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27 Day itinerary in Chile, South America

Santiago to Lima (via Uyuni) Express Travel Pass

Embark on a South American adventure with breathtaking highlights from Santiago to Lima, including the surreal Uyuni Salt Flats. Experience vibrant local cultures, ancient ruins, and diverse landscapes. Discover Bolivia's charm and Peru's mystique, while savoring savory Chilean cuisine. Enjoy thrill... Read More

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Bamba Travel Inc

By Bamba Travel Inc

Overview

Physical Difficulty

Easy
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Recommended Age

Everyone

Operated in

English

GUIDANCE

On Some Day Trips

starting point

Santiago

trip type

Private

trip attributes

Backpacking

Start

Night

End

Highlights

1

See active volcanoes, geysers & steaming craters

2

Get in touch with the natural beauty of Lake Titicaca

3

Discover Arequipa's most important city landmarks

4

See the mysterious Nazca lines in the Peruvian desert

Itinerary

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Day 1

place Day 1: Santiago, Chile

Santiago Bike City Experience

Departure Time: 9:30

Duration: 3 hrs

Pedal through the neighborhoods and popular markets in the Chilean capital with this fun Santiago Bicycle Tour and experience the city in a new way during your vacation. Bike tours in Santiago are very popular since the city is located in a flat valley with a lovely Mediterranean climate with low rainfall, making it great for a cycle. The first stop on this bicycle tour is La Chimba, a popular area known for its parties and bustle. The cycle tour continues in the Patronato neighborhood, a fairly traditional Chilean community where many people from around the world live today: Arabs, Indians, Chinese, Taiwanese, Japanese, Korean, Peruvian and others. There are plenty of clothing shops, restaurants and more in this neighborhood. Next, cycle to La Vega Central market where you can taste some typical fruits and vegetables. Finally, visit Plaza de Armas, the heart of historic Santiago.

Day 2

place Day 2: Valparaiso, Chile

Santiago to Valparaiso

Type: Bus

Time: From 06:45 to 21:30 ( Every 40 minutes)

Duration: 2 Hours

Transfer from Santiago to Valparaiso

Day 3

place Day 3: La Serena, Chile

Valparaiso to La Serena

Type: Bus

Time: 07:00am

Duration: 6.5 Hours

Transfer from Valparaiso to La Serena

Day 4

place Day 4: Calama, Chile

La Serena to Calama

Type: Bus

Time: 03:30, 05:30. 07:45, 22:00, 23:45

Duration: 15.45 Hours

Transfer from La Serena to Calama

Please make your own way to the bus station to catch your bus to Calama.

Day 5

place Day 5: San Pedro de Atacama, Chile

Calama to San Pedro de Atacama

Type: Bus

Time: 8:00, 13:30, 18:00

Duration: 1.5 Hours

Transfer from Calama to San Pedro de Atacama

Day 6

place Day 6: Uyuni Salt Flats, Bolivia

Uyuni Salt Flats & Desert Adventure 3D/2N (Atacama to Uyuni)

San Pedro de Atacama-Green Lagoon-Dali Desert-Sol de Mañana geysers - Red Lagoon (B/L/D)

Depart San Pedro de Atacama at 6:30 am by minibus for an exciting 3-day excursion. Cross into Bolivia, passing by the Chile and Bolivia immigration offices. Once on the Bolivian side, at 4400m above sea level, we change vehicles to a 4WD Jeep with a maximum capacity of 6 people. We start off in the Bolivian high plains, visiting places like the Green Lagoon (toxic copper water) and Laguna Blanca, located at the foot of the big Licancabur volcano at 6000m. Continue on to Dali Desert, where Salvador Dali found his inspiration from boulders sprinkled in the middle of the desert. There you can admire surrealistic landscapes, thermal water pools, the Sol de Mañana geysers –intermittent springs coming up at a 100º C. Walk carefully next to fumaroles and steaming craters filled with boiling pots of mud at 150-200 Cº. The journey ends up at Laguna Colorada, an intense red-colored lake which acts as the main nesting center for thousands of flamingos of 3 different species.

