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Tour Date: 02 Aug 2012 - 01 Sep 2012
Tour Cost ($AUD): $15,997.00

South America is often the last continent that people visit, yet it is without doubt the world's most exciting. Steeped in history, culture and awe-inspiring scenery, it possesses the largest jungle, the longest river, the widest waterfalls and the longest mountain chain in the world. Our magnificent tour embraces all these major highlights in a stunning 32-day adventure. We begin in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil's most exciting city, before exploring Argentina, Peru and Bolivia. En-route we take in wonderful sights such as the great Inca ruins of Machu Picchu, Lake Titicaca and the stupendous Iguassu Falls. A special feature is the three-day excursion into the Amazon jungle where we stay at the famous ExplorNapo Lodge. Many of our regular travellers consider this their favourite tour!

02/08/2012 Australia - Buenos Aires - Rio de Janeiro

Corcovado, Rio de Janeiro

Depart Buenos Aires AR 1254,  21.15
Arrive Rio de Janeiro   00.15

We transfer to our hotel near Copacabana Beach.


Excelsior Hotel
Avenida Atlantica
Copacabana
Rio de Janeiro
Ph: 0011-55-21-21955800
Fx:  25478511

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03/08/2012 Rio de Janeiro (BD)

Jim Gill and Tony Evans at the top of  Sugar Loaf Mountain

Rio de Janeiro sweeps 20 km along a narrow alluvial strip between the mountains and the sea. Brazilians say: “God made the world in six days; the seventh he devoted to Rio.” Few people who have been to this magnificent city would argue! This morning a cable car take us to the top of Sugar Loaf Mountain, uniquely situated at the entrance of Guanabara Bay. The journey to the top is completed in two stages, which offer beautiful views of the city and its beaches. Tonight we visit one of Rio’s most famous traditional restaurants for dinner and then attend the dazzling Plataforma 1 samba show.

04/08/2012 Rio de Janeiro (B)

Rodrigo de Freitas Lagoon

Our excursion today follows Rio's famous beaches and passes Rodrigo de Freitas Lagoon to Cosme Velho. Here we board a funicular train for the 20-minute ride to the top of the 800m high Corcovado Mountain. The statue of Christ the Redeemer on top of the peak is Rio’s most famous landmark and one of the modern Wonders of the World. It weighs 1,100 tons, is 70m high and affords an incredible 360-degree view of the city.

05/08/2012 Rio de Janeiro (BL)

Rocinha favela, Rio de Janeiro

Today is full of surprises as we head away from the familiar tourist sights and visit the famous favelas, or slum areas. Open-topped jeeps take us on an exhilarating journey to these lively suburbs built into Rio's hillsides. Our guides are residents of the favelas who know the area intimately and ensure our tour is fascinating and safe. They give a unique insight into a part of this extraordinary city not normally visited by tourists. The view of Rio from high up in the favelas is simply extraordinary.

06/08/2012 Rio de Janeiro - Lima (BL)

Church of San Francisco

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07/08/2012 Lima (BD)

Delicious Peruvian cuisine

Further exploring the area.

08/08/2012 Lima - Amazon Jungle (BLD)

Explorama vessel, Iquitos

Depart Lima Lan Peru LP 2380,   10.40
Arrive Iquitos   12.30

We transfer to Lima airport to join our flight to Iquitos, deep in the Amazon Basin. On arrival we drive to the river where we board a small boat for the trip into the jungle. Our destination is the remote ExplorNapo Lodge, located 160 km down river, deep in primary rainforest. Romantic kerosene torches and lamps illuminate palm-thatched houses. Covered connecting walkways lead to the Tahuampa Bar, the dining room and the hammock house. Shared showers and toilet facilities adjoin each row of bedrooms. In the evening we take a boat trip by torchlight in search of the local wildlife.


ExplorNapo Lodge
Iquitos

09/08/2012 Amazon Jungle (BLD)

Giant water lillies deep in the Amazon

This morning we walk along a jungle trail to the stunning aerial walkway. It is the longest of its kind in the world and affords magnificent views of the jungle canopy. Our expert guides point out many examples of native plants used as medicine by the locals. After lunch we take a boat trip along one of the small tributaries to try our hand at piranha fishing! We may even spot the delightful freshwater dolphins found in this area.

10/08/2012 Amazon Jungle (BLD)

Nuevo San Martin, Amazonas

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11/08/2012 Iquitos - Lima - Sacred Valley (BD)

Sacred Valley of the Incas

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12/08/2012 Sacred Valley (BL)

Narrow walkway, Ollantaytambo

We drive to the town of Ollantaytambo, situated at the foot of spectacular Inca ruins that protected the entrance to the lower Urubamba Valley. The temple area is at the top of steep terracing, providing excellent defences. Stone used for these buildings was brought from a quarry high up on the opposite side of the Urubamba River - an incredible feat involving thousands of workers. Ollantaytambo is the only Inca settlement to have resisted attacks from the Spanish.

