Peru and Bolivia Tour

Welcome to Peru!

You will be picked up at Cusco airport by our local representative and taken to your hotel. Time to acclimatise and settle in.

Archaeological capital of South America, Cusco and the surrounding region contain a wealth of archaeological and cultural treasures unequalled in the Old World. It was the site of the historic capital of the Inca Empire and was declared a World Heritage Site in 1983 by UNESCO.

Cusco is a lively and exciting city boasting a wide range of restaurants and an active nightlife to suit everybody.

Nowadays Cusco’s main source of income is tourism, but it remains an important market town for the many farming communities that surround it. Street markets contain a huge range of highland and jungle produce, and you will likely see many indigenous traders and farmers in Cusco’s streets who have come to the markets to trade, dressed in their most beautiful woven, colourful garments.

Cusco boasts a unique fusion of Inca stonework and elegant Spanish colonial architecture, and you will be able to spend hours just strolling through the beautiful city centre. Sit in one of the cafes surrounding the stunning main plaza and enjoy the view of Cusco Cathedral as you watch the world go by.

Nearby ruins can be explored easily from Cusco city centre on our city tour, the most impressive being Sacsayhuaman.

Today we leave Cusco behind and travel into the rural Sacred Valley, with its beautiful green hills. We  visit various archaeological sites and Inca ruins, as well as getting a chance to learn about the local culture of the valley and marvel at the beautiful handicrafts and weavings sold at the markets.

We visit the town of Pisac and its ruins and small local market, before continuing to the village of Urubamba for lunch. After lunch we visit the impressive ruins at Ollantaytambo and the town itself with its picturesque cobbled streets.

From here we board the train to the village of Aguas Calientes, gateway to Machu Picchu.

We have a very early start today, taking a bus up to Machu Picchu for a guided tour. A professional, English-speaking guide will explain some of the history, ideas and technology of the Inca culture.

This marvel of Inca engineering was only rediscovered in 1911, by the American explorer and historian Hiram Bingham. As his team cleared the site of vegetation, the structures were found to be in surprisingly good condition.

It is one of the few Inca cities never to be reached – and thus destroyed – by the Spanish invaders; it was probably Machu Picchu’s utter remoteness that protected it from the plundering Spanish.

Visitors can still see the mathematically precise walls of temples and palaces once occupied by Inca nobles and maybe even kings and queens. But perhaps the cities most beautiful yet puzzling aspect is its location. It is perched high on a ridge, surrounded by steep mountainous terrain clad in dense steamy Amazon forest.

Our tour takes two hours and there is the option of climbing Huayna Picchu Mountain, or Machu Picchu Mountain (permit required, please ask for details).

The train back to Cusco leaves from Aguas Calientes, at approximately 16:30 and you get back into Cusco for about 21:00.

This spectacular bus journey begins at in Cusco and runs south to the historic city of Puno on the shores of Lake Titicaca. The gentle climb is breathtaking.

The first half of the journey is dominated by magnificent Andean mountains, towering over the deep valleys of the meandering Huatanay River.

It then reaches the gentler, rolling Andean altiplano. The altiplano is the vast highland plateau straddling Peru and Bolivia. There are few trees; just ichu scrubgrass, roaming herds of vicuna, llama and alpaca and scattered potato plots.

Lake Titicaca is the major feature of Peru’s altiplano. This amazing, deep blue lake at 3,838m/12,592ft has a unique charm and supports many Indian communities on its islands and shores.

It’s an early start and down to the bustling port of Puno.

We set off on the world’s highest navigable lake, with the first stop being the floating islands of Uros. We step off the boat and explore these fascinating islands, seeing how people live and make the islands. There is a chance to buy some of the high quality weaving and sail in one of the local’s reed boats before we set off for Amantani.

If you are staying overnight, the village elder designates your host family for the night. You are then free to explore the trails and far reaches of this fascinating culture.

Taquile Island is one of the most idiosyncratic and beautiful spots in all of Peru.

Located some 2 1/2 hours by fast boat (4 hours in a standard boat) from Puno, it is only 4km long and on average 1km wide but supports a population of almost 2,000 Taquileños.

The island has several archaeological sites dating from the Tiahuanaco culture. But it is the culture of the people living here today that makes Taquile so interesting; a culture far removed from our own and distinct from the rest of Peru.

Taquile is known for the extremely high quality of the sophisticated weaving, practised from a young age by both men and women. The islanders spin, knit and weave whenever they have a free moment in the busy agricultural calendar. By visiting, you have an opportunity to explore the many trails leading around the island, and to experience an island lifestyle unchanged in centuries.

Be prepared for intense sun and perhaps a very cold wind on the boat – take good quality sun protection and, just in case, plenty of warm clothing.

