Lima to La Paz overland tour
| country: | Bolivia, Peru |
| trip type: | Moderate walking holidays |
| departures: | Departs 2-3 Mondays a month throughout the year |
| price: | From £1545 (20 days) including domestic flights only, as per itinerary. We can arrange flights from the UK. |
| late availability: | Late availability on 15 December 2008 departure |
the amazing things you'll be doing
Leaving behind the fine colonial buildings of Lima, we head south towards Nasca, home to the mysterious Nasca Lines. Our next stop is Arequipa, arguably Peru's most charming and beautiful city. We visit the convent of Santa Catalina before an overnight stay in the Colca Canyon, the world's deepest canyon.
We continue to the old Inca capital of Cusco and make a side-trip to Sacsayhuaman. Some of the most exquisite mountain scenery is experienced on an amazing four-day trek to Machu Picchu. Moving east, we come to Puno on the shores of Lake Titicaca. We'll visit the floating islands of the Uros Indians and enjoy an overnight home-stay on Amantani Island. Our final stop in Peru is at Sillustani, an ancient burial ground. On the other side of the lake we come to Bolivia and the highest capital city in the world, La Paz.
For nearly 30 years, we have lead the field in small group adventure travel. See the iconic sights as well as get off the beaten track to discover the 'real' country, and come away understanding something more of the world. Our innovative and interactive itineraries include as much as possible to ensure that you get the most out of your valuable time away, but also contain plenty of time to relax and explore by yourself. Traveling in small group, and by private transport, means that you will have the company of other like-minded travelers, your holiday will be safe and stress-free and that the impact on environment and community is kept to a minimum.
As part of our responsible travel policy we also employ local leaders and actively avoid international hotel chains, preferring to give our patronage to authentic, centrally-located and owner-managed establishments whenever possible. Our locally born and raised leaders are great fun and will be a great part of your holiday because of their intimate knowledge of the sights, culture and customs, history and language of their homeland. Once you have travelled with a local leader you will understand that there is no better way!
Includes tour leader, local guides, arrival transfer, accomodation (1 night traditional home stay, 14 nights comfortable hotel, 3 nights camping, 1 night overnight deluxe bus), transport, porterage on Inca Trail trek, camping equipment, trek pack (sleeping bag, sleeping sheet, warm jacket, wet weather jacket, foam mattress, kit bag), some meals (18 breakfasts, 5 lunches, 4 dinners), sightseeing, entrance and park fees.
We continue to the old Inca capital of Cusco and make a side-trip to Sacsayhuaman. Some of the most exquisite mountain scenery is experienced on an amazing four-day trek to Machu Picchu. Moving east, we come to Puno on the shores of Lake Titicaca. We'll visit the floating islands of the Uros Indians and enjoy an overnight home-stay on Amantani Island. Our final stop in Peru is at Sillustani, an ancient burial ground. On the other side of the lake we come to Bolivia and the highest capital city in the world, La Paz.
For nearly 30 years, we have lead the field in small group adventure travel. See the iconic sights as well as get off the beaten track to discover the 'real' country, and come away understanding something more of the world. Our innovative and interactive itineraries include as much as possible to ensure that you get the most out of your valuable time away, but also contain plenty of time to relax and explore by yourself. Traveling in small group, and by private transport, means that you will have the company of other like-minded travelers, your holiday will be safe and stress-free and that the impact on environment and community is kept to a minimum.
As part of our responsible travel policy we also employ local leaders and actively avoid international hotel chains, preferring to give our patronage to authentic, centrally-located and owner-managed establishments whenever possible. Our locally born and raised leaders are great fun and will be a great part of your holiday because of their intimate knowledge of the sights, culture and customs, history and language of their homeland. Once you have travelled with a local leader you will understand that there is no better way! Includes tour leader, local guides, arrival transfer, accomodation (1 night traditional home stay, 14 nights comfortable hotel, 3 nights camping, 1 night overnight deluxe bus), transport, porterage on Inca Trail trek, camping equipment, trek pack (sleeping bag, sleeping sheet, warm jacket, wet weather jacket, foam mattress, kit bag), some meals (18 breakfasts, 5 lunches, 4 dinners), sightseeing, entrance and park fees.
