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Northern Chile, Bolivia & Peru
offered by supplier M17096 (view this supplier profile)
Key Information:
Tour Duration: 21
day(s)
Group Size: 4
- 10
people
Destination(s):
Chile
Bolivia
Peru
Specialty Categories:
Cultural Journey
Multi-activity
Season: August
Airfare Included: No
Tour Customizable: No
Minimum Per Person Price: 1990 US Dollar (USD)
Maximum Per Person Price: 1990 US Dollar (USD)
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Your Itinerary:
Days 1-11: The tour starts in Santiago from where we fly directly into the heart of the Atacama desert. There we will visit the largest copper mine of the world: Chuquicamata.
A two-hour bus ride will bring us to the Oasis San Pedro de Atacama, birthplace of a 10000-year old culture, which was influenced by the Tiwanaku culture and the Inca empire, which had its golden period around 1400. The fascination of this culture and the extreme scenery in which it had developed will accompany us during our visit to the Valle de la Luna and the Salt Lake of Atacama with its flamingo colony.
We will see the mix of indigenous and Spanish elements in the characteristic architecture of the Altiplano in a beautiful church, example of the so-called Andes' baroque.
The next day we will start at 4:00 a.m. with a bus ride up 4300 m high to be in time to see the awakening of the El Tatio geysers during sunrise. The Altiplano is the home of the gracious vicuñas, a wild form of the lamas, which belong to the Camel species. With a little bit of luck we might see Ñandus, the American Ostrich. The volcanic activity, which is found everywhere in the South American Andes, enables us to enjoy several warm baths, surrounded by a wonderful scenery.
We will spend the night in a simple hostel, which is run by the locals of Caspana. The house is made of clay and is an example of the simple way of living of the people of Caspana. Caspana lies in a valley at 3400 m, surrounded by terraced mountains where an unexpected variety of vegetables, flowers and fruits grow. After an hour of walk we will see the spectacular sunset.
On our way to Calama, we will visit Aiquina and Chiu-Chiu, almost abandoned indigenous cities with old churches under the ever-blue sky of the Atacama Desert.
The road to Iquique follows the coast and is like driving on the moon but having the Pacific Ocean on the left hand. The name Iquique means 'eternal spring' because of the constant mild climate. The city was born in the time of the Nitrate boom and it is today a tourist city.
he same day we will arrive at 4000 m and will spend the night in the National Park Isluga, at one side of the Surire Salt Lake. The loneliness of the surroundings and the extensive fauna is unique. The next day we will arrive in Parinacota, the last Chilean village before we cross the border to Bolivia. Parinacota belongs to the Chungará Lake, the highest lake of the world (4600 m).
Days 12-16: The mirror reflection of the glaciated volcano Parinacota (6350 m), the ice covered Chungará lake, the flamingos, ducks and vicuñas leave an impression of paradise.
We will arrive in the evening in La Paz, the highest capital in the world. The streets are full with colorful Bolivian aymaras and invite to stroll around. In the surroundings of the Titicaca Lake at 4000 m we will find the most important ruins of the Tiahuanaku Culture. The Tiahuanaku Culture existed between 600 BC and 1200 NC and is seen as the main culture before the Inca empire.
Our tour will take us to the Titicaca Lake, from where the Incas started their cultural expansion. Copacabana, a nice little town at the Titicaca Lake, is our starting point from where we will take a boat to Isla del Sol. We will walk on the island and visit the archaeological sites, which will bring us closer to the fascinating Inca culture. Here we can already see typical elements of the masterpieces of the Incas.
Days 17-21: The tour continues from Copacabana, alongside the south side of the Titicaca Lake to the border of Peru. We will cross by the city of Puno. From Puno we will visit the interesting Kolla cemetery. The Kolla kingdom became part of the Inca Empire. The Incas gave the southernmost part of their empire their name: Kollasuyo. The rich Kollas were buried in 12-meter high towers, which we still can see at the side of the Umayo Lake.
By train we will go from Puno to Cusco, a long but very interesting ride. On the 12-hour trip we will see the beautiful scenery of the Altiplano with lamas and indigenous places. But the real experience will be the endless selling of food and any kind of articles by indigenous women. A roasted goat might be cut in front of your eyes. There are so many women, that the aisles are blocked and you will have to fight for your way to the toilette.
We will arrive in Cusco, the capital of the Inca Empire, in the dark. This unique city will rapture you from the start. The Spanish conquistadors built the city on the fundaments of the Inca buildings. The glory of the buried Inca culture comes through every hole of the overdone Spanish buildings. Cusco is the starting point for chasing the Incas in their Holy Valley.
We will visit Sacsayhuaman, Ollantaytambo with its incredible altar, and Pisaq. We will walk down the mountain into the market of Pisaq. This will give us an idea of how the Inca trail to the lost city Machu Picchu will be.
The Spaniards never discovered Machu Picchu, because it was hidden in the tropical jungle. Machu Picchu was found by coincidence in 1911 by the American historian Hiram Bingham. Today, the city is the South American "Acropolis" and it is proof of an incredible civilization.
Hiking and Trekking Possibilities:
- San Pedro – Quitor (2 hours)
- Valley of Caspana (2 hours)
- Parinacota, Lake Chungara (2 hours)
- Isla del Sol (5 hours)
- Pisaq (3 hours)
- Inca trail to Machu Picchu (4 days)
Transportation:
- Flight: Santiago-Calama
- Public bus: Calama - San Pedro, Calama - Iquique, Chungara - La Paz, La Paz - Copacabana, Copacabana - Puno
- Train from Puno to Cusco
- Private minibus from: Iquique to Chungara, San Pedro to hot springs to Caspana to Calama, Cusco to Ollantaytambo to Pisaq to Cusco
Notes:
Airfare is not included in the tour price.
Also see tour packages in:
South America
Chile
Bolivia
Peru
Cultural Journey
Multi-activity
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