NOTE: You need to arrive to Atacama one day before the trek departs

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation:

  • Travel Pass: Basic dorm-style room with shared bathroom
Day 7

place Day 7: Uyuni Salt Flats, Bolivia

Uyuni Salt Flats & Desert Adventure 3D/2N (Atacama to Uyuni)

Siloli Desert-Chiguana Salt Flats (B/L/D)

Have an early breakfast and depart around 8:00 am this morning. Pass by the Siloli Desert at 4,550 meters (the highest and driest in the world) where there are a set of rock formations as a result of wind erosion. Take a photo next to a huge lava rock formation in the shape of a tree. Continue on to high plain lagoons also known as coloured lagoons; Laguna Honda, Chiarcota and Cañapa. Then we make our way to Chiguana salt flat, on the south side of Uyuni salt flat and surrounded by volcanoes. The night is spent at the Salt Hotel (a hotel made of salt), in double or triple rooms.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Accommodation:

  • Travel Pass: Basic dorm-style room with shared bathroom
Day 8

place Day 8: Uyuni, Bolivia

Uyuni Salt Flats & Desert Adventure 3D/2N (Atacama to Uyuni)

Uyuni Salt Flats - Uyuni (B/L)

Depart at 8:00 am and cruise along the vast white expanse of salt today. Visit Inca Wasy (Fish Island), located in the middle of the salt flat, with beautiful cactus and rock formations made of petrified coral. Take time to organize your group for fun perspective and proportion-distorted photos on the blinding white surface of the salt flats. Pass by piles of salt at the small village of Colchani, a salt miners workshops next to the salt flats. End your unforgettable trip in the town of Uyuni around 3:00 pm and say goodbye to your new friends. We hope to see you soon for your next adventure!

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Day 9

place Day 9: Uyuni, Bolivia

Uyuni to La Paz

Type: Cama* Bus (Overnight) [*subject to availability]

Time: 20:00

Duration: 11 Hours

Transfer from Uyuni to La Paz

Please make your own way to the bus station to catch your bus to La Paz.

Day 10

place Day 10: La Paz, Bolivia

Free Day


Enjoy a free day to experience on your own

Day 11

place Day 11: La Paz, Bolivia

La Paz Local Explorer

Departure Time: 14:00

Duration: 3 hrs

One of the best ways to see this offbeat and colorful city is in the sky! This adventure will show you the real La Paz exploring the amazing cable cars, the fascinating cemetery, local shamans and the pulsating city of El Alto with an amazing guide. This is one of the most stunning city tours in the world! Not only do you get to take in the magnificent views of La Paz and the surrounding mountains, but you also explore some of the most off the beaten path spots in the city! Take local transport up to the cemetery where we explore the open air street art museum and learn about the fascinating culture and traditions that can only be found here, then up to El Alto in the world’s most scenic form of transport, the teleferico (cable car). In El Alto we visit a local shaman and have the opportunity to get our fortunes read before exploring the city further and then taking 2 more telefericos back to the city center. Get a chance to see the real La Paz!

Day 12

place Day 12: Copacabana, Bolivia

La Paz to Copacabana

Type: Hostel Pick-up Shuttle

Time: 07:00

Duration: 4 Hours

Transfer from La Paz to Copacabana

You will be picked up at your accommodation/meeting point for your shuttle transfer to Copacabana, where you’ll be dropped off at your next accommodation/meeting point.

Day 13

place Day 13: Puno, Peru

Copacabana to Puno

Type: Public Bus

Time: 09:00, 13:30, 17:30, 18:30

Duration: 3 Hours

Transfer from Copacabana to Puno

Day 14

place Day 14: Puno, Peru

Lake Titicaca Day Tour

Departure Time: 06:40

Duration: 8 hrs

This tour begins between 6:00-7:00 am with a transfer from your Puno City Center hotel to the port. Then by motor boat (35 feet long with a covered section in case of rain or cold weather, 25 individual seats) we visit the Uros floating Islands. Stepping on them feels very much like a water bed (but it is quite safe). We see the houses, the islands and meet its friendly habitants. Uros people are descendants of one of the oldest South American groups. Rides on traditional reed boats can be arranged. In the mornings these islands can be crowded. We visit two of the 60 islands before continuing on to Taquile Island. After a relaxed navigation of an extra 2 1/2 hours, getting the chance to enjoy the spectacular views offered by Lake Titicaca, we get to Taquile island. There, lives a unique community. A long path gradually ascending (45 min. hike approx.) will take us to the village, the views are beautiful. Visit the communal cooperative where you will find handicraft textiles of high quality. The views are magnificent. At 2:30 pm approx. we will depart back to Puno City (3 hours return journey). At 5.30 pm we arrive to Puno. On arrival to Puno we will transfer you to your Puno hotel.

