Best of South America - Rio to Lima

Experiences

Welcome Dinner. Welcome Dinner: Eat local on your first night in Rio de Janeiro! For the Brazilians, mealtime is a family event. Your welcome dinner involves a traditional Brazilian barbecue at a local Churrascaria restaurant. As the name states in Portuguese, churrasco involves meat roasted over charcoal, served with a side of grilled vegetables, garnishes, salads and a variety of traditional desserts. In combination with the warm-hearted culture of the locals, it makes for an unforgettable experience.

Experiences

Corcovado and Christ the Redeemer Statue entry and visit. Visit the most iconic monument of Rio and Brazil - the statue of Christ the Redeemer (Cristo Redentor). Designed by engineer Heitor da Silva Costa, the 125 ft/38m tall Christ the Redeemer statue offers the most breathtaking views from where it stands on top of mount Corcovado, overlooking the city below. Brazil is a religiously diverse nation and considers the arms-open-wide gesture of the statue as one of welcoming and peace.

Visit the neighborhoods of Santa Teresa and Lapa & Rio de Janeiro’s tiled staircase. See a different and more quiet side of the cidade maravilhosa (marvellous city), as you meander the streets of hillside neighbourhood, Santa Teresa, and the downtown neighborhood of Lapa. Santa Teresa is a quiet, bohemian area with winding streets, colourful colonial houses, a charming yellow tram and a village-like spirit. Also see the connection between the two neighbourhoods: the 125-step Selarón staircase (Escadaria Selarón) made with colourful mosaic tiles and mirrors.

Experiences

Paraty walking tour. Follow a local guide around Paraty and discover why Paraty was so affluent during the gold, coffee and cachaça periods. This gorgeous colonial town is situated in the perfect spot for spectacular views of the surrounding Atlantic ocean and jungle. The historic centre, a UNESCO heritage site, boasts beautifully preserved architecture, cobblestone roads and churches. Cars were banned from the historic core, so you can expect quiet surroundings with welcoming locals.

Experiences

São Paulo City Tour and visit to the Mercadão. São Paulo is quite simply enormous. It’s the biggest city in Latin America and the Southern hemisphere to be exact. Upon arrival, set out with a local expert to find out more about the history and economy of the city and see the points of interest. Then stop at the Mercadão, a famous food market, for lunch. This municipal market is the perfect spot if you want to see and taste all kinds of South American foods - from north to south. Look out for the famous Mortadella sandwich, codfish and prawn pastries, and cashew fruit. 

Experiences

Visit the Iguaçu Falls in Iguaçu National Park. Foz do Iguaçu is located on the triple borders or Paraguay, Brazil and Argentina. Depending on the rainfall, there can be between 150 en 300 waterfalls at the time of your visit. This experience gives you a chance to enter the national park and explore to your heart’s content. Iguaçu Falls is one of the New Seven Wonders of the World. It’s truly a once in a lifetime experience. Entry included.

Brazilian barbecue dinner: Eat local on your first night in Iguazu! Your dinner this evening involves a traditional Brazilian barbecue at a local Churrascaria restaurant. The experience involves different types of meat roasted over charcoal, served with all you can eat sides of vegetable, salad and traditional desserts.

Local Brazilian Dining Experience. On Day 9, enjoy a jolly night out as you sit down for a traditional Brazilian meal at a family home with home-made Brazilian food, unlimited caipirinhas (Brazil’s national cocktail) and beer. (took off contentful)

Experiences

Buenos Aires Dinner. Enjoy your first meal in Argentina! The cuisine here has been heavily influenced by waves of European migration over the last century and often includes dishes with Spanish, Italian and German roots. Grilled meats, pastas, empanadas and sweet desserts are widely offered. How about a glass of Argentinian wine to complement your first meal in the country?

Experiences

Buenos Aires City Tour. Buenos Aires is a city with the vibrancy of New York and the spirit of Paris at the pace of Latin America. This full-day tour will take you through the city’s best-known streets, show you the most popular sights and give you a taste of the real Buenos Aires. Iconic sights covered on tour include Avenida 9 de Julio (9 July Avenue), Plaza de Mayo, the Obelisk of Buenos Aires, the La Boca and San Telmo Neighbourhoods, and the famous Recoleta cemetery.

