Rainy Season Discovery: Machu Picchu & Uyuni Salt Flats – 9 Days

Rainy Season Discovery: Machu Picchu & Uyuni Salt Flats – 9 Days

  • Bolivia
  • Peru
  • Small Group Journeys
  • Tailor-Made Journeys
  • 9 Days / 8 Nights
  • Best Season: January - May
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Highlights

Rainy Season Discovery: Machu Picchu & Uyuni Salt Flats – 9 Days

The Top Priority Service: Your Safety

On this tour, you will travel at altitudes above 3,400 meters between Cusco and the Uyuni Salt Flats. Your guide will support your health throughout the journey and, in an emergency, will accompany you to a local hospital and interpret for you, so you can travel with peace of mind.

In cities such as La Paz and Cusco, pickpocketing and bag-snatching are common. Your guide will take every care to keep you safe while showing you around.

Rainy Season Discovery: Machu Picchu & Uyuni Salt Flats – 9 Days

To Unforgettable Scenic Views!

During the rainy season, we combine hiking and sightseeing at Machu Picchu, with lunch in between.
Early in the morning, you will climb Huayna Picchu, which offers a sweeping view over Machu Picchu. The view from the top is simply spectacular. After descending, enjoy lunch at the Sanctuary Lodge, then re-enter the ruins for a guided tour.

You will fly to Uyuni on a morning flight. The itinerary is planned so that you can enjoy one sunrise, one night of stargazing and two sunsets on the salt flats. (The itinerary may change depending on the weather on the day.)

In Uyuni, we hire only veteran local drivers who know the salt flats inside out. They avoid areas where vehicles easily get stuck in the mud and share information with fellow guides each day to find the most spectacular water-covered spots on the vast salt flats. At night, we check the sky and the moonlight to take you out at the best possible moment to see a star-filled sky.

Rainy Season Discovery: Machu Picchu & Uyuni Salt Flats – 9 Days

An Otherworldly Scene That Will Give You Goosebumps

To witness a sky filled with stars in every direction, all elements must align perfectly—the water level of the salt flats, moonlight, cloud cover, rainfall, and ever-changing weather conditions.

Yet, we are ultimately guided by the forces of raw nature.

Stretching endlessly toward the horizon at an altitude of 3,600 meters, the vast Uyuni Salt Flats are shaped by unpredictable winds and weather, sometimes revealing a beauty far beyond imagination.

Having observed the salt flats’ constantly shifting expressions over many years, we draw on our experience and insight to guide you into this extraordinary landscape.
Our wish is to share this truly otherworldly experience with you.

By carefully considering factors such as your location on the salt flats, forecasts for rain and wind, and the movements of the sun and moon—combined with the deep local knowledge of our experienced guides—we design a flexible journey that flows with nature’s rhythm, rather than following a rigid schedule.

Join us for a warm drink and an unforgettable night beneath a sky filled with stars.

Tour Schedule

DAY 1

Arrival in Lima, the Capital of Peru

If you are travelling from Japan, you will arrive in Lima late at night after a journey of at least 26 hours with a connection in a North American city.
Your local Japanese-speaking guide will be waiting for you at Lima airport. Once all tour members have gathered, we will head to the hotel inside the airport.
No meals are provided on arrival.
As your flight departs early the next morning, please get some rest early.
*You will fly to Cusco on a 7–8 a.m. flight the next morning (flight times are subject to change). If you are booking your own flights, please arrange a flight that arrives in Lima before 3 a.m.

Meals

  • Breakfast / -
  • Lunch / -
  • Dinner / -

Accommodation

Lima

Rainy Season Discovery: Machu Picchu & Uyuni Salt Flats – 9 Days

DAY 2

From Lima to Ollantaytambo and on to Machu Picchu

Breakfast at the hotel. Take the hotel shuttle bus to the airport on your own and fly from Lima to Cusco on a morning flight.
(*Baggage allowance (LATAM): one 23 kg checked bag / one 10 kg carry-on bag + one handbag)
Meet your local Japanese-speaking guide at the airport and head to Ollantaytambo, enjoying the Andean scenery along the way.
In the Sacred Valley, visit the Ollantaytambo ruins, the Moray ruins and the Maras salt pans.
After lunch at a local restaurant, board the train to Machu Picchu. The only way to reach Machu Picchu is by this train, which runs along the Urubamba River. Enjoy the spectacular views of the Andes from the riverside.
(*Luggage on the train is limited. Please pack only what you need for one night in a small backpack. Large items such as suitcases will be left with the driver before you go to the station and returned to you in Cusco when you come back from Machu Picchu.)
On arrival in Machu Picchu village, walk to your hotel.
Dinner at the hotel. Tomorrow will be a demanding day of hiking and sightseeing, so we recommend an early night.