We also visit the famous Pisaq arts and crafts market, a colourful fair held every Thursday and Saturday in this delightful town.

13/08/2012 Sacred Valley (BL)

Ancient farming methods exist today in the Sacred Valley

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14/08/2012 Sacred Valley - Machu Picchu (BL)

Ollantaytambo rail station

After breakfast we have an early morning transfer to Ollantaytambo for the stunning train ride to Machu Picchu.

Train departs   08.00
Arrives Machu Picchu   09.22

The railway line follows the Urubamba River valley with the snow-capped Andes towering above. After checking into our superb hotel in Machu Picchu we enjoy lunch, before making our first visit to the great ruins. Machu Picchu is undoubtedly the best known and most spectacular archeological site on the continent. It is a complete city, set on the saddle of a high mountain with terraced slopes falling away to the Urubamba River, which rushes through great
hairpin bends far below. The ruins themselves are amazing, comprising staircases, terraces, temples,
palaces, towers and the famous sundial.


Machu Picchu El Pueblo Hotel
Aguas Callientes
Machu Picchu
Ph: 0011-51-84-201620

15/08/2012 Machu Picchu - Cusco (BL)

Sarah Butler at Machu Picchu

The morning is free to continue exploring the ruins of Machu Picchu without the crowds, before our afternoon train journey to Cusco. There is time, for those who wish, to trek to the famous Sun Gate, the traditional entrance to Machu Picchu. From here the views of the ancient citadel are extraordinary. The train ride back to Cusco is fun-filled to say the least, thanks to the delightful and hardworking crew. On arrival in Cusco we transfer to our hotel.

Train departs   15.25
Arrives Poroy (Cusco)   18.39


Picoaga Hotel
Calle Santa Teresa 344
Cusco
Ph: 0011-51-84-252330
Fx: 221246

16/08/2012 Cusco (BL)

Cusco

Cusco is the archeological capital of the Americas and the continent’s oldest continuously inhabited city. Massive Inca-built stone walls line most of the city’s central streets to form the foundations of colonial and modern buildings. Many streets are stepped and narrow and inhabited by Quechua-speaking descendants of the Incas. A city tour of this fantastic ancient Inca capital takes us to the main cathedral, the Temple of the Sun (Koricancha), and a number of important Inca sites outside Cusco, including Sacsayhuaman, Kenki and Tambomachay.

17/08/2012 Cusco (BD)

Inca stonework at Sacsayhuaman, Cusco

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18/08/2012 Cusco - Lake Titicaca (BL)

Sunrise on Lake Titicaca, Puno

Today we make the seven-hour journey across the Andes to La Raya Pass (4,100m) and on to Puno. We stop for lunch en-route and also visit a remarkable and rarely visited Inca site. As the road weaves its way up to the heights of La Raya, we enjoy breathtaking views before a late afternoon arrival at our hotel on the shores of Lake Titicaca.


Libertador Esteves Hotel
Isla Esteves
Puno
Ph: 0011-51-51-367780
Fx: 367789

19/08/2012 Lake Titicaca (BL)

Reed boat, Lake Titicaca, Bolivia

We take an early morning boat ride on Lake Titicaca to visit the famous floating reed islands. These strange spongy masses are home to the Los Uros Indians, a unique tribe that pre-dates the Incan civilisation. According to their legends, they existed before the sun when the earth was still dark and cold. We have the chance to ride on one of their extraordinary reed boats before heading back to Puno. The rest of the day is at leisure.

20/08/2012 Lake Titicaca - Sun Island (BLD)

A priest makes a blessing
on Sun Island, Bolivia

Today we drive through the towns of Juli and Pomata and visit the majestic Church of the Virgin of the Lake in Copacabana. After completing both Peruvian and Bolivian border formalities, we board a hydrofoil to cross the lake. We sail to the Island of the Sun and go ashore at the unspoiled village of Yumani, where we experience the daily life of the locals tending to their animals, weaving ponchos or building their unique reed boats. We overnight on the island.


