Grand Andean Explorer
This incredible 3-week journey combines the highlights of Bolivia with the must-see sights in the neighbouring Andean nations of Chile and Peru.
Beginning in Peru’s capital on the Pacific Ocean, Lima, this journey through the Andes will treat you to some of South America’s most beautiful cities, most striking landscapes and most exclusive luxury experiences. After exploring Lima with expert local guides, you will move south, visiting the White City of Arequipa and the jagged ravines of the Colca Canyon. You will spend time on the shores of Lake Titicaca before ticking off Peru’s most impressive ruins in Cusco and the Sacred Valley, with an enviable daytrip to Machu Picchu on the Belmond Hiram Bingham train. In Bolivia, immerse yourself in the hybrid cultural landscape of La Paz before journeying into the wilds of the Altiplano and the white expanse of the Salar de Uyuni. Cross from southern Bolivia into Chile’s Atacama Desert, the driest in the world, and participate in a spot of stargazing under these transparent skies. Your trip will end in Santiago, a booming business city set against the backdrop of the snow-capped Andean cordillera where you can spend a relaxing two nights before flying home.
Trip highlights
2 nights in Lima at Hotel B Barranco with a private city tour and an exclusive street food experience.
1 night in Arequipa at Cirqa with a privately guided walking tour of the colonial city centre.
2 nights by the Colca Canyon at the Hotel Belmond Las Casitas with a full day guided tour of the region.
2 nights at Lake Titicaca at Hotel Titilaka with all meals and activities included.
Luxury train journey aboard the PeruRail Titicaca train from Puno to Cusco with gourmet meals and entertainment included on board.
3 nights in Cusco at the Belmond Palacio Nazarenas with a privately guided tour of the city and its surrounding ruins.
A day trip to Machu Picchu on the luxury Belmond Hiram Bingham train with gourmet meals, a tour of the citadel and afternoon tea included.
2 nights in the Sacred Valley at Sol y Luna with a full day tour of the local ruins.
3 nights in La Paz at ATIX Hotel with a private full day tour of the city and the Moon Valley.
2 nights in Uyuni at Kachi Lodge with all meals and privately guided activities included.
2 nights in the Atacama Desert at Tierra Atacama with all meals and activities included.
2 nights in Santiago de Chile at the Singular Santiago with a private half day city tour.
Map of your holiday
Day by Day itinerary
DAY 1
Arrive in to Peru
Arrive into Lima and transfer to your luxury hotel in the bohemian Barranco district for the next two nights.
Suggested accommodation – Hotel B Barranco
DAY 2
Lima
Enjoy exploring the historical centre of Lima this morning with your guide before embarking on an exclusive street food tour with a local expert in the afternoon. Learn more about Peru’s unique gastronomy and what makes the food here some of the finest in Latin America.
DAY 3
Fly to Arequipa
This morning you will fly south to Arequipa and check in to your luxury hotel for the night. After settling in, explore the colonial ‘White City’ with your guide and admire the views of the town’s surrounding volcanic peaks.
Suggested accommodation – Cirqa Arequipa
DAY 4
Colca Canyon
Leave Arequipa behind and drive toward the Colca Canyon with your guide where you will spend the next two nights of your trip.
Suggested accommodation – Belmond Las Casitas
DAY 5
Condor Cross
Today you can explore the Colca region with your guide, enjoying sweeping vistas of this dramatic ravine and visiting the Cruz del Condor to try and catch a glimpse of the majestic Andean condors in this region. You may also have the opportunity to explore local ruins or thermal baths before returning to your hotel in the evening.
DAY 6
Lake Titicaca
Early in the morning you will leave Colca and embark on a full day overland tour to Puno, on the shores of Lake Titicaca. You will arrive in the late afternoon and check in to your hotel for the next two nights.
Suggested accommodation – Hotel Titilaka
DAY 7
Day at Leisure
Today you can enjoy some of the activities on offer from Titilaka Hotel with expert guides. Local Aymara and Quechua peoples believe Lake Titicaca to be the birthplace of the first Inca – immerse yourself in the folklore of these traditional cultures with illuminating tours of the lake’s islands and mysterious ruins.
DAY 8
Cusco
This morning you will board the luxury PeruRail Titicaca train bound for Cusco. Enjoy delicious meals included on-board and a folk music show during your journey. Upon arrival in Cusco, you will check into your hotel for the next three nights.
Suggested accommodation – Belmond Palacio Nazarenas
DAY 9
Cusco ruins
Enjoy an informative tour of Cusco with your local guide. Undoubtedly the most beautiful city in Peru, Cusco, the old Inca capital, is a pastiche of Hispanic and indigenous influences boasting stunning colonial edifices built upon the ruins of grand Inca palaces and a wealth of fascinating museums and art galleries.
DAY 10
Day at Leisure
Free day in Cusco.
DAY 11
Machu Picchu
Board the luxurious 1920s-style Belmond Hiram Bingham train this morning for an unforgettable trip to Machu Picchu. You will be served a delicious meal on board before enjoying an exclusive tour of the ruins, complete with a decadent afternoon tea at the Belmond Sanctuary Lodge. This evening, take the train to the Sacred Valley, enjoying a gourmet dinner en-route.
Suggested accommodation – Sol y Luna
DAY 12
Sacred Valley
Enjoy a private full day tour of the Sacred Valley with your guide. The Urubamba Valley contains many ruins that were once of great importance to the Inca Empire. Today your guide will explain the intricate stories of these significant trading posts and fortresses.
