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Peru and Bolivia: Machu Picchu to the Salt Flats
16 days, Lima to La Paz
Itinerary Notes
There are new Health & Safety Protocols for National Geographic Journeys tours. Please see here for full details and up-to-date requirements as they may change.
Itinerary
Day 1Lima
Arrive at any time. Arrival transfer is included.
Please note: if you booked the Lima Cooking Class it does not include extra time in Lima, and we highly recommend booking pre-trip accommodation. You will be picked up from your hotel at approx 10:00 am (10:30 from Aug-Dec) and taken to a local market and restaurant to prepare and enjoy a traditional Peruvian meal. Return back to your hotel around 13:00.
Also, hot water shortages and power outages can be fairly common in Peru (even in upgraded hotels and private homes). We appreciate your patience and understanding that these occurrences are outside of our control.
There are some very early morning starts on this trip to make the best use of our time and see as much as we can of Peru as we can.
Private Vehicle
Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.
Arrival Day and Welcome Meeting
The adventure begins tonight. Feel free to explore before your welcome meeting, but make sure you’re back in time to meet the group. Check for the meeting time on the welcome note at the hotel. After introductions, your CEO will review the details of your tour. Please note that normal check-in times apply at our start hotels, but you can usually store your luggage for the day if you arrive early.
Optional Activities - Day 1 HideShow
Lima Cooking Class (4hrs)
Get a taste of Peruvian cuisine, visit local markets, sample exotic fruit, select fresh ingredients, and try your hand at preparing unique Peruvian dishes influenced by China, Italy, West Africa, and Japan.
Please note that if you are travelling with a family there is no age restriction on this activity and the cooking class is acceptable for children.
Lima City Tour
40USD per personDiscover Lima’s cultural and culinary highlights on this half-day guided tour. Visit the Santo Domingo Monastery, walk around Plaza de Armas, marvel at the Bodega y Quadra Museum, and get to know some of Lima's lovely neighbourhoods. Stop to enjoy some authentic Peruvian tapas and be introduced to Pisco Sours during a demonstration and tasting.
Day 2Lima/Tambopata
Fly to Puerto Maldonado and continue by motorized canoe to our comfortable lodge, situated near the Tambopata National Reserve in the Amazon rainforest. Spot local bird species along the lush shores of the Tambopata River en route to the lodge, and set off on an evening walk with a naturalist guide before dinner, keeping an eye out for some of the rainforest’s nocturnal creatures.
After a brief stop in town to store large luggage, drive to the pier and travel by covered motorized boat to the jungle lodge.
En route, spot bird species typical of the local river and forest edge. The Tambopata Rainforest area holds the world record for the most bird sightings in one area.
Local community members make up the majority of lodge staff, including multilingual naturalist guides. Take the opportunity to learn about the area’s rich flora and fauna and locals' extensive use of medicinal plants and other forest plant resources through traditional techniques for building, fishing, and hunting.
Enjoy a welcome drink and orientation. Before dinner, head out for a night walk around the lodge grounds.
The lodge itself combines native architectural style and materials with low-impact, eco-friendly technology. Rooms are simple but comfortable, with mosquito netting for individual beds, flush toilets, showers (with solar-heated hot water), and candles for lighting (no electricity).
Plane
Look! Up in the sky! It's a bird! It's a plane! It's... yup, it is a plane, actually.
Motorized Canoe
Head by private vehicle to the lodge's office in Puerto Maldonado to store large luggage. From there, travel about 1 hr to reach the boat landing.
Be prepared to protect yourself from the sun and bugs before you get on the boat. It's quite pleasant with the covered roof and breeze, but you can still get sunburned. It's recommended to wear light long sleeves and trousers on the boat.
Wildlife-spotting Night Walk
Get the lowdown on local flora and fauna, and grab a flashlight to discover what’s living around lodge grounds. Receive help from the talented, expert naturalist guide to locate heaps of hidden creatures! Keep an eye out for snakes, tarantulas, owls, and poison dart frogs, just to name a few.
Meals included:
Breakfast | Lunch | DinnerDay 3Tambopata
Spend the day exploring the thriving ecosystems of the rainforest with our lodge’s naturalist guides. Scan the treetops for toucans, howler monkeys, and sloths, and glide along oxbow lakes on canoes for a chance to glimpse river otters, turtles, and, if we’re lucky, anacondas. After dinner, embark on a river tour by motorized canoe on the lookout for caimans, the smaller cousins of alligators, which are often found hiding near the muddy banks.
