Journey to the Heart of the Andes: A 15-Day Adventure from Cusco to San Pedro de Atacama 15 Days

APRIL 12th:  ARRIVAL TO CUSCO  – CITY TOUR

Arrival in the City of Cusco, reception and transfer to the Hotel selected by a Representative of our Travel Agency. Hotel in Cusco.

Pick up from the Hotel between 1:00 p.m. to 1:20 p.m., to begin the visit to the City and nearby Archaeological Centers: the Tour will show us the impressive Colonial City built on Inca bases; we will visit the Cathedral; of Renaissance structure and with fine paintings from the “Cuzco School”.

Qorikancha, or Temple of the Sun; known as the Royal House of the Sun in Cusco. We continue with the visit to the 4 Archaeological Centers: Sacsayhuaman; great fortress located 5 km from the city. Qenqo; sacred amphitheater, center of worship of the god Puma, place where human sacrifices were possible. Pucapucara; red fortress due to the hue that its rocks acquire with the light of twilight and Tambomachay; temple to worship water.

Overnight in Cusco.

APRIL 13th: CUSCO – SACRED VALLEY OF THE INCAS – CUSCO (B – L)

• Breakfast at the Hotel.

Pick up from the hotel  at 08:00 a.m to make our visit to the Sacred Valley.

During the tour we will visit the Town of Pisaq; picturesque colonial mestizo town, we will continue with the visit to the Archaeological Center of Pisaq; where we can observe the magnificent platforms of Inca architecture; Then we visited the towns of Ccoya, Lamay, Calca and Urubamba on the way.

Buffet lunch. In the afternoon the guided tour of the town of Ollantaytambo; place where the archaeological park of Ollantaytambo is located, a gigantic agricultural, administrative, social, religious and military complex in the time of Tahuantinsuyo.

Transfer to the train station to head towards Machu Picchu Pueblo, we will arrive at the Aguas Calientes Station, where a Representative of Our Travel Agency will wait for you and transfer you to your hotel.

** Overnight Aguas Calientes.

APRIL 14th: CUSCO – MACHU PICCHU – CUSCO (B – L)

• Breakfast at the Hotel.

Pick up from the Hotel. Transfer to the Bus Station, where we will take the bus that will take us to the Lost City of the Incas, “Machu Picchu”,  (20 minutes trip)rediscovered in 1911 by Hiram Bingham.

We will enjoy a guided excursion through the main buildings of the citadel such as: El Mirador, Temple of the Three Windows, El Intihuatana, The Main Plaza, etc. We will return to the town of Aguas Calientes.

Lunch at a local restaurant (Totos House restaurant).

In the afternoon, we will take the Train to return to the Ollantaytambo Station where a Transfer awaits you to direct you to the bus that will take you back to the City of Cusco.

** Overnight in Cusco.

APRIL 15th: CUSCO – PUNO (B – L)

• Breakfast at the Hotel.
• Transfer to the Bus Station, at 06:00 a.m.

Departure towards the City of Puno in Tourist Bus service. During the trip we will pass through the picturesque town of Andahuaylillas, and visit the Church of San Pedro de Andahuaylillas, which dates back to the 17th century, better known as the Sistine Chapel of the Americas, due to its polychrome ceiling and the beauty of its murals, works in Gold Leaf and the Paintings of the Cusco School that it houses inside.

Along the way we stop in Raqchi, where we can see a spectacular Inca Sanctuary built by the Inca Pachacuteq and dedicated to the great God Wiracocha. It has a large central wall with a stone base of fine Inca architecture. The other walls are made with giant adobe bricks. The structure also has two circular side columns.

Around the Temple we find several buildings once used as homes or warehouses.

We will have a stop for our Buffet Lunch at a quiet country restaurant, where you can enjoy the delicious culinary art of the region.

We will continue our trip, past the border between the cities of Cusco and Puno (La Raya), at more than 4,335 meters above sea level, where the famous Nevado Chimboya is located, from where the Amazon River is born. Here we will have a reasonable amount of time to take photos of the landscape.

Along the way we visited the impressive Kalasaya Temple, a culture that developed in 1600 BC. Until 400 AD. In this Museum we can find Ceramics and Sculptures representing zoomorphic figures, among them the Hatunñaqac Sculpture which translated into our language means The Supreme Cutthroat of the ancient Pucara Culture.

We will stop at the town of Ayaviri, an important textile and animal breeding center.

Arrival at the Puno Bus station, reception and transfer to the chosen Hotel, by a Representative of Our Travel Agency.