Posada del Inca (Ecolodge)

21/08/2012 Sun Island - La Paz (BL)

Royal Andean range near the
straits of Tiquina

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22/08/2012 La Paz (BLD)

La Paz basin by night

The amazing city of La Paz is the administrative capital of Bolivia and, as such, qualifies as the world's highest capital. Enjoying an incredible location it well deserves its nickname, 'the city that touches the sky'. Our tour begins in Government Square, from where we visit the Presidential Palace and the Indian handicraft market. We then drive out of the city to the extraordinary Moon Valley. Formed millions of years ago when the area was under water, it is a labyrinth of bizarrely shaped sandstone formations, which give the appearance of a lunar landscape.

23/08/2012 La Paz (BL)

Tiahuanaco

After breakfast we head to the legendary pre-Inca site of Tiahuanaco. It is thought to have been an important ceremonial centre and to have once bordered Titicaca. The influence of this civilisation was far-reaching, extending even to the coast of Peru where Tiahuanaco artifacts are common. These ancient people are believed to have been even more advanced than the Incas in art, pottery, astronomy and mathematics.

The site at Tiahuanaco is still under exploration and many of the monoliths have been moved to the Museo Nacional de Arqueología in La Paz for preservation and easier viewing. Still on site are the Gate of the Sun, the Acapana Pyramid and the Kalasaya compound.

24/08/2012 La Paz - Buenos Aires (BD)

Tango!

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25/08/2012 Buenos Aires (BD)

La Boca, Buenos Aires

Buenos Aires, the fabulous capital of Argentina, is the most European city in South America with many beautiful parks and plazas. 'Portenos', as the locals call themselves, are fun-loving people who enjoy their city and music. On our city tour we take in Government House (Casa Rosada, or Pink House), the House of Congress, the Metropolitan Cathedral, Eva Peron's tomb in the Recoleta Cemetery and the famous Italian La Boca district. In the evening we experience an exciting tango show.

26/08/2012 Buenos Aires (BL)

Horse ranch

A fun-filled relaxing day today as we head out of the city on a 'Fiesta Gaucho' tour. We drive into the fertile grasslands (pampas) that surround Buenos Aires, to an estancia (horse ranch). After cocktails and empanadas (typical pastry turnovers) our hosts provide an assado (Argentinian BBQ) and a vibrant gaucho folk show.

27/08/2012 Buenos Aires (BL)

Tour leader Manny Yanez
riding in the pampas

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28/08/2012 Buenos Aires - Iguassu Falls (BL)

Iguassu Falls

Early this morning we transfer to the airport for our flight to the magnificent Iguassu Falls.

Depart Buenos Aires Aerolinas AR 2720,   07.10
Arrive Iguassu   08.55

Today we take a walk on the spectacular Argentinian side of the falls. Bridges and walkways take us to within a few metres of many of the cascades for incredible views. The most famous is the 'Devil's Throat', where the water crashes 100m to the valley below, providing an amazing view. We then drive to the border and transfer to our majestic hotel on the Brazilian side of the falls.


Das Cataratas Hotel
Parque Nacional Iguassu
Foz Do Iguassu
Parana, Brazil
Ph: 0011-55-45-5217000
Fx: 5221717

29/08/2012 Iguassu Falls (BL)

On the Iguassu River

The Iguassu Falls are considered by many to be the most impressive in the world, surpassing in grandeur both Niagara and Victoria. Some 275 separate cascades fall in a wild array over a winding 3-km cliff frontage into a gorge 60m deep. The morning is spent exploring the Brazilian side of the falls. We then travel by 4WD vehicles to the Iguassu River where we board a powerful speed boat for a thrilling ride through the rapids to the very base of the falls.

30/08/2012 Iguassu - Buenos Aires (BD)

Devils Throat from the air

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31/08/2012 Buenos Aires - Sydney (B)

In flight and crossing the Date Line

Depart Buenos Aires Aerolineas AR 1182,   08.30

We cross the International Date Line today.

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01/09/2012 Arrive Sydney

TOUR INFORMATION

Tour Fitness Level:  Energetic

AUGUST 2012 DEPARTURE

TOUR COST: $15,997

SINGLE SUPPLEMENT $3,155

INCLUDED IN TOUR COST:

* All flights between Australia and South America (inc domestic from your preferred Capital city)
* All flights, transportation and transfers within South America
* All ticketable taxes (may be subject to change)
* All accommodation (twin-share)
* All meals as specified
* All local guides
* Tour escort
* All entrance fees in specified sightseeing
* All visas and courier fees
* All tips and gratuities



NOT INCLUDED IN TOUR COST:

* Insurance
* Personal expenses

Please note that whilst every effort will be made to adhere to the above pricing, currency fluctuations beyond our control can affect final tour costs.

A booking form is to be completed by all passengers, followed by a non-refundable deposit of AUD $2,000 at the time of booking.

All escorted tours are based on a minimum group size of 10 people travelling.