The Andean Triangle

Volcanoes, Deserts & Ancient Cultures

This all year tour circuit combines the most contrasting and fascinating landscapes of South America; the rich heritage of pre-Columbian cultures and the natural history of three exceptional travel destinations. Experience the most arid desert of the world in Chile and visit its salt lakes before crossing the Andes to the colourful Bolivian capital of La Paz. Get to know Lake Titicaca; crossing into Peru - home of the Incas - where you will be amazed by the magic of Machu Picchu and Cuzco. This trip is offered as a daily private trip and as a fixed departure group trip on the first Saturday of each month.

Day 1 - Saturday: Santiago de Chile

Arrival at Santiago airport and transfer to the hotel. In the afternoon you will take part in a city tour, enjoying the most interesting attractions of the Chilean capital. Overnight in Santiago.

Day 2 - Sunday: Santiago - Calama - San Pedro de Atacama

After breakfast a transfer will take you to the airport to board your connecting flight to Calama. On arrival, assistance and a transfer to San Pedro de Atacama will be provided for. San Pedro is an unusually colourful village at 2,000 m / 6,560 ft above sea level, located in the middle of a green oasis. In the afternoon you will be able to enjoy the eerily silent moonscape of Valle de la Luna with its backdrop of snow-capped volcanoes; where you will be witness to the beauty of a marvellous scenery, which is intensified during sunset. You will return to the hotel afterwards and stay overnight in San Pedro de Atacama.

Day 3 - San Pedro de Atacama & the Atacama Salt Lake

After breakfast you will visit San Pedro de Atacama - the centre of a Palaeolithic civilization, which is encircled by impressive rock fortresses, built on the mountains surrounding the green valley. The colonial church in the centre was constructed in 1577 and is the largest and most beautiful church in the region. The extraordinary archaeological museum of Padre Gustavo Le Paige shows, among its many archaeological pre-Hispanic artefacts, several amazingly well preserved mummies, including one known as "Miss Chile".

Afterwards you will get to know the pre-Columbian village Tulor, with an approx. age of 3,000 years. The archaeological remains are the oldest evidence of human settlement in the valley. You will then continue your morning tour to Pukara de Quitor, a fortress, which was conquered in 1540 by the Spanish conquistadores, defeating the Incan troops who, in turn, had captured it from the pre-Incan cultures and extended the fortification.

In the afternoon you will start your tour to Toconao, a village, where the locals dedicate themselves to manufacturing white volcanic stone sculptures. You will continue to the huge Atacama Salt Lake, an inland sea, formed millions of years ago. An overwhelming vastness and emptiness with white salt crusts stretching out as far as the eye can reach. It simply is one of the most spectacular and dramatic landscapes in Chile.

Return to the hotel. Overnight in San Pedro.

Day 4 - San Pedro de Atacama - El Tatio geysers - Caspana - Lasana - Chiu Chiu - Calama

Pick up at your hotel at around 4.00 am in the morning, to depart from San Pedro, heading north to the famous El Tatio Geysers, a geothermal field flanked by soaring peaks. After three hours of travelling, we will arrive at El Tatio, situated at 4.320 m / 14.173 ft above sea level on the Altiplano, the Highland. Powerful spurts of steam shoot up from various blowholes. The steam hurling up from the geysers in the early morning light in the midst of this spectacular scenery is an unforgettable experience. There are about 40 geysers, thermal wells and fumaroles. You will be able to enjoy a nice breakfast next to the geysers and afterwards take a walk around the geothermal field close to this natural wonder. If possible (depending on the activity of the geyser) you can take a bath in the hot thermal pools.

Later you will drive on to visit Caspana, a pre-Hispanic village with very interesting architecture and an old church, built in 1641. You will continue your journey, driving to Calama, visiting the Inca Coya lagoon, the petroglyphs (figures carved on stone) in the valley of the "Loa" River, the Pukara (fort) in Lasana and the village of Chiu-Chiu. Chiu Chiu, also a pre-Hispanic village with a famous church, one of the oldest in Chile, is now a national monument. The church was built close to 1675 and is made of clay, cactus and Chañar (a typical tree in this area).

Overnight in Calama.

Day 5 - Calama - Arica - Lauca National Park - Putre

After breakfast you will be transferred to the airport in order to catch your flight to Arica. Upon arrival you will leave Arica and take the road to the highland village of Putre. On your way you will enter the Lluta Valley, where fascinating geoglyphs mark the old Inca Trail from the coast to the highland. During a stop in Rosario you will have time to see a wall of geoglyphs. Afterwards you will carry on to Poconchile, to visit the Church of San Gerónimo, built in 1580 and its immense cemetery. The Cardones Canyon area displays a fascinating assortment of gigantic Candelabra Cacti.

