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FR$3,69935 DAYSEXPLORE SOUTH AMERICA17-1920-2223-2425-2627-2930-3132-333435Puno / Lake TiticacaYou’ll travel by bus through the stunning altiplano region to Puno. From here, you’ll take a boat tripto visit the floating Islands of Uros before immersing yourself in Peruvian rural life with a homestayin a small village. Take in the extensive views of the lake and enjoy spectacular sunsets, starry skiesand a traditional evening of dinner and dancing. You’ll get a true feel for life on Lake Titicaca. (B, L, D)La PazCross the border into Bolivia and ascend to La Paz, regarded as the highest city in the world andsituated at nearly 4,000m (13,120ft) above sea level. At this altitude we don’t recommend anythingtoo strenuous! You have free time to explore La Paz with its many fine museums, religious buildingsand the fascinating Mercado de Hechicería (Witches’ Market), where you can purchase any numberof lotions and potions to remedy your illnesses... real or imagined! There’s a wealth of shops sellingfine alpaca wool products, silver jewellery and woven textiles, so take in a spot of shopping beforeboarding the overnight bus to Sucre on Day 22.SucreOften referred to as the ‘White City’, Sucre is Bolivia’s capital and former home of the Spanish RoyalCourt, who ruled from here over their vast colonial possessions. Sucre also has strong links withthe Latin American independence movement, gaining its present name in 1825 after General Sucre,who was Simon Bolivar’s second-in-command. Optional activities here include an excursion to walkin the footprints of dinosaurs, visits to a tin baron’s mansion or textile co-operative, hiking trails ormountain bike rides.PotosíTravel by bus to Potosí, a UNESCO World Heritage Site with a fascinating history as a silver miningcentre during colonial times. There is time to visit the Casa de la Moneda Museum and for an eyeopeningexcursion to the working mines of the Mountain of Silver, where the methods used to extractthis precious metal are unchanged in decades, if not centuries. Much of the silver was shippedback to Spain, and countless numbers of indigenous people and African slaves lost their lives in themines. Perhaps surprisingly, by 1650, Potosí was the most populated city in the world - its 160,000inhabitants exceeded that of London, Paris, Madrid and other important ‘old world’ cities.Salar de Uyuni / Salt FlatsThe isolated town of Uyuni is the starting point for your salt flats excursion, and you’ll spend thenext three days in 4WD vehicles exploring the stunning landscapes between the Salar de Uyuni andthe Atacama Desert. The contrast of piercing blue skies and blinding white salt on the flat lakebed isquite unbelievable. The colour palette gets even more vivid at the Laguna Colorada, coloured red dueto algae and plankton, and then at the Laguna Verde which has a striking blue-green appearance dueto mineral concentrations in its waters. The area’s unusual landscape of mountains, active volcanoes,geysers and moon-like territory is like nowhere on earth. (2B, 2L, 2D)San Pedro de AtacamaDescend almost 3,000m from the high altiplano of Bolivia, and cross into Chile to arrive at the smalldesert resort of San Pedro de Atacama. The town is the gateway to the Atacama Desert, one of thebiggest and driest on the planet. It offers plenty of excursion opportunities like biking, exploringnearby ruins, horseback riding and visits to the dramatic Valley of the Moon.SaltaMake your way to Salta, situated in the Lerma Valley in northern Argentina and famous for itsdelicious local speciality, the empanada. On Day 13, you can pay an optional visit to the scenicQuebrada de las Conchas, sample the local wines from the vineyards of Cafayate or experience thecelebrations at a ‘Peña’ folklore show.Buenos AiresToday, you’ll skip the long journey to the coast with a quick flight over to Argentina’s stylish capital,Buenos Aires, which has a distinctly European feel. After an optional city tour, there’s time to exploreat your own pace. Head to some of the diverse neighbourhoods such as San Telmo, colourful La Bocaor stylish Recoleta to really get a flavour of the city and to sample the world’s best steaks and someof the fine wines for which Argentina has earned a well-deserved reputation.Buenos AiresThe tour comes to an end today, so it’s time to say goodbye to your new-found travelling buddies.25
