32 days Best of the Andes

General Info

Discover South America's most indigenous nations and travel south along the world's longest mountain range, the Andean peaks the only constant in this diverse journey. Meet the Otavaleños in the Avenue of the Volcanoes; listen to the locals speaking Quechua in the Sacred Valley of the Incas and discover the Aymara communities of Isla del Sol on Lake Titicaca. This unique adventure delves into the culture and history of local people past and present, taking in some of the continent's most impressive sites along the way.

Itinerary

Day 1 Quito

Arrive Quito Airport; you will be met by your English speaking guide and transferred to your hotel with the evening at leisure.

Day 2 Quito

Depart this morning on a half day tour of the UNESCO Heritage listed colonial centre. Visit Plaza de la Independencia (or Plaza Grande as it is often referred to), surrounded by some of the most important buildings- the Cathedral, Presidential Palace, Archbishop’s Palace and Municipal Palace.

The Iglesia de la Compañia de Jesus is nearby and is one of the most ornate and complex churches in Quito; built between 1605 and 1765, it is perhaps the finest example of Spanish Jesuit Baroque architecture in Latin America.

Continue to El Panecillo (little loaf hill), where you can gaze out over the city and admire the unbeatable view. Return to your hotel with the afternoon at leisure. (B)

Day 3 Quito/Otavalo

We drive north out of the city to the Equatorial Monument marking the Centre of the World, where you will have the unique experience of standing simultaneously in the Northern and Southern hemispheres!

Arriving at Casa Sol located in Peguche you will enjoy a typical lunch with amazing view of the Ecuadorian Andes. After lunch you will visit the town of Cotacachi known for its leather and wool handicrafts. Continue to the Cuicocha Crater Lake where we will walk to the rim of the crater and enjoy the panoramic views. Overnight Hacienda Las Palmeras de Quichinche. (B/L)

Day 4 Otavalo

After breakfast you will visit “Huarmi Maqui” (a woman’s community project), where you will be introduced to the whole weaving process starting from the dying with natural herbal and mineral colours to the actual use of the loom. Following this demonstration they will invite you to participate in preparing lunch with Andean and typical ingredients. After lunch, we will head to the colourful indigenous Otavalo market. Be prepared to get involved in the excitement of bargaining and buying. This is a market where you will find handicrafts from the different communities of the Andes (ponchos, weavings, ceramics, etc…) as well as the regular produce market. (B/L)

Day 5 Otavalo/Papallacta

This morning we drive to the village of Papallacta, located over 3000m above sea level and famous for its thermal springs and lush vegetation. The afternoon is free for you to explore the area on a variety of treks, or to soak in the therapeutic hot springs and indulge in an Andean Mud Wrap or massage (optional). Overnight at Termas Papallacta. A night time dip is highly recommended for star gazers! (B/L)

Day 6 Papallacta/Cotopaxi

Depart this morning driving south to Cotopaxi National Park, home to the world’s highest active volcano of the same name and to deer, horses, rabbits, birds and colourful wild flowers. The rugged beauty of the park and the towering cone of Cotopaxi create a unique landscape.

Enjoy lunch at Tambopaxi Lodge followed by a short afternoon hike through the highland plateau. Dinner & accommodation tonight is at Hosteria La Cienega, a former 17th century hacienda with gorgeous gardens and original refurbished buildings and furniture.
(B/L/D)

Day 7 Cotopaxi/Baños

This morning we continue driving south through the Avenue of the Volcanoes, driving through farmland & villages to arrive at the Juan Leon Mera House in Ambato. This 19th century Quinta housed the author of Ecuador’s national anthem and is filled with a wealth of culture & art. Listed as a National Heritage building, the house is surrounded by brilliant gardens containing more than 250 botanical species.