Experiences

Mendoza wine tour. Even though Mendoza is technically located in the desert, locals have created smart irrigation canals to capture water from the mountains. These days it's a real oasis with the ideal climate and topography for wine production. The region has been named the ‘Bordeaux of South America’ and so it is. Expect to taste anything from signature, award-winning Malbec to Cabernet Sauvignon and even simple foot-pressed wine (vino patero). This tour will take you around the best vineyards in the valley to enjoy ravishing views of the Andes mountains, vineyards and villages - a quintessential Mendoza experience.

Experiences

‘Alta Montana’ Experience. The Andes Mountains extend over seven countries in South America! This includes Argentina, Chile, Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Venezuela. We take an incredible high-mountain journey as we travel from Argentina into Chile through the Andes. This is your chance to catch views of the incredible Aconcagua mountain - the tallest in South America.

Experiences

Santiago City Tour. Set off on foot for a tour of Chile’s vibrant capital city! Your local guide will show you Santiago’s highlights and share the city’s rich history with you. See Santiago’s downtown area, visit Saint Lucia Hill and traditional neighbourhoods around the city centre. Stop by top attractions including the busy Plaza de Armas, the Santiago Cathedral, and the La Moneda Palace.  The views alone would be enough to keep you captivated for hours with the Andes Mountains providing an incredible background to the city. 

Experiences

Moon Valley afternoon and sunset visit.  Pay a visit to the El Valle De La Luna (Moon Valley) just outside San Pedro de Atacama. From here you can appreciate the incredible views of this region and see the sun set like never before. Elevated 2,250 metres above sea level, the valley contains the Salt mountain range, deep valleys, salt caves and a variety of rock and stone formations. The scenes you’ll lay eyes on here closely resemble the surface of the moon - which explains the romantic name. 

Experiences

Eduardo Avaroa National Park. Drive through Eduardo Avaroa National Park on a 4X4 tour in the southwestern region of Bolivia. It’s a true natural paradise with jewelled lakes, a high-altitude desert and wildlife. The trip includes stops at the Laguna Verde, Laguna Colorada (The Coloured Lagoons), the Siloli desert and the famous Stone Tree.

Experiences

Visit the Laguna Hedionda and see the Ollague Volcano. With your 4x4 vehicles roaming the desert in convoy, allow your local guide to point out some of the region’s most spectacular lagoons and vistas. This day includes views of the famous Ollague Volcano which sits on the border of Chile and Bolivia at a height of 5,868 metres above sea level. We’ll stop at several lakes, including Laguna Hedionda which hosts a large population of bright pink flamingos!

Train Cemetery. A visit to the Train Cemetery allows us to wander amongst these huge, abandoned carriages - some of which were imported from as far away as Britain, over 100 years ago.

Experiences

Uyuni Salt Flats Day Trip. Join a local guide to explore the Uyuni Salt Flats (Salar de Uyuni) with the assistance of a 4x4 vehicle. Welcome to the world’s largest salt flats and one of Bolivia’s most famous tourist attractions. When it rains, the flats become a lake and creates the world’s largest mirror - bright, endless and spellbinding. Take time to wander about on the flats and take the most amazing photos. On the way there and back you can see magical landscapes made up of colourful lakes, local fauna, flora, mountains and rock formations.

Experiences

Landing at La Paz airport. Land at La Paz Airport. Experience a breathtaking flight! Fly from the world’s sixth-highest airport in Uyuni (3,954m) into the world's fifth-highest airport at La Paz (4,061m). Take in the scenery below as we pass over lakes and the Andes Mountains before touching down under the shadow of Mount Illimani, which stands high over La Paz at 6,438m

Experiences

La Paz City Tour: EJoin an expert local guide on a city tour of La Paz which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site! See the top attractions and learn all about La Paz’s history. Wander through the Mercado de Bruja (Witches Market) and discover the colourful powders and natural herbs on sale. See Plaza Murillo, the 16th century San Francisco Church and more! Ride the cable car above the city to reach Teleferico Viewpoint. Take in the sweeping views of the city and surrounds from here.

