Comprehensive South America

Arrive in Santiago
On arrival at the airport you will be met by our representative and transferred to your hotel.

Chile's capital city is surrounded by an extraordinary set of snow-capped Andean mountains to the east and a smaller coastal range to the west. It is truly a beautiful sight. The city offers one of Latin America's most cosmopolitan, vibrant and artistic city centres so your stay here is sure to be an exciting one.

Exclusive Santiago Tour
Tuesday to Sunday (tour will be different on Mondays due to closure of San Cristobal Hill Gondola)

Let us introduce you to the classic city we know and love on this 6 hour tour exploring the city's most popular sights along with some of our personal favourites. Chile´s rich cultural heritage comes to life as we visit the iconic symbols of the city, including La Plaza de Armas (the main square), La Moneda (the government palace), the Santiago Metropolitan Cathedral and the spectacular Cerro Santa Lucia, where the city was founded in 1541.

We continue to the bohemian area of Bellavista and climb the San Cristobal hill for a panoramic view of Santiago with the Andes Mountains in the background. We'll also visit the Orient Sector, the most modern area of the city, with its impressive high rise buildings and classy boulevards before we offer you a choice of the activities designed to enhance your Santiago experience.

You'll be given the option (you can decide on the day) to visit the picturesque Los Dominicos craft market where we can walk through the artisan village and enjoy a tasty empanada at one of the outdoor cafés, discover Santiago's impressive pre-Columbian museum, explore the historic Lastarria Neighbourhood or take a walking tour through the Mercado Central, Chile's largest fresh seafood market where you can try some of the local cuisine on offer. If you'd like to visit all these places then just let us know in advance and we can extend your tour to do this.

On completion of the tour you'll be returned back to your hotel and have free time to further explore the city at your leisure.

* As an alternative to this traditional city tour, we can also offer the city tour as a walking or bike riding tour. Let us know if you'd like more details on these options.

Breakfast included.

Valparaiso, Vina del Mar & the Vineyards
Today we will head over to the coast and explore one of the most fascinating cities in Chile; Valparaiso. ‘Valpo', as it is fondly known by locals, was declared a world heritage site by UNESCO, and it is not difficult to see why. Picturesque architecture and multi-coloured urban housing spread out over more than forty hills, creating one of world's most eclectic, unique cities.

We will visit the downtown area with its new government house, the Plaza Sotomayor, the Plaza Victoria, the cathedral and the harbour area. Afterwards we take a funicular up into the hills where there is a fantastic collection of brightly painted houses and a fantastic view over the city (funicular not included). We enjoy coffee in one of the many cosy restaurants before we enjoy a stroll through the labyrinth of colourful streets lined with impressive street-art. You can also visit the former home of Pablo Neruda (entrance fee not included) and learn a little more about this famous Chilean poet.

From Valparaiso we'll head to the fashionable coastal resort city of Viña del Mar where we can admire the famous city ‘flower clock' and visit the Main Square, which offers an ampitheatre that hosts the Viña del Mar International Song Festival every summer.

We include time for lunch and on the way back to Santiago we will explore the Casablanca valley with its famous orchards, citrus groves, grape plantations and wonderful mountain backdrops. For those interested in tasting some of the local produce a visit to a local vineyard can be arranged (any wine tasting will be paid for locally). We return you back to your hotel in Santiago where you have the evening at your leisure.

Please note: All services are offered as private except the wine tasting in the Casablanca Valley. This tour will be shared with a group of up to 25 people.

Breakfast included.

Depart Santiago
Our representative will pick you up from your hotel and transfer you to the airport for your departure flight.

4 Day Torres del Paine All-Inclusive Stay
The accommodations that we use for this package are as follows:

- Comfort: EcoCamp - Standard Dome
- Superior: EcoCamp - Superior Dome
- Deluxe: EcoCamp - Suite Dome

Arrival Day
From the airport or your hotel in Punta Arenas you’ll be transferred to your luxury accommodation in Torres del Paine National Park where you’ll spend the next four days immersing yourself in the extraordinary natural landscapes of Patagonia.

Along the way we pass through the Patagonian steppe, a wide, open, vast territory, before arriving to the lodge in the afternoon.

The remainder of the day is at your leisure to explore the spectacular surroundings of your accommodation before enjoying dinner.

Dinner included.

Torres del Paine Activities
Enjoy the next two days with excursions of Torres del Paine that offer some of the most important viewpoints and attractions of this world famous national park.

