Enchanting South America

Arrive in Buenos Aires and transfer to your hotel. Pre-departure welcome dinner. Please meet in the hotel reception at 19:30. Dinner tonight will be at a local Argentinian Steakhouse (Vegetarian options available).

A tour of Buenos Aires serves as a great introduction to this incredible city giving you a taste of its fascinating history, architecture, culture, inhabitants, anecdotes, and secrets.This evening enjoy an intimate & passionate tango show, housed in a cosy wood-panelled 19th century building in the heart of Buenos Aires historic centre. Dinner included.

Today we depart Buenos Aires & fly to Iguazu Falls. Transfers & flights included. The spectacular Iguazu Falls that straddle the Argentine-Brazil border, are made up of 275 individual waterfalls lining a 2.7km wide horseshoe-shaped gorge.

After an early morning pick up from your hotel, we travel to the Argentinean side of the Iguazu Falls. Beginning at the visitor’s centre, we take a ride on the Rainforest Ecological train before exploring the upper and lower circuit footbridges. The footbridges, which are raised off the jungle floor, provide panoramic views from above and below the falls. A visit to Devil’s Gorge arguably the most spectacular falls, is one of the day’s highlights.

Today we see the falls from the Brazilian side of the border. After arriving at the visitor centre, we board buses for a tour of the park. Equipped with panoramic windows, the buses are designed to maximize your views of the falls, while the walkways and steps allow you to get up close to the spray.
Following your tour of the falls, we will head to the Bird Park. Wonder through the 12 acres of subtropical forest to see many native species of birds in their natural habitat.
Transfer to the Airport for your flight to Rio. Upon arrival in to Rio you will be transferred to your hotel.

After departing from the hotel, the tour makes its way to the bottom of Corcovado Hill, where you will ascend the mountain by van. Climbing 4km through the world’s largest urban national park, the Tijuca Forest, you will arrive at the statue of Christ the Redeemer. After some time with the panoramic views you will continue to the Maracana Stadium where we can make a stop to see the stadium. We also pass the Sambadrome, and the Metropolitan Cathedral, before passing through the bohemian neighbourhood of Lapa and its famous arches en route to Copacabana. You will have a traditional Brazilian BBQ lunch before visiting the famous Sugarloaf. After descending, passengers will return to their hotels. Hotel pick up between 8am and 9.30am. Included: All transport, tickets and entry fees, lunch (beverages not included). Approximate duration of tour: 8 hours.

Free day to relax on Ipanema or Copacabana beach. If you want to be a bit more active consider an optional Jeep tour. Tonight we enjoy a wonderful evening together over dinner in Rio at a local restaurant.

Today we fly from Rio to Lima. Flight & Transfers included.

Spend some time touring Lima, the Colonial ‘City of Kings’. Visit a number of well-known sites including the Cathedral, the Presidential Palace, the Plaza de Armas, and the Catacombs located beneath the San Francisco Convent. This is a chance to appreciate Lima's magnificent Colonial architecture as well as vignettes of its pre-Colombian past.

Today we will fly to Julianca Airport and travel on to Puno, stopping on the way to take in the pre-Inca burial ground of Sillustani. Here you can wander through the remarkable tombs built from volcanic stone, known as Chulpas which reach heights of up to 12 metres. Overlooking the beautiful lake Umayo, Sillustani is considered to be one of the most important necropolises in the world.

Travelling by semi-speed vessel, begin by visiting the floating islands of Uros, where the friendly locals continue to practice their traditional way of life, living by fishing. Situated four kilometres from Puno, the original inhabitants of these floating islands are said to descend from one of the most ancient peoples of the Americas. On your way back to Puno, stop at Taquile Island, a place where time appears to have stood still. Around 350 Quechua-speaking families live here, operating a collective agricultural system dating from the 14th Century and renowned for their textiles - beautifully woven chumpis (belts), chullos (caps), and ojotas (sandals). Includes lunch. Tour duration: 10 hours.

