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Peru Bolivia Chile itinerary - Arequipa plaza

Peru, Chile and Bolivia

Route: Lima - Ica - Arequipa - Colca Canyon - Arequipa - Arica - Atacama Desert - Lagoons & Geysers - Salt Flats - Uyuni - La Paz - Puno - Lake Titicaca - Puno - Cuzco - Ollantaytambo - Arguas Calientes - Machu Picchu - Cuzco - Lima

On this Peru, Bolivia and Chile itinerary, you'll travel along barren deserts, wide valleys, rugged Andes peaks and infinite plains across three Southern American countries. Beginning in Lima, Peru you'll hop into your private car with driver and head south along the coast past seal colonies and flamingos to Arequipa. In the Colca Canyon you can adjust to the altitude before crossing the border into Chile for a thrilling jeep expedition across the driest desert in the world to Bolivia. You'll pass sulphuric lakes, salt plains, hot springs and colourful lagoons. From the weird and wonderful markets of La Paz you'll follow the shores of Titicaca where you'll spend the night on an island in the middle of the deep blue lake. Crossing the border into Peru, you'll travel straight across the Altiplano to Cuzco where you’ll end your Peru, Bolivia, Chile itinerary with a two-day trek to Machu Picchu.

Prefer to build your own trip? Take a look at our Peru and Bolivia adventure tours.

Duration	27 days / 26 nights, departure daily	Accommodation	26 nights incl. breakfast (Ica- Arequipa and Uyuni - La Paz on overnight bus/train). Shared facilities only on Uyuni jeep tour and Titicaca excursion. Comfort level mainly 3 (see accommodation)
Price	£x per person - Please contact us for more information on this itinerary based on 2 people sharing	Includes	Transport and accommodation. Guided excursions: Ballestas, Colca Canyon, Titicaca (Amantani: full board), jeep tour San Pedro - Uyuni (full board), flight Cuzco - Lima.
Transport	All intercity transport by bus or train. Transfers as described in detailed itinerary. Lima - Ica by private car with driver.	Excludes	International flight, transfer Aguas Calientes - Machu Picchu v.v., entrance fee Machu Picchu (US$30 p.p.), breakfast Arica, taxes, border fees, Titicaca (Taguile: lunch), all other excursions transfers meals and entrance fees.

Day 1 Lima arrival

Welcome to Peru! You'll be met at the airport and transferred directly to your accommodation in Miraflores, a green, leafy suburb on the coast with lots of hotels, bars and restaurants and a couple of busy shopping streets. It's a nice place to spend the first day or two of your Peru, Bolivia, Chile itinerary. You'll be staying in one of our selected posadas: small-scale traditional Peruvian accommodation which we've chosen primarily for their atmosphere and location.

You can spend the rest of the first day of your Peru, Bolivia, Chile itinerary exploring the city. There's plenty to see here, including historic churches, colonial buildings, elegant plazas with huge squirting fountains, leafy parks, street markets, monasteries and a couple of very interesting museums. In the evening, head to one of the many restaurants in Miraflores. Las Tejas does a great 'ceviche', the local specialty of raw fish marinated in lemon and onion; a delicious introduction to Peruvian cooking.

Peru Bolivia Chile itinerary - Arrival in Lima

Day 2 Lima - Ica

Early in the morning of your Peru, Bolivia, Chile itinerary, you’ll be picked up at the hotel by your driver and you’ll set off along the Pan American highway, driving south across a flat, arid desert-like landscape. Around 10am you’ll arrive at the harbour of Paracas, the departure point for the boat trip to the Islas Ballestas. As you approach the islands, huge colonies of sea lions, penguins, pelicans come into view and hundreds of birds fly overhead. The amount of sea birds and other wildlife here is astonishing.

In the afternoon, your driver will pick up you in Paracas and take you to your hotel in Huacachina. It's a tropical oasis here, on a blue lagoon fringed with palm trees and pastel-coloured houses in the middle of a desert landscape with enormous sand dunes. You'll be staying in a lovely hideaway hotel where you can spend the rest of the afternoon chilling by the pool or take a walk along the lagoon or climb to the top of the sand dunes for sweeping views of the surroundig area.

