Southamerica highlights in 17 days from Lima to Santiago de Chile
Mix Peru + Bolivia + Chile in 17 days with lima, Arequipa, colca , cusco ,Puno, La Paz, Uyuni, san pedro – santiago de chile
Tour hotels/transport and excursions included
from Lima to —Santiago de chile ( this tour also can start in Santiago )
17 days with 3 days salt flats jeep tour
You can choose this tour in 3 options
1/ Budget tour : in hostals/ local transport / excursions in international group
2/ classic tour: in 3* hotels/ mix local transport – private / mix private excursions – international group
3 Luxe tour: all 4 * hotels / private transport / private excursions/ included entree fees
How do we work
In our packet tours you travel all by yourself, Southamerica planet take care for you, we reserve all your hotels and transport. When you arrive in Peru you get a briefing in your first hotel and get all info and vouchers for hotels /buses and excursions. The excursions you do in International groups with English speaking guides( or in Private in 4*). We also arrange your transfers and give you the bus tickets to go from point A to point B, like this you travel around by yourself but without worry’s , all arranged by Southamerica planet. If there are any problems, you always find support by contacting our office in Cusco and Lima! Along your travel you have contact by whats-app.
What is included ?
* All bus transport – transfers , all hotels.
* All your vouchers, information packet, like general info over all the places you visit.
* The 3 days day jeep tour over the salt lakes, one of the highlights of South America!
* All hotels are based on double room with private bathroom, single rooms on request for an extra price, all buses are based on good buses
* We can offer this tour in hotels 3 or 4* or local clean hostels.
* Transfers
Not included
*Your food, in the hotels is breakfast included, in the jeep tour is food included.
*The entry fees and taxes, like airport tax.
*Local and international flights (we also can arrange!)
Day 1: Lima
The city of Lima, also known as the City of Kings, was founded by Francisco Pizarro on January 18, 1535 on the right bank of the Rímac river because of the excellent strategic and geographic conditions of this valley.
Lima, whose name comes from the Quechua word Rímac, which translated into Spanish means talker, began its rapid growth amidst the testimonies of the mille-nary cultures that developed in the entire area. During the Viceroy ship, between the sixteenth and seventeenth century, Lima became the most important and powerful metropolis in Spanish America, and the cultural and commercial center of the region, until the creation of the Viceroy ship of La Plata in the 18th century, which took up the famous mines of Potosí. Already in 1 821, following a series of intense political movements, General San Martín proclaimed the independence of Peru. Thus the Republican period of the country had begun. Today, Lima is a modern city that offers a wide array of attractions which, united to its rich past, provides visitors with a harmonious synthesis of all this historic richness in its many museums, traditional quarters, restaurants, handicrafts galleries and night life. Free time to walk around in Miraflores and go to Larco Mar shopping along the coast
It will be your first day in Lima and today you will have a half day city tour. The tour begins with a visit to the historical downtown of Lima, also known as “the City of the Kings”. The stops include the Main Square of Lima, upon which lays the Government Palace, the Cathedral, the Archbishop’s Palace and the City Hall. Next on the itinerary, is a visit to the Santo Domingo Convent. You can also drive through Miraflores and San Isidro. In the afternoon you can visit the Colonial Barranco, Museo National de Arqueologia in Pueblo Libre or Larco Museo” the best museum in Peru” by yourself. You can also walk at the seafront in Miraflores. The city tour will include an english speaking guide. It will take 3 1/2 hours. The tour starts and finishes in your hotel.
Included:
City tour in Lima (Hostal in group 3*+4* Private)
Hotel and hostel in Lima
Not included:
Entrance fee
lunch + diner
Day 2 + 3 Arequipa
Transfer to the airport and flight to Arequipa. The white city and its famous historic downtown. Visit the Plaza de Armas, the Church of the Company and the Church of San Francisco. The highlight of Arequipa is the 16th century Santa Catalina Convent. This beautiful complex of plazas and buildings is remarkably intact and remained closed to the outside world until 1970. Visit also the star of Arequipa “The Mummy Juanita “. In the evening you may choose to dine at one of Arequipa’s many fine restaurants. Day 5 free in Arequipa to relax or drink a cup of coffee on one of the nice balconies on the plaza de armas, or you can go optional, rafting on Chili river, a great adventure or you take the Campina tour with viewpoints over or the reality tour, here you visit the local market, the silar stone works, and you can see how the poor Peruvian people survive ! Or cycle down volcanoes.
