Lima to Buenos Aires

Hola, welcome to Lima! You’ll meet your crew this evening in this beautiful city packed with rich cultural heritage. Then we’ll get to know each other over a delicious dinner at a local restaurant.

It’s been short ‘n’ sweet, Lima. But we’ve got no time to waste! After breakfast, we’ll hit the road on public transport and drive along the coast towards the rugged cliffs of the Paracas National Reserve. Are. You. Ready? Coastal scenery doesn’t get more stunning than this. We’ll take a tour of Peru's toasty coast, lined with rocky cliffs and bright blue waves. It’s not everyday you get to ride a buggy (or sandboard down the slopes, if that’s your vibe) over the largest sand dunes in all of South America. You’ll be absolutely awestruck. And that’s absolutely normal. Afterwards, we’ll check into our hostel (located right in the middle of a quaint little desert oasis!). Trust us, the sleep’s gonna hit different tonight.

Wakey Wakey. Say goodbye to this desert oasis cuz we're jumping on the Peru Hop network — our public transport coach to the next desert wonder. Thought it couldn’t get any better? Well, the Nazca Lines beg to differ. These mysterious yet impressive 2000-year-old sand imprints have blown away the most brilliant minds. And today, you have the chance to view them from a tower. Settle in with your crew for a smooth ride to Arequipa. Get ready for more unreal desert and mountain views along the way.

Morning, travellers. We'll ditch the overnight coach and make our way to the hotel in this beautiful 'White City'. Welcome to Arequipa! Three majestic volcanoes, the vibrant Santa Catalina Monastery and a guided tour of all the city’s highlights await us. Next: check in, freshen up and spend the day exploring this wonderful city on our own.

Today is all yours. Wander the white-stone streets, post up in a sunny plaza cafe, or head out to explore viewpoints and markets at your own pace. Slow it down or pack it in, you do you.

Arequipa, you were awesome. But it's time to roll. This morning, we’ll jump back on the Peru Hop coach, cruising from white-stone streets and Misti views into big-sky altiplano territory. Think Lagunillas lagoons, roaming vicuñas, wide-open plains and Lake Titicaca’s basin in the distance — with plenty of photo stops baked in. Feeling the altitude? Yep. Welcome to Cusco! Tonight, the city’s yours to explore and grab dinner with the crew. Tomorrow? We dive all the way in.

Another day, another incredible Latin American destination to uncover; today it's sun up 'til sun down in Cusco. We’ll kick things off with a city tour, then the afternoon’s yours. Shop for artisan jewellery and woodwork, wander San Pedro Market with cacao nibs in hand and coca tea on the go. Feeling adventurous? Sign up for a mountain biking experience and explore the epic scenery just beyond the city.

Rise and shine! Want to see the unreal colours of Rainbow Mountain? Opt in for an early hike and earn those views. More of a slow morning person? Take your time exploring the city instead, or opt for a massage or an interactive dining experience where you’ll dish up some Peruvian classics yourself.

Catch ya later, Cusco. Today we’ll head for the Sacred Valley on our private coach. But first, a proper Andean culture stop. We’ll meet llamas, alpacas and vicuñas up close, learn the ancient Incan art of weaving from talented local artisans, and even try our hand at the traditional game of Sapo. Keep your eyes on the landscapes too for terraced hillsides and local village life rolling by. And just like that, we’ve made it to the Sacred Valley. Rest up in your lodge for the night.

Ready for the Inca Trail? We’ll leave early and head towards KM 82, fuel up with breakfast en route, and meet our trekking crew — porters, chefs, guides (you know, the real MVPs).  We’ll kick off at KM 82 and ease into the trail, giving our legs (and lungs) time to adjust. Expect glacier views of La Verónica, a stop by Inca ruins, and that first “we’re really doing this” moment. After lunch, we’ll trek on to our Ayapata campsite, settle in with hot tea, and swap stories over dinner under big Andean skies.

Big trek day, folks! Kicking off with tea and brekkie, we'll head out at the trail early to make the most of the day. Today, we're covering 16km in around 10 hours. First, a 4-hour climb to Dead Woman’s Pass (4,215m), the highest point of the route, with unbelievale, panoramic Andean views waiting at the top. Then we'll descend into the Pacaymayu Valley for lunch, then climb again to the circular Runkurakay ruins and Runkurakay Pass where you’ll take part in a Pachamama offering to connect with Mother Earth. Next, we'll continue down to the mysterious Sayaqmarka ruins and finishing at Chaquiqocha campsite (3,600m) for a mountain dinner and a sky full of Inca constellations.

