The South America Loop

Arrive in Buenos Aires
On arrival at the airport you will be met by our representative and transferred to your hotel.

Buenos Aires, capital of the Republic of Argentina and the country's largest city, is undeniably one of Latin America's hottest destinations. Located on the shores of the Rio de la Plata, the city's combination of European architecture and the passion of its people – the porteños (people of the port) – work together to create a colourful and dynamic modern city.

San Telmo and La Boca City Tour
This morning's excursion will introduce you to the magic of the Argentine capital. After being picked up from your hotel we start with a visit of 'San Telmo', the oldest barrio (neighbourhood) of Buenos Aires which is famous for its historic architecture, tango parlours and antique shops. We take our time and wander through the cobblestone streets learning about the history of the area and seeing its sights including its impressive old churches and its abundance of colourful street art.

We leave San Telmo and the tour continues past the many architectural highlights of Buenos Aires including the Palace of Justice, the Argentine National Congress building, the 'Cabildo (old town hall) and the presidential palace 'Casa Rosada' (pink house).

Next we visit ‘La Boca', the most picturesque of all neighbourhoods of Buenos Aires. This extravagant zone is completely different to the old and to the modern Buenos Aires and romantic stories tell us that tango was born in this working class area. We wander its famous street “Caminito” where you will have the chance to view the spectacle of impromptu tango dancing, street performers and have the chance to buy some local handicrafts.

On our way back to your hotel we pass through the newly restored Puerto Madero area where you can choose to be dropped off at for a nice meal by the waterfront. The remainder of the afternoon is at your leisure with the chance to visit some of Buenos Aires' many great museums or do some shopping.

Dinner & Tango Show
Tango expresses the heart and spirit of Argentina and no visit to Buenos Aires would be complete without it. This evening you will be picked up from your hotel and taken to La Ventana where you will experience the intimacy of this dance in equally intimate surrounds while you indulge in delicious Argentinean cuisine. At the end of the show you will be taken back to your hotel.

*Before the show you have the option of arriving before the others and taking a short tango lesson with a professional dancer or a wine tasting. This comes at an additional cost but if you would like to book either of these please let your consultant know.

Breakfast and Dinner included.

Recoleta & Palermo City Tour
This morning you will further discover what makes Buenos Aires great as we explore its better known and sophisticated districts; Palermo and Recoleta. We start with a drive through Recoleta with its open green spaces mixed in with elegant boutique shopping, cafés, embassies and impressive architecture. We visit such landmarks as the Pilar Church and Evita Monument before taking a short walk through the Recoleta cemetery where Evita's tomb can be found.

We continue on to Palermo which is Buenos Aires' largest neighbourhood, and also its trendiest. Here you will walk the streets which are full of beautiful parks, hip boutique hotels, chic restaurants and bars, and high fashion stores. Throughout the morning your knowledgeable guide will give you an insight into local life and excellent local cuisine and on completion of the tour you will have the option of being dropped off at an excellent restaurant for lunch or being taken back to your hotel.

Breakfast included.

Depart Buenos Aires
Our representative will pick you up from your hotel and transfer you to the airport.

Arrive in Puerto Iguazú
On arrival at the airport you will be met by our representative and transferred to your hotel.

Iguazu Falls is widely recognised as one of the world's most impressive natural wonders boasting more than 250 falls, some of which reach to heights of over 60 metres.

Breakfast included.

Argentinean Falls Tour
In the morning you'll be picked up from your hotel and transferred to Iguazu National Park. From the entrance, a small train will take you on a tour of the park. On the first of two stops you'll follow pathways to the top of the Cataratas (“The Falls”) where you'll have a spectacular view of the falls and their surrounding scenery including an abundance of orchids, colourful birds and other native wildlife. The second stop occurs at La Garganta del Diablo (“The Devil's Throat”), the largest fall in the park and also the highlight of the tour. A suspended platform at the brink of the fall allows for a startlingly close view of this breathtaking natural wonder.

At the end of the tour you will be taken back to your hotel.

*For those who want a little more adventure, we recommend the Great Adventure Boat Tour, which enables you to gain a different perspective as you cruise on a motorboat underneath the falls.

Breakfast included.

Brazilian Falls Tour & Transfer to Airport
On the way to the airport, you will enjoy a tour of the Brazilian side of the falls. Here, you'll watch as 14 separate waterfalls drop with such force that a tall cloud of mist stays permanently suspended overhead. Great photo opportunities abound, however, raincoats are highly advisable!

Arrival
On arrival at the airport you will be met by our representative and transferred to your hotel.

