14 days / 13 nights

A & K Insider Access

Meet the grandson of Martin Chambi, renowned artist and the first indigenous photographer in the Americas, and enjoy his vast archival collection of some 30,000 negatives and prints. Martin is most famous as the first to professionally take pictures of Machu Picchu soon after its discovery in 1911 by Hiram Bingham.

• Spectacular scenery
• Chile’s Lake District
• explora Lodge Patagonia
• Incan culture and archaeology
• Colonial architecture in Cusco
• A day on the Inca Trail into Machu Picchu

Itinerary

Day 01 Arrive Santiago
You are met inside the Arrivals Hall and transferred to the hotel. An afternoon introduction to the Chilean capital with your private guide including the handicraft market and a behind the scenes visit to La Moneda, Santiago’s Presidential Palace, generally out of bounds to the public.
Ritz Carlton (Deluxe Club Floor Room)

Day 02 Santiago-Puerto Varas
A flight south to Puerto Montt in the Chilean Lake District. After settling into your hotel see the highlights of this city including the market of Angelmo (B).
Hotel Melia Patagonia (Superior Room)

Day 03 Design Your Day Puerto Varas
From your base at Puerto Varas the day is yours to plan. Exploring the scenic southern Lake District, visit the Vicente Perez Rosales National Park, Chile’s oldest, with a range of hikes available to suit all abilities. Take in Petrohue Rapids and the Osorno volcano. A chairlift ride to Primavera Station provides spectacular views. Other adventurous day trips include horse riding around the Calbuco Volcano (B,L).
Hotel Melia Patagonia (Superior Room)

Day 04 Puerto Varas-Torres del Paine National Park
Fly to Punta Arenas in the far south for the six hour drive across dramatic windswept plains to the spectacular Torres del Paine National Park and the beautiful explora lodge (B,L,D).
explora Patagonia (Cordillera Paine Room)

Days 05-07 Design Your Days Torres del Paine
Action unlimited! For the next three days, choose from five adventure activities, each day accompanied by English speaking guides. You can drive to Lago Grey for a walk to Lagoon Beach and spectacular photographic opportunities, take a full day’s horseriding through the park with a picnic lunch or a wildlife outing and traditional BBQ to see guanacos, condors, foxes, geese and more. Consult with your guides on how to best enjoy this remote and exhilarating wilderness area (B,L,D).
explora Patagonia (Cordillera Paine Room)

Day 08 Torres del Paine-Lima
Leave the Torres Del Paine as you return by road and air to Santiago. Access to the VIP lounge in Santiago airport before the flight north to Lima. Late night arrival into the hotel (B,L).
Miraflores Park Hotel (Executive Suite Ocean View)

Day 09 Lima-Urubamba
Journey via Cusco to the Sacred Valley of the Incas. Stop en route at Awanakancha, a living museum dedicated to llamas, vicunas and alpacas. This afternoon relax at the lodge, a tranquil haven in the heart of the valley, or choose an optional excursion to the 15th century town of Ollantaytambo with its Inca ruins. There is also the recommendation of a ride on a Peruvian paso horse through lively market towns, farmland and Quechua communities (B).
Hotel Sol y Luna (Standard Room)

Day 10 Sacred Valley
Visit the famous market of Chincheros. Meet Nilda Callanaupa Alvares, a local expert on weaving. Later, take a two-three hour hike through the valley with lunch at Maras. Optional relaxation massage at the hotel this afternoon (B,L).
Hotel Sol y Luna (Standard Room)

Day 11 Urubamba-Machu Picchu (2,350m)
Board the Vistadome at Ollantaytambo Station for the journey to Machu Picchu. Travel along the narrow river gorge as far as KM104 where you leave the train for a 6 hour hike along the famous Inca Trail. Climb through cloud forest until you reach Intipunku, the Door of the Sun, a dramatic entrance to the site with spectacular views over the citadel (B,L,D).
Machu Picchu Sanctuary Lodge (Room with View)

Day 12 Machu Picchu-Cusco (3,000m)
A fascinating morning to explore the ruins with your guide. This evening board the elegant Hiram Bingham train for the return journey to Cusco (B,L,D).
Hotel Monasterio (Deluxe Room)

Day 13 Design Your Day Cusco
The day is yours to see what makes this fine colonial city tick. A&K can arrange a private city tour and visit to the nearby ruins of Sacsayhuaman as well as a visit to the studio of Martin Chambi, the first indigenous photographer in the Americas and the first to photograph Machu Picchu. Or there is also the opportunity to meet a local artist in the San Blas district (B).
Hotel Monasterio (Deluxe Room)

Day 14 Cusco-Lima
Return by air to Lima where you have access to the VIP airport lounge before onward flight arrangements (B).

Note: Rates for Design your Day excursions available on request.

Atacama Extension
To complete your holiday in Chile, head to the driest desert on earth. The Atacama borders Bolivia and Peru and with its dramatic landscapes, volcanoes, salt flats, thermal springs and pre-Inca sites is just waiting to be discovered. Explora lodge offers a comprehensive programme of active excursions tailored to your interests (trekking, mountain climbing, horse riding or mountain biking).

Note: Minimum 6 night package over Christmas and New Year. Rates available on request.

Departure Dates & Prices – Patagonia to Peru

Tour Departs:

Daily

Atacama Extension

Tour Departs:

Daily