Great South American Train Tour

Day 1 Sunday 5th

October Arrive QuitoOn arrival, you are be greeted by your local guide, transferred to your very comfortable hotel ideally situated in thecity. You will receive your travel vouchers and a short briefing with any questions answered before you enjoy afree day to explore.

Day 2 Monday 6th

October city tourSouth America's oldest capitol city, Quito sits at 9,184-feet elevation. It has been amazingly preserved and isprotected as a UNESCO world heritage site. Enjoy a three hour guided walking tour of Quito's colonial centreincluding Independence Plaza, La Compania Church and San Francisco Cathedral. The remainder of the day isyours to enjoy this lively city, rest or prepare for your Chiva Express train journey

Day 3 Tuesday 7th

October Chiva Express Quito to RiobambaThe adventure starts in Quito with a bus ride to the station ofTambillo, where the "Chiva Express", a colourful one-coachtrain, like a bus on tracks, is ready to depart. A highlight of thetrip is to 'ride the roof' with a panoramic view of the stunningAndean region of Ecuador. You will leisurely enjoy the ever-changing scenery as the "Chiva Express" advances along theancient tracks. Stop for a snack at a dairy hacienda with cows,horses and llamas. Then the Chiva advances up and down theslopes of Cotopaxi volcano and the fertile Valley of Latacungafor a visit to a rose plantation and a taste of the products of theland (potatoes and broccoli picked that same morning). Continueby bus to Riobamba, and at the foot of imposing Chimborazovolcano, visit a Tagua workshop and warm up with a canelazoby the fireplace.

Day 4 Wednesday 8th

October Chiva ExpressAfter an early breakfast, transfer to the train station to boardthe "Chiva Express" for a scenic ride to Alausí. Twist andturn over the Andes, along bridging ravines and river gorges.Arrive to Alausí and prepare to go down the Devil’s Noseswitchbacks, one of the most impressive feats of railengineering in the world, and back to Alausí. Continue bymotorcar to the station of Huigra and again board the "ChivaExpress" to descend from the Andes to the coastal plains.On the ride to Bucay, you will experience right before youreyes! The transition from Andean ecosystems to the lushtropical coastal vegetation: bananas, oranges, pineapples,ginger and wooden farm houses on stilts. Arrive to the townof Bucay and then proceed by road to Ecuador's largest city,Guayaquil. Here you will overnight in your hotel.

Day 5 Thursday 9th

October Arrive LimaToday you have the day free to explore and prepare for your next country, Peru. You will collected and transfer tothe airport to take your flight to Lima. Upon your mid evening arrival in Lima, you will be met at the airport by yourPeruvian Secrets Tour Controller, who will transfer you to your Lima hotel, the Hotel Faraona which is ideallylocated in the pleasant district of Mira Flores. Here you will be handed your flight and hotel vouchers before yourest ready for your coming adventure. Your guide will be happy to stay with you to escort you to a restaurant orany of the places of interest you may have in this area.

Day 6 Friday 10th

October Lima to HuancayoToday is an early start as your amazing train journey to the Mantaro Valleyin Huancayo departs Lima from the Desamparados station at 07.00am.You will be collected from your hotel and transferred to the station to boardthe two first class passenger carriages specially attached to the normalfreight train. As you relax you will take in breathtaking scenery passingthrough 69 tunnels, crossing 58 bridges, 6 switch backs and passingthrough the Galera Tunnel, the second highest railway point of the world at4,782 m.a.s.l. This 12 hour journey will make stops at two main points ofinterest, the first one in San Bartolome to estimate the draft of thelocomotive and the second on the Galera station. Arriving into Huancayoyou will be met by our guide and transferred to your ho tel where you willenjoy a group dinner. This journey is like no other as it turns into a party spirit leaving everlasting memories of awonderful country.

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Day 7 Saturday 11th

October returns to Lima by coachToday you will be collected from your hotel to make the road journey back to Lima by coach which is a shorterjourney time, on arrival into Lima you will be met by your tour controller and transferred to your hotel leaving yourevening free to relax and enjoy this pleasant area.

Day 8 Sunday 12th

October flight to CuzcoAfter breakfast you are collected for your transfer to the airport to take your short one hour flight to the Inca capitalof Cuzco. On arrival you will be met by your local expert guide and transferred to the ideally situated Royal Incahotel. After you have had chance to settle in your guide will escort you to lunch at a popular out of town restaurantwhere you will enjoy traditional music with your meal. Returning to the hotel the rest of your day is free to relaxand explore.

Day 9 Monday 13th

October train to Aguas Calientes, free dayThis morning you will be transferred to the small station from where you will take your beautiful train journeyaboard the Vista Dome train. Travelling through the changing microclimates as the ride takes you into the higherreaches of the Amazon you arrive to the small yet lively town of Aguas Calientes. Here you will be transferred tothe ideally located Inti Inn hotel. You can relax in one of the restaurants or bars and watch life go past or take awalk along the fast moving river. You may care to take a nice hot thermal bath as the Incas did in the hot springsthis village is named after. In the evening you can relax in this busy little village which offers a varied nightlife.

Day 10 Tuesday 14th

October Full day Machu Picchu – CuzcoThis is an ideal opportunity to take the first transport up to Machu Picchu where youwill have the opportunity of seeing the spectacular sight of the ruined city appearinglike magic through the early morning cloud. This way you will be up at the ruins well inadvance of the crowds arriving on the first train from Cuzco, with just a few other earlyrisers and the weary trekkers entering the site off the famous Inca Trail for company. Inorder for you to maximise your enjoyment from your visit your guide will reveal some ofthe mysteries that surround this fascinating place before you are free to explore thesite unaccompanied for a little while. After your visit we return for mid afternoon to thesmall 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 theevening free, perhaps to enjoy a nice meal and one of the many places ofentertainment.