2 Nights Arequipa to get used to the altitude. Hotel in Arequipa
Included
Transfer in Lima and Arequipa
Hotel- hostal in Arequipa
Not Included
Optional Excursions
lunch + diner
Local flight
Day 4 colca canyon
After breakfast you’ll be picked up for your journey to the Colca Canyon. It’s a scenic route 165 km from the city of Arequipa. You’ll enjoy beautiful views of the Misti, Chachani and PichuPichu volcanoes as you climb to the Canahuas National Reserve. Along the way, you will pass through Pampas Cañahuas, a plain in the midst of the Aguada Blanca y Salinas National Reserve. Along the way you’ll stop at 3800m to drink some coca tea to counteract the effects of altitude sickness. As you climb yet further up onto the Altiplano you’ll begin to spot wild vicunas, llamas and Alpaccas as well as some interesting bird life on the lakes. After reaching the highest point at about 4800m you’ll descend a little to the town of Chivay. The Colca Canyon is more than twice as deep as the Grand Canyon, although its incline is much more gradual. Here we stop for lunch. After we bring our luggage to the hotel and in the afternoon we go to the nearby hot-springs. 1 night hotel in the small village in the Canyon.
included
2 days tour in international group or Private in 4*
hotel / hostal in colca canyon
not included
entree fee 70 sol
entree fee hot springs 15 sol
lunch + diner
Day 5: Colca
This morning you will have an early breakfast at your hotel and set out to the Cruz del Condor look-out point, 60 Km from Chivay, for spectacular views across the canyon. We are looking for the world’s largest bird, the majestic Andean condor, gliding on the thermals that rise up through the canyon. Be sure to bring your camera. On the return to Chivay you’ll make various stops, firstly at the traditional town of Pinchollo with its 1500 year old stone terraces, and later at the Choqetico view point and the Andean town of Maca. Around 1.30 Pm we return to Arequipa. In the afternoon – evening we take a local flight to cusco
Optional you can take he 3 day Colca canyon tour, than you walk down in to the canyon, you sleep very basic at the oasis, next morning you start early the climb to Cabanaconde, from where we return to Arequipa to fly to cusco
included
hostal / hotel in Cusco
Transfer to and from airport Arequipa and Cusco
Colca canyon tour
not included
3 days with trekking
Lunch + diner
Local flights
Optional: you can do Colca canyon in Private tour
Included
City tour in international group
Hotel/ hostal in Cusco
Not included
Entree fee cathedral + coricancha 35 sol
cusco visitor ticket 130 sol. This ticket is valid for 10 days for the ruins above cusco + musea +ruins in sacred valley. You buy this 1 time
Included
Sacred valley tour in internacional group ( private in 4*)
Expedition train to Aquas Calientes
Hostal/hotel in Aquas
Not included
Lunch + diner
Day 8 Machu Picchu + cusco
Today we leave early to the Machu Picchu. Our bilingual guide will take you throughout the vast ruins for more than 2 h. After this you have some free time to wander around yourself . Machu Picchu is the best known of the Inca ruins, as it is recognized worldwide yet it is not mentioned in any of the writings of the Spanish Conquistadors. It believed to have been constructed around the mid-15th century and was “rediscovered” by American historian Hiram Bingham in 1911. The guided tour of this fascinating place is an inspiring experience. Visit the Main Square, the Royal Quarters, the Temple of the Three Windows, the Circular Towers, the Sacred Sun Dial and Burial Grounds. After the excursion you can walk to Inti Punko, the “SUN GATE” to take the famous picture. After your free time till 12 o’ Clock you drive down by bus to the town of Aqua Calientes where we take the afternoon train back direction Cusco. Optional you can take the train to Ollantaytambo , sleep 1 night in the sacred valley
included
bus to machu picchu
entree to machu picchu
2 h english speaking guide
bus down
train to cusco or ollanta
hotel / hostal Cusco
Not included
Lunch + diner
Wayna picchu permit
If you like to walk the 2 or 4 days incatrail you have to reserve a long before !
