3-Week South America Expedition — Peru, Bolivia & Chile
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Epic South American Icons is our most complete multi-country itinerary: a 3-week overland expedition down the spine of the Andes, from the Pacific coast of Peru to the Atacama Desert in Chile. In Peru you see the Ballestas Islands, the Huacachina Oasis and the Nazca Lines, Arequipa and the condors of the Colca Canyon, Cusco, Rainbow Mountain, the Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu. Then the Route of the Sun leads to Lake Titicaca and across the border to La Paz in Bolivia, where you fly to Uyuni and cross the Salar de Uyuni and the lagoons of the Altiplano by 4x4 into Chile, ending in San Pedro de Atacama and Santiago. One trip, three countries, with every excursion, transfer and hotel arranged.
Your 3-week South America expedition at a glance: Peru, Bolivia and Chile, from Lima to the Atacama Desert and Santiago. Tap any day to see the details.
Every day of your trip, with where you'll spend the night.
Day 1
Welcome to South America! Your driver meets you at Jorge Chávez International Airport and takes you to your hotel in Miraflores, on the cliffs above the Pacific. Rest after your flight and, in the evening, try ceviche and a pisco sour — the perfect start to a three-country expedition.
Day 2
Discover Lima, the City of Kings, on a guided tour of its UNESCO-listed historic center: the Plaza Mayor, the Cathedral, the Government Palace and the San Francisco Monastery with its painted cloisters and catacombs. Continue to the seaside districts of Miraflores and Barranco.
Day 3
Leave the capital behind and travel south along the Pacific coast to the bay of Paracas (approx. 3.5 hours). In the afternoon, explore the Paracas National Reserve, where ochre desert cliffs and red-sand beaches meet the ocean, home to sea lions, flamingos and countless seabirds. Settle into your seaside hotel for a relaxed evening by the bay.
Day 4
Excursion by boat to the Ballestas Islands, rich in sea lions, Humboldt penguins and seabirds, passing the Candelabra geoglyph. In the afternoon, visit the Huacachina Oasis among the tallest dunes of the Peruvian coast, then continue south across the desert to Nazca.
Day 5
A morning in the sky, an afternoon on the road. Your light aircraft circles the hummingbird, the monkey and the other giant figures of the Nazca Lines, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of archaeology’s greatest unsolved puzzles. Then relax on the scenic journey through desert valleys and along coastal cliffs to Arequipa, Peru’s elegant “White City”.
Day 6
A well-earned pause between the desert and the Andes. Wander the colorful streets of the Santa Catalina Monastery, a city within the city, admire El Misti volcano from the Yanahuara viewpoint, visit the Museo Santuarios Andinos, home of the Inca ice maiden “Juanita”, or simply rest and acclimatize at approx. 2,335 m.
Day 7
Cross the high plateau through the Salinas y Aguada Blanca reserve, where wild vicuñas graze, to the Patapampa viewpoint (approx. 4,900 m), surrounded by volcanoes. Descend into the Colca Valley, where communities still farm the terraces carved by their ancestors, and end the day soaking in natural hot springs as the sun sets over the Andes.
Day 8
Leave Chivay at dawn for the Cruz del Cóndor viewpoint on the rim of the Colca Canyon, where Andean condors rise on the morning air currents. Stop at the colonial villages of Maca and Yanque on the way back, and return over the high plateau to Arequipa in the afternoon.
Day 9
Fly from Arequipa to Cusco, already acclimatized after Colca. In the afternoon, a guided tour takes you to the Koricancha and the Cathedral, then to Sacsayhuamán, Qenqo, Puca Pucara and Tambomachay in the hills above the old Inca capital.
Day 10
An early departure takes you to the trailhead of Vinicunca, the Rainbow Mountain. Walk at your own pace through the high Andes as the colors of the land intensify with every step. At the viewpoint, more than 5,000 m above sea level, bands of red, gold and turquoise stretch across the mountainside. Horses are available for part of the way.
Day 11
Excursion through the Sacred Valley of the Incas: the terraces and market of Pisac, lunch in the valley and the Inca fortress and village of Ollantaytambo. Stay overnight in the Sacred Valley, next to the railway station for Machu Picchu.
Day 12
Board the morning train in Ollantaytambo for the scenic journey through the Urubamba canyon to Aguas Calientes. The rest of the day is free: relax in the town’s hot springs, walk to the Mandor waterfalls or visit the butterfly garden.