Head out early to catch the jungle at its wildest (and coolest). Walk slowly through the forest searching for wildlife before heading out on an oxbow lake by canoe.
Search for anaconda, the elusive giant river otter, or black caiman. Even if you don't spot these shy creatures, there are plenty of birds, interesting plants, and other animals about.
Jungle Excursions
Enjoy visits to oxbow lakes to learn about the jungle and its inhabitants. Be introduced to the area’s rich flora and fauna by expert naturalist guides, who can teach extensive uses for medicinal and other forest plant resources through traditional techniques. Be prepared to go early morning or evening to avoid the heat of midday. Enjoy a leisurely pace – the trip requires some walking, but nothing too strenuous.
Free Time
Spend time around the lodge or go further afield. Free time is yours to explore any way you want!
Caiman-Spotting Cruise
Head out after dark by motorized canoe to search for caimans on the river banks. Enjoy a lesson on caimans from the expert guide. Take advantage of the keen eyes of the expert naturalist guides – they are truly spectacular at spotting these elusive smaller cousins of alligators hiding on the muddy banks.
Meals included:
Breakfast | Lunch | DinnerDay 4Tambopata/Cusco
Travel out of the jungle by boat and catch a flight from Puerto Maldonado to Cusco, soaring above the Andes into Peru’s Inca heartland. This evening, visit the Cusco Planetarium for a presentation on the skies of the Southern Hemisphere, and learn about the vital role that astronomy played in the lives of the ancient Inca. Weather permitting, peer through the planetarium's telescopes for a dazzling look at the stars.
Afternoon arrival into the Inca capital. Time for strolling around the plazas and markets. Admire the cobblestones streets, and visit some museums and Cathedral.
This adventure travels to high altitude, medically defined as anything over 8,000 ft (2,440m).
Motorized Canoe
Climb in and move swiftly through the water to the next stop.
Plane
Look! Up in the sky! It's a bird! It's a plane! It's... yup, it is a plane, actually.
Free Time
Take it easy this afternoon and acclimatize to the higher altitude.
Your Journeys Highlight Moment: Cusco Planetarium
Look to the night sky for a different view of the city. Explore the Cusco Planetarium surrounded by the serene nature of the Llaullipata Ecological Reserve. Enjoy a presentation on the southern sky, contemporary astronomy, and the ancient Incas’ relationship with the cosmos. Check out the on-site museum and use the telescopes to admire the stars (weather-permitting).
Meals included:
BreakfastDay 5Cusco/Urubamba
Drive to the scenic Sacred Valley for a full day of exploration with a local guide. Tour the G Adventures–supported Parque de la Papa, or Potato Park, a rural Andean community working to preserve hundreds of varieties of native potato. During this exclusive experience, you'll walk through the park to learn about potato cultivation, traditional weaving, and the importance of both these practices to Andean culture. We’ll also visit the fascinating Inca ruins of Ollantaytambo and Pisac, and enjoy a meal at the G Adventures–supported Parwa Community Restaurant in Huchuy Qosqo.
Private Vehicle
Times includes all stops and visits enroute through the Sacred Valley.
Your Journeys Highlight Moment: Traditional Andean Experience
In Peru’s Sacred Valley of the Inca, six communities of approximately 6000 indigenous people are working together to preserve over 700 species of potato – a cornerstone of life here. As part of an experience exclusive to National Geographic Journeys travellers – and part of our G Adventures for Good program – visit this area, named “Parque de la Papa” (“Potato Park”), to learn about life in an Andean agricultural community. Walk through the park here with a local guide, dropping by the seed bank (which has direct ties to the Svalbard Global Seed Vault in Norway) and then head out to the fields to watch the planting or harvesting process, depending on the season. After, enjoy some of the delicious varieties of potato and visit the small stone hut where traditional weaving takes place. Learn about the natural dyeing process and witness alpaca wool strands being transformed into beautiful textiles through a centuries-old backstrap weaving style. Your visit to this special community means this local enterprise can continue earning an income that supports their development and conservation goals.
Your G for Good Moment: Parque de la Papa (Potato Park)
Parque de la Papa (meaning "Potato Park") serves two important purposes for the community of Pampallacta: the preservation of agricultural biodiversity and economic opportunity. National Geographic Journeys travellers visit the park to learn about life in a rural agricultural Andean community and take a tour of the seed conservation program, which is preserving heritage potato species. They also learn about traditional planting, harvesting and indigenous weaving practices. With G Adventures' support, the community is able to create jobs in the area and invest in local businesses, which helps the community preserve their culture.