Your stay includes all meals and activities with several walking excursions available including Torres Base, Laguna Azul, Lake Grey and several others. The walks are suitable for walkers of varying levels and there are also many other activities such as mountain biking, kayaking, canoeing, horse riding and fishing.

Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner included.

Departure Day
Sadly today you will bid your Torres del Paine adventure farewell as you enjoy your final breakfast at your accommodation then transfer out with a packed boxed lunch for the journey.

Breakfast and Lunch included.

Torres del Paine hotel to El Calafate Hotel via Cerro Castillo border
Today you will take the shared transfer from your hotel to the Cerro Castillo border in Argentina, where you will change cars and then be transferred to your hotel in El Calafate.

Breakfast included.

Perito Moreno Glacier incl. Nautical Safari
After breakfast you will be picked up from your hotel for your excursion to the Perito Moreno Glacier, one of the most famous landmarks in South America and one of Patagonia's only advancing glaciers. The glacier is 5 kilometres wide, with an average height of 74 metres above the surface of the water of Lake Argentino and a total ice depth of 170 metres.

You'll go first to the glacier's less frequented north face to marvel at its splendour. You'll observe and hear giant chunks of ice plummet into the waters of Lake Argentino. Your guide will answer questions about the glacier and the park, and then we'll continue on to the footbridges and take a break to enjoy the surroundings. You'll also have the opportunity to do a short nautical safari to observe this magnificent glacier from a closer viewpoint.

After the thrilling encounter with the Perito Moreno, we'll drive back to Calafate where you will spend the evening.

**For those after something a little more adventurous, we can offer a ‘Mini trekking' excursion where you hike into the core of Perito Moreno Glacier and experience its surreal beauty. Let us know if you'd like more details on this excursion.

Breakfast included.

Depart El Calafate
Our representative will pick you up from your hotel and transfer you to the airport.

Arrive in Buenos Aires
On arrival at the airport you will be met by our representative and transferred to your hotel.

Buenos Aires, capital of the Republic of Argentina and the country's largest city, is undeniably one of Latin America's hottest destinations. Located on the shores of the Rio de la Plata, the city's combination of European architecture and the passion of its people – the porteños (people of the port) – work together to create a colourful and dynamic modern city.

Breakfast included.

San Telmo and La Boca City Tour
This morning's excursion will introduce you to the magic of the Argentine capital. After being picked up from your hotel we start with a visit of 'San Telmo', the oldest barrio (neighbourhood) of Buenos Aires which is famous for its historic architecture, tango parlours and antique shops. We take our time and wander through the cobblestone streets learning about the history of the area and seeing its sights including its impressive old churches and its abundance of colourful street art.

We leave San Telmo and the tour continues past the many architectural highlights of Buenos Aires including the Palace of Justice, the Argentine National Congress building, the 'Cabildo (old town hall) and the presidential palace 'Casa Rosada' (pink house).

Next we visit ‘La Boca', the most picturesque of all neighbourhoods of Buenos Aires. This extravagant zone is completely different to the old and to the modern Buenos Aires and romantic stories tell us that tango was born in this working class area. We wander its famous street “Caminito” where you will have the chance to view the spectacle of impromptu tango dancing, street performers and have the chance to buy some local handicrafts.

On our way back to your hotel we pass through the newly restored Puerto Madero area where you can choose to be dropped off at for a nice meal by the waterfront. The remainder of the afternoon is at your leisure with the chance to visit some of Buenos Aires' many great museums or do some shopping.

Dinner & Tango Show
Tango expresses the heart and spirit of Argentina and no visit to Buenos Aires would be complete without it. This evening you will be picked up from your hotel and taken to La Ventana where you will experience the intimacy of this dance in equally intimate surrounds while you indulge in delicious Argentinean cuisine. At the end of the show you will be taken back to your hotel.

*Before the show you have the option of arriving before the others and taking a short tango lesson with a professional dancer or a wine tasting. This comes at an additional cost but if you would like to book either of these please let your consultant know.

You will be picked up from your hotel and taken back at the end of the tour along other passengers. We suggest to upgrade to a private transfer as the pick ups and drop offs could take a considerable time.

Breakfast and Dinner included.

Recoleta & Palermo City Tour
This morning you will further discover what makes Buenos Aires great as we explore its better known and sophisticated districts; Palermo and Recoleta. We start with a drive through Recoleta with its open green spaces mixed in with elegant boutique shopping, cafés, embassies and impressive architecture. We visit such landmarks as the Pilar Church and Evita Monument before taking a short walk through the Recoleta cemetery where Evita's tomb can be found.