Now the capital of Peru and its largest city, Lima was once called the “City of Kings” by Spanish conquistadors. If you look beyond the urban sprawl, you'll be rewarded with the National Museum's pre-Columbian treasures and Plaza Mayor's colonial splendour.

Breakfast included.

City Tour
Depart this morning on a 5 hour sightseeing tour exploring the most impressive sights of Lima along with some of our handpicked favourites. We will start in Miraflores market, a vibrant place visited by local chefs for its wonderful variety of fresh produce from the coast, the Andes and the Amazon. Take the chance to learn more about Peru’s diversity reflected in the colourful assortment of vegetables, fruits, fish and condiments.

On the way to Lima’s downtown we pass by ‘Huaca Pucllana’ an ancient adobe pyramid structure which served as one of the region’s most important ceremonial temples between the years of 200 AD and 700 AD. We continue to the San Isidro district and visit the impressive ‘El Olivar’ Park before stopping at the Pisco Museum where you have the chance to taste Peru’s national drink, the ‘Pisco Sour’ (optional, not included). Later we visit Lima’s downtown with its historic and traditional buildings: the Presidential Palace, the Cathedral, the Archbishop’s palace and the Metropolitan City Hall surround the Main Square. Continue to San Francisco church and monastery, a 17th century jewel, recognised as a cultural heritage site by UNESCO.

This tour finishes with a guided visit of the Larco Herrera Museum. This is a fabulous private museum with an exquisite collection of gold and silver treasures from ancient Peru. Many pieces in this museum are now world famous after having been exhibited in the best museums around the world.

The remainder of the day is at your leisure to explore the city on your own.

Breakfast included.

Depart
Our representative will pick you up from your hotel in Lima and transfer you to the airport for your departure flight.

3 Day Amazon Lodge Stay
The accommodations that we use for this package are as follows:

- Comfort: Posada Amazonas Traditional
- Superior: Posada Amazonas Comfort
- Deluxe: Reserva Amazonica Superior
Amazon Lodge Arrival Day
Upon arrival at Puerto Maldonado we travel by motorised canoe to our lodge in the Tambopata Rainforest area, which holds the world record for the most bird sightings in one area.

During our voyage you will have the chance to see bird species typical of the river or forest edge such as Black Skimmers, Pied Lapwings, Capped Herons, Jabiru Storks, Roadside Hawks and several species of kingfishers, swallows, and flycatchers. The Tambopata area includes habitats ranging from the Andean highlands around the rivers' headwaters through some of the last remaining intact forests to the lowland rainforests of the Amazon basin. The area is renowned for its diverse plant and animal populations and include over 1,300 bird species. Some of the more famous residents are the Harpy Eagle, the prehistoric looking Hoatzin, tapir, peccary, jaguar, ocelot and playful river otters who live in the area’s oxbow lakes.

During your stay at the lodge all meals and activities are included.

Lunch and Dinner included.

Amazon Lodge
Today you will enjoy guided excursions by expert naturalists to spot wildlife at nearby oxbow lakes, clay licks and treetop towers.

Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner included.

Amazon Lodge Departure Day
After an early breakfast we return by motorised canoe for the return trip to the Puerto Maldonado Airport, taking advantage of valuable early morning wildlife activity along the river. From here you’ll fly to Cusco or Lima (flight included) where your arrangements end or you meet your connecting international flight. For those requiring an extra night in Lima we can easily add this in for you.

Breakfast included.

Arrive in Cusco
On arrival at the airport you will be met by our representative and transferred to your hotel.

We suggest that you take it easy today to give yourself the best opportunity to acclimatise to Cusco's altitude. This city is bursting with Andean culture and is one of the great culinary destinations of South America. It also just happens to be the gateway to the Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu, the best-known archaeological site on this vast continent.

City & Ruins Tour
Your first morning in Cusco can be spent at your leisure, enjoying breakfast before exploring Cusco or relaxing at your hotel.

In the afternoon you will be met for your guided tour of Cusco and its archaeological sites. Your Cusco tour will include highlights such as Plaza de Armas, the cathedral and Koricancha Temple. We also visit the UNESCO World Heritage listed ruins of Sacsayhuaman just outside of Cusco which were once the former capital of the Incan Empire.

Breakfast included.

Sacred Valley and Aguas Calientes
This morning you will be picked up from your hotel to discover the Sacred Valley of the Incas on this full day excursion. This fertile river valley was home to many important sites for the Incas, both strategic and religious. Your first stop will be in Awana Kancha (weaver's palace in Quechua), where you will have the opportunity to learn about the different ancient weaving and dyeing Andean techniques which are still used today. You will then visit a breeding centre for South American camels (guanacos, llamas, alpacas and vicunas).

