Andean Trek (Santiago to Quito)

Day 1 to 1

Arrive Santiago (Chile)

Day 1 is simply an arrival day with no pre-organised activities, so you will have free time to relax and see some of the sights. Pedro de Valdivia established Santiago in 1541 but, except Santa Lucia Hill where the original fortress was constructed, not much remains of its original glory. The hill offers good views of the city below, but for even better photo opportunities, take a funicular railway to the top of San Cristobal where the Statue of the Virgin overlooks the capital and the distant Andes. At the viewing area there are wine-tasting facilities and a couple of brilliantly located swimming pools. In the Plaza Constitucion at the Palacio de la Moneda you can see the changing of the guard or you can take an optional excursion to the port of Valparaiso and the resort of Viña del Mar. If you want to have time to explore Santiago properly you may want to arrive a day or two early.

Day 2 to 4

Mendoza (Argentina)

Leaving Santiago we’ll travelling on to Mendoza, past the vast vineyards of Argentina’s wine producing heartland. Mendoza is the location where General JosĂ© de San MartĂ­n organised the army with which he liberated Chile and Peru from Spanish rule in 1818.  Unfortunately, few historic buildings remain after an earthquake devastated the city in 1861. However, the city was rebuilt with broader tree-lined streets and beautiful large green plazas, irrigated by a network of 500km of water channels, fuelling Mendoza’s reputation as an oasis of the region. There are great photo opportunities from the top of the hill “Cerro de la Gloria” at Parque San MartĂ­n, where you can also visit the local zoo. Beyond the city limits you’ll have the chance to get wet and wild on a white water rafting excursion, or try out your rope skills on a rappelling option. For a more chilled experience you could hire bikes and take the ‘Ruta de los Vinos’ (wine route), visiting ancient cellars and tasting excellent local wines at your leisure.

Day 5 to 7

Cordoba

Córdoba is a busy modern industrial city near the geographical centre of Argentina in the foothills of the Sierras Chicas mountains. Established in 1573, Córdoba boasts the country’s oldest university and a young, dynamic student population. During the day you can visit an array of richly decorated churches, including Argentina’s oldest cathedral and the Manzana Jesuitica (Jesuit Block) which has been declared a Unesco World Heritage site. Then we’ll spend an evening free camping on our way to Cafayate.

Day 8 to 11

Cafayate - Salta -Humahuaca

Continuing on the journey, the rugged landscape gives way to an extreme contrast of lush farmlands just outside of Salta, where you may catch a glimpse of traditional subsistence farmers at work.  Stunning multi-coloured sedimentary rock formations offer beautiful photo opportunities near Cafayate. For an adrenaline rush you can hire mountain bikes for a couple of hours of thrilling descents or take a quad bike tour to explore less challenging terrain. For a more peaceful excursion you can stretch your legs on a trek, taking in beautiful local flora and fauna, as well as an impressive series of cascadas (waterfalls). We continue on to the striking city of Salta in the Lerma Valley, established in 1582. Salta has many old colonial buildings, a cathedral with ancient statues of Cristo del Milagro (Miracle of Christ) and the Virgin Mary, which were brought over from Spain in 1592. Some spectacular scenery awaits us as we head north through Argentina in the form of an arid landscape of giant cacti and unusual rock coloration in the Humahuaca Canyon.

Day 12 to 19

Free camping (Bolivia) -UyuniPotosi - Sucre - free camping

Crossing into Bolivia we wind our way along the dusty roads, some of the worst in South America, passing through Villazon and Tupiza. Reaching the desolate town of Uyuni in the south of Bolivia, we visit what is claimed to be the largest salt flat in the world, the brilliant white vast Salar de Uyuni. There is an opportunity to take an excursion to Fish Island where there are great views of the surrounding lake and giant cacti and provide perfect photo opportunities. The fantastic contrast of the brilliant blue sky (weather permitting of course) and the pure white of the salt flats will take your breath away. Next stop is Potosí (4,070 metres), the highest city of its size on earth with a population of 110,000. The city was established in 1545 soon after the discovery of a rich vein of silver in a nearby hill, the Cerro Rico (or “rich hill”). Silver from Potosí underwrote the Spanish economy, particularly the monarchy's extravagance, for over two centuries. Millions of Indians, and later, African slaves, worked in the mines where conditions were so appalling and dangerous that miners died in astronomical numbers, either in accidents or from silicosis pneumonia. You have the chance to visit one of the mines where you can see first hand how rough the working conditions were and still are! Moving on we spend a couple of nights in Sucre. This is the official capital of Bolivia even though the governing of the country actually takes place in La Paz. Sucre is a small attractive city where, by law, all the buildings are painted white. From here we travel across the Altiplano on our way to La Paz., the highest capital city in the world at 3,636 metres.