We continue on to Palermo which is Buenos Aires' largest neighbourhood, and also its trendiest. Here you will walk the streets which are full of beautiful parks, hip boutique hotels, chic restaurants and bars, and high fashion stores. Throughout the morning your knowledgeable guide will give you an insight into local life and excellent local cuisine and on completion of the tour you will have the option of being dropped off at an excellent restaurant for lunch or being taken back to your hotel.

* Please note entry to Recoleta Cemetery is an additional cost for foreign visitors. Entry during the tour is optional.

Breakfast included.

Depart Buenos Aires
Our representative will pick you up from your hotel and transfer you to the airport.

Arrive in Puerto Iguazú
Today you will be met by our representative and transferred to your hotel.

Breakfast included.

Brazilian Falls Tour
Today you will enjoy a tour of the panoramic Brazilian side of the falls. You will be met at your hotel by your guide and taken into the National Park. Here, you'll watch as 14 separate waterfalls drop with such force that a tall cloud of mist stays permanently suspended overhead. Great photo opportunities abound however, raincoats are highly advisable!

Please note, if you should depart today your flight should be scheduled to depart after 14:30.

Breakfast included.

Argentinean Falls Tour
In the morning you'll be picked up from your hotel and transferred to Iguazu National Park. From the entrance, a small train will take you on a tour of the park. On the first of two stops you'll follow pathways to the top of the Cataratas (“The Falls”) where you'll have a spectacular view of the falls and their surrounding scenery including an abundance of orchids, colourful birds and other native wildlife. The second stop occurs at La Garganta del Diablo (“The Devil's Throat”), the largest fall in the park and also the highlight of the tour. A suspended platform at the brink of the fall allows for a startlingly close view of this breathtaking natural wonder.

At the end of the tour you will be taken back to your hotel.

*For those who want a little more adventure, we recommend the Great Adventure Boat Tour, which enables you to gain a different perspective as you cruise on a motorboat underneath the falls.

Breakfast included.

Depart Puerto Iguazú
Our representative will pick you up from your hotel and transfer you to the airport.

Pantanal Wildlife Safari
The Pantanal is the world’s largest wetland, and the best place for viewing wetland wildlife. Here, you’ll find easier access to birds and animals that are found in the Amazon but are harder to view there due to the dense jungle. The Pousada Rio Mutum offers the perfect base from which to explore this area and your stay here includes all your meals and daily activities.
Rio Mutum: Day 1
Reception and assistance upon your arrival at Cuiaba airport. Transfer to Pousada Rio Mutum to arrive at dinner time (reception and welcome drink). After dinner the excursions for your stay are presented to you.

Dinner included.

Rio Mutum: Day 2
After breakfast, horseback trail riding in the jungle, up to the edge of the Siá Mariana bay. During the whole year, a big variety of birds, animals and reptiles can be observed. Return to the lodge for lunch. In the afternoon, boat ride for a photographic safari in Mutum River. In its crystal clear water it is possible to see giant otters, stingrays and shoals of small fish. At the Mutum river banks, a large variety of birds can be observed. Return to the lodge for dinner, then nocturnal animal spotting by jeep in the lodge surrounding area. Overnight.

Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner included.

Rio Mutum: Day 3
After breakfast, ecological walk through the jungle and open fields to observe animals and birds. Having the largest diversity of bird species in the world, the Pantanal is specially interesting for bird watching. Return to the lodge for lunch. In the afternoon, boat trip down the Mutum river banks, Siá Mariana bay and Chacororé bay. Return by boat to the lodge, stopping to see the sunset at the Siá Mariana bay and do piranha fishing. In the evening, cayman feeding with the piranhas fished from Siá Mariana bay and nocturnal animals spotting. Dinner and overnight.

Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner included.

Rio Mutum: Day 4
Canoeing in the Mutum river to observe the sunrise and the beauty of wildlife at the break of dawn in the Pantanal. Return to the lodge, breakfast and check-out. Transfer to the Cuiabá airport.

Breakfast included.

Arrive in Rio de Janeiro
On arrival at the airport you will be met by our representative and transferred to your hotel.

Golden beaches and lush mountains, samba-fueled nightlife and spectacular football matches, Rio is sure to be one of the highlights of your South American adventure. This evening you are at your leisure. We recommend trying a local churrasco (Brazilian BBQ) for dinner.

