26 Days | Discover all the highlights and a few secrets along the way on an epic trip across South America





This 26-day adventure covers all of South America's most iconic sights, with a local leader to show you the way and plenty of free time to choose your own adventure. Go wildlife-spotting in the heart of the Amazon jungle, where you’ll float and trek among anacondas and caimans, walk in the footsteps of the Inca (or alternatively, take a leisurely train ride) to Machu Picchu – one of the Seven Wonders of the World, marvel at Bolivia's mind-bending salt flats in Salar de Uyuni, stay on the floating islands of Uros on Lake Titicaca in a unique homestay experience and sip a glass of malbec in atmospheric Buenos Aires. With locals to show you the secret hotspots and fellow travellers your own age, this trip has all the opportunities of an epic adventure!
Trip overview

- Start
- Lima, Peru
- Finish
- Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Theme
- 18 to 29s
- Destinations
- Chile, Peru, Argentina, 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
- Basix
- Ages
- Min 18 - Max 29
- Group size
- Min 1 - Max 16
- Trip code
- GGYBC
Tick off all the popular spots and enjoy unique local experiences
Affordable trips with the freedom to choose how you spend your time
You book, we donate to help support local communities
- Float down the Amazon River through the jungle at night, keeping an out for the glaring eyes of jaguars, anacondas and caimans. Don’t worry, you’ll be accompanied by a local expert!
- Stay with the locals during a homestay on Lake Titicaca, on the colourful floating islands of Uros that look like they come straight out of a Pixar movie.
- Walk on water (sort of) at the sprawling salt lakes of Bolivia – the largest salt flats in the world, Salar de Uyuni is amid the Andes and serves up some pretty epic photos ops.
- See how spicy Latin America mixes with the best of colonial Europe in the cosmopolitan city of Buenos Aires – maybe take a tango class and head out to bust your moves in the vibrant nightlife hotspot.
- Whether you trek the Inca Trail, Inca Quarry Trail or take the scenic train route, you'll be travelling responsibly with a company that cares about balancing profit and purpose. Intrepid is the largest B Corp certified operator on the Inca Trail and we’re committed to operating our treks for the benefit of all.
- Due to the high altitude of many of the places you’ll visit, some people can suffer altitude sickness. Some people aren’t affected at all, but if you are, drink plenty of water and don’t push yourself too hard. If possible, arrive a few days early to allow yourself time to acclimatise. Please see the ‘Medical and Health Information’ section of the Essential Trip Information for details.
- Making your way across the Andean Desert involves long travel days spent in 4WDs on dusty and bumpy tracks. Temperatures in the area can be very cold, especially at night, so bring warm clothes. 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. Undoubtedly, this amazing experience will be one of the highlights of your trip to South America.
- While hiking the four-day Inca Trail or three-day Inca Quarry trail, you may be joined by some non-Intrepid travellers who might be over 29 years old.
- 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.
Itinerary
View the itinerary for departures between 01 January 2023 - 31 December 2023
Inclusions
25 breakfasts, 9 lunches, 8 dinners
4x4, Bus, Overnight bus, Plane, Van
Camping (with basic facilities) (3 nights), Jungle Lodge (2 nights), Dormitory (2 nights), Homestay (1 night), Hotel (16 nights), Overnight bus (1 night)
- Lima - Leader Led orientation walk of Miraflores
- Amazon Jungle - Jungle Lodge Stay and Activities
- Cusco - Orientation Walk
- Sacred Valley - Community visit & lunch
- 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 - Guided tour
- Lake Titicaca - Boat tour & Homestay
- La Paz - Visit to the 'Witches Market'
- La Paz - Orientation Walk
- Uyuni - Salt flats tour
- Salt flats - Visit to 'Fish Island/Inca Wasi'
- Uyuni - Orientation Walk
- Uyuni - Colchani Salt Factory Visit
- Eduardo Avaroa National Reserve - Altiplano tour including Laguna Colorada & Laguna Verde
- Salta - Orientation walk
- Lima - Archaeological Museum - PEN15
- Lima - Guided tour of San Francisco Monastery including The Catacombs - PEN20
- Lima - Lima Water Show (Based on 4 participants) - USD40
- Lima - Lima Pisco Making (Based on 4 participants) - USD35
- Lima - Private Larco Museum (Based on 4 participants) - USD50
- Lima - Bohemian Barranco (Based on 4 participants) - USD75
