Ffestiniog Travel

Wednesday 2 October to Monday 21 October 2013

Taking in two South American countries, Peru offers incredible scenery from the Inca capital of Machu Picchu to the impressive Lake Titicaca. We will travel on one of the highest rail journeys in the world to Huancayo before making our way to Bolivia, home of the Salt Flats. To get a real feel of what you can expect from this rail holiday of a lieftime view video footage of previous FT tours to Peru and Bolivia recorded by Nick Edis-Blewitt.

Day 1   Fly to Lima

Fly to Lima and transfer to our hotel in the Miraflores district.

Day 2   City Tour and Station Visits

Enjoy a morning at leisure before taking lunch in a traditional restaurant. This afternoon’s tour will include the Main Square, Government Palace, the Cathedral and Basilica. Afterwards, we will visit the interesting old railway stations of Desamparados and Monserrate to learn about the demise of rail services in the city and how attempts are being made today to return to an efficient rail structure including an overhead system to run over existing roads.

Day 3   Visit to Chosica

Today we head to Chosica where we will visit the maintenance workshop and view the locomotives before making our way back to Lima. Dinner this evening will be in a local restaurant.

Day 4   Train to Huancayo

An early start as we take an amazing train journey to Huancayo, travelling in a first class carriage. As we relax we’ll take in breathtaking scenery passing through 69 tunnels, crossing 58 bridges and 6 switch backs. We pass through the Galera Tunnel, the second highest railway point in the world.

Day 5   Charter Railcar from Huancayo to Huancavelica

Tour of the workshops before boarding our private charter railcar to Huancavelica. The journey will pass through stunning countryside and mountain scenery as we travel through the Andes running alongside the Mantaro River.

Day 6   Private Bus to Ayacucho

Today we depart for Ayacucho, stopping en route for refreshments. This is an astonishing drive over the high Andes climbing to over 4000 metres.

Day 7   Flight to Cusco

We leave our hotel early this morning for our flight to Cusco, travelling via Lima.

Day 8   Walking Tour of Cusco

This morning we explore Cusco. We will also walk down and pass the narrow alley of Hatun Rumiyoq, the most famous Inca passageway of all. Within its impressive wall lies the famous 12 angled Inca Stone.

Day 9   Train to Aguas Calientes

Today we take a tour of the Sacred Valley, visiting Sacsayhuaman en route which displays some of the best existing examples of Inca stonework. We will also visit Pisac Market and Ollantaytambo fortress before travelling by Inca Rail to Aguas Calientes.

Day 10   Machu Picchu

An early start this morning as we witness the spectacular sight of Machu Picchu appearing through the early morning cloud. Late afternoon we return to Cusco on board the Peru Rail service.

Day 11   Andean Explorer to Puno

Our remarkable train journey takes us on the ‘Andean Explorer’ to Puno across the high Altiplano. At the rear of the train there is an observation carriage providing excellent views over the remote Andean wilderness.

Day 12   Lake Titicaca

We board our private boat at the Harbour and visit the astonishing floating islands of the Uros Indians, before making our way back to Puno. After lunch, we will visit the famous Yavari Steam Ship.

Day 13   Copacabana and La Paz

We travel by bus to Copacabana, visiting the churches of Juli and Pomata en route before boarding our catamaran cruise to Sun Island. Continue by road to La Paz via the ‘Andean Roots Eco Village.’

Day 14   La Paz – Oruro – Uyuni

After an early breakfast, we depart by bus for the journey to Oruro. On arrival in Oruro we will have lunch before being transferred to the railway station for the ‘Expresso Del Sur’ train to Uyuni, arriving at our destination just before midnight.

Day 15   Uyuni and Pulacayo

This morning we head towards the old mine of Pulacayo, which houses a collection of old locos. After returning to Uyuni for lunch, we visit the train cemetery where we find the sad sight of rail equipment left to rust in this salt desert.

Day 16   Tour of Salar de Uyuni

We take the unpaved road to Colchani located on the edge of the salt lake in our 4x4 vehicles. We will travel to the Isla Incawasi, where there will be time to explore the island with its amazing huge cacti. We then head back across the lake arriving at sunset to the stunning Luna Sulada, ranked in the world’s top ten most unique hotels

Day 17   Flight to La Paz

After an early breakfast we take the short flight back to La Paz. On arrival, we will enjoy a guided tour to Tiwanaku, the archaeological site of a lost Bolivian culture. We will also visit the train museum of Guaqui.

Day 18   Morning City Tour

Our tour will discover not only the modern side of the capital but also the old quarters of this diverse location. Included will be the Government Palace and the Convent. This evening we will be transferred to a local restaurant for a farewell group dinner.

Day 19   Homeward Bound

Some free time today before we fly back to London, arriving the next day.