Corcovado tour & Santa Teresa
Leave the hotel in the direction of the Cosme Velho neighborhood to board the train, which will take us up the beautiful mountainside before arriving at the feet of Christ the Redeemer, one of the seven "New Wonders of the World," located 2,300ft above sea level. There will be available time here to enjoy the most famous panoramic view of Rio de Janeiro, also known as the "Marvelous City."

From here, drive to the tram station to embark on a tour through Santa Teresa, a traditional neighborhood located high up on the city's hills, overlooking downtown and Guanabara Bay. Home to several Twentieth-century mansions, cultural houses, galleries, and gourmet restaurants, Santa Teresa's charming cobbled streets are also a haven for local artists and intellectuals.
Next, stop by Ruins Park ('Parque das Ruínas') to enjoy a spectacular view of Rio de Janeiro. Afterward, the Chácara do Céu Museum has a fascinating Brazilian and European art collection, highlighting Portinari, Di Cavalcanti, Matisse, and Modigliani.

The tour continues to Selaron staircase and Largo do Guimarães, considered the heart of the neighbourhood, with several bars and restaurants. After this tour, guests will certainly feel as though they know a little more about the history and culture of Rio de Janeiro.

Duration: approximately 6 hours.
Days of operation of Museums and Parks:
- Chacara do Ceu Museum from Wednesdays to Mondays, between 12 pm and 5 pm. Closed on Jan 01st, Dec 25th, and 31st.
- Ruins Park from Tuesdays to Sundays, between 9 am and 6 pm.

Breakfast included.

Half Day Sugar Loaf Mountain
Over a million tourists every year visit the world famous Pão de Açúcar (Sugarloaf Mountain), which has become an iconic symbol of the city of Rio de Janeiro. Rising up from a small peninsula at the entrance of Guanabara Bay, its name is said to refer to its resemblance to the traditional shape of concentrated, refined sugarloaf. A cable car takes passengers to the top of Urca Hill, which rises 215 metres above sea level and offers spectacular views of the entire bay and its islands. From Urca Hill, passengers continue in a second cable car to the top of Sugarloaf, which rises 395 metres above sea level and offers a 360-degree view of the entire city, including Botafogo and Copacabana Beaches, Corcovado and downtown Rio.

Breakfast included.

Depart Rio
Our representative will pick you up from your hotel and transfer you to the airport.

Arrive in Lima
On arrival at the airport you will be met by our representative and transferred to your hotel.

Now the capital of Peru and its largest city, Lima was once called the “City of Kings” by Spanish conquistadors. If you look beyond the urban sprawl, you'll be rewarded with the National Museum's pre-Columbian treasures and Plaza Mayor's colonial splendour.

Breakfast included.

Exclusive Lima City Tour
Depart this morning on a 5 hour sightseeing tour exploring the most impressive sights of Lima along with some of our handpicked favourites. We will start in Miraflores market, a vibrant place visited by local chefs for its wonderful variety of fresh produce from the coast, the Andes and the Amazon. Take the chance to learn more about Peru’s diversity reflected in the colourful assortment of vegetables, fruits, fish and condiments.

On the way to Lima’s downtown we pass by ‘Huaca Pucllana’ an ancient adobe pyramid structure which served as one of the region’s most important ceremonial temples between the years of 200 AD and 700 AD. We continue to the San Isidro district and visit the impressive ‘El Olivar’ Park before stopping at the Pisco Museum where you have the chance to taste Peru’s national drink, the ‘Pisco Sour’ (optional, not included). Later we visit Lima’s downtown with its historic and traditional buildings: the Presidential Palace, the Cathedral, the Archbishop’s palace and the Metropolitan City Hall surround the Main Square. Continue to San Francisco church and monastery, a 17th century jewel, recognised as a cultural heritage site by UNESCO.

This tour finishes with a guided visit of the Larco Herrera Museum. This is a fabulous private museum with an exquisite collection of gold and silver treasures from ancient Peru. Many pieces in this museum are now world famous after having been exhibited in the best museums around the world.

The remainder of the day is at your leisure to explore the city on your own.

Breakfast included.

Depart Lima
Our representative will pick you up from your hotel in Lima and transfer you to the airport for your departure flight.

3 Day Amazon Lodge Stay
The accommodations that we use for this package are as follows:

- Comfort: Inkaterra Hacienda Concepcion - Standard Cabana
- Superior: Reserva Amazonica - Superior Room
- Deluxe: Posada Amazonas - Comfort Room

Amazon Lodge Arrival Day
Upon arrival at Puerto Maldonado we travel by motorised canoe to our lodge in the Tambopata Rainforest area, which holds the world record for the most bird sightings in one area.