Day 3 Ica - Arequipa

You can spend the third day of your Peru, Bolivia, Chile itinerary relaxing at the hotel enjoying the warm desert climate. Alternatively, go wine tasting at one of the vineyards in the area. After all, this is one of the best wine regions in Peru. For a real thrill, book a dune buggy ride through the sand dunes at the hotel reception. Racing down the slopes and crashing over the tops of the dunes is insanely good fun and you’d hardly think you were in Peru. The dunes are also a great place to try sand surfing. It's like snowboarding but with lots of, well, sand.

Around 7pm, take a 'tico-taxi' to Ica bus station (around US$1) to catch the 8pm reserved Royal Class overnight bus to Arequipa.

Peru Bolivia Chile itinerary - Dune buggy ride

Day 4 Arequipa

When you arrive at Arequipa bus station around 6am, simply take one of the many waiting Daewoo taxis to your hotel. You'll be staying in a lovely little hosteria with a flower-filled garden and fantastic views across the city and the surrounding volcanoes.

Arequipa lies at an altitude of 2300m and with an average temperature of 20-25C and sunshine all year round it’s a lovely place to spend a couple of days adjusting to the altitude. The city has a very friendly and relaxed atmosphere and it's also considerably cleaner and more cosmopolitan than Lima, but still has that distinct Latin-American vibe. The city boasts plenty of grand colonial buildings and churches but its main attraction is the monastery of Santa Catalina.

Spend the rest of the day on your Peru, Bolivia, Chile itinerary exploring the city. Save the Santa Catalina monastery until late afternoon when the sun is low in the sky; it's the best lighting for photos.

Day 5 Arequipa

In the morning, slowly stroll to the Plaza de Armas and ease into the day with a cup of coffee on a balcony cafe overlooking the Plaza.

From the Plaza de Armas walk through the historic centre and take a look inside one of the many churches and cathedrals, visit the Santuarios Museum to see the frozen mummy girl Juanita, or take a taxi to one of the suburbs of Arequipa, like Tingo or Yanahuara for a spicy Arequipeño lunch in one of the traditional restaurants with views of the volcanoes surrounding the city: the Misti (5821m), Chachani (6075m) and Pichu Pichu (5425m) and of the city itself.The best way to get around the city is by taxi. They’re dirt cheap so venturing out of the city to explore the surrounding area won’t cost you much and is a worthwhile addition to your Peru Bolivia Chile itinerary.

Peru Bolivia Chile itinerary - winding alleyways

Day 6 Arequipa - Chivay

On the sixth day of your Peru, Bolivia, Chile itinerary, you’ll be picked up at the crack of dawn in Arequipa for the five hour drive across the Altiplano to Chivay. Pack light for the next two days; you can leave the rest of your baggage at the hotel in Arequipa. You can doze off for the first couple of hours, until the bus starts to wind its way up into the mountains and the plains begin to open up into immense vistas. Crossing the Salinas y Aguada Blanca nature reserve you’ll see llamas, alpacas and vicuñas grazing in the short grass.

When you arrive in Chivay, drop your bags at the hotel and head into the village for a spot of lunch. Later that afternoon you can visit the hot springs at La Calera for a relaxing soak in the 35C, sulphuric pools, a highlight of your Peru, Bolivia, Chile itinerary. Chivay's not the liveliest place in the evening, but there are a couple of friendly bars where you can swap travel stories with your fellow travellers over a few beers.

Day 7 Chivay - Cruz del Condor - Arequipa

On day seven of your Peru, Bolivia, Chile itinerary, you'll leave the hotel around 6.30am to visit the Cruz del Condor viewpoint. In the small villages you can see the local farmers in their brightly coloured traditional dress. Cruz del Condor is the deepest point in the Canyon, at 3200m it is comparable to the Grand Canyon. The area is home to hundreds of Andes condors and the best place to see these giant birds of prey soaring on the thermal air currents that rise up from the canyon. Be patient, find a comfortable rock in the sun and keep your binoculars handy.

The route back to Chivay leads past the spectacular terraced valley and with bright warm sun reflecting in the river far below, the views are magnificent. You’ll stop off for lunch in Chivay. There’s time for a last wander around town and a stock up on some snacks at the bus station before boarding the bus for the five hour drive back to Arequipa, where you'll be dropped off back at your hotel early evening.

