Andean Adventure 1 (La Paz to Quito)

Day 1 to 1

Arrive La Paz

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. Our tour starts in La Paz, the highest capital city in the world at 3,636 metres. Built on a series of hills and considered one of the world's most beautiful cities, La Paz is built in the basin of a canyon with the snow-capped Mount Illimani in the background. Our hotel is very centrally located and is just around the corner from the city's colourful Indian street markets including the fascinating and suitably named "witches market'' where bowler-hatted women in their flared skirts sell such items as dead cats and llamas foetuses said to ward off evil spirits. The main square, Plaza Murillo, is also within walking distance. The square still retains its colonial buildings including the Presidential Palace. La Paz is possibly the best place to experience a traditional peña show of Andean music and dance where local bands play time-honoured instruments such as zampoñas (pipes) and charangos (ukulele). There are also many optional excursions available so you may want to arrive a couple of days early to get the most out of your stay here. 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 5,221 metres. Another fantastic excursion is to the emerald green area of 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 2 to 4

Puno -Uros, Amantani and Taquile Islands

Leaving La Paz we travel across the scenic Altiplano (high plain), eventually following the shores of Lake Titicaca as we make our way towards Peru. We cross the border and carry on around the lake through typical villages. The lovely scenery continues all the way to Puno on the shores of Lake Titicaca, which at 3,855 metres above sea level, is the highest navigable lake in the world. We hope to arrive in time so you can visit the colourful market. We 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 made of totora plants, which also form a staple part of the Indians' diet and medicine. We then continue our boat journey to the island of Amantaní. Here we enjoy the hospitality of the native Aymara/Quechua Indian families to sleep in their homes we usually purchase gifts for the families at the port of Puno. The next morning we visit Taquile Island, where the men stand around knitting distinctive woollen hats while the women work the terraced fields. You can buy some of these unique handicrafts in the local co-operative shops. After lunch we board our boat for the return journey to Puno.

Day 5 to 9

Cuzco -Sacred Valley of the Incas - Overnight in Ollantaytambo

Leaving Puno we pass through the bustling town of Juliaca, we'll drive along roads abundant with herds of llamas, alpacas and vicuñas before reaching the highest point, the La Raya pass at 4,321 metres, you can see the research station for high altitude animals, this is where our journey takes us past hot mineral pools, snow capped mountains and through villages where the Indians sell food, fur hats and alpaca sweaters. We arrive in legendary Cuzco, where your Tour Leader will take you on an orientation walking tour of this ancient Inca capital. Cuzco, which means ‘navel of the earth' in the Inca language of Quechua, has a mostly indigenous population of around 300,000 and is centred around the Plaza de Armas, which is dominated by the Cathedral and La Compañia de Jesus Church and its cloistered arcades house many fine restaurants, bars and shops. Make the most of your free days in Cuzco to explore its amazing churches, colonial buildings and picturesque streets, many of which have Inca walls, arches and doorways. On a hill overlooking the city stands the ceremonial fortress of Sacsayhuaman, where some of the most spectacular Inca walls can be found, including a massive 130 ton stone. There are also many optional excursions and activities available such as white water rafting, horse riding, mountain biking, canoeing, jungle excursions, shopping (make sure you bargain!) and sightseeing. A full day is spent visiting the Sacred Valley of the Incas. Firstly we visit the Pisac ruins, perched on a hilltop with incredible views of the snow-capped mountains. We then go down to the famous traditional Indian market of the same name, which is full of colour and atmosphere. A great place for souvenirs! After lunch, we continue along the valley to the temple-fortress of Ollantaytambo with its enormous Inca terracing constructed on the side of a steep mountain. On the evening of Day 9 those who are trekking to Machu Picchu will have a briefing to prepare for the next few days and there will be an early departure the following morning.

Day 10 to 14

Inca Trail -Machu Picchu

Please ask your agent or download our ‘Inca Trail Information Sheet' or ‘Lares Trek Sheet' for a day to day itinerary of your trek. The Lost City of Machu Picchu was originally completely self-contained, surrounded by agricultural terraces sufficient to feed the population, and watered by natural springs. Located high above the fast flowing Urubamba River, the cloud shrouded ruins have palaces, baths, temples, storage rooms and some 150 houses, all in a remarkable state of preservation that will simply take your breath away. 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. Returning to Cuzco, you have a further day to take full advantage of all the optional activities available in the Cuzco area.

Day 15 to 21

Arequipa - Chivay - Colca Canyon -Nazca - Pisco - Huacachina - Ballestas Islands - Lima

