Day 1 Arrive Quito
Arrive in Quito at any time.
Day 2-5 Quito/ Amazon (3B,3L,3D)
Ecuador's World Heritage capital has a rich colonial past. A journey into the depths of the Amazon jungle is sure to be a highlight of your trip.
Day 6-7 Baños
A great climate makes this area perfect for hiking, and optional activities include mountain biking, canyoning, horseback riding and rafting. A dip in the famous hot springs offers a welcome end to the day.
Day 8-9 Cuenca
Cuenca is a laid-back colonial gem filled with galleries and museums. Cajas National Park and the ruins of Ingapirca are possible day trips.
Day 10-14 Mancora / Huanchaco
Head south across the border to the relaxing beach town of Mancora. Later continue to Trujillo, the largest city in northern Peru, known for the nearby Chan-Chan ruins and the resort town of Huanchaco, our rest stop for the evening.
Day 15-17 Lima
Lima's museums are filled with cultural treasures, reflecting a long and varied history. The ‘City of Kings,’ Lima is filled with colonial buildings, and boasts excellent cafes and great nightlife.
Day 18-19 Pisco / Nazca
Nazca is best known for the mysterious Nazca Lines, where an optional flight is the best way to get a bird’s eye view. Pisco, famous for the drink of the same name, is the starting point for excursions to the Ballestas Islands.
Day 20-24 Arequipa / Colca Canyon
The beautiful colonial city of Arequipa is the departure point for our excursions to the Colca Canyon, one of the world's deepest. Watch for Andean condors soaring and nesting against the towering canyon walls.
Day 25-31 Cuzco / Ollantaytambo /Inca Trail (3B,3L,3D)
Fly to Cuzco and explore the colonial centre and ancient Incan capital before heading out on the Inca Trail. Ollantaytambo is a major Inca ruin site and the starting point for this once in a lifetime journey. Local porters and guides ensure that the trip is worry free, and days are filled with fascinating ruins and spectacular mountain scenery. On the final day watch the sunrise over Machu Picchu and the surrounding Andean mountain peaks from the Sun Gate.
Day 32-34 Puno / Lake Titicaca
An unforgettable journey through the high Altiplano region from Cuzco to Puno ends at the highest navigable lake in the world. Stay with a family on Amantani Island on our overnight excursion and visit the Uros floating islands.
Day 35-37 La Paz
An impressive journey along the shores of Lake Titicaca ends at the highest capital city in the world: La Paz, Bolivia. La Paz is a fascinating city with deep indigenous roots; optional activities include excursions to Tiahuanaco ruins or the Valley of the Moon.
Day 38-39 Cochabamba / Night bus
Staying in the highlands, we travel south to the city of Cochabamba, famous for its spring-like climate and for its chicha (fermented maize drink). Explore the museums and this pleasant city before climbing aboard a night bus headed for Sucre.
Day 40-41 Sucre
Often referred to as Bolivia’s White City, the country’s official capital, Sucre, is situated at nearly 2800m (9184 ft) and offers its visitors and inhabitants a more moderate, comfortable climate than cities at higher elevation. Before the conquest, military, religious and political leaders of the local indigenous population made their homes on the present day city site. The site became the headquarters for the Spanish Royal Court, which by the late 1700s ruled over colonial Paraguay, parts of Peru, Argentina, Chile, and most of Bolivia. In 1825, in the wake of the Latin American independence movement, the city was renamed Sucre, after Simon Bolívar’s second-in-command, General Sucre. The city’s fine museums, colonial buildings and ties to the independence movement make it a city of great historical interest, and the city has much to offer during our two day stay. Optional activities include a visit to dinosaur footprints, an old tin baron’s mansion, a textile cooperative, mountain biking and hiking.
Day 42-43 Potosí
Situated at 4070m (13,350 ft), Potosí is the highest city of its size on earth. UNESCO declared it a World Heritage Site in1987 in recognition of its tragic history in the mining of silver during the time of Spanish colonization. Potosí provided a large share of the silver mined and shipped back to Spain until the early 1800s, when both the supply of silver and world market prices began to decline.
Day 44-46 Uyuni / 4x4 Desert Crossing Excursion (2B,2L,2D)
We spend three days in the stunning landscapes between the Salar de Uyuni and the Atacama Desert (Chile), exploring by four-wheel-drive vehicles. Driving across the salt flats is a fantastic experience, particularly for the contrast of piercing blue skies and blinding white salt on the flat lakebed. The area’s unusual landscape of mountains, active volcanoes, and geysers is like nowhere on earth.
