4x4 adventure tours in south america - altiplano

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altiplano
altiplano - highlights - dates - price - itinerary - information - booking
The Altiplano is the name given to the high altitude plains and deserts of Peru and Bolivia where the average altitude is over 3500m. Sparse vegetation, steaming volcanoes and smooth salt flats of this unique landscape make ideal 4x4 driving territory.

Now you can enjoy the Altiplano to the full in YOUR OWN 4x4 with our stunning tour.

smoking volcano at ollague, bolivia - chile border

Highlights of the trip will be

Ica national park, seals and deserts
The mysterious Nasca lines
Arequipa, volcanos, condors and the deepest canyons in the world
Volcanos and lakes of Lauca
The mind blowing salt lake of Uyuni
Geysers and hot springs of El Tatio
Atacama desert, the driest place on earth
A dynamite mine tour in Potosi
Bolivian cities of Sucre and La Paz, the highest capital city
Lake Titicaca
Inca capital of Cusco
Fine Inca ruins in the Sacred Valley
The legendary Machu Picchu
Final crossing of the Andes at up to 5000m and down into Lima

This tour isn't a race or a rally, we positively encourage you to stop and admire the scenery and take photos whenever you like. The longest days driving won't be more than 500km and that will be an exception rather than a rule. We will have plenty of time to enjoy the landscape, leave the cars behind and take in the scenery at places like Machu Picchu.

Many nights will be spent in good hotels, however, camping will be a welcome necessity in places where there is no accommodation.

Included in the price is

containerised shipping of the vehicle from a UK port to and from Lima, Peru. (ask us about shipping from the USA or any other country)
shipping insurance
third party vehicle insurance in Peru
all hotels and campsites, camp barbecues
all breakfasts and at least half of the evening meals
entrance fees into national parks
full time assistance of the bilingual ihana team including mechanical help and border crossing
good quality maps and all GPS coordinates
airport transfers

flights, fuel and personal insurances are all not included

Dates
Approx 6th April to 6th May 2007. Due to shipping timetables not being available until 6 months before we will confirm exact dates nearer the time.

Places
This tour is limited to no more than 8 vehicles on a first come, first served basis.

Prices
Vehicle, 1 driver and 1 passenger - $10000 (inc. shipping), additional passengers - $2000 each.
Prices in US dollars and based on a double room.

