Peru & Bolivia 13 Day Tour

Arrival LIMA

Upon arrival at Lima International Airport, you will be greeted by our representative and private driver, then they will take you to the selected hotel.

Peru was home to the Norte Chico civilisation, an ancient civilisation in the Americas and one of the six oldest in the world. It was conquered by the Spanish Empire in the 16th century, which established a Viceroyalty with jurisdiction over most of its South American domains. Under the cultural crash, Peru contains both Americas ancient civilisation and modern western historical remains.

Overnight : Lima
Meals : Breakfast

LIMA / CUSCO

After breakfast, you will fly to Cusco and stay for a night. Free at leisure today to adopt the altitude (3400m).

Cusco is archaeological capital, is the cradle and the heart of the Inca civilisation, offers excellent examples of Inca history and architecture. In 1983 UNESCO announced Cusco and the peripheral ruins as world-historical heritage and shall be well reserved.

Overnight : Cusco
Meals : Breakfast

CUSCO

You will apply for Bolivia travel visa in the Cusco office this morning (It takes at least half day).
In the afternoon, we will go around Cusco Plaze (plaza armas, sun temple, Cathedral church) OR surrounding ruins (like Sacsayhuaman，Qenqo, Puka Pukara, Tambomachay)

Cusco, archaeological capital of South America, has excellent examples of Inca history and architecture. Cusco this word in Peruvian means navel, meaning it is the centre of the world, is the cradle and the heart of the Inca civilisation. In 1983 UNESCO announced Cusco and the peripheral ruins as world-historical heritage and shall be well reserved. Many ruins are kept in good condition, located in the city or the outskirt of the city. You will visit the central plaza, Cusco landmark the Great Cathedral, The Inti Temple and the beautiful architectures.

Sacsayhuaman is about 4 km away from Cusco, it was constructed during the reign of Pachacuti (1438-1471 CE) and his successors. Its massive, well-built walls remain today as a testimony not only to Inca power but also the skills of Inca architects and their approach of blending their monumental structures harmoniously into the natural landscape. The fortress was constructed with magnificent stonework which employed huge finely-cut polygonal blocks, many over 4 meters in height and weighing over 100 tons. The Incas were master stonemasons. Huge blocks were quarried and shaped using nothing more than harder stones and bronze tools. Marks on the stone blocks indicate that they were mostly pounded into shape rather than cut. Blocks were moved using ropes, logs, poles, levers, and earthen ramps (telltale marks can still be seen on some blocks), and some stones still have nodes protruding from them or indentations which were used to help workers grip the stone. To complete such a massive project 20,000 labourers were drafted in under the well-established Inca system of extracting both goods and labour from peoples they conquered. Working in a system of rotation 6,000 were given quarrying duties while the other 4,000 dug trenches and laid the foundations.

Overnight : Cusco
Meals : Breakfast

CUSCO / The SACRED VALLEY / AGUAS CALIENTES

This morning after check out, you will visit the Sacred Valley area, including Maras Salt Field, Moray Ruins, Chinchero, and overnight in Aguas Calientes.

The Maras Salt Field exists before the Inca era, and it is 40 kilometres away from Cusco, located on altitude 3,000m. Ancient Peruvian discovered the high level of saltiness in the underground water, so they followed the stream and found this salt field.

The Moray ruins were found in 1931 by Mr Shippee Johnson on an aerial photography expedition to Peru. Scientists researched and believe that this ruin was designed for agricultural experiments, for instance, tests on how to grow an imported plantation under Peru weather. The structure and the scale of the ruins are breathtaking, and you will be amazed by the ancient intelligence.

Chinchero is famous for handmade weaving products, and many households own a little weaving workspace in their home. You can tour around and have a look at their living space, their adorable alpaca and how they turn alpaca fur into clothes or accessories. Chinchero is also an ideal place for souvenir shopping.

Tourist train to Aguas Calientes in the afternoon.

Overnight : Auas Calientes
Meals : Breakfast

MACHU PICCHU, AGUAS CALIENTES / CUSCO

You will take a 30-mins bus ride from Aguas Calientes to Machu Picchu. You will start with a detailed guided tour on this hidden ancient city, the guide will introduce the significant architectures, like the Sun Temple, the farmlands from the Inca time, and more.

After the guided tour you will be free at leisure. In the afternoon we will take the bus back to Aguas Calientes and take a train at 2:30pm to Ollantaytambo and Urubamba, you will finish the day by going back to Cusco.