Day 8 Arequipa - Tacna - Arica (Chile)

You’ll need to be back at the bus terminal around 8.30am to continue your Peru, Bolivia, Chile itinerary south towards the Chilean border. After 4 hours you’ll reach Tacna, the last Peruvian town before the border and the final stop on the bus. From here take a collectivo across the border, arriving in Arica an hour later. Compared to Peru and Bolivia, Arica is a very modern city. Back in the old days Arica was an important port and trading post for the rich silver mines of Bolivia, particularly Potosi. The Spaniards expanded the port and organised caravans of thousands of mules that transported the silver across the Andes mountains to Arica.

On arrival at the bus station (around 3pm) take a taxi to your hotel. You’ll be staying in a cosy three-star hotel in the centre of town and a short walk from the beach. In the afternoon head up to the El Morro viewpoint for a fantastic view across the city and the surrounding sand dunes as the sun sets in the Pacific Ocean.

Day 9 Arica and overnight bus to San Pedro de Atacama

These days Arica is a modern, thriving city. It’s a nice place to spend the day on the beach and try one of the many fish restaurants, or perhaps visit the nearby Lauca National Park. The view across to the two snow-capped volcanoes is simply spectacular.

Towards the end of the day, pick up your bags in Arica and board the overnight bus, following the coastal road along steep cliff faces and then crossing the arid Atacama desert. After changing buses in Calama, it’s another hour to San Pedro de Atacama. The Chilean buses are excellent with reclining seats, A/C and on-board toilet and the roads are well maintained. You'll arrive in San Pedro after sunrise the next morning, for the next stop of your Peru, Bolivia, Chile itinerary.

Peru Bolivia Chile itinerary - Lauca national park

Peru Bolivia Chile itinerary - San Pedro de Atacama

Day 10 San Pedro de Atacama

In the middle of the Atacama desert, one of the driest spots on earth, lies San Pedro de Atacama, a really fun highlight of your Peru, Bolivia, Chile itinerary. The narrow streets, the friendly lcoals, the bizarre surroundings but most of all the atmosphere; you'll feel like you're in the middle of a Star Wars film set. This small, friendly town is on the edge a huge Salar, or salt lake, with several snow-capped volcanoes on the horizon.

Most of the houses in San Pedro are made of adobe, a type of sun-dried clay brick and painted white. Even the 17th Century church is made of adobe and wooden beams that were transported across the desert from miles away. For lack of nails, the beams have been tied together with leather straps. There are plenty of restaurants and bars around San Pedro and modern technology has reached this dry outpost, evident by a huge number of internet cafes. Today you can recover from the long bus trip and spend the day enjoying the relaxed atmosphere of the town.

Day 11 San Pedro de Atacama

You can spend this morning of your Peru, Bolivia, Chile itinerary as you please. The anthropological museum Gustavo Pain houses a fascinating collection of artefacts dating back to some of the first inhabitants, including a couple of amazingly well-preserved mummies. Further afield, rent a bike and go insearch of the ruins of an ancient Inca fort or go skiing desert-style; rent a sandboard and head up to the sand dunes of the Atacama desert.

In the afternoon, you'll be picked up at the hotel and, as part of a small international group, you'll head into the Atacama desert. You'll be stopping off at some of the most scenic stops so don't forget your camera. You'll drive on to the Valle de la Luna (admission approx $6), a surreal lunar-like landscape of barren rocks and valleys that certainly lives up to its name. The rugged peaks of the Andes form a permanent backdrop here. Climb to the top of a hill and enjoy the amazing sunset that colours the valley red, purple, green and blue as the moon slowly rises in the sky. You'll return to San Pedro early in the evening.

Peru Bolivia Chile itinerary - Atacama desert

Day 12 Jeep tour to Laguna Colorada (Bolivia)

Today, you’ll be picked up very early in the morning for the transfer to the Bolivian border where you’ll find the 4x4 jeeps waiting for you. For the next couple of days of your Peru, Bolivia, Chile itinerary, you’ll travel at an altitude of 4000m across a spectacular landscape of snow-covered volcanoes, immense plains, multi-coloured lagoons and small, rural settlements.

