This route crosses the Andes twice; once between the highest peaks in South America to Mendoza and Buenos Aires, and again through the Lake Crossing between the Germanic towns of Bariloche and Puerto Varas. Along this route you’ll find majestic mountains, glaciers, lakes surrounded by beautiful southern beech forest, vineyards stretching to the horizon, exciting cities, rural villages and spectacular scenery. Then comes another surprise as you enter the Empire of the Sun and the ancient cities of the Inca. You’ll see Machu Picchu, Cuzco, Arequipa and the dramatic Colca Canyon, shop at Indian street markets and find exquisite examples of Spanish baroque architecture.

Includes: All transfers between days 1 to 26, twenty-five nights’ accommodation, breakfast daily, touring as per itinerary, meals as shown, entry fees, local guides, regional airfares with taxes, transport by coach, air, public inter-city coach, boat and train.

Not included: Airfares from/to Australia, exit taxes if applicable, visas, flight Santiago-Lima on Day 14, personal expenses, other meals, travel insurance, tips, optional activities. 

ITINERARY

Day 1: Santiago de Chile
You are met on arrival and transferred to your hotel. Remainder of day at leisure.

Day 2: Santiago   [B]
The morning is at leisure. An afternoon guided tour includes the Church of San Francisco (1572), the cobbled streets of Barios Paris, the Club Hipico, the Plaza de Armas, Cathedral and San Cristobel Hill.

Day 3: Santiago   [B]  
A full day at leisure at the foot of the Andes, or join an optional tour to the resort cities of Valparaiso and Vina del Mar.

Day 4: Mendoza   [B]
A breathtaking day as you journey, by public inter-city coach, across the majestic Andes into Argentina. We follow Ruta 60, across spectacular mountain passes and past the highest mountain in South America. After passing through the Andean Tunnel we reach Mendoza, situated in the heart of the Argentinean winelands, for overnight.

Day 5: Mendoza   [B]
This city has a history and culture that goes back four centuries. During the morning we visit many of its attractions. Optional afternoon visit to a bodega for local wine tasting (try the Malbec varieties).

Day 6: Buenos Aires   [B]
Transfers and flight to Buenos Aires. An afternoon tour includes the many cultural highlights of this exciting city, including the quaint suburbs of San Telmo and La Boca.
Optional tonight: Tango Show with Dinner.
 

Day 7: Buenos Aires   [B]
A full day at leisure. We recommend a visit to the San Telmo antique market and an evening stroll along Avienda Corrientes.
 

Day 8: Buenos Aires   [B]
A half-day tour takes you to the Delta region of the Rivers Plate and Parana. Afternoon at leisure in BsAs.
 

Day 9: Bariloche   [B]
Transfer and flight to Bariloche, a unique town situated in the Lakes District. During an afternoon tour you’ll circle Nahuel Huapi Lake and ascend by chair lift to the summit of Campanario Hill, then drive to Llao Llao to see Moreno Lake.
 

Day 10: Bariloche   [B]  
A day at leisure in this remarkable town, or take an optional 10-hour guided tour to Thunder Mountain and the Nalcas Waterfall.
 

Day 11: Puerto Varas   [B]
Depart early and make the lake crossing into Chile. A catamaran takes you across Nahuel Haupi Lake, then a bus to Puerto Alegre, then a boat across Frias Lake into Chile. You then pass through lush forest and over the Vicente Perez Rosales Pass to Peulla, then again across Todos Los Santos Lake by boat to Puerto Varas.

Day 12: Puerto Varas   [B]
A day at leisure in this small city. An optional excursion to Chiloe Island in the Pacific is available locally.
 

Day 13: Santiago   [B]
After breakfast transfer and flight to Puerto Montt, founded by German settlers in 1852. A guided tour includes both city and scenic sights, and the craft market at Angelmo. Continue by air to Santiago for overnight.
 

Day 14: Lima   [B]
After breakfast transfer and flight to Lima in Peru (Cost of this flight not includes.)
You are met on arrival and transferred to your hotel for overnight.
 

Day 15: Lima   [B]
A guided tour of Lima includes the best examples of Colonial architecture in the city and the beaches of the Pacific. Afternoon at leisure.
 

Day 16: Arequipa   [B]
Morning transfers and flight to Arequipa, the ‘White City’. An afternoon tour includes the unusual landscapes, the volcanoes and pre-Inca terraces, and also fine examples of Spanish colonial buildings. Afternoon at leisure.
 

Day 17: Colca Canyon   [BLD]
Start of an exciting 2-day excursion into the amazing Colca Canyon, 100km long and up to 3.4km deep. We follow the route, past both dormant and active volcanoes, to our overnight hotel in Chivay. Afterwards we visit the Hot Springs of La Calera.
 

Day 18: Puno   [B]
After breakfast we descend 3.400m to the canyon floor. We might see condors spiralling in the up-drafts. Afterwards transfer by bus to Puno located on Lake Titicaca.
 

Day 19: Puno   [B]
A full day excursion to the floating villages of the Uros Indians on Lake Titicaca. Continue to Taquile Island to see several pre-Inca and Inca terracing. Here the inhabitants still wear traditional dress.
 

Day 20: Cuzco   [BL]
A full-day journey aboard the Andean Explorer train* from Puno to Cuzco leads through the Peruvian highlands, past the snow covered peaks of the Andes, local villages and over high mountain passes to Cuzco.
 

Day 21: Cuzco   [B]
A half-day tour visits the attractions of the city and the Incan sites of Sacsayhuaman, Tambo Machay, Kenko and Puca Pucara. Afternoon at leisure.
 

Day 22: Cuzco   [B]
Leisure day to explore the markets and city of Cuzco. Optional activities are available locally.
 

Day 23: Yucay   [B]
After transferring to Yucay we visit the Sacred Valley of the Inca and the traditional Indian market in Pisac. Return to Yucay via the Urubamba Valley.
 

Day 24: Machu Picchu   [B]
A full day excursion by bus to Ollanta, then by train to Aquas Calientes. From there small buses take you to Machu Picchu. After an extensive site visit return to Yucay via the Sacred Valley.
 

Day 25: Lima   [B]
Transfers and flight to Lima and overnight.
 

Day 26: Departure   [B]
Transfer for your onward flight.

*Note: Day 20 train subject to availability. Alternative is public bus.