Peru & Bolivia: Cusco, Machu Picchu, Lake Titicaca & the Uyuni Salt Flats

Transfer to La Paz airport and flight to Uyuni. Transfer to Colchani. Overnight stay in a hotel built of salt bricks. The unusual material gives the rooms and communal areas a soothing quality; the country's weaving companies have been used for the bedding and decor, while the menu features salted meats and poultry. It's a beautifully simple and authentic experience.

Barranco's fame is nothing new; in the 19th century, Lima's aristocracy frequented its beaches. Today, creatives from all walks of life have set up in buildings and 'casonas' (big houses). Gallery owners, restaurateurs and cafe owners followed. As a result, Lima's Museum of Contemporary Art is an absolute must. The historic centre of Lima, otherwise known as Cercado, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and offers splendid examples of Spanish colonial architecture, such as Torre-Tagle Palace (18th century) and the Basilica Cathedral of Lima (17th century), home to the tomb of Francisco Pizarro, the Spanish conquistador who led the Spanish conquest of Peru. Visit one of Lima's fascinating museums. For example, at Museo Larco, explore more than 5,000 years of ancient Peruvian history up to the colonial period: all the ancient cultures are represented.
Included in the itinerary - Table reserved at one of the best restaurants in the world, Maido. Nikkei cuisine, created by the Japanese people of Peru, has established itself as a style in its own right and enjoys worldwide acclaim. Maido is a prime example of this exotic fusion thanks to the delicious creations of chef Mitsuharu Tsumura. A table will be waiting for you, with a taxi to get you there and back.
Optional - Private tour of Barranco.

Transfer to the airport and flight to Cusco. Transfer to Urubamba. Two-night stay in the north-western part of the town. The contemporary Andean architecture means this hotel enjoys beautiful natural light. The interior design features stained wood furniture to create a light and laidback look. Rooms are sleek and pristine, with stunning views of the rugged landscape. The gardens are the perfect setting for relaxing during the day and gathering around the fire in the evening. The Andean-style breakfast is served from 05:00 am. perfect for those eager to get out and explore. The small spa, with its sauna, jacuzzi and wide selection of massages, is the perfect place to relax after a busy day.
Included Included in the itinerary - Boleto Turistico General ticket.

Included in the itinerary - The valley presents a stunning parade of villages and archaeological sites. The indigenous people of Peru can be seen everywhere in their vivid red ponchos; the local markets bring everyone together in a riot of colours. Enjoy a tour in a private car with a driver. Start with Pisac: a famous market village with an ancient Incan citadel. At the other end of the valley, the fortified site of Ollantaytambo is a beautifully preserved example of urban Incan design. In the meantime, the concentric terraces of Moray are a fantastic reminder of the Inca's ingenious farming techniques, while the thousands of salt basins at Maras make up a strange, white, honeycomb landscape.
Optional - Lunch beside the Terraces of Moray.

Transfer to Ollantaytambo train station and take a scenic train to Aguas Calientes (Machu Picchu Pueblo).
Included in the itinerary - This scenic train's winding route is a truly breathtaking experience. Machu Picchu, the citadel created by the Inca Emperor Pachacutec, is one of the most iconic sites on the planet, and for good reason. The beauty of the mountains, the scale of the design, the logistics and engineering it took to build along with the strength, energy and creative genius shown by the Incas are all beyond comprehension. A private guide will help you go beyond the mere feeling of wonder and teach you about the awe-inspiring majesty of one of the most impressive places on Earth.
Overnight stay at the northern edge of the town. The contemporary building is beautifully decorated with dried branches of eucalyptus. The interior features a stylish black and white monochrome design and the rooms boast fresh Peruvian cotton sheets. The restaurant offers national and international cuisine with organic ingredients wherever possible. The spa, complete with organic spa products, is located on the upper floor, with big windows that open out onto the rainforest.

Included in the itinerary - In the morning, enjoy another tour of the ancient city suspended over the Urubamba River. Then, climb Machu Picchu Mountain, a staggering 10,112ft above sea level. The climb is tough but the spectacular views make it worth every step.
Transfer to the train station and take a scenic train to Poroy. You'll be spending the next three nights three blocks from Plaza de Armas, in the old town. The hotel's Peruvian folk art creates a cheerful design and vibrant colours. Rooms are very well-designed and comfortable.

