Andean Treasures & Bolivia Highlights

• Peru for Less will schedule a private transfer to take you from your hotel to the airport for your flight to Cusco. Upon arrival at the Cusco airport, a Peru For Less representative will meet you for the drive to the historic center.
• Arriving mid-day at your hotel, you will have the rest of the day to relax and explore. Since Cusco is located at 11,300 feet in elevation, during this first day you may want to take it slow to acclimatize. Nevertheless, this is a good chance to wander about the main square, with its many cafes and stores, or even visit a museum. There are also many options for casual and/or fine dining.

• Spend the morning at your leisure. This is a good time to explore some of Cusco’s less-visited attractions including the famous San Pedro Market, the bohemian neighborhood of San Blas, or one of Cusco’s many fine museums.
• In the afternoon, an expert guide will take you to some of the world’s best archeological sites, including the beautiful Cusco Cathedral, the sacred Temple of the Sun or Qoricancha, and the spectacular Sacsayhuaman fortress. In the late afternoon, you’ll return to your Cusco hotel. Spend the evening at your leisure enjoying the local cuisine, music, and the splendor of Cusco at night.

• Explore the beautiful Peruvian countryside with a full-day tour of the magical Sacred Valley, home to several royal estates of Incan emperors. First, you will visit the town of Pisac, famous for its bustling indigenous market and for the beautiful Incan ruins on the hillside overlooking the city. Following your visit to Pisac, you will stop for lunch (not included) at a buffet restaurant offering a variety of Peruvian and international food near the town of Urubamba, named after the sacred river that flows through the region.
• Next, you will visit the spectacular fortress of Ollantaytambo. These magnificent Incan ruins that were part of the royal estate of the Incan emperor Pachacuti. Later, you will be taken to your comfortable hotel in the Sacred Valley. If you’ve selected a hotel in Ollantaytambo, you can continue exploring the traditional Incan town at your leisure.

• After breakfast at your Sacred Valley hotel, you will take a train to Machu Picchu, the hidden Inca citadel. This hour-and-a-half to two-hour train journey is one of the most scenic in the world, winding through mountain, river valleys, high jungle and mystical cloud forests. Upon arrival in Aguas Calientes, the town at the base of Machu Picchu, you will be met at the train station and accompanied to the bus station for a 20-minute ride up to the citadel.
• Next, you will meet your expert, English-speaking guide for a tour of the most important sites in Machu Picchu, including the Intihuatana (Sun Stone), the Sun Temple, and the Room of 3 Windows. Plus you’ll be able to marvel at lush mountains that mystically conceal the ruins. In the late afternoon, you will take a comfortable train back to Cusco and then be transferred to your Cusco hotel for the evening.

Optional: If you would like to spend more time at Machu Picchu, this package can be customized to include an overnight stay in Aguas Calientes, which will allow you to make a second visit to the enigmatic citadel. On this second day, a Huayna Picchu and/or Machu Picchu Mountain hike can be added to your itinerary, to get a bird’s eye view of the ruins.

• After breakfast at your hotel, you will be transferred to the bus terminal for your journey to Puno.The bus ride lasts between 9 and 10 hours, and you will travel on a comfortable tourist bus that includes a stop for lunch, as well as guided visits to several ruins and tourist sites along the way.
• You will arrive in Puno in the early evening and our representative will meet you at the bus station and accompany you to your hotel. Many of our recommended hotels are located along the lakeshore, so you will be able to take in views of the lake as you rest and relax.

• Be sure to fuel up this morning, as this full-day experience will last around 9 hours. Your Lake Titicaca tour will take you to two of the lake’s most fascinating islands. First, the floating Uros islands are composed of about 32 islands constructed of many layers of totora reeds. While visiting the islands, you’ll be given the chance to learn about local customs, explore the reed homes, and ride on reed boats.
• This exciting tour continues to Taquile Island, located about 30 miles by boat from Puno. During the boat ride, you’ll be able to enjoy amazing views of Lake Titicaca, perched at 12,500 feet in elevation, and of the surrounding peninsulas. You will visit the most important sites of the island and embark on a rigorous hike to a jaw-dropping viewpoint. Next, you’ll have time to enjoy a local lunch (not included), before your return by boat to Puno. You’ll arrive back in Puno in the early evening and will have time to relax in your hotel at your leisure.

Note: Visiting Taquile requires a strenuous climb up 500 steps to the main part of the island. Elevation ranges from around 12,000 ft at the lakeshore up to 13,000+ ft at the highest point. Please take care with the high altitude.

• This morning you will be picked up at your hotel and transferred to the bus station for your journey from Puno to La Paz. The bus ride will take between 6 and 7 hours and along the way you’ll be able to take in amazing views of Lake Titicaca and the surrounding high altitude mountain terrain.
• Upon arrival in La Paz, our representative will meet you at the bus station and accompany you to your confirmed hotel. You will have the remainder of the day to spend at your leisure, either relaxing at your hotel or starting to explore La Paz on your own.

• Today you will enjoy a private half-day tour of the most interesting sites in La Paz, as well as the nearby Moon Valley. In La Paz you will visit Plaza Murillo, the Gold Museum, and San Francisco Church, one of the best examples of Colonial-era architecture in all of South America.Explore the Mercado de Brujas (Witches Market) and Mirador Killi Killi (a lookout point).
• Next, you will drive through some of the wealthy residential neighborhoods in La Paz, before arriving at the Moon Valley. The valley is named for the unique landscape and geological features that many say resemble the surface of the moon. After the tour, you will have the remainder of the day to spend at your leisure.

• This morning you will be transferred from your hotel to the airport for your flight from La Paz to Uyuni. Upon arrival in Uyuni, you will be met at the airport to begin your Uyuni Salt Flat adventures. The Salt Flats are the largest in the world, stretching over 6,574 square miles (10,582 square kilometers).
• Your tour will begin with a visit to the Train Cemetery, Colchani, and the Salt Hotel. Enjoy lunch before setting out to continue exploring the surrounding area in the afternoon and visit the Incahuasi Island. After a full day of exploration, you will return to your Uyuni hotel for dinner.

Note: The tour itinerary for each day may vary based on weather conditions and other considerations. Please note that accommodations in Uyuni are rustic and may not match up to standard hotel star level classifications. Your travel advisor can provide additional information about lodging options in Uyuni.

• After breakfast at your Uyuni accommodation, your adventures continue with more exploration of the Uyuni Salt Flats. Today you will visit the Laguna Colorada where the unique James’ Flamingos can often be seen. You will also explore Dali’s Valley, the Chalviri hot springs and the Sol de Mañana geysers.
• Finally, you will end the day with a visit to the Laguna Verde, located at the base of the Licancabur Volcano. You will then return to your Uyuni lodge to rest and relax.

Note: The tour itinerary for each day may vary based on weather conditions and other considerations. Please note that accommodations in Uyuni are rustic and may not match up to standard hotel star level classifications. Your travel advisor can provide additional information about lodging options in Uyuni.

• After breakfast at your accommodations, you will enjoy your final day at the Salt Flats with a visit to Incahuasi Island, known for a unique species of giant cactus. You’ll then make your way back to the town of Uyuni, visiting a unique landscape feature, the Ojos de Agua, which are round holes where you can see water beneath the thick layers of salt. You will also see a traditional salt processing plant.
• You will enjoy lunch on the Salt Flats before your transfer to the airport for your flight to La Paz and journey home or on to your next destination. Alternatively, customize this package to continue exploring.

Note: The tour itinerary for each day may vary based on weather conditions and other considerations. Your Uyuni guide will provide complete information about your daily activities.