- Lima - Lima Eat Street (Based on 4 participants) - USD75
- Lima - Lima Discovery + San Francisco and Pisco Sour - Urban Adventures (Price based on 2 participants) - USD39
- Lima - Coast Biking Tour - Urban Adventure (Price based on 2 participants) - USD52
- Lima - Private: Home Cooked Tour Ceviche experience Urban Adventure (Based on 2 Participants) - USD85
- Cusco - Cathedral Entrance Fee - PEN40
- Cusco - Full Boleto Turistico Pass (access to 16 archaeological sites, transport & guides not included) - PEN135
- Cusco - Coricancha Temple (entrance fee) - PEN15
- Cusco - Cusco Cooking Class - USD70
- Cusco - Pisco Making Urban Adventure (Based on 2 participants) - USD57
- Cusco - Stand Up Paddle Boarding (minimum 4 people) - USD85
- Sacred Valley - Via Ferrata & Zipline - USD95
- Cusco - Rainbow Mountain Hike (Based on 4 participants) - USD105
- Cusco - Humantay Lake Hike (Based on 4 participants) - USD130
- Cusco - Palcoyo Rainbow Mountain Hike (Based on 4 paticipants) - USD100
- Sacred Valley - Mountain Biking (Price Based on 2 Participants) - USD170
- Cusco - Full Day Via Ferrata & Zipline - USD95
- Cusco - Full Day Stand Up Paddle Boarding (Based on 4 participants) - USD85
- La Paz - Guided City Tour - USD18
- La Paz - Chacaltaya & Moon Valley Tour - USD16
- La Paz - Tiawanaku tour - USD39
- La Paz - City Tour & Moon Valley - USD25
- La Paz - Coca Museum - USD2
- Bolivian Altiplano – Polques Thermal Baths - USD1
- San Pedro de Atacama - Bike Rental - USD25
- San Pedro de Atacama - Astronomic Tour - USD35
- San Pedro de Atacama - Moon Valley - USD18
- San Pedro de Atacama - Sandboarding - USD60
- Salta - Archaeological Museum - USD2
- Salta - Cerro San Bernardo Chairlift - USD3
- Buenos Aires - Tango Show and Dinner - USD90
- Buenos Aires - Football game (subject to availability) from - USD120
- Buenos Aires - Polo day - USD185
- Buenos Aires - Recoleta Cemetery - USD7
- Buenos Aires - Ateneo Bookshop - Free
- Buenos Aires - Caminito Street - Free
Dates and availability
Important notes
1. Very Important - In order to obtain the necessary permit to trek the Inca Trail, we must be provided with accurate details of the passport to be used whilst travelling in Peru. If the name, passport number, nationality or date of birth shown on the permit are different from the passport, park authorities will refuse entry. If passport details have not been supplied, the permit cannot be issued. When we are unable to secure the "Classic Trail", our groups take the "Inca Quarry Trek".
2. Nationals from the United States need a visa to enter Bolivia and you we highly recommend you obtain this visa in advance from your nearest Bolivian consulate or Embassy. Not obtaining the visa in advance is likely to cause long delays at the border. Please see the 'Passport and Visa' section of the Essential Trip Information for more details.
3. 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 Lodge) Day 12 (Homestay) Days 17,18 (Dormitory) and Day 22 (Overnight bus) where you will be in shared accommodation and is subject to availability. Please speak to your booking agent for further information.
4. This trip is a combination of two of our most popular departures. As such the make up of the group and the tour leader may change on Day 15.
5. Full passport details are required at the time of booking in order to purchase Entrance fees to certain sites. Additionally on certain trips it's needed to book bus, train or flight tickets. Delays to provide this information may result in booking fees or changes to your itinerary.
6. While hiking the 4 Day Inca Trail or the 3 Day Inca Quarry trail portion of this trip you may be joined by other Intrepid and/or non-Intrepid travelers.
7. In addition to a Traveler’s Affidavit, and health insurance, entry into Chile currently requires submitting proof of vaccination in advance of travel or proof of a negative PCR test within 48 hours of departure. As this validation process can take a while, it is recommended that you submit your electronic validation request 30 days in advance of Travel. The link to submit and more information is available here: https://www.chile.travel/en/traveltochileplan/
8. As you can choose different ways of reaching Machu Picchu (Inca Trail, Quarry Trail or Train), there is a small chance you may be the only traveller on your selected option.
9.We highly recommend you take US Dollars with you to Argentina and change it locally. While ATMs are widely available, there is a daily limit for withdrawals and the exchange rate does fluctuate.
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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