Included in the itinerary - Cusco, capital of Tahuantinsuyu, the Inca Empire. Accompanied by a private guide, visit the Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption of the Virgin, 16th and 17th centuries, and the Temple of the Sun - the Qoricancha, on the foundations of which the convent Santo Domingo was built in the 16th century. Venture as far as the sacred site of Qenqo, just under four miles north-east of Cusco, and Puka Pukara, the red fortress, a military structure belonging to the capital's defence system. In the distance, the snow-capped peaks of the Ausangate glisten against the blue sky. Then to complete your trip, visit Tambomachay (the function of which remains a mystery to this day, but there's an elaborate hydraulic system) and Sacsayhuaman (three levels of walls laid out in a zig-zag formation to represent the shape of a puma's head).

At the centre of the world, the city was most likely built by the Killke people, a century before the arrival of the Incas, who then expanded it and made it the capital of their empire. The Spaniards partly destroyed it, but on its foundations built the noble city of Cusco. The capital of the Incas is still, literally, the base of the city: most walls and foundations date back to the pre-Hispanic period and are found in many places (especially in the old colonial area of San Blas, where the hotel is located). The Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption of the Virgin and the Church of the Society of Jesus, with gold and paintings from the Cusco School of Art (16th-17th centuries), both stand proudly on Plaza de Armas.
Optional - Cooking class.

Included in the itinerary - Salar de Uyuni. Explore the world's largest salt desert in a private car with a driver-guide, home to 4,085 square miles and 64 billion tonnes of salt (as well as large reserves of lithium). This vast landscape is a huge sheet of intense white under the bluest of skies. Isla Incahuasi, home of the Inca, a hilly and rocky outcrop of land with a giant candle cactus breaks the endless salt landscape. Overnight stay in the village of San Pedro de Quemes, in comfortable accommodation made from volcanic stone.

Included in the itinerary - Continue exploring the natural wonders of the south-west by a series of lakes between 13,125ft and 13,780ft above sea level, along the Chilean border. The famous 'Road of Jewels' (Ruta de las Joyas) is a wonderful sight, where the water's chemical composition combines with the light to produce amazing colours. Overnight stay in the Siloli Desert. The cottages in this tiny hamlet are huddled together to withstand the winds. To the south-east, the impressive dormant Uturunku Volcano stands 19,750ft above sea level.

Transfer to the airport and flight to La Paz. Transfer to Lake Titicaca.
Included in the itinerary - Copacabana and Isla del Sol. This small town is famous for the Basilica of Our Lady of Copacabana, a 16th-century Spanish colonial shrine that houses the image of Our Lady of Copacabana, the patron saint of Bolivia. Then, take a private boat to Isla del Sol. Located just over half a mile from Copacabana, Isla del Sol is the largest island on the lake, where the first Incas, Manco Capac and Mama Ocllo, are said to have mystically appeared, to later build the Inca Empire in Cusco. Tours are with a private guide: discover impressive archaeological sites, including the sacred rock of the Incas (Titikala), the Inca palace of Pilkokaina and the Chinkana (labyrinth). Stay overnight in a small eco-resort. The cottages feature stone, mud bricks, wood and thatch on the outside and locally-made furniture and textiles on the inside. This accommodation is perfectly unpretentious. The friendly welcome and sunset views over the lake from the garden add to the charming authenticity of the place.

Included in the itinerary - Head to South Lipez and the Eduardo Avaroa Andean Fauna National Reserve to arrive early in the morning at the geothermal site of Sol de Manana. Here, marvel at the sight of a hundred mud lakes whistling and steaming in the icy air. The day continues from one exceptional natural wonder to another: Siloli Desert, often called the Salvador Dali Desert; Laguna Verde with reflections of Licancabur Volcano (19,410ft) in the high-altitude salt lake; Laguna Colorada and its flocks of bright pink flamingos (also home to rheas, llamas, vicunas, viscachas... and if you're really lucky you might spot a rare horned coot).
Transfer to Calama airport via Hito Cajon pass and the Atacama Desert. Flight to Santiago. Transfer. Overnight stay in the historic centre at the foot of Santa Lucia Hill. The hotel is housed in a beautiful building dating back to 1929 and features original brickwork with modern glass and steel touches. The rooms are impeccable, the perfect place to recharge your batteries. Chef Pedro Salazar's modern Chilean cuisine is world-class. The rooftop terrace ensures this trip ends on an unforgettable high.