Cartagena to Cuzco Itinerary

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    • Trip Price tool tip
      USD $3,450
      CAD $3,470
      AUD $3,355
      EUR €2,685
      GBP £2,090
      NZD $4,300
      ZAR R26,800
      CHF FR3,110
    • Kitty tool tip
      USD $1,930
    • Total price tool tip
      USD $5,380*
      CAD $5,344*
      AUD $5,202*
      EUR €4,032*
      GBP £3,267*
      NZD $6,616*
      ZAR R40,223*
      CHF FR4,636*
      *
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    • Overland
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‡ As our kitty is flexible the indicated amount is indicative only - please click here to view the kitty amount for your departure date.
Traditional Cuzco dancers performing in the streets

Llamas on the Red Lake

Colourful blankets at market in Otavalo

Volcano landscape over Ecuador

Brightly coloured Amazonian Frog

Traditional boat of Uros Islands

Amazing view of ancient ruins from above

Local wildlife grazing in ancient ruins of Machu Picchu

Local mother in traditional colours carrying baby

Days 1-2 Cartagena

Wander around beautiful Cartagena on a guided city tour. Discover Cartagena's old town, an exceptionally well preserved area full of cobblestone laneways, charming buildings and busy cafes. Experience the therapeutic effects of a mud bath on an optional visit to a bubbling mud volcano.
ACCOM: Hotel - 2

Days 3-4 Covenas/San Bernardo Islands

Head to the Morrosquillo Gulf and camp on the beaches of Covenas. Tour the free beaches of San Bernado Islands and lookout for the diverse range of wildlife from bright pink flamingos to multi-coloured crabs.
ACCOM: Camping (with facilities) - 2

Days 5-6 Medellin

Travel to Columbia’s second largest city and get involved in the vibrant nightlife of Medellin. Perhaps take a day trip to the local markets and open central courtyard of Santa Fe de Antioquia.
ACCOM: Hostel - 2

Days 7-9 Guatapé

Stay lakeside, surrounded by the rolling countryside of Guatapé. Browse stalls on the board walk or climb the El Penon de Guatape, a 650 foot tall granite monolith that provides magnificent views over the water.
ACCOM: Camping (with facilities) - 3

Days 10-11 Manizales

Head to Manizales for a three-night stay at a hacienda. Tour a coffee plantation and admire scenic mountain vistas on a trip to Los Nevados National Park.
ACCOM: Camping (with facilities) - 2

Day 12 Los Nevados National Park

Explore the savage but beautiful landscape of Los Nevados National Park, home to a unique combination of wildlife and vegetation as well as a wild, contrasting landscape.
ACCOM: Camping (with facilities) - 1

Days 13-14 Cali

Party the night away as you bar hop through Cali or relax in the bohemian cafes of the city’s San Antonio neighbourhood. Why not step out and take an optional salsa class.
ACCOM: Camping (with facilities) - 2

Day 15 Popayan

Discover the old town of Popayan and take a day trip to admire the spectacular volcanic landscapes of the Purace National Park.
ACCOM: Hotel - 1

Day 16 Ipiales

Drive to the Ecuadorian border and explore the town of Ipiales. Perhaps take time to visit the area's prime attraction, Santuario de Las Lajas - believed to be the site of many miracles and apparitions. Set dramatically amid impressive mountain scenery, Las Lajas is a hidden highlight of Colombia.
ACCOM: Hotel - 1

Day 17 Otavalo

Farewell Colombia and travel across the border into Ecuador. Browse through the array of bright textiles and colourful crafts available at the famous markets of Otavalo.
ACCOM: Hotel - 1

Days 18-19 Quito

Enjoy free time in captivating Quito, Ecuador's enthralling capital. Visit ornate churches in the Old Town for a dose of architecture and history. Sample local cuisine in one of the many cafes that line the cobblestone streets.
ACCOM: Hotel - 2

Days 20-22 Amazon Jungle

Enjoy the warm climate of the upper Amazon Basin, one of the world's most biologically diverse regions. Trek deep into the jungle, visit pools inhabited by caimans, have a chance to meet shaman and fall asleep to the sounds of the jungle.
ACCOM: Lodge - 3

Days 23-25 Rio Verde

Camp in the lush Tungurahua Province and explore nearby Banos, famous for its hot springs and mountainous surrounds. In this lush environment, optional activities abound - from horse riding to mountain biking and even whitewater rafting.
ACCOM: Camping (with facilities) - 3

