
Take a short flight to the coast and the capital city of Lima. This vibrant city has a fantastic main square, tons of shopping, and incredible eating. Opt to join the group for one final evening out.

25

Day 25: Lima

Depart at any time.

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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

 

Heather   -  Traveled, May 2024

If there were more stars to give, we would give them. My wife and I were on the 30 day Absolute Peru tour and had a fantastic time. The group were great and the guides fantastic. We were lucky enough to have Elmer as the main guide, but in training were Edward and Joseph, who later went on the look after their own group, who would have been lucky to have them. The tour was very well organised and Elmer made sure we knew exactly where to be and when, what to wear, what to bring and what to expect. He also catered to some strange requests with efficiency and diligence, which was greatly appreciated. Thank you to Elmer, Edward, Joseph and everyone behind the scenes at Tourradar for a wonderful experience we will remember for the rest of our lives.

Source: Tour operator   Submitted: 05/26/2024

 

Munjen   -  Traveled, May 2024

Itinerary: Overall Good. You will do many varied things on this tour. But you will completely miss Sacsayhuaman and Ollantaytambo. Two of the most important archeological sites in Peru. They will not bring you to those sights because there is an admission fee. They will instead bring you to free sites like Big White Jesus statue and the granaries of Ollantaytambo. Which is extremely lacking. They will also make you spend an entire day at their sponsored co-ops where they produce very overpriced goods. Complete waste of a day that you paid for. Tipping: There is a persistent request for tips. This makes one think that G adventures does not pay their workers a fair wage or asks them to expect less in hopes of making it up in tips. I don't mind in tipping hard working individuals like the porters on the Inca trail that go above and beyond, but when its always expected on small day trips, it gets tiring. Do not Pre-pay in advance for day tours Never pre-pay for a day tour too far in advance. Decide the day before. I pre-paid for the Rainbow mountain hike after the Inca trail. Big mistake. You may not feel like wanting to go on another long hike after the Inca trail. And there's no refunds. Looking back, I would have stayed in Cusco and relaxed for the day. Meals Some meals are included and some are not. The ones that are not are opportunities for the guide to introduce you to something new while getting a commission. You're free to go somewhere else but with peer pressure, you may find it hard when the entire group is going somewhere. Figure out where and what you want to eat and let the others get fleeced. Hotels They will be 1-2 stars. Bathrooms and beds are clean but the room itself seems poorly constructed. Would I go again? Yes, but I would pay attention to the things that make it a lesser experience. Figure out what's important to me and deviate from their agenda that makes it a lesser experience when possible.

Source: Tour operator   Submitted: 05/24/2024

 

Margaret  -  Traveled, March 2024

An amazing but very full on adventure. From day one, right through to the end it was very eventful, busy, challenging but most of all extremely rewarding. We had no expectations we we began the tour but our expectations were exceeded. We were blessed with mostly great weather, amazing scenery, fabulous fellow travellers and fantastic and very supportive guides.

Source: Tour operator   Submitted: 04/06/2024

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