Landscapes & Cultures of South America

Breakfast at the hotel. Set off towards Cuzco, with the opportunity to enjoy optional Sacred Valley excursions along the way, to experience the best of the region.* Arrive in Cuzco and spend the remainder of the day at your leisure, enjoying the lively plazas at night. Overnight stay in Cuzco.

* Optional Essence of the Sacred Valley Excursion: Visit Chinchero and the PARWA Centre, to appreciate the colourful traditional textiles. Next, visit the church of Chinchero before heading to the Racchi panoramic viewpoint for a fantastic view across the valley. Explore Ollantaytambo and its Inca fortress. Price per person with lunch and 'Boleto Turisitco' included granting entrance to the Sacred Valley and surrounding sights.

Breakfast at the hotel. Today, set off on a fascinating half-day tour of Cuzco. Begin in the iconic Plaza de Armas, and visit the Cathedral. From here, walk to the Koricancha Temple, an impressive ancient Inca palace, in honour of the Sun God. Today, a Dominican church stands on the site. Finally, visit the lively San Blas neighbourhood, known for its artists, shops and artisan workshops. 

*Optional Cuzco Photography Workshop: Move away from the tourist route to discover the real Cuzco with this unique photography workshop. Using either your mobile device or camera, follow a professional photographer around the city to learn how to capture the essence of Cuzco in unique and exciting ways! This excursion is a fun and hands-on way to discover the hidden corners of Cuzco. 

Breakfast at the hotel. Transfer to Cuzco bus station to catch the bus to Puno. Leave the station and start your journey on the bus to Puno and enjoy the marvellous landscapes of the South Valley of Cuzco. Discover Andahuaylas, a beautiful 17th-century church, featuring an impressive organ decorated with angels and cherubs. Continue on the road and visit the ruins of Racqui, also known as the ´Temple of the God Wiracocha. After lunch, discover La Raya, the highest point on the highway between Cuzco and Puno for amazing views of the landscape. Visit the historic town of Pucara, once an important centre of the Inca civilisation. Arrive in Puno, and transfer to the hotel. Overnight stay in Puno.

Breakfast at the hotel. Set off on an unforgettable full-day excursion to the islands of Lake Titicaca with lunch box included. Depart by boat to Taquile Island, which dates back to pre-Inca times. The Islanders are famous for their beautiful clothing, their incredible knits and their thriving textile industry. Skilled craftsmen, these communities are dedicated to keeping their traditions alive. Next, visit the floating island of Uros situated in the middle of Lake Titicaca and built with layers of totora reeds. Return to the hotel and overnight stay in Puno.

Breakfast at the hotel. This morning, catch the bus to Copacabana, crossing the border into Bolivia. Arrive in this beautiful lake-side village, a colorful place bursting with traditional culture and fascinating architecture, and self-transfer to your hotel. The remainder of the day is free to explore the delights of Copacabana at your leisure. Visit its 16th-century Basilica, admire the charms of Copacabana village or hike to the top of Calvary Hill for exceptional views of Lake Titicaca. Overnight stay in Copacabana.

Breakfast at the hotel. Begin the day with a half-day excursion to Isla del Sol. Navigate the tranquil waters of Lake Titicaca as you travel 90-minutes by boat to Isla del Sol. This island is home to indigenous people of Quechua origin and is considered a place of sacred significance to the Inca people. Climb the famous 500 Inca stairs to visit the incredible Pilkokaine archaeological site as you follow in the footsteps of the ancient Incas and learn more about their traditions and way of life. After exploring Isla del Sol, return to Copacabana. In the afternoon transfer to the bus station to catch a bus to La Paz, a journey of approximately 4-5 hours. Arrive in the capital and transfer to the hotel. The highest capital city in the world, La Paz is situated at an altitude of 3640 meters above sea level! Surrounded by the towering mountains of the altiplano, La Paz is a place of buzzing street markets, excellent museums and colorful architecture. If time allows, the evening is free to soak up the ambience of the city's plazas and indulge in authentic Bolivian cuisine. Overnight stay in La Paz.

Breakfast at the hotel. Enjoy the morning at your leisure, getting to know the Bolivian capital. Why not go shopping for souvenirs or explore the numerous museums and art galleries. We recommend a half-day 'La Paz like a local' city tour* to really get to know its interesting history and culture. In the afternoon, transfer to the bus station to catch an overnight bus to Uyuni, home of the incredible Uyuni Salt Flats! Arrive in the small town of Uyuni first thing the next morning and transfer to your hotel for breakfast. Once an important railroad junction, today Uyuni is better known as the gateway to the largest and most beautiful salt flats on earth! Overnight aboard.