Machu Picchu, or Lost City of the Incas, which sits upon the summit bearing the same name, and is one of the most representative and recognised examples of Incan architecture. It was found in 1911 by an archaeologist. In 1983, it was listed on UNESCO world heritage and was listed on seven greatest world wonders by 2007. Walk through the different areas of the city: the agriculture and urban zone, featuring temples and dwellings; and the Intihuatana, or sundial, finely carved out of stone

Overnight : Cusco
Meals : Breakfast

RAINBOW MOUNTAIN

You will depart at around 7 am, your driver guide will take you to a town called Palccoyo, this is one of the entrances of the mountain, where seated on altitude 4,900m. If you cannot adopt the height, you will suffer from the altitude sickness which often induces breathing problem.

The highest point of this trip is on altitude 5,000m, compare to the traditional hiking route, this new routing requires less physical strength, and you don't have to tackle the big difference between the altitude, whereas the conventional route you will be climbing 900m in altitude. Starting from Palccoyo gives other benefits, the hiking route is much shorter, 2 hours compared to 6 hours, which you will have more time sight-seeing rather than hiking, and if altitude sickness strikes, you will be able to reach your vehicle in a shorter time. The route starts from Palccoyo is more scenic too, we tested it.  

In your slow walk, more or less every 100m walk you will see the land colour change, from red to green, and turn back to red. Keep walking by until you almost reach your final goal, and you will be rewarded by the mesmerising scene of Vinicunca, the far-reaching hued mountains linked together, spectacular and extensive.
On the other side of the area, you will be captivated by the white and snowy Ausangate mountain top, and be stunned by the scenic nature.

Overnight : Cusco
Meals : Breakfast

CUSCO / PUNO

After breakfast you will join a long-haul sight-seeing bus tour from Cusco to Puno, attraction stops as listed below, this night you will stay in Puno.

San Pedro Apostol de Andahuaylillas
Andahuaylillas is a little town close to Cusco, since Spanish invasion, the Spanish destroyed most of the Inca ruins, and rebuilt chapels and cathedrals on the Inca ruins architectural foundations. The chapel of Andahyaylillas is one of the examples. Inside the chapel you will see dazzling decorations and western designs, touring inside you will get a clearer picture of the influence from Spain to Peru. 

Raqchi "Temple of Wiracocha"
Raqchi has one of the compelling Inca ruin - Temple of Wiracocha, where located on altitude 3,480m, 110 kilometres from Cusco. The temple was built for God of Wiracocha, a god who created the universe, the sun and the moon. God of Wiracocha was supreme in the Inca society. It might look familiar to you as it is similar to the Ruínas da Antiga Catedral de São Paulo from Macau. Since the Spanish's massive destruction, the temple was severely crushed, only a wall and an architectural foundation survived.  Although only one wall survived, the scale is much bigger than da Antiga Catedral de São Paulo from Macau, with 92m long and 25.5 tall, it is about four times bigger than the one in Macao. One fascinating fact is that the windows help the ancient people to the agricultural seasons and calculate essential dates.

La Raya Pass
It is located in the Andeans area, a plain wilderness, this is an ideal location to admire the greatness of snow mountain and the picturesque nature. 

Pukara
Museum exhibits the Pukara, the civilisation existed before the Inca. Around the museum, there are stalls selling souvenirs, clothing, and small musical instruments.

Overnight : Puno
Meals : Breakfast

PUNO / TITICACA / PUNO

This morning, you will experience an unforgettable excursion on the water of Lake Titicaca,
Visit the Uruos Island and Taguile island on the Lake Titicaca, after that you will return to Puno.

Peru and Bolivia share lake Titicaca on altitude 3,812m. it is the highest lake recorded in the world and the biggest lake in South America. The lake surface is on altitude 3,812m. From a different side of the country you will see this breathtaking lake from different angles. In Peru side of Titicaca, you will board the floating island of Uros, and these islands cannot be found on digital maps. Uros, the water tribe, have built their own "Islands" by periodically adding new layers of a type of reed unique to the area called "Totora" (Scirpus totora), a vegetable fibre of the Papyrus family. On these floating islands, you will find residences, schools, temple, sports fields, and more. It is a small society on a floating island. It is believed that the ancestor ran for the war and they escaped to Lake Titicaca from Puno, they utilised the reed and built everything they need on the lake. Ergo they started living on these islands. Through the years the Uros improved on the techniques and passed on the tradition.

Taquile Island is a place inhabited by Quechua-speaking natives who have developed efficient and unique social systems, as well as excellent hand weaving techniques, passed down through the generations. 

