Peru & Bolivia: Andes, Amazon & Salt Flats (25 days)

Welcome to Peru. Welcome meeting at 2 pm at the hotel, followed by a leader-led walking tour of Lima's colonial-centre historic quarter — colonial mansions, palaces and churches. Optional dinner with the group in the bohemian Barranco district.

Early transfer to Lima airport for the flight to Puerto Maldonado. Pack a small duffle for two days. Motorised-canoe deep into the Madre de Dios jungle with a lunch stop along the way. Arrive at the thatched-roof eco-lodge; orientation walk; evening atmosphere in the jungle.

Half-day guided trek through the rainforest learning about medicinal plants and traditional Indigenous uses. Wildlife spotting: rainbow macaws, butterflies, peccaries, monkeys, capybaras, giant otters and jabirus. Evening night-walk for nocturnal species — caimans, jaguars and anacondas.

Return to Puerto Maldonado for the flight to Cusco (3,450 m). Acclimatisation rest, then leader-led orientation walk: Plaza de Armas, San Pedro Market, the 12-Angled Stone, Regocijo and San Blas Squares, plus Qoricancha temple. Evening trek-briefing at Casa Intrepid.

Private bus through the Sacred Valley to Ollantaytambo. Lunch stop at a traditional community that still practices Inca traditions. Visit AMA Restaurant in Urubamba (a social enterprise providing employment and training for single mothers). Evening in Ollantaytambo.

Depending on your choice at booking: Route 1 Inca Trail (uphill to the 3,100 m campsite via Llactapata, Huillca Raccay and Veronica Peak views); Route 2 Quarry Trail (Choquequilla moon temple, Qory Sonqo views, Perolniyoc Cascade, 3,700 m campsite); Route 3 (Pisac market then return to Cusco for San Pedro Market).

The toughest trek day. Route 1: climb to Warmiwanusca (Dead Woman's Pass) at 4,200 m, then descend to Pacaymayo Valley campsite (3,650 m). Route 2: Puccaqasa Pass (4,370 m), Kuychicassa Pass (4,450 m), Intipunku Sun Gate, descend to 3,600 m campsite. Route 3: Tambomachay, Puka Pukara, Quenqo and Saksaywaman walk back to Cusco.

Route 1: Runkuracay Pass (3,980 m), Sayacmarca and Phuyupatamarca ruins, descend to Winay Wayna campsite. Route 2: downhill via Kachiqata quarry, Ollantaytambo, train to Aguas Calientes. Route 3: train to Aguas Calientes via the Urubamba Valley.

Route 1: pre-dawn breakfast, hike the final stretch to Intipunku Sun Gate, enter Machu Picchu through the Sun Gate. Routes 2 and 3: 6 am bus up to Machu Picchu. Guided tour of the citadel. Bus back to Aguas Calientes, train to Ollantaytambo, drive to Cusco.

Free day in Cusco. Optional: Rainbow Mountain hike, Cusco cooking class, the Boleto Turistico archaeological pass, Sacsayhuamán-Qenqo-Tambomachay loop, Mountain Biking in the surrounding hills, or simply rest weary legs.

Long local-bus journey through the altiplano scenery to Puno on Lake Titicaca (3,800 m). Free evening — try grilled trout at one of the lakeside restaurants.

Motorboat tour to the floating Uros reed islands, then transfer to the lakeside community of Llachón for an overnight homestay. Help your host family with daily activities, learn Quechua words, participate in a soccer game on the village pitch, share a home-cooked dinner.

Boat to Taquile Island — known for its hand-knitted textiles (knitting is the male domain, women spin the yarn). Uphill 1-hour trek to the village centre, shop for high-quality knitted goods, descend 500 steps back to the boat. Return to Puno.

Cross the Peru-Bolivia border. Say goodbye to your Peruvian leader; meet your Bolivian leader. Border formalities at the Peruvian migration office. Continue to La Paz — orientation walk taking in the colonial centre, the Witches' Market, and the dramatic canyon-side urban setting.

Free day to explore. Optional: city tour with Moon Valley, Tiwanaku archaeological day-trip, Coca Museum. Second welcome meeting at 6 pm for any new travellers joining the Bolivia segment.

Long private-vehicle journey south to Uyuni (the gateway to Bolivia's salt flats). Arrive late afternoon. Basic clean hotel rooms; check in and rest — last hot shower for a few days.

Start the 4WD adventure: Train Cemetery, Colchani salt-processing village, drive onto the white expanse of the Salar de Uyuni, salt-block hotel visit, Inca Wasi (Fish Island) with its fossil-strewn cacti at the centre of the salt flat. Optional Inca Wasi hike. Continue south to the homestay-style accommodation in a small community for dinner.

Drive through the Andean Desert: Chiguana Salt Lake, the active Ollague volcano, Siloli Desert and its seven-coloured mountain, Arbol de Piedra (Stone Tree) rock formation. Enter the Eduardo Avaroa Reserve for the dramatic Laguna Colorada (Red Lake) with flamingos. Overnight in a community (Huayllajara or Polques) with dinner.

Pre-dawn start to catch the geysers active in the cold morning air. Optional hot-spring dip. Drive through more Salvador-Dalí-esque landscapes to Laguna Verde, Valle de Rocas and the San Cristobal mining town. Return to Uyuni late afternoon. Free evening.

Local-bus to colonial Potosí — once one of the wealthiest cities in the world during the silver-mining boom. Leader orientation walk. Optional National Mint Museum, Santa Teresa Convent, or the harrowing Cerro Rico mine tour.

Local-bus to UNESCO Sucre, Bolivia's official capital and the colonial 'White City'. Free afternoon to find your bearings. Try mondongo (pork ribs) or saltenas (Bolivian empanadas) for dinner.

Leader-led orientation walk. Cal Orcko: the 68-million-year-old dinosaur footprints — the world's largest collection (12,000+). Optional Recoleta Convent for city views, Plaza 25 de Mayo, Senora de la Merced church.

Day-hike along the ancient pre-Inca Chataquila path — mostly-downhill with sweeping Andean views. Free afternoon for Sucre's textile museum, Bolivian dance show, or relaxing in the cafés around Plaza 25 de Mayo.

Fly back to La Paz. Optional Coca Museum visit, or kick back at the hotel for the final evening of the trip.

Tour ends after breakfast. No activities planned — free to depart any time. Consider an extra day or two in La Paz before flying home.