Day 20 to 22

La Paz

La Paz is built in the basin of a spectacular ancient crater caused by a meteorite, with the snow-capped Mount Illimani in the background. The city has colourful Indian street markets including the ‘witches market’ where women in flared skirts sell, amongst other things, dead cats and llama foetuses which are placed under new buildings to keep evil spirits away. The main square, Plaza Murillo, is where many years ago a president of the republic was lynched from a lamppost. La Paz is one of the best places to see a traditional peña show of Andean music and dance where local musicians play their time-honoured instruments such as zampoñas (pipes) and charangos (ukulele). There are heaps of optional excursions available in La Paz. Check out the Moon Valley with its strange rock formations shaped by the weather or take in the incredible views from Mount Chacaltaya and the world's highest ski resort at 5,221metres. Another fantastic excursion is to Coroico, the gateway to the Bolivian jungle region and a great place to see sub-tropical vegetation and plants. En-route you will cross a 5,000 metre high pass before descending to 1,300 metres on narrow mountain roads bordered by sheer drops. The excursion to Coroico can also be done by mountain bike, as it is downhill nearly all the way and very exhilarating, but not for the fainthearted!

Day 23 to 25

Puno (Peru)

We stop at the pre-Inca ruins of Tiahuanaco, which date back to 1,600 BC. The site has the famous Gate of the Sun, the Acapana Pyramid with six magnetic pillars and an underground temple.  Continuing across the Altiplano (high plain) and crossing into Peru we stop at the border town of Desaguadero where we will change money. From here we drive around the southern end of Lake Titicaca which, at 3,855 metres above sea level, is the highest navigable lake in the world. Driving onto Puno we hope to arrive in time to visit the colourful markets. From here you have the chance to take an excursion to the islands of AmantanĂ­ and Taquile. On AmantanĂ­ we arrange homestay accommodation with the native Quechua Indian families and you will have the chance to eat with the family, perhaps enjoy a party and dancing and maybe play soccer with the local children! The next morning you’ll visit Taquile Island where the people live in simple adobe huts and the men knit colourful hats. You will also visit the floating reed islands in the Bay of Puno, to see the Uros Indians’ way of life and ride in a traditional reed boat before continuing back to Puno. That night back in Puno, you can try some of the local dishes; Guinea Pig, Llama or some of the trout or kingfish from the lake and maybe check out some of the nightlife.

Day 26 to 27

Cuzco

We’ll leave Puno early for a short drive up to the Sillustani ruins where we will have the option to visit these ancient burial towers. Leaving Sillustani we drive along roads bordered by herds of llamas, alpacas and vicuñas. Our journey takes us past hot mineral pools, snow-capped mountains, through villages where the Indians sell food, fur hats and alpaca sweaters and over the La Raya Pass at 4,321 metres. It gradually becomes greener as we get closer to the former Inca capital of Cuzco, which means ‘navel of the earth’ in the Inca language of Quechua. This enchanting city has a mostly indigenous population of around 275,000 and is centred around the Plaza de Armas, which is dominated by the Cathedral and La Compañia de Jesus Church. Nowadays Cuzco is also legendary for its party atmosphere and brilliant nightlife and is jam-packed with arcades housing many fine restaurants, bars and shops. For people wanting the challenge of the 4 day Inca Trail trek there will be a briefing in which your local guide will chat about the arrangements for the next few days. We have a full day trip through the Sacred Valley of the Incas (Optional - at additional cost) and if you’ve purchased your full Cuzco visitor’s ticket previously then you’ll be able to visit Sacsayhuaman ruins with its huge stonework as well as the Pisac ruins perched on a hill high in the mountains and the famous Indian market of the same name, in the valley below (that’s free). This is a great place to buy textiles, pottery and jewellery, not to mention the delicious empanadas (pasties) at the famous bakery. After spending time at both, we move down the valley to the temple fortress of Ollantaytambo, with its enormous terraces climbing up the hillside (you’ll need your visitor’s ticket again). If you are trekking the Inca Trail you will spend the night here with a local family in preparation for the next four days.