Overnight : Puno
Meals : Breakfast

 Traveling from Peru to Bolivia: PUNO / LA PAZ

You will depart at 7 in the morning from Puno to La Paz, on the way you will visit Inca Uyo, Aramu Muru, and Pomata's viewpoint. Then you will cross the Bolivia border and have an arranged lunch in Bolivia, and then you will visit the tremendous Tiwanaku ruins, the day ends by a stay in La Paz.   

Inca Uyo is a temple of fertility, in which it helped infertile women so they can have children.

Aramu Muru was found by the recent year 1996, by a hiking guide on the Marca mountain. He found a mysterious crafted giant door, with 7m tall and 7m wide, it is still a myth where does this door lead.

Pomata village has an excellent viewpoint for the magnificent Lake Titicaca, with a snow mountain background, this will be the last stop before you travel to Bolivia.

Tiwanaku, a UNESCO world cultural heritage site, was a spiritual and political centre of the Tiwanaku Culture began as a small settlement which later flourished into a planned city between 400 A.D. and 900 A.D. The maximum expression of this culture is reflected in the civic-ceremonial organised spatially with a centre oriented toward to the cardinal points, constructed with impressive ashlars stones carved accurately and equipped with a complex system of underground drainage that was controlling the flow of rain waters.

The principal buildings of Tiwanaku include the Akapana Pyramid, a vast platform mound or stepped pyramid of earth faced with cut andesite; a rectangular enclosure known as the Kalasasaya, constructed of alternating tall stone columns and smaller rectangular blocks; and another enclosure known as the Palacio. A notable feature of the Kalasasaya is the monolithic Gateway of the Sun, which is adorned with the carved central figure of a staff-carrying Doorway God and other subsidiary figures, sometimes referred to as angels or winged messengers. A great number of freestanding carved stone figures have also been found at the site.


Overnight : La Paz
Meals : Breakfast

LA PAZ / UYUNI

After breakfast, you will fly from La Paz to Uyuni and stay for a night.
After arrival Uyuni, you will visit the train graveyard, then you will return to the hotel in Uyuni.

Train Graveyard
In the early 19th century, big plans were made to build an even bigger network of trains out of Uyuni, but the project was abandoned because of a combination of technical difficulties and tension with neighbouring countries. The trains and other equipment were left to rust and fade out of memory. Most of the trains that can be found in the Graveyard date back to the early 20th century and were imported from Britain. There are over 100 train cars with unique structure and occasional graffitis. In other places in the world, the mighty steel trains would have held up better. The salt winds that blow over Uyuni, which hosts the world’s largest salt plain, have corroded all of the metal.

Overnight : Uyuni
Meals : Breakfast

SALAR DE UYUNI

Today you will visit the train graveyard, Isla Incahuasi, and the famous biggest mirror of the world - The Salar de Uyuni, then you will return to the hotel in Uyuni.

Isla Incahuasi
One of the highlights of a Salar de Uyuni tour is a hike around the spectacular Isla Incahuasi, otherwise known as Inkawasi. It's located in the heart of the salar, 80km west of Colchani. This hilly outpost is covered in Trichocereus cactus and surrounded by a flat white sea of hexagonal salt tiles.

Salar de Uyuni
Bolivia’s Salar de Uyuni is considered one of the most extreme and remarkable vistas in all of South America, if not Earth. Located on altitude 3656m, about 9.5 times bigger than Hong Kong, it is the world’s largest salt flat, left behind by prehistoric lakes evaporated long ago. Here, a thick crust of salt extends to the horizon, covered by quilted, polygonal patterns of salt rising from the ground. At certain times of the year, nearby lakes overflow and a thin layer of water transform the flats into a stunning reflection of the sky.

Overnight : Uyuni
Meals : Breakfast

UYUNI / LA PAZ

After breakfast, you will fly from Uyuni to La Paz and stay for a night

La Paz private city tour in the afternoon.

La Paz, with an altitude of 3800-4200 meters. The most famous one is the aerial cable car system, which is the main transportation system in the city. You will also visit the central square of the city, then visit the famous Witch Market and go to the Moon Valley at the outside of the city.

Witch market, a top 10 most bizarre local market rated by bloggers,  you will find alpaca specimen, the fur of the owl, magic water, dried frogs, animal skins, and more.

Overnight : La Paz
Meals : Breakfast

 LA PAZ

After breakfast, will transfer to La Paz Airport before afternoon and fly back home.

Overnight : -
Meals : Breakfast