Extraordinary Andes Uyuni

Day 1 : Arrival in Lima

• Arrival at Lima airport. Meet our representative for a transfer to your Lima hotel.

Day 2 : Arrival in Cusco

• Transfer from your hotel to the airport for your flight to Cusco.
• Upon arrival at the Cusco airport, meet our Peru For Less representative for the 20-minute drive to your hotel in the historic center. As you approach the oldest sections of the city, gorgeous examples of Spanish colonial architecture will draw your eye. Look closely and you might see the remains of Inca stonework - these are the former palaces and temples of the former Inca imperial capital.
• After check-in at your Cusco hotel, you have the rest of the day to start exploring the city on your own. Remember to take it easy on this first afternoon since Cusco is located at 11,300 feet in elevation. Most travelers acclimate within 1-2 days and have no trouble with slow-paced activities. Wander about the main square, visit a museum, or stop by one of the many shops or cafes. Don’t miss out on the chance to sample Peruvian cuisine in one of Cusco’s many casual and/or fine dining restaurants.

Day 3 : Cusco City Tour

• Spend the morning at your leisure. This is a good time to explore some of Cusco’s less-visited attractions including the famous San Pedro Market, the bohemian neighborhood of San Blas, or one of Cusco’s many fine museums. Get a glimpse of Peru’s long artistic heritage at the Museum of Pre-Columbian Art, hone your knowledge of the Inca Empire at the Casa Concha (“Machu Picchu Museum”), or make your own chocolate from scratch at the Choco Museum.
• In the afternoon, meet our expert Cusco guide to tour the city’s must-see attractions. Stops include the Cusco Cathedral in the Plaza de Armas, the fabulous Temple of the Sun or Qoricancha, the gargantuan ruins of the Sacsayhuaman fortress/temple overlooking the city, as well as the ruins of Q'enko, Puka Pukara, and Tambomachay nearby.
• In the late afternoon, return to your Cusco hotel and spend the evening at your leisure. Enjoy the local cuisine and the splendor of Cusco at night, the surrounding hills twinkling with lights and the sky overhead littered with stars.

Day 4 : Sacred Valley Tour

• Explore the beautiful Peruvian countryside with a full-day tour of the magical Sacred Valley, home to several royal estates of Incan emperors. First, visit the town of Pisac, famous for its bustling indigenous market and for the beautiful Inca ruins on the hillside overlooking the city. In the market, browse stalls brimming with beautiful handicrafts and handwoven garments. In the center of the market, village women in traditional dress gather to buy and sell local fruits, vegetables, and other natural products. While exploring the Pisac ruins above, wander narrow paths with walls of spectacularly cut stones and enjoy stunning views of the village and the Sacred Valley below.
• After Pisac, stop for lunch (not included) at a buffet restaurant to sample a variety of Peruvian and international dishes near the town of Urubamba. The town is named after the sacred river (whose upper stretch is called the Vilcanota) that flows through the valley, on its way to Machu Picchu and eventually the Amazon jungle.
• Next, visit the spectacular fortress of Ollantaytambo. These magnificent Inca ruins that cling to the hillside were part of the royal estate of the Incan emperor Pachacuti. Later, during the Incas' heroic resistance against the Spaniards, a great battle was fought, during which the Spaniards were repelled by the guerrilla emperor Manco Inca. The small town of Ollantaytambo at its base still has Inca houses, making Ollantaytambo the only Inca city that is still inhabited today.
• The tour ends at your comfortable hotel in the Sacred Valley. If you've selected a hotel in Ollantaytambo, you can explore the former Incan town at your leisure, which still boasts mountain water coursing through Inca-built gutters in the center of its streets and where many of the inhabitants still speak the Incan language, Quechua.