Next, you reach the Fort Pukara de Copaquilla, where you will have time to take a short walk to the little village Socoroma, home to the Aymara natives. On the main road you will continue to Putre, located 3.500m / 11.483 ft above sea level. You can get used to the changes due to altitude while visiting the village-capital of the Parinacota Province, dating back to pre-Hispanic times. A scenic drive up to the Lauca National Park, a Biosphere Worldwide Reserve, visiting small Andean towns and villages along the way will be the next point on your program. Keep an eye out for the "cactus candelabro" which grows at 2,500m above sea level.

You reach Lake Chúngara (4,600m), set against a stunning backdrop of snow-capped volcanoes, and home to varied and abundant wildlife, including vicuñas, vizcachas and flamingos.

Overnight in Putre.

Day 6 - Putre - La Paz (Bolivia)

After breakfast a short transfer takes you to the International road; where you will take a comfortable public bus to La Paz. The trip continues passing through immigration and entering Bolivia at Tambo Quemado.

Afterwards you will enter the Sajama Mountain National Park, to witness the highest peak of Bolivia at 6,542 m/21,450 ft and furthermore cross a big part of the Bolivian highlands, with lots of indigenous settlements preserving their old style and also old tombs (Chulpares) of pre-Colombian times until reaching the city of La Paz. You will be met by your guide at the bus station and transferred to your hotel.

Overnight in La Paz.

Day 7 - La Paz – Isla del Sol

After breakfast you will set out to visit the highlights of La Paz, like the moon valley, the San Francisco Church and the Market during a half day City tour.

Afterwards you will take an overland transfer to the Hotel Inca Utama & SPA in Huatajata. On arrival, visit the "Andean Roots Eco Village": the Altiplano Museum; handicrafts village, the Mud Igloos and the mortuary towers of the Urus Chipayas. You will see vicuñas, llamas, alpacas and the mythical Suri.

Continue by bus to Copacabana. A motor boat will take you to Sun Island. Visit the "Pilcocaina" Sun Temple. Then you will walk the llama trek to "Posada del Inca".

Day 8 - Isla del Sol - Puno

Do not miss an early, breathtaking sunrise while on the island. You will take a motor boat to Moon Island and visit the Sun Virgins Temple "Iñak Uyu".

Once you return to Sun Island, you will visit the Inca "Grand Stairs" & the sacred fountain; here you will be able to try the water, promising eternal youth & happiness. Visit the small handicraft market.

Arrive at Copacabana and visit the shrine and the dark Virgin. An overland transfer will take you to Puno, where you will be able to visit the church of Pomata. Drop off at your hotel in Puno.

Day 9 - Puno - Cusco

Departure by Inka Express bus from Puno to Cusco. On the way you will visit the ruins of Pukara and stop at La Raya Pass at 4,321m / 14.180 ft., to visit the steaming pools of hot water nearby. Lunch will be served in Sicuani.

The journey will continue to the temple of Rajchi and to the remains of the central high wall of the Viracocha Temple, probably the largest roofed building built by the Incas. You will then visit the ruins of Pikillajta and the Church of Andahuaylillas, also called the "Sixtine Chapel of America", to finally reach the rich valley and city of Cusco.

Overnight in Cusco.

Day 10 - Cuzco

The morning will be at leisure. In the afternoon you will visit the Cathedral of Cusco, with its massive stone pillars and elaborate religious works of art, including sculptures of the saints and religious frescoes.

Later, you will visit Koricancha (the Temple of the Sun,) which is the main religious centre of the Inkas dedicated to the Sun cult, with some of the best Inka stonework in the city. The Santo Domingo Convent, with its elaborate carvings, paintings and other colonial-style works of art, was built on top of it by the Spanish Conquistadors.

Later, you'll go to Sacsayhuaman (which is shaped as the head of a Puma,) Tambomachay (the sacred water site of the Inkas,) Puka Pukara, known also as the Tambo (or the resting place and Qenqo, where you can see the Inka altar that was used for animal sacrifices).

Day 11 - Machu Picchu

Early departure by van to Ollantaytambo train station, where you will board your train (Backpacker) for a 2 hour journey to Machu Picchu.

Your guided tour of Machu Picchu will include a lecture about the natural limestone rock formations, which were adapted and incorporated into the construction of the citadel and the highly stylized temples. It is an amazing feat of architecture considering the difficulties of the region it's situated in. Machu Picchu is also a site considered by many to possess a special mystical energy and you may experience it yourself as you breathe the clean air.

Buffet Lunch in the Sanctuary Lodge Restaurant (located a few meters to Machu Picchu citadel entrance). In the afternoon you will board the train to return to Ollantaytambo and continue by bus to Cusco.

Overnight in Cusco.

Day 12 - Cusco - Lima

After breakfast, transfer to the airport and flight to Lima where you will start your half day City tour with a tasty lunch in a local restaurant. You will visit the Cathedral, Main Square, San Francisco Convent and its Catacombs, the Inquisition Court, the residential areas of San Isidro, Miraflores, the new commercial area south of Lima, and the ocean front to enjoy a magnificent view of the Pacific Ocean.

Afterwards you will be taken to the airport catch your flight.