Day 13
Ride the bus up to Machu Picchu and discover the Inca citadel with your guide — temples, palaces, plazas and terraces above the clouds. In the afternoon, take the train back to Ollantaytambo and continue to Cusco.
Day 14
A guided tourist bus carries you from Cusco to Puno on the Route of the Sun, with stops at Andahuaylillas, Raqchi, La Raya Pass (approx. 4,335 m) and Pucará, and a buffet lunch on the way.
Day 15
Set sail on Lake Titicaca, the world’s highest navigable lake. First stop: the Uros Floating Islands, woven entirely from totora reeds by families who still live on them today. Continue to Taquile Island, whose textile art is recognized by UNESCO and where the men are master knitters, for a walk along its stone paths and a lunch of fresh lake trout with views of the Bolivian Andes.
Day 16
Your second country begins today. Travel by tourist bus along Lake Titicaca to the Peru–Bolivia border, complete immigration and continue across the Altiplano, with the Cordillera Real on the horizon, to La Paz (approx. 3,640 m).
Day 17
Fly to Uyuni and begin a 3-day 4x4 expedition with your driver-guide: the train cemetery, the salt village of Colchani and the immense white plain of the Salar de Uyuni, with lunch on the salt and a visit to cactus-covered Incahuasi Island. Overnight in a salt hotel.
Day 18
Head south into the Eduardo Avaroa Reserve, through volcanic deserts and high lagoons full of flamingos, to the wind-carved Stone Tree and the blood-red waters of Laguna Colorada. Overnight in a simple lodge at high altitude.
Day 19
Rise early for the steaming Sol de Mañana geysers and a dip in the Polques hot springs, then drive past Laguna Verde to the Chilean border at Hito Cajón. After immigration, descend to San Pedro de Atacama — your third country — and enjoy the evening in this adobe oasis town.
Day 20
Transfer to Calama airport (approx. 1.5 hours) for your flight to Santiago, Chile’s capital, set beneath the snow-capped Andes. Spend the afternoon on Plaza de Armas, climb Santa Lucía or San Cristóbal Hill for the views, or enjoy dinner and Chilean wine in the Lastarria or Bellavista districts.
Day 21
Free time until your transfer to Arturo Merino Benítez International Airport for your flight home. End of services.
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Yes. Three weeks is the ideal length for this multi-country South America itinerary: 15 days in Peru (coast, Colca, Cusco and Machu Picchu), 3 days in Bolivia (La Paz and the Uyuni Salt Flats) and 3 days in Chile (San Pedro de Atacama and Santiago), traveling mostly overland with a few short flights.
From north to south along the Andes: Lima and the Peruvian coast, Arequipa and Cusco, then Lake Titicaca and the overland crossing to La Paz, a flight to Uyuni and a 4x4 crossing of the Altiplano into Chile at San Pedro de Atacama. It follows the natural geography, gains altitude gradually and avoids backtracking.
At the end of the Uyuni expedition you cross from Bolivia into Chile at the Hito Cajón border post (approx. 4,500 m), near the Laguna Verde. You complete Bolivian exit and Chilean entry formalities, then transfer down to San Pedro de Atacama (approx. 2,400 m) in about an hour. Chile has strict agricultural controls: fresh fruit, vegetables, meat, dairy, seeds and honey are not allowed, so finish any snacks before the border and declare anything you are unsure about.
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. Most visitors do not need a visa for Peru or Chile for tourism, but please confirm the rules for your nationality.
The route climbs gradually: Arequipa (approx. 2,335 m), the Colca Valley (approx. 3,600 m) and Cusco (approx. 3,400 m) prepare you for Rainbow Mountain (over 5,000 m), Lake Titicaca (approx. 3,830 m) and the Bolivian Altiplano, where the geysers reach approx. 4,900 m. After the border you descend to San Pedro de Atacama (approx. 2,400 m). Consult your doctor before travel.
April to November is the dry season in the Andes and the best time for Machu Picchu, Lake Titicaca and the Uyuni–Atacama crossing. From January to March, rain can flood the Salar de Uyuni into a mirror and occasionally close the lagoon route or the border to Chile.
Each country has its own currency: the Peruvian sol (PEN), the Bolivian boliviano (BOB) and the Chilean peso (CLP). US dollars are widely accepted for tourism services, and credit cards work in cities, but bring local cash for markets, tips and the remote Altiplano, where there are no ATMs.
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 flights in Peru, Bolivia and Chile and your international flights are quoted separately.