25 Days | Mind-bending landscapes and feats of nature await
Peru and Bolivia are both lands of the epic and that which must be seen to be believed. This 25-day odyssey takes you to the world’s highest-navigable lake (Titicaca), the world’s largest tropical rainforest (the Amazon), the world’s highest administrative capital (La Paz) and the world’s largest salt flats (Uyuni). It also includes the chance to trek the Inca Trail before emerging above Machu Picchu, which isn’t actually a world-record holder but probably should be for ‘best ancient city in the clouds’. In between the gasps you can ramble through markets, sipping Pisco sours and munching ceviche with locals.
Trip overview
- Start
- Lima, Peru
- Finish
- La Paz, Bolivia
- Theme
- Explorer
- Destinations
- Peru, Bolivia
- Physical rating
- Indicates how physically exerting a trip is, and how fit you will need to be to enjoy it. More info on physical ratings
- Style
- Original
- Ages
- Min 15
- Group size
- Min 1 - Max 16
- Trip code
- GGSUC
- Trek jungle trails and track wildlife with local experts in the Amazon rainforest and spend two nights sleeping among nature in lodges.
- Marvel at the mother of all Inca cities, magical Machu Picchu. Enjoy a guided tour of the ruins and free time to explore on your own.
- Take a boat tour on Lake Titicaca – the world's highest navigable lake – then alight at a floating island made of reeds for a unique homestay.
- Empty, haunting and spectacular – the laws of physics seem to bend on the Uyuni Salt Flats. Experience it on a three-day 4WD adventure across the rocky Atacama Desert.
- At Intrepid we’ve always been about balancing profit and purpose and as the largest B Corp certified operator on the Inca Trail we’re committed to operating our treks for the benefit of all – join us and help make the world a better place.
- This trip visits places that are at high altitude, and as a result some people can suffer from altitude sickness, regardless of age or physical health. Please see the Medical and health information section of the Essential Trip Information for more detail.
- This trip involves a lot of walking to see the sites, and if you trek the Inca Trail or Quarry Trail, there'll be strenuous hiking. The trip is recommended for those with a good level of fitness. Please bring comfortable footwear suitable to hiking. See the ‘Packing’ section of the Essential Trip Information for more detail.
- For those who trek the Inca Trail or Quarry Trail, you'll be camping with basic facilities. It's definitely the journey as well as the final destination (Machu Picchu) that makes this way of exploring Peru worthwhile.
- Temperatures in the Amazon can fluctuate from daytime humidity to night-time chill. Insects, especially mosquitoes, are common. We recommend tropical-strength insect repellent and light cotton clothing that covers your arms and legs, with warmer layers for the evening.
- This trip forms part of many longer combination trips. Some of your fellow travellers may have started earlier or be travelling further, and some will be doing different routes to Machu Picchu.
- According to Machu Picchu visiting regulations, all visitors must follow a pre-determined route within the site. This route must be followed in one direction only, and once the guided visit commences exiting and re-entering the site is not permitted. Once the guided visit concludes, visitors must exit the site and personal exploration of Machu Picchu is not permitted. Please refer to the Itinerary for details.
- Travellers who choose different ways of reaching Machu Picchu (Inca Trail, Quarry Trail or Train), will not follow the same routes within Machu Picchu. This means that you may not be able to have photos together, overlooking Machu Picchu. This applies to travellers on the same booking or separate bookings.
- Can't decide which trek is for you? Read up on them here: https://www.intrepidtravel.com/adventures/inca-trail-vs-quarry-trail/
- You'll be spending a lot of time in a 4WD crossing some bumpy surfaces. This is the best way to see the sights in and around Uyuni, and is all part of the adventure.
- In Bolivia (especially in Uyuni), things don't always go to plan. An attraction may be closed for the day with no notice or reason. Although this doesn't happen very often, please be prepared for the possibility.
- Making your way across the Andean Desert and salt flats isn’t exactly luxurious. Temperatures in the area can be very cold, especially at night, so bring warm clothes with you. Meals are simple, toilet facilities are basic, showers can be cold, and the multi-share accommodation is dormitory-style. This is all part of the adventure. Without a doubt, this amazing experience will be one of the highlights of your trip to South America.
- The excursion to Salar de Uyuni is on a shared basis and your group size may be larger than 12 travellers.
