Programa Kallpa Andina de salidas fijas, Argentina, Chile, Bolivia y Perú, 13 días/ 12 noches
Introduction
The Andes range crosses and links from north to south seven South American countries like a monumental chain of high snow covered mountains, deep valleys and high plateaus.
Nevertheless, the Andes not only define a large part of the continent’s geography with its manifold of fascinating landscapes. The Andes are at the same time is the frame of different cultural identities under the population inhabiting the various regions along the range. The visitors can there realize that they are facing a real, marvelous universe, the one of the Andean World, here described as the Kallpa Andina program.
In the Quechua language of the Incas Kallpa means “The force of Mother Earth”, the same mother earth known by the people along the Andes as Pachamama. The Pachamama is honored and worshiped everywhere in the Andean World, in special in Peru, Bolivia and in the north of Chile and Argentina. The concept of Kallpa Andina is therefore to present along the Andes range in the four countries program.
The trip we propose is a three tour operators joint venture: Kallpa Tour Operator in Argentina (responsible also for the operations in northern Chile), Magri Turismo taking care of the Bolivian part and Andean Origins, handling all the operations within Peru.
We offer you and your clients the rich combination of landscapes and cultures present in the four countries, traveling in buses, train, 4x4 vehicles, or even sometimes on foot, along high mountains and volcanoes, colorful valleys and gorges, salt lakes, small and huge lakes, cities, villages, Pre-Inca and Inca ruins, folklore, crafts, folks, traditions and a varied gastronomy.
1) Itinerary Argentina, Chile, Bolivia and Peru
Day 1: (Sun) Buenos Aires
Arrival at Ezeiza International airport. Private transfer with guide to the Hotel. In the afternoon: City Walk, visiting the center of this beautiful metropolis, the most European city in South America. 3 Hours, with private guide. Lodging in hotel Mansion Dandi Royal (3 stars) or similar.
Day 2: (Mon) Salta
Transfer from hotel to local airport. Flight to Salta. Reception in airport and transfer to “The Virrey” hotel (3 star) or similar. Afternoon: Private city tour of this colonial city on the foothills of the Andes. Nickname of the city is Salta the Beautiful. (B)
Day 3: (Tue) Trip to the Calchaquies Valleys (2 Days, 1 Night)
Ascent to the spectacular and panoramic Cumbres del Obispo pass (3400 m over sea level). From there we will enter the Calchaquíes Valleys and arrive at the beautiful Indian town of Cachi. After check-in at the hotel, a short trek in the Cachi Adentro valley with box lunch. Dinner in Cachi. Lodging at the “Cortijo Inn” or similar quality hotel. (BLD)
Day 4: (Wed) Back to Salta
Drive through the spectacular forms and colors of the Las Flechas and Las Conchas gorges. In the town of Cafayate visit to a wine cellar and a taste of the excellent local wines. Lunch. Towards evening arrival in Salta and lodging at “The Virrey” hotel (3 star) or similar. (BL)
Day 5: (Thu) Salta to San Pedro de Atacama
Travel by bus from Salta to San Pedro de Atacama, leaving at 7am. Private transfer to bus terminal, without guide. Cross the spectacular Jama pass (4600m), and view various volcanoes and high altitude lakes. Arrival at 7 P.M. in San Pedro de Atacama and transfer SIB to the hotel, without guide. Lodging in the La Casa de Don Tomas hotel (3 star) or similar. (B)
Day 6: (Fri) Valley of the Moon (Valle de la Luna)
Morning free. In the afternoon, sit-in bus excursion to the Valle de la Luna, a moon landscape salt desert. Ascent to sand dune to enjoy the beautiful sunset in the driest desert in the world. Lodging in the La Casa de Don Tomas hotel (3 star) or similar. (B)
Day 7: (Sat) San Pedro de Atacama - Eduardo Abaroa Reserve - Villamar
Breakfast. In the morning we will travel from San Pedro de Atacama to the Bolivian border in Hito Cajon (2 hours). Enter the reserve and visit 3 lagoons, the laguna Verde (an extremely beautiful emerald green lake), then Sol de Mañana (morning sun) geyser and the high deserts of the Pampas de Dalí, continue to Chalviri and Colorada (a red lake with thousands of flamencos – 3 hours). When we leave the reserve we will travel on the altiplano (high plateau) and the mountains to the town of Villamar (2 hours). We will spend the night in the rustic Mallku Lodge (BLD).
Day 8: (Sun) Villamar – Tahua
Trip in the morning to Alota (2 hours), then north passing through the villages of San Agustin and San Juan. Continuing, enter the immense snow-white salt lake of Uyuni, visit the Incahuasi Island, a special habitat of giant cacti and volcanic rocks. After that travel northwest to the village of Tahua (5 hours) on the base of the Tunupa volcano. Overnight in hotel. (BLD)
Day 9: (Mon) Tahua - Salar de Uyuni - Uyuni.