During our voyage you will have the chance to see bird species typical of the river or forest edge such as Black Skimmers, Pied Lapwings, Capped Herons, Jabiru Storks, Roadside Hawks and several species of kingfishers, swallows, and flycatchers. The Tambopata area includes habitats ranging from the Andean highlands around the rivers' headwaters through some of the last remaining intact forests to the lowland rainforests of the Amazon basin. The area is renowned for its diverse plant and animal populations and include over 1,300 bird species. Some of the more famous residents are the Harpy Eagle, the prehistoric looking Hoatzin, tapir, peccary, jaguar, ocelot and playful river otters who live in the area’s oxbow lakes.

During your stay at the lodge all meals and activities are included.

Lunch and Dinner included.

Amazon Lodge Activities
Today you will enjoy guided excursions by expert naturalists to spot wildlife at nearby oxbow lakes, clay licks and treetop towers.

Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner included.

Amazon Lodge Departure Day
After an early breakfast we return by motorised canoe for the return trip to the Puerto Maldonado Airport, taking advantage of valuable early morning wildlife activity along the river.

Breakfast included.

Arrive in Cusco
On arrival at the airport you will be met by our representative and transferred to your hotel.

We suggest that you take it easy today to give yourself the best opportunity to acclimatise to Cusco's altitude. This city is bursting with Andean culture and is one of the great culinary destinations of South America. It also just happens to be the gateway to the Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu, the best-known archaeological site on this vast continent.

Breakfast included.

Cusco City & Nearby Ruins Tour
Your comprehensive city tour in the afternoon includes the beautiful Koricancha, also known as Sun Temple, the Cathedral as well as the Fortress of Sacsayhuaman, a most remarkable Inca building, and the amphitheater of Kenko. Then you drive past Puca Pucara (no stop / no visit), a strategically located 'red fortress' that dominated the entire area before visiting Tambomachay, with its two distinctive aqueducts that to this day continue to provide clean water to the area.

Breakfast included.

Sacred Valley and Aguas Calientes
This morning you will be picked up from your hotel to discover the Sacred Valley of the Incas on this full day excursion. This fertile river valley was home to many important sites for the Incas, both strategic and religious. Your first stop will be the lookout Mirador de Taray, a scenic lookout point offering impressive panoramic views of the Sacred Valley.

Continue on to Pisaq where you will first visit the archaeological complex, the ruins of the fortress of Pisaq which are set high above a valley by patterned fields and rimmed by vast terracing. The stonework and panoramas at Pisac's Inca citadel are magnificent. You will visit the lower part of the complex where the agricultural area and the pre-Hispanic cemetery are located. Afterwards, visit the colourful local market and have free time to search for a souvenir or two before enjoying a typical Andean lunch at a local restaurant.

Afternoon visit to the fortress of Ollantaytambo where the Temple of the Sun (formed of six gigantic monoliths, whose total weight exceeds 50 tons) and the Terrace of the Ten Niches stand out.

You will be transferred to the local train station where you will catch the scenic afternoon train to Aguas Calientes. On arrival you will be escorted to your hotel by the hotel's staff. Enjoy a free evening and prepare for your early morning visit to Machu Picchu the next day.

*Option to add a night in the Sacred Valley and continue to Machu Picchu early tomorrow, giving you the opportunity to enjoy 2 visits to Machu Picchu.

Breakfast and Lunch included.

Machu Picchu Tour
Early this morning you will be greeted by your guide who will assist you onto the shuttle bus to the citadel’s entrance. For centuries, Machu Picchu remained undiscovered by the Spaniards until American explorer Hiram Bingham found it in 1911. On a guided tour, you'll experience the site's unique location and ingenious construction, making it one of the seven new wonders of the world.

Your Machu Picchu ticket (Circuit 2A Classic) provides access to the classic circuit, which encompasses both the agricultural and urban sectors of the site. Along the route, you'll encounter iconic landmarks such as the Inca quarry, the Sun Temple lookout point, the Sacred Stone, the storages known as Qolqas, the Temple of the Condor, and the Guard House.

At the proper time, walk on your own to the local train station in Aguas Calientes (close to artisanal market) and take the train back to Ollantaytambo where our local representative is waiting to transfer you to Cusco. In case you have left any luggage in the hotel in the Sacred Valley, it will be picked up on route.

