September 2024

Tue 3 : Auckland > Santiago

Fly to Santiago and transfer to our hotel.

Wed 4 : Santiago (B)

Enjoy a morning sightseeing tour of Santiago.

Thu 5 : Santiago (B,L)

Head for the coast on a full day tour to historic Valparaiso. Then visit a winery for a tour, wine tasting and a special ‘welcome to South America’ lunch before returning to Santiago

Fri 6 : Santiago > Quito (B,D)

Transfer to the airport for a morning flight to Quito via Lima. On arrival in Quito, transfer to our hotel.

Sat 7 : Quito > Amazon Jungle (B,L,D)

We take a short flight over the Andes into the Amazon jungle. Then we transfer by river to the very comfortable Sacha Lodge, set in primary rainforest.

Sun 8 : Amazon Jungle (B,L,D)

Spend the next two days on nature walks, twilight river excursions and discovering the incredible birds, butterflies and wildlife. Other activities include piranha fishing and a treetop canopy walk, a great place to watch the sunset. Superb naturalist guides will help bring this incredible environment alive!

Mon 9 : Amazon Jungle (B,L,D)

A full day of guided jungle activities.

Tue 10 : Amazon Jungle > Quito (B)

Morning transfer by river then fly to Quito for overnight.

Wed 11 : Quito (B)

Explore this charming city, once the northern capital of the Incan Empire and the first ever designated UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Thu 12 : Quito > Galapagos Islands (B,L,D)

Fly to the Galapagos and on arrival visit the highlands of Santa Cruz Island to learn about its unique ecosystems and biodiversity. Then see giant Galapagos tortoises in their natural environment before joining your comfortable expedition ship, the Isabela II.

Fri 13 : Galapagos Islands (B,L,D)

This morning visit Bartolome Island for magnificent views, before enjoying a zodiac ride searching for the amazing Galapagos penguin and many other species of marine bird life. Later explore Santiago Island, an excellent location to see many different species of Galapagos finches, along with mockingbirds, lava lizards, Galapagos hawks and colourful flamingos.

Sat 14 : Galapagos Islands (B,L,D)

Explore Dragon Hill on Santa Cruz Island, the ideal place to spot enigmatic land iguanas. In the afternoon, visit Darwin Bay which is very rich in bird and marine life.

Sun 15 : Galapagos Islands (B,L,D)

Two of the best islands in the Galapagos await you today. In the morning cruise in zodiacs along the coast of Iabela Island spotting birds including the delightful blue footed boobies. Those interested can then snorkel with the sea turtles or alternatively, non-snorkellers may take a glass bottom boat cruise. The afternoon sees a landing on the youngest island in the archipelago, Fernandina. This area has an amazing volcanic landscape, with incredible vegetation and a huge number of marine iguanas sunning themselves on rocks.

Mon 16 : Galapagos Islands > Lima (B)

Fly late morning to the mainland and connect to Lima.

Tue 17 : Lima (B)

A full day of great sightseeing in this historic city, including a visit to the wonderful Larco Herrera Museum.

Wed 18 : Lima > Sacred Valley of the Incas (B,D)

We take a short flight to Cuzco and then transfer to the beautiful Sacred Valley of the Incas, situated at a lower altitude which will help us acclimatise to being at altitude.

Thu 19 : Sacred Valley of the Incas (B,L)

This morning explore this picturesque valley. Visit the Inca salt mines at Maras and the amazing Inca ruins of Moray before enjoying a Peruvian Paso Horse show at our special lunch.

Fri 20 : Sacred Valley of the Incas > Machu Picchu (B,L,D)

This morning visit the very impressive Inca fortress at Ollantaytambo before catching the train to Machu Picchu, the incredible ‘Lost City of the Incas’. Enjoy the balance of the afternoon at the amazing Inkaterra Pueblo Hotel.

Sat 21 : Machu Picchu > Cuzco (B,L)

This morning enjoy a guided tour of Machu Picchu and then lunch before returning by train and coach to Cuzco.

Sun 22 : Cuzco (B)

Morning tour of historic Cuzco, including the beautiful Cathedral and the impressive Incan fortress of Sacsayhuaman. Then enjoy an afternoon at leisure to explore.

Mon 23 : Cuzco > Puno (B,L)

A very scenic and interesting day is spent travelling to Puno, situated on the shores of Lake Titicaca.

Tue 24 : Puno > Lake Titicaca > La Paz (B,L)

Cross into Bolivia and cruise Lake Titicaca for a fascinating visit to Sun Island, the birthplace of the Incas. From here marvel at the azure blue lake and magnificent alpine views of the Royal Chain of the Andes. Continue to La Paz.

Wed 25 : La Paz (B)

Morning tour to the markets of the most ‘Indian’ of South American capital cities. Also visit the mysterious Moon Valley and Mario Sarabia, a world-famous ceramics artist.

Thu 26 : La Paz > Buenos Aires (B)

We fly to Buenos Aires and transfer to our hotel.

Fri 27 : Buenos Aires (B)

Tour Buenos Aires, the ‘Paris of the Americas’.

Sat 28 : Buenos Aires (B,D)

Explore, shop or relax in this great city. In the evening we will enjoy a tango lesson before a special dinner and tango show.

Sun 29 : Buenos Aires > Iguazu Falls (B)

Fly to the mighty Iguazu Falls before transferring to our hotel situated inside the National Park.

Mon 30 : Iguazu Falls (B)

Morning tour with amazing falls views then the highlight, the Devil’s Throat Cataract – the most impressive in the world.

October 2024

Tue 1 : Iguazu Falls > Rio de Janeiro (B)

Tour the Brazilian side of the falls and visit a wonderful bird and wildlife park before flying to Rio de Janeiro. On arrival transfer to our hotel overlooking Copacabana Beach.

Wed 2 : Rio de Janeiro (B)

Visit the historical centre of old Rio, then take two cable cars to the summit of Sugarloaf. Afternoon at leisure.

Thu 3 : Rio de Janeiro (B)

Visit the statue of Christ the Redeemer and later pass by Rio’s famous beaches. Enjoy an afternoon at leisure.

Fri 4 : Rio de Janeiro > Auckland (B)

Afternoon transfer to the airport for our flight home via Santiago.

Sat 5 : In Flight

Sun 6 : Auckland

Early morning arrival into Auckland.