After breakfast you will be driven across the Altiplano to Cusco. This drive will take you through sleepy Andean villages, past spectacular snow-capped mountains, sheer cliffs and rampaging rivers. Stops along the way include the atmospheric towns of Pucara and Andahuaylillas, and the pre-Inca ruin of Raqchi. Arrive in the famous city of Cusco in the early evening. Includes lunch.

Take a sightseeing tour through Cusco, the heart of the Inca Empire. Visit the fascinating Qorikancha Temple of the Sun, the 12-Angled Rock and the Cathedral, built on the ruins of an Inca Palace. From here head to the archaeological remains located around the city, including the fortress of Sacsayhuaman, Qenqo (giant rock), the ancient site of Puca Pucara and finally the Water Temple of Tambomachay.

Today, explore the Sacred Valley of the Incas. This fertile river valley was home to many important sites for the Incas, both strategic and religious. The first stop is the village of Pisac, with its famous market. The colonial village of Pisac sits at the base of the spectacular Pisac Ruins - a hilltop Inca citadel and fortress with impressive agricultural terracing. On market days Pisac comes alive with locals from nearby hillside villages in traditional dress selling local fruit and vegetables as well as handicrafts.
This afternoon there will be some free time to wander around the markets at leisure. Overnight Sacred valley. Dinner is included tonight.

This morning you will be collected from your hotel and transferred to Ollantaytambo Train Station. We travel by train to Aguas Calientes and then by bus up to Machu Picchu. Machu Picchu is a 15th century Inca site, located 2,430 metres above sea level on a mountain ridge above the Sacred Valley. Later this afternoon we will return to Cusco via train & road.

Today is at leisure allowing you to spend wandering the cobble-stoned streets of the ancient Inca capital.

Today we fly from Cusco to Puerto Maldonado, where we will be transfers in to the Amazon by road & boat (approx. 3 hours) to Refugio Amazonas. Note: Rooms at Refugio are in Traditional Category (Twin beds). Room Upgrade to a Comfort Category (Double Bed) at additional Costs. Please ask at the time of booking.

After breakfast venture out onto the lake by canoe or catamaran, looking for wildlife such as hoatzin, caiman, horned screamers, macaws and rare otters. Back on land, a thirty minute walk from the lodge will take you to the 25 metre scaffolding canopy tower, complete with staircase. Enjoy excellent views from the tree tops, sighting toucans, macaws and raptors. After lunch you will visit a farm to learn about local agriculture and Amazonian crops before an ethnobotanical tour to learn about medicinal procedures of the region. In the evening, Refugio staff offer lectures covering conservation threats, opportunities and projects in the Tambopata National Reserve.

Witness the audio and visual spectacle of a clay lick, watching vibrant coloured macaws and parrots feast on clay. Later, a short hike will bring you to a beautiful brazil nut forest where you can learn about the whole nut process from collection through transportation to drying. In the afternoon, there will be a further clay lick visit, this time to see mammals. Wild rain forest pigs show up in herds of up to twenty to eat clay, alongside deer, guan and parakeets. After dinner you have the option of a night hike when most mammals are active.

After breakfast, return to Puerto Maldonado for your flight from Puerto Maldonado to Lima. Tonight enjoy dinner with your fellow travellers in a local restaurant.

Today we depart Lima & fly to Santiago. Transfers & Flights Included.

This morning take a tour of the charismatic Santiago, visiting both the old and new areas of the city. Highlights include the Plaza de Armas, the city's central square and the heart of the city’s old colonial core. We explore the modern commercial areas of Barrio Alto.
We then head to Santa Rita winery located 40 kms South of Santiago, in the Maipo Valley, renown as one of the finest viticultural areas in the world. Upon arrival lunch served at the nice vineyard restaurant, which is a remodelled part of the old family house. After lunch a comprehensive tour through the premises is included. Return to Santiago with evening at leisure.

Transfer to the airport for your outward flight from Santiago.