Itinerary
View the itinerary for departures between 01 January 2025 - 31 December 2025
Inclusions
23 breakfasts, 10 lunches, 8 dinners
Plane, Canoe, Boat, 4X4, Private Vehicle, Taxi, Public Bus
Camping (with basic facilities) (3 nights), Dormitory (2 nights), Homestay (1 night), Hotel (12 nights), Jungle Lodge (2 nights)
- Lima - Leader-led walking tour
- Amazon Jungle - Jungle activities
- Cusco - Leader-led orientation walk
- Sacred Valley - Community visit & lunch
- Sacred Valley - Snack & drink at AMA Restaurant social enterprise
- 3 Night/4 Day Inca Trail (or 2 Night/3 Day Inca Quarry Trail) guided hike(s) with porters' support. Or guided Cusco stay (Machu Picchu by train)
- Machu Picchu - Entrance and guided tour
- Lake Titicaca - Boat tour & Homestay
- La Paz - Orientation Walk
- Salt flats - Visit to 'Fish Island/Inca Wasi'
- Eduardo Avaroa National Reserve - Altiplano tour including Laguna Colorada
- Sucre - Dinosaur Footprints
- Sucre - Orientation Walk
- Sucre - Chataquila Pre-Inca trek
- Lima - Museum of the Inquisition - Free
- Lima - Archaeological Museum (entrance fee) - PEN15
- Lima - Coast Biking Tour - Urban Adventure (Price based on 2 participants) - USD52
- Lima - Guided tour of San Francisco Monastery, including The Catacombs Admission Fee - PEN20
- Lima - Private: Home Cooked Tour Ceviche experience Urban Adventure (Based on 2 Participants) - USD85
- Lima - Lima Discovery + San Francisco and Pisco Sour - Urban Adventures (Price based on 2 participants) - USD39
- Lima - Lima Eat Street (Based on 4 participants) - USD75
- Lima - Private Larco Museum (Based on 4 participants) - USD50
- Lima - Lima Pisco Making (Based on 4 participants) - USD35
- Lima - Bohemian Barranco (Based on 4 participants) - USD75
- Lima - Lima Water Show (Based on 4 participants) - USD40
- Ollantaytambo - Archaeological site - PEN70
- Cusco - Full Boleto Turistico Pass (access to 16 archaeological sites, transport & guides not included) - PEN135
- Cusco - Half Boleto Turistico Pass (access to selected archaeological sites, transport & guides not included) - PEN75
- Cusco - Coricancha Temple (entrance fee) - PEN15
- Cusco - Cathedral Entrance Fee - PEN40
- Cusco - Rainbow Mountain Hike (Based on 4 participants) - USD105
- Cusco - Full Day Via Ferrata & Zipline - USD95
- Cusco - Pisco Making Urban Adventure (Based on 2 participants) - USD57
- Cusco - Full Day Stand Up Paddle Boarding (Based on 4 participants) - USD85
- Sacred Valley - Mountain Biking (Price Based on 2 Participants) - USD170
- Cusco - Palcoyo Rainbow Mountain Hike (Based on 4 paticipants) - USD100
- Cusco - Humantay Lake Hike (Based on 4 participants) - USD130
- Cusco - Cusco Cooking Class - USD70
- La Paz - Visit to the 'Witches Market' - Free
- La Paz City Tour & Moon Valley - USD40
- La Paz - Tiwanaku Archeological site (Shared service) - USD50
- La Paz - Coca Museum - BOB20
- Potosi - National Mint of Bolivia - BOB60
- Potosi - Santa Teresa Convent Museum - BOB33
- Potosi - Cerro Rico mine tour - BOB150
- Sucre - Church of San Felipe Neri - BOB17
- Sucre - Casa de la Libertad - BOB28
- Sucre - Museum of Textiles - BOB35
- Sucre - Bolivian Dance Show - BOB150
Dates and availability
Important notes
1. Full passport details are required at the time of booking. The passport you travel with must match the booking details provided to us. This will be used to apply for your Inca permit and if any info doesn’t match your passport, the Inca authorities will refuse your entry. Delays in providing this information may result in booking fees or changes to your itinerary.
2. A single supplement is available if you’d prefer not to share a room on this trip. The single supplement excludes Days 2 & 3 (Amazon Jungle), Day 12 (Homestay), Day 17 (Mixed Dormitory) and Day 18 (Dormitory) where you will be in shared accommodation and is subject to availability. Please speak to your booking agent for further information.
3. This trip starts in Lima on Day 1 at 2pm. This allows time after the welcome meeting to explore Lima.
4. At the time of booking, please advise whether you would like to hike the classic Inca Trail, Inca Quarry Trail or take the train. When available, the Inca Trail will be booked as the default option. Fees may apply to changes made after the time of booking, and availability on other options cannot be guaranteed.
5. Inca Trail permits are sold on a request basis only. Once a deposit is paid and passport details are provided, Intrepid will endeavour to secure a permit for you. If Inca Trail permits are unavailable by the time you book, you can opt to hike the Quarry Trail instead https://www.intrepidtravel.com/machu-picchu-peru/quarry-trail or travel to Machu Picchu by train.
6. The Inca Trail closes in February to allow cleaning and restoration works. If the trek portion of your trip starts in February, you will be automatically booked to hike the Quarry Trail.
7. As you can choose different ways of reaching Machu Picchu (Inca Trail, Quarry Trail or Train), you may be joined by other Intrepid and/or non-Intrepid travellers. There is also a small chance you may be the only traveller from your group on your selected option.
8. Passport holders of the United States and South Africa need a visa to enter Bolivia. We recommend that you obtain this visa in advance from your nearest Bolivian embassy. Not obtaining the visa in advance is likely to cause long delays at the border. Please refer to the Passports, visa and entry requirements section of the Essential Trip information for more details.
Want an in-depth insight into this trip? Essential Trip Information provides a detailed itinerary, visa info, how to get to your hotel, what's included - pretty much everything you need to know about this adventure and more.
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