You'll make plenty of stops along the way to take a closer look at the scenery or just stretch your legs with a short walk. Meals are prepared for you on the way. Make sure you bring plenty of warm clothes and a good sleeping bag because it can get very cold here, particularly in our summer months.

After crossing the border into Chile, you'll first travel to the Avaroa National Park (entrance fee US$4 p.p., to be paid locally) and the Laguna Verde. The lagoon has an almost surreal green colour caused by the high concentration of lead, sulphur and calcium. You'll also see the world's highest geisers (4300m) where you can take a bath in the hot springs. Bliss, but you'll have to get out at some point and endure the freezing cold air again. Finally, you’ll visit the Laguna Colorada, a crimson-coloured lake covered in small saline islands and the pinkest flamingos you'll ever see.
Daily driving distances aren't big, but because of the poor roads you'll be spending most of the day travelling in the jeep. You’ll be staying in basic dorms with bunk beds. Each bed has a mattress and sufficient blankets but bring a warm sleeping bag for this part of the Peru, Bolivia, Chile itinerary.

Peru Bolivia Chile itinerary - Laguna Verde

Peru Bolivia Chile itinerary - Stone tree

Day 13 Jeep tour: Laguna Colorada - San Juan

Day 13 of your Peru, Bolivia, Chile itinerary is day 2 on your Bolivian jeep tour. Once the jerry cans and gas tanks have been filled and all the supplies have been tied onto the roof of the jeep, you'll set off on the 8-9 hour journey across the Siloli desert to an immense sand plain. You'll stop off at the famous stone tree, surrounded by several bizarre rock formations and little vizcachas keeping an eye on you.

Tonight, you'll be staying in San Juan in basic shared rooms (3-4 people) and you'll be treated to an amazing sunset. The accommodation is very basic by our standards but the spectacular location and atmosphere of the area more than makes up for it.

Day 14 San Juan - Uyuni - La Paz

From San Juan, your third day on the jeep tour will take you to the immense salt flats of Salar de Uyuni. The flats were formed when the lake dried up and they cover an area of 10.582 km². The salts and minerals couldn’t flow away and dried up in the lake, leaving an immense white and completely flat expanse.

The Salar is a photographer's paradise and another highlight on the Peru, Bolivia, Chile itinerary. The sky is electric blue due to the dry, thin air and the plains are literally dazzling. Even with sunglasses and a sun cap, the brightness of the sun reflecting on the white plain makes your eyes water. There are no roads across the flats so the driver just wings it straight across the lake. You'll drive for miles, but because of the vast expanse and the high Andes peaks and volcanoes constantly on the horizon it feels as if you're hardly moving.

Peru, Bolivia, Chile itinerary - Salt flats

Peru Bolivia Chile itineray - Isla Pescadores

Around midday, you'll arrive at Isla Pescadores, a small rocky island in the middle of the salt flats (entrance US$1 p.p. to be paid locally). The island is completely overgrown with giant cacti and the only inhabitants are the fluffy little vizcachas. There are panoramic views across the Salar and the Andes peaks from all sides. From the top of the hill, you can look out 360 degrees across the white expanse which looks like a giant ice rink shimmering in the sun.

After lunch, it's time to continue your Peru, Bolivia, Chile itinerary and climb back into the jeep for a drive across the flats to Colchani. On the way, you'll stop off at the hotel Playa Blanca, built completely of blocks of salt and the Ojos de Salar, little pools of water and gas. In the salt mine village, Colchani, you can see how the salt thats extracted from the plains is utilised. Another 30 minutes later, around 4pm, you'll arrive in Uyuni where this unforgettable three-day jeep tour ends. From Uyuni you'll take the night bus or night train to Oruro from where you'll make your own way by bus to La Paz, the next stop of your Peru, Bolivia, Chile itinerary.

Day 15 La Paz

Arriving in La Paz early in the morning you'll immediately notice the special atmosphere of the city. La Paz lies in a bowl in a steep canyon at 4000m, surrounded by the snowy peaks of the Andes that protect the city from the fierce Altiplano winds.

