Our 8 week safari takes us through the following countries and sites:

• Day 1 - 5 Leaving the old colonial city of Quito, just 22 km south of the equator, we drive east on narrow and tortuous roads over the cordilleras and down to the steamy edge of the Amazon Basin. Passing through lush tropical forest we reach El Coca on the Rio Napo. From her we take a boat to a jungle lodge, where for the next three days we take treks into the jungle accompanied by experienced guides. Plus, you can try your hand at fishing for Piranha and finding the target with a blowpipe.
• Day 6 - 10 Leaving El Coca we continue along the Amazon Basin and then finally climbing up to Baños. Perched high above the western limit of the Amazon basin, Baños is a spa town where the Ecuadorians go to relax in the thermal baths. You can also ride the white water rapids and hike and mountain bike the various mountain trails to two nearby waterfalls and an impressive rocky canyon.
  After two nights in Baños we hit the road again and drive south along the spine of the Andes towards Cuenca. On the way, at the town of Alausi, we have the opportunity to take the hair-raising ride down to the 'Devils Nose' by train before continuing on the track to Cuenca.
  Cuenca is a quaint town with many good examples of colonial architecture using locally quarried marble. We have a free day here.
• Day 11 - 12 A long days drive on the Pan American Highway brings us to the border with Peru. You will notice an amazing transition in one day, from the good farming country of highland Ecuador, through subtropical forest and immense banana plantations, to the dry barren desert in Peru. Passing through small oasis towns we follow the Pacific coast south and camp on the beach.
• Day 13 - 21 Our next stop is Chan Chan, the imperial citadel of the pre-Inca Chimu kings which the Incas later conquered. It claims to be the largest mud brick city in the world. We also visit the nearby Moche Temples of The Sun and The Moon.
  Continuing with the Andes close to the left and the sea near on our right, we may have to drive through shifting sand dunes, on our way to Lima. It is not necessary to spend much time in Lima as we pass through on our way to Paracas National Reserve on the Peruvian Coast, where there is the opportunity to take a boat to the Ballestas Islands, with its high concentration of seabirds and sea lions.
  Next is one of the world's greatest archaeological mysteries, the Nazca Lines. These huge figures and shapes, carved into the stony desert are best viewed from the air. Thought to have been made from three different groups of people going back more than two thousand years, there are many different theories and books about what they signify and why they are there.
  Still heading south on the Pan America Highway we pass Peurta Inca. This was the port for Cuzco. The site is in excellent condition and you can also make out the 240 kilometre Inca Road that went from the coast to Cuzco. We will camp on the beach here and relax for a day or two. A short walk from the camp is an old burial ground where you can still view human remains. Soon after this we leave the coastal highway and begin climbing back into the towering Andes.
  We spend a day or two in Arequipa allowing time to wander around its "Plaza de Armas". On the north side is the Cathedral, now missing a spire since the recent earthquake. Of particular interest is the Juanita museum housing the remarkably preserved body, of a girl sacrificed on a nearby mountain and discovered intact after several hundred years being frozen in the ice.
  Our next night is spent camping at Chivay hot springs. An early start the next morning ensures our arrival at Colca Canyon, arguably the deepest in the world, for a chance to see the condors soaring lazily on the thermals rising from the canyon floor. In the background is the huge smoking mass of one of the world's most active volcanoes.
• Day 22 - 30 We now have to face some arduous climbs and punishing dirt roads, freezing cold at nights but with clear sunny days, we bounce along for two days passing herds of llama and alpaca and unspoilt Andean villages with ancient terraced fields on our way to Cuzco.
  Widely considered to be the most interesting city in South America, Cuzco also has the sacred valley of the Inca a few miles away. We will spend about a week here. This will allow time for the four day hike along the Inca Trail to the lost city of Machu Picchu. For the less energetic there is a train which snakes its way up to this highlight.
• Day 31 - 35 Bordering Peru and Bolivia is lake Titicaca. The world's highest navigable lake at 3820 metres it is also home to the Uros Indians who have built their homes on reed islands. We will have the chance to cross the lake to visit them.
  A drive around the lake brings us to Bolivia, where the first town we visit is Copacabana. Nestling on the shores of Titicaca, it is a friendly place and much calmer than the hustle and bustle of Peru. From here we can visit the islands of the sun and the moon, where legend has it that the Incas were created.
  Alternatively we may stay with a local family on Amantani island, reached from our base at Puno.
  From Copacabana it is only a short drive to La Paz, the highest capital city in the world. Built on a steep slope, which falls away from the Altiplano, the top of the city is about 2000 feet above the bottom part. Unusually, all the rich suburbs are at the bottom. This is because the air is thicker with oxygen lower down. La Paz is a great place to visit a 'pena', clubs dedicated to live Andean folk music. Day 36 - 38 Leaving La Paz we cross the Altiplano. It seems unnatural to have such a vast expanse of flatness so high up. Here the Aymara and Quechua Indians scrape a living from their small plots of land in the harsh climate. One of the common crops grown is the potato, which originates on this continent. The women retain their original bright costume and many wear bowler hats.
  Our next stop is Potosi. At over 4000 metres it is the highest city in the world and 400 years ago it was the richest city in all of the Americas. Vast amounts of silver were extracted from Potosi and shipped to Spain. We will tour one of the mines and it is still clear to see that unfortunately, working conditions here have hardly improved over the centuries. In the local markets you can buy sticks of dynamite along with coca leaves and sweets! The history and past colonial splendour make Potosi a fascinating place to visit. A visit to Casa National de Monda (National Money House and ancient mint) provides a good look into Potosi's and Bolivia's past.
• Day 39 - 44 Leaving the bleak Altiplano we cross the shimmering white Uyuni Salt Lake. With no roads and only vague tracks to follow on the salt, we drive towards Chile. Surrounded by dozens of volcanic peaks we pass through the most spectacular scenery Bolivia has to offer. Crossing the roughest terrain we have yet encountered, we visit remote lakes, home to the rare Jame's flamingo, including Laguna Colorado and Laguna Verde situated at over 5000m above sea level. Along the way is a geyser field with mud pots bubbling up through the earth's crust.
  Finally the rough track ends and we turn onto a smooth tarmac road. We have crossed into Chile. Descending over 2500m in 40km we arrive at the immigration post at San Pedro de Atacama and spend some days exploring this interesting village, including the near by Valley of the Moon.
• Day 45 - 56 Leaving San Pedro, we now enter the Atacama Desert. We can stop at Calama to visit the vast open cast copper mine with its equally vast machinery.
  Heading south through the desert that may only see rain once in a hundred years, we rejoin the Pan American Highway following the Pacific coast stopping at some beach resorts including La Serena, one of Chile's most fashionable resorts.
  After a few days relaxing here, a day's drive brings us to Santiago and a chance to go to the cinema amongst other city life activities.