Peru & Bolivia Explorer

Your journey begins in Lima, Peru’s coastal capital where Spanish colonial architecture and modern culture sit side by side. You’ll be met at the airport and transferred to Villa Barranco (or similar) to stay for 2 nights with breakfast included, a stylish townhouse in the city’s creative quarter. Take a privately guided tour of the UNESCO-listed centre, stopping at the San Francisco Monastery and Plaza Mayor, then explore the treasures of the Larco Museum. In the evening, head out for a contemporary tasting menu or join a relaxed ceviche masterclass – just let us know your vibe.

Fly to Arequipa, an elegant city framed by volcanic peaks. You’ll stay at Katari Hotel at Plaza de Armas (or similar) for 2 nights with breakfast included, a boutique hotel with panoramic views of the cathedral square. Explore the baroque architecture and vivid Santa Catalina Monastery with your guide, before heading into the Andes. En route to the Colca Valley, you’ll pass llamas and terraced slopes, arriving at Killawasi Lodge (2 nights, B&B) – a peaceful base for canyon walks and starry nights. One morning, head to Cruz del Condor for the chance of a breathtaking encounter with South America’s largest bird.

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Fly to Cusco and descend directly into the Sacred Valley, a fertile corridor of villages, terraces, and ancient fortresses framed by snow-capped peaks. You’ll stay at Del Pilar Ollantaytambo Hotel (or similar) for 2 nights with breakfast included, a peaceful rural base with excellent access to the valley’s highlights. With your guide, explore the fascinating concentric terraces of Moray, used by the Incas as an agricultural lab, and the glistening salt pans of Maras, still worked by hand today. In Chinchero, meet traditional weavers who share the secrets of Andean textiles. Between sights, there’s time to browse local markets and enjoy regional cuisine.

Board the Vistadome train to Aguas Calientes and settle into Casa del Sol Machu Picchu Boutique Hotel (or similar) to stay for 1 night with breakfast included, just a short stroll from the bus stop to the citadel. Rise early the next morning to enter Machu Picchu with your expert guide at the dawn entry time – the best light and fewest people. As clouds lift from the terraces and temples, you’ll trace the history of this extraordinary sanctuary and its mysterious construction atop the mountain ridge. Afterwards, return to Aguas Calientes for lunch before taking the train back toward Cusco. Want to climb Huayna Picchu or visit the site again the next day? Let us know. Want a second entrance or to climb Huayna Picchu? Just ask.

Return to Cusco for three nights at Andenes by Mountain Lodges of Peru (or similar) to stay for 3 nights with breakfast included, a peaceful retreat close to the old town. Delve into the city’s dual heritage on a private walking tour – visit Qorikancha (Temple of the Sun), colonial churches and vibrant San Pedro Market. You’ll also have time to visit Sacsayhuamán fortress, take a Peruvian cooking class or enjoy rooftop dining with Andean views.

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Travel in style aboard the Andean Explorer, a luxury train that winds from Cusco to Puno through altiplano landscapes – complete with white-tablecloth dining and photo stops. Spend a night at Casa Andina Premium Puno (or similar) with breakfast included, a highly rated 4-star hotel set right on the lakefront, with sweeping views across the water and a peaceful atmosphere perfect for watching the sunset. The next morning, set out by boat across Lake Titicaca. Visit the Uros floating islands, then continue to Taquile where you’ll overnight at Homestay Taquile Titicaca Lodge, a simple lodge run by local families. Learn traditional farming, cooking and weaving techniques passed down through generations.

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Cross into Bolivia via Kasani and travel by private vehicle along Lake Titicaca to La Paz. Explore the city’s highlights, including the witches’ market, colonial quarter, and Mi Teleférico cable cars. Overnight at La Casona Hotel Boutique (or similar) with breakfast. The following day, fly to Uyuni and stay at Luna Salada Hotel (or similar), a one-of-a-kind salt hotel overlooking the vast Salar de Uyuni. This otherworldly salt flat—dotted with cactus-covered islands and offering mirror-like reflections in the wet season—is a photographer’s dream and a true Bolivian highlight.

Begin your 4×4 expedition across Bolivia’s high-altitude wilderness. Visit cactus-covered Incahuasi Island, photograph the endless salt crust, and continue to Eduardo Avaroa National Reserve. Here, you’ll see the blood-red Laguna Colorada, steaming geysers and flamingo-dotted lakes. Spend the night at Tayka del Desierto Hotel a simple lodge in the remote Siloli Desert.

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Cross into Chile and arrive in San Pedro de Atacama, one of the driest places on Earth. Stay at Casa Solcor Boutique B&B for y our final 2 nighst with breakfast included, a welcoming adobe-style retreat. Choose from a variety of excursions:

• Hike Moon Valley at sunset
• Bathe in high-altitude hot springs
• Gaze through telescopes at some of the clearest skies on Earth

A fitting end to a journey through the Sacred Andes.

After a final morning to relax or explore, transfer to Calama Airport for your onward flight to the UK via Santiago.

Call 01273 923100 to start planning your holiday