Highest Elevation: 2,430m/ 7,972 ft
Lowest Elevation: 2,040m/ 6,692 ft
Approximate time of Visit: 2 hours

Please note:
• Entrance tickets to Machu Picchu must be purchased in advance. Priority will be given to issuing tickets for Circuit #2A (Classic). If no spaces are available, Circuit #2B (Lower Terrace) or Circuit #3B (Royalty Route) will be selected instead.
• If you wish to see multiple circuits during your visit, you must purchase a second entry ticket.
• If you wish to include a trek to Huayna Picchu, Machu Picchu Mountain or Huchuy Picchu, you will need an extra ticket. Please ask us.
• To see the different circuit options, please visit https://eclipsetravel.com.au/machu-picchu-visitor-information/

Breakfast included.

Bus Tour to Puno
At an appropriate time, you will be picked up and transferred to the bus station where you will take the bus to Puno.

A ten-hour bus trip takes you through picturesque Andean landscapes dotted by small villages and herds of llamas and vicunas. Your destination is Puno; however, you make three important stops along your way: the first one is Andahuaylillas known by its baroque church dating from the 17th century. Then your tour continues to Raqchi to visit the Viracocha Temple. This was the only Inca temple featuring cylindrical columns covered by fine clay layers. Lunch will be served in a typical restaurant en route. Then, you reach La Raya pass (4,335 m/ 14,172 ft) where you enjoy a panoramic view of the snow-capped Andes, before the last leg of the trip takes you to Puno on the shore of Lake Titicaca.

Upon arrival in Puno, you will be picked up at the bus station and transferred to your hotel.

Optional upgrades (ask us for pricing):
Private Transfer: A ten-hour road trip with your guide in private vehicle takes you through picturesque Andean landscapes dotted by small villages and herds of llamas and vicunas to your destination Puno.

Swap the bus for a train ride. **Available Wed, Fri, Sun**:
This spectacular rail journey begins in Cusco and travels south to Puno. This train journey cuts across the formidable Peruvian Altiplano. The journey is dominated by the magnificent Andean mountains rolling Andean Plains, where vicuñas and alpacas can be seen. The observation car with bar will provide the perfect opportunity to view the beautiful scenery. A gourmet lunch will be served on board one of the four dining cars. Traditional dances and music will be presented during the journey to make the special experience complete.

Breakfast and Lunch included.

Uros & Taquile Island
This morning we board the speed boat for the cruise to the Uros and Taquile Islands. By taking a speed boat we save 2-hours travel time giving you more time to explore the islands.

Our first stop is to visit the Uros Indians, who live on islands of floating reeds and, save for a few modest concessions to the modern world, still live as their ancestors would have done centuries ago.

We continue on to Taquile Island where we will tour around the ruins and visit these beautiful people, world famous for their intricate and fascinating weavings. After lunch we will return to Puno and transfer you back to your hotel.

* If you have an extra day then we recommend spending this evening in an authentic Lake Titicaca island home. On the following day you will return to Puno via Taquile Island.

* Please note: Due to the high altitude (3800m) visitors require a certain level of fitness for the walking on the islands.

Breakfast and Lunch included.

Puno to Sun Island via Copacabana & Moon Island
Shared overland journey from Puno to the picturesque village and harbor of Copacabana, located at the shores of Lake Titicaca. Once in Copacabana visit to the shrine and the Dark Indian Virgin, as well as the local market. Hydrofoil cruise to Moon Island. Visit the Sun Virgins Temple “Iñak Uyu”, an important sacred place on Lake Titicaca where the insistent beating of the waves whispers memories of the past. For the Inca State, women were fundamental, achieving a textile, agricultural, cultural and religious development. Thanks to the dedication of these young maidens, today we can count on dehydrated derivatives of different types of potatoes, such as “chuño” and “tunta”. The temple is characterized by its forward vaulting technique and its trapezoidal and stepped elements.

Hydrofoil cruise to the mythical Sun Island, a pastoral paradise. In the way to the Posada del Inca Eco Lodge, visit the Pilcocaina Palace, made up of stones joined with mud with Tiwanakota technology, implementing principles of Andean cosmology. Llama-trek to the Posada del Inca and on arrival a healthy coca tea will be served in the garden. Lunch is included at the Posada.

In the afternoon walk to explore the surroundings, with absolutely natural and original bucolic sceneries… where time has not passed.

Breakfast and Lunch included.

Sun Island to La Paz via Copacabana
The morning is at leisure. Around noon visit the Inca “Grand Stairs” and the Sacred Fountain; taste the water believed to give eternal youth and happiness. Lunch at the Uma Kollu archaeological Restaurant; enjoy the small handicraft market.