Your G for Good Moment: Parwa Community Restaurant the Sacred Valley
Contribute to sustainable tourism in Huchuy Qosqo, a small village of 65 families in the Sacred Valley, by eating at the Parwa Community Restaurant. Learn how the resident-run restaurant was kickstarted by G Adventures and the Multilateral Investment Fund, to become a successful farm-to-table program that boosts the local economy and several spin-off microenterprises.
Pisac Ruins Guided Tour
Tour the fascinating hilltop citadel of Pisac, an Incan ruin with plunging gorges, a ceremonial centre, and winding agriculture terracing that's still in use today. Be captivated by this truly amazing site sitting amid sweeping green valleys and mountain peaks. Explore the back of the site to see a pocketed cliff across Kitamayo Gorge, which once contained hundreds of Inca tombs.
Ollantaytambo Ruins Guided Tour
Tour the town and fortress of Ollantaytambo with a local guide. Take a step back in time at this Inca archaeological site; it still shows signs of its former glory, including agricultural terraces, a Temple Hill, and storehouses. Learn how the area, overlooking the Urubamba River Valley, was an important stronghold during warfare between the Spanish and Incas.
Meals included:
Breakfast | LunchDay 6Lares Trek
Depart Urubamba by van for Lares town, where the lesser frequented trail begins. Spend the night at a G Adventures–sponsored campsite in Cuncani, nestled in the scenic Lares Valley at 3,872 meters (12,703 feet). Earnings from the campsite provide educational, medical, and infrastructural support to the local Cuncani community.
The Lares Trek is a scenic, less touristic route to hike through the Andes. It is one day shorter than the Inca Trail but higher in elevation. Enjoy G Adventures-supported handmade biodegradable soap products for use on the Lares Trek.
The locations and distances may change on this hike, as camping will be done in different places depending on pace, ability, and weather. The first night will always be spent at the G Adventures-supported, community-owned and managed campsite in an indigenous village previously bypassed by the tourism industry. In most cases, the CEO will hike the Lares Trek with the group.
Private Vehicle
Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.
Lares Trek (Lares-Cuncani)
Start early and drive (3 hrs) to Lares town where the hike will start with a leisurely pace through the valley of Cuncani. Hike 4km (2.5 mi) to Chancachaca then stop for lunch. Be sure to rest and rehydrate because the altitude here is around 3480m (11,417 ft).
Continue trekking along rocky mountain paths 4.7km (3 mi) to the isolated village of Cuncani. Camp here for the night at 3872m (12,703 ft) at the G Adventures-supported community run campsite.
Your G for Good Moment: Handmade Biodegradable Soap Products
Enjoy G Adventures-supported handmade biodegradable soap products, for use on our treks. This G Adventures for Good project empowered local Cusqueña women to start their own business in order to reduce the environmental impact of treks in the region. Planeterra provided $10,000 of seed funding for two young entrepreneurs to register their biodegradable products in order to sell them to the tourism industry. "Esencia Andina" is now a successful business that produces biodegradable soaps, detergents, and natural products for travellers, guides, porters, and cooks on our treks.
Your G for Good Moment: Cuncani Community Campsite
Spend the night at the Lares Community campsite, owned and managed by the 71 families that belong to the Cuncani community. The earnings from the campsite are allocated for investment in social projects such as health, education, nutrition, and infrastructure improvements to water and electricity.
Meals included:
Breakfast | Lunch | DinnerDay 7Lares Trek
Get an early start on our hike, climbing from the foothills of Sicllaccasa Mountain to the trail’s highest point, at 4,800 meters (15,748 feet). Celebrate your ascent by making a ritual offering of coca leaves to the Andean gods, and enjoy stunning views of turquoise-hued lagoons and the snowcapped Chicon Mountain. Continue hiking downhill to our second campsite, situated near a stream at 4,114 meters (13,497 feet).
Lares Trek (Cuncani - Kuyoc)
Hike from the foothills of Sicllaccasa Mountain 12.2km (7.6 mi) to its high pass at 4,800m (15,748ft), providing scenic views of lagoons and the snow-capped Chicon Mountain. Celebrate after reaching the highest point by making an offering of coca leaves to the Andean gods.
Hike downhill another 2.2km (1.3 mi) to QuencaPata, for lunch and to take in the amazing view.
Continue hiking downhill another 2.6km (1.6 mi) to our second campsite near a stream. Sleep tonight at about 4,114m (13,497 ft) elevation.