Day 9 Cusco -Puno
Cusco bus to Puno, about 6 to 7 h day bus over beautiful scenic road. We take the bus with stops at the La Raya Pass, the Incan archeological site of Raqchi, renowned for its massive temple to the god Viracocha. Next on the itinerary is a stop at the village of Andahuaylillas, where you will see an actual architectural masterpiece: its main church, built in the 17th century, whose finely painted interior walls will astound you.
optional its possible to take the amazing train ride” andean explorer” cuzco to Puno ( not on tuesday)
Included
Bus with stops
Transfer in Cusco and Puno
Hotel- hostal in Puno
Not included
lunch + diner
Day 10 :Puno
Today you will visit the incredible Lake Titicaca, situated some 3800m above sea level and covering an area of over 8000 square kilometers. You’ll begin your tour by visiting the fascinating Uros islands, home to the descendants of the pre-Inca Urus people, who continue to live on the floating islands, which are constructed by totoro reeds that grow around the lake. It is said that, when seen from the sky, the lake looks like a Puma hunting a rabbit. Uros is comprised of about 40 islands, but the total number varies. Then we will go to Taquile Island. Another beautiful destination. The island still bears vestiges of a pre-Incan past. The are Ayamara Indians. The intricate and brightly-colored textiles produced here reflect the inhabitants’ Andean beliefs, myths, and ways of life. After a short but steep climb to the main village you’ll enjoy lunch and spend the afternoon exploring the island and finding out about its people. The islanders are known for the beautiful textiles and garments that they produce, and interestingly the knitting of these garments is done exclusively by men. Boat back to Puno.
included
Uros +Taquile tour
hotel in puno
not included
lunch and diner
Optional 2 days tour, or sleep basic Amantani or luxury at Isla Suasi
Day 11 : La Paz
After breakfast we take the bus to La Paz (3636 m), 2 h to the border and 1,5 h more to La Paz. Most of the time we pass by Copacabana and change bus. Than we continue to La Paz. We have beautiful scenery and snowy mountain tops. In La Paz you can wonder around in one of the 100 markets around the city or the witches market . La Paz . You can visit the Indian Markets and Witches market, as well as the beautiful San Francisco Basilica and Murillo Square, the Government palace, National Congress, Metropolitan Cathedral.
Big 30 floor skyscrapers and modern shopping centers where traditional Indians and office people are making this city really colorful. As you continue to travel further down to the south you will begin to notice that the climate also changes as it becomes warmer and greener. The difference between central La Paz and the South can be sometimes 1000 meters which is part of the reason that the rich live in this part and the poorer population lives in the colder, higher suburbs of El Alto. Founded in 1548 by the Spanish colonizer Alonso de Mendoza, La Paz has been the stage for some of the most important moments in the history of Bolivia. Although Sucre is Bolivia’s official constitutional capital, La Paz is the seat of the executive and administrative branches of government. Today, the modern city of La Paz has more than 2 million inhabitants, over half of whom can claim indigenous ancestry. Moon Valley at an altitude of 3.400 M. In the Moon Valley you will make a hike of about half an hour. The moon valley: Due to wind and water erosion over thousands of years the Valley of the Moon was formed. At a distance of only 10 km. from the center of La Paz. The tour ends in your hotel.We also use the new Cable cars
Included
Transfers
Bus to la Paz
Hotel – hostal In La Paz
Not included
Lunch + diner
Day 12 La Paz
La Paz, excursion included/ city tour + moon valley, or optional the highest ski run from here you can see on clear days the Titicaca lake or Tihuanaku pre Inca temple, crossing the mountain regions of Bolivia and getting close to the lifestyle of the Aymaras. Tiwanaku Ruins, the important pre-Columbian archaeological site in Bolivia, maybe even in South-America.
Included
Excursion city tour+ moon valley
Hotel – hostal In La Paz
Not included
Lunch + diner/ Entree fees
other excursions ( like the amazing deadroad mountainbike)
Day 13+14+15 Uyuni Saltflats till San pedro de atacama Chile
Early transfer to the airport + local flight to Uyuni ( not included )
Around 10,30 Am we start our Amazing 3 days tour. The real reason people come to Uyuni is the Salar. It is a surreal sensation to stand in the middle of a vast expanse and to stare into the distance, unable to tell exactly where the land ends and the sky begins. This is the largest salt flat in the world, and definitely not to be missed. A 3-day tour continues into the surrounding highlands, an area of intense volcanic and geothermal activity, dotted with lagoons colored red, green, and white by microscopic algae and populated by pink flamingos. Strange rock formations are scattered throughout, including Incahuasi Island, a coral reef covered in groves of giant cactus and believed to be the remnants of a volcano that existed in the middle of a giant prehistoric lake.
In the mornig we first visit the train cemetery and Colchani town, as well as the process of making domestic salt. We will be able to observe the salt extraction method. In the rainy season, the salt becomes a giant mirror where the white sky is reflected perfectly and everything seems to be floating in the air. This scenario is a paradise for lovers of photography, for the visual effects that can be achieved. Then you will visit Ojos del Salar; here bubbling gases escape from underneath the salt flat, the Salt hotel and Incahuasi. After a day at the Salt Flats, you will be transferred to your accommodation where you can relax and enjoy dinner at your basic Salt hotel.(Only in private jeep tour you can reserve private hotel rooms)
Day 14
Day 2 Uyuni Salt Flats Expedition tour.
