Compare Off the Beaten Path Peru Bolivia Tour 12 Day – The Best of Bolivia & Peru by Keteka

Day 1: Private Culinary and Historic Center Tour of Lima

Meals: Lunch

You will arrive in Lima and spend the day and evening getting to know this ancient and diverse city. You’ll get an introduction to Peru`s world renowned coastal cuisine, as well as a tour of Lima’s historical landmarks.

Morning pickup at your Lima hotel for a private tour of Lima`s historic highlights and world famous coastal cuisine. You’ll begin the morning in a local market shopping alongside moms and sous chefs. Here, you can sample fresh fruits and explore Peruvian produce. Peru is one of the world’s most biodiverse countries and producer of an exotic array of jungle, highland and coastal foods. The local market will whet your appetite for the day.

Afterwards, you can take a break to enjoy Peru’s flagship dish: ceviche. These sublime fish and seafood cocktails, gently marinated in fresh lime juice, are a Lima staple. You will also have a chance to taste other excellent options, like causa limeña – avocado and shrimp layered between mashed potatoes.

After enjoying the food, you will walk in Lima’s historic center, checking out the Plaza Mayor, Cathedral, the Archbishop’s residence, the Presidential Palace, and the bright-yellow Franciscan monastery and church, which is most famous for its bone-lined catacombs, built in 1546 as a cemetery.

The day’s gastronomic adventures end with picarones (fried deserts). Every culture has a version, and the Peruvian edition is crafted from wheat flour that is dotted with anise and blended with sweet potatoes and pumpkin, then is topped with a liberal dose of molasses syrup. In other words, sheer greasy glory when they’re fresh out of the fryer! In the evening, you will return to your Lima hotel.

Day 2: Cusco Locals Tour

Meals: Breakfast

You’ll arrive in Cusco, the former center of the Inca Empire, and spend the afternoon wandering the cobblestone streets, local markets, and learning about Cusco`s incredible history from your local guide.

After breakfast, transfer to the Lima airport for a short flight to Cusco.  Your local guide and river will be waiting at the airport to depart on a private walking tour of Cusco, including the cathedral, Coricancha, San Pedro Market, and the historic neighborhood of San Blas. There is quite a lot to see in Cusco and flexibility in your schedule; the guide can help you plan an afternoon to suit your interests once you arrive.

At midday, you’ll enjoy a traditional Peruvian lunch, then make a short drive with your guide to four important ruins above the city: the fortresses of Saqsayhuaman, Qenqo, Pucapucara & Tambomachay. Enjoy the interesting ruins and beautiful views of the surrounding hills and valleys before descending to your hotel in the early evening.

Day 3: Private Sacred Valley Tour and Train to Aguas Calientes

Meals: Breakfast and Lunch

Today, you’ll do a cultural deep dive in the Sacred Valley, visiting a local family and a community-based tourism project.

After breakfast, you will depart for the beautiful Sacred Valley of the Incas, en route to Aguas Calientes.Along the way you’ll stop at interesting Inca ruins, artisan markets and cascading salt ponds. You’ll enjoy a traditional lunch with a local family, and gain true insight into local culture. Later you’ll visit an amazing community-based tourism project, and learn about traditional farming of crops such as potatoes, quinoa, and medicinal plants. Then, it’s on to Ollantaytambo, where you’ll tour an Inca fortress before a scenic train ride to Aguas Calientes.

Day 4: Private Machu Picchu Tour

Meals: Breakfast

You’ll wake up early this morning to catch the bus to the gates of one of the great Wonders of the World. You will ascend stone steps, through heavy tree cover to finally emerge at the top of the world – Machu Picchu! The incredible Inca stone construction will be spread below, alternately hidden and revealed by clouds. You`ll have a 2.5-3 hour private tour with your guide, followed by time to explore on your own. In the afternoon, descend to Aguas Calientes for your return train to Ollantaytambo. Your driver will be waiting in the station and bring you to your hotel in Cusco for a good night’s rest.

Day 5: Altiplano Adventure; Transfer to Puno

Meals: Breakfast and Lunch

After an early breakfast, you will begin your transfer to Puno, along with a bilingual guide who will show you the sights along the way. The day will have several guided tours, including to Pukara, Raqchi, La Raya, Andahuaylillas, Raqchi, with a buffet lunch in Sicuani Village. There are tons of beautiful landscapes and plenty of opportunities to ask your guide any questions you may have. Below is a brief description of stops along the way:

Andahuaylillas: Referred to as the Andean Sistine Chapel because of its magnificent frescoes, the church is but one example of the Mestizo Baroque architecture typical of the Cusco School which was prominent in the 17th century. You will marvel at the ceiling of carved panels covered with gold leaf.

Raqchi (or the Temple of the god Wiracocha): This Inca temple is monumental – 100m in length, 26m in width and 14m in height. Divided into two naves, each of these still retains the base of eleven giant columns. The base of the walls consists of Imperial Inca stonework with a top section of adobe.