Meals: Lunch

Day 15

place Day 15: Cuzco, Peru

Puno to Cuzco

Type: Shuttle Bus

Time: 22:00

Duration: 7.5 Hours

Transfer from Puno to Cuzco

Please make your own way to the bus station to catch your bus to Cuzco.

Day 16

place Day 16: Cuzco, Peru

Free Day


Enjoy a free day to experience on your own

Day 17

place Day 17: Cuzco, Peru

Market & Cooking Class with a Local

Departure Time: 9:00, 15:00

Duration: 4 hrs

Our Cusco Culinary cooking experience starts at San Pedro Market (at door number 1), with a visit to this historical and traditional local market. We will try some of the most exotic fruits of Peru, the best chocolate, local cheeses, and traditional bread. After that, we will walk to our cooking studio, a traditional house from 1922, that is part of the world heritage Cusco center. We will start our cooking classes preparing the national drink of Peru, passion fruit Pisco sour. Then, we will prepare three traditional Peruvian exquisite dishes and a delicious dessert. Our class is full hands on, and you will take part in all the preparation. After we finish we will enjoy all the food, and you will have a great Peruvian meal. After the class we will also send you the recipes, so then you can share your new talent, as a Peruvian chef, with your family and friends.

NOTE: To know your food requirements is very important. Our dishes are easy to be converted into vegetarian, so if you are vegetarian or Vegan this is the perfect class for you. This experience includes alcohol. Only guests who meet the legal drinking age will be served alcoholic beverages.

Meals: Lunch

Day 18

place Day 18: Cuzco, Peru

Cuzco to Arequipa

Type: Bus (Overnight)

Time: 20:00, 20:30

Duration: 10 Hours

Transfer from Cuzco to Arequipa

Day 19

place Day 19: Arequipa, Peru

Free Day
Enjoy a free day to experience on your own

Day 20

place Day 20: Arequipa, Peru

Colca Canyon Day Trip

Departure Time: 2:45, 3:00

Duration: 14 hrs

We will pick you up between 02:45 and 03:00 a.m. and drive you for 3 hours north west of Arequipa to Chivay, the capital of the Colca Canyon, behind snow-covered Chachani. We'll arrive at Yanque village and have breakfast there.

Then we continue driving for another hour and a half to the most popular Condor viewing location, "the Cross." From here, we can see the canyon's depth and the Condor's flight.

Beautiful traditional villages like as Yanque and Maca, colonial churches, kind people dressed in traditional needlework clothes, and hundreds of pre-Inca terraces still in use with Andean crops such as corn, quinoa, and kiwicha, among others, can be found in the area. In addition, we will visit the hot spring pools, for which there is an additional entrance cost, and for which we will have 45 minutes free.

Then we'll go to Chivay for lunch, and then return to Arequipa via the highest pass: the sight of the Volcanoes and snow-capped mountains in Patapampa (4,800 m. - 15,000 ft.). Later, at the Pampa Caahuas national reserve, we will observe wild vicuas, alpacas, and llamas, as well as flamingos, ibis, Andean gooze, ducks, and the Andean eagle "Kara Kara." Back in Arequipa around 18:00 hrs.).

Meals: Breakfast

Day 21

place Day 21: Arequipa, Peru

Arequipa to Nazca

Type: Bus (Overnight)

Time: 21:00

Duration: 9.5 Hours

Transfer from Arequipa to Nazca

Day 22

place Day 22: Ica, Peru

Nazca to Ica

Type: Bus

Time: 10:00, 12:30, 14:00

Duration: 2.5 Hours

Transfer from Nazca to Ica

Please make your own way to the bus station to catch your bus to Ica.

Day 23

place Day 23: Huacachina, Peru

Huacachina Sand-Buggy & Sand-Boarding

Departure Time: 15:15

Duration: 2 hrs

Welcome to the quaint, quiet and cute oasis of Huacachina with its tranquil lagoon and backdrop of amazing sand dunes anywhere you turn to look. Get ready to cruise to the tops of 500 meter high sand dunes and go rocketing down the slopes in the sand buggy. A roller coaster ride of 360's, sharp turns and steep hills will get your adrenaline pumping before you take your first shot at sand boarding. Strap yourself in tightly, throw your hands in the air and scream away as you are carried over sand dunes in the middle of the expansive desert.

