Combine the Best of South America with the captivating beauty of the Amazon Rainforest. You’ll fall asleep each night to the gentle sounds of the jungle, and you’ll shape your days by choosing from a wide range of included activities while staying at the Inkaterra Reserva Amanzonica.
Day 1. Arrive Buenos Aires (Argentina)
On arrival today in Buenos Aires, you'll be met at the airport and transferred to your hotel. The rest of today is then at your leisure to relax and settle in or step out and familiarise yourself with this colourful city. At a Welcome Reception this evening, get to know your APT Tour Director and fellow travellers for your South American journey.
Day 2. Buenos Aires
After breakfast, a tour of Argentina’s capital will take you to the European influenced Barrio (neighbourhood) of La Boca, with its colourful houses and picturesque pedestrian street, the Caminito. You’ll also visit the city’s oldest Barrio, San Telmo, see the tree-lined streets of Palermo and visit La Recoleta Cemetery, the resting place for many famous Argentines. After your tour, take an introductory Spanish lesson over coffee and croissants at the famous Café Tortoni before free time to explore the colonial architecture and the interesting districts that make this city so unique.
Day 3. Buenos Aires, Freedom of Choice Touring
After breakfast this morning, choose one of our four Freedom of Choice Touring options in Buenos Aires: (1) Head to Tigre, a quaint island town, and cruise the rivers and canals of the Paraná Delta by vintage mahogany boat. (2) Visit an Estancia (ranch) to enjoy a Fiesta Gaucha, featuring Gaucho folk dance and local music as well as a delicious lunch with drinks. (3) Visit the streets of Palermo as well as the Galerias Pacifico shopping mall. (4) Take a museum tour and gain insight into the life of Eva Peron at the Evita Museum. This evening, head to the Phillipe Starck-designed cabaret, Rojo Tango, for dinner, drinks and the most exclusive tango show in the city.
Day 4. Buenos Aires, Colonia del Sacramento (Uruguay)
After a ferry ride across the Río de la Plata, an estuary of the Paraná River, you’ll arrive in the Portuguese-influenced Uruguayan town of Colonia del Sacramento. Here, a tour will take you to Barrío Historico, where you can learn the history of this picturesque port. After ample time at leisure to further explore the cobbled streets, return to Buenos Aires. This evening, choose from a range of local restaurants from our freedom to choose Dine around Dinner options.
Day 5. Buenos Aires, Iguassu Falls (Argentina and Brazil), Dine Around Dinner
After breakfast, fly to Iguassu Falls, a system of 275 falls on the border of Argentina and Brazil that has the second highest annual flow of any waterfall in the world. On the Argentinean side, ride the Ecological Rainforest Train through forest to walkways and viewing points, including one directly over the 82 metre-high Devil’s Throat. Afterwards, cross into Brazil and check in to your hotel. Tonight enjoy dinner at your choice of restaurant from our Dine around Dinner options.
Day 6. Iguassu Falls
This morning head to the World Heritage-listed Iguassu National Park and see the Brazilian side of the falls. Visit ‘Parque das Aves’ Bird Park and get up close to a range of native South American birds including the iconic toucan. After lunch at Porto Canoas, situated overlooking the falls, you will visit the Itaipu Dam which provides 90% of Paraguay’s electricity requirements and around 20% of that of Brazil. The remainder of this evening is yours to spend at leisure.
Day 7. Iguassu Falls, Rio de Janeiro (Brazil)
After flying to Rio de Janeiro, enjoy time at leisure to settle in to your hotel. In the afternoon, ride a cable car up to Sugarloaf Mountain at sunset and take in one of the world’s most stunning views. Tonight you will have dinner at Porçao Rio’s and enjoy a delicious BBQ while sampling the Brazilian national cocktail, the Caipirinha.
Day 8. Rio de Janeiro, Freedom of Choice Touring
This morning, our Freedom of Choice Touring offers you the chance to: (1) Embark on an insightful jeep tour through a selection of safe local favelas. (2) Visit the Sambodrome - the site of the famous Carnival Parade then participate in a samba lesson at a local studio. (3) Cruise the bay to Niteroi and visit the Contemporary Art Museum. (4) Take a jeep tour of Tijuca National Park and the Botanical Gardens. (5) Take a full day tour of the Imperial Petropolis. After your selected activity, enjoy the afternoon and evening at leisure. B
Day 9. Rio de Janeiro, Dine Around Dinner
Travel to Corcovado, a mountain in central Rio de Janeiro that’s famous for its iconic statue of Christ the Redeemer, one of the New Seven Wonders of the World. On a half-day tour, visit the statue itself and travel to the viewing platform at its peak for views over downtown Rio, Sugarloaf Mountain, Copacabana Beach and more. Tonight, enjoy dinner at one of the Dine around Dinner choices that range from a traditional Brazilian BBQ or a Samba bar, to authentic Italian.
Day 10. Rio de Janeiro, Santiago (Chile)
Today fly to Santiago, the capital of Chile. After checking in to your centrally located 5 star hotel, enjoy this afternoon and evening at leisure to explore and settle in.
Day 11. Santiago, Dine Around Dinner
A tour of Santiago today includes a visit to the Plaza de Armas and the Museum of Pre-Columbian Art, as well as San Cristóbal Hill, which offers amazing views out over the city. Afterwards, you will visit the Casa El Bosque winery and enjoy a lunch and wine tasting. Dinner tonight is at a restaurant of your choice from our Dine around Dinner options.