Days 26-27 Chugchilan/Quilotoa Loop

Witness spectacular views while driving along the winding Quilotoa Loop. Stretch legs on a guided trek and overnight in an eco-lodge nestled on the slopes of the Rio Toachi Canyon.
ACCOM: Hostel - 2

Day 28 Riobamba

Be treated to more stunning scenery on the journey towards Riobamba.
ACCOM: Hotel - 1

Day 29 Cuenca

Learn the history of the iconic Panama hat during an insightful factory tour. Pick up a hat at the local market or explore Cuenca's scenic streets and shady plazas.
ACCOM: Guesthouse - 1

Days 30-31 Punta Sal

Nestled in a long bay on the shores of the Pacific Ocean, Punta Sal is a haven for sun, surf and sand. Head out deep-sea fishing or explore the shoreline aboard a boat. For those looking for something more active, horse riding and salsa lessons are also available.
ACCOM: Camping (with facilities) - 2

Days 32-33 Huanchaco

Visit the Museum of the Royal Tombs of Sipan to discover the finest artefacts from the nearby archaeological finds at Sipan. Pitch a tent at Huanchaco, home to the surfing fishermen, and watch these skilful men bobbing among the waves while balancing on their narrow reed canoes. Spend a full day exploring the ruins of Chan Chan - the largest pre-Columbian city in South America - and stop by the temples of the Sun and the Moon.
ACCOM: Camping (with facilities) - 2

Days 34-36 Huaraz

Get ready for an action-packed stop! There's the option to go mountain biking, trekking to glassy Llanganuco Lagoon or even climbing over the Pastoruri Glacier. Nestled high in the Andes, Huaraz is dominated by the highest tropical mountain range in the world, the Cordillera Blanca, and by Peru's highest peak, Huascaran.
ACCOM: Guesthouse - 3

Days 37-38 Lima

Discover the colonial heart of downtown Lima or perhaps head to scenic Miraflores for a walk along the seafront boardwalks.
ACCOM: Hotel - 2

Day 39 Paracas/Ballestas Islands

Leave the city behind and travel south along the coast of Peru. Pitch a tent in Paracas, which spans over 335,000 hectares and is one of the world's most important marine reserves. Take a walk along the coastline and spot the vibrant birdlife Paracas is famous for.

Day 40 Nazca

Spot penguins, sea lions and boobies during a boat tour through the Ballestas Islands. Learn about the mysterious sand images on a Nazca Lines tour and perhaps take an overhead flight to fully appreciate the scale of this puzzling creation.
ACCOM: Camping (with facilities) - 1

Day 41 Puerto Inca

The windswept graves at the Chauchilla Cemetery display the eerie skeletons and mummified bodies of the Nazca people, some of which date from 1,000 AD. Camp overnight near Puerto Inca.
ACCOM: Camping (with facilities) - 1

Days 42-43 Arequipa

Explore the scenic city of Arequipa and perhaps stop by the Museo Santury to view Juanita, the ice princess. The body of this frozen Inca maiden is thought to be more than 500 years old, and was found at a sacrificial site on the summit of Nevado Ampato.
ACCOM: Hotel - 2

Days 44-45 Chivay/Colca Canyon

Try to spot the mighty Andean condors as they silently take to the sky thousands of metres above the floor of the breathtaking Colca Canyon.
ACCOM: Hotel - 2

Day 46 Raqchi Homestay

Get to know a local family as guests at a homestay in Raqchi. Spend the evening huddled around a crackling fire, sharing a meal, and discovering traditional Peruvian song and dance.
ACCOM: Homestay - 1

Days 47-48 Cuzco

Arrive in the city set high city in the mountains of Peru, Cuzco. Wander through cobblestone streets lined with massive Inca stone walls and Spanish-colonial architecture. Perhaps enjoy a traditional dance performance or sign up for one of the many adventure activities on offer in Cuzco, including quad-biking and whitewater rafting.
ACCOM: Hotel - 2

Days 49-52 Quechua Community Trek/Classic Inca Trail

Follow in the footsteps of the Incas on an alternate Inca trail trek through the Andes. Go trekking through the snow-capped Cordillera Urubamba mountains, along winding mountain paths, past herds of grazing llamas. Meet local Quechua communities during the four-day hike before descending into the Sacred Valley to explore the massive Inca fortress at Ollantaytambo.
ACCOM: Camping (with facilities) - 3, Hotel - 1

Days 53-54 Machu Picchu/Cuzco

Explore the crumbling ruins of Machu Picchu, the 'Lost City of the Incas'. Find a spot near the Sun Gate to sit back and soak up the magical atmosphere before making the return journey back to Cuzco.
ACCOM: Hotel - 1