DAY 13
Fly to La Paz
Return to the airport in Cusco and board a flight to La Paz, Bolivia’s Andean capital. Upon arrival in this mountaintop city, your guide will take you on a ride on the city’s unique cable-car public transport system – the ‘Teleférico’. You will spend the next three nights in the city.
Suggested accommodation – Hotel ATIX
DAY 14
La Paz & the Valley of the Moon
Today you will explore La Paz with your guide. Enjoy visiting the colonial Church of San Francisco and haggling for unique handcrafts on Sagarnaga Street. Learn more about ancient Bolivian culture in the Witches’ Market, where indigenous healers sell traditional remedies. Visit Plaza Murillo for the Government Palace and the Cathedral before ending the day in amongst the eerie spires of the Valley of the Moon.
DAY 15
Day at Leisure
Free day in La Paz.
DAY 16
Uyuni
Early this morning you will board a flight south to Uyuni. Upon arrival you will be met by a representative of your luxury lodge and begin your two-night exploration of the famous Salt Flats and their surroundings.
Suggested accommodation – Kachi Lodge
DAY 17
Exploring the Salt Flats
Today you can take advantage of a full day of activities at Kachi Lodge on the stunning Salar de Uyuni.
DAY 18
Siloli Desert
Your private guide will pick you up from Kachi Lodge and transfer you to the wild landscapes of the Eduardo Avaroa Andean Fauna Reserve. This stunning protected park encompasses mountains, thermal springs, caves, rocky valleys, volcanoes and colourful mountain lagoons. You will spend the night at a remote eco-lodge.
Suggested accommodation – Tayka del Desierto
DAY 19
Bolivian Altiplano
Today you will transfer over the border into Chile to spend two nights in the Atacama Desert, famous for its copper-coloured landscapes and clear skies for stargazing.
Suggested accommodation – Tierra Atacama
DAY 20
Explore Atacama
Make the most of your day at Tierra Atacama, either exploring the region with your guides, or enjoying an indulgent treatment in the fabulous spa.
DAY 21
Santiago
Today you will fly south to Santiago, the last capital city on your trip, where you will spend two nights.
Suggested accommodation – Singular Santiago
DAY 22
Explore Santiago
On the last day of your trip, enjoy a panoramic tour of Santiago de Chile with an expert local guide, exploring the pockets of colonial architecture and beautiful city parks.
DAY 23
Fly Home
Transfer to the airport for your onward flight home.
The price for this itinerary is GBP £13,920. (pricing also available in US Dollars)
This is a per person price, based on 2 people travelling and sharing a room.
What’s included
22 nights in luxury accommodation as listed above
Private transfers and tours with an English speaking guide and driver
All internal flights in economy class seating
What’s not included
International flights (discuss your specific requirements with us)
Travel insurance
Any visas you may require
This is a guide price. Please enquire and we will provide a full personalised quote for you. All our itineraries are tailor-made to your own requirements so can be modified however you wish.
FEATURED HOTELS
Hotel B Barranco
Originally built in the style of the Belle Époque, the mansion served as a seaside retreat during the presidency of Augusto Leguia in the 1920s. Its architectural features and flair make this hotel one of the most attractive properties in Lima.
Cirqa Arequipa
Celebrating the tradition of hospitality that defined this historic building’s old ‘parador’ where monks would receive weary travellers, Cirqa Arequipa offers an authentically Andean experience with all the finesse of sophisticated modern luxury service.
Las Casitas
Las Casitas by Belmond is perfectly situated at the edge of the Colca Canyon. Twenty luxury casitas are spread among the 24-hectare estate which has stunning views of the terraces and ravines for which the canyon is famous.
Titilaka
Remote and tranquil, this luxurious hotel offers visitors truly stunning accommodation on a private peninsula of Lake Titicaca. Situated on the shore of the lake, it boasts outstanding views of the blue waters and distant mountains under white-washed skies.
Palacio Nazarenas
The Belmond Palacio Nazarenas Hotel is one of the most exclusive hotels in the city of Cusco. Featuring stunning contemporary design mixed with antique furnishings, this hotel is a world leader in cutting edge design.
Sol y Luna
Sol y Luna is an award-winning hotel, located in the Sacred Valley of the Incas. In this naturally stunning area, you will be able to enjoy the beautiful surrounding whilst staying in luxury. Situated just 1km from the town of Urubamba, you also have the opportunity to experience authentic town life.
Hotel ATIX
ATIX is the first true luxury hotel in Bolivia. Offering sweeping views of the affluent Zona Sur district of the city and the Devil’s Tooth mountain, this stylish modern design hotel is within an easy teleférico ride from the touristic attractions of Plaza Murillo and the city centre.
Kachi Lodge
Remote, refined and unique, the peerless Kachi Lodge allows the discerning traveller to experience the magic of the Salar de Uyuni in the best possible comfort.
Tayka del Desierto
Situated 40 minutes from the stunning Laguna Colorada in the middle of the Andean desert in an extremely remote place.
Tierra Atacama
A wonderful mix of beautiful modern architecture and cultural influences, this hotel provides guests with the best amenities and comfort. The interior is simple, elegant with a warmth created by the authentic pieces which have been sourced from local villages. Outside, the property has large open air lounges with fire pits and Jacuzzis.
The Singular Santiago
The Singular Santiago is an alluring blend of classic and contemporary, offering modern comforts while exuding the charm of a bygone era. Though the hotel is brand new, your room will have an air of classic comfort.