Day 12. Santiago, Lima (Peru)
After breakfast, fly to the starting point for your Peruvian adventure and the country’s capital, Lima. On arrival, a city tour includes a visit to the World Heritage Centre of Lima. Enjoy a free afternoon before dinner at Brujas del Cachiche, a local restaurant set in an old rustic mansion overlooking a park. This evening learn about the Peruvian adventure that awaits you over the coming days.
Day 13. Lima, Sacred Valley
Today fly to the World Heritage-listed city of Cusco, the historic capital of the Incan Empire. From here, travel to the Sacred Valley of the Incas. Enjoy a Peruvian lunch at a boutique restaurant, set in an equestrian centre while being entertained by a showcase of the region’s Paso horses, ridden by Peruvian Caballeros. Tonight will be your first night at altitude, where you will stay in one of the Luxury Collection Hotels by Starwood.
Day 14. Sacred Valley
Today enjoy a full day tour in and around the Sacred Valley, beginning with a visit to the markets of Pisac. Afterwards, you will then have the opportunity to contribute some time to the community of nearby Taray during a special school project. In the afternoon you will visit the site of Ollantaytambo and enjoy a typical Andean meal in a local family home. Tonight you will dine back at the hotel.
Day 15. Sacred Valley, Machu Picchu
After breakfast, board PeruRail’s Vistadome train and admire the Andean landscape outside your panoramic windows as you travel to Machu Picchu. On arrival, enjoy lunch at the Machu Picchu Sanctuary Lodge then set off for your locally guided tour of the iconic Lost City of the Incas - Machu Picchu. Recently named one of the New Seven Wonders of the World, Machu Picchu was built around 1450, at the height of the Incan Empire, and abandoned just over 100 years later. The site remained undiscovered until an American Historian, Hiram Bingham, re-discovered it amongst the Andean jungle in 1911. After your time here, return to town and check into your boutique hotel.
Inca Trail Option
If you selected the Inca Trail option, the touring for today will be replaced with an adventurous five-hour hike to Machu Picchu, before rejoining the group for dinner at your hotel. A box lunch is included along the walk.
Day 16. Machu Picchu, Cusco
Today, awake in the town at the foot of the Incan citadel of Machu Picchu. With the morning at leisure, you have the chance to experience this World Heritage-listed site in serenity - for the crowds of day travellers do not arrive until later in the day. Later this afternoon, head to the station and board the luxurious Hiram Bingham train by Orient Express, for your return to Cusco. On board you will enjoy a Pisco Sour, live Peruvian music and indulge in an exquisite four course dinner.
Day 17. Cusco
This morning you will have a guided walking tour of Cusco, where you will explore the square in the city’s historic heart, along with a selection of sacred sites. This afternoon, enjoy time at leisure before dining at one of the Dine around Dinner restaurants of your choice. Again on offer will be a range of restaurants from local Peruvian delicacies to a traditional Bar and Grill.
Day 18. Cusco, Puno
Today, board the Andean Explorer for a day-long rail journey into the highlands and on to Puno, almost 4,000 metres above sea level. This will be the highest point in your South American journey. Travel in first class, with access to the lounge bar and the open-air observation car. Along the way, take in amazing views and enjoy a three-course lunch.
Day 19. Puno, Lake Titicaca
Lake Titicaca is the highest navigable lake in the world, which today you will tour. You will cruise to the home of the Uros people, a group of more than 40 man-made islands created from floating reeds. Continue on to the Capachica Peninsula and enjoy a barbecue lunch before visiting the local village of Llachon later in the afternoon.
Day 20. Inkaterra Amazonica Reserva
After breakfast you will fly to the Peruvian city of Puerto Maldonado, nestled in the Amazon rainforest. Here you will have a short boat ride along the Madre de Dios river for your 3 night stay at the incredibly located Inkaterra Reserva Amazonica. You will be greeted by an interpreter to discuss your touring options for your time spent here which will be dependent on your personal interests, fitness levels and the forecast weather conditions.
Day 21. Inkaterra Amazonica Reserva
Set next to the Tambopata National Reserve where the Madre de Dios River flows through the Southern Peru rainforest region, the Inkaterra Reserva Amazònica is the perfect base from which to explore the Amazon Rainforest. Over two days, you’ll choose the activities that most interest you. Perhaps go walking along the rainforest tree-top canopy to observe the jungle from a unique perspective. You may like to cruise the Madre de Dios River to Lake Sandoval or Gamitana Creek, where you will have the chance to see monkeys, birds, tortoises and alligators. Maybe join a tour to one of the local villages and learn about the medicinal plants of the rainforest. By evening, meanwhile, a Rainforest by Night tour is available, introducing you to the animal activity that awakens after dark. With these and so many other options available, this is a truly personal manner in which to explore.
Day 22. Inkaterra Amazonica Reserva
Continue your stay at the Inkaterra Reserva Amazonica.
Day 23. Inkaterra Amazonica Reserva
After breakfast you will board your plane and fly back to Lima, transfer to the hotel and enjoy the rest of the day at leisure. Tonight you will have a Farewell Dinner at Huaca Pucllana, set within ruins of an archaeological compound that was built between 200 and 700 AD.
Day 24. Depart Lima
Today, you will farewell your South American adventure and will be transferred to the airport in Lima for your onward flight.
