Overview & Highlights
This adventurous Andean group journey crosses traverses South America’s wilderness landscapes from Argentina through Chile and Bolivia to Peru. Explore the Atacama Desert, travel across the Uyuni salt flats and on to Lake Titicaca, Cusco and Machu Picchu.
- Buenos Aires: guided city tour
- Salta countryside excursion
- San Pedro de Atacama: Moon Valley
- Uyuni Salt Flats: Laguna Colorada and other excursions
- La Paz: city tour
- Uros Islands on Lake Titicaca
- Cusco: guided city tour with Sacsayhuamán
- Sacred Valley of the Incas
- Guided tour of Machu Picchu
- Lima: walking tour
A true wilderness adventure, this journey explores one of the world’s most dramatic and ethereally beautiful mountain ranges: the Andes. Setting off from cosmopolitan Buenos Aires, you head northwest to the cultured colonial city of Salta below the foothills of the Andes. Ascend a lonely, precipitous and sinuous cactus-dotted road which crosses the icy range into Chile. Traverse the Atacama desert, the driest on earth, past snow-capped volcanoes and across shimmering salt flats into Bolivia.
Skirting the sapphire waters of Lake Titicaca, you cross the chilly plains of the altiplano before descending into the fertile valleys surrounding the ancient Inca capital of Cusco, visiting traditional adobe villages and open air markets. The climax to this epic journey is the sight of the spectacular Inca ruins of Machu Picchu, crouching on an Andean mountain saddle.
Outline itinerary
UK clients depart arriving in Buenos Aires, Argentina, the following morning.
Day 1
At leisure in the capital.
Day 2
Guided tour of the city’s highlights.
Day 3
Fly to Salta.
Day 4
Excursion to nearby canyons and vineyards.
Day 5
Cross the Andes into Chile and the Atacama Desert.
Day 6
Excursion to the Moon Valley.
Day 7-9
Cross the Salt Flats.
Day 10
Guided city tour of La Paz
Day 11
Optional excursions around the capital.
Day 12
Drive to Lake Titicaca.
Day 13
Boat trip to the Uros floating reed Islands.
Day 14
Travel to Cusco by bus.
Day 15
Cusco city tour with Sacsayhuaman.
Day 16
Guided excursion to the Sacred Valley; overnight there.
Day 17
Train to the Lost City of Machu Picchu. Guided tour of the ruins.
Day 18
Optional re-entry to the ruins. Return to Cusco by train.
Day 19
Fly to Lima; guided walking tour of the capital.
Day 20
Depart for your international flight or extension.
UK clients arrive home the following day.
Things to do
We proudly offer the widest range of activities, excursions and one-of-a-kind experiences across all our destinations, tried and tested personally by our travel experts.
Accommodation
Browse our unrivalled portfolio of accommodation . Every option has been carefully chosen by our team of travel experts, so you can rest assured that you’ll relax in utter comfort.
Holiday Extensions
If there's somewhere you particularly want to go that isn't included in this tour, we can add on an extension to take you there.
What our clients say
97% of our clients rated their experience with us as Excellent or Good.
I saw truly unique scenery and interesting historical buildings & monuments but for me it was wonderful to see all that I did and stay in clean comfortable hotels on this 'Discovery' tour. Thank you JLA.
MS, Lymington
Tailor made holiday
Our specialists have been expertly crafting award-winning tailor-made holidays to Latin America for 40 years. We would be delighted to create a truly personalised trip which perfectly matches your wishes and requirements.
Ben Line - Travel Consultant
Ben fell in love with Latin America on a six month backpacking trip from Colombia to Mexico in 1995. Since then he has explored most of South America, including living in Peru for a year. He is now Manager of the Tailor-made Department.
Inspired by this trip
Our exciting range of articles on Latin America explore everything from iconic destinations and lesser-known cultural gems to delicious traditional recipes. You’ll also find exclusive travel tips, first-hand client reviews and the chance to get your personal questions answered by our travel experts.
Papagaio
Your edit for Latin American inspiration
Our exciting range of articles on Latin America explore everything from iconic destinations and lesser-known cultural gems to delicious traditional recipes. You’ll also find exclusive travel tips, first-hand client reviews and the chance to get your personal questions answered by our travel experts.
View Extraordinary Inspiration
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Chris Rendell-Dunn - Travel Consultant
Anglo-Peruvian Chris grew up in Lima and spent much of his adult life in between London and Cusco as a tour leader, before settling permanently in our Sales team.
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Lina Fuller - Travel Consultant
Lina's passion for the continent where she was born really took off when she moved to Córdoba to study, spending the holidays travelling between Argentina and her native Colombia.
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Carrie Gallagher - Travel Consultant
A former JLA tour leader, Carrie brings a wealth of on-the-ground experience to our London-based Escorted Groups team.
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Hannah Donaldson - Travel Consultant
Having spent part of her childhood in Colombia and worked in Brazil and Costa Rica, Hannah's ties to Latin America run deep. Hannah is an invaluable part of our Group Tours team.
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Mary Anne Nelson - Travel Consultant
Born in the Atacama Desert in northern Chile, Mary’s insider knowledge and dry sense of humour make her a highly valued member of the Tailor-made team.
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Evie Oswald - Travel Consultant
It’s hard to believe that Evie has had time to cram so much in to her life so far. Having lived as a child in the Americas and Europe she found herself immediately attracted to Latin America.