Meals included:
Breakfast | Lunch | DinnerDay 8Lares Trek/Aguas Calientes
Enjoy our final hours of hiking in the picturesque landscapes of Lares Valley before travelling by van to Ollantaytambo. From here, we’ll board a train to Aguas Calientes, the gateway to Machu Picchu. Spend some time relaxing in town, or visit the nearby hot springs.
Lares Trek (Kuyoc - Punta Carretera)
Follow the trail to see typical Andean flora and fauna, llamas and alpacas. Descend through the valley of Pumahuanca and meet friendly local Quechua people and explore some Inca storehouses along the way. Trek 3-4 hrs to reach the town of Pumahuanca. Enjoy lunch then hop a van to Ollantaytambo. Continue by train to Aguas Calientes.
Private Vehicle
Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.
Train
Climb aboard, take a seat, and enjoy the ride.
Meals included:
Breakfast | LunchDay 9Machu Picchu/Cusco
Rise early to catch daybreak over Machu Picchu, the 15th-century Inca citadel rediscovered by Hiram Bingham in 1911 and excavated with support from National Geographic. Set out on a guided tour of this UNESCO World Heritage site, being taken through its mystical temples and terraces. Later, travel back to Cusco by train
Rise early to catch the first bus up to Machu Picchu with your guide. Enjoy a guided visit to the ruins followed by free time to explore. Opt to walk up to the Sun Gate or Inca Bridge.
When ready, head back down by bus to Aguas Calientes to meet up with the rest of the group. Take the scenic train back to Ollantaytambo to meet the van for the ride back to Cusco.
Local Bus
Climb aboard, grab a seat, and enjoy the ride.
Machu Picchu Guided Tour
Set off with the local guide to explore Machu Picchu, the Lost City of the Incas. Learn about the history and gain insights into this massive mountaintop citadel while wandering through ancient dwellings, stone temples and along sculpted terraces. Feel the energy of this 15th-century site, now both a UNESCO World Heritage site and voted one of the new Seven Wonders of the World in a worldwide internet poll.
Local Bus
Climb aboard, grab a seat, and enjoy the ride.
Train
Climb aboard, take a seat, and enjoy the ride.
Private Vehicle
Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.
Optional Activities - Day 9 HideShow
Inca Bridge Visit
FreeUse any leftover energy from your Machu Picchu hike to visit the Inca Bridge site nearby (thought by some to be a secret back entrance to Machu Picchu). Trek up to the bridge that's cleaving to a 579m (1,900 ft) cliff, and soak in amazing views of cloud forest along the way.
Meals included:
BreakfastDay 10Cusco/La Paz
Catch a flight to the highest capital in the world—La Paz, Bolivia. In the afternoon, take an immersive tour of the lofty city by foot, van, and cable car. Explore vibrant squares, historical sites, and lively local markets, learning more about the balance of old and new along the way. This evening, enjoy an interactive culinary experience at a popular local restaurant, including demonstrations on how traditional foods such as quinoa are integrated into modern fusion dishes. With a local chef as our guide, we’ll sample a variety of dishes and discuss the growing popularity of La Paz as a culinary destination.
Your Journeys Highlight Moment: La Paz Culinary Experience
Embark on an interactive culinary experience at a popular local restaurant. Enjoy demonstrations on how traditional foods such as quinoa are integrated into modern fusion dishes. With a local chef, we sample a variety of modern dishes based on traditional foods and learn about the growing popularity of La Paz as a foodie destination.
La Paz City Tour
Explore the city on a guided tour. Check out stunning cathedrals, impressive museums, and lively markets, learning more about the history of this fascinating city. Look for majestic Mt Illimani in the background.
Plane
Look! Up in the sky! It's a bird! It's a plane! It's... yup, it is a plane, actually.
Meals included:
BreakfastDay 11La Paz/Sucre
Catch a flight to charming Sucre, then enjoy an orientation walk around the main square. This afternoon, relax at a local café, explore on your own, or opt to take an immersive tour of Sucre with a local expert that focuses on the city’s stunning colonial architecture and historic sites, best viewed from the ubiquitous rooftop terraces.
Plane
Look! Up in the sky! It's a bird! It's a plane! It's... yup, it is a plane, actually.
Free Time
Enjoy free time to explore, relax at a cafe or take a specialized walking tour.
Sucre Orientation Walk
Enjoy a walk with your CEO around Sucres's centre and main square. For more in-depth information, a specialized guided tour is offered on option this afternoon..