Wake up to warm coca leaf tea in your tent. Fuel up with breakfast, then set off early for a seriously scenic day. You’ll trek 10km in around 5 hours (don't worry, the toughest climbs are behind you). Starting with a 1.5-hour hike through lush jungle paths, you’ll catch contrasting views of snow-capped Salkantay against the green cloud forest. Next, arrive at Phuyupatamarka (3,650m), the “City Above the Clouds,” for sweeping views over the Sacred Valley, then descend down ancient Inca steps to the agricultural terraces of Intipata. And finally - you'll reach our campsite near Wiñay Wayna (AKA forever young). After lunch, it's time explore this spiritual site for a closer look at Inca life before sitting down for a small celebration dinner to thank your epic team of guides, porters, and cooks.

Final push, folks. Are you ready? We'll kick off our 5km trek before dawn, including a short 1-hour hike to the Sun Gate (Inti Punku) to catch sunrise over Machu Picchu (and your first unreal view of the Lost City of the Incas). Once you’re in, we'll head in for a 2-hour guided tour through the iconic temples and plazas. Later, we'll take the bus back down to Aguas Calientes for lunch. Then, hop on the train back to Ollantaytambo and a private transfer to Cusco with a hostel drop-off in the evening. Take a moment. Take it in. You've just seen one the world's most epic ancient wonders IRL.

Today we’ll hop on board a shared coach once again and travel to Puno along the famous Route of the Sun, with iconic stops along the way — Andahuaylillas (AKA the “Sistine Chapel of the Americas”), Raqchi and the Temple of Wiracocha. Plus viewpoint and culture breaks at La Pascana, La Raya and the Pucará Museum. By the time we roll into Puno, we’ll have ticked off one of Peru’s best overland journeys. Welcome to the folkloric capital of Peru!

Lake time! Today, we'll make our way to Lake Titicaca, cruising out across the lake towards Taquile Island. On the way, you’ll visit a floating island built from totora reeds, stepping onto the man-made platforms and checking out the reed houses up close. We'll explore a quieter part of Taquile on a short hike to an open-air market where the community shares dances, textiles, and local traditions. Then follow a pre-Incan path down to a sandy beach for some chill time. Hungry? Once we arrive on the Capachica Peninsula, we'll head into a local family homestay, and sit down for lunch made from local produce, with an optional late-afternoon hike up to a nearby hill for sunset. Later, after dinner, we’ll round things off with a small celebration of traditional music and dancing, then settle in for the night in basic but comfy rooms.

Say goodbye to your host fam. After an early brekkie, we'll boat back across the lake with the crew.  The rest of the day? All yours to do whatever you please.

Morning! Jump in to your private transfer from the hotel to the bus station, then roll out on the tourist bus to La Paz via Copacabana (about 10 hours). Settle in, snack up, and watch the landscapes do their thing. Welcome to Bolivia! Once we arrive, we'll snag a private transfer to the hotel. Come get your first taste of La Paz on a welcome dinner with your crew.

We'll kick off our La Paz discovery with a half-day Shoe Shiner City Tour and see the city through a local lens. You'll tick off viewpoints, street life, and big city energy. Then it’s free time to roam, market-hop, and snack your way through town. Ever heard of the Bolivian Fighting Cholitas? Tonight, you have the option to see them live in action.

Free day? To do La Paz your way? Mhm, that's right. Choose to cruise the city on Mi Teleférico for big Illimani views, wander the historic centre (San Francisco Church, Calle Jaén, Witches’ Market), or duck out to Valle de la Luna for those surreal, moon-like rock formations.  Later, we’ll take a private transfer to the bus station and hop on the overnight bus on a comfy ride to Sucre. Tonight we’ll be rolling through the dark towards Bolivia’s “White City,” ready to wake up in a whole new vibe.

We'll arrive around 7am, then hop into a private transfer to the hotel to freshen up. Welcome to Bolivia’s “White City”! We'll explore the city on foot, checking out colonial streets, car-free plazas, and museums if you’re keen, and that chilled Spanish-era vibe. Thinking of what to grab for lunch? Check out Salteñería El Patio, Sucre's go-to spot for authentic Bolivian salteñas (juicy, baked empanadas stuffed with meat, cheese or veggies) in a charming colonial courtyard setting.

It’s a free day to roam your way - whether that means browsing Mercado Central for fresh juices, street snacks and local handicrafts, or heading up Recoleta hill to catch sunset over the whitewashed rooftops and tiled domes. If you’re keen to get out of town, join us for an optional visit to the Maragua Crater to check out dinosaur footprints (no kidding!).

