Circular tour of South America
| country: | Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Peru |
| trip type: | A small group adventure |
| departures: | 2009: 25 Jan, 15 Feb, 8 Mar, 29 Mar, 19 Apr, 10 May, 31 May, 28 Jun, 19 Jul, 9 Aug, 30 Aug, 13 Sep, 27 Sep, 11 Oct, 25 Oct, 15 Nov, 6 Dec 2010: 3 Jan, 24 Jan, 14 Feb, 7 Mar, 28 Mar, 18 Apr, 9 May, 30 May, 27 Jun |
| price: | From £2895 (28 days) including domestic flights only, as per the itinerary, based on twin share. We can arrange flights from the UK |
| vouchers: | Gift vouchers can be used with this holiday |
the amazing things you'll be doing
From Buenos Aires we head for the Andes and the spectacular 'Lakes Crossing' from Bariloche to Puerto Varas in Chile. Stunning mountains, picturesque lakes and towering volcanoes greet us. Next stop is stylish Santiago, home to some of Chile's most famous wineries. Further north is the Peruvian capital of Lima and the Amazon jungle.
High up in the Andes is Cusco, the former stronghold of the Incas and gateway to the Sacred Valley and magnificent Machu Picchu. On an island in Lake Titicaca we stay overnight with an Indian family before continuing on to the lofty heights of La Paz.
Crossing the continent by air, we arrive in colourful Rio de Janeiro where we discover such well-known sights as Corcovado, the Sugar Loaf Mountain and Copacabana Beach. Having witnessed the stunning falls of Iguazu we finally come full circle back to vibrant Buenos Aires. Includes tour leader, local guides, arrival transfer, accomodation (24 nights comfortable hotel, 1 night homestay, 2 nights jungle lodge), some meals (27 breakfasts, 5 lunches, 3 dinners), transport, sightseeing.
For nearly 30 years, we have lead the field in small group adventure travel. See the iconic sights as well as get off the beaten track to discover the 'real' country, and come away understanding something more of the world. Our innovative and interactive itineraries include as much as possible to ensure that you get the most out of your valuable time away, but also contain plenty of time to relax and explore by yourself. Traveling in small group, and by private transport, means that you will have the company of other like-minded travelers, your holiday will be safe and stress-free and that the impact on environment and community is kept to a minimum.
As part of our responsible travel policy we also employ local leaders and actively avoid international hotel chains, preferring to give our patronage to authentic, centrally-located and owner-managed establishments whenever possible. Our locally born and raised leaders are great fun and will be a great part of your holiday because of their intimate knowledge of the sights, culture and customs, history and language of their homeland. Once you have traveled with a local leader you will understand that there is no better way!
High up in the Andes is Cusco, the former stronghold of the Incas and gateway to the Sacred Valley and magnificent Machu Picchu. On an island in Lake Titicaca we stay overnight with an Indian family before continuing on to the lofty heights of La Paz.
Crossing the continent by air, we arrive in colourful Rio de Janeiro where we discover such well-known sights as Corcovado, the Sugar Loaf Mountain and Copacabana Beach. Having witