Day 1
Arrival in Lima
Land in Lima and transfer to your hotel. The evening is free to enjoy the city’s celebrated cuisine before your journey through the Andes.
Trip Map
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Wonders of the Andes — 17-Day Expedition through Peru, Bolivia & Ecuador
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Wonders of the Andes follows the mountain spine of South America through its three great Andean capitals — Cusco, La Paz and Quito — with Machu Picchu, the Salar de Uyuni and the Galápagos along the way. Begin in Lima and Cusco, take the scenic train to Machu Picchu and travel the Route of the Sun to Lake Titicaca. Cross into Bolivia for La Paz, the city in the clouds, and three days by 4x4 on the salt flat and the red and green lagoons. Finally, fly to Quito, the first UNESCO World Heritage city, and end with giant tortoises, Tortuga Bay and the Charles Darwin Research Station in the Galápagos.
Your Wonders of the Andes expedition at a glance: Cusco, Machu Picchu, La Paz, Uyuni, Quito and the Galápagos. Tap any day to see the details.
Every day of your trip, with where you'll spend the night.
Day 1
Land in Lima and transfer to your hotel. The evening is free to enjoy the city’s celebrated cuisine before your journey through the Andes.
Day 2
A guided tour of Lima’s colonial heart — the Plaza Mayor, the Cathedral and the San Francisco Monastery with its catacombs — and of the modern seaside districts of Miraflores and Barranco.
Day 3
Fly to Cusco in the morning and rest until the afternoon city tour: the Koricancha, the Cathedral, Sacsayhuamán, Qenqo, Puca Pucara and Tambomachay, taken at an easy pace on your first day at altitude.
Day 4
Transfer through the Sacred Valley to Ollantaytambo and take the morning train to Aguas Calientes. Spend the afternoon at leisure at the foot of Machu Picchu.
Day 5
Discover Machu Picchu with your guide early in the morning, then travel back to Cusco by train and road.
Day 6
A guided bus journey from Cusco to Puno with stops at Andahuaylillas, Raqchi, La Raya Pass and Pucará, and lunch on the way.
Day 7
Visit the Uros floating islands and Taquile Island by boat, with lunch on Taquile overlooking the deep blue lake.
Day 8
Follow the shore of Lake Titicaca into Bolivia and cross the Altiplano to La Paz, the second Andean capital of your journey.
Day 9
Fly to Uyuni and begin your 4x4 expedition: the train cemetery, Colchani, the endless white salt flat and Incahuasi Island. Night in a salt hotel.
Day 10
Drive south past volcanoes to the lagoons of the Eduardo Avaroa Reserve, the Stone Tree and Laguna Colorada, home to thousands of flamingos. Overnight in a simple lodge.
Day 11
See the Sol de Mañana geysers at dawn, warm up in the Polques hot springs and return across the Altiplano to Uyuni.
Day 12
Return to La Paz by air and explore the city at your own pace, from Plaza Murillo to the Witches’ Market and the Mi Teleférico cable cars.
Day 13
Fly to Lima and enjoy a relaxed afternoon in Miraflores before continuing to Ecuador.
Day 14
Fly to Quito (approx. 2,850 m), the third Andean capital of your trip. Discover its colonial center, one of the best preserved in the Americas: Plaza Grande, the Church of La Compañía with its gold-leaf interior, the San Francisco Monastery and the view from El Panecillo.
Day 15
Fly from Quito to Baltra in the Galápagos and cross to Santa Cruz. In the highlands, visit the Rancho Primicias reserve to see giant tortoises roaming in the wild and walk through lava tunnels, then continue to Puerto Ayora.
Day 16
Visit the Charles Darwin Research Station and its tortoise breeding program, then walk to Tortuga Bay, a white-sand beach where marine iguanas, sea turtles and reef sharks share the coast.
Day 17
Transfer to Baltra airport for your flight back to Quito, where you connect with your international flight home. End of services.
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The three great Andean capitals — Cusco in Peru, La Paz in Bolivia and Quito in Ecuador — plus Machu Picchu, Lake Titicaca, the Salar de Uyuni and, as a finale, the Galápagos Islands.
Yes. This 17-day route links them overland and by air: Lima to Cusco, the Route of the Sun to Puno, a bus along Lake Titicaca to La Paz, and flights from La Paz back to Lima and on to Quito.
The 3-day Uyuni expedition runs by 4x4 with a driver-guide. Day 1: the train cemetery, Colchani and the salt flat with Incahuasi Island, night in a salt hotel. Day 2: the flamingo lagoons, the Stone Tree and Laguna Colorada, night in a simple lodge. Day 3: the Sol de Mañana geysers and the Polques hot springs, then back across the Altiplano to Uyuni. All meals and park fees are included.
Two full days on Santa Cruz Island: Rancho Primicias and its giant tortoises on arrival, and the Charles Darwin Research Station and Tortuga Bay the next day, before flying back to Quito. For more time on the islands, see our 17-day Incas & Galápagos Expedition or the 24-day Grandeur of South America.
Every visitor to the Galápagos pays two fees on top of the tour price: the Transit Control Card (TCT), bought at the Quito or Guayaquil airport before your flight, and the Galápagos National Park entrance fee, paid in cash on arrival. At the time of writing the park fee is US$200 per foreign adult and the TCT US$20, but both are set by the Ecuadorian authorities and can change, so please confirm before you travel.
You start in Cusco (approx. 3,400 m) and descend to Machu Picchu (approx. 2,430 m) before climbing to Puno (approx. 3,830 m), La Paz (approx. 3,640 m) and Uyuni, where the geysers reach approx. 4,900 m. Quito (approx. 2,850 m) and the sea-level Galápagos come at the end, when you are well acclimatized.
Entry requirements for Bolivia depend on your nationality: many passports enter visa-free, while others need a tourist visa, which in some cases can be obtained in advance or on arrival. Rules change, so please check with the Bolivian consulate or your government’s travel advice before booking. Your passport must be valid for at least six months. For Peru and Ecuador, most nationalities — including citizens of the US, Canada, the UK and the EU — do not need a tourist visa, but please confirm the rules for your passport.
The price depends on the hotel category you choose (Essential 2★, Comfort 3★, Superior 4★ or Deluxe 5★) and on the number of travelers. Open the Rates tab for the current price per person, based on double or twin accommodation. Domestic and international flights, the Galápagos National Park fee and the Transit Control Card are not included.