After a short flight to Arequipa we have much of the day free to explore this beautiful colonial city. Arequipa has a lovely central plaza dominated by a large cathedral. There are some fantastic restaurants in Arequipa and it is possible to enjoy many Peruvian delicacies here. Besides the stimulating architecture, the main attraction is the Santa Catalina Convent, which is almost a city in itself with its maze of cobbled streets, cloisters and decorative buildings. Don't miss the nuns' café for excellent freshly baked treats! Now we visit the nearby Colca Canyon, said to be the deepest in the world. En-route we travel into the high, barren Andean landscape, passing through ghost towns destroyed by earthquakes while learning about the local fauna and flora of the region. After checking in to our hotel in Chivay, we can go for a walk to the entrance of the canyon. Later in the day we may possibly visit the nearby hot springs for a relaxing soak. Early the following morning we travel to “the Condor's Cross” in search of the giant condors soaring out of the canyon on thermal currents. Afterwards we walk along the Canyon's edge and then stop for lunch on the way back to Arequipa, we then travel by overnight bus to Nazca.  Nazca, an oasis town is famous for the strange parallel lines and geometrical figures etched into the desert floor. Although there is a viewing tower, these strange designs can only be fully appreciated from the air. You can take a fascinating flight (optional) over the lines and shapes, which include a monkey, hummingbird, condor, spider and even a spaceman. The designs are thought to have been made by three different groups of people: the Paracas (900-200 BC), the Nazca (200BC-600AD) and then new migrants from Ayacucho around 630AD. You can also take optional tours to visit the underground aqueducts, gold mines and ceramic shops. We'll have a chance to visit the extraordinary Chauchilla Cemetery where you can see the ancient mummies which still have skin and hair intact. We head deep into the desert towards the Huacachina oasis where you have the chance to try your hand sand boarding down the enormous sand dunes, which is a lot of fun, but be careful, they are very steep! The brave can go for a dip in the murky lagoon, which is said to contain therapeutic properties. We travel to the Atlantic to Pisco, from where the Peruvian national drink, the pisco sour gets its name. The following morning we move along the coast to neighbouring Paracas where we take a motorboat out to explore the Ballestas Islands. The islands, sometimes known as the ‘poor man's Galapagos', are teeming with over 150 species of bird life (including penguins, cormorants, boobies and pelicans). The islands are also home to thousands of sea lions and boast some amazing rock formations. Although it is not possible to set foot on the islands, you will experience the magnificent sight and sounds of the thousands of the wildlife and maybe even spot seals and dolphins playing around the boat. Our boat trip also takes us past the mysterious “Candelabra” figure etched on the side of a mountain. Best viewed from the sea, many believe the Candelabra is linked to the Nazca Lines. Next stop is the Peruvian capital 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 much to offer and many of the sights, including the city's two main squares the Plaza de Armas and Plaza San Martin, which are within easy walking distance.

Day 22 to 27

Huanchaco - Mancora -Cuenca

Our next destination is Huanchaco where fishermen still ride the surf in reed boats. You have the opportunity to rent one of these boats for a paddle or race through the waves. From here you have the option to visit the largest mud city in the world at Chan Chán, which was built by Chimú Kings. Other nearby sites which you can visit include the Moche-built pyramids known as Huaca del Sol and Huaca de la Luna (temples of the sun and moon). Don't miss the excellent Cassinelli Museum in Trujillo, housing one of the best private collections of pottery (including some interesting erotic pottery) as well as a mummified baby in a bell jar. We make a night stop at Mancora, a very attractive seaside town. At Tumbes is where the Spanish conquistador Francisco Pizarro first landed in 1532. Nearby is where we cross into Ecuador into the busy town of Huaquillas. Our first overnight stop is in the old colonial market town of Cuenca - Ecuador's third largest city. Cuenca is the home of the Panama hat and you will have the chance to visit a factory. Cuenca is also good for high quality, excellent value gold and silver. Cuenca's beautiful colonial air of cobblestone streets, open plazas and whitewashed buildings with ironwork balconies has earned it UNESCO World Heritage status. From Cuenca you have the option to visit the celebrated Inca ruins of Ingapirca, the country's most important archaeological site. The fortress complex has a central platform where the Incas worshipped the Sun. The Cañari people built the original structures and you can still see the place where these pre-Inca folk worshipped the moon.

Day 28 to 33

Banos - Misahualli -Amazon Basin/jungle

We continue by bus through amazing scenery to Baños, a spa town famous for its hot thermal springs. Besides soaking in the pools, there are pathways to walk into the surrounding mountains and the chance to go horseback riding in the hills (optional). The less energetic can spend their time relaxing in cafés and shopping for souvenirs. Baños is the best place to buy beautifully painted balsa wood animals. From here we descend into the humid Amazon Basin along a road with incredible views, to the banks of the Rio Napo. We spend one night in the jungle town of Misahuallí and the next morning travel downriver by motorised dugout canoe. Over the next two days we take many walks in the jungle led by our local guide who will explain about the plants, creatures and people of the region. Our jungle programme may also include many other activities such as visiting a native animal reserve, inner tubing and floating down the river to hear the jungle sounds at night, panning for gold and much more. We sleep in local huts made of bamboo and leaves, and eat delicious jungle meals. Finishing our excursions we head back to our hotel in Misahuallí for one more night.

Day 34 to 36

Quito - Otavalo Market - Cotacachi -Quito

We pass through Quito spending one night before heading north to visit the famous market town of Otavalo and its surrounding area. Here you can visit Laguna Cuicocha, an extinct volcano famous for the deep lake in its crater. At certain times of year you may be able to go for a short boat ride on the lake (optional). There are also nice walking trails around the lake. On the return from Cuicocha you could visit Cotacachi, where you can buy inexpensive leather goods. The market in Otavalo is a great place to stock up on souvenirs and gifts for friends back home. 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. It's a wonderful place to shop for all kinds of handicrafts and great for photographs. In the afternoon, we return to Quito, Ecuador's capital city. 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. As the headquarters of the recently formed Union of South American Nations (which was modelled on the European Union) Quito is also considered the capital of South American integration. 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 in the centre, with steep calles (cobblestone streets), busy plazas and Indian markets. The Equatorial Monument is just 23 kilometres north of the city, and also houses an excellent museum that displays clothing, other wares and photos of the varied and colourful Ecuadorian people.

Day 37 to 37

Depart Quito

Our tour concludes on day 37.