20 day itinerary Bolivia-Peru (entering through Calama Chile)

It is doable, but just barely, and only providing nothing anywhere goes wrong the whole time. And of course, things go wrong sometimes, particularly in Bolivia, transportation breaks down. And you'd be dead tired halfway through from all of the buses.

There's no reason to go to Arequipa if you have only one whole day there. Arequipa and the Colca Canyon needs at least 3 whole days. Same for Copacabana, There's no reason to stop there unless you take the boat out to Isla del Sol. And that deserves at least an overnight visit. So you'd need at least 2 days there. If you need to stick to the time frame, the trip would work better skipping Arequipa (which I just love). You'd still be rushed.

Edited by: mstep

If you have the money, fly from Uyuni to La Paz saves time and a long bus ride.

I agree with Mstep that Arequipa is the logical one to leave out. This will mean 1 less bus journey which on your short timeframe is very beneficial. Add the extra 2 days to Puno or Copacabana. You could use them as follows:

1 day for relaxing and getting all your clothes washed, recharged the batteries etc. And if there is a roadblock or bus breakdown or other delay it means you have the extra day to work with.

1 day either on Isla del sol (over night home stay) near Copacabana or visiting the floating islands near Puno. Both are touristy, but I think worth doing.

Its do-able. But fast paced. If thats how you roll, then go for it. I think its trying to fit too much in.

I agree with the others, that Arequipa is easiest to skip. For one day, its not exactly worth it. And you can use the time elsewhere.

I would suggest just spending time at one place on Lake Titicaca - I'd spend a night on Isla del Sol or Taquile or somewhere similar. The less time in Puno the better.

I would rework the Cusco/Sacred Valley/Machu Picchu part of the trip. I would start at Cusco and Sacred Valley. And leave Machu Picchu til the end of your trip. Why? I found that after MP, the ruins elsewhere just didnt have that spark for me. I'd hit them before. I think you won't have much time to see MP on the evening you arrive. And its super expensive - there is a nearby climb that has outstanding views of the valley surrounds and costs 0. Spend the whole day at MP - go early, take a break at lunch when the crowds are about and then stay til close (its near empty then). There are trains going back to Ollantaytambo/Cusco all evening so you could go back that same day.

I would try to arrive in Uyuni in morning, go straight to full day salt flat tour, return Uyuni and get night bus to La Paz. Would not bother with Puno at all. Not sure what one would do in Copacabana for more than two hours. Would do Colca Canyon 2 day tour instead.

These countries are BIG--takes more time to travel by bus than you probably think.

Thanks all for your feedback!

To save me some time and take the trip on a slower pace I will scrap Arequipa from the itinerary and am thiking on going by plane from Uyuni to La Paz. So you guys are suggesting to avoid Puno and stay one or 2 days longer at Copacabana, visiting isla del sol, right?

From copacabana it's easy to take a night bus to Cusco?

Thanks!
W

Scrapping Arequipa is a good idea. I wouldn't spend 2 days in Copacabana or Puno. I would spend a night on one of the many islands on Lake Titicaca.

you say on day San Pedro - Uyuni tour but arent clear if you plan to start the tour that day or the next. Even if you are starting the next day you have assigned 4 days for the tour when the majority of tours from San Pedro to Uyuni are 3 day tours. Also , you should arrive in uyuni around 5-6pm and that is time to catch a bus overnight to La Paz and get there next morning. So striaght away that is gaining you at least one day you coudl use in probably in La Paz as you seem to have only assigned a couple of hours in La Paz in your schedule. For flights from Uyuni they leave with Amaszonas everyday at 8.05am and also now on Tue/Thu/Sat/Sun leaving at 14.20 - so if your flying you would have to stay over night in Uyuni. Taking into account getting your baggage and then getting from El Alto to La Paz you would probably arrive in La Paz around 10.30 -11am . The last buses for Copacabana leave around 4-5pm so you would not have much time in La Paz at all.

I agree that it would be better to move MP to the end, after Cusco. It is nicer first to visit the sacred valley and then go to MP as the cherry on the cake.
Also, if you are coming from Chile, wouldn't it be better to go to Tupiza to start your "salar" tour in stead of going to Uyuni?

the OP intends to start in San Pedro de Atacama not Uyuni , so it woudlnt make sense to travel to Tupiza to start especially with the limited schedule.