Day 5 : Machu Picchu Tour

• After breakfast at your Sacred Valley hotel, take a train to Machu Picchu, the hidden Inca citadel. This 2.5-hour train journey is one of the finest in the world. Much of the path winds along the rushing Vilcanota river and snakes through gorges cut into the bases of massive mountainsides, offering passengers dramatic views of the Andean landscape as the train descends from high altitude plains down through the cloud forest. The foliage dramatically changes as the train approaches the meeting point of the Andes and the Upper Amazon rainforest, providing visitors an intimate view of one of the most spectacular transitions in the world.
• The train arrives in Aguas Calientes, the town at the base of Machu Picchu, which is surrounded by tall granite cliffs and a cloud forest inhabited by orchids and hummingbirds. Meet our representative at the train station gates and walk to the bus station for a 20-minute ride up to the secluded Inca citadel high atop a mountain ridge.
• Next, meet your expert, English-speaking guide for a 2-hour tour of the most important sites in Machu Picchu, including the Intihuatana (Sun Stone), the Sun Temple, and the Room of 3 Windows. Machu Picchu is ranked as one of the “must see” archaeological sites in the world. Royal palaces, temples and astronomical observatories cling to a granite spur some 2,000 feet above the valley floor, affording spectacular views of the cloud-wreathed Andes and the Urubamba River far below.
• After your tour, you have the option to explore more of the ruins on your own and capture some final photos.
• In the late afternoon, take a comfortable train back to Cusco and then meet our driver for a transfer to your Cusco hotel for the evening.
• Want an extra day at Machu Picchu? Customize this package to include an overnight stay in Aguas Calientes, the town at the base of Machu Picchu. The next morning, make a second visit to get your fill of the enigmatic citadel and then return to Cusco in the evening.

*Optional: Hike up Huayna Picchu, the peak overlooking the Machu Picchu ruins. This hike is steep and takes about 3 hours round trip to complete, but affords spectacular views of the surrounding Andes and views over the Machu Picchu citadel from above. Numerous Inca burials have been found in cavities on this mountain. Please let your Travel Advisor know if you’d like to add this to your itinerary.

Day 6 : Arrival in Puno

• After breakfast at your hotel, meet our representative for a transfer from the bus terminal for your journey to Puno.
• Travel to Puno aboard a comfortable tourist bus. The ride lasts 9-10 hours and includes a stop for lunch, as well as guided visits to several ruins and tourist sites along the way.
• Upon arrival in Puno, meet our Peru For Less representative at the bus station for a transfer to your hotel. Many of our recommended hotels are located along the lakeshore and away from the hustle and bustle of the city center, so you will be able to take in views of the lake as you rest and relax. Spend the remainder of the evening at your leisure, resting at your hotel or exploring Puno on your own.

Day 7 : Lake Titicaca Tour

• Be sure to fuel up at breakfast this morning, as this full-day experience lasts around 9 hours. Your Lake Titicaca tour takes you to two fascinating islands. First, the floating Uros islands are composed of about 32 islands constructed of many layers of totora reeds woven into thick mats. Hosts teach visitors about local customs and how they use reeds to make their homes and boats.
• This exciting tour continues to Taquile Island, located about 30 miles by boat from Puno. Along the way, enjoy panoramic views of Lake Titicaca, perched at 12,500 feet in elevation, and of the surrounding peninsulas. Taquile Island is home to numerous pre-Inca and Inca ruins, and the island inhabitants still maintain many time-honored traditions which are reflected in their clothing and in their beautiful handicrafts.
• On Taquile, visit the most important sites of the island, including the main plaza and the market. Take pictures of the island landscape and surrounding lake views. Be prepared for some effort, though, as due to the island's geography, the tour of Taquile involves hiking up hills and climbing stone stairs. Taquile's 500 stone stairs from pier to town re infamous, so be sure to bring comfortable walking shoes. Fortunately, the lake views are well worth the climb, and there are many places to stop and rest along the way.
• After touring Taquile, enjoy a local lunch (not included) before your return by boat to Puno.
• Arrive back in Puno in the early evening. Relax at your hotel or head to the city center to enjoy some traditional cuisine in one of the local restaurants.