After lunch we continue to Patate, where we overnight in Hacienda Leito, located on the picturesque Patate River. The colonial architecture, antique furnishings and history create a wonderfully unique atmosphere that will capture your imagination. (B/L)

Day 8 Baños/Riobamba

After breakfast we drive to the town of Baños, located on the edge of the Cloud Forest and on the foothills of the Tungurahua. After visiting the town, we will continue down the valley until we reach the trail that will take us to the view point overlooking the waterfalls and the famous Pailon del Diablo. Enjoy lunch at a charming restaurant close to this overwhelming waterfall.

After lunch we continue driving this afternoon to the town of Riobamba located at 9, 000 feet on the Avenue of the Volcanoes. En route we will be able to see the Carihuairazo and Chimborazo Mountains. Dinner & accommodation at Hosteria Abraspungo. (B/L/D)

Day 9 Riobamba/Cuenca

Transfer to the train station early this morning for the fantastic trip down the series of switchbacks known as the Devil’s Nose, one of the most impressive feats of rail engineering in the world. The ride is approximately two and a half hours and lunch will be served at Alausi at the end of the trip.

After lunch we transfer to Ingapirca Inca Ruins, the biggest Inca archaeological complex in Ecuador from the XV and XVI centuries. You will also have the opportunity to see the weavers of the famous Panama Hats, the regions most recognized artisan product. Transfer to the city of Cuenca and your hotel with the evening at leisure. (B/L)

Day 10 Cuenca/Guayaquil

After breakfast you’ll be taken for a half day tour of the city, locally known as “The Athens of Ecuador” in honour of its numerous poets. The city’s cobblestone streets, colonial plazas and religious art treasures recall its distant past, while the flower market on the little Plaza del Carmen and the new and old Cathedrals on the main Plaza Calderón provide some spectacular colour and impressive architecture.

In the afternoon you will drive on to Guayaquil, located on the banks of the Guayas River and called “The Pearl of the Pacific”. During your sightseeing tour you’ll visit Iguanas Park, La Rotonda, the Moorish style clock tower, the recently reconstructed and impressive Malecon, the Cerro del Carmen hilltops, (providing a magnificent view of the city and of the convergence of the Daule and Babahoyo rivers which form the Guayas River), the Centenario Plaza and the Church of Santo Domingo, the city’s first church built in 1548 and since reconstructed. Evening at leisure. (BL)

Day 11 Guayaquil/Lima

Transfer to the airport early this morning for your flight to Lima. Arrive Lima Airport; you will be met by our English speaking local guide & transferred to your hotel, located in the seaside barrio of Miraflores. (B)

Day 12 Lima

Depart this morning on a half day sightseeing tour of Lima, including a visit to the Larco Herrera Museum. Your tour includes the city’s most important monuments: The Plaza Mayor, Government Palace, the City Hall and the Cathedral. Torre Tagle, an exceptionally beautiful mansion built in 1735, today houses the offices of the Foreign Affairs Ministry. Nearby, the recently renovated Palacio de Osambela, built between 1803 and 1805, serves as a venue for art exhibitions and cultural events.

The Larco Museum has the most important archaeological collection of the north coast of Peru and is located in an old Vice Royal mansion that was constructed on a pre-Columbian pyramid from the 18th century. This fabulous museum has also an exquisite collection of gold and silver of ancient Peru and a room full of erotic art. The pieces in this museum are now world-famous after having been exhibited in the best museums around the world. (B)

Day 13 Lima/Sacred Valley

Transfer to the airport for your onwards flight to Cuzco, capital of the Incan Empire. On arrival you will be met and transferred to your hotel in the Sacred Valley of the Incas. Located at around 2,700m above sea level, the valley is a great place to spend your first few days acclimatising before moving up to the more challenging heights of Cuzco (3,400m). (B)

Day 14 Sacred Valley

Depart this morning on a full day tour traveling through the Sacred Valley of the Incas. Visit the famous Pisac Markets, where you have a chance to experience the vibrant and colourful atmosphere of a traditional marketplace. After lunch, we continue to Ollantaytambo, the oldest continuously occupied settlement in the Americas. Located on the Patakancka River and surrounded by agricultural terraces, Ollantaytambo is one of the prettiest towns in the Sacred Valley. Return to your hotel with the evening at leisure. (B/L)

Day 15 Sacred Valley /Machu Picchu

Transfer to the train station in Ollantaytambo for your 90 minute Vistadome train ride to the deserted city of Machu Picchu, the most renowned example of Inca architecture. Today’s visit to magical Machu Picchu will undoubtedly be a highlight of your trip!