Day 28 to 31

Inca Trail or free time in Cuzco

THE INCA TRAIL Please see the brochure or the ‘Useful Information’ section of our website for important booking regulations and prices. You may not be able to complete the trek if you do not read this information. For more details about the trail facilities, equipment, preparation etc. please ask your agent for an ‘Inca Trail Info Sheet’. If you are trekking the alternative Lares Trek you should ask for a ‘Lares Trek Info Sheet’. Both documents are available to download from our website. If you are not hiking the Inca Trail, you will return to Cuzco where there are many other options available including an overnight trip by train to Machu Picchu, white water rafting, horse riding, mountain biking, canoeing, jungle excursions, shopping (make sure you bargain!) and sightseeing etc. If you have chosen to hike the Inca Trail you will cross spectacular passes and visit more Inca ruins en-route to the Lost City of the Incas, Machu Picchu. A local guide will lead this expedition and there will be cooks and porters to carry the main equipment, leaving you with just a small daypack. The trek begins after a short bus journey and the first day is a relatively easy 4Âœ hour 13km walk which will get you limbered up for the highest pass at Warmiwañusca (4,200m) which you will reach before lunchtime on Day 2 (and which translates to “Dead Woman’s Pass”!). During Day 2 you will cover approximately 9km in about 5-7 hours and after the high pass it’s all down hill as the trail winds its way along old Inca stairs to our campsite. On Day 3 we pass the ruins of Runkurakay, Sayacmarca and Phuyupatamarca, walking approximately 15km in 7 hours. The last morning, after an overnight stop at Wiñay-Wayna, you will rise early for the final walk to Machu Picchu and greet daybreak over the famous “Sun Gate”. There will then be time to explore on your own or simply take in the magnificence of the place before your guided tour. The ruins were only discovered by the outside world in 1911, when American explorer Hiram Bingham found them while looking for another “lost city” called Vilcabamba. Due to their isolation many of the buildings are still quite intact and you can’t help but admire Huayna Picchu (“Young Mountain”), which towers above the ruins. It is a hard climb to the top of the mountain (it takes about 50 minutes) but you are rewarded with spectacular views over the whole site. After spending most of the day at Machu Picchu you have the chance to soak your tired muscles in the hot springs at Aguas Calientes or meander through the markets before returning to Cuzco by train.

Day 32 to 34

Cuzco

Making the most of your last free time in Cuzco you can explore its amazing churches, colonial buildings and picturesque streets, most of which have Inca walls, arches and doorways.

Day 35 to 38

Arequipa -Puerto Inca

We drive down into the foothills of the Andes, to the start of the desert and the city of Arequipa, located 2,380 metres above sea level and dominated by the conical snow-capped El Misti Volcano. Here the attractions include the Plaza de Armas, one of South America’s most charming main squares and the Santa Catalina Convent, which is like a walled colonial town dating back more than 400 years. Shrouded with mystery, the convent’s 450 nuns lived in complete seclusion until 1970. From Arequipa you have the option to visit the Colca Canyon, the deepest in the world. The drive takes us through a high Andean desert, with amazing scenery all the way. We visit ghost towns destroyed by earthquakes and, with luck; we hope to see a condor or two soaring out of the canyon from our vantage point, 1,200m above the canyon floor! Travelling back to the coast we visit Puerto Inca, the Inca's original fishing port, which was only rediscovered in the 1950’s. Here we camp by the beach just down from the actual ruins.

Day 39 to 40

Nazca - Huacachina -Paracas

Continuing on we stop at the bizarre Chauchilla Cemetery where you can see ancient mummies that still have skin and hair intact after thousands of years. Travelling further inland, we reach Nazca, famous for the strange parallel lines and geometrical figures etched into the desert floor. Here you can take a flight in a light aircraft to see the ‘monkey’, ‘hummingbird’, ‘condor’, ‘spider’ and even what appears to be a spaceman. There are many more designs to be seen on this 30 minute flight but to this day, no-one really knows why they are there! Continuing on, we stopover at Huacachina, a desert oasis surrounded by massive sand-dunes. You have the option to do an overnight excursion into the desert here sleeping under the stars this also incorporates the chance to take an awesome ride in dune-buggies or, for the even more courageous, sand boarding down the dunes is an unreal way to spend he afternoon and night, a good time for a Pisco Sour party! An early start will take us to Paracas where there is the option to go by speedboat to explore the Ballestas Islands, passing the unusual ‘Candelabra’, a giant design carved into a desert hill, along the way. On and around these celebrated islands you’ll see thousands of sea lions plus many varieties of aquatic birds. After lunch we have a 4 hour drive to the Peruvian capital of Lima.

