Magical Andes

A trip through the highlands of Peru, Bolivia and Chile

Start: Cusco, Peru
Finish: Calama, Chile
Trip Type: Cultural/Adventure
Physical Rating: 3/5
Group Size: 4-12 people

£1900

This is one for the books!

If this trip isn’t the biggest bucket list trip ever: the world’s highest navigable lake, the world’s largest salt flats, the highest capital in the world and the driest place on earth. On top of that this trip wouldn’t be an ATAW trip if we didn’t include some cultural highlights as well: an impressive visit to Machu Picchu, a Quechua family welcoming us to their home and cooking a traditional BBQ together and staying at a local families house on Lake Titicaca.

  • Meet the women of a local Quechua community

  • Visit the ancient city of Machu Picchu

  • Take scenic train ride through the Andean mountains

  • Navigate the highest lake in the world

  • Ride cable-cars in one of the highest cities in the world

  • Watch sunset in the world’s biggest salt flats

  • Explore lagoons and hot springs in the Andean mountains

  • Stargaze in one of the best places in the world

  • Visit the driest place on earth, the Atacama desert

Highlights

  • Today you arrive in Cusco. You'll receive more information on the airport transfer in our WhatsApp group the week before the trip starts.

    In the evening, we will head out for a Welcome Dinner and get to know the rest of the group.

    Included meals: dinner
    Included transport: airport transfer
    Included activities: welcome dinner

  • Once the centre of the Inkan Empire, Cusco is the base for everyone who wants to visit Machu Picchu and in general a city worthwhile exploring. Today, you will have the whole day to acclimatise to the altitude and wander through the ancient streets of Cusco. Make sure to take it slow today. The altitude can be quite demanding for the body. We recommend you drink lots of water and coca tea – the locals swear by it.

    There are many things to see: the scenic Plaza de Armas, bustling San Pedro Market, and the hip district of San Blas with incredible views of the city.

    Included meals: breakfast

  • After breakfast, we will embark on our two-day journey to Machu Picchu. This is going to be an early morning. We will be leaving the hostel at around 6am and take a bus for about 5 hours.

    After a late breakfast we will take a short taxi and enjoy some hot springs in the middle of lush nature before heading to Hidroeléctrica , where we embark on our 2 hour hike along the train treks to Aguas Calientes. The route is scenic and at some point, you can even see parts of the Machu Picchu ruins.

    We will arrive in Aguas Calientes in the late afternoon. So you have some time to take a look around, have some dinner and get an early night, as we will get up quite early the following morning.

    Included meals: breakfast
    Included transport: bus and taxi to Hidroeléctrica
    Included activity: hot springs, hike along the train tracks to Aguas Calientes

  • Today is the day! We will get up quite early at around 4 am and start our hike up to Machu Picchu. We will arrive at the entrance about at 6 am and enjoy the morning by exploring the UNESCO World Heritage site first by ourselves and during the later morning also with our guide.

    Shortly before lunchtime, we will make our way back to Aguas Calientes, where you have time for lunch and exploring the town before we take the most scenic train back to Cusco. Be prepared for the views!

    Included meals: breakfast
    Included transport: train and bus to Cusco
    Included activity: Machu Picchu with guide & scenic train ride

  • Take in the experiences from the last days and relax during a free day in Cusco.

    You can either go and get a massage or, if you still want to see more ruins, explore Sacsayhuamán - a complex with lots of temples. One of the temples is dedicated to the sun god Inti and was used as a location for Inkan ceremonies.

    At night we’ll take our first night bus from Cusco and wake up right at the shores of Lake Titicaca. Make sure to bring warm clothes including a hat on the night bus. Those buses are a bit unpredictable and can sometimes get quite cold.

    Included meals: breakfast
    Included transport: night bus to Puno

  • We'll arrive in Puno early in the morning, and after a warming breakfast, we'll hop onto our boat and make our way to the island of Taquile. There, we'll spend a night in the home of a welcoming local family. But before that, we'll make a stop at the Uros islands, where we'll immerse ourselves in the fascinating lifestyle of the people who reside on these floating islands.

    Prepare to be amazed by the simplicity and groundedness of the people living on the lake. Their connection with nature is truly inspiring and integral to the life that thrives around Lake Titicaca.

    Included meals: breakfast
    Included activities: Lake Titicaca boat tour

  • Today we leave after breakfast at around 9am. You can enjoy the quiet morning on the lake before we take the boat back to Puno.