Arrival in Puno late afternoon, and transfer to your hotel.

Today you’re heading into Bolivia.

The tourist bus takes you to the border, where you and all other travellers proceed through border formalities and then board a Bolivian bus to La Paz.

This is a well-travelled route and the transition from one bus to the next will be smoothly and you will be directed the right way.

You are picked up at La Paz bus station by our local representative and taken to your hotel in La Paz.

Our city tour starts with a spectacular Teleferico Ride from La Paz to El Alto.

Once in El Alto we start descending all the way to downtown, and your guide will give you a lot of background history on El Alto, its inhabitants and and their role in the modern-day social, economic and political landscape. Called by some the “Aymara Capital of the World” and by others Bolivia’s biggest problem, El Alto is a dynamic place with surprisingly far-reaching influence.

Next, after a brief ride on one of the many painted school buses with upholstered ceilings, you are off to La Paz’s colourful and complex markets. It’s a great way to explore, having the guide by your side.

Lunch is a good moment to rest and gear up for the remainder of the afternoon, which we spend walking around the historic centre of La Paz, and the Urban Central Park with its incredible murals.

We finish up in the neighbourhood of San Miguel, a new, residential and commercial district that is a totally different from the city centre. We end the tour at 4pm, however in coordination with your guide you can stay on an hour longer to take in the sights, have a nice cup of Bolivian coffee and a delicious portion of Quinoa Cake at Alexander Coffee (optional, not included).

A flight brings you to Uyuni, where you are met at the airport for the start of your tour.

Today we have an unforgettable journey through 12,000 km ² of fantastic landscapes of salt. Prepare your camera! The dazzling white mantle of the Uyuni Salt Flat resembles an immense ice-field.

We drive onto the salt flat at the village of Colchani, centre of the salt factories. We visit one of these and learn about the families that are dependent on salt mining for their livelihoods.

We then visit the part of the salt plains where mounds of salt are collected, and from here we head towards Incahuasi Island. You can set off to climb to the summit where you get a fabulous view, 360 degrees.

We have a box lunch on the island and then head toward the dominant and magic Volcano Thunupa whose slopes house the Chantani Museum. The museum is home to ceramics and silent mummies. We drive some way up the volcano and visit the Coquesa Mummies museum.

We spend the night in the Tayka Salt Hotel.

We leave the salt flat and head to Charagua, a pretty place of corals and goat farmers. It will take us about one hour, via a bumpy road, to arrive at the Burnt Town of San Pedro de Quemes, where we leave the car to go and wander through its small streets and view the buildings which have inspired the hotel Tayka of Stone.

We take lunch in the Hotel of Stone (optional Shepherding of Llamas trip, spending an hour or so helping a shepherd or shepherdess with the llamas, a vital part of life in the Salar).

In the afternoon we drive towards the lagoons – Cañapa, Hedionda, Chiarkota, Honda and Ramaditas, replete with flamingos happy to be photographed! Other birds, such as Andean gulls and ducks, accompany the flamingos in these lagoons, which are flanked by snow-capped volcanoes.

Next we enter the deserts of sand. These fantastic deserts are owners of the whole palette of terracottas. Red, oranges, ochers, coffees and beige – every bend in the road there are more colours, fighting for your attention.

In front of the most impressive of these palettes of colours is the Hotel Tayka of the Desert, with private bathrooms, hot water and environmental heating waiting for us.

An early start today at 05:30, towards the Eduardo Avaroa and Flora and Andean Fauna Reserve and then the famous Stone Tree.

Next we travel to the Red Lagoon to observe the great population of flamingoes, then we see the Morning Sun Geysers to catch them at their most active moment. This will be the highest point on our route, we will be at nearly 5,000m/16,404ft.

Here, noisy fumaroles and splashing mud puddles make the earth seem to boil in reddish, grizzly, scarlet mud.

The desert and salt flat of Chalviri is another superb scene. It combines the dazzling white, the ochres of the desert, the blue of the water, and, in one of its corners, we can to take a dip in the Hot Springs of Polques.

Today is a day full of highlights, as next in line is Ladies of the Desert, a masterpiece created by the the wind and the Andean peaks around, with crazily shaped rocks in fantastic colours, all moulded by the winds. Furthermore, nearby is the Green Lagoon, at the foot of Volcano Licancabur, another pearl of the reserve.

From the Green Lagoon we return to the Red Lagoon, have lunch, and then watch as the shifting sun helps to change its colour from a woody red to a blood red colour.

We return via Villa Mar to Uyuni, where you will be dropped off at your hotel.

Today is a day with lots of driving, but the scenery is stunning and makes the journey worth it.

You can either fly back to La Paz and end your trip here, or add an extension to see more of Bolivia.

Board a local bus today, and head to Potosi. There is no bathroom onboard but you will likely break the journey half way.