** Overnight in Puno.

APRIL 16th: PUNO – UROS FLOATING ISLANDS – TAQUILE – PUNO (B – L)

• Breakfast at the Hotel. Pickup from the hotel from 7:00 a.m to 07:15 a.m)

Very early transfer from the Hotel to the main dock or port, to board our boat and visit the Floating Islands of Los Uros currently considered the National Reserve of Lake Titicaca, which is approximately 30 minutes away, the people of the Uros still maintain their own culture and tradition, as well as artisanal fishing, especially Karachi and silverside.

When fishing is abundant, they preserve the fish by drying them in the sun. They also hunt wild birds and collect duck eggs. There are 75 islands that live today, and each island is well organized. After a short visit of approximately 40 minutes.

We will continue the trip to the Natural Island of Taquile, whose inhabitants are mainly dedicated to agriculture, crafts and fishing. The locals continue to live according to their ancient Inca traditions and laws with customs, religious and folklore rituals such as: Marriage (Silvinacuy), payment to the land (Pachamama).

It should be noted that spinning and weaving are done mainly by men, starting at the age of eight. The women make exclusively from yarns and fabrics.

Afterwards we will enjoy a typical lunch included.

After lunch: Passengers will have two free hours to visit the town’s craft center and take photographs with panoramic views and then return to the City of Puno to their respective hotels.

** Overnight in Puno.

APRIL 17th: PUNO – COPACABANA (B – L)

• Breakfast at the Hotel.

At 06:30 Hrs. Transfer to Copacabana in the sister country of Bolivia, on the way we will border Lake Titicaca and we will have an exceptional view of the Royal Andes Mountains.

At noon we will enjoy a typical lunch of the area. At 1:30 p.m. Approximately, we will board our boat and sail to Lake Titicaca enjoying an exceptional landscape heading to the Island of the Sun, which is considered the Cradle of the Inca Empire because Manco Cápac and Mama Ocllo set out from there towards the City of Cusco to found the Empire of the Incas.

Afterwards we will visit the Intiwatana Archaeological Complex, the main tourist attraction in Bolivia, the Medicinal Centers, Pachamama Terraces of Inca Agriculture, we will observe a great variety of Camelids.

At 4:00 p.m. approximately we will board the boat heading to Copacabana. Where there we will rest today.

** Overnight in Copacabana.

APRIL 18th: COPACABANA – LA PAZ (B)

• Breakfast at the Hotel.

To then go to take our City Tour and we will visit the Sanctuary of the Virgin of Copacabana on our tour, if we are lucky we will be able to see the beautiful traditional manifestation of the Chala or blessing of Cars and the Wishes of the people who visit this place for the “Yatiris”. & Amautas Aymaras and Quechuas” who give their protection and blessing to families.

Because it is an important pilgrimage site in the month of August for the residents of the area, it becomes a cultural tourist attraction.

After lunch at 1:30 p.m. approximately we will take the bus to the City of La Paz, this trip will last 4 hours. approximately.

Arrival at the City of Peace where a representative of our Travel Agency will wait for us to transfer us to our selected Hotel.

** Overnight in La Paz.

APRIL 19th: CITY TOUR LA PAZ – VALLEY OF THE MOON

• Breakfast at the Hotel.

After breakfast we will spend to begin this new adventure getting to know a little more about the City on a City Tour where we will appreciate the cultural and historical, architectural and cultural wealth.

On our tour we will observe Plaza Murillo, the Cathedral, the Government Palace, the Church of San Francisco, the Replica of the Semi-underground Temple of Tiawanaku, the Quilli Quilli Viewpoint, the Gold or Costumbrista Museum, the Witches Market where people of the area buys its products for the customary act of the Challa or Blessing in addition to the Offerings for the Pachamama. After this visit in the City we will go to the Valley of the Moon passing through the traditional neighborhoods of this area.

You will have free time to take a tour on your own and then transfer to the Hotel.

Hotel in La Paz.

APRIL 20th: LA PAZ – UYUNI – SALAR – ISLA DEL PESCADO – SAN JUAN (B, L)

• Breakfast at the Hotel.

After breakfast, we will transfer you to the El Alto airport to board at 07:40 am on a flight from La Paz to the town of Uyuni. Our staff we will waiting for you at the airport.

The tour starts at 10:00 a.m. m. With the reception of passengers at the office in Uyuni, we will then board a mobility (Land Cruiser – 4×4) bound for the largest salt desert.

We will visit the train cemetery where the old locomotives that were part of Bolivia’s industrial development are located. We will visit the town of Colchani, which is close to the salt flat.

We will continue the trip to the salt hotel or museum in this tourist area and enjoy lunch.

We will arrive at Incahuasi, better known as the Fish Island, which is located in the middle of the salt desert, where there are giant cacti with heights greater than 10 meters. From the top we will contemplate the wonderful landscape of the salt flat.

In the afternoon, visit the residents of San Juan where we will spend the night in family homes.