Optional Activities - Day 11 HideShow
Sucre Guided City Tour
Enjoy a guided tour exploring the constitutional capital of Bolivia. Learn
about the history, culture, and preserved colonial buildings that earned the city its' UNESCO designation. Visit the main square and the Dinosaur Park before ending with a cocktail and a panoramic view of the city in the Recoleta area.
Meals included:
BreakfastDay 12Potosi Countryside
Enjoy free time this morning before travelling into the southern highlands to our historic hacienda. Surrounded by lush agricultural fields and rolling hills, this working farm offers unique opportunities for cultural exchanges with the resident family. Get a glimpse into daily life here while lending a hand at the dairy and in the fields, and step back in time during visits to the property’s private rooms, chapel, and museum. Cap off your experience with an authentic farm-to-table dinner featuring an array of local specialities.
Free Time
Make the most of your time in this beautiful city.
Private Vehicle
Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.
Your Journeys Highlight Moment: Bolivian Hacienda Experience
Down a winding dirt road, snaking through the stunning Southern Highlands we find our remote Hacienda. Surrounded by lush farmlands, rivers and rolling hills, this historic “working” farm offers a unique cultural interaction with a welcoming local family. Dating back to the 1500s, we step back in time with visits to private museum rooms, the chapel and library. Also, immerse ourselves into the hacienda’s daily life including demonstrations at the dairy and a visit to the fields, Finish with an authentic farm-to-table dinner featuring local specialities from the area.
Meals included:
Breakfast | DinnerDay 13Potosí/Uyuni
Make the short drive to the centre of Potosí and enjoy a guided tour of the Casa Nacional de la Moneda, the old silver mint and now a museum dedicated to Bolivian art and history. Take a scenic drive to Uyuni, gateway to the world's largest salt flat. Learn about the industrialization of salt and the geographical history of the region while driving across this mirror-like landscape. Enjoy a sunset picnic atop the flats before returning to our hotel.
Note: During the rainy season the locations visited may change due to some routes being covered by water.
Private Vehicle
Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.
Casa de la Moneda
Learn about the first global currency at this renowned National Mint museum.
Private Vehicle
Settle in and scan the scenery from the convenience of a private vehicle.
4x4
Roads? Where this rough-and-ready vehicle's going, we don't need roads.
Excursion and sunset Picnic on the Salt Flats
Enjoy a picnic amidst this spectacular landscape, while the local expert guide describes the cultural and geographical history of the area, watch the sky come alive as the sun sets over the expansive salt flats.
Meals included:
Breakfast | Lunch | DinnerDay 14Uyuni
Journey deeper into the salt pans to explore their varied geographical features. Along the way, stop at the remote town of Santiago de Agencha, a small Quechua community supported by G Adventures. Here, we enjoy a guided walk to learn about quinoa production and the cultural history of the area. Savour lunch prepared with local ingredients before continuing our exploration of the desert and its pans.
In rainy season (approximately January to early April), it is not possible to visit the Agencha community and a box/picnic lunch will be provided instead.
4x4
Roads? Where this rough-and-ready vehicle's going, we don't need roads.
Bolivian Salt Flats Experience
Accompanied by a local expert guide explore the stunning landscape of the Bolivian Salt Flats by 4x4. Enter a landscape unlike anything you've ever seen as we drive across (or around) the world's largest salt flat; the piercing blue sky contrasts against the blinding white of the flat salt beds.
Your G for Good Moment: Jukil Community Experience & Lunch
Visit the Santiago de Agencha community, located two hours across the salt flats from Uyuni, a rural village surrounded by towering cacti and part of a small desert oasis. The community-owned salt lodge was renovated and expanded through a major project in 2016 funded by G Adventures’ foundation, Planeterra. With many of the village’s younger residences fleeing for economic opportunities, this lodge is seen by the community as a way to rescue their indigenous culture and provide opportunities for the future. Learn about their traditional agricultural practices, including their specialization in quinoa production, and take in beautiful views of salt flats that surround it. Enjoy lunch made from local ingredients grown in the village are prepared by ladies who were provided culinary training through the project. Leave Jukil Community Lodge knowing your visit is creating opportunities for a whole new generation of people in this community to improve their lives, and the lives of their children and grandchildren.
Meals included:
Breakfast | Lunch | DinnerDay 15Uyuni/La Paz
Catch a flight to La Paz and enjoy free time to explore before joining the group for an optional farewell dinner.
Plane
Look! Up in the sky! It's a bird! It's a plane! It's... yup, it is a plane, actually.
Meals included:
BreakfastDay 16La Paz
Depart at any time.