Meals

  • Breakfast / ○
  • Lunch / ○
  • Dinner / ○

Accommodation

Machu Picchu

Rainy Season Discovery: Machu Picchu & Uyuni Salt Flats – 9 Days

DAY 3

Machu Picchu Ruins Tour

After an early start, head to the entrance of Machu Picchu and on to Huayna Picchu.
The trail up Huayna Picchu follows a restored Inca path. Anyone in good health can climb it, but the high altitude and thin air make it a moderately challenging hike, so take it slowly at your own pace. The view of the ruins from the summit is a breathtaking reward for your effort. (Tickets for Huayna Picchu are limited, so depending on the timing of your booking, you may climb Machu Picchu Mountain instead.)
After descending Huayna Picchu, enjoy lunch at the Sanctuary Lodge, a hotel at the entrance to the ruins.
After lunch, return to the ruins for a guided tour.
After the tour, take the train to Ollantaytambo Station, then transfer to your hotel in Cusco by private car with a Spanish-speaking driver.
Overnight at a hotel in Cusco. Let the crisp Andean air wash away the fatigue of the day.
Dinner is not included.

Meals

  • Breakfast / ○
  • Lunch / ○
  • Dinner / -

Accommodation

Cusco

Rainy Season Discovery: Machu Picchu & Uyuni Salt Flats – 9 Days

Machu Picchu

Machu Picchu, a UNESCO World Heritage site, is an ancient Inca city nestled high in Peru’s Andes Mountains. Built in the 15th century and rediscovered in 1911, it’s famous for its stunning mountain views, well-preserved stone architecture, and mysterious history. Visitors can explore temples, terraces, and climb nearby peaks like Huayna Picchu for breathtaking views. Often called one of the New Seven Wonders of the World, Machu Picchu offers a unique blend of natural beauty and ancient craftsmanship, making it a must-see destination.

DAY 4

Cusco Sightseeing and Travel to La Paz

After breakfast, head into Cusco for a city tour with your Japanese-speaking guide.
Visit Inca sites such as the famous Twelve-Angled Stone, a masterpiece of Inca stonemasonry, and Sacsayhuamán.
Enjoy Peruvian cuisine for lunch at a local restaurant in Cusco.
After sightseeing, enjoy free time to shop for souvenirs or stroll around town until departure.
In the evening, depart for the airport, where you will say goodbye to your guide in Peru. A boxed dinner will be provided.
Fly toward La Paz. Spend the night at the airport at your leisure while waiting for your connecting flight.

Meals

  • Breakfast / ○
  • Lunch / ○
  • Dinner / ○
Rainy Season Discovery: Machu Picchu & Uyuni Salt Flats – 9 Days

Cuzco

Cuzco, located in the Peruvian Andes, was the capital of the Inca Empire and is now a vibrant city blending ancient history with modern life. Known for its well-preserved Inca ruins, including the famous Sacsayhuamán fortress, and its beautiful colonial architecture, Cuzco is a UNESCO World Heritage site. As the gateway to Machu Picchu, it’s a popular destination for visitors exploring Peru’s rich cultural heritage.

DAY 5

La Paz Sightseeing

Fly to La Paz early in the morning.
(*Baggage allowance (LATAM): one 23 kg checked bag / one 10 kg carry-on bag + one handbag)
After entering Bolivia, head into La Paz with your English-speaking guide.
Rest at the hotel.
In the afternoon, enjoy a city tour of La Paz, visiting Sagárnaga Street, Linares Street and the Valley of the Moon.
Enjoy beautiful views of La Paz from the Teleférico (cable car).

Meals

  • Breakfast / ○
  • Lunch / ○
  • Dinner / ○

Accommodation

La Paz

Rainy Season Discovery: Machu Picchu & Uyuni Salt Flats – 9 Days

La Paz

La Paz is the world’s highest administrative capital, dramatically set in a vast canyon at an altitude of about 3,600 meters. The city offers a unique blend of indigenous culture, colonial history, and modern life, with breathtaking views at every turn. It also serves as the main gateway to the Uyuni Salt Flats and other highlights of Bolivia.

DAY 6

To Uyuni Salt Flats

Breakfast at the hotel or a boxed breakfast.
Transfer to the airport with your English-speaking guide and fly to Uyuni.
(*Baggage allowance (BoA): one 20 kg checked bag + one 7 kg carry-on bag)
On arrival in Uyuni, your Japanese-speaking guide will meet you, and you will set off on a 4WD tour of Uyuni.
Visit the town of Uyuni, the Train Cemetery and a salt processing plant.
A picnic lunch will be provided.
*During the rainy season, when water levels are high, visits to Incahuasi Island are not permitted.
Watch the sunset over the Uyuni Salt Flats, then head to your hotel.
Dinner at the hotel.

