Peru and Bolivia

Thursday 3rd to Sunday 20th October 2013

This tour is so full of culture and amazing sights that it is difficult to know where to begin! We commence with a city tour of Lima, the capital of Peru. We shall then travel by train and by coach amongst mountains rising to over twenty thousand feet, see lakes, and pass from spring to winter in a matter of hours as we reach altitudes of up to around sixteen thousand feet.
Seeing the sunrise in magical Machu Picchu is amazing, possibly the world’s most celebrated sight; and we sail on Lake Titicaca, the highest navigable lake in the world. Without a doubt this tour is a real cultural Andean feast.
As for the railway side, we cover a good proportion of the railways in Peru including what was, until recently, the highest railway in the world. We also pass through the Andes on one of Peru’s most luxurious trains. It is true to say that all of the varied railway journeys that we make are spectacular and very special.

Thursday 3rd October
Flight to Lima, Peru
We have a morning flight from London Heathrow to Lima via Miami. We transfer to the Casa Andina Hotel, located in the Lima district of Miraflores, for two nights. Lima is the capital and largest city of Peru, located in valleys on a desert coast overlooking the Pacific Ocean. Miraflores is known for its shopping areas, gardens, flower-filled parks and beaches. Dinner is not included this evening and since the district is full of hotels, cafés, pubs, and restaurants there will be ample choice of venue for your evening meal.

Friday 4th October
Lima city tour
After breakfast at the hotel, we have a morning sightseeing tour in Lima, visiting both the modern and the colonial parts of the city. Lima was the seat of Spanish rule for 300 years and retains impressive buildings of distinctive Moorish architecture. Today Lima is a bustling metropolis, the cultural and business centre of Peru, characterised by its historic centre, popular traditions, colourful craft markets, and unique cuisine. In the afternoon we visit the Gold Museum to see the legendary golden treasures of the Incas. We also plan to visit a park (if open) where there is a 500mm narrow gauge railway that operates a 1926 built 0-4-0T steam tank locomotive. We return to the Casa Andina Hotel for dinner and overnight accommodation. (B L D)

Saturday 5th October
By rail from Lima to Huancayo
The Central Railway, Ferrocarril Central del Peru, is a remarkable standard gauge railway line and the most important in Peru from an economic point of view. It begins at the Pacific Port of Callao and was well known as the highest railway in the world until 2006 when China opened its line to Lhasa in Tibet. The line reaches its summit at 15,686 feet near Galera Station before it descends to La Oroya (12,000 feet) and Huancayo (10,700 feet). Our journey begins at Lima Desamparados Station, only a little above sea level, and makes the spectacular climb into the mountains. The steepest gradients are 4.5% and the line traverses 66 tunnels, 59 bridges and 22 zigzag bends. Warm clothing is necessary when we leave the train for photography as we will experience a dramatic drop in temperature. Lunch will be provided on the train. At Huancayo, we transfer to the Hotel Turismo for overnight accommodation. Dinner tonight is in a typical restaurant of the region. (B L D)

Sunday 6th October
Huancayo to Huancavelica by train
During the morning we travel from Huancayo to Huancavelica by “el Tren Macho”, literally ‘the man train’. It has this name because according to a popular saying it is the train that “leaves when it wants and arrives when it can”. There was previously a break-of-gauge at Huancayo until 2008 when the former narrow gauge (914 mm; 3 feet) line closed to be rebuilt as standard gauge (1,435 mm; 4 ft 8½ in). We pass through beautiful Andean scenery and have lunch en route. We check in to a hotel in Huancavelica before making afternoon visits to the historic former Santa Barbara mercury mine, and a “stone community”. Later, we experience a Scissors Dance Show, an impressive demonstration of typical Andean art, skillfully performed by dancers with scissors. We return to our hotel for dinner and overnight accommodation. (B L D)

