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Machu Picchu, Titicaca Lake, Salt Flat Uyuni - Bolivia

LIMA - CUSCO - MACHU PICCHU - TITICACA LAKE - UROS AND TAQUILE ISLANDS - LA PAZ - SALT FLAT UYUNI 15 days / 14 nightssalar de uyuni and Machu Picchu

Prices per person in USD:
Tourist Class Hotel 3stars US$ 4180 
based on double occupancy

First Class Hotel 4stars US$ 4994 
based on double occupancy

[message_box title="" color="red" show_close="Yes/No"]You can see also the following package: CUSCO - MACHU PICCHU - SALT FLAT UYUNI 10 days / 09 nights[/message_box]

Both prices include domestic airfares:
Lima - Cusco
La Paz - Salt Flat Uyuni
Salt Flat Uyuni - La Paz
La Paz - Lima

Include: 

- 2 nights at a Lima hotel, 3 nights at a Cusco hotel, 1 nigth at a Aguas Calientes hotel, 2 nigths at a Puno hotel, 1 nigth on the Catamaran /Titicaca lake), 3 nigths at a La Paz hotel (Bolivia), 2 nigths at a Salt Flat Uyuni hotel.

- Vista Dome train: Cusco - Aguas Calientes / Aguas Calientes - Cusco

- Titicaca Catamaran 

Itinerary Outline 

Day 1: Arrival to Lima 
Day 2: Lima, City tour 
Day 3: Lima to Cusco - City tour 
Day 4: Sacred Valley 
Day 5: Machu Picchu 
Day 6: Machu Picchu 
Day 7: Cusco to Puno 
Day 8: Titicaca Lake, Uros and Taquile islands 
Day 9: Titicaca Sun Island (Bolivia) 
Day 10: Titicaca Sun Island to La Paz 
Day 11: La Paz, City tour 
Day 12: La Paz to Salt Flat Uyuni 
Day 13: Salt Flat Uyuni, "Pescado" island 
Day 14: Salt Flat Uyuni to La Paz 
Day 15: La Paz to Lima, transfer out 

* Departures every day 

ITINERARY

Day 1 - LIMA PICK UP
Upon arrival reception and transfer to the select hotel - overnight (no meals)

Day 2 - LIMA, CITY TOUR
This tour could start in the morning 9:30 am or 2:30 pm. You will be picked up from you hotel. This excursion offers the best combination of the different attractions in Lima and its three historical periods: pre-Hispanic, colonial and contemporary. In Lima, there were several different pre-Columbian cultures which are dated thousands of years back. Lima was part of the Inca Empire until was founded by the Spaniard Francisco Pizarro on the 18th. of January, 1535. During our guided tour we will travel along its millenary history.

ANCESTRAL LIMA. At the Huaca Pucllana, an archaeological precint build in the IV century A.C., we will have a panoramic view of this magnificent ceremonial and administrative centre which was considered by the Incas a holy village. We will learn about the life and rituals of its ancient inhabitants and admire its typical pyramidal building, very characteristic of sacred pre-Hispanic edifications which were adored in the coast of Peru. 

COLONIAL LIMA. The Peruvian Viceroyalty was the most important one in the Spanish Empire and Lima was its capital. The highlights of its historical centre are its architecture and the urban design of the city, found in the old streets filled with colonial houses adorned with Moorish-style balconies. Our trip includes the Paseo de la Republica (Promenade of the Republic), Plaza San Martin (San Martin Square) and the Plaza Mayor (Main Square), with their different buildings: Palacio de Gobierno (Government Palace), Palacio Arzobispal the (Archbishop's Palace), the Basilica Catedral (Cathedral Basilica) and the Palacio Municipal (Municipal Palace). We will enter the monumental Convento de San Francisco (Convent of Saint Francis), which displays the biggest collection of religious art in America. We can admire the Choir Room and the Monks’ Library, the Sacristy, with its collection of Zurbaran and Rivera paintings. The Big Patio of the Main Cloister, decorated with Seville tiles from the XVI century, its beautiful Moorish arches and its subterranean crypts known as The Catacombs, where you will feel the presence of Lima's colonial past. 

CONTEMPORARY LIMA Visit to the most traditional residential areas in the capital: The Olive Grove of San Isidro, Miraflores and Larco Mar, distinctive tourist centre of contemporary Lima.

After the tour transfer to you hotel. Overnight. (breakfast included)

Day 3 - LIMA TO CUSCO - CITY TOUR
You will be picked up from your hotel and transfer to the airport for your flight to Cusco (airfare included) upon arrival reception and transfer to the select hotel, morning at leisure to acclimatize to the altitude. In the afternoon 1:00 pm you will be taken on a city tour and visit a local archaeological sites, the Cathedral, Koricancha, Sacsayhuaman and surroundings returning later afternoon 5:30 pm to your hotel around and enjoy the hospitality of the local people (no meals included).