The sunny weather, the typical bowler hats in the streets, the colonial churches and colourful Indian markets; this is Bolivia as we know it. From the bus station, simply take a taxi to your hotel. You’ll be staying in a colonial hosteria in the centre of La Paz within walking distance of the Witch Market and the central San Francisco cathedral. The centre of La Paz is quite compact and easy to find your way around, but the streets are very steep. Ask at reception for interesting walking routes through the city to add to the experience of your Peru, Bolivia, Chile itinerary.

Peru Bolivia Chile itinerary - Market squares

Day 16 La Paz and surrounding area

When you’re heading out into the city, it’s best to wear layers; a t-shirt and a sweater and an extra sweater or jacket for the cold. Because of the altitude the sun’s very bright here, but the temperature drops rapidly the second the sun disappears behind a cloud.

La Paz has plenty of interesting museums like the Coca Museum, several picturesque squares filled with locals in bowler hats and wide skirts and lots of street markets. Make sure you see the witch market where, besides llama-wool sweaters, llama rugs and fetching knitted hats with llama motif, you can also find llama foetuses and other bizarre items used for sacred rituals. There is enough to do to keep you busy for day sixteen of your Peru, Bolivia, Chile itinerary.

Day 17 La Paz - Puno (Peru)

From La Paz it's 4 hours to Copacabana and the next stop of your Peru, Bolivia, Chile itinerary. Not long after you've left La Paz, you'll catch your first glimpse of Lake Titicaca, 45km wide and over 175km long. About 2 hours into the trip, the bus needs to cross the water. There's no bridge so the bus is put on a ferry that looks more like a raft and the passengers are transferred into little boats and ferried across to the other side, where you'll hop back onto the bus and continue your journey to Titicaca. In Copacabana, the bus will stop for a couple of hours so you can stretch your legs and have some lunch. How does a meal of fresh fish directly from the lake, washed down with a papaya shake sound...?

After the lunch stop, it's another 20 minutes drive to the border where you'll cross the bridge on foot into Peru. The Peruvian bus is already waiting to take you to Puno, a popular university town with lots of festivals, markets, restaurants and bars. Instead of cars, you’ll see mainly horse carts and rickshaws. You'll be dropped off at your hotel in Puno. Total travel time from Copacabana to Puno, including border stops, is 3½ hours.

Peru Bolivia Chile itinerary - Boat trip

Day 18 Titicaca excursion: Puno - Uros - Amantani

Its an early start on day 18 on your Peru, Bolivia, Chile itinerary. You’ll be picked up at your hotel for the short drive to the busy harbour of Puno. Around 8am, you’ll board the boat with your fellow passengers and sail out onto the wide, open lake. Don't forget your sunscreen. According to local legend, Lake Titicaca was the location of the lost city of Atlantis, the birthplace of our civilization and, as you sail across the lake and see the mountains and sky reflecting in the deep blue water, you can understand why.

After about an hour the boat will moor at the floating reed islands of Uros. The islands are entirely made of totara reed. As the bottom layer slowly rots away, the reed requires permanent maintenance which is why the inhabitants continuously need to add new layers of reed to the top layer. Houses, boats, watchtowers, the school, it's all made from reed. You can take a short trip on a reed raft to one of the neighbouring islands, steered by a man with a long wooden pole.

An hour later, you'll board the boat again and set off for Amantani where you'll be staying tonight on your Peru, Bolivia, Chile itinerary. Based on a fair and impartial system, you’ll be placed with one of the island families. The proceeds of your stay all go towards the development of the island, for example to buy school supplies or farming tools. Usually you’ll be staying in a small clay hut with a straw mattress and a couple of warm blankets.

Around sunset you’ll go on a walk across the island with a local guide. At the top of a nearby hill there’s a small Inca ritual site with beautiful views across the island and the lake. A small gift for your hosts is greatly appreciated, like soap, crayons and paper or a toothbrush and toothpaste. If you're lucky the islanders will throw a special party for their guests in the evening.