Continue on to Pisac where you will first visit the archaeological complex, the ruins of the fortress of Pisac which are set high above a valley by patterned fields and rimmed by vast terracing. The stonework and panoramas at Pisac's Inca citadel are magnificent. You will visit the lower part of the complex where the agricultural area and the pre-Hispanic cemetery are located. Afterwards, visit the colourful local market and have free time to search for a souvenir or two before enjoying a typical Andean lunch at a local restaurant.

We then continue our journey along the River Urubamba to Ollantaytambo, where you will visit Ollantaytambo Ruins and one of its best preserved areas, Hanan Hucaypata. You will be transferred to the local train station where you will catch the scenic afternoon train to Aguas Calientes. On arrival you will be escorted to your hotel by the hotel's staff. Enjoy a free evening and prepare for your early morning visit to Machu Picchu the next day.

*Option to add a night in the Sacred Valley and continue to Machu Picchu early tomorrow, giving you the opportunity to enjoy 2 visits to Machu Picchu.

Breakfast and Lunch included.

Guided Tour
This morning you will have an early start to visit Machu Picchu at sunrise and see the vivid colours brightening up this amazing destination. You will have a guided tour of the ruins and monuments visiting the Main Square, the Circular Tower, the Sacred Solar Clock, the Royal Quarters, the Temple of the Three Windows and the Cemeteries. The citadel was discovered in 1911 by the American explorer and academic, Hiram Bingham. Many theories on the citadel exist, but most agree it was a holy site, hidden for centuries and never found by the invading Spanish.

For those looking for adventure, we recommend the one and one half hour trek up Huayna Picchu Mountain, which overlooks Machu Picchu and allows for spectacular views of Machu Picchu and the surrounding area.

Return to Cusco
THE BEST SCENIC TRAIN IN LATIN AMERICA, THE 360° MACHU PICCHU TRAIN.

The only train in Peru with an entertainment app on board which will allow you to learn more about the train journey and the Inca civilization. Enjoy our appetising selection of cold and warm drinks, prepared using fruit juices and Andean herbs, and our delicious gourmet and organic delights made with products from the Sacred Valley. Experience a unique way to travel to Machu Picchu from Cusco, exploring the Andean landscape like never before with wider and taller panoramic windows and an observation outdoor carriage including a bar.

You will take the 360° Machui Picchu train from Aguas Calientes to Ollantaytambo station where you will continue your journey by bus/van to Cusco. Upon arrival, our representative will meet you and transfer you to your hotel. In case you have left any luggage in the hotel in the Sacred Valley, it will be picked up en route.

Breakfast included.

Bus Tour to Puno
This morning you will be met at your hotel by our representative and transferred to the bus station where you will board your bus to Puno. This 10-hour bus trip takes you through picturesque Andean landscapes dotted by small villages and herds of llamas and vicunas.

Throughout the journey you will make 3 important stops: the first is Andahuaylillas, known for its baroque church dating back to the 17th-century. The second stop will be at La Raya Pass where you will climb up to enjoy a panoramic view of the snow-capped Andes. The final stop is Raqchi where you will visit the Viracocha Temple. This was the only Incan temple of the time to feature cylindrical columns covered by fine layers of clay. You will enjoy a delicious lunch in a local restaurant in Sicuani then board the bus again for the final leg of your trip.

Upon arrival into Puno you will be met at the bus station and transferred to your hotel.

There is also an option to take the scenic Titicaca train between Cusco and Puno.

Breakfast and Lunch included.

Uros & Taquile Island
This morning we board our speed boat for the cruise to the Uros and Taquile Islands. By taking a speed boat we save 2-hours travel time giving you more time to explore the islands.

Our first stop is to visit the Uros Indians, who live on islands of floating reeds and, save for a few modest concessions to the modern world, still live as their ancestors would have done centuries ago.

We continue on to Taquile Island where we will tour around the ruins and visit these beautiful people, world famous for their intricate and fascinating weavings. After lunch we will return to Puno and transfer you back to your hotel.

* If you have an extra day then we recommend spending this evening in an authentic Lake Titicaca island home. On the following day you will return to Puno via Taquile Island.

* Please note: Due to the high altitude (3800m) visitors require a certain level of fitness for the walking on the islands.

Breakfast and Lunch included.

Puno to Sun Island via Copacabana
Transfer to the bus station for the bus from Puno to Copacabana completing the border crossing along the way. On arrival in Copacabana you will visit the main square and the famous Virgen Morena church.