Day 4 - SACRED VALLEY
After breakfast at 8:00 am you will be taken through the Inca Sacred Valley where life has remained almost unchanged for 500 years. You will visit the impressive village of Pisac and the Indian market, enjoy the beautiful handicrafts on sale and wonder at the many ethnic tribal costumes worn, not just for tourists, but as part of their heritage by the local people. The tour also include the visit to Ollantaytambo fortress and the Chinchero Market Before returning to your hotel in Cusco late afternoon (around 6:30 pm) (breakfast and lunch included)

Day 5 - MACHU PICCHU  2days 1 night (See more information about Machu Picchu)
Early morning 5:30 am and after breakfast, we'll depart to the train station to our journey to Machu Picchu on Vista dome Train. (4 hours) at 9:40 am you will arrive to the Aguas Calientes Town from where you will have to take 20 minutes bus to the Archaeological site; Once there where you will have a guided tour with an English speaking professional guide follow by some time at leisure, stay overnight in the area or town relax at the nearby hot springs (entrance not included) (breakfast included).

Day 6: MACHU PICCHU - CUSCO 
Morning at leisure by your own, you can visit the ruins early next day when the full magnificence of the site reveals itself in all its majesty (entrance and bus fee for this day not included on the rate) return to Cuzco where you will arrive around 7:30 pm.  (breakfast included).Overinght (b)

Day 7: CUSCO / PUNO
7:00am pick up from your hotel and transfer to the bus station to depart to Puno 8 hours journey, on the way you will visit some archeological sites, arrival reception and transfer to select Hotel - overnight (breakfast and lunch included)

Day 8: TITICACA LAKE - UROS AND TAQUILE ISLANDS (See more information about Titicaca Lake, Uros and Taquile Islands)
We will pick you up from your hostel at 07.15 a.m. and we will go to our boat. Today we will visit the floating islands of Uros, located inside the bay of Lake Titikaka only nine miles away from the city (20 to 30 minutes of navigation). It is believed that the Uros were one of the first ethnic groups populating the Andean region.When the Spanish chroniclers encountered the Uros by the end of the XVI century, the Uros were still living on the lake in small reed-boats that they used as floating houses. Only in the early 60's, the Uros started to build small artificial islands with reeds for their homes. Then we will discover Taquile, the biggest island of the lake. Taquile has approximately 1,200 inhabitants. The people from this island have a Quechua origin and they are mostly small farmers. We will arrive in the northern dock of the island and we will start 1 hour hike as far as the main village of Taquile, where we will visit the plaza and the market. After lunch we will return to Puno from the main dock. We will arrive in Puno at 17:30 p.m.

Note: Take note that there are 533 steps to get on top of the Island. Overnight (breakfast and lunch included)

Day 9 : PUNO - COPACABANA - CATAMARAN - 2D/1N 
Puno Departure: 06:30 Peru T.

La Paz arrival: 12:30 (Next day)

 Puno - Copacabana Bus 3 hrs escort guide
Copacabana Land tour
Visits: Cathedral, Main Squaree 1/2 hr bilingual guide
Copacabana - Sun Island Catamaran
Buffet lunch on board 1 hr bilingual guide 

Sun Island (South Side) Land tour
Visits:Inca Garden
Inca Steps
Inca Water Spring
Inti Wata Complex (Exclusive)
RA Replica (Reed Vessel)
Visits: Pilkokaina Inca Palace
Activities: Ancient Sailing demostration (Exclusive) 2 hrs
1/2 hours bilingual guide 

Sun Island (North Side) Land tour
Visits:
Challampampa native village
Challampampa museum
Chinkana Inca Holy Temple
Inca Sacred Rock
Activities:
Music ans garland welcome by Challampampa natives (Exclusive)
Visitor wish and offening to the Sacred lake (Exclusive)
Sailing on a Typical Sun Island Wood Vessel (Exclusive)
Kallawaya ancient Ceremony (Exclusive)
Inca Trail soft Trekking
2 1/2 hrs bilingual guide 

Sun Island (North Side) Buffet Dinner
Sun Island natives folkloric demostration on board
Catamaran Overnight   (breakfast, lunch and dinner included)

Day 10 : SUN ISLAND - CHUA - LA PAZ (BOLIVIA)
Sun Island - Chua Catamaran
Buffet breakfast on board 2 1/2 hrs bilingual guide
Chua - La Paz Bus 1 1/2 hrs bilingual guide
La Paz arrival: 12:30  (breakfast and lunch included)

Day 11 : LA PAZ CITY TOUR AND MOON VALLEY
We will visit a typical Indian market, the famous Witch Doctor’s market and the San Francisco Colonial Church. The tour continues to the Plaza Murillo, where the cathedral, the Government Palace and the National congress buildings are located. Then, we will visit the famous colonial street “Calle Jaén” where interesting museum are clustered together, followed by the visit to the open-air museum from the Tiwanaku Culture. To change scenery, the tour continues to the residential areas of Obrajes, Calacoto and La Florida.