Hydrofoil cruise back to Copacabana and shared overland journey, crossing the Tiquina Straits by motor boat, to Huatajata, located at the shores of Lake Titicaca. Visit the Andean Roots Eco Village: The Altiplano Museum; Handicrafts village, the Mud Igloos and the mortuary towers of the Urus Chipayas. Meet the Limachi family, builders of the RA II and Tigris for epic expeditions across the Atlantic Ocean. Enjoy our elegant vicuñas, llamas, alpacas and the mythical Suri.

Shared overland journey from Huatajata to your hotel in La Paz. The road runs parallel to the most fascinating snow-capped mountains of the Andes.

Breakfast and Lunch included.

La Paz City Tour with Cable Car
3 hour City Tour in La Paz. The city and its surroundings transport you to a mysterious past, where every corner and street reveals hidden treasures and adventures. La Paz is a living history that preserves pre-Hispanic traditions and magical rites alongside its colonial and modern heritage. Explore the indigenous, colonial, and contemporary districts, visit the Indian Market and the Witch Doctor's Market, and take in breathtaking panoramas framed by the majestic Illimani Mountain visit Plaza Murillo to admire the colonial architecture as your guide shares the culture and history of La Paz and Bolivia. Savor a traditional mid-morning Salteña snack, stroll through the charming Calle Jaén, and conclude with a ride on the 21st-century cable car, offering a unique bird’s-eye view of the city.

Breakfast included.

Hotel to Airport
Our representative will pick you up from your hotel and transfer you to the airport.

Fly La Paz to Uyuni
Today you will catch your flight from La Paz to Uyuni.

Altiplano Crossing - General Information
Welcome to South America’s high plateau – the Altiplano. A vast expanse of breathtaking scenery, the Altiplano is by far one of the best reasons to visit Bolivia.
Although the region encompasses parts of Peru, Bolivia and Chile, the most striking scenery can be found in the southern Bolivian section. South from Uyuni stretches a remote, rugged and windswept landscape of towering snow-capped volcanoes, aquamarine and red lagoons, steaming geysers and multicoloured mountains. The contrasting sky is impossibly blue. The immense landscape, entirely devoid of trees, seems desolate and inhospitable but on closer inspection harbours an abundance of life. Thousands of bright pink flamingos wade at the water’s edge while herds of llamas forage for fresh grass shoots nearby. The elusive vicuna, with its prized wool, wander freely amongst the hardy tufts of grass and plants – some of which are estimated to be over 3000 years old. Explore the bizarre rock formations and discover the timid viscacha from the chinchilla family. The Altiplano is a captivating place that takes your breath away. Sometimes literally – some points soar to over 5000m above sea level!

The isolation of this part of South America presents challenges for both travellers and locals. It is important that as visitors we adjust our expectations whilst passing through the area. Local resources are few and almost all food must be brought in from cities that are several days drive away. Outside of San Pedro de Atacama and Uyuni restaurants and shops are non-existent. Meals will be prepared by your local hosts each night, and whilst adequate, will be basic. Lunch will be taken on the road and assembled by your local driver/guide from pre-purchased ingredients. Bathroom breaks may be au naturel with limited modern toilet facilities available.

Accommodation in local guesthouses is simple and very basic. Rooms feature exposed concrete block walls and have no added luxuries aside from a bed and several thick blankets. Some may have an ensuite but most have shared bathroom facilities with no hot water available. Guesthouses will usually have a wood fire in the evening to stave off the nightly cold.

Don’t let the hardships deter you. Though not the easiest journey, those who make the effort are rewarded handsomely with remarkable memories that will last a lifetime.

Altiplano Crossing Day 1
You will be collected from your hotel in the morning to begin your journey south. Pick-up time 05.40 hrs. for the flight from La Paz to Uyuni. Estimated arrival time 08.40 hrs in Uyuni.

Your first stop is the Train Cemetery near Uyuni, where you can explore a huge rusting collection of disused English trains that once crisscrossed Bolivia. It’s said that more than one of them was robbed at the hands of the infamous Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid while on the run from the law in South America. In the village of Colchani is an opportunity to observe the salt processing operations, Salt museum and even purchase your very own bag of Uyuni salt.
Begin your explorations of the famous Salar de Uyuni, one of the big highlights of the continent. It’s difficult to comprehend its enormity, blindingly white and impossibly flat, the largest salt flats in the world span an area of over 10,500 square kilometres. On closer inspection you will see that the salt dries into repetitive hexagonal shapes with jagged salty edges sharp to the touch.