Peru Bolivia Chile itinerary - Local families

Peru Bolivia Chile itinerary - Villagers

Day 19 Amantani - Taquile - Puno

After breakfast it's time to say goodbye to your hosts and head down to the jetty. As the boat sails off around 8am you can see the sun coming up across Lake Titicaca. An hour later, you'll step ashore in Taquile, but it's another 45 minutes uphill to the village square. The square isn't just a meeting place for the local villagers, it's also serves as a football field and public assembly room. The locals, in their brightly coloured traditional dress, look at you as you observe their rather unusual knitting habits. Later that morning, you'll take a walk across the fields to a small Inca ruin and enjoy a fresh fish lunch on the other side of the island.

With the sun setting across the water, you'll sail back from Taquile to Puno where you'll be dropped off at your hotel 3 hours later, just in time for an enjoyable evening on your Peru, Bolivia, Chile itinerary. You can try the local speciality Pollo a la Plancha at one of the many chicken restaurants of Puno.

Day 20 Puno - Cuzco

After a good night's rest and substantial breakfast, make your own way (by rickshaw or taxi) to the bus station. There are several ways to get from Puno to Cuzco, but for your Peru, Bolivia, Chile itinerary, we've arranged the comfortable express bus, which takes about 6 hours.

If you leave Puno at 9am you'll arrive in Cuzco around 3pm. From the bus terminal, take a taxi to your hotel. You'll be staying in a traditional posada, a small mid-class guesthouse with a garden or patio located in the heart of San Blas, about 10 minutes on foot uphill from the Plaza de Armas. To get back to your hotel, save yourself the steep walk uphill and just take a taxi. Remember, Cuzco is at 3300m altitude!

Day 21 Cuzco

San Blas is more residential and authentic than the touristy centre of Cuzco. From the narrow streets that barely fit a small Daewoo taxi, you can get a wonderful view across the city and the surrounding mountains. You’ll find lots of bars and restaurants in the area and, because the streets are so tiny, you won’t be bothered by roaring traffic.

In the beating heart of Cuzco is Plaza de Armas, reputedly one of the prettiest squares in Peru. The little streets around the square are full of interesting shops and restaurants. If you want to book a day trip as part of your Peru, Bolivia, Chile itinerary, there are several tour operators located around 'Procuradores', though not all of them are equally reliable so ask at the hotel reception for a recommendation.

Day 22 Cuzco - Pisac - Ollantaytambo

In the morning, you’ll be picked up at your hotel by minibus and, accompanied by your English-speaking guide, make your way to the Sacred Valley for the next stop of your Peru, Bolivia, Chile itinerary. Tuesdays, Thursday and Sundays are busy market days in Pisac, when people flock here from all over the valley to trade their goods in the market square. At one time it was mainly fruit and vegetables but these days you can wander among the stalls selling all kinds of beautiful crafts.

You'll continue further into the Valley, following the fast-flowing Urubamba river that winds its way through the lush green countryside. Around 4.30pm you'll arrive at Ollanta(ytambo), a small village on the railway from Cuzco to Machu Picchu, where you'll visit the ancient old fort above the village. After you've visited the fort it's time to say goodbye to your fellow travellers and you'll be dropped off at your hotel for tonight; a small authentic posada just a couple of minutes from the tiny station. The posada has lots of wood carvings and the rooms are built around the beautiful flower garden. The rooms are basic but they have everything you need.

Peru Bolivia Chile itinerary - Train travel

Peru Bolivia Chile itinerary - Horse riding

Day 23 Ollantaytambo

On day 23 of your Peru, Bolivia, Chile itinerary, you're free to do as you please. Your fort ticket is still valid and, if you’re up early, it’s worth climbing up there around 7am. Perched high above the village, you can watch as the sun comes up, hear the cockerel crow and the village slowly wake up. There are a couple of restaurants and cafes in the village as well as a small museum and a local market.

The countryside around Ollanta is very lush and green. One of the best ways to see the valley is on horseback, surrounded by the sounds of birds singing in the trees, the rush of the river and donkeys in a nearby field. Don't worry if you're not an experienced rider, the horses are very tame and they know their way around. If you're interested in going horse-riding, please ask at the hotel reception when you check in. You'll almost certainly have good weather on your horse ride; the valley is sheltered from wind and rain by the towering peaks of the Andes mountains.