The basic itinerary will be

Day 1- Lima - Paracas - 240kms An early start will allow us to arrive in Paracas in time to take a boat trip to the Islas Ballestas, home of thousands of seabirds, a few penguins and plenty of sea lions. After a fresh seafood lunch we will drive through the coastal desert national park and make camp on the beach.
Day 2 - Paracas - Nasca - 195kms Continuing along the Pan American highway through the desert and reaching Huacachina for lunch and a chance to do some dune driving in your own vehicle or a special dune buggy and even a bit of sandboarding. We will reach Nasca in the early evening and stay in a hotel. Day 3 - Nasca - Puerta Inca - 171kms After a morning flight over the famous Nasca Lines we continue south to the beautiful beach beside Puerto Inca where we'll camp and have a swim.
Day 4 - Puerta Inca - Arequipa - 389kms We continue along the Pan American which is billiard table smooth and hugs the coastline in a series of exciting curves over rocky crags, a real drivers road. Turning inland, we gain altitude quickly to reach the colonial city of Arequipa at 2380m, a place full of history and dominated by the El Misti volcano.
Day 5 - Arequipa - Chivay - 150kms Its goodbye to tarmac as we pass close to volcanos and head up rough roads towards Chivay, gateway to the Colca Canyon and sitting at 3600m. The evening can be spent relaxing in thermal pools.
Day 6 - Chivay - Arequipa - 275kms Skirting the stunning Colca Canyon which is twice as deep as the Grand Canyon, the dirt road takes us up to the Cruz del Condor to see the Condors rising up out of the valley on the morning thermals. Then it's onto remote dirt tracks and high altitudes as we make a loop and take in the Valley of the Volcanos and remote altiplano villages on the way back to Arequipa.
Day 7 - Arequipa - Arica - 376kms Today we drop back down to the coast crossing over to Chile and the Atacama desert, the driest place on earth.
Day 8 - Arica - Sajama National Park - 250kms Once again gaining altitude, we head inland on tarmac through the awesome Lauca national park, crossing the border into Bolivia over a 4400m pass. Lauca has many snow capped volcanos over 6000m. We'll camp in the Sajama National Park, home to the Keñua tree which is the highest growing tree in the world. Roads will be pure dirt for the next few days. We're really in the middle of nowhere and this is where we'll need our fuel reserves.
Day 9 - Sajama - Uyuni - 250kms Certainly one of the highlights, the salt lake of Uyuni is absolutely incredible. An amazing scenic and driving experience. We'll camp out on the salt with a billion stars to gaze at.
Day 10 - Uyuni - 80kms We'll spend the day exploring the most interesting parts of Uyuni, including Inca mummies, the cactus covered island, Isla Pescado, the train graveyard and salt works. We'll camp out another night on the salt.
Day 12 - Uyuni - El Tatio - 250kms We'll leave the salt flats behind and follow the train lines across the roadless border with Chile at Ollague and continue along rarely used tracks through high altitude passes with 6000m volcanos in every direction. We'll be driving at well over 4500m until we reach the El Tatio geysers and hot springs where we'll camp for the night and the brave can swim in the hot pool.
Day 13 - El Tatio - San Pedro de Atacama - 65kms A short descent takes us into the touristy town of San Pedro. After a good clean up we'll go and visit the nearby salt flats and Valley of the Moon.
Day 14 - San Pedro - Humahuaca - 250kms An the way to cross the 4200m Paso de Jama we'll see strange rock formations in the desert beside the stretch of smooth tarmac which lasts exactly to the Argentinian border. Onto gravel roads and across more salt flats, we finally descend into the valley of the Rio Grande to the town of Humahuaca which is overlooked by the impressive Cerro Colorado.
Day 15 - Humahuaca - Tupiza - 210kms Heading north past the Lago Pozuelos we enter Bolivia once again and pass along rough dusty roads to Tupiza, made famous by the deaths nearby of Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid.
Day 16 - Tupiza - Potosi - 265kms Heading almost exactly north along dirt roads, we pass through typical dry altiplano with small villages. We'll arrive in the unesco heritage city of Potosi with time to appreciate its history.
Day 17 - Potosi Today will be spent enjoying Potosi. Made famous by the towering Cerro Rico mountain which is pockmarked by hundreds of mines, this city was once the main producer of silver in the world. The Spanish forced literally millions of the locals to work themselves to death. We will go on a mine tour and see the conditions which nowadays are hardly better than in the days of the conquistadors.
Day 18 - Potosi - Sucre - 165kms From one impressive unesco city to another, Sucre, the 'white city' is a friendly and relaxed place and the cultural capital of Bolivia. On the way we pass a couple of impressive colonial sights, an old suspension bridge and a mansion house, nowadays looked after by the neighbouring army base.
Day 19 - Sucre - Cochabamba - 300kms Cochabamba is a colonial city with a relaxed small town feel.
Day 20 - Cochabamba - La Paz - 400kms Leaving Cochabamba the road immediately rises upwards onto the altiplano where we'll pass small villages where the men sport brightly coloured traditional hats and coats. As we near La Paz the road skirts the edge of the 'bowl' in which sits the city, giving a stunning view with a backdrop of snow capped mountains behind.
Day 21 - La Paz The highest capital city in the world is full of interesting things to see, from the witches market where you can buy anything from a llama foetus to a bats wing to the many museums and colonial buildings. Here is an excellent place to pick up Alpaca jumpers and traditional crafts.
day 22 - La Paz - Puno - 300kms The road into Peru skirts the shores of Lake Titicaca. After crossing a narrow stretch of the lake on wooden rafts, we'll stop at the last Bolivian town of Copacabana and, after a boat trip to the Isla del Sol we'll continue on cross the border and spend the night in Puno.
Day 23 - Puno - Laguna Arapa - 75kms A boat trip from Puno to the famous Uros floating islands is not to be missed and afterwards we'll turn off the main road to an Inca burial site at Sillustrani where we'll also have an opportunity to see how the locals live and see how little has changed since Inca times. We'll spend the night at the northern tip of Titcaca at Laguna Arapa.
Day 24 - Laguna Arapa - Cusco - 360kms Following the railway to Cusco at altitudes of up to 4300m, we skirt by jagged snow capped mountains, passing remote villages and finally arrive in the Inca capital of Cusco, another unesco city with many, many interesting sights. Day 25 - Cusco A chance to enjoy the architectural wonders of the city.
Day 26 - Cusco - Ollatatambo - 90kms A drive through the Sacred Valley, the heart of the Inca empire. We'll stop and go round all of the main Inca sites and sleep at Ollatatambo.
Day 27 - Machu Picchu - Cusco - 60kms No visit to Peru is complete without seeing Machu Picchu. Afterwards we'll drive back to Cusco.
Day 28 - Cusco - Andahuaylas - 340kms Crossing three passes over 4000m we drive along the spine of the Andes to Andahuaylas with stunning mountain scenery everywhere you look. Day 29 - Andahuaylas - Pampano - 490kms More passes of almost 5000m through literally breathtaking scenery before we start to drop down towards the coast.
Day 30 - Pampano - Lima - 300kms The final day of the adventure tour takes us back to Lima in time for an end of trip celebration party.

please note that the itinerary is subject to change (for the better) and a fully detailed version will be made available three months before the tour starts

Information

How experienced and fit do I have to be?

