travelling from Cusco to Santiago

Hi there,
im a budding TP member and im looking for some advice..We are travelling to Peru(through bolivia) and have booked the Inca trail that leads us up until Dec 19th and we then have to make our way down to Santiago, Chile as my boyfriend has a flight out on the 31st december. Ive read there are so many things to do and see but I would greatly appreciate
-some direction on time frame this would take
-including seeing some of the highlights/ good places to stay/best transport method and
-also best place to stop for christmas..well for our attempt to make it seem christmassy!!
also as we arrive in Santiago on new years eve I presume it will be busy, can anyone advise on need to book accommodation far in advance and a good place to stay(I hear there is a great fireworks display)
Lots of questions, im sorry!!
Hazel, Ireland

A few places I would not miss:

Rurrenabaque, a 40 min flight from La Paz. Pampas trip. 3 days and about $50-60. Flights $30 e/w. Unreal, you won't regret it.

Salt Flats in Bolivia. Do a 4 day jeep trip. You won't regret it. Uyuni - Tupiza (or vica versa).

North Argentina (San Juan) and the Park Provincal Ischigualasto (also called the Valle de la Luna). Like being on the moon with the lunar landscapes.

Mendoza. Beautiful place and loads of great hostles and activities. If you like wine it's a major plus as many of the great Argentinian wines are made here. It's also an amazingly beautiful bus route from here to Santiago, about 10 hours if I remember rightly.

There are far too many places to be honest.

Plan well and you can maybe get a few of these in.

oh, and cycle the death road in LP. An absolute must. Or maybe the Ghost Road.

Hi Hazel,

I'm interested to know how you got on with your trip? We're thinking of going to SA next may for about 2.5 months and hope to visit Argentina, Chile, Bolivia, Peru - not sure if it's possible, but I'm trying to find out!!

How long did it take you to get from Bolivia to Santiago? Any info/tips you can give me, I'd love to hear from you!

Cheers,

Ali, Kerry