Self-Launched 21-Day Colombia, Peru, Bolivia & Chile Adventure

Fly into José María Córdova (MDE) and take the airport bus or a shared taxi down to El Poblado (~£4). Check into Los Patios Hostel, the same base the tour uses, or any El Poblado dorm from £12. Head to Mercado del Río for a cheap lunch of bandeja paisa or arepas (£5). In the afternoon, walk the Comuna 13 escalators and murals with a community-run graffiti tour (GetYourGuide, ~£15, tipping guides is normal); the neighbourhood is safe by day and best visited with a local guide. Then metro to Parque Berrío for a free stroll past Plaza Botero's Botero statues, the Palacio de la Cultura and the Catedral Basílica. Evening: optional salsa in Zona Rosa (~£10 with drinks).

🚌Airport bus/shared taxi ~£4; metro day ticket ~£1

🛏Los Patios Hostel dorm, El Poblado (~£14)

• →Community graffiti & escalator tour of Comuna 13 (GetYourGuide ~£15)
• →Self-guided Plaza Botero, Palacio de la Cultura & Cathedral walk
• →Mercado del Río food market lunch

Catch the 8:00 bus from Medellín's Terminal del Norte to Guatapé (~2hrs, £4 each way). Climb the 740 steps of El Peñón de Guatapé (£3 entry) for the reservoir panorama, then wander the zócalo-tiled streets of Guatapé town and eat trucha (trout) by the water (£6). For the reservoir, cheap public lancha (small boat) rides run from the Guatapé jetty (~£8 for 30-45 mins) if you don't want a private tour — try Klook for a bundled rock + boat combo (~£25). Back in Medellín by ~19:00 for a salsa class at a local dance studio (~£10) or free hostel evening.

🚌Return bus Medellín–Guatapé ~£8

🛏Los Patios Hostel dorm, El Poblado (~£14)

• →Climb El Peñón de Guatapé (£3)
• →Public boat ride on Peñol-Guatapé Reservoir (~£8)
• →Guatapé town wander
• →Salsa class in Medellín (~£10)

Take the morning bus from Medellín to Salento (~6-7hrs, ~£14, changing in Armenia or Pereira via Alianza/Flota Occidental). Alternatively fly Medellín–Pereira (£30-45) then bus 45 mins. Lunch en route (£4). Check into Viajero Hostel Salento (~£14 dorm) or a cheap finca guesthouse. Afternoon coffee tour at Finca El Ocaso — book direct (~£13-16) for the bean-picking, roasting and tasting experience with a 45-min walk or shared willy from town. Sunset in Salento's pastel-crayon plaza, dinner of trucha (£7).

🚌Bus Medellín–Salento ~£14

🛏Viajero Hostel Salento dorm (~£14)

• →Finca El Ocaso coffee experience (~£15)
• →Salento central plaza at sunset

Morning free: walk to the Cocora Valley viewpoint (entry ~£4) for wax palms if you're up early, or shop the craft stalls. Late morning bus to Pereira/Armenia (~£3) and catch an afternoon flight to Bogotá (£30-50) — the bus option (Salento–Bogotá via Armenia, ~9-10hrs overnight, ~£18) also works if you'd rather save and travel by night. Check into Cranky Croc Hostel in La Candelaria (~£13 dorm). Sunny afternoon walking tour of Bogotá's old town (free walking tour + £3 tip) or simply get oriented around Plaza Bolívar.

🚌Bus to Pereira/Armenia ~£3 + domestic flight ~£40

🛏Cranky Croc Hostel dorm, La Candelaria (~£13)

• →Cocora Valley wax palms option (~£4)
• →La Candelaria orientation walk

Join a morning bike tour of Bogotá's historic districts — La Candelaria, Plaza Bolívar, the Cathedral and Palacio de Nariño — with a fruit-tasting stop at Paloquemao market. Book on GetYourGuide/Klook (~£22) and expect the guide to be the highlight. Lunch at Paloquemao (£4). Afternoon: teleférico or funicular up Monserrate (~£8 return; free on Sundays) for the city sprawl view, and browse the craft stalls up top. Optional night out at Theatron (Latin America's biggest club, entry ~£8-12) or a craft-beer bar in Zona G.

🚌TransMilenio/local bus ~£3

🛏Cranky Croc Hostel dorm, La Candelaria (~£13)

• →Bogotá bike tour with fruit tasting (~£22)
• →Monserrate cable car return (~£8)
• →Museo del Oro entry (~£2)

Fly Bogotá–Lima–Cusco (LATAM/Viva Air combos from ~£130-180, book early; direct Bogotá–Cusco via Lima typically ~7hrs with connection). Land at 3,400m and go gently: check into Pariwana Hostel Cusco (~£13 dorm) or a cheap San Blas guesthouse. Coca tea, a light llama/alpaca stew (£6) and an early night is the smart acclimatisation play. Use today to confirm your Inca Trail operator's briefing time, collect your permit paperwork and buy water and snacks for the trek.