Day 11 Wednesday 15th

October Andean Explorer train to CuzcoThis morning you will be met transferred to the train station to take theremarkable train journey to Puno across the high Altiplano. Thecomfortable ‘Orient Express’-style carriage of the Andean Explorer offersrestaurant service (lunch included) and a carriage attendant providingbeverages and light snacks during your journey. To the rear of the trainis a glass observation carriage that offers spectacular views out over theremote Andean wilderness. Arriving into Puno you will be met by yourlocal guide and transferred to the Casa Andina Private Collection hotelon the banks of the Great Lake Titicaca. The remainder of your eveningis then free to relax in the hotel or explore the vibrant atmosphere ofPuno town.

Day 12 Thursday 16th

October Lake Titicaca,After breakfast you will be met once again by your guide as she will beaccompanying you throughout your day’s tour of Great Lake Titicaca. First you willtransfer to the harbour in Puno where you will board our group vessel and head outon to the lake. The first port of call will be the incredible floating islands of the UrosIndians; 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 youaround explaining all about the way of life for these people. Their lifestyle hasremained the same for hundreds of years with very little influence from modern times,thus preserving many traditions, laws and customs. Skilled crafts are still veryimportant to the inhabitants of Taquile, and the island is famous for its handmadetextiles which are regarded amongst the highest-quality handicrafts available. For thisreason 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 thenhave the opportunity to have lunch before rejoining your boat for the return journeyback to Puno. Your evening is free again at leisure.

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Day 13 Friday 17th

October Bus to Copacabana, hydrofoil cruise, transfer to La PazToday you will be collected for your bus transfer Puno/Copacabana, visiting on the way the churches of Juli andPomata. On arrival at Copacabana you join your Hydrofoil cruise to Sun Island, with a short stop to see thePilcocaina 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 SunVirgin Temple at Moon Island. On arrival you have the chance to visit the "Andean Roots Eco Village" beforecontinuing 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 theIndian Market, Saint Francis Church that was built in 1549, the historicalPlaza “Murillo”, the Government Palace and the Cathedral. From here we willvisit the Colonial street of Jaén and the museums to be found here. Afterlunch, you will continue to The Valley of the Moon, with its incredible andvery strange rock formations formed by erosion. After your visit we return tothe hotel and you have the rest of the day free to relax.

Day 15 Sunday 19th

October La Paz – Oruro – UyuniThis morning you will be collected for your road journeyleaving La Paz to Oruro, This scenic route takes just fourhours by our comfortable private coach. On arrival you willtake lunch in a local restaurant offering a traditional menu. Inthe afternoon it is time to stretch your legs on an informativecity tour taking in places like the Museum of minerals, Houseof Patiño (Tin Baron) and the Socabon Church. You will havetime to take refreshment before we transfer to the train stationfor our evening train to Uyuni. Arriving in the early hours of themorning (2.00am) you will be transferred to your hotel whereyou can get some sleep ready for your next big adventure.

Day 16 Monday 20th

OctoberToday you can relax and recover from your early arrival; you cantake a late breakfast and explore the city before you meet for lunchmidday. In the afternoon you will be collected and take the highlyinteresting tour to the train cemetery of Uyuni, here you willdiscover many lost trains from both the UK and USA. You willhave a the afternoon to look around, take pictures and discoverthat 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 eveningand have time to relax in the hotel bar.

Day 17 Tuesday 21st

October returns to La PazToday you have a wonderful relaxing day as you enjoy your day time return train journey, you will pass throughthe ever changing landscapes before arriving into Oruro early afternoon. Here you can take refreshments beforewe join our coach for the return road journey to La Paz. On arrival you will settle back into your hotel and havethe rest of the evening free.

Day 18 Wednesday 22nd

October La Paz to LimaAt the appropriate time you will be transferred to the airport for your flight back to Lima, on arrival you will be metby your tour controller and transferred to your comfortable hotel. You have now experienced an amazing journeythat started in Ecuador before taking five of South America’s best train journeys. Tonight we celebrate with adinner and show in the fashionable district of Barranco.

Day 19 Thursday 23rd

October return flight homeToday you are free to explore, relax and prepare for your international flight home in the late afternoon.

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Further DetailsPrice GuideThe price of this tour as stated in the itinerary is £1,575.00 per person based on two sharing and for groundarrangements only.

For a single person price please add £250.00

Hotel DetailsPlease see below for the details of our preferred three-star accommodation.

LIMA Hotel Faraona www.faraonagrandhotel.comAREQUIPA La Casa de mi Abuela www.lacasademiabuela.comCOLCA CANYON La Casa de Mamayacchi www.lacasademamayacchi.com PUNO Casa Andina www.casa-andina.comLA PAZ Gloria Hotel www.hotelgloria.com.boCUZCO Royal Inka I www.royalinkahotel.comAGUAS 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 yourfinancial 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 mayoccasionally be unforeseen circumstances out of our control (e.g. local strikes, adverse weather conditions) inwhich case changes may be necessary. Under these circumstances we reserve the right to make any changesthat we deem necessary, in order to ensure that your tour runs as smoothly as possible.