Lima to Buenos Aires

27 days - from $3615

This great adventure traverses the South American continent from Lima on the Pacific coast across to Buenos Aires on the banks of the River Plate - gateway to the Atlantic Ocean. Along the way we discover the delightful Inca city of Cusco, trek the challenging Lares Trail, stay with a local Indian family on the high waters of Lake Titicaca, explore the salt plains of the Uyuni Desert, travel along the old silver trade route through spectacular Humahuaca Gorge and finally arrive in lively and cosmopolitan Buenos Aires.

Highlights

• Eat llama in La Paz
• The 1500AD 'Llullaillaco Children'
• Colourful La Boca
• UNESCO World Heritage-listed colonial city of Sucre
• Argentina's capital Buenos Aires
• Recoleta Cemetery and Eva Peron’s tomb
• Uyuni Salt Desert's caves and cacti
• The potions of 'Witches’ Market'
• The colonial city of Salta
• La Paz - the world's highest 'unofficial' capital city
• The perfect pisco sour?
• Puno - a town four kilometres above sea-level
• Swig Inca Kola
• Warminwanusca - 'Dead Woman’s Pass' on the Inca Trail
• Eat Cuy in Cusco
• The 'Lost City of the Incas' - UNESCO World Heritage-listed Machu Picchu
• UNESCO World Heritage-listed ancient Inca capital of Cusco
• UNESCO World Heritage-listed historic centre of the Peruvian capital Lima
• The floating reed islands of the Uros people on the highest navigable lake in the world - Lake Titicaca

Itinerary:

Day 1: Lima2: Lima3-4: Cusco5-8: Important Note5: Inca Trail to Yuncachimpa (13km)6: Inca Trail to Pacaymayo (11km)7: Inca Trail to Winaywayna (15km)8: Inca Trail to Machu Picchu (5km) - Cusco9: Cusco10: Cusco - Puno11: Lake Titicaca (Amantani Island Homestay)12: Puno13: Puno - Copacabana - La Paz14-15: La Paz - overnight bus16-17: Sucre18: Potosi19-20: Potosi - Uyuni (Great Salt Desert) - overnight train21: Villazón – Humahuaca Gorge – Maimará22: Purmamarca - Salta23-24: Salta - overnight bus25-26: Buenos Aires27: Buenos Aires

What's It Like?

Gecko's adventures offer authentic experiences and a genuine alternative to backpacking. Our trips are designed for younger travelers on a budget but do include the entrance fees to the ‘must see’ sights while not wasting your money on unnecessary frills. Itineraries utilize public transport and basic twin share accommodations in small locally owned hotels, the occasional multi-share, or simply floor space in a jungle or village hut. Many trips involve some physical activity, the occasional long traveling day and you will need to carry your own bags. On camping trips, meals are freshly prepared by our camp cook, but expect to put up and take down your tent, and assist with camp chores. On all trips we only use local tour leaders who are passionate about their homeland. This is travel, grassroots style - basic but rewarding.

Included:

An experienced local tour guide in Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia and in Argentina, and there will be the services of local guides at some sites. All transportation, sightseeing, accommodation and meals as indicated.

International flights, arrival and departure transfers, departure and airport taxes, visas, all other meals, all optional tours or activities during free time, transfers outside of the tour program, travel insurance, tips and items of a personal nature.nature.