After breakfast you will continue your way to lagoons and altiplano. You will go to Chiguana to visit the Ollagüe Volcano. On the road to the desert Andean camelids, llamas and vicunas can be seen. The journey continues with visits to: Cañapa Lagoon, Hedionda Lagoon and Chiarkota Lagoon. You will also visit the Silolí Desert and the Stone tree; a rock formation of over eight meters high.The next stop takes place at the breathtaking Colorada lagoon, which owes its color and name to the accumulation of a fine red sediment in combination with the pigmentation of a local type of algae. The lake is home to 3 species of flamingos. You will spend the night in a REEL basic lodge in shared jeep , or Tayka hotel in private
Day 15 Jeeptour Finish in San Perdo de Atacama Chile
The departure on the third day will be very early, to watch the sunrise at Red Lagoon. You will visit the geysers, the Green Lagoon and the Licancabur Volcano and you will have the opportunity to go to the hot springs. Than we cross the border with Chile. In Chile there is other transport to San pedro de Atacama. Hotel in San Pedro de Atacama
In the afternoon you wil go to the real nice Moon valley.It is one of the most visited places in San Pedro and it is located at 17 kilometers of San Pedro’s downtown, in the Cordillera de la Sal (Salt mountains) area, is an interesting area with stones and sand formations that per millenia the floods and the winds have given it a series of colors and texture to the desert, it presents an extraordinary attractive by its similarity with the moon surface and the natural coliseo of great dimensions. From a great dune is possible to appreciate the wonderful and surprising surroundings of this zone. This wonderful natural phenomenon, is due to the encounter of the Atacama desert with the Andes mountain range, which is produced by smooth slope changes, conformed by cones of rollings originating of the mountain bankruptcy. The Moon Valley has dry lakes, in where the salt composition of these covers with a beautiful white mantle; escarpments of all green, blue, red, yellow colors surprising with the most diverse and surprising forms and which the sun makes vary its tones in thousand different forms during the day, specially in the twilight hours that reaches its best beauty. Declared sanctuary of the nature by its great natural beauty and strange moon appearance to which must its name.
included
3 meals a day
Basic sleep 2 nights ( in private tour nice hotels )
Shared jeeptour or private
Transfer from border to San pedro de atacama in shared or private
Hotel-Hostal in San Perdro de Atacama
Moon valley excursion in afternoon
Not included
entree fees 150 Bol national Park + 30 bol Inca wasi island + entree fees in moonvalley tour
Guide in English ( driver is always guide in Spanish)
Optional you can stay 1 more night in san pedro de atacama to visit the geysers or do one of this excursions
Day 16: San Pedro – Santiago
Early Transfer to Calama and Flight to Santiago de Chile.
You can visit Alameda Bernardo O’Higgins, Santiago’s main avenue, before visiting La Moneda, the Government Palace. Following this you will walk through the pedestrian streets where the main commercial activity of the city is concentrated. You will then visit the famous Plaza de Armas, the main square of the city, surrounded by the Metropolitan Cathedral and other historical buildings. Focusing on the historical and cultural sites of Santiago, you will visit the Palacio Cousino Mansion (built 1870-1878), the Palacio de Bellas Artes, as well as the Pre-Columbian Art Museum. Finally crossing the Mapocho River you will visit Bellavista, the cultural and artistic neighborhood of Santiago.
Included
Transfers in san perdo + Santiago
Private city tour in the afternoon
Hotel/ hostal Santiago
Not included
Lunch + diner
Local Flight
Day 17 : Final
Free day in santiago and transfer to the airport( depending your international flight)
Included
Transfers
Not included
Meals
Hotel and excursions
NOTA: Its also possible to extend with eastern island or do some more tours in Chile, or stay longer in cusco – san perdo or santiago.Or to start in Santiago and Finish in Lima
What do we need when you make a reservation?
*Full name as it is written in your passport.* Scanned copy of your passport.
*exact arrival date and flight nr.
*vegetarian or no.
*kind of room 2 beds or 1 big bed.
*we ask 40 % deposit when reserve the rest 4 weeks before departure. Banktransfer to our Peruvian bankaccount or Wetravel ( +4,5% )
For general information click below