🚌Domestic flight Bogotá–Cusco via Lima ~£150

🛏Pariwana Hostel Cusco dorm (~£13)

• →Trek briefing with your licensed Inca Trail operator
• →Gentle acclimatisation walk in San Blas

Free walking tour of Cusco's Plaza de Armas, Qorikancha exterior and San Blas artisan quarter (tip ~£4). Afternoon: walk to Sacsayhuamán (~30 mins uphill, entry £5 with the Boleto Turístico) or buy the partial ticket and pair it with Q'enqo. Coca-leaf tea at the hostel, a pisco sour class (~£20) if you're feeling energetic, and a long lunch of menú del día (£4). Rest hard — tomorrow you start at 4,200m. Don't book anything late.

🚌Walk / short taxi ~£3

🛏Pariwana Hostel Cusco dorm (~£13)

• →Free walking tour of Cusco
• →Sacsayhuamán entry (~£5)
• →Optional pisco sour class (~£20)

Your licensed operator collects you at ~05:00 for the drive to Ollantaytambo for breakfast, then on to Km 82 at Piskacucho where permits are checked. Today's hike is a gentle ~12km to Wayllabamba (~3,000m) through the Urubamba valley with views of Nevado Verónica. Porters carry the group kit and cook all meals — this is included in any regulated trek (from ~£450-600pp for the 4-day version, porters, chef and permits in). Sleep in tents under serious stars. Book the trek itself 5-6 months ahead via a registered operator like Alpaca Expeditions or SAS Travel, or a GetYourGuide-listed Inca Trail 4-day package.

🚌Trek operator minibus Cusco–Km 82 (included)

🛏Camping on the Inca Trail (included in trek)

• →Inca Trail Day 1 hike (~12km)
• →Guided ruins stops along the Urubamba

The hardest day: ~16km and around 9 hours over the 4,215m Abra de Warmihuañusca (Dead Woman's Pass) then down to Pacaymayo. Start early, pace slowly, drink water and coca tea at the top. The trek operator's price already covers this day, food and camp — nothing extra to pay today. Bring ~£10 cash for snacks and a cold drink at the small trail stalls.

🚌On foot

🛏Camping on the Inca Trail (included in trek)

• →Dead Woman's Pass summit (4,215m)
• →Runkurakay ruins

A shorter ~10km/5hr day over the Runkurakay and Sayacmarca passes to the cloud-forest ruins of Phuyupatamarca ('Village in the Clouds') and down to Wiñay Wayna camp. Get the camera out at Sayacmarca and the Inti Punku approach. Everything included in your trek fee; tip your porters and chef on the last night (budget ~£25 in total, it's standard and expected).

🚌On foot

🛏Camping on the Inca Trail (included in trek)

• →Phuyupatamarca ruins
• →Sayacmarca & Wiñay Wayna
• →Porter/chef tips (~£25)

Pre-dawn start to reach Inti Punku (Sun Gate) for sunrise over Machu Picchu, then a guided circuit of the citadel before returning by the Expedition train to Ollantaytambo (included in the trek package) and the bus back to Cusco. If you're doing it fully independently, Machu Picchu entry is £35 (£50 with Huayna Picchu) plus the train from Aguas Calientes to Ollantaytambo ~£45-70 — book Inca Rail or PeruRail direct. Back at Pariwana for a proper shower and bed.

🚌Expedition train Ollantaytambo–Cusco bus (included in trek)

🛏Pariwana Hostel Cusco dorm (~£13)

• →Sun Gate sunrise
• →Guided Machu Picchu citadel circuit (included in trek)

Sleep in, then a ceviche or pisco sour cooking class in San Blas (~£20-28 on GetYourGuide), browse the Mercado de San Pedro for a £3 almuerzo and pick up cruelty-free alpaca knitwear in San Blas. A massage in Cusco runs ~£15. Optional: Museo de Arte Precolombino or a coffee-roastery crawl. Early night — an 04:00 departure for Rainbow Mountain tomorrow.

🚌Walk

🛏Pariwana Hostel Cusco dorm (~£13)

• →Ceviche/pisco cooking class (~£24)
• →San Pedro market lunch
• →Optional massage (~£15)

Book a Rainbow Mountain day trip (GetYourGuide, ~£28-35 including breakfast, lunch and 4,300-5,000m hike to Vinicunca) with a 04:00 pickup — acclimatise properly first, this is altitude's deep end. Back in Cusco by ~16:00, then take the evening tourist bus to Puno (~6hrs, ~£12, leaves ~22:00) or a next-day morning bus. Check into Kantaya Hostel in Puno (~£10 dorm). Note: a self-launched version can also do Rainbow Mountain as a stop en route to Puno with a private/shared van, but the standard day trip from Cusco is cheaper and simpler.

🚌Rainbow Mountain tour transport included; overnight tourist bus Cusco–Puno ~£12

🛏Kantaya Hostel Puno dorm (~£10)

• →Rainbow Mountain (Vinicunca) day hike (~£32)

Take a morning shared boat tour to the Uros floating islands (~£12-18 from the Puno jetty or a half-day GetYourGuide tour ~£20 that adds Taquile Island). It's the highest navigable lake in the world at 3,812m, so sunscreen and slow steps. Back in Puno for the afternoon: Plaza de Armas, a £4 menú lunch and an optional traditional dance show (~£8) in the evening — check with the hostel for the night's folkloric peña.