APRIL 21th: SAN JUAN – LAGUNAS – LAGUNA COLORADA (B – L )

• Breakfast at the Hotel.

After breakfast we will continue with our adventure, this time heading to Laguna Colorada. On the way we will observe the active volcano Ollague, the lagoons of Cañapa, Hedionda, Chiarcota and Honda, these lagoons are populated by flamingos.

At noon we stop along the way for lunch and in the afternoon we will continue our tour passing the Siloli desert where we will observe an interesting rock formation known as the Stone tree.

In the afternoon we will arrive at the Colorada lagoon, located in the Eduardo Avaroa Andean Fauna National Park.

In the vicinity of this lagoon where we will spend the night, accommodation will be in a simple and basic hostel with rooms shared with other tourists, the only place to spend the night.

APRIL 22th: LAGUNA COLORADA – LAGUNA VERDE – HITO CAJÓN-SAN PEDRO DE ATACAMA. (B – L)

• Breakfast at the Hotel.

On this day we will leave very early, our tour starts at 5:00 a.m. m. to appreciate the Geysers – fumaroles in the volcanic area, better known as “Sol de Mañana” then we will continue to the Polques thermal baths, there we will have breakfast and then continue to the White and Green Lagoons, located at the foot of the Licancabur volcano, a  height of 4,350 meters above sea level. The green color is due to the high magnesium content of the geological formations in the area.

On the fourth day we undertake a trip to the border of Hito Cajón, (a four-hour trip). After arriving there we go through the migration processes (Bolivia-Chile) and we will change to a minibus for our trip to San Pedro de Atacama, around 2 PM we conclude our tour. Hotel in San Pedro de Atacama.

Important: The hours of the excursions will be reconfirmed at the destination.

APRIL 23th: VALLEY OF THE MOON – SAN PEDRO DE ATACAMA (B)

• Breakfast at the Hotel.

The Valley of the Moon is a sector of the Cordillera de la Sal and, without a doubt, the most visited. Its mountains dotted with glitter, enormous dunes, rock formations and ravines make it a true spectacle to behold. You will be able to see the Tres Marías, the Canyon, the Amphitheater, the Victoria salt mine and the Licantay Viewpoint.

We will begin the tour leaving from San Pedro de Atacama towards the Salt Mountain Range in the Atacama Desert, the driest place on earth, heading to one of its most picturesque points: the Valley of the Moon. The names already give a clear clue to the landscape, where rock formations shaped by erosion, salt layers, the Greater Dune and views that will make you feel like you are on another planet reign.

We will visit the Tres Marías, the Canyon and the Amphitheater. To finish the tour, we will enjoy the sunset from the Licantay viewpoint, where you can see how the desert changes color, with large volcanoes on the horizon, offering a spectacle that will leave you speechless.

** Overnight in San Pedro de Atacama.

APRIL 24th: SAN PEDRO DE ATACAMA – RAINBOW VALLEY (B)

• Breakfast at the Hotel.

It is located in the Río Grande basin, about 90 km from San Pedro de Atacama, very close to the Yerbas Buenas Petroglyphs. It owes its name to the great variety of shades that can be observed in the hills of the valley. The colors show the great richness and different concentrations of clay, salts and minerals.

We started very early, where we headed 90 km from San Pedro towards the Rio Grande basin, where we arrived at the Rainbow Valley. Its name is given due to the variety of colors that can be seen on the hills of the valley; earth colors, red, beige, green, white and yellow. All combined with traces of white salt and a blue sky. The colors of this sector show the ecological richness of the clay, minerals and salts. We will visit this place on a walk of 1 hour one way and 1 hour return. Then we will move to the Salado River sector, where a small valley is formed where we can take a walk to appreciate the landscape.

Then we will visit the petroglyphs of Yerbas Buenas, finally we will return to San Pedro de Atacama where the activity ends.

** Overnight in San Pedro de Atacama.

APRIL 25th: SAN PEDRO DE ATACAMA/GEISER TATIO AND MACHUCA (B)

• Breakfast at the Hotel.

There are 2 stops in geothermal field; The first 1 hour and 30 minutes to wait the first rays of sun next to our breakfast Do you late in the second hour Stop 1 30 minutes visited the thermal pool the mayor activity geyser.

The return to San Pedro de Atacama There are at least 3 stops: The ford of Putana, Pueblo and Machuca Guatín. Arrival in San Pedro de Atacama at 12:30 am. Breakfast included.

** Overnight in San Pedro de Atacama.

APRIL 26th: SAN PEDRO DE ATACAMA – CALAMA/SANTIAGO  (B)

• Breakfast at the Hotel.

At the right time, transfer to Calama airport to take flight to Santiago and connect with your international flight.