Great South American Train Tour
Day 1 Sunday 5 th October Arrive Quito On arrival, you are be greeted by your local guide, transferred to your very comfortable hotel ideally situated in the city. You will receive your travel vouchers and a short briefing with any questions answered before you enjoy a free day to explore.
Day 2 Monday 6 th October city tour South America's oldest capitol city, Quito sits at 9,184-feet elevation. It has been amazingly preserved and is protected as a UNESCO world heritage site. Enjoy a three hour guided walking tour of Quito's colonial centre including Independence Plaza, La Compania Church and San Francisco Cathedral. The remainder of the day is yours to enjoy this lively city, rest or prepare for your Chiva Express train journey
Day 3 Tuesday 7 th October Chiva Express Quito to Riobamba The adventure starts in Quito with a bus ride to the station of Tambillo, where the "Chiva Express", a colourful one-coach train, like a bus on tracks, is ready to depart. A highlight of the trip is to 'ride the roof' with a panoramic view of the stunning Andean region of Ecuador. You will leisurely enjoy the ever- changing scenery as the "Chiva Express" advances along the ancient tracks. Stop for a snack at a dairy hacienda with cows, horses and llamas. Then the Chiva advances up and down the slopes of Cotopaxi volcano and the fertile Valley of Latacunga for a visit to a rose plantation and a taste of the products of the land (potatoes and broccoli picked that same morning). Continue by bus to Riobamba, and at the foot of imposing Chimborazo volcano, visit a Tagua workshop and warm up with a canelazo by the fireplace.
Day 4 Wednesday 8 th October Chiva Express After an early breakfast, transfer to the train station to board the "Chiva Express" for a scenic ride to Alausí. Twist and turn over the Andes, along bridging ravines and river gorges. Arrive to Alausí and prepare to go down the Devil’s Nose switchbacks, one of the most impressive feats of rail engineering in the world, and back to Alausí. Continue by motorcar to the station of Huigra and again board the "Chiva Express" to descend from the Andes to the coastal plains. On the ride to Bucay, you will experience right before your eyes! The transition from Andean ecosystems to the lush tropical coastal vegetation: bananas, oranges, pineapples, ginger and wooden farm houses on stilts. Arrive to the town of Bucay and then proceed by road to Ecuador's largest city, Guayaquil. Here you will overnight in your hotel.
Day 5 Thursday 9 th October Arrive Lima Today you have the day free to explore and prepare for your next country, Peru. You will collected and transfer to the airport to take your flight to Lima. Upon your mid evening arrival in Lima, you will be met at the airport by your Peruvian Secrets Tour Controller , who will transfer you to your Lima hotel, the Hotel Faraona which is ideally located in the pleasant district of Mira Flores. Here you will be handed your flight and hotel vouchers before you rest ready for your coming adventure. Your guide will be happy to stay with you to escort you to a restaurant or any of the places of interest you may have in this area.
Day 6 Friday 10 th October Lima to Huancayo Today is an early start as your amazing train journey to the Mantaro Valley in Huancayo departs Lima from the Desamparados station at 07.00am. You will be collected from your hotel and transferred to the station to board the two first class passenger carriages specially attached to the normal freight train. As you relax you will take in breathtaking scenery passing through 69 tunnels, crossing 58 bridges, 6 switch backs and passing through the Galera Tunnel, the second highest railway point of the world at 4,782 m.a.s.l. This 12 hour journey will make stops at two main points of interest, the first one in San Bartolome to estimate the draft of the locomotive and the second on the Galera station. Arriving into Huancayo you will be met by our guide and transferred to your ho tel where you will enjoy a group dinner. This journey is like no other as it turns into a party spirit leaving everlasting memories of a wonderful country. 2 Day 7 Saturday 11 th October returns to Lima by coach Today you will be collected from your hotel to make the road journey back to Lima by coach which is a shorter journey time, on arrival into Lima you will be met by your tour controller and transferred to your hotel leaving your evening free to relax and enjoy this pleasant area.
