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Join us on an awesome overland adventure along the Andes, from Machu Picchu to the Bolivian Salt Flats to the city of Santiago de Chile and everything in between!,/p>
You can travel from Santiago to Lima or v.v.
Days 1 - 4: The group meets in Santiago, the capital of Chile backed by the snow capped Andes mountains. We jump on board the truck and our adventure begins!
APRIL TO OCTOBER TRIPS - Leaving Santiago we head for the Pacific coastline and relax at a beach campsite near La Serena for a day. Rejoining the Pan American highway we enter the Atacama Desert and head inland towards the oasis town of San Pedro de Atacama. We explore the fantastic surrounding landscapes of the Valley of the Moon, salt lakes, geysers and stone age dwellings. From the desert our ascent through the Andean passes is spectacular, with dozens of volcanic peaks all over 5000m, leading us to the colonial city of Salta in Argentina.
NOVEMBER TO MARCH - Leaving Santiago we head for Argentina. We cross the Andes past the Inca Bridge and San Martin's pass into Mendoza, the biggest wine region in Argentina. Here you can indulge in wine and good steak, paraglide or try a host of other outdoor sports. Continuing north we join the last stretch of Route 40, to Cafayate, famous for its white wines. You can explore some of the wineries on foot or by bicycle. Winding around lakes & weaving through baked cliffs, we reach Salta.
Days 5 - 10: From here we begin true "off the beaten track" adventure travel in Bolivia. You will notice an immediate difference as paved roads become non-existent and locals still follow tradition, wearing bright woollen clothes and bowler hats. On the Bolivian Altiplano is the shimmering white and seemingly endless Uyuni Salt Lake. Driving on the largest salt flats in the world with no road and only vague tracks to follow makes for an unforgettable experience.
Days 11 - 15: Continuing north we arrive in Potosi. At over 4000m it is the highest city of its size in the world and 400 years ago it was the largest city in all the Americas. Vast amounts of silver were extracted from Potosi and shipped to Spain. There are tours to the mines and it is still clear to see that unfortunately, working conditions here have hardly improved over the centuries. The adventurous among us have the opportunity to go down one of these mines with a local guide. A tortuous drive across the Altiplano, where the Aymara and Quechua Indians scrape a living from their small plots of land in the harsh climate, brings us to La Paz, the highest capital city in the world. The top of the city is about 2000ft above the bottom part. Unusually, all the rich suburbs are in the lower city area, because the air is thicker with oxygen lower down. La Paz is a great place to visit a 'pena' club, where live bands entertain us with Andean folk music.
Day 16 - 18: Leaving La Paz we head to Puno in Peru. Nestling on the shores of Lake Titicaca it is a friendly place and much calmer than the hustle and bustle of La Paz. Lake Titicaca is the world's highest navigable lake at 3800m and is also the original place of the Uros Indians who have made their homes on floating reed islands. By boat we visit the floating islands and stay overnight with one of the Indian families on Isla Amantani or Taquile. Spending some time in these local communities will provide a unique opportunity to learn more about the traditional lifestyle of the Andean people and their customs.
Days 19 - 25: From Lake Titicaca we now have to face some fairly arduous roads as we make our way to Cuzco, Peru's outdoor adventure capital and our base for the next 6 days. This gives us enough time to hike the classic Inca Trail to Machu Picchu, enjoy the architectural uniqueness of Cuzco and explore some of the colourful surrounding markets. If you wish you can try a different trek to Machu Picchu such as the Salkantay, Lares or Vilcabamba.
Days 26 - 30 From Cuzco we head west, passing herds of llama, alpacas and unspoilt Andean villages as we head towards one of the world’s deepest canyons. Twice as deep as the Grand Canyon, Colca Canyon is an awesome spectacle. Here you have the option of a day excursion to view Condors circling lazily on the thermals rising from the canyon floor. From here we begin dropping down out of the Andes as we head to Arequipa, a beautiful colonial city set at the foot of the impressive El Misti Volcano.
Days 31 - 35: Puerto Inca, the ancient Inca port for Cuzco is our next destination and an interesting place to camp on the beach and relax for a couple of days. We now travel to one of the world's great archeological mysteries - The Nazca Lines. These huge figures and shapes, carved into the stony desert are best viewed from the air. Thought to have been made by three different groups of people going back more than 2000 years, there are many different theories about what they signify and why they are there. Following the Coastal Highway the Ballestas Islands in the Paracas National Reserve is our next stop. Here we take a boat trip to view one of the most important marine reserves in the world with one of the highest concentrations of rare and exotic sea birds and mammals.
Our final day’s drive brings us to our final destination, Lima, the vibrant capital city of Peru. There’s loads to do and see here from old colonial churches and buildings, amazing restaurants selling great food (especially seafood) and it is well worth while spending a day or two chilling out here before flying home or travelling on to your next adventure!
Always wanted to travel to Africa, South America, the Middle East or Asia to places as yet untrampled by travellers and without the routine and expense of a package holiday? Oasis Overland offers unforgettable hands-on adventure travel experiences … once-in-a-lifetime overland tours to some of the World's most fascinating cultural landscapes. 
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