Monday 7th October
By road to Ayacucho
This morning we travel by private road coach to Ayacucho. This is a wonderful journey which takes us past old silver mines and an abandoned railway line before the climb into the Andes Mountains. We reach higher altitudes than our train two days previously and, in fact, we shall be on the highest paved road in the world, with the possible exception of the Himalayas. We have a packed lunch en route. Ayacucho is a city that was founded by the Spaniards in 1540, and contains many buildings that reflect Spain’s influence over hundreds of years. We check in to the Hotel Ayacucho, and there should be time to explore the colonial city centre before dinner. (B L D)

Tuesday 8th October
Pisac and the Sacred Valley of the Incas
After breakfast in the hotel, we have an early morning transfer to the local airport for a flight from Ayacucho to Lima. We then take a connecting flight from Lima to Cusco. On both flights we pass over the massive Andes Mountains and should get some spectacular views. Cusco is the ancient capital of the Inca Empire and from there we make the journey to the valley of the Urubamba River, the so called Sacred Valley of the Incas. We continue our journey towards Pisac, to an area best known for its Incan ruins of more than 30 independent settlements spread out over the mountain slopes overlooking the southern end of the Urubamba Valley. Today it is possible to walk through the ruins, including Intyhuatana, the temple of the sun, from where the view is an amazing and unforgettable experience. Almost the whole town of Pisac has been converted into a street market selling all kinds of handicrafts, antiques and Alpaca wool clothing. Afterwards, we continue to a hotel for dinner and overnight accommodation. (B L D)

Wednesday 9th October
Ollantaytambo and Aguas Calientes
This morning we travel along the Urubamba Valley to the town of Ollantaytambo, an Inca archaeological site. The ‘Old Town’ was built by the Incas over five hundred years ago and is unique in all of Peru. The distinctive stone structures of the Incas are all around – defensive walls guard the entrances to the town; agricultural terraces cover the valley slopes; store houses stand on the hillside; and stairways lead to the Sun Temple. At Ollantaytambo Railway Station we board a PeruRail service train for the 1.5 hour journey along the 914 mm (3 feet) narrow gauge line to Aguas Calientes. We shall travel by the Vistadome service in carriages with large panoramic windows offering incomparable scenic views of the mountainous terrain along the Urubamba Valley, and with at-seat refreshments included. Upon arrival there is a short walk to the hotel where we shall have dinner and overnight accommodation. (B L D)

Thursday 10th October
Machu Picchu
We have breakfast in the hotel before an early morning journey by bus (20 minutes) to the impressive ruins of Machu Picchu, the lost city of the Incas, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. We shall have a three hour guided tour through several sectors of this famous archaeological complex which was discovered in 1911 by the North American historian Hiram Bingham. There will be optional walks available to visit the nearby ruins of Inty Punku, the so called “Sun Door” on the East side of the main complex, or to climb up to the Moon Temple on the top of Wayna Picchu Mountain (entrance fee not included), from where there are astonishing views of the entire Machu Picchu ruins. Lunch will be taken in the Sanctuary Lodge. In the afternoon, we return by bus to Aguas Calientes Station where we board a PeruRail train for the journey to Poroy, just outside Cusco. We transfer by private vehicle to a hotel in Cusco city for dinner and overnight accommodation. (B L D)

Friday 11th October
Cusco city tour
After breakfast in the hotel, we have a morning sightseeing tour of Cusco, the ancient capital of the Incan Empire and a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site. We shall see the many historical Inca and Spanish colonial monuments in the city. These include the Inca Koricancha (Temple of the Sun) which today forms part of the 17th Century Santo Domingo Cathedral. Also, we will visit the ¨Piedra de los Doce Angulos¨ (stone of 12 angles) to see the amazing Inca walls of huge carved stone blocks that fit perfectly. We shall go high into the mountains overlooking the town for photographs, and later visit the PeruRail locomotive depot and meet the staff. In the evening we return to our hotel in Cusco city and have dinner at a traditional local restaurant. (B L D)