Day 41 to 43

Lima

Lima was founded by the Spanish Conquistador Francisco Pizarro in 1535, after he eradicated the Incas and made the city his capital. Lima has many fine colonial buildings and some of the best museums in South America including the Gold Museum, Museum of the Inquisition and the Catacombs below the San Francisco Church. Peru’s capital has lots to offer and many of the sights, including the city’s two main squares the Plaza de Armas and Plaza San Martin, are within easy walking distance.

Day 44 to 46

Huaraz

After a few days in Lima, we head inland stopping over at the ruins of Paramonga as we make our way into the high Cordillera Blanca Mountains and the small town of Huaraz. Located close to Peru’s highest peak, Huascarán (6,768 metres) the town is renowned for its trekking, climbing and spectacular scenery. We have plenty of time to enjoy the beauty of this place.

Day 47 to 51

Huanchaco -Mancora

Next we make our way to the small coastal town of Huanchaco stopping over at the ruins of SechĂ­n en route. Huanchaco is renowned for great beachside seafood restaurants and the reed boats that the fishermen use to ride the huge surf, reputedly, the longest in the world. Huanchaco is also our base for those who want to check out Chan ChĂĄn, the largest mud-city in the world built by ChimĂș Kings and covering 26 square kilometres. The famous Pyramids of the Sun and Moon are also nearby. Leaving Huanchaco we pass through the attractive oasis town of Piura and the oil derricks in the Sechura Desert and camp int he beautiful beachside town of Mancora for three nights. We have two full days of sun, surf and relaxation - possibly a good time for a few chickens on a spit, if we can find some firewood!

Day 52 to 56

Cuenca (Ecuador) -Banos

As we travel along the northern coast we pass through villages where fishermen work with their small hand nets. We cross the border into Ecuador over the International bridge into bustling, chaotic Huaquillas. Continuing into the mountains we reach the old colonial market city of Cuenca, Ecuador's third largest city, founded in 1557. Cuenca is where the Panama hat originated and you’ll have the opportunity to visit one of the factories. It is also the place to buy cheap, high quality gold and silver. We travel onto Ingapirca, Ecuador’s most important Inca ruins which we’ll visit for an short time before carrying onto Baños; a health resort renowned for its hot thermal springs. Besides soaking in the hot pools, there are opportunities for walks or horse riding in the hills, or you can climb Mt. Tungurahua, a volcano in the nearby Sangay National Park (that’s if its not erupting!).

Day 57 to 59

Misahuali

Heading out of the Andes and along the edge of the rainforest we stop at the little community of Misahualli in the heart of the Amazon Basin. There is an option to take motorised dugout canoes downriver and enter the Amazon jungle on foot. The excursion is led by our local guide who will give details about the plants, creatures and people of the region. We stay overnight in rustic huts made of bamboo and leaves.

Day 60 to 61

Otavalo

After Misahualli, we visit the famous Otavalo market north of Quito. It’s a wonderful place to shop for all kinds of handicrafts and to take really good photographs. The Otavalo Indians, who come from their villages to sell livestock, produce and textiles, are distinct in appearance – the men wear calf length white trousers and sandals and have their long hair braided, while the women wear white frilly blouses, black skirts and have gold coloured jewellery twirled around their necks.

Day 62 to 63

Depart Quito

Our last leg of this fantastic journey is a short drive into Quito, where the trip ends. We arrive in Quito around mid afternoon on day 62 so if you are departing on day 63 you will not have much time to explore the city. You may therefore wish to allow a few extra days in Quito at the end of your trip. At 2,850 metres above sea level, Quito is the second highest capital city in the world, after La Paz. It was founded in 1534 by the Spanish and was originally an Inca stronghold. It is situated in a hollow at the base of the live Volcano Pichincha and the whole length of the city can be seen from atop Panecillo Hill where the enormous Statue of the Virgin of Quito stands. The city has two main sections – the old and the new. The new is the main commercial area with lots of good restaurants and bars, whereas the old city is the colonial area with steep calles (cobblestone streets), busy plazas and Indian markets.