South America Inca Trail Motorcycle Tour

You will be picked up at the airport in Salta and taken to the hotel from which the tour will start the next day. After a brief introduction to the motorcycle tour and information about Salta, the rest of the day is free for you.

The ride takes us first over a winding paved road through wooded mountains to Jujuy. There, the picturesque Quebrada de Humahuaca opens up, a gorge that has rightfully been declared a World Heritage Site because of its unique landscapes and cultural wealth. We visit the charming village of Purmamarca, the Painter's Palette of Maimara, and the pre-Inka ruins of Tilcara, where we will spend the night.

First, we conquer the winding Cuesta de Lipan pass at 4,200 meters and reach the high plateau of the Puna. After visiting the salt flat Salinas Grandes, we continue over the high plains of the Puna towards the Atacama Desert and the border with Chile. To reach the valley of San Pedro de Atacama, we must cross several passes up to 4,800 meters in height and pass by some lagoons with flamingos, vicuñas, and ñandús. In San Pedro de Atacama, an oasis in the driest desert in the world and outpost of civilization at the foot of the 5,930-meter-high volcano Lincancabur, we complete the Chilean border formalities and check into the hotel. Then we go on a round tour through the fairy-tale Valley of the Moon to watch the sunset in the Cordillera de la Sal.

Through the driest desert in the world, we first pass the largest copper mine in the world, Chuquicamata, and then descend to the Pacific and the small town of Tocopilla. Afterwards, we ride along a winding paved road along the coast to the beach town of Iquique.

Continuing through the Atacama Desert, the journey north crosses three deeply carved canyons before we reach Arica. After lunch in Arica, the northernmost city of Chile, we cross the border into Peru, where we will spend the first night in Tacna.

Through the Peruvian Clemesi Desert, we head towards Arequipa, also known as the White City.

From Arequipa, we first pass the Misti Volcano and then continue up into the Andes to the Colca Canyon. There, we will spend the night in a nice mountain village.

Early in the morning, we drive to the deepest point of the Colca Canyon to observe condors up close as they glide along the steep walls in the morning updraft. After this spectacular natural spectacle, we drive through mountainous landscapes into the higher regions of the Andes towards Sicuani.

On the way to Cusco, there are several temples and ruins, the most important being the Viracocha Temple Raqchi, the Inca ruins Pikillagta and Tipón, as well as the artificially created irrigation systems and gardens of Oéngo.

Today is dedicated entirely to exploring Cusco, its ancient center, its Spanish churches, and the surrounding area with impressive Inca temples.

Today is the long-awaited visit to Machu Picchu, the religious center of the former Inca Empire. We start with an impressive train ride over several zigzags out of the Cusco valley, then to Ollantaytambo and along the Urubamba River to Aguas Calientes, from where we take a bus up to the breathtaking ruins of Machu Picchu. After visiting the ruins, we take the train back to Cusco.

After the Machu Picchu experience, we now head towards Bolivia, over the valleys and plains of the Vilcanota Mountains, over the La Raya pass to Juliaca and Puno at Lake Titicaca, where we will spend the night. Very close by, the Uru live on their floating islands, which we can visit if we arrive in Puno on time.

Along Lake Titicaca, we head to the border with Bolivia, to the idyllic town of Copacabana. The rest of the day is free for you to explore the area.

Via winding paved roads, we arrive at an adventurous boat crossing over a narrow part of Lake Titicaca, and then continue to La Paz, the spectacularly located capital of Bolivia. The rest of the day is free for city exploration.

Adventurers will today ride the 'Death Road' into the Yungas. First, we ascend over a nearly 5,000-meter high pass, only to plunge down into the wooded lowlands at the foot of the Andes at about 1,000 meters. On the return journey, we will ride the infamous 'Death Road'. On this road, traffic is on the left side, and until a few years ago, there were many accidents due to the narrow gravel road. Today, the Death Road is a very beautiful, rarely traveled road along a deep gorge.

Through the Bolivian highlands, we first travel over the high plains of the Altiplano to the city of Oruro, then past Lake Poopó and further on excellent asphalt through spectacular mountain landscapes to the Uyuni Salt Flat, the largest salt flat in the world. The afternoon is entirely devoted to the largest and probably most fascinating salt flat in the world. Admire the dazzling light conditions and bizarre salt formations, and enjoy the carefree ride with the motorcycle over the almost endless expanse of the white sea of salt. A highlight is certainly the cactus-covered 'island' Isla del Pescador, which rises from the white plain. At the edge of the salt flat, we spend the night in a beautifully built hotel made entirely of salt.

We return to Potosí to visit the silver mines of Cerro Rico or the 'Casa de la Moneda' museum in the afternoon.

On good roads, we head through colorful mountain landscapes first to the fertile valley of Tupiza before heading back up to the high plain and towards the border with Argentina. Overnight stay in La Quiaca.

After a short ride over the high plains, we soon go down into the valley of Humahuaca (UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2003). There we visit the town of Humahuaca, the church of Uquia, cross the Tropic of Capricorn, and arrive in the town of Tilcara. From there, we head back to Salta via Hornillos, Jujuy, and a winding forest road.

Today we will take you to the airport, where you will leave with only impressive impressions, many good memories, and our farewell gift for your return flight.