Day 47-49 San Pedro de Atacama
Descending almost 3000 metres from the high Bolivian altiplano, we arrive at the edge of the Atacama Desert, and to the small desert oasis of San Pedro de Atacama. There are plenty of optional excursions here, like biking, exploring nearby ruins, horseback riding, and a tour of the Valley of the Moon.
Day 50-52 Night bus / La Serena
A long bus ride takes us down Chile’s northern regions and to the beachside city of La Serena. The city has an attractive, colonial feel to it, with many places of interest outside the city. Take a tour to the Elqui Valley, visit a Pisco factory, or maybe stop by one of the numerous international astronomical observatories scattered throughout the valley. We spend 2 nights here before travelling to Santiago on day 38.
Day 53-55 Santiago
Santiago is Chile’s largest city and capital, with internationally recognized vineyards and Andean ski resorts very close by. Explore the many museums and parks, and visit the vibrant neighbourhood of Bellavista to see some handicrafts and trendy cafés. Optional day-trips include a trip to Valparaiso and Viña del Mar, Chile’s premier beach resort, and to Isla Negra, Pablo Neruda’s seaside home.
Day 56-59 Night bus / Pucón
After a full day exploring the capital city we will board a night bus bound for Pucón, in the Lake District. This is a Mecca for outdoor enthusiasts, with activities galore. Some of these include a volcano climb, hiking in one of the many national parks, rafting, mountain biking and skiing/snowboarding (in season).
Day 60-61 Puerto Montt/ Puerto Varas
A trip further south brings us to the city of Puerto Montt. This is Chile’s most important southern port and it is the gateway for explorers going further south into Patagonia. Take a day trip to the island of Chiloé and sample the seafood!
Day 62-64 Bariloche
After a beautiful journey through the mountains of upper Patagonia we will cross over into Argentina and arrive at Bariloche. Situated on the beautiful shore of Lake Nahuel Huapi, Bariloche is a year-round playground for skiers, hikers and outdoors enthusiasts of all types. A popular resort town for Argentines, the spectacular surroundings of Bariloche offer loads of outdoor options, like hiking, biking, parapenting, lake tours, and skiing/snowboarding (in season). Bariloche is also famous for its quality and quantity of chocolate. So wander around the city, enjoy the landscapes and eat chocolate!
Day 65 Night bus
A long bus journey carries us out of upper Patagonia and to the Argentine capital of Buenos Aires.
Day 66-67 Buenos Aires
Known as the ‘Paris of the Americas,’ Buenos Aires is a vibrant city full of life. Visit the districts of La Boca, Recoleta, and San Telmo or catch a tango show at one of the many famous tanguerías. Wander the pedestrian walkways and see some dancing in the streets. Whatever you do, Buenos Aires is sure to leave lasting memories.
Day 68-73 Colonia / Montevideo / Salto
Cross the Rio de la Plata by ferry to reach the shores of Uruguay. Explore Colonia’s unique culture, rich history and captivating architecture while you stroll down its cobble-stoned streets.
We then travel by bus to Montevideo, founded by the Spanish in 1726. Montevideo is the capital of Uruguay and is by far, the country's largest city. Over half of the population lives there (about 1 million) and the city dominates the commercial and cultural life of the nation. It's very lively and modern with many architecturally interesting buildings, yet the city also maintains a very quiet atmosphere. There are several good museums not to be missed, as well as some very good beaches just outside the city.
Later we travel by day through picturesque settlements and pastures finishing in our last Uruguayan stop of Salto. There you can relax in the thermal baths, enjoy spa treatments or have a blast at the water park.
Day 74-82 Iguassu Falls / Paraty /Ilha Grande
Our visit to Brazil begins with the magnificent Foz do Iguaçu, or Iguassu falls, bordering Brazil, Paraguay, and Argentina. In order to see the falls properly you need to view them from both the Brazilian and the Argentine side. The Brazilian side offers the grand overview, and the Argentine side, a closer look. The best time of the year to see them is from August to November, as from May to July you may not be able to approach the swollen waters on the catwalks. Experience an exhilarating optional boat tour at the falls or simply marvel at nature’s breadth and the roar of the falls.
Next stop is Paraty, a quaint colonial town on the coast renowned for its architecture. This is our kick-off point for a trip by bus and boat to Ilha Grande not far from the coast. Relax and enjoy a cool Caipirinha on the beach, or try the surf before proceeding on to Rio.
Day 83 Rio de Janeiro
Leaving the port after returning from Ilha Grande, a dramatic road then takes us down and north along the coast through superb scenery before rounding the cliffs at Vidigal, where we get our first glimpse of one of the most memorable cities in the world Brazil’s ocean-side jewel, Río de Janeiro.
Day 68 Depart Rio de Janeiro
Australia