La Raya: The highest pass on the route between Cusco and Puno, La Raya is 4335m above sea level. Beautiful landscapes await you, as well as the animals that are symbolic of the Andes: llamas, alpacas, and vicunas!

Pukara: This is the most important and oldest ceremonial site this side of Tiahuanaco. Characterized by a series of staired platforms, the ruins also reveal some lit sculptures and tombstones, all witnesses of a pre-Inca civilization, possibly one at the origin of the Andean culture of the Altiplano.

Transfer to your hotel upon arrival in Puno.

Day 6: Lake Titicaca

Meals: Breakfast and Lunch

In the morning you`ll be met at your hotel for transfer to the port. You will depart by fully equipped speedboat with on-board service, arriving at a secluded section of Taquile Island first. Here, you will explore the less touristy and scenic area of the island, and enjoy a pristine sandy beach, where you will have plenty of time to relax and feel the serenity of Titicaca. From there, you’ll hike through a pre-Inca trail with spectacular landscapes of the island, visiting families of weavers to learn about their textile art & symbolism that has been declared by UNESCO as a world heritage site.

At approximately 11:30AM, you’ll depart from the island for travel to the community of Santa Maria – Llachon, on the tip of the Capachica Peninsula, a very scenic off-the-beaten-track destination. You’ll be welcomed by a small community and quickly introduced to an intensive cross cultural experience, observing their traditions and participating in an ancient ceremony to learn about their magical world. Here, you’ll get to witness the preparation of Peru’s famous “Pachamanca” – a traditional way of cooking meat, fish and potatoes using underground ovens. Enjoy these delicacies in a small, but very scenic, restaurant.

From Santa Maria, you’ll travel to one of the remote areas of the National Reserve of Lake Titicaca, and explore Uros Ccapi, considered the last authentic floating islands, less commercial and little visited. The Uros are descendants of one of the oldest cultures in South America. Optional tours in reed boats. Depart back to Puno for arrival in the early evening, with transfer to your hotel.

Day 7: Private Transfer to La Paz; Tour of Isla del Sol

Meals: Breakfast

Morning travel by bus to the Bolivian border.  After clearing customs and immigration, continue to Copacabana by private transfer for a visit to fascinating Isla del Sol (Sun Island). Arrive in exciting La Paz in the late afternoon to evening. 

Day 8: La Paz

Meals: Breakfast

Morning departure on a unique walking tour through downtown La Paz to appreciate samples of murals and urban art created by talented local artists and invited muralists from other countries. Through the visual arts, visitors can learn in more depth many peculiarities that are signature of Bolivian culture, tradition, history, society and modern issues. Visitors also have a peek on new features that are reshaping the city’s culture, such as the new public transportation bus system called Puma Katari and the newly implemented cable car system.

The path includes popular sites like El Prado, Mercado Camacho, Parque Urbano Central, Teatro al Aire Libre, the esplanade of the public university UMSA and the pleasant neighborhood of Sopocachi and includes a stop at a traditional snack place to taste a typical, local pastry and hot beverage. The duration of the tour is 3 hours and includes light walking with few uphills. Afternoon free to relax, explore La Paz on your own, and prepare for Uyuni the following morning!

Day 9: Flight to Uyuni, Begin 3D/2N Tour

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Early morning flight to Uyuni.  Covering 12,000 square kilometers (4,633 square miles) of Bolivian altiplano, the salt flats of Uyuni are an inspiring natural phenomenon. Enjoy a full-day excursion of this surreal, natural landscape, with its expansive crystalline terrain, colorful lagoons, surrounding mountain ranges and volcanoes. Today we will visit the famous train cemetery, Tunupa lookout, salt water springs, and observe bizarre stone formations sculpted by wind erosion.

Day 10: Uyuni Day 2

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

A highlight of your journey today will be the rocky outcrop of Isla Incawasi, with unusual rock formations and a forest of giant cacti.  In addition, we`ll travel across the Siloli desert (one of the driest on earth) and visit Kañapa, Hedionda and Ch’iar Quta lagoons.  With luck, we`ll be able to spot flamingos and other wildlife.

Day 11: Uyuni Day 3

Meals: Breakfast and Lunch

Full day excursion to Eduardo Avaroa National Reserve. Visit Stone Tree, an enormous rock shaped by the wind like a tree, Red Lagoon/Laguna Colorado (characterized by the red tone of its waters inhabited by flocks of flamingoes of three different species), Sol de Mañana Geysers (fumaroles and volcanic craters of spectacular formation featuring volcanic activity), & Green Lagoon/Laguna Verde. Looking like a giant emerald, it is framed by Licancabur Volcano. It`s intensely green coloring is due to high magnesium content.  We`ll return to Uyuni in time for your flight back to La Paz.