Experiences

Sun Island Visit. Catch a short ferry ride across Lake Titicaca to Isla del Sol and spend the day here. The island is home to indigenous villages, beautiful beaches and great rocky trails. Explore the 80+ archaeological ruins, dating back to the Inca period, scattered across the island. Sit down and enjoy a traditional lunch before travelling back to the mainland.

Experiences

Uros Islands Tour: Catch a traditional reed boat to the Uros floating reed islands. The islands are a top tourist attraction in Peru as they offer insight into a unique, survivalist way of life. The Uru people chose to create these floating islands away from the mainland and have been living here for many generations. Tour the islands and learn more about the way of life here. Meet the locals dressed in colourful traditional clothes, watch crafts being made by hand, see lively folk dances and taste some local food! 

Experiences

Visit the town of Pucara. Visit Pucara and its small but exquisite architectural sight of Inca significance. Pucará, as it’s also known, is known for it pottery.

Raqchi. Rachi is home to one one of the biggest archaeological sites in the area. The ruins of Raqchi are mostly known as the Temple of Wiracocha that was built in honour of Wiracocha, a deity believed to be the giver of all life. Outside of the temple, there’s also the living quarters, ceremonial baths and a natural lake fed by spring water through stone fountains.

Church of Andahuaylillas. Taking our eyes off the Inca ruins for a moment, visit the Andean village of Andahuaylillas and its baroque church. Named the “Sistine Chapel of Latin America”, or “The Sistine Chapel of the Andes”, this church was built according to Spanish traditions and dedicated to Saint Peter the Apostle. Expect painted ceilings, a gold-leaf altar and a shimmering, colourful display of murals.

Experiences

Guided Tour of the Sacred Valley. Follow a local guide and explore the Sacred Valley of the Incas. There is so much to see in the valley outside of Machu Picchu (the crown jewel!). We take you out into the valley to do just that, stopping at the most significant Inca sites up the mountain. Also stop at a local marketplace for lunch and do some souvenir shopping while mingling with the locals. This is the ideal spot to get a behind-the-scenes look at the art of Peruvian weaving and perhaps buy your own woven blanket or scarf. The locals you meet here might be descendants of the Incas, the sophisticated Andean tribe of South America. The language they speak is called Quechua and is mainly spoken here in the Andes mountains of Peru.

Guided tour of Ollantaytambo Archaeological Complex. Ollantaytambo is one of the most important towns in the Sacred Valley and the last major town before Machu Picchu. Built on the site of ancient ruins, it’s impressive terraces were the base for Incan ceremonies and the royal estate of the Incan Emperor. It was also the stronghold of the Incan resistance against the Spanish. Explore with a local guide and learn more about the history of the architectural sites and incredible vistas around Ollantaytambo.

Experiences

Guided tour of Sacsayhuaman ruins. Visit the Inca ruins of Sacsayhuaman, perched 3km above Cusco. See the huge rocks stacked with impressive precision. Don’t forget to take in the amazing views of Cusco and surrounds!

Cusco City Tour with a local guide. Some call Cusco the bellybutton of the Earth due to the reach of the Incan Empire. Others have called it the Rome of South America. It was once the capital of the Incan Empire, making Cusco an intriguing city to explore. A local guide will share insights on the local history and culture. Find out how the Quechua and Spanish cultures met to create a truly unique destination.

Experiences

Lima city tour: Led by an expert local guide, take a journey through the areas of significance in Lima. Tour the colonial city centre, including a foray to the Main square where the Presidential Palace, Archbishops Palace and City Hall are located. Learn more about the fascinating history, main industries and culture of Peru's capital. The list of attractions include, among others, the Basilica and Convent of Santo Domingo, plazas like San Francisco and De Armas, and the modern district of San Isidro. We’ll also make our way to Miraflores, a seaside suburb with magnificent Pacific coast views.

Experiences

If you would like to extend your stay in Lima after the tour, please contact us to confirm the hotel. By this point you will have enjoyed 18 incredible days exploring the very best of Chile, Bolivia & Peru. A true delight!