🚌Local boats and tuk-tuks ~£4

🛏Kantaya Hostel Puno dorm (~£10)

• →Uros floating islands boat tour (~£18)
• →Taquile option
• →Folkloric dance show (~£8)

Take the early tourist bus or a shared colectivo from Puno across the border to La Paz (~5-6hrs, ~£15-20 including border formalities; bring £12-18 for the visa on arrival if your passport requires it). Check into Wild Rover La Paz (~£10 dorm) — party hostel, earplugs advised. Afternoon: free walking tour of Plaza Murillo, the Presidential Palace, the Cathedral and the National Congress, then nose around the Witches' Market (Mercado de las Brujas) for llama-foetus charms. Sunset ride on the Mi Teleférico (a few pence a hop, ~£1 for the whole network) for the best view of the canyon city.

🚌Bus Puno–La Paz ~£18; cable car ~£1

🛏Wild Rover La Paz dorm (~£10)

• →Free walking tour of La Paz centre
• →Witches' Market
• →Mi Teleférico cable car network (~£1)

Mountain-bike the North Yungas Road — the 'Death Road' — with a reputable operator (Gravity or Barracuda, ~£45-60 including transfer, full-suspension bike, breakfast, lunch and hotel return). Book direct a day ahead. Back in La Paz by ~18:00 for a shower and dinner, then board the lie-flat overnight bus La Paz–Uyuni (~10hrs, ~£12-18, Todas las Estaciones/Trans Omar). Buses make toilet and food stops; bring layers, it gets cold.

🚌Death Road transfer included; overnight bus ~£15

🛏Sleeper bus La Paz–Uyuni (~£15)

• →Death Road mountain biking (~£52)

Arrive Uyuni early and join a 3-day, 2-night Salar de Uyuni + Eduardo Avaroa tour (book on GetYourGuide/Klook or directly with a Uyuni agency from ~£90-130pp including 4x4, driver-guide, food and basic accommodation — the cheapest but decent option). Day one: Train Cemetery, the blinding white Salar de Uyuni, Incahuasi Island cactus trails with a picnic lunch, and the classic perspective photos on the salt. Sleep in a basic salt hotel (~£0, included).

🚌4x4 included in tour

🛏Salt hotel, included in 3-day Uyuni tour

• →Train Cemetery
• →Salar de Uyuni
• →Incahuasi Island
• →Perspective photos

A full 4x4 day through the Chiguana Desert, past Ollagüe volcano, to Laguna Cañapa, Laguna Hedionda and Laguna Honda — flamingos at 4,000m — then the Siloli Desert and Arbol de Piedra (Stone Tree). Finish at Laguna Colorada, the red algae lake, inside Eduardo Avaroa National Park with the ~£12 park entry paid in cash. All meals and the night's basic shelter included in your tour price.

🚌4x4 included in tour

🛏Basic Andean shelter, included in 3-day Uyuni tour

• →Laguna Cañapa, Hedionda & Honda
• →Siloli Desert & Arbol de Piedra
• →Eduardo Avaroa NP & Laguna Colorada

Up at 04:30 for the Sol de Mañana geyser field at sunrise, then a soak in the Polques hot springs (£4 entry) before the border crossing at Hito Cajón into Chile's Atacama. Shared shuttles/vans run this crossing and drop in San Pedro de Atacama town (~2hrs). Check into La Florida Hostel or a cheaper San Pedro dorm (~£14-18). Afternoon: rent a bike (~£6) and pedal to Death Valley (Valle de la Muerte) for sandboarding and sunset dunes.

🚌Border shuttle included in Uyuni tour

🛏La Florida Hostel / San Pedro dorm (~£16)

• →Sol de Mañana geysers
• →Polques hot springs (~£4)
• →Death Valley bike & sand boarding (~£12)

Daylight is brutal in Atacama — do Valle de la Luna in the late afternoon by rented bike (£6, entry ~£4) or a shared tour (~£15) for the salt caves, Duna Mayor and the sunset over the cordillera. In the evening join a stargazing tour at an amateur observatory (~£30-40, GetYourGuide or direct with SPACE/Alarkapena) — Atacama has some of the clearest skies on Earth. Dinner in town (£10).

🚌Bicycle hire / shared tour ~£8

🛏La Florida Hostel / San Pedro dorm (~£16)

• →Valle de la Luna sunset (~£8)
• →Observatory stargazing tour (~£35)

Check out and take the early bus San Pedro–Calama (~1.5hrs, ~£8) then a Calama–Santiago flight (~£55-90, or overnight bus Calama–Santiago ~£30 with 20hrs and no sleep). If you have time, add a final morning hike to Quebrada del Diablo before the bus. The tour itself ends at hostel checkout in San Pedro — from here, onward flights to the rest of Chile or home are your call. Total for 21 days lands around £2,100 if you book flights and the Inca Trail early and keep eating £5-8 lunches.

🚌Bus to Calama ~£8 + flight ~£70

🛏None (onward travel)

• →Optional Quebrada del Diablo hike