    After that we’ll hop on a minivan and make our way to the border from where we’ll transfer to La Paz.

    Not going to lie, this will be a long travel day. But you will be rewarded with scenic views of Lake Titicaca and the sight of the highest capital in the world at night.

    Included meals: breakfast

    Included transport: boat back to Puno and transport from Puno to La Paz

  • Get a first glimpse at this literally breathtaking city – La Paz lies at about 3600m above sea level!  You can take it at your own speed and explore the city. We recommend taking the coolest public transport and explore La Paz by cable car. It is super inexpensive, and the views are mind-blowing. Another thing not to be missed is the witches’ market and the cute shopping streets, where you can make sure to get some souvenirs.

    Included meals: breakfast

  • You can just stroll around the city and try some Bolivian street food like papa rellena, bread with chorizo and a freshly squeezed orange juice. All super delicious!

    If you are a foodie, you might also want to check out La Paz’ fine-dining scene. You wouldn’t believe it, but there is plenty. And it is quite affordable.

    Make sure to eat an early dinner today as we will head to Uyuni via night bus. And again, make sure to bring some warm clothes on the bus!

    Included meals: breakfast
    Included transport: night bus to Uyuni

  • We arrive in Uyuni quite early. So, our first stop will be breakfast and some much-needed coffee.

    After breakfast, there is some time to explore the town before we start with our 3-day adventure of the world’s biggest salt flats and the surrounding Andean highlands.

    On this day of the tour, we will visit the train cemetery and explore the incredibly beautiful salt flats. If the tour is during or at the end of rainy season, we even get the chance to experience the mirror effect. But either way, you will most likely be speechless because of the natural beauty.

    We have some cool activities on top of that: we will cycle through some part of the salt flats and at the end of the day have some drinks and snacks while watching the most incredible sunset you might ever have seen in your life.

    Included meals: breakfast, lunch & dinner
    Included activities: Uyuni Salt Flats tour

  • This will be an early morning, as we head out to the salt flats for sunrise. Make sure to put on some warm clothes, it is really chilly in the morning!

    After that, we’ll have a stopover at our hotel for breakfast and then hop on our car to drive into the Andean highlands.

    Here we will see colourful lagoons, pink flamingos, gigantic rock formations and arrive at our very remote sleeping place right in time to jump into the hot springs for sunset!

    Included meals: breakfast, lunch & dinner
    Included activities: Uyuni Salt Flats tour

  • Get up early, it will pay off! The sunrise over the lagoon, while sitting in the hot springs, is worth every second of sleep you lose.

    After breakfast we will head towards the Chilean border to see the Dali desert and explore more lagoons until we exit Bolivia in the middle of the desert and transfer to San Pedro de Atacama to enter into Chile.

    The rest of the day you are free to explore the town of San Pedro - in the middle of the driest place on earth, the Atacama Desert.

    Included meals: breakfast
    Included activities: Uyuni Salt Flats tour and transfer to Chile

  • This is an active day. In the morning we head out to some really cool salt pools in the middle of the desert. For conservation purposes you cannot always swim in them. We’ll just see how it will be on the day that we visit as rules and regulations can change on very short notice. Nevertheless, we’ll explore the surrounding area and the stunning pools and afterwe head back to San Pedro to relax in the afternoon and maybe take a little nap. Because we will need all our energy at night to go stargazing in one of the best places in the world. As the Atacama Desert is the driest place on earth and has very little light pollution, the stars here are insane!

    Included meals: breakfast
    Included activities: salt pools and stargazing

  • This morning we’ll head out early again and do some exploring. We start by venturing out to some local hot springs, where we can enjoy the morning in between lush nature. After we head back to San Pedro for a well deserved lunch and some relaxation before we head back out in the afternoon and explore Valle de la Luna, a truly peculiar landscape that actually makes you feel like you just went to the moon.

    Included meals: breakfast
    Included activities: hot springs and Valle de la Luna

  • This is goodbye! Today you depart at any time. If you don't leave too early, we can still have breakfast together.

    We hope you had an incredible two weeks filled with adventures!

