Andes & Amazon

Product Details

Join Oasis Overland on this action packed adventure through some of the most diverse landscapes in South America. In Ecuador we explore the dense Amazon Jungle and can mountain bike down spectacular volcanoes; through Peru we follow the footsteps of the Incas hiking to the mysterious ruins of Machu Picchu and stay overnight with a local family on Lake Titicaca; in Bolivia you can experience the vastness of the uninhabited Uyuni Salt Flat or accompany miners underground at Potosi's silver mines; finally in Chile we visit the Valley of the Moon in the Atacama Desert and camp on the beach of the Pacific Ocean.

Travel is in our fully equipped expedition truck and we use a mixture of campsites and hostels/local hotels along the way. Each day is different - sometimes we may spend the whole day driving from one place to the next, sometimes we spend a few days in one place, eg Cuzco, so you have time to white water raft, horse-ride, mountain bike etc! All these kinds of activities are optional.

You can take this trip from Quito to Santiago or from Santiago to Quito. Here's what you'll see along the way...

EQUADOR - we meet our fellow travellers, crew and truck in Quito, the capital of Ecuador before heading out across the Equator to the town of Otavalo, famous for its colourful crafts market. Heading east on narrow, tortuous roads to the steamy edge of the Amazon Basin, the town of Tena is our gateway to the jungle. Local guides tell us about the medicinal uses of the rainforest plants or for the more adventurous you can go white water rafting down the Rio Napo! Back in the mountains we stay in the area around Banos and its huge, grumbling volcano, a great area for hiking, horse-riding and canyoning.

PERU - Travelling south, we leave the highlands, journeying through sub-tropical forest to the dry barren desert of Peru. We have a few days chilling on the beach before heading south to the Chan Chan ruins, imperial citadel of the pre-Inca Chimu kings and then on to Peru's capital, Lima. Next stop is the Ballestas Islands and we hop on a boat to look for seals, sea lions and if we're really lucky, dolphins. Further south you can take to the air to view one of the world's great archaeolgical mysteries, the Nazca Lines, huge figures and shapes carved into the desert floor.

Climbing back into the Andes we reach the beautiful colonial city of Arequipa where you can white water raft, climb El Misti volcano or go to the Colca Canyon, where you can see huge condors gliding only metres away from you! We now face one of the most arduous and punishing dirt roads on the trip to arrive at Cuzco, famous for Inca ruins, colonial buildings, outdoor activities and a great night life! We hike the spectacular Inca Trail for 4 days to the ruins of Machu Picchu, returning to Cuzco to recover! At Lake Titicaca we visit the floating reed islands of the Uros Indians and spend the night with an Indian family on Isla Amantani or Taquile.

BOLIVIA & ARGENTINA - La Paz is buzzing with people, many in traditional dress. There's loads to do and see here including the witches market, the Coca Museum, churches, plazas, cafes and bars! Driving across the Altiplano we reach Potosi, the highest city of its size in the world at over 4000m. Vast amounts of silver were extracted from mines here and shipped to Spain in years gone by and the brave can venture underground where mining techniques have remained unchanged for centuries.

Still on the bleak Altiplano we arrive at the shimmering white Salt Flat of Uyuni. You can take a trip out onto the salt lake for the day - with no roads and only vague tracks to follow it makes for a surreal and unforgettable experience. Descending through spectacular Andean passes, we cross into Argentina towards the colonial city of Salta.

CHILE - Another border crossing brings us to the oasis town of San Pedro de Atacama in the vast Atacama Desert. From here you can take trips to geysers, salt flats and stone age dwellings and we drive you out to the Valley of the Moon for some incredible desert scenery. We rejoin the Pacific Ocean and near to La Serena we camp on the beach and relax for a few days before our final drive into Chile's capital, Santiago and the end of the trip.

Oasis Overland can show you South America without it costing the earth. What's more you get to travel with a great bunch of like-minded people and you'll have loads of fun! Don't worry about joining on your own - many do and you'll soon find you have friends for life. Going overland means you really get to see the country you're travelling through and gives you opportunities to meet the people that live there.

We provide cooking equipment, eating utensils and tents, all you need is your sleeping gear and personal stuff. The Oasis truck is fitted with comfortable coach seats and sliding windows so you can take plenty of photos! There's also heating for when you're up in those chilly mountains. Everyone in the group mucks in with shopping for food at local markets and stores, cooking on the gas stove and cleaning the truck. The trip is led by two Oasis crew all the way, a tour leader and driver and they'll help you get the most out of your trip.

For up to date information about the itinerary, visas, vaccinations, spending money, optional excursions and other useful information, give us a call, drop us a line or have a look at our website.

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Our Users Say

Myself and my girlfriend Steph, have just finished an overland trip through South America and wanted to let you know how much we enjoyed it.I have to say Mel and Andy (the crew) were excellent fun, enthusiastic, organised and couldn't have done anything more to improve our trip. They really are a great asset to your company. This is the second trip we've done with Oasis now (Africa - Aug 06) and have found your company to be really good. Every aspect has been well done, from the booking, to the website, the layout of the trucks, and the pricing is very good value for money.
Many thanks Simon & Steph

Call 0845 344 7546 to book now!