Andes overland journey, Atacama desert to Machu Picchu

COUNTRY:: Bolivia, Chile, Peru
DEPARTURES:: This trip can be tailor-made for individual departures on basis of min. 2 persons and can be arranged all year from April until January. Small group departures have to be requested on time.
PRICE:: From €3280 (24 days) excluding flights
MORE INFO:: Price includes all accommodation on double room basis, landcruiser trekking of 4 days Bolivia, 4 days Condoriri trekking & 2 day Titicaca lake including all meals, 2 day Camino Real with Machu Picchu, all programmed excursions, all transfers with private bus, guidance of tri-lingual specialized guide for the whole travel, all services of local guides, international flight Lima-Santiago-north Chile, national flight Cusco-Lima; not included international flight to and from Lima. With private rainforest extension of 5 days (31 days in total) from €4390. Small group tour, min 10, max 15 participants
VOUCHERS:: Gift vouchers can be used with this holiday

Andes overland journey, Atacama desert to Machu Picchu

photo gallery see previous photo

1of8

Andes overland journey, Atacama desert to Machu Picchu

How Andes overland journey, Atacama desert to Machu Picchu makes a difference

Environment

You can compensate the CO2 emissions of your flights with ClimateCare, GreenSeat, or more cost and travel effective solutions. (Interested? Contact us for more information).

Community

The organization and guidance during this roundtrip is in the hands of a guide that works and lives in Latin America, speaks fluently Spanish, English, has an extended experience in traveling and guiding in the various countries of Argentina, Cuba, Bolivia, Peru, Chile & Brasil. He initiated and runs his own tour company and designs tailor made travels for Latin America for individual travellers, businesses, family and groups. He makes regularly study travels into the Andes with an Indian Master and shaman, which has given him the insight to understand the cosmological and multidimensional reality of the present and former Andean cultures. The combination of his knowledge and experience is a guarantee that you will have an extraordinary & inspiring journey through the Andes & Latin America.

A holiday to the remote areas in the Andes brings income to local people, guides and organizations. All excursions and treks are guided by local guides and organized by local organisations. The companies that take care of the transport are locally owned, the accommodations are chosen for ambiance, style & location and both result in a direct income and employment for the local people. The local tour operators we work with are all small & professional companies.

This journey is a cross cultural travel in which we intend to create a mutual benefit out of the meeting of cultures and inspire local communities in offering locally produced goods & services which respect Life. When we visit local communities in remote areas, we ask participants, if appropriate, to leave articles for the children for school or leave a donation to a school. For those who are interested one of the free days in Cusco can be used to visit a social project in the Urubamba valley which supports street children, takes care of their education & healthcare.

Andes overland journey, Atacama desert to Machu Picchu

Check out similar holiday ideas

How we choose the provider of Andes overland journey, Atacama desert to Machu Picchu

Andes overland journey, Atacama desert to Machu Picchu

Reviewed 05 Jul 2012 by Dianne Margaret Reidy

1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?

Visiting Machu Picchu.

2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?

Be prepared for the effects of altitude. We didn't get altitude sickness but suffered from tiredness, headaches and shortness of breath, especially when walking up hills. You need to give yourself longer to do things requiring physical effort.

3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, reduced environmental impacts or supported conservation?

Yes, all guides, drivers and hotel staff were locals and we stayed with a local family on Lake Titicaca. There was an emphasis on conservation and reducing environmental impact on all tours. However, we had to use bottled water throughout Peru as there was no alternative. There were also very few opportunities to recycle plastic or other products.

4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?

Excellent. The service was always reliable and efficient. People were very helpful, especially when I suffered a severe gastric problem - despite the bottled water!

Read the operator's response here:

We always give briefings per tel or via Skype before departure of the traveller. Information on the effects of altitude are part of those briefings besides all information in our Manual about how to stay healthy in general in countries as Peru & Bolivia and how to deal with altitude sickness. Everybody needs to adapt to higher altitudes. Travel itineraries are always so designed that the time span to adapt is optimal and that no big leaps in altitude are made in a too short time. What we see on our travels in the Andes (whether individual or group wise) is that some people adapt relatively quickly while others need more time to adapt to higher altitude, this is a normal process. That some people need more time to adapt can be related to age, general fitness of that moment, and/or a genetic sensibility which people may not know beforehand. In a classical round tour through Peru at higher altitudes with visiting among others the Colca canyon, Titicaca lake and Cusco there are always doctors available that in case of an emerging altitude sickness they come to visit the travellers in their hotel. All travellers who suffered from symptoms of acute altitude sickness (whether travelling individual or group wise with a TC) have been treated well and could enjoy and complete their full holiday. For a regular tour therefore there is no reason for concern, for high altitude trekking and mountain climbing someone needs to be first well acclimatized at location before starting these tours. In case of questions and personal health concerns we always recommend travellers to consult their doctor and read first more about altitude sickness at home before making their booking final.

Holiday Reviews

You can trust responsibletravel.com reviews because, unlike many other schemes, reviews can ONLY be written by people who we have verified have been on the holidays. In addition, we don't run these holidays ourselves - our only interest is giving you the best independent advice.

Read our review policy

DESTINATIONS

HOLIDAY TYPES

PLACES TO STAY

FAVOURITE HOLIDAYS

BUYER PROTECTION

JOIN US ONLINE

OUR PARTNERS

Travel services