Day 24 Ollantaytambo - Aguas Calientes

On day 24 of your Peru, Bolivia, Chile itinerary, it's a short walk from your hotel to the tiny station at Ollantaytambo, where your train leaves at 9.30am. After chugging up the mountains for 1 ½ hours, the train pulls into Aguas Calientes. This small, but lively village is the gateway to Machu Picchu. Everyone on their way to, or from, the ruins passes through here, so there’s a constant flow of travellers, buses and trains.

Once you’ve checked in, you can spend the rest of the day getting to know the village. Instead of having a main square, the centre of Aguas Calientes is actually based along the rail tracks, which run straight through the village. There are over 50 restaurants and cafes along the tracks so you won’t have any trouble finding a place to eat. In the afternoon, take a dip in the hot springs (where the village gets its name from) or go on a hike through the surrounding hills to one of the nearby waterfalls.

Peru Bolivia Chile itinerary - Aguas Calientes

Peru Bolivia Chile itinerary - Machu Picchu

Day 25 Aguas Calientes - Machu Picchu - Cuzco

You’ll need to be up at the crack of dawn to catch one of the first buses at 6.30am, up to the entrance of Machu Picchu. Buses back down depart from the entrance from 7.30am hourly. It’s about 20 minutes by bus up a steep sandy road. You could walk, but it means you won’t get there until late morning. Arriving early in the day means you can explore the ruins in relative quiet before the crowds of day-trippers from Cuzco start arriving around 10.30am. Besides, the ruins are at their most magical at dawn, as the sun slowly creeps up behind the mountains and the veil of mist lifts to reveal the ancient Inca city in all its glory. Only when the mist has lifted can you begin to grasp the sheer size of the complex. Its a real high point of your Peru, Bolivia, Chile itinerary!

You’ll visit the ruins without a guide. The history, purpose and, even the decline of this Inca city still remains a mystery, so no guide would be able to tell you exactly what happened here. Wandering among the temples, houses and corridors you can decide on your own theory. Howver, if you’d like to have an English-speaking guide anyway, you can book one at the entrance.

One fact that has been proven, is that the Incas managed to keep Machu Picchu hidden from the Spaniards and, it wasn't until 1911 when an American archaeologist discovered the overgrown and deserted ruins by accident, that Machu Picchu was finally revealed to the outside world. Having explored the ruins for a few hours (or your could climb the two peaks at Machu Picchu, a 20 minute or 2 hour hike respectively) you might be feeling a little peckish, so its time for lunch. There's a restaurant at the entrance (busy and touristy) or you could take the bus back to Aguas Calientes.

Once you've picked up your bags at the hotel, you'll board the train around 3.30pm back to Cuzco. You'll be travelling backpacker class which means you’ll be joined by lots of fellow tourists and you can reflect on this day of your Peru, Bolivia, Chile itinerary. On arrival back in Cuzco, around 7.30pm, simply take a taxi from the station back to your hotel.

Peru Bolivia Chile itinerary - Machu Picchu views

Peru Bolivia Chile itinerary - Lazing in hammocks

Day 26 Cuzco

Today, your Peru, Boilvia, Chile itinerary is drawing to a close, but luckily you've still got the whole last day in Cuzco to enjoy a bit more of that Latino vibe. There's always something going on in Cuzco so you won't get bored.

If you fancy some peace and quiet, take a walk through the little streets of San Blas or chill out in your hammock at the posada. Whatever you choose to do, enjoy the last day of your Peru, Bolivia, Chile itinerary.

Day 27 Cuzco - Lima - departure

On the last day of your Peru, Bolivia, Chile itinerary it's time to check out of your posada in San Blas and make your way to Cuzco airport. The flight to Lima takes just 1 hour and you'll probably have a long stopover before your flight back to the UK. If you'd prefer see a bit more of Lima, rather than hanging around at the airport all day, we can arrange a Lima day tour for you. Please get in touch with us for more details. You'll be picked up at the airport and taken to one of the best arts and crafts markets in Lima, where you can wander among the stalls filled with ceramic pots, hand-woven blankets, and whatever else takes your fancy. At the end of the day, you'll be picked up again at Larcomar, a large modern shopping mall directly on the beach. Enjoy your last Peruvian sunset before it's time to say adios Peru and board the plane back home.

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