You will need to be a fairly competent driver and comfortable with using your vehicles 4x4 system.
We will spend about 80% of the time above 2000m and much of this time above 3500m so you should consult your physician if you're in any doubt of your fitness. We will cross some very high passes over the Andes at well over 4000m, especially towards the end of the trip but you will be well acclimatized by then. The tour lead vehicle will carry oxygen bottles. There will be some excellent opportunities for trekking to see some fabulous scenery and Inca ruins but you won't need to carry more than a day sack and we'll do it at a leisurely pace. If you don't feel up to it you can stay back at your hotel or campsite.

How do we navigate and communicate during the tour?

Prior to the tour we will provide top quality maps with the route marked on together with all GPS way points.
We highly recommend the fitting of a CB radio to your vehicle and bringing along your cell phones too.
There will be at least one ihana support vehicle in the group in communication via CB radio and we will have a satellite phone for emergencies.

What are the roads like?

The roads will vary from smooth tarmac through to gravel to very rough tracks. A significant part of the tour will be on simple dirt tracks, often with large potholes. There will be occasional river crossings too but nothing that will damage your vehicle.

Will my vehicle need special preparation?

Any tough 4x4 with low and high range gears and good ground clearance is suitable. Its a good idea to have it fully serviced before shipping it, ensuring that important items such as brake pads and suspension are all in top condition.
We recommend using All Terrain type tyres but mud tyres are fine too.
A snorkel is useful for minimising dust and water entry into the motor but not essential.
Fitting good quality gas shock absorbers and taking the original ones as spares is a good idea.
You should know where the recovery points are on your vehicle and upgrade them if necessary.
See below for equipment list.

How do my car and I get to Lima and back?

The price of the tour includes the containerised shipping of your vehicle to Lima and back.
Please be aware that you will need to leave your vehicle with our agent at the port well before the start of the tour. It takes 24 days to sail to Lima from the UK.

You will need a 'Carnet de passages et Douanes' which is available from the RAC or your national motoring organisation.

Flights aren't included. We can assist but with the availability of cheap deals on the internet that would be the best place to start. KLM, Iberia and Delta are the main carriers for Lima.

What's the accommodation like?

You will be staying at decent hotels of 3 star or higher standard where available. We will also be camping fairly often but the scenery will be incredible and it will be well worthwhile.

What insurance cover do I need?

You will be responsible for arranging your own personal health insurance.
We will arrange local 3rd party vehicle insurance for you and insurance of the vehicle during shipping is included in the fee.
Further vehicle and equipment insurance is not included.

What paperwork do I need?

You need to bring:-
Passport (check that you don't need visas for Argentina, Bolivia, Chile and Peru - most Europeans don't need them). Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months from the time you re-enter Peru at the end of the trip.
International driving license.
Car ownership/registration document and 10 copies of the above. It is a good idea to make good quality colour photocopies.
Carnet de passages et douane, available from the RAC or your national motoring organisation.

What kind of people go on this trip?

This adventure tour is aimed at 4x4 enthusiasts who dream of really using their vehicle to its full capabilities and, at the same time, seeing the best that mother nature has to offer. You will respect nature and 'tread lightly'. We welcome people of all ages, from all walks of life and all nationalities. An open mind and a willingness to experience other cultures and to get along with your fellow travellers is essential. People interested in photography will be able to get a lot from this trip.

What clothing shall I bring?

As with all high altitude locations, nights are cold and you'll need a 4 season sleeping bag. During the day you could be comfortable in a T-shirt but normally a jumper of fleece will be better. A hat is essential for keeping the sun off.
In addition to normal clothing, you'll need :-
walking boots, waterproof jacket, hat, gloves, warm jumper, fleece.
At altitude the sun will burn unprotected skin in a few minutes. Bring high factor sun block and wear a hat.

Equipment List.

Vehicle:-
At least one good spare wheel and tyre.
Basic tools, wheel brace and a jack.
Enough fuel carrying capacity to cover 800kms. Take 20L jerry cans to give you enough reserve to cover this distance.
Minimum basic spares such as fan belts, bulbs, seals, oils and filters. Talk to your vehicle dealer and try and get a pack of recommended spares for your particular vehicle, its better to take too many spares than too few but things like spare diffs and gearboxes are obviously over the top.
Good quality webbing tree strap or tow rope and shackles if necessary to connect it to your vehicle for recovery.
A GPS that you can upload way points into will be very useful, but the maps we provide are perfectly good. Bring a compass.
To satisfy local traffic laws you must carry two warning triangles, a first aid kit and a fire extinguisher.

Camping:-
Tent, ground tent or roof tent on your vehicle or the ability to sleep inside your vehicle.
Stove and cooking utensils - optional - although the ihana team will cook camp food you may want to carry this kit.
Plates, cups and cutlery, don't forget these.
Sleeping mat and 4 season sleeping bag, pillow.
Torch, best are the ones you can recharge in your car.

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