Meals

  • Breakfast / ○
  • Lunch / ○
  • Dinner / ○

Accommodation

Uyuni

Rainy Season Discovery: Machu Picchu & Uyuni Salt Flats – 9 Days

Uyuni

The Uyuni Salt Flats, or Salar de Uyuni, in Bolivia, are the largest salt flats in the world, covering over 10,000 square kilometers (3,900 square miles). Formed from the evaporation of ancient lakes, the salt flats create a vast, surreal landscape that reflects the sky like a mirror during the rainy season. It’s a popular destination for photographers and adventurers, offering stunning views, unique wildlife, and otherworldly beauty.

DAY 7

A Full Day at Uyuni Salt Flats!

Early in the morning, set off to see the stars and the sunrise. The departure time is set according to that day's sunrise time.
While it is still dark, drive deep into the salt flats and enjoy a sky full of stars.
After sunrise, return to the salt hotel for breakfast.
After a break, set off on your Uyuni tour and enjoy the "Mirror of the Sky" reflected on the salt flats.
Spend half a day on the salt flats taking trick photos and artistic shots.
Enjoy a picnic lunch on the salt flats.
Stay on the salt flats until evening, watch the sunset, then return to your hotel.
Dinner at the hotel (7:30–9:00 p.m.).

Meals

  • Breakfast / ○
  • Lunch / ○
  • Dinner / ○

Accommodation

Uyuni

Rainy Season Discovery: Machu Picchu & Uyuni Salt Flats – 9 Days

DAY 8

Travel from Uyuni to La Paz

Breakfast at the hotel (7:00–10:00 a.m.).
Transfer to the airport (Spanish-speaking driver only) and fly to La Paz.
(*Baggage allowance (BoA): one 20 kg checked bag + one 7 kg carry-on bag)
On arrival, transfer to your hotel with your English-speaking guide.
The rest of the day is free. Experience the high-altitude city of La Paz at your own pace.
*Optional tours, such as a visit to the Tiwanaku ruins, can be arranged.

Meals

  • Breakfast / ○
  • Lunch / -
  • Dinner / -

Accommodation

La Paz

Rainy Season Discovery: Machu Picchu & Uyuni Salt Flats – 9 Days

DAY 9

Farewell at La Paz Airport

Breakfast at the hotel (a boxed breakfast or light meal).
After breakfast, transfer to La Paz airport by private car with your English-speaking guide.
Check in for your departure flight.

Meals

  • Breakfast / ○
  • Lunch / -
  • Dinner / -

Tour Price

Rainy Season Discovery: Machu Picchu & Uyuni – 9 Days

Travel Cost per Person

Number of Participants Price per Person (2 persons in a room)
2 Persons USD 4,330
4 Persons or More USD 3,550

*Departure dates are not fixed. As Uyuni flights do not operate every day, the tour dates will be confirmed after we receive your preferred dates. A group discount applies when 4 or more people join the tour.

Tour Code PEBO001
Departure Point Lima (Jorge Chávez International Airport)
Departure Date On request
Accommodation Lima: Costa del Sol Wyndham Lima Airport (4★)
Machu Picchu: El Mapi (4★)
Cusco: San Agustin Plaza Hotel (3★)
La Paz: Ritz Apart Hotel (5★)
Uyuni: Salt hotel in Colchani village – Luna Salada or similar (3–4★)
Tour Leader Local guides will accompany you.
Minimum Number of Participants 2 Persons

Included in the Price

  • Japanese-speaking guides in Peru and Bolivia (English-speaking guide in La Paz)
  • Stays at a salt hotel in Uyuni
  • Huayna Picchu or Machu Picchu Mountain climb
  • Accommodation at the hotels listed in the itinerary (or similar)
  • Meals as listed in the itinerary
  • Ground transfers and tours
  • Flights: Lima – Cusco, Cusco – La Paz, La Paz – Uyuni – La Paz
  • Encounters with landscapes you will remember for a lifetime

Not Included in the Price

  • International flights to/from Japan and airport taxes (fares vary depending on the time of booking; please contact us if you would like us to arrange them)
  • Travel insurance
  • Personal expenses
  • Tips
  • Uyuni airport tax (payable locally)

Check before travelling

A trip that offers a life-changing experience. Consult with ONLYONE.
Inquire about travel

A trip that offers a life-changing experience. Consult with ONLYONE.
Inquire about travel