Day 8 Sunday 12 th October flight to Cuzco After breakfast you are collected for your transfer to the airport to take your short one hour flight to the Inca capital of Cuzco. On arrival you will be met by your local expert guide and transferred to the ideally situated Royal Inca hotel. After you have had chance to settle in your guide will escort you to lunch at a popular out of town restaurant where you will enjoy traditional music with your meal. Returning to the hotel the rest of your day is free to relax and explore.
Day 9 Monday 13 th October train to Aguas Calientes, free day This morning you will be transferred to the small station from where you will take your beautiful train journey aboard the Vista Dome train. Travelling through the changing microclimates as the ride takes you into the higher reaches of the Amazon you arrive to the small yet lively town of Aguas Calientes. Here you will be transferred to the ideally located Inti Inn hotel . You can relax in one of the restaurants or bars and watch life go past or take a walk along the fast moving river. You may care to take a nice hot thermal bath as the Incas did in the hot springs this village is named after. In the evening you can relax in this busy little village which offers a varied nightlife.
Day 10 Tuesday 14 th October Full day Machu Picchu – Cuzco This is an ideal opportunity to take the first transport up to Machu Picchu where you will have the opportunity of seeing the spectacular sight of the ruined city appearing like magic through the early morning cloud. This way you will be up at the ruins well in advance of the crowds arriving on the first train from Cuzco, with just a few other early risers and the weary trekkers entering the site off the famous Inca Trail for company. In order for you to maximise your enjoyment from your visit your guide will reveal some of the mysteries that surround this fascinating place before you are free to explore the site unaccompanied for a little while. After your visit we return for mid afternoon to the small village of Aguas Calientes where we will take the afternoon return train to Cuzco (approx 16:35). Upon arrival we transfer to your Cuzco hotel once again and have the evening free, perhaps to enjoy a nice meal and one of the many places of entertainment.
Day 11 Wednesday 15 th October Andean Explorer train to Cuzco This morning you will be met transferred to the train station to take the remarkable train journey to Puno across the high Altiplano. The comfortable ‘Orient Express’-style carriage of the Andean Explorer offers restaurant service (lunch included) and a carriage attendant providing beverages and light snacks during your journey. To the rear of the train is a glass observation carriage that offers spectacular views out over the remote Andean wilderness. Arriving into Puno you will be met by your local guide and transferred to the Casa Andina Private Collection hotel on the banks of the Great Lake Titicaca. The remainder of your evening is then free to relax in the hotel or explore the vibrant atmosphere of Puno town.
Day 12 Thursday 16 th October Lake Titicaca, After breakfast you will be met once again by your guide as she will be accompanying you throughout your day’s tour of Great Lake Titicaca. First you will transfer to the harbour in Puno where you will board our group vessel and head out on to the lake. The first port of call will be the incredible floating islands of the Uros Indians; here you will see the way these people live on these most unusual islands. From here you continue onto the Island of Taquile where your guide will escort you around explaining all about the way of life for these people. Their lifestyle has remained the same for hundreds of years with very little influence from modern times, thus preserving many traditions, laws and customs. Skilled crafts are still very important to the inhabitants of Taquile, and the island is famous for its handmade textiles which are regarded amongst the highest-quality handicrafts available. For this reason you will find that they are higher in price in comparison with other mass- produced handicrafts readily found in other parts of Peru. After exploring you will then have the opportunity to have lunch before rejoining your boat for the return journey back to Puno. Your evening is free again at leisure.
2 3 Day 13 Friday 17 th October Bus to Copacabana, hydrofoil cruise, transfer to La Paz Today you will be collected for your bus transfer Puno/Copacabana, visiting on the way the churches of Juli and Pomata. On arrival at Copacabana you join your Hydrofoil cruise to Sun Island, with a short stop to see the Pilcocaina Sun Temple and visit the Sacred Fountain and Inca Steps. You will be taking lunch at "Uma Kollo" restaurant. Setting off again you continue your Hydrofoil cruise to Huatajata, visiting en route the "Iñak Uyu Sun Virgin Temple at Moon Island. On arrival you have the chance to visit the "Andean Roots Eco Village" before continuing by road to your La Paz hotel, the Hotel Gloria .