Visit a hotel made entirely of salt blocks before visiting the Ojos del Salar/eyes of the salt flat where bubbling gases escape from underneath. Thought to have restorative powers, it is not uncommon to see rotund local ladies sitting in the knee-deep water splashing themselves liberally. Another photography stop at the some montones del sal/salt piles, where salt is dug up and piled into a series of cones to drain the excess water before being transported for processing.

You will visit Incahuasi/cactus island, a small hill of erupting in the middle of the flats. Take a short walk over the island alongside huge prickly cacti several times your height and enjoy the fabulous panoramic views. You’ll also have a chance to mess around with the lack of perspective in silly photographs. In the rainy season the salt flats are covered with a layer of water creating a mesmerising mirror effect. Although stunning, the water restricts access to Incahuasi and may result in diversions as vehicles are unable to cross the flooded flats.

Continue on to your evening’s accommodation.

Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner included.

Altiplano Crossing Day 2
Your journey continues driving through the Silolí Desert where you will get to see the Árbol de Piedra. Wind has eroded the rock haphazardly, leaving a bizarre tree like formation over eight metres high. This afternoon you will pass a series of lagoons - Altoandinas: Ramaditas, Honda, Chiarkota, Hedionda and Cañapa. From here you will arrive at a viewpoint from where you will have a good view of the semi-active Ollagüe Volcano.

As you drive along the tracks be sure to keep a keen eye out for local wildlife. The elusive Vicuna call the Altiplano home, though their rusty brown wool coat often camouflages them against the mountains and grass. As you get closer to small villages you will see herds of llamas, often accompanied by their Bolivian owner – usually a short older woman with two long plaits, a bowler hat and big skirts. You may see an impossibly big rabbit bounding through the grass; these are in fact viscacha, a South American rodent from the Chinchilla family.

Next is a photographer’s dream - Laguna Colorada/Red Lagoon. Sitting beneath a series of colourful rolling mountains, the lagoon is tinged a dark orangey-red with algae and dotted with large pools of white borax deposits. The endangered Andean flamingo gathers in vast numbers to feed on the bountiful algae. They are impossible to count, appearing as a pink haze around the edge of the water, only breaking formation when one is startled prompting a group to suddenly take flight.
Continue to your night’s accommodation.

Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner included.

Altiplano Crossing Day 3 - Arrive in Atacama
Continuing your journey, you will pass the Salvador Dali desert, so called for its resemblance to the famous artist’s surrealist paintings. Next you can take a dip in some thermal hot springs pool on the edge of a huge lake. There’s changing facilities, bathrooms and a tiny shop with unreliable opening hours. You will also visit big steaming geysers and bubbling pools of volcanic mud.

Your final stop is Laguna Verde/Green Lagoon at the base of Licancabur volcano. Watch carefully and see how the wind disturbs the water and agitates the resident algae that creates the vibrant green hue. Finally, you reach the Hito Cajon border of Bolivia and Chile. Once you have completed the immigration procedures you will say goodbye to your local driver and guide and take a shared transfer down the winding road to San Pedro de Atacama.

Breakfast and Lunch included.

Moon Valley
For this breathtaking excursion you will be picked up at your hotel in the afternoon we will enjoy a spectacular evening exploring the Moon Valley. We head towards the salt mountain range to the Moon Valley. Upon entering, the first stop is at the Great Dune, where we walk along a sandy path until we reach the viewpoint with a panoramic view. Then, the second stop is at the Tres Marías viewpoint, a geological formation sculpted by erosive agents that look like statues of salt. On the way back, we take a short walk next to the Amphitheater, a geological formation with sedimentary folds of clay, salt and plaster. Finally, We visit the Mirador de Cari, located at 2,550 meters above sea level. Known as the "Piedra del Coyote", this viewpoint is one of the most famous postcards of San Pedro de Atacama, from where you can contemplate a majestic view of the Andes Mountains.

Breakfast included.

Depart
Our representative will pick you up from your hotel and transfer you to the airport for your departure flight.

Arrival
On arrival at the airport you will be met by our representative and transferred to your hotel.

Chile's capital city is surrounded by an extraordinary set of snow-capped Andean mountains to the east and a smaller coastal range to the west. It is truly a beautiful sight. The city offers one of Latin America's most cosmopolitan, vibrant and artistic city centres so your stay here is sure to be an exciting one.

Breakfast included.

Depart Santiago
Our representative will pick you up from your hotel and transfer you to the airport for your departure flight.

Breakfast included.