The “Rich Mountain” that overlooks Potosí is the main source of silver in the area and the mining industry has shaped the city. We have left the afternoon free for you to explore but can arrange optional tours. A visit to the Casa de Moneda gives a fascinating insight into the world of silver and coin production that brought riches to the city in the times of the Spanish Conquistadores and comes highly recommended.

Another bus journey and another local bus. There is no bathroom onboard but you will likely break the journey half way.

The UNESCO world heritage city of Sucre is the constitutional capital of Bolivia. The city holds plenty of charm and is well worth exploring. Casa de la Libertad, the beautiful baroque cathedral and several other churches in the old city (including two museums), are worth a visit and in the evening you can experience a vibrant restaurant and pub scene of this dynamic student city.

There is plenty to do and see in Sucre so we suggest you spend a day to do just that.

You can also arrange tours and excursions in Sucre, such as a visit to see the nearby dinosaur footprints, a visit to the diverse community project of Jatum Yampara where you can see the traditional way of life in rural communities and learn about weaving, llama herding and the challenges the community faces today.

Today return to La Paz and enjoy a final day of strolling through this busy city, with plenty of options to pick up some beautiful souvenirs before it is time to leave.

Transfer to the airport for your flight home, or add some more days.

Peru is the perfect holiday destination for adventure travellers that want an amazing variety of activity, geography and cultural travel experiences.

The breadth of travel experiences in Peru is breathtaking – from trekking in the Andes to Machu Picchu to the tropical jungle of the Amazon, and plenty in between.

The people of Peru make it a special destination too, with its colourful and traditional street life and friendly locals.

Land-locked Bolivia is a country of dramatic landscapes and fascinating native cultures and traditions.

The Altiplano or “High Plain”, averaging 3,800m, is its most populous region. The vast, luminous plateau is flanked to east and west by parallel Andean ranges.

La Paz, the world’s highest capital, lies in a deep canyon at the edge of the Altiplano, and at the foot of Illimani (6,400m). It is a striking city for its dramatic setting and its strong Indian character.

Lake Titicaca is the world’s highest navigable lake. It was sacred to the Incas; according to legend, their founding emperor-gods rose from these waters to give birth to their empire. Just south of the lake stands the sacred pre-Inca site of Tiahuanaco.

On the south-western Altiplano are the Uyuni Salt Flats, the largest in the world. Here, the shimmering white salt pan and deep blue sky combine to create a truly magical spectacle.

The stunning Cordillera Real is a mountain range dominated by huge snow peaks, including Illimani and Illampu (6,380m). The Real divides the northern Altiplano from the tropical forests to the east. The Cordillera Real’s eastern slopes are characterized by the deep, sub-tropical Yungas gorges.

Further south, the tropical Chapare is the agricultural heart of Bolivia. East of this band of high forests and plantations lies Bolivia’s Oriente, a vast swathe of Amazonian jungle and savanna accounting for 2/3 of the country and featuring some of the last untouched wilderness on earth.

In the north-eastern Department of Beni, some 50% of the country’s mammals and birds reside. Below, and in no special order, we outline some of the top places to go and things to do.

Peru is made up of 3 distinct geographical areas: the coast, the mountains and the jungle.

The costa or coastal region is a narrow ribbon of desert 2,250 km long, crossed by fertile river valleys flowing from the Andes. It takes up 11% of the country and holds more than 40% of the population.

The cold Humboldt current gives rise to a blanket of mist – the garua – which hangs above coastal cities like the capital Lima from May to November.

Heading east, you’re soon climbing above the garua and into the Andes. The sierra, or mountainous region, covers some 25% of Peru’s territory and contains 50% of the population. The sierra inhabitants are mainly Indigenous or Mestizo, and many still speak Quechua or Aymara.

The sierra contains dozens of 6,000-metre snow peaks and volcanoes, including Huascaran (6,768m) the highest mountain in the tropics. The deep valley basins contain most of the towns and arable land; the terracing and canal systems of the Incas and pre-Incas are often still used today.

The eastern Andes are heavily forested up to 3,350m and sweep down into the Amazon Basin.

Peru’s selva or jungle makes up almost two thirds of the country’s area, but holds only about 6% of the population: the only towns with significant populations are Iquitos and Pucallpa.

You can also read about the weather of Peru in our blog.

Peru is located in the southern tropics (latitudes 0º to 18º), but climate varies significantly according to season, altitude and region.

Lima & the coast

From May to October, Lima is often overcast, but with minimal precipitation. There are sunny spells, and it’s a fresh to pleasant 13-20ºC.

At the same time, inland  areas and the north coast mid to high 20’s ºC.

November to April is generally warm and sunny and Lima enjoys warm temperature of 19-25ºC, with the coast averaging 22-30ºC.