Enjoy a guided tour of the ruins & lunch at Sanctuary Lodge before taking a mini-bus back to Aguas Calientes where you will overnight. (B/L/D)

Day 16 Machu Picchu/Cuzco

Early this morning, board the mini bus for a second trip to the ruins with your entry included. As dawn breaks, watch the mist rise over the top of the mountain citadel, a truly unforgettable experience. Explore the ruins at your own pace before returning to Cuzco by train this afternoon. (B)

Day 17 Cuzco

Depart this afternoon on a half day sightseeing tour of Cuzco. Visit the Cathedral and Koricancha Temple, before continuing to the Pre-Colombian Art Museum with its impressive collection of archaeological pieces. Finally we head out of the city to the surrounding ruins of Sacsayhuaman, Kenko, Puca-Pucara and Tambomachay. The Cuzco Tourist Ticket, which gives you access to sixteen sites in and around Cuzco, is included in today’s tour. (B)

Day 18 Cuzco

Day at leisure to relax and explore. We recommend a stroll up to the artisan’s district of San Blas to visit the pretty adobe Iglesia San Blas and explore some of the handicraft workshops nearby. Despite its simple exterior San Blas Church contains one of the most impressive colonial jewels in the country- an intricately carved 17th-century cedar pulpit hewn from a single tree trunk and dominated by the triumphant figure of Christ. (B)

Day 19 Cuzco/Puno

Depart by bus this morning on a full day tour across the altiplano to Puno, situated on the shores of Lake Titicaca. Entry fees to local sites along the way are included. This daily service from Cuzco to Puno steadily climbs up the Vilcanota Valley towards the head waters of the Urubamba River and the highest point of the trip, Abra La Raya at 4321 metres above sea level. From Abra La Raya, it is a gradual descent into the opening grassy plains towards Lake Titicaca and towards the Bolivian Altiplano and eventually to down to the lake’s edge where Puno is nestled. (B/L)

Day 20 Puno

Depart this morning on a half day tour out to the famous Uros Islands. After short 20-minute trip out of Puno harbour, you arrive at the floating islands of Uros, where 300 Uros Indians live and fish on the man-made islands made entirely of totora reeds that grow in the lake. Enjoy the colourful traditional dress of the men and women and perhaps take a ride in s surprisingly stable totora canoe before returning to your hotel. (B)

Day 21 Puno/Sun Island

Depart from Puno this morning on a tour travelling around Lake Titicaca and across the border into Bolivia. You will visit the small town of Copacabana and then board a motorboat for the Island of the Sun. Here, you will enjoy a traditional ‘aptapi’ lunch and then have time to visit the museum and explore the terraced hillsides and Inca steps.

Hike to your accommodation at the Ecolodge La Estancia, built with the support of the local Aymara community from which it takes its name and a sustainable tourism project aimed at creating opportunities for local people. (B/L/D)

Day 22 Sun Island/La Paz

This morning you will hike down to the launch area, and board a motorboat to Copacabana, with visits to La Chinkana, Challapampa and the Island of the Moon along the way. From Copacabana you will be transferred by road to La Paz, the world’s highest capital city, and to your accommodation. (B/L)

Day 23 La Paz

Depart this morning on a half day sightseeing tour of La Paz, including the city’s fantastic street markets, rich in handicrafts, weavings and witchcraft artefacts. We visit the colonial part of the city, including San Francisco Church, the Gold Museum, Murillo Square and the outdoor replica of the Tiahuanaco temple, before continuing to the modern part of town. Finally, admire the natural geological formations of the Valley of the Moon. (B)