    Included meals: breakfast
    Included transport: airport transfer

  • Accommodation

    12 Nights in hostel
    2 Night bus (160 Degrees)

    Food

    14 breakfasts
    5 lunches
    4 dinners

    Activities

    Welcome & Goodbye Dinner
    Boat & Island Tour at Lake Titicaca
    Machu Picchu with Guide
    Pachamanca Inkan BBQ
    Relaxing at hot springs on the way to Machu Picchu
    Train back from Machu Picchu
    Cycling through the Salar de Uyuni
    Watching Sunset and sunrise in the Salar de Uyuni
    Hot springs in the Andean mountains & stargazing
    Picknick lunch by a lagoon in the Andean highlands
    Salt pools in the Atacama Desert
    Stargazing in the driest place on earth
    Hot springs in the Atacama Desert
    Visit to Valle de la Luna

    Transport

    Airport transfers
    All transport between cities and to and from activities.

  • International Flights
    Visa fees and requirements (If you require a visa for any of the countries)
    Any meals not mentioned in the included section
    Any activities not mentioned in the itinerary
    Personal expenses
    Travel Insurance

Next Dates

Sat 15 Mar 2025 Sat 29 Mar 2025 6 Spots Available £1900 / $2450

  • Can I sign up as a solo traveller?
    Of course! You can sign up for our trips whether you are solo or with a group of friends. Our groups are a mix of open-minded people, who usually become friends within a second.

    Does the tour include flights?
    As people will join our tour from different parts of the world, we decided it is easier to not include the flights in the tour. We are happy to help you find the best flight deal for your trip. Just let us know in the notes section, when booking the tour and we will get in touch with you to help you find your flights. In general, we usually use Skyscanner to find the best deals.

    If my flight has a layover in the USA or Canada, do I need a visa?
    US: Even when transiting through the US, you still need ESTA. Make sure to apply in advance as it may take up to 72 hours for the application to be processed. Check the official ESTA website for more information: https://esta-center.com/en/transit/index.html

    Canada: For Canada you don’t need to apply for the normal visa, but will need a certain kind of transit visa depending on your country of origin. Check for more information here: https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/visit-canada/transit.html

    Do I need to purchase travel insurance before the trip?
    Yes, it is obligatory for everyone who joins us to have travel insurance before departing. We can help you find the right travel insurance for you. Just contact us via Email or WhatsApp.

    Airport transfers: how does it work?
    When you book your flight, let us know your flight number and the time you arrive as soon as possible. That way we can stay on track for any delays of your flight. When you arrive at the destination airport, one of us will be there to welcome you and bring you to the car that will take you to the hostel. At the hostel, there will also be one of us to help you with the check-in.

    What type of luggage should I bring?
    To make the trip easier for you, a backpack or duffle bag is a must. We are heading to some quite remote locations, where access with rolling suitcases is quite hard. Think of minivans with little space, 4x4s, motos or even boats. Ideally, this bag shouldn't be bigger than 40l, which is also hand luggage size and will save you some money on your flight to the destinations.

    Is it a tiring trip?
    We guess you know you are not signing up for a two-week spa holiday with us. This trip through the Andes region, has a couple of long bus journeys, for example between La Paz and Uyuni or between Cusco and Puno. But we promise: every long bus is totally worth the journey! Apart from that, you'll be calmly enjoying every second of this beautiful part of the world.

    How is the accommodation throughout the trip?
    We are going to stay at hostels because of the more social atmosphere. Unless you book private accommodation, you will be in a 6-bed dorm with mainly private bathrooms and only with people from our group. (The room capacity may differ depending of the place we're staying at). If you want to know more about the accommodation, just contact us via Email or WhatsApp.

    Can you provide me with a list of the hostels we will be staying at?
    Sure, just get in touch via Email or WhatsApp and we can send you a list of the hostels. In very rare cases it might happen though that we will stay in another hostel. If you wish, we can also inform you about any changes, if they come up.

    Is Peru/Bolivia/Chile a safe country?
    Yes! These countries are safe to travel. As everywhere in the world it is important that you take the usual safety precautions. Especially in bigger cities, as there is always the risk of pickpocketing.

    Can I drink the tap water?
    We would not recommend you drink tap water during this trip. You can ask at the hostels we stay at for filtered water and drink it with no problem, but we recommend you avoid drinking it straight out of the tap.
    You can definitely brush your teeth with it, no problem.


    What should I pack?
    To make it easier for you to know what to bring, we have put together a packing list for this trip here.

    In case you have further questions don’t hesitate to contact us via Email or WhatsApp.