Saturday 12th October
Train to Lake Titicaca
Following breakfast, we transfer to Cusco Railway Station where we join a service train for Puno. We travel 1st class, with lunch served on board, for 240 miles along this standard gauge line which has been mentioned among the 25 greatest railway journeys of the world. The train makes stops along the way. Local women bring handicrafts to sell in the market at Sichuan, a picturesque village set in a plain landscape. La Raya Pass is the highest point on the route at around fourteen thousand feet, and here there is an exquisite view, weather permitting, over the plains to the snowcapped mountains. Puno is located on the shore of Lake Titicaca, the highest navigable lake in the world at over twelve thousand feet and the largest lake in South America. We transfer to a hotel for dinner and overnight accommodation. (B L D)

Sunday 13th October
Cruise on Lake Titicaca and La Paz, Bolivia
Today we have a cruise on Lake Titicaca and move from Peru to Bolivia. Following breakfast in the hotel, we board a chartered hydrofoil and cross the amazing cobalt blue waters of Lake Titicaca, the largest lake in South America. Our first call is at Copacabana in Bolivia where we visit the Cathedral which houses the statue of La Virgen de la Candelaria (the “Dark Virgin”), reputed to have miraculous healing powers. Our journey continues to the Island of the Moon where we visit the Temple of the Virgins of the Sun (Iñak Uyu) where the most beautiful women of the Incas were offered in sacrifice to their gods. Afterwards we visit the Island of the Sun to see the Inca Staircase (Steps) and the Inca Fountain, where you will have the opportunity to taste its sacred waters that are believed to give eternal youth & happiness. We have lunch at “Uma Kollu” archaeological restaurant and visit a picturesque handicraft market. After lunch we continue our cruise to Huatajata where we visit the “Andean Roots Eco Village”. This is a museum and exhibition on the culture and history of the region. A state of the art audio system explains the cultural heritage of the Aymaras and the Incas. There are replica mud houses of the Chipaya people and also of the tortora (reed) boats used by explorer Thor Heyerdahl for his expeditions across the Pacific and Atlantic oceans. The Limachi brothers, who built the actual “RA II” and “Tigris” for some of these epic journeys, are often here and happy to talk. We travel by road coach to La Paz for dinner and overnight accommodation. (B L D)

Monday 14th October
Tour of La Paz city and Moon Valley
We have breakfast in the hotel before making a morning sightseeing tour of La Paz. The afternoon is free, providing further opportunities to explore the city. La Paz is the highest capital city in the world and it sits in a ‘bowl’ surrounded by high mountains. Overlooking the city is the towering triple-peaked Illimani which is always snow-covered and can be seen from several locations. The city is renowned for its traditional culture and unique markets such as the Black Market and Witches Market. Calle Jaen is one of the few places in the city with preserved colonial buildings, currently housing several interesting museums including the Musical Instrument and the Precious Metals Museums. Sagarnaga Street, just south of Plaza San Francisco, is the main tourist area. It is mainly a market street with craft and souvenir shops, but also the location of budget hotels, tour and travel agencies, and cafes. Just outside the city is the Moon Valley, an area of surreal, weathered rock where erosion has worn away the majority of a mountain. It is composed of clay rather than rock, and over the centuries the elements have created a somewhat odd work of art here, like a desert filled with stalagmites. We stay overnight in our hotel in La Paz. (B L D)

Tuesday 15th October
By train from Oruro to Uyuni
After breakfast, we transfer by road coach to the city of Oruro, approximately 3 hours from La Paz. This former mining city was once an important railway hub but today it is famous for its UNESCO listed ‘Carnaval de Oruro’, a religious festival. There are very few passenger trains in Bolivia and we join one of the twice-weekly ‘Expreso del Sur’ trains to Uyuni. They are operated by La Empresa Ferroviaria Andina S.A. (FCA) who run the ‘Expreso del Sur’ and the ‘Wara Wara’ on this metre gauge route to the border with Argentina. The former is more luxurious and faster than the latter, using modern trains equipped for comfortable long-distance travel with adjustable seats, video and music, and a restaurant service with dinner served on board by a waiter. We arrive at Uyuni around 22:00 and transfer to our hotel in Colchani for overnight accommodation. (B L D)