Day 24 La Paz

Surrounded by the beautiful mountains of the Royal Andes Range, La Paz is the highest capital city in the world (3636m). Enjoy the day at leisure relaxing or browsing the amazing markets that line the jumbled streets. (B)

Day 25 La Paz/Uyuni

Transfer from your hotel in La Paz to the bus station, where you will take a bus to Oruro and enjoy lunch at a local restaurant. From here you connect to a train service to Uyuni. Upon arrival, you will be met and transferred to your hotel. (B/L/D)

Day 26 Uyuni/Tahua

This morning you will be met at your hotel and begin your tour of the stunning and surreal Uyuni salt desert.

Please note that this tour takes you through extremely remote and inaccessible landscapes; please expect a basic standard of accommodation. This will undoubtedly be one of the highlights of your trip, but is certainly not a luxury tour!!

You will begin with a visit to the “train cemetery”, a collection of old salt trains from the local salt mines, before travelling to the salt mine at Colchani to watch the locals producing salt using the same traditional methods they have used for centuries. Continue through the altiplano villages of San Agustin, and San Juan before arriving in Tahua, where you will spend the night. (B/L/D)

Day 27 Tahua/Villamar

Continue your tour of the highlands this morning with a trip to Incahuasi Island, an island covered with cacti rising up out of the stark white landscape. Some of the cacti on the island are over 20 metres tall and hundreds of years old, from the top of the island you can see the salt desert stretching out to the horizon, with high mountain peaks shimmering far in the distance. Travel through the highlands and the valley of Alota with its amazing rock formations created by the relentless high altitude weathering and erosion, to reach Villamar where you will overnight at a local guesthouse. (B/L/D)

Day 28 Villamar/San Pedro de Atacama

Depart early from Villamar to the Protected Reserve of Andean Flora and Fauna Eduardo Avaroa (REA). Today’s highlights include a visit to Laguna Colorada at 4,278 metres altitude and with its population of pink flamingos and the Geysers Sol de Mañana around the rim of Laguna Chalviri with natural hot springs. Continue through Las Pampas de Salvador Dali and onto Laguna Verde which is located at the base of the Licancabur Volcano on the border with Chile. We reach San Pedro de Atacama, Chile late this afternoon. (B/L/D)

Day 29 San Pedro de Atacama

Enjoy the morning at leisure. This afternoon, we depart on a half day excursion to the Valley of the Moon, with its strange geological formations reminiscent of a lunar landscape. The valley is particularly beautiful at dusk, when an eerie silence descends over the saline and mineral sculptures. We’ll enjoy a special cocktail as the sun sets over this unique landscape.

Day 30 San Pedro de Atacama

Day at leisure to relax and explore. (B/L/D)

Day 31 San Pedro de Atacama/Santiago de Chile

Transfer to the airport in Calama for your flight to Santiago de Chile. Transfer to your hotel on arrival with the evening at leisure. (B/L)

Day 32 Depart Santiago

Depart from your hotel this morning on a half day sightseeing tour of the city. We visit the O’ Higgins Park & Club Hipico before heading into the Civic Centre to admire the colonial architecture of La Moneda Presidential Palace, the Palace of the Courts of Justice, the Cathedral and Santiago’s Central Plaza. Our tour continues to Santiago’s bustling Central Market and Santa Lucia Hill, where you can enjoy a spectacular view of the city and surrounding Andean peaks. Later we visit the districts of Bella Vista and Providencia, home to the city’s best bars, restaurants and cafes. Return to your hotel and enjoy the rest of the day at leisure.

At the appointed time you will be transferred to the airport for your onwards flight. (B)

Prices

Description	Price
Tourist Class	$8530
First Class	$6670
Deluxe Class	$9590

Price per person, twin share, low season

Departs Saturdays with a minimum of two passengers
Please note that airfares are not included- please contact your Contours Travel representative for competitive wholesale South American airfares & airpasses

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