Day 8 : Arrival in La Paz

• This morning, meet our representative for a transfer to the bus station for your journey from Puno to La Paz. The bus ride lasts 6-7 hours. Soak in the amazing views of Lake Titicaca and the surrounding high altitude mountain terrain.
• Upon arrival at the bus station in La Paz, meet our representative for a transfer to your confirmed hotel.
• Spend the remainder of the day at your leisure. Relax at your hotel or start exploring La Paz on your own.
• Overnight in La Paz.

Day 9 : La Paz City Tour & Moon Valley Tour

• Today, enjoy a private half-day tour of the most interesting sites in La Paz, as well as the nearby Moon Valley.
• In La Paz, your tour stops at Plaza Murillo, home to the Government Palace, Cathedral and the Congress building. Continue on to the Gold Museum to see an impressive range of pre-Columbian works, and also visit the San Francisco Church, one of the best examples of Colonial-era religious architecture in all of South America.
• Next, explore the Mercado de Brujas (Witches Market) where you can shop for souvenirs and unusual local products. The tour also visits Los Andes street artisans, Mirador Killi Killi (a lookout point), and the open air museum.
• On the way to Moon Valley, drive through some of the wealthy residential neighborhoods in La Paz, including Obrajes, Calacoto, and San Miguel. Moon Valley is named for the unique landscape and geological features that resemble the surface of the moon. The landscape includes an unusual assortment of rocky pinnacles and canyons.
• After the tour, you have the remainder of the day to spend at your leisure.
• Overnight in La Paz.

Day 10 : Arrival in Uyuni

• This morning, transfer from your hotel to the airport for your flight from La Paz to Uyuni.
• Upon arrival at the airport in Uyuni, meet our representative to begin your Uyuni Salt Flat adventures. The Salt Flats are the largest in the world, stretching over 6,574 square miles (10,582 square kilometers) and creating a flat reflective surface used to calibrate satellites.
• Your exploration will begin with a transfer to Villamar. Along the way you will visit the San Cristobal Church, the villages of Culpina K and Alota, as well as the Valle de las Rocas or Rock Valley.
• Check in to your accommodation and have time to enjoy lunch before setting out to continue exploring the surrounding area in the afternoon.
• After a full day of exploration, return to your accommodation for dinner.
• Overnight in Uyuni.

*Note: The tour itinerary for each day may vary based on weather conditions and other considerations. Your Uyuni guide will provide complete information about your daily activities.

*Please note that accommodations in Uyuni are rustic and do not necessarily match up to standard hotel star level classifications. Your Travel Advisor can provide additional information about lodging options in Uyuni to determine what type of accommodation will be best for your trip.

Day 11 : Uyuni Salt Flat Tours

• After breakfast at your Uyuni accommodation, your adventure continues with more exploration of the Uyuni Salt Flats.
• Today, visit the Laguna Colorada where the unique James' Flamingos can often be seen. This species of flamingo only lives at high altitudes in Andean plateaus in Peru, Bolivia, Argentina and Chile. Your tour also explores Dali's Valley, the Chalviri hot springs and the Sol de Mañana geysers.
• End the day with a visit to the Laguna Verde, located at the base of the towering Licancabur Volcano. Return to the lodge to rest and relax as you prepare for the next day's activities.
• Overnight in Uyuni.

*Note: The tour itinerary for each day may vary based on weather conditions and other considerations. Your Uyuni guide will provide complete information about your daily activities.

Day 12 : Departure from Uyuni

• After breakfast at your accommodations, enjoy your final day at the Salt Flats with a visit to Incahuasi Island, known for a unique species of giant cactus.
• Then make your way back to the town of Uyuni, visiting a unique landscape feature, the Ojos de Agua, which are round holes where you can see water beneath the thick layers of salt. You will also see a traditional salt processing plant.
• Enjoy lunch on the Salt Flats before your transfer to the airport for your flight to La Paz and journey home or on to your next destination.
• Alternatively, customize this package to continue exploring Uyuni or have a look at our full range of Bolivia travel destinations to extend your Peru and Bolivia vacation.

*Note: The tour itinerary for each day may vary based on weather conditions and other considerations. Your Uyuni guide will provide complete information about your daily activities.