After lunch in a local restaurant you will take the boat to the Island of the Sun where according to the legend, the Inca couple Manco Capac and Mama Ocllo appeared to found the Empire of the Sun. On arrival we explore the Inca steps and the small community of Yumani which has kept its traditions and boasts breathtaking views over the lake. After visiting the Pilkokaina ruins we hike for about an hour to your spectacularly located accommodation where the evening is spent at leisure.

*Please note, it is recommended that you take only small pieces of luggage to the Sun Island such as a day pack or small backpack which can be easily carried by donkeys or mules. Large suitcases cannot be carried by the mules or donkeys therefore, you will need to carry these yourself. Larger pieces of luggage can be left behind in storage Copacabana and picked up on your return journey.

Sun Island to La Paz
This morning you can expect a spectacular sunrise over the lake before we take the boat north to visit the Chincana ruins and the Island of the Moon. Later we return to Copacabana and continue onto La Paz.

The first glimpse of La Paz will, literally, take your breath away, and not only because of its altitude (3660 metres above sea level). The city's buildings cling to the sides of the canyon and on a clear day the imposing Mount Illimani, which reaches a height of 6439 metres, provides a spectacular backdrop. This evening will be at your leisure.

*If you have left any luggage in storage Copacabana, it can be picked up today on your way through.

Breakfast included.

City Tour
Our 5 hour tour of La Paz begins with a visit to the Bolivian National Museum of Archaeology which is located in the capital of La Paz and serves as an insightful look into the mystifying relics of Bolivia's past. Wander the halls, gaze at artefacts dating back as far as 1,500 BC and trace the history of the indigenous peoples from eras long forgotten through the art which is still being produced today. From here we head to ‘Mirador Balcón' which offers spectacular views of the city and after a short walk we reach Plaza Murillo and admire the colonial architecture around the square as your guide introduces the culture and history of La Paz and Bolivia. Enjoy a traditional mid morning ‘Salteña' snack as you take in the plaza.

We then wander through Calle Jaen, with its steep, narrow cobblestone alley lined with brightly coloured colonial houses, cafes and museums before taking a cable car to El Alto. You can expect spectacular views and then at the end you are met by your driver and transferred back into town where we visit the Witches' Market. Your guide shares information about Aymara healing and spiritual beliefs as you browse an amazing array of medicinal herbs, folk remedies and talismans. You can even pay to have your fortune told by a shaman who specialises in reading fortunes with coca leaves. We return you to your hotel and you have the remainder of the day at leisure.

Breakfast included.

Depart
Our representative will pick you up from your hotel and transfer you to the airport.

Altiplano Crossing Day 1
You will be collected from your hotel in the morning to begin your journey south. Your first stop is the Train Cemetery near Uyuni, where you can explore a huge rusting collection of disused English trains that once crisscrossed Bolivia. It’s said that more than one of them was robbed at the hands of the infamous Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid while on the run from the law in South America. In the village of Colchani is an opportunity to observe the salt processing operations, Salt museum and even purchase your very own bag of Uyuni salt.
Begin your explorations of the famous Salar de Uyuni, one of the big highlights of the continent. It’s difficult to comprehend its enormity, blindingly white and impossibly flat, the largest salt flats in the world span an area of over 10,500 square kilometres. On closer inspection you will see that the salt dries into repetitive hexagonal shapes with jagged salty edges sharp to the touch.

Visit a hotel made entirely of salt blocks before visiting the Ojos del Salar/eyes of the salt flat where bubbling gases escape from underneath. Thought to have restorative powers, it is not uncommon to see rotund local ladies sitting in the knee-deep water splashing themselves liberally. Another photography stop at the some montones del sal/salt piles, where salt is dug up and piled into a series of cones to drain the excess water before being transported for processing.

You will visit Incahuasi/cactus island, a small hill of erupting in the middle of the flats. Take a short walk over the island alongside huge prickly cacti several times your height and enjoy the fabulous panoramic views. You’ll also have a chance to mess around with the lack of perspective in silly photographs. In the rainy season the salt flats are covered with a layer of water creating a mesmerising mirror effect. Although stunning, the water restricts access to Incahuasi and may result in diversions as vehicles are unable to cross the flooded flats.
Continue on to your evening’s accommodation.

Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner included.

Altiplano Crossing Day 2
Your journey continues driving through the Silolí Desert where you will get to see the Árbol de Piedra. Wind has eroded the rock haphazardly, leaving a bizarre tree like formation over eight metres high. This afternoon you will pass a series of lagoons - Altoandinas: Ramaditas, Honda, Chiarkota, Hedionda and Cañapa. From here you will arrive at a viewpoint from where you will have a good view of the semi-active Ollagüe Volcano.

