BEST OF SOUTH AMERICA - ARGENTINA, BOLIVIA, BRAZIL & PERU

Start with a photo stop at Maracanã Stadium, then drive past Rio’s landmarks including the Cathedral, Copacabana Beach, Sambódromo, and the colorful Selarón Steps. Take a cable car to Sugarloaf Mountain for panoramic city and bay views, and ride the funicular to see the iconic Christ the Redeemer statue atop Corcovado.

Transfer to the airport for our flight to Iguazu Falls, one of the top destinations in South America.   The Iguazu Falls lies on the Argentina-Brazil border and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.   

Enjoy lush fauna during our walk in the Brazilian Iguazu Falls National Park.  The panoramic view of the falls is unbeatable as the walkway circuit is specially designed to show off the splendour of the falls. The Iguazu River, before joining the Parana River, forms 275 waterfalls with an average height of 60m. Enjoy the Macuco Safari which includes a tram ride into the rainforest and a jet boat ride for an up close and personal experience of the Iguazu Falls. Raft the rapids and admire the views of the falls from the calm backwaters of the river.  Expect to get extremely drenched during this excursion. 

Cross the Iguazu River and the Tancredo Neves Bridge, arrive at the Argentine National Park.  Take the train to Devil’s Throat, the largest of the waterfalls before continuing through the circuits to admire the other falls.   

Enjoy an evening of Folklore and Carnival Show, a lively and colourful extravaganza of spectacular costumes, graceful dancers and the hot beat of the Brazilian Samba. 

Explore Buenos Aires, starting at Plaza de Mayo with the Casa Rosada, Cabildo, and Metropolitan Cathedral. Visit San Telmo, La Boca, Recoleta Cemetery, and the iconic Avenida 9 de Julio with the Colón Theater. Discover hidden gems like Zanjon de Granados, the Comic Strip Walk, Casa Minima, and the bustling San Telmo Market.

Admire the vast plains of Argentina and the Gaucho traditions on a visit to a typical Estancia located in the vast pampas.  The warm welcome is accompanied by music and empanadas. Witness the skills of the gauchos in action as they demonstrate their prowess in handling horses. Enjoy an authentic barbecue lunch of mixed grilled meats.   

Before leaving, bask in more Argentinean hospitality with a typical tea, ‘Mate’.  Transfer to the airport for our flight to Lima, the capital of Peru.   

In the morning, fly to Cusco (over 3,000 m above sea level) and travel by coach to the Sacred Valley of the Incas. Visit Awanakacha, a living Andean museum, to learn about camelid care, wool processing, and traditional weaving. Stop at the Taray viewpoint for stunning valley views, including the Urubamba River, mountains, and villages.

Explore Pisac, an old Inca community with charming streets and markets showcasing its heritage. End the day at the Temple of Ollantaytambo, an Inca religious and agricultural center, and admire its fortress, streets, squares, and traditional dwellings.

*Due to the high altitude of Cusco (more than 3000 masl), some people may experience headache, nausea or heart palpitation.  Please employ the following precautionary measures that may relief altitude sickness.  Get enough rest, avoid over exertion, exercise & speaking loudly. Refrain from the consumption of alcohol, eat light meals, drink lots of water and coca tea.  Please seek a doctor’s advice before travelling if in doubt.  

Explore the Sacred Valley’s three jewels: Maras, Moray, and Misminay. From above, admire the ancient Maras salt mines, where thousands of salt-encrusted pools were key to the Inca economy and still support local families today. Visit Moray, a 15th-century Inca archaeological site of concentric terraces, believed to be an agricultural research center with unique microclimates for diverse crops. In Misminay, take part in the Andean Payment to the Earth ceremony, enjoying traditional music, dances, and daily community activities like planting and harvesting.

Board the 360 train or Vistadome for our visit to the Lost City of the Incas, Machu Picchu, an architectural treasure that remained hidden for over four centuries.   

Look forward to a full day of discovery as we journey through charming communities, valleys, and mountains to Aguas Calientes.  From here, hop on to a shuttle bus and continue, on foot, to discover the stone citadel of Manchu Picchu, one of the modern wonders of the world, with our local guide.  Surrounded by mystical and impressive landscapes, there will be no shortage of spectacular photo opportunities!  