The Andes

Climate depends largely on altitude. As a rule of thumb, below 2,000m climate is mild and above 2,000m warm clothing is required for evenings, nights and early mornings.

The Andean sun is very strong.

May to Oct (dry season in The Andes)

Cusco (3,300m): Average max/min temps: 22ºC /2ºC. Average 3 or 4 wet days per month.

Arequipa (2,380m): Average max/min temps: 26ºC /9ºC. Sunny more than 340 days/year with minimal precipitation.

On highland treks: Conditions are generally dry. However, at this time of year, expect a range of conditions within a single day: cold/freezing nights at camps above 4,000m, where pre-dawn temperatures can be -5ºC; warm, spring-like mornings and afternoons; and cold evenings.

Note that mountain weather can be fickle and localised, and that precipitation is not unknown in the dry season. Expect temperatures to swing between sun and shade, sheltered and exposed ground and with altitude gain and loss. A quick-setting sun means temperatures drop fast.

In the cloud forest, e.g. around Machu Picchu, daytime conditions are generally warm or hot, and evenings cool.

Nov to March/April (wet season in The Andes)

Cusco: Average max/min temps: 23ºC /6ºC. Average 13 wet days per month.

Arequipa: Average max/min temps: 25ºC /14ºC.

On highland treks: Wetter conditions, with cooler days and milder nights than dry season. Jan-Mar usually the wettest months.

The Amazon rainforest

Year-round, weather conditions are hot and humid and there is always the risk of rain

There is a ‘dry season’ in Tambopata and Manu between May and October. The average daytime high temperature is between 25°C and 34°C and the average nighttime low is between 16°C and 22°C. Heavy downpours typically occur every few days.

Around 80% of annual average rainfall – approx 2,000 mm in Manu and Tambopata and 1,400 mm in Iquitos – occurs in the wet season Nov-April.

On rare occasions, between May and September, cold fronts from Argentina – ‘friajes’ – can sweep into southwest Amazonia and push temperatures down to 9° C. (Friajes usually last between 1 and 3 days).

Bolivia lies within the tropics, between latitudes 10º and 22º south. The climate, as varied as its geography, is affected by latitude and, especially, by altitude.

The best time to travel is the winter (dry season) between May and Oct when, typically, weather systems over the Andes are stable, and overall you can expect bright sunny days and cold clear nights. Most of the rain falls from Dec to March. Climate can be divided into these distinct zones:

The Andes and the Altiplano

There is relatively little precipitation on the Altiplano, especially in the dry season – most rainfall is from Dec to March. However, there is periodical, localised rain on high peaks and valleys all year round.

The further south and west you go on the Altiplano, the drier are the conditions; around Uyuni, semi-arid conditions prevail. The Andean sun’s rays are very strong.

Temperature-wise, the Andes and Altiplano experience significant fluctuations over a single day. At 4,000m, the pre-dawn temperature can drop to -15ºC, while noon temperatures at the same location can reach 20ºC.

Southerly cold winds mean the southern Altiplano is not only drier, but also noticeably colder and windier than the north (pre-dawn temperatures at Uyuni in July regularly drop to -20ºC).

On treks in the Cordillera Real in the dry season, expect a range of conditions within a single day: cold/freezing nights at camps above 4,000m (where pre-dawn temperatures sometimes reach -15ºC); warm, spring-like mornings and afternoons; and cold evenings. Conditions are generally dry, but note that mountain weather is fickle and localised, and precipitation is not unusual in the dry season.

Expect temperatures to swing between sun and shade, sheltered and exposed ground and with altitude gain and loss. A quick-setting sun means temperatures drop fast.

The city of La Paz (3,630m) is relatively sheltered. Average high/low temperatures range from 1-17ºC in June and July (coldest months) to 6-19ºC in Nov and Dec (warmest months). In June and July, it rarely rains more than 1 or 2 days per month, while in January there are on average 15 wet days.

The tropical lowlands & yunga (Amazon)

Year-round, weather conditions in the Amazon basin are hot and humid and always with the chance of rain.

There is a  ‘cooler’, drier winter season between May and October. During this ‘dry season’, the average daytime high temperature is between 25-31°C and the average nighttime low is between 16-22°C.

In the dry season, heavy downpours typically occur every few days.

Note that around 80% of annual average rainfall – approx 2,000 mm in Bolivia’s northern lowlands – occurs in the wet season, Nov-April.

On rare occasions, between May and September, cold fronts from Argentina – surazos – can sweep into southwest Amazonia and push temperatures down to 9°C. (Surazos usually last between 1 and 3 days).

The Yungas shares the same dry/wet months but varies from quite wet to very wet depending on whether it is the ‘dry’ or rainy season. Average temperature is 24°C.