SOUTHERN DIVIDELima SantiagoFR$3,89922 DAYSEXPLORE SOUTH AMERICAHighlights• Explore Cuzco’s colonial past• Visit a women’s weaving co-operative• Marvel at legendary Machu Picchu• Soak in Aguas Calientes’ hot springs• Visit the floating islands of Uros• Descend into a working silver mine• Cross the spectacular salt flats• Roam around cosmopolitan SantiagoDepartures 2014STARTFINISHJan 11 Feb 01Jan 25 Feb 15Feb 15 Mar 08Mar 08 Mar 29Mar 29 Apr 19Apr 12 May 03May 03 May 24STARTFINISHMay 31 Jun 21Jun 14 Jul 05Jul 12 Aug 02Aug 02 Aug 23Aug 16 Sep 06Sep 06 Sep 27Sep 20 Oct 11STARTFINISHOct 04 Oct 25Oct 18 Nov 08Nov 08 Nov 29Nov 22 Dec 13Dec 06 Dec 27Dec 20 Jan 10InclusionsTrip Style: Classic Service Level: StandardPhysical Grading: 3 Age Group: Any ageAccommodation: Hotels / guesthouses(19 nts), basic hostels (2 nts, multishare)Transport: Plane, train, boat, public bus, 4WDvehicles, hiking Meals: 2 breakfasts, 2 lunches,2 dinners Budget: Allow USD $480-760for meals not included Group Leader: ChiefExperience Officer (CEO), local guides GroupSize: Max 16, Avg 12 Tour Code: GASMSMy Own Room Available: Fr $1,049LimaPERUMachuPicchuPunoLa Paz BOLIVIASucrePotosíUyuniSalt FlatsCalamaSan Pedrode AtacamaCHILESantiagoYou might likeOllantaytamboCuzcoLake TiticacaARGENTINAStay longer in LimaCheck out pages 60-61Stay longer in SantiagoCheck out page 115Extend Your TripSouthern Discovery(8 days, Santiago to Buenos Aires)(GASSB) Fr $2,399Southern Explorer(15 days, Santiago to Rio de Janiero)(GASSR) Fr $4,699Peru, Bolivia, Chile. Three different countries, three different cultures, but all set withinthe spectacular landscape of the Andes. For those looking to experience South America’shistory, culture and wilderness, this adventure is jam-packed with many of the continent’smost iconic and popular highlights. Explore the Sacred Valley and uncover Incan history atlegendary Machu Picchu. View surreal landscapes across the Atacama Desert and the Salarde Uyuni salt flats, and encounter the vibrant traditions preserved by the locals on LakeTiticaca. It all winds up in Santiago, a springboard for trips to Argentina and Patagonia.DAY01-0304-0506-0708-0910-1112-1415-1718-1920-22ITINERARYLima / CuzcoArrive into Peru’s capital at any time, relax and explore before meeting your group in the evening. Flyto the dizzy heights of Cuzco (elevation: 3,400m) on Day 2. Cuzco is a unique destination that givesyou a taste of an age-old culture steeped in history, tradition and legend.Sacred Valley / Ollantaytambo / Aguas CalientesMarvel at the cleverness of Incan urban planning and engineering, as your guide introduces thesteep terrace system in the Sacred Valley. Visit the local community weaving project where quality,brightly-coloured cloth is produced. Spend the night in picturesque Ollantaytambo whose impressiveruined fortress is strategically situated above the Urubamba River Valley. On Day 5, board a morningtrain that winds through the spectacular valley to the end of the line: the colourful village of AguasCalientes, nestled in the hills at the foot of Machu Picchu. Bathe in its namesake hot springs.Machu Picchu / CuzcoEnjoy a guided tour of one of the trip’s highlights; majestic Machu Picchu. Explore the nooks andcrannies and let your imagination bring the Incas to life. Climb up to Wayna Picchu before returningto Cuzco, where there’s a free day for optional activities such as rafting, horse riding or biking.PunoTravel by bus through the spectacular high altiplano region to Puno on the shores of Lake Titicaca.There are many communities on or around the lake, including the Uros people who live on ‘floating’islands made from layers upon layers of reeds. You’ll also visit Taquile Island with its unique culture,style of dress and lifestyle; the village men here are renowned for their high quality knitted goods.La PazSnaking around the shores of Lake Titicaca you’ll cross the Bolivian border and climb to the world’shighest city, La Paz, to explore its museums, churches and the fascinating Witches’ Market. You canexplore the crater-like formations of the Valley of the Moon on an optional excursion.Sucre / PotosíFly into Bolivia’s official capital; colonial-style Sucre. This World Heritage Site has been popular foryears - as proven by the 60 million-year-old dinosaur tracks! Potosí is the home of the silver mineswhose wealth was shipped off to Spain until the early 1800s. Take an optional trip underground!Salar de Uyuni / Salt FlatsVenture down to Uyuni, the gateway to Bolivia’s expansive salt flats. Jump in a 4WD for three daysexploring the unusual landscapes between the Salar de Uyuni and Chile’s Atacama Desert. Piercingblue skies contrast with blinding white salt, mountains, active volcanoes and geysers. (2B, 2L, 2D)San Pedro de AtacamaDescend from the high altiplano and cross the Chilean border to the small town of San Pedro deAtacama, an oasis in an otherwise barren, dry landscape. There are plenty of optional excursionshere, including biking, exploring nearby ruins, horse riding, and tours of the Valley of the Moon.SantiagoFly from Calama to Santiago, Chile’s capital and one of Latin America’s most modern, metropolitanareas, with its spectacular backdrop of the internationally-recognised vineyards and the snowcappedAndes. Visit the vibrant neighbourhood of Bellavista with its trendy cafés – the perfect placeto dine on the last night with your group - before your trip comes to an end on Day 22.26
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Page 3 and 4: GREAT SOUTH AMERICAN JOURNEYEXPLORE
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