Explore Cusco, the ‘Imperial City’ and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Visit the Convent of Santo Domingo, built on the Inca Koricancha Temple, and the Cathedral at Plaza de Armas. Stroll through San Pedro Market, designed by Gustave Eiffel, then wander the narrow streets of San Blas, the city’s artisanal and bohemian neighborhood.

After lunch, tour Cusco’s nearby archaeological sites: Sacsayhuaman, an impressive Inca fortress; Puca Pucara, former lodging for troops; Tambomachay, a ceremonial water site; and Kenko, a labyrinth of tunnels used for celestial worship.

Enjoy the wonderful landscapes of the Southern Valley of Cusco as we make our way to Puno.  Drive to the village of Andahuaylillas with the Church of San Pedro, famous for its valuable colonial art. Capture some amazing photos of grazing llamas, alpacas as well as the snow-capped peak of Chimboya on the Altiplano horizon as we drive across the La Raya Pass.  Make a stop in Pukara, a national monument, where the first civilized Andean Culture was born. Arrive in Puno City located 3860m above sea level and at the edge of Lake Titicaca, the world’s highest navigable lake.   

Travel by motorboat to the floating Uros Islands on Lake Titicaca, home to descendants of one of the Americas’ oldest peoples, and explore their reed-made dwellings. Visit the ancient funerary towers of Sillustani, then meet alpaca-herding families in Atuncolia, enjoy traditional cuisine, and learn about local customs, crafts, and natural medicine.

Travel along Lake Titicaca with stunning Andes views en route to Bolivia. Visit Peru’s Inca-Uyu ruins in Chucuito, the mysterious Aramu Muru ‘Gate of the Gods’, and the village of Pomata with its Temple of Santiago Apostol. Cross into Bolivia at Desaguadero, explore the ancient Tiwanaku site, then continue to La Paz, the world’s highest capital, to see its iconic pyramids, monoliths, and semi-underground temple.

Hop on an early flight to Uyuni, a town founded in 1889 by the Bolivian president Aniceto Arce (elevation: 3700 masl).  Begin an unforgettable journey through fantastic landscapes of salt, surrealist landscapes of deserts and coloured lagoons.   

Explore San Cristobal with its colonial church and the villages of Culpina K and Alota.  Visit the Valley of the Rocks and marvel at their interesting shapes caused by wind erosion.  Visit the rock paintings and the Fort Necropolis of Tomas Lakjas before we settle in Villamar Village. 

*Hotels around the Uyuni Salt Flats are conceptualised to coexist with nature and its inexorable presence.  Enjoy the simplicity of comfort in the middle of nowhere.   

Depart for Laguna Colorada where we see the ‘James Flamingos’ which are unique to the Andean plateaus.  Continue to Sol de Manana, where we can see geothermal manifestations including fumaroles, hot springs and mud pools. Cross through the Pampas de Dali as we head to Laguna Verde, a saltwater lake at the foot of the Llicancabur Volcano.  With its symmetrical cone, the volcano towers above the Atacama Desert and is a sacred site revered by the indigenous Atacmeno.    

Explore the vast Uyuni Salt Flats, spanning over 12,000 km². Discover the ‘Eyes of the Salt,’ natural outlets of subterranean rivers considered medicinal by locals.

Visit Incahuasi Island, a unique oasis with giant cacti over 10 m tall.

Travel north to the base of Tunupa Volcano and Coquesa to see pre-Columbian mummies. Capture memorable photos with the help of your guide before enjoying the spectacular sunset over the salt flats.

Fly back to La Paz, landing at El Alto Airport—the world’s highest international airport at 4,080 m—then stop for panoramic views of the city framed by snow-capped peaks. Explore La Paz’s handicraft and witch-doctor markets, visit the colonial Plaza Murillo, admire the unique landscape of Moon Valley, and ride the cable car for sweeping views of the city.

Drive along Paulista Avenue, the city’s financial center, before visiting Ibirapuera Park—São Paulo’s largest green space, home to museums, sports facilities, and the famous Bandeirantes Monument.

See the 19th-century Luz Railway Station and the impressive São Paulo Cathedral, one of the world’s largest neo-Gothic churches. In the old town, view the Edifício Itália skyscraper and the Municipal Theatre, then walk across the city’s first viaduct, the Viaduto do Chá.

Stop in Liberdade, home to the world’s largest Japanese community outside Japan.

After dinner, bid farewell to South America and begin your journey home, carrying the memories of an unforgettable trip.