The tour ends with the visit to the unique Moon Valley, place where the erosion has caused stony forms that giving the sensation to be in a real lunar landscape.Overnight at Gloria Hotel or similar  (breakfast included)

Day 12: LA PAZ TO UYUNI (see more information about Salt Flat Uyuni)
Transfer from hotel in La Paz to Airport for your flight to Uyuni. upon arrival reception and transfer to the Salt Moon Hotel  (breakfast and lunch included)

Day 13: UYUNI AND “PESCADO” ISLAND
Breakfast, visit to the Inca Huasi Island , also well known as the “Pescado Island” ( Fish Island ) located in the centre of the salar at 100 km from Uyuni and 40 km from Jirira. This is the main destination for most salt-desert tours. It is a remarkable and otherworldly place – a hilly outpost covered in trichocerus cacti and a flat, white sea of hexagonal salt tiles. A large population of stranded viscachas (Andean rodents) inhabits its rocky slopes which also afford views of the slat flats that are reminiscent of the Polar region, dominated by the colors blue and white, but with images of hills turned to one side by 45°. Fish Island is an oasis with a unique and isolated ecosystem that is populated by cacti up to 10 meters high. Photographers will find that Fish Island is one of the best sites in the world to indulge their passion. After a snack return to Uyuni sighting salt the water ponds; We stop at Colchani where we will observe manual salt production and processing to iodine salt., Transportation form The Salt Flat Uyuni to the lagoons is by 4 X 4, then Transfer to the Salt Moon Hotel. Overnight.  (breakfast and lunch included)

Day 14: UYUNI TO LA PAZ
Transfer to the airport for your flight to La Paz. Upon arrival you will be taken to your Hotel. Overnight  (breakfast included)                       

Day 15 : LA PAZ TO LIMA - TRANSFER OUT
Transportation to the airport to take your international flight to Lima. End our services (B) *Check out of the hotel is at noon.   (breakfast included)

INCLUDE:
Domestic airfares, nights at select hotel based on double occupancy, all transfers, professional bilingual guide service, entrance fee, transportation and meals as specify in the program.

NOT INCLUDED:
International airfares, airport departure taxes or visa fees, excess baggage charges,  extra expenses for flight cancellations, alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages or bottled water, snacks, insurance of any kind, laundry, phone calls, reconfirmation of international flights and items of personal nature.

IMPORTANT NOTE: Visa Requirement for US Citizens to enter in Bolivia
If you are North American and have decided visit Bolivia, you must take note of this recent information: In the first hours of 2007, The Bolivian President Evo Morales suppressed by decree the right of US citizens to enter this country freely, in reciprocity with a similar measure taken by the US government. Also the citizens of Angola, Bhutan, Chad Republic, Congo, Ruanda, Somalia, Yemen Republic, Indonesia,  China and Taiwán has been affected by this decree Please make sure to have all necessary documents before traveling!

 

 

SALT FLAT UYUNI

Salar de Uyuni (or Salar de Tunupa) is the world's largest salt flat at 10,582 square kilometers (4,086 sq mi). It is located in the Daniel Campos Province in Potosí in southwest Bolivia, near the crest of the Andes and is at an altitude of 3,656 meters (11,995 ft) above sea level.

The Salar was formed as a result of transformations between several prehistoric lakes. It is covered by a few meters of salt crust, which has an extraordinary flatness with the average altitude variations within one meter over the entire area of the Salar. The crust serves as a source of salt and covers a pool of brine, which is exceptionally rich in lithium. It contains 50 to 70% of the world's lithium reserves, which is in the process of being extracted. The large area, clear skies, and exceptional flatness of the surface make the Salar an ideal object for calibrating the altimeters of Earth observation satellites.

The Salar serves as the major transport route across the Bolivian Altiplano and is a major breeding ground for several species of flamingos. Salar de Uyuni is also a climatological transitional zone since the towering tropical cumulus congestus and cumulonimbus incus clouds that form in the eastern part of the salt flat during the summer cannot permeate beyond its drier western edges, near the Chilean border and the Atacama Desert.

 

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