Peru and Bolivia Grand Tour

Founded in 1535, in the days of the Conquest Lima used to be one of the wealthiest, mightiest cities in in South America. Its historic centre (UNESCO World Heritage Site) still boasts the beautiful Plaza Mayor, with the old palaces of politic and religious life. The soul of the city, however, has drifted to the modern towns of Miraflores and San Isidro, and to the lively sea town of Barranco.

Rising at an height of 3,400 m, Cuczo, once the capital of the Inca empire, was rebuilt by the Spaniards on the vestiges of its ancient palaces, using the remains of the Inca temples and edifices. Today, Cuzco is a lively, fascinating town. Even in the busy summer months, when the Sacred Valley literally swarms with tourists, it preserves its charm.

Aguas Calientes, auch bekannt als Machu Picchu Pueblo, ist eine kleine Stadt am Fuße der berühmten Ruinen von Machu Picchu im Herzen der peruanischen Anden. Sie ist der wichtigste Ausgangspunkt für alle, die die archäologische Stätte von Machu Picchu besuchen möchten. Die Stadt ist von üppigem Tropenwald umgeben und wird vom Fluss Urubamba durchflossen. Sie ist bekannt für ihre natürlichen heißen Quellen, daher auch ihr Name Aguas Calientes", was auf Spanisch heißes Wasser" bedeutet. Aguas Calientes ist eine lebendige und pulsierende Stadt mit einer Vielzahl von Restaurants, Cafés, Kunsthandwerksläden und lokalen Märkten, die eine Vielzahl von traditionellen Produkten und Souvenirs anbieten.

Puno, rising on the border with Bolivia at a height of 3,810 m, overlooks Lake Titicaca. Though not exceptionally interesting in itself, the town makes for the perfect base to visit the rest of the region.

We continue towards the Valley of the Moon, 12 km from La Paz, whose name is due to the lunar appearance it has taken on as a result of wind and water erosion.

the Valle de la Luna, or Valley of the Moon, presents a dramatic lunar landscape of wind-eroded hills surrounding a crust-like valley floor, once the bottom of a lake. An immense sand dune sweeps across the valley, easy enough to climb and a great place to sit and survey the scenery, which is at its best at sunset, when it’s transformed into a spellbinding palette of golds and reds, but you’ll have to share this view with a multitude of fellow visitors. on the bleak southern Altiplano 212 km southwest of Potosí, the town of Uyuni, 3.668 m asl, is the convenient (and nothing else) jumping-off point for touring the remote and beautiful scenery of the surrounding region.

Potosí, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is the highest city in the world, 4100 m above sea level, on a desolate, windswept plain. The city owes its existence to Cerro Rico (Rich Mountain), the richest source of silver the world had ever seen: its mines turned Potosí into one of the world’s wealthiest and largest cities. In the early seventeenth century its population was 160,000, far bigger than contemporary Madrid, and equal in size to London. However, this wealth was achieved at the expense of the lives of millions of indigenous forced labourers and African slaves. Estimates of the total number who died over three centuries of colonial mining in Potosí run as high as nine million. Today it's a repository of colonial art and architecture.

The administrative, political and religious centre of Bolivia during Spanish rule, is still officially the capital. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, Sucre is Bolivia's most refined a beautiful city, a masterpiece of immaculately preserved colonial architecture, full of elegant churches, mansions and museums. It’s also the market centre for the deeply traditional Quechua-speaking communities of the surrounding mountains.

Santa Cruz de la Sierra is the largest and most influential city in Bolivia, located in the east of the country. Also known simply as Santa Cruz, this city is an important economic, cultural and commercial centre with a unique history and atmosphere. The city is a commercial and financial hub, known for its growing economy and its global market-oriented outlook. The 'Plaza 24 de Septiembre' is the heart of the historic centre of Santa Cruz, surrounded by colonial buildings and ancient trees. The city offers a variety of restaurants, cafés, shops and shopping centres, reflecting the vitality of urban life.