You will have the opportunity to sandboard on 3-4 different dunes so you can try your luck. You will take thrilling rides on a basic sandboard by laying face first on the board and letting yourself fly down the dune to see how far (and fast) you can go. Cheer on your mates and don't let anyone shy away from this unforgettable experience. Lastly, you will admire the breathtaking sunset over the vast desert landscape and have the chance to take photos in the golden twilight before racing back to Huacachina.

Day 24

place Day 24: Paracas, Peru

Huacachina to Paracas

Type: Bus

Time: 12:30, 15:00, 16:30

Duration: 1 Hours

Transfer from Huacachina to Paracas

Please make your own way to the bus station to catch your bus to Paracas.

Day 25

place Day 25: Paracas, Peru

Ballestas Islands Sightseeing Boat Ride (from Paracas)

Departure Time: 08:00, 10:00

Duration: 2 hrs

As you cruise west from the tiny beach town of Paracas, you won't be able to miss the Candelabra geoglyph, a 150m high and 50m wide figure of a candlestick etched into the mountain, rumored to have been an ancient guide for sailors or a connection to the Nazca lines. A short description and time for photos is given before cruising on to the famous Ballestas Islands.

Ballestas islands is an excellent opportunity to see large families of over 100 sea lions sleeping on the shores, basking in the sun on the rocks or some barking loudly in efforts to protect their territory. Spot cormorants, the Peruvian booby and Peruvian pelican as well as other impressive varieties of sea bird species and Humboldt penguins nesting together in small groups. Feeling lucky? Watch the waters for dolphins.

Apart from the abundant marine and bird life found here, the Ballestas Islands are also very well known for the guano (seabird droppings) deposited on the island over thousands of years which creates a natural reserve of nitrogen-rich fertilizer over 50 meters deep in some areas. The guano came to be Peru's #1 export in the mid-19th century however today the extraction of guano has been regulated to every 10 years.

The return trip to Paracas is a quick, very windy, direct boat ride to the dock. You should have some time to take photos of the friendly pelicans that hang out on the shore line beside the dock, do some souvenir shopping or grab a snack before heading on to your next destination.

Day 26

place Day 26: Lima, Peru

Paracas to Lima

Type: Bus

Time: 08:05, 12:05, 13:30, 15:05, 16:10, 19:10, 20:10

Duration: 4 Hours

Transfer from Paracas to Lima

Day 27

place Day 27: Lima, Peru

Lima with a Local on a Bike

Departure Time: 10:00, 15:00

Duration: 3 hrs

We will meet three blocks away from Kennedy Park, where we will cover safety instructions and information about the amazing places we'll visit. Our tour will cover top sights around Miraflores and Barranco, including the Kennedy Park, Huaca Pucllana, Park of love, Larcomar, Bridge of Sights and Plaza Barranco. As you ride, you will enjoy an amazing view of the Pacific Ocean and street art, learn stories and fun facts about the neighborhoods and our culture. Along this tour we will talk about Peruvian food, spots, culture, local history and anything you'll like. When arriving Barranco feel free to ask your guide for a free beer!

What’s Included

Accommodation expand_less

  • Basic dorm-style room with shared bathroom

Meals expand_less

  • Breakfast (4)
  • Lunch (5)
  • Dinner (2)

Transport expand_less

  • Santiago to Valparaiso
  • Valparaiso to La Serena
  • La Serena to Calama
  • Calama to San Pedro de Atacama
  • Uyuni to La Paz
  • La Paz to Copacabana
  • Copacabana to Puno
  • Puno to Cuzco
  • Cuzco to Arequipa
  • Arequipa to Nazca
  • Nazca to Huacachina
  • Huacachina to Paracas
  • Paracas to Lima

Activities expand_less

  • Santiago Bike City Experience
  • La Paz Local Explorer
  • Lake Titicaca Day Tour
  • Colca Canyon Day Trip
  • Huacachina Sand-Buggy & Sand-Boarding
  • Ballestas Islands Sightseeing Boat Ride (from Paracas)
  • Lima with a Local on a Bike
  • Uyuni Salt Flats & Desert Adventure
  • Market & Cooking Class with a Local

Not Included expand_less

  • Travel Insurance
  • Other Meals / Drinks
  • Accommodations when not mentioned
  • Guide throughout the tour
  • Tips & Gratuities
  • Personal Expenses

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