day-by-day itinerary
| Day 1-2: | Arrive Lima and transfer to hotel. City tour of colonial centre, many of the colonial buildings were rebuilt following an earthquake in 1746. |
| Day 3-4: | Drive south through the desert to Nasca. Nasca's origins date back to the 2nd century BC, and here in the dry desert conditions, mummies, textiles, ceramics and other relics have been remarkably well preserved to give archaeologists clear snapshots of this highly developed civilisation. |
| Day 5-7: | Walking tour of Arequipa city, known as La Ciudad Blanca (White City) because the buildings have been built almost exclusively from a white volcanic material called 'sillar'. Overnight excursion to the Colca Canyon. The canyon is reportedly the deepest in the world - twice as deep as Grand Canyon in USA. We then return to Arequipa. |
| Day 8-9: | Morning flight to Cusco. Afternoon walking tour. Our comprehensive sightseeing tour of the city's main sights includes the Cathedral of Cusco, Religious Art Museum, Church of San Blas and Santa Catalina Museum. Full day excursion to the Sacred Valley including the impressive ceremonial ruins of Sacsayhuaman, before visiting the Urubamba Valley, the colourful market town Pisac and Ollantaytambo. |
| Day 10-12: | Hike the Inca Trail reaching a height of 4200 metres. For four days, we follow the course of an old Inca pathway leading to the ruins of the deserted city of Machu Picchu. Along the way, we trek through some of the most spectacular mountain scenery to be seen anywhere in the Andes. |
| Day 13: | Arrive at Machu Picchu for sunrise. On a clear morning, the view from the Sun Gate can be quite stunning and creates a lasting impression that will stay with you long after you return home. Explore the ruins and the small town of Aguas Calientes. Train to Cusco. |
| Day 14: | Free day in Cusco with time for optional activities. There are plenty of opportunities to shop or wander around the cobbled streets and visting museums, churches and colonial stes. |
| Day 15: | Drive to Puno on the shores of Lake Titicaca, the highest navigable lake in the world at 3,810 metres. This scheduled tourist service takes us on good roads through some spectacular mountain scenery and we stop at several sites including pre-Incan adobe ruins along the way. |
| Day 16: | Lake excursion by boat to the beautiful island of Amantani, where we stay as guests of local families in their basic homes. In the late afternoon we head up the ancient stone stairway to the island's peak, where we enjoy excellent views of the lake and perhaps a sunset. |
| Day 17: | Travel to Sillustani to visit the well preserved burial towers constructed by the Colla people during pre-Incan times. Late afternoon return to Puno. |
| Day 18: | Enter Bolivia and drive to La Paz via the ancient ruins of Tiahuanaco. It is believed that this ceremonial complex dates back to the 8th and 10th Century AD and was once at the centre of a powerful and self-sustaining empire, based in the southern Central Andes. The sprawling ruins comprise temples, courtyards, terraced pyramids, monolithic stone statues and gateways. |
| Day 19: | Full day exploration of La Paz, the highest capital in the world. Towering over the city is Mount Illimani, which reaches a height of 6439 metres with its snow-capped peaks. We visit examples of the late 19th century architecture, as well as wandering around the 'Witches Market' where they sell magic potions. A short distance from the town centre in the Valley of the Moon, an eroded maze of canyons and pinnacles that form a bizarre landscape. |
| Day 20: | Trip ends in La Paz after breakfast. |
small group adventure holiday
Typically you will be sharing your experiences with between 4-20 like minded travellers (depending on the trip, operator and how many others are booked on the trip) and you'll have a group leader with you. Whether you are travelling alone or with friends its good value, and a great way to meet new people! While itineraries are pre-planned there is some flexibility and you'll have plenty of privacy. This trip will appeal to travellers of all ages who enjoy meeting new people as well as seeing new places.highly commended
This tourism business was Highly Commended in our 2007 Virgin Holidays Responsible Tourism Awards - the largest awards of their kind in the world, and organised by responsibletravel.com in association with The Times, World Travel Market and Geographical Magazine, of the Royal Geographical Society.Since 2004, the Awards has recognised individuals, companies and organisations in travel making a big commitment to the culture and economies of local communities and helping to conserve biodiversity.
how this holiday makes a difference
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See Peru and Bolivia through the eyes of locals, as your Peruvian and Bolivian tour leaders give you a first-hand insight into the exotic and colourful tapestry that makes up their homeland. Wandering around historic colonial towns and cities, discovering magnificent archaeological sites, exploring canyons, lakes and mountains and uncovering secluded villages impart to travellers an awareness of these valuable natural and historical gems and the importance of them being preserved and protected, so that they can be enjoyed and appreciated by future generations.
The people living in the various regions also have rich and enduring cultures, which are unveiled on this trip. Equally important, your local tour leaders help you to understand the traditions of these proud people, ensuring you don’t commit any cultural ‘faux pas’. To support tour programs in this part of the world this operator is training their tour leaders on a variety of issues, from environmental awareness to First Aid. This not only assists in the conduct of a tour but also provides leaders with important life skills. By only employing tour leaders born and bred in the regions they visit, they are supporting local economies. This operator prefers to give their patronage to small owner-managed hotels rather than those from international chains, as they feel these places offer quality and character and also directly benefit local people. Through offering employment and steady revenue, tourism can ultimately make a real positive difference to local communities. |
Tourism can be good and bad for destinations & local people. We carefully screen every holiday against our criteria for responsible travel. 'Look behind the brochure' to find how each holiday makes a difference (see left). We don't claim to be perfect - there is no global accreditation - but we've led the way since 2001 and screened 1000's of holidays. We invite every traveller to write a review about their experiences and responsible tourism. This valuable feedback is sent to the people who run the holidays. We keep a very close eye on it and take off holidays that don't live up to our standards. |