This morning we’ll leave Sucre behind and roll by private transfer to Potosí, trading white-city charm for high-altitude history. This afternoon, we'll explore a city that wears its past loud and clear — cobbled streets, ornate colonial facades, and Cerro Rico looming over it all. We'll hit Plaza 10 de Noviembre for Cathedral views and local market energy, then dive into the Casa Nacional de la Moneda to see the silver-boom story up close (it’s equal parts fascinating and haunting).

You’ve got free time to explore your way, and if you’re curious, you can opt into a tour of the nearby mines for a deeper look at the city’s history. Tonight, we’ll share dinner with a local miner’s family and hear firsthand stories about life here.

We'll kick off today with a private transfer to Uyuni (around 4 hours), swapping colonial streets for wide-open Andean plains. First things first: a quick orientation of this dusty, high-altitude outpost, its adobe buildings and markets selling llama wool and quinoa. You’ll have the afternoon free to get prepped for the Salt Flats — snack run, anyone?

After breakfast, you’ll jump into a private 4x4 with a Local Guide and head out into the wide-open weirdness. Kick things off at the Train Cemetery for rusted-locomotive photo ops and a hit of rail history, then roll through Colchani to see how salt is cut and processed and to browse the local handicraft stalls (yes, there are salt-brick shops). Quick stop at Plaza de las Banderas for a picnic-style lunch with flags snapping in the wind and nothing but white horizon for days. Then, we'll head to Incahuasi Island to walk among towering cacti. Later, we'll pull over on a perfectly flat stretch for those iconic perspective photos, before chasing sunset across the salar and finishing at a (very) remote salt hotel for dinner and a proper rest.

Kick things off at the Ollagüe Volcano viewpoint, where a smoking peak cuts into endless salt plains and copper-toned hills. Then, we'll roll across the Altiplano to the lagoons of Cañapa, Chiarcota and Turquiri to see flamingos strut through neon-blue water (your camera will be working overtime here). Ready for surreal views? Here in Laguna Colorada, the lake glows red and white borax islands pop against a backdrop of distant volcanoes. From there, we'll climb higher into a geothermal field to check out hissing fumaroles and mud pots at nearly 5,000 metres. And if slowing it down sounds like your kind of plan, you're welcome to spend the rest of the day floating in the hot springs and taking in those unreal views.

After brekkie, we'll roll into landscapes that look straight out of a painting, starting with the Salvador Dalí Desert’s wind-sculpted rock formations. Then it’s on to Laguna Verde and Laguna Blanca for green and milky-white waters shimmering beneath towering volcanoes. After soaking up the final Bolivian views, we’ll cross the border into Chile, swap our 4x4s for a bus, and continue on towards San Pedro de Atacama. We'll arrive in San Pedro and check into our hostel before easing into this laid-back desert oasis. We'll spend tonight in this bohemian backpacker hub. Come sunset, the desert flips through shades of orange and pink, and by night the sky goes full stargazer mode.

You’ll have a free day to take it at your own pace — sleep in, cafe crawl, or wander the dusty little streets. If you’re keen to level it up, you can opt into sandboarding for some desert thrills, or jump on the optional Vallecito sunset tour to chase golden-hour views.

Today, we'll jump on a public tourist bus for an epic Andean crossing to Salta (in around 10 hours). Expect big-window views as you climb out of the desert, pass salt flats and volcanoes, and hit the Chile–Argentina border at Paso de Jama (4,200m). After winding down into greener northwest Argentina and the Lerma Valley, you’ll arrive at Salta Bus Station and take a private transfer straight to your hostel.

We'll kick with an orientation of the city centre, where leafy plazas, pastel colonial facades and arcaded cafes circle Plaza 9 de Julio, with the cathedral and San Francisco Church stealing the skyline. Then it’s a free day to do Salta your way — slow strolls, market wanderings, or cafe hopping. When night falls, you can opt into a Peña dinner & show, soaking up local folk music vibes alongside regional flavours in the streets that come alive after dark.

Say goodbye to Salta. Today, we're jumping on a plane straight to the capital of Argentina. Buenas! You've got the evening to spend exploring the streets of this city before we dive in deeper tomorrow.

Hola Argentina! We'll kick things off with an orientation to get you sorted, then the afternoon will be yours to explore. Hit the neighbourhoods, cafe-hop, people-watch, or just wander until something delicious finds you. For dinner tonight, opt in for an Argentine Sherpa dinner.

Today’s yours to dive deeper. You can opt for a trip out to Tigre and explore its riverside delta life. Back in Buenos Aires tonight, level things up with an optional dinner & tango Show — bold moves, big flavours, and pure Argentine drama (the good kind).

Buh-bye Buenos Aires - our time in South America has officially come to an end.