Wednesday 16th October
Pulacayo historic mining centre and Uyuni Train Cemetry
Uyuni lies at the edge of an extensive high-level plain and serves as a gateway to the world’s largest salt flats, the nearby Salar de Uyuni. Today we head north-eastwards into the hills and visit the historic industrial site at Pulacayo. The world’s second largest silver mine was important in Bolivia’s economic development. It closed in 1959 but remains to this day as a monument to the past. At this virtual ghost town, brilliantly coloured rocks rise beside the road and a mineral-rich stream reveals streaks of blue, yellow, red and green. The mining centre retains an amazing collection of mine infrastructure including the mansion of Aniceto Arcehe, the President of Bolivia who built the mine and Bolivia’s first railway line. Nearby is a collection of rusting steam locomotives that were originally imported to transport the minerals. They include Bolivia’s first steam locomotive “El Chiripa”, and the train that was robbed by legendary bandits Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, including a wooden railcar that bears the bullet holes from the attack. In the afternoon we visit the Train Cemetery at the junction of railway lines to Chile and Argentina to the south of Uyuni Station. There are two lines of derelict steam locomotives plus the remains of carriages, wagons and railway equipment left to rust in this hostile environment. There will be time to relax before we have dinner at our hotel. (B L D)

Thursday 17th October
Salar de Uyuni: Colchani and Isla Incahuasi
After breakfast in the hotel, the entire day is dedicated to the Salar de Uyuni (Uyuni Salt Flat). Salar de Uyuni is the world’s largest salt flat and covers an area of 10,582 km² (4,086 square miles). It is covered by a few metres of salt crust which serves as a source of salt and covers a pool of brine, which is exceptionally rich in lithium. We shall see the water bubbling on its surface in the so-called “Ojos de Agua” or “the eyes of water”, and watch the inhabitants in their work of extracting salt for marketing. The Salar serves as the major transport route across the Bolivian Altiplano and is a major breeding ground for several species of pink flamingos. We shall visit Incahuasi Island, a rocky island located in the heart of the Salar and characterised by the presence of giant cacti. The hilly island provides spectacular views of the Salt Flat and is the best place to take photographs of the amazing surroundings. In Colchani, there are gift shops selling handicrafts made of salt. At sunset we return to our hotel for dinner and overnight accommodation. (B L D)

Friday 18th October
Tiwanaku – La Paz
Following breakfast, we transfer to Uyuni Airport for a flight to La Paz. On arrival, we travel by road coach to the amazing archaeological site of Tiwanaku, the capital of an ancient civilisation. During its greatest times, the capital was the largest in the world and considered to be the ‘Cradle of all American Civilisations’. Some have hypothesized that Tiwanaku’s modern name is related to the Aymara term ‘taypiqala’, meaning “stone in the centre”, alluding to the belief that it lay at the centre of the world. These pre-Inca ruins have started endless archaeological debates; the most recent carbon-14 tests show that the site dates back to 1580 B.C. We have lunch before continuing to the port town of Guaqui where once train ferries operated on Lake Titicaca. We shall visit the former railway workshops of the Guaqui Railway to see the steam locomotives stored there. We return to La Paz for dinner and overnight hotel accommodation. (B L D)

Saturday 19th October
Return to UK
This morning we have an early transfer to the airport at La Paz for our flights to London Heathrow via Miami. (B)

Train Timings

Available on the tour

Price

Price per person: £4245
Single supplement: £395

Price includes

• Return flights from London Heathrow via Miami to Lima returning from La Paz
• Internal flights in Peru and Bolivia
• 16 nights hotel accommodation
• 16 breakfasts, 15 lunches and 15 dinners
• Transfers
• All rail and coach travel
• Entrance to all attractions mentioned
• Local guides
• The services of a tour manager

Meals included each day are shown as:
B = Breakfast - L = Lunch - D = Dinner