As you drive along the tracks be sure to keep a keen eye out for local wildlife. The elusive Vicuna call the Altiplano home, though their rusty brown wool coat often camouflages them against the mountains and grass. As you get closer to small villages you will see herds of llamas, often accompanied by their Bolivian owner – usually a short older woman with two long plaits, a bowler hat and big skirts. You may see an impossibly big rabbit bounding through the grass; these are in fact viscacha, a South American rodent from the Chinchilla family.

Next is a photographer’s dream - Laguna Colorada/Red Lagoon. Sitting beneath a series of colourful rolling mountains, the lagoon is tinged a dark orangey-red with algae and dotted with large pools of white borax deposits. The endangered Andean flamingo gathers in vast numbers to feed on the bountiful algae. They are impossible to count, appearing as a pink haze around the edge of the water, only breaking formation when one is startled prompting a group to suddenly take flight.
Continue to your night’s accommodation.

Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner included.

Altiplano Crossing Day 3 - Arrive in Atacama
Continuing your journey, you will pass the Salvador Dali desert, so called for its resemblance to the famous artist’s surrealist paintings. Next you can take a dip in some thermal hot springs pool on the edge of a huge lake. There’s changing facilities, bathrooms and a tiny shop with unreliable opening hours. You will also visit big steaming geysers and bubbling pools of volcanic mud.

Your final stop is Laguna Verde/Green Lagoon at the base of Licancabur volcano. Watch carefully and see how the wind disturbs the water and agitates the resident algae that creates the vibrant green hue. Finally, you reach the Hito Cajon border of Bolivia and Chile. Once you have completed the immigration procedures you will say goodbye to your local driver and guide and take a shared transfer down the winding road to San Pedro de Atacama.

Breakfast and Lunch included.

Moon Valley & Death Valley
This afternoon you will be picked up from your hotel to enjoy a spectacular sunset in the Moon Valley. You will leave San Pedro and head towards Calama, stopping on the way to give you the opportunity to take some amazing pictures of the Andean Mountain range, the huge Atacama salt lake, the active volcano Lascar and the impressive volcano Licancabur behind the small oasis of San Pedro.

We will then continue on to the Moon Valley, one of the most spectacular phenomena in the Atacama Desert because of its geomorphic structures formed over thousands of years by erosion and climate. Once here you will have time to explore this amazing place with its peculiar rock formations. The silent moonscape of this valley will astonish you while you contemplate the inexplicable salt and clay figures that nature has formed. You will be able to see the natural salt monument Tres Marias and the salt caverns that look even more beautiful at sunset.

Finally, you will have the option to take a short hike to one of the giant sand dunes in the valley. You will then be transported back to your hotel in Atacama.

Breakfast included.

Depart
Our representative will pick you up from your hotel and transfer you to the airport for your departure flight.

Arrive in Santiago
On arrival at the airport you will be met by our representative and transferred to your hotel.

Chile's capital city is surrounded by an extraordinary set of snow-capped Andean mountains to the east and a smaller coastal range to the west. It is truly a beautiful sight. The city offers one of Latin America's most cosmopolitan, vibrant and artistic city centres so your stay here is sure to be an exciting one.

Breakfast included.

City Tour
Let us introduce you to the classic city we know and love on this 6 hour tour exploring the city's most popular sights along with some of our personal favourites. Chile´s rich cultural heritage comes to life as we visit the iconic symbols of the city, including La Plaza de Armas (the main square), La Moneda (the government palace), the Santiago Metropolitan Cathedral and the spectacular Cerro Santa Lucia, where the city was founded in 1541.

We continue to the bohemian area of Bellavista and climb the San Cristobal hill for a panoramic view of Santiago with the Andes Mountains in the background. We'll also visit the Orient Sector, the most modern area of the city, with its impressive high rise buildings and classy boulevards before we offer you a choice of the activities designed to enhance your Santiago experience.

You'll be given the option (you can decide on the day) to visit the picturesque Los Dominicos craft market where we can walk through the artisan village and enjoy a tasty empanada at one of the outdoor cafés, discover Santiago's impressive pre-Columbian museum, explore the historic Lastarria Neighbourhood or take a walking tour through the Mercado Central, Chile's largest fresh seafood market where you can try some of the local cuisine on offer. If you'd like to visit all these places then just let us know in advance and we can extend your tour to do this.

On completion of the tour you'll be returned back to your hotel and have free time to further explore the city at your leisure.

* As an alternative to this traditional city tour, we can also offer the city tour as a walking or bike riding tour. Let us know if you'd like more details on these options.

Depart Santiago
Our representative will pick you up from your hotel and transfer you to the airport for your departure flight.