Day 14 Saturday 18 th October La Paz City Tour & Valley of the Moon After breakfast, you start your interesting City tour in La Paz, visiting the Indian Market, Saint Francis Church that was built in 1549, the historical Plaza “Murillo”, the Government Palace and the Cathedral. From here we will visit the Colonial street of Jaén and the museums to be found here. After lunch, you will continue to The Valley of the Moon, with its incredible and very strange rock formations formed by erosion. After your visit we return to the hotel and you have the rest of the day free to relax.
Day 15 Sunday 19 th October La Paz – Oruro – Uyuni This morning you will be collected for your road journey leaving La Paz to Oruro, This scenic route takes just four hours by our comfortable private coach. On arrival you will take lunch in a local restaurant offering a traditional menu. In the afternoon it is time to stretch your legs on an informative city tour taking in places like the Museum of minerals, House of Patiño (Tin Baron) and the Socabon Church. You will have time to take refreshment before we transfer to the train station for our evening train to Uyuni. Arriving in the early hours of the morning (2.00am) you will be transferred to your hotel where you can get some sleep ready for your next big adventure.
Day 16 Monday 20 th October Today you can relax and recover from your early arrival; you can take a late breakfast and explore the city before you meet for lunch midday. In the afternoon you will be collected and take the highly interesting tour to the train cemetery of Uyuni, here you will discover many lost trains from both the UK and USA. You will have a the afternoon to look around, take pictures and discover that lost spare part as you make your way round the lines of trains. Returning to your hotel we will enjoy a group dinner in the evening and have time to relax in the hotel bar.
Day 17 Tuesday 21 st October returns to La Paz Today you have a wonderful relaxing day as you enjoy your day time return train journey, you will pass through the ever changing landscapes before arriving into Oruro early afternoon. Here you can take refreshments before we join our coach for the return road journey to La Paz. On arrival you will settle back into your hotel and have the rest of the evening free.
Day 18 Wednesday 22 nd October La Paz to Lima At the appropriate time you will be transferred to the airport for your flight back to Lima, on arrival you will be met by your tour controller and transferred to your comfortable hotel. You have now experienced an amazing journey that started in Ecuador before taking five of South America’s best train journeys. Tonight we celebrate with a dinner and show in the fashionable district of Barranco.
Day 19 Thursday 23 rd October return flight home Today you are free to explore, relax and prepare for your international flight home in the late afternoon.
3 4 Further Details Price Guide The price of this tour as stated in the itinerary is £1,575.00 per person based on two sharing and for ground arrangements only.
For a single person price please add £250.00
Hotel Details Please see below for the details of our preferred three-star accommodation.
LIMA Hotel Faraona www.faraonagrandhotel.com AREQUIPA La Casa de mi Abuela www.lacasademiabuela.com COLCA CANYON La Casa de Mamayacchi www.lacasademamayacchi.com PUNO Casa Andina www.casa-andina.com LA PAZ Gloria Hotel www.hotelgloria.com.bo CUZCO Royal Inka I www.royalinkahotel.com AGUAS CALIENTES Inti Inn www.grupointi.com
What’s included? · All transport as stated in the itinerary - this includes internal flights, trains, buses and all transfers · All accommodation as stated on a specially selected three star basis · Breakfast daily in Peru · Three course lunch onboard the ‘Andean Explorer’ www.perurail.com · The services of your Peruvian Secrets Tour Controller · Personal guides (unless stated local payment to guide ). · Tours and excursions included as stated (unless optional with a local payment ) · Museum entrance fees as described · ‘Safe Seat’ Travel Fidelity Policy issued in association with the Travel Trust Association (this is for your financial protection only and is not a certificate of personal travel insurance).
Not included: · International flights to Lima and back to the UK · Peruvian internal flight taxes (currently approx $6.05 per person per flight) · International departure tax (currently $30.25 per person) · Personal Travel Insurance · Lunches and evening meals (unless otherwise stated) · Personal expenses, beverages, tips and laundry
And finally, Peruvian Secrets strive to adhere to your itinerary as closely as possible however; there may occasionally be unforeseen circumstances out of our control (e.g. local strikes, adverse weather conditions) in which case changes may be necessary. Under these circumstances we reserve the right to make any changes that we deem necessary, in order to ensure that your tour runs as smoothly as possible.
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