*Optional Half-Day La Paz Like A Local City Tour: Meet your guide at the hotel and head to the cable car station to enjoy spectacular views of the northern and central parts of the city. Disembark the cable car and enjoy a guided walk through the city's most colorful streets and markets. Visit the Musical Instruments Museum and taste an authentic Bolivian empanada at Plaza Murillo before heading to the famous Witches Market to see an array of traditional Andean products known for their medicinal properties.

After breakfast at the hotel, depart in a 4x4 vehicle to the incredible Uyuni Salt Flats, a true natural wonder and highlight of any trip to Bolivia! Firstly, pay a visit to the Train Cemetery, a relic of an abandoned 19th-century project to expand the Uyuni train network. Next, continue to Colchani, where you can observe salt processing and extraction and the Palacio de Sal Hotel, the first hotel in the world made entirely from salt! Continue your adventure at Incahuasi Island, a unique and isolated ecosystem populated by giant cacti that measure up to 10 meters high. Next, continue to the tiny village of San Juan where you can enjoy a relaxing evening surrounded by the spectacular natural beauty of Southern Bolivia. Overnight stay in San Juan. 

Breakfast at the hotel. Discover more incredible natural wonders today as you depart this morning for the salt flats of Chiguana, the Ollague Volcano viewpoint and the altiplano lagoons of Cañapa, Hedionda and Chiarcota lagoons, located at 4300 meters above sea level! From here, observe the native wildlife including flamingos and vicunas. After lunch, continue to the Siloli Desert to see the Arbol de Piedra and Colorada Lagoon, whose waters are a vibrant red colour. Continue across the dazzling landscapes before arriving at Polques, a tiny settlement on the Chilean border. Dinner and overnight stay in Polques.

Breakfast included. The adventure continues today as you depart early this morning to visit the geysers of Sol de Mañana located at an altitude of 4.900 meters above sea level! Observe the boiling fumaroles before continuing to the hot springs of Polques where you can enjoy a relaxing bath in the therapeutic waters. Next, pass through the Dalí Valley, an extremely barren desert in southwestern Bolivia and visit the Green and White Lagoons located at the foot of the Licancabur volcano. After this, continue towards the border with Chile, arriving around 10.30 am. Cross the border and continue your journey in a different vehicle to San Pedro de Atacama, situated in the dusty plateaus of the Andean mountains. Arrive at the hotel and begin exploring this town, set within the breath-taking natural scenery. Overnight stay in San Pedro de Atacama.

Breakfast at the hotel. The morning is at your leisure to relax and enjoy the charms of this desert town. This afternoon, set off to the famous Moon Valley*, situated just outside of the town, between the hills of the Cordillera de la Sal. One of Chile's most astonishing natural spectacles, discover the moon-like landscape, unusual rock formations and the unique geological environment. Return to the hotel and spend the evening at your leisure, recounting the amazing afternoon with your fellow travelers! Overnight stay in San Pedro de Atacama.

*Entrance to Moon Valley is not included and can be purchased for an approximate price of AUD20.

After a leisurely breakfast, enjoy a free day to relax at your own pace or get out into the other-worldly landscapes of the Atacama desert to explore further. We recommend visiting the beautiful Altiplanic lagoons, a true natural spectacle or discovering the geothermal Tatio Geysers*. Overnight stay in San Pedro de Atacama. 

* Optional Full-Day Tatio Geysers & Machuca Excursion: Take an excursion to the beautiful Altiplano, setting off early to see the sunrise over the geothermal field of the Tatio Geysers, where 70 fumaroles emerge from the ground in jets of steam and water. Also visit the village of Machuca, home to traditional straw houses and artisans selling traditional Andean crafts. Lunch included. Entrance not included.

Breakfast at the hotel. Transfer to Calama airport to board the flight to Santiago. Arrive and transfer to the hotel. Depending on the time you arrive, spend the rest of the day exploring at your leisure. Be sure to sample Chilean wine at one of the local wine bars, it's world-renowned for its quality. Overnight stay in Santiago.

After breakfast at the hotel, embark on a fascinating panoramic tour of Santiago. Begin your discovery on the main avenue, soaking up the atmosphere and history. Head to the cobblestoned neighbourhood of Lastarria, filled with green spaces and 19th-century mansions. Continue up to Santa Lucia Hill where you'll have some time to take photos of the amazing views and the Hidalgo Castle. Next up, explore the most emblematic sights in the city such as the Plaza de Armas, Santiago Cathedral, the La Moneda government house and the impressive Plaza de la Constitucion. See local life in action at the Central Market before stopping at a Lapis Lazuli store to admire the beautiful crafts and jewellery of local artisans. Return to the hotel and the remainder of the day is free at your leisure to explore or relax as you please. Join the locals in the historic plazas of the city for an evening drink! Overnight stay in Santiago.