Trip through the salar de Uyuni to the village of Coquesa to see mummies. After that continue east to Colchani to see Ojos de Agua and how the local people produce salt using traditional methods. Continues to the town of Uyuni, short visit in town. Day use of hotel Jardines or similar, until taking the night train to Oruro. (BL)
Day 10: (Tue) Uyuni – Oruro by train, then bus from Oruro to La Paz.
Right after midnight board the night train to Oruro (00,05 - 7,00), then take a bus through the plateau to La Paz (3 hours). Arrival at the hotel.
In the afternoon 4 hour city tour of La Paz, including the street markets which boast plenty of handicrafts, weavings and traditional witchcraft objects. The tour passes through the colonial part of the city, the church of San Francisco, the Gold museum, plaza Murillo and the replica of a Tiahuanaco temple. Later visit to the modern part of the city and to the Valley of the Moon, named so because of its impressive erosion formations. Columbus hotel or El Dorado (3 star). (B)
Day 11. (Wed) La Paz - Copacabana/ Island of the Sun
Transport from La Paz to Copacabana, boat to the Island of the Sun in Titicaca lake, get off near the Inca ruins of Pilkokaina, and eat aptapi (typical local lunch). Walk to Ecolodge La Estancia, lodging. (BL)
Day 12. (Thu) Islands of the Sun & Moon, Copacabana, Puno
See the beautiful sunrise over the lake. After breakfast take a boat north to the ruins of the Chincana, then continue to the Moon Island to see the ruins Iñak Uyu, and finally arrive in Copacabana. Visit the famous Virgen Morena and church, lunch and stroll through town. Transfer to Puno to overnight in the Tambo Real hotel or similar (3 star). (BL)
Day 13: (Fri) Puno – Uros floating Islands – Lima
Early morning transfer from hotel to pier, to take the boat to visit the Uros floating islands. Return to pier and transfer to the Juliaca airport for flight to Lima. End of the program.
2) Optional Lima from Puno: 2 days/ 1 night
Day 13: (Fri) Arrival from Juliaca. Transfer from Lima airport to hotel León de Oro 3* or similar in Miraflores. Afternoon guided city tour of colonial and modern Lima. Return to hotel.
Day 14: (Sat). Free time, perhaps for an optional visit to the world known Gold Museum. Transfer to the airport for flight back home (B).
3) Optional Cusco from Puno: 5 days/ 4 nights
Day 13: (Fri) Puno – Cusco
Early morning transfer to the bus station. Full day scenic bus journey from Puno through the high altitude flatlands (altiplano) to Cusco. The bus trip allows for very interesting visits to the Pucara Inca/ Tiahuanaco temple and, after crossing the La Raya pass (4350 m above sea level), to the Raqchi Inca temple where the main god Apu Kontiki Wiracocha was worshipped, as well as the Andahuaylillas church (referred to as the the Sixtine chapel of the Andes). Lunch included. Arrival in the late afternoon in Cusco. Anden Inca hotel or similar (3 star). (L)
Day 14: (Sat) Cusco
Morning free. In the afternoon city tour of Cusco and
nearby ruins Saqsayhuaman, Qenqo and Tambo Machay.
Return to hotel. Evening free. (B)
Day 15: (Sun) Chinchero, Moray, Maras, millenarian Salt mine
and Ollantaytambo.
Early morning departure to Chincheros Indian market.
After visit of the market, trip continues to the colonial
Maras village and to the spectacular circular terraces of
Moray, a fascinating visit.
Return to Maras, where donkeys with assistants and a
music band wait for a donkey ride in the village and
surroundings. Box lunch.
2 hours trek (with or without the donkeys) to the
incredible millenarian salt mines of Maras and to
the Urubamba valley. Drive to Ollantaytambo, short visit to
the interesting ruins. Hotel.
Day 16: (Mon) Machu Picchu tour, return to Cusco
Early morning short walk to the Ollantaytambo train
station to take train to Aguas Calientes, meeting with
local guide, bus up to the Machu Picchu ruins, 2 and a
half guided tour of the ruins.
Rest of time free until bus departure back to the Aguas
Calientes train station. Train back to Ollantaytambo, bus
transfer to Cusco. Hotel.
Day 17: (Tue) Flight to Lima
Transfer to the Cusco airport for flight to Lima. End of the program.
4) Optional Lima from Cusco: 2 days/ 1 night
Day 17: Cusco / Lima
(Tue) Arrival from Cusco. Transfer from Lima airport to hotel León de Oro 3* or similar in Miraflores. Afternoon city tour of colonial and modern Lima. Return to hotel.
Day 18: Optional tour / Transfer out
(Wed). Free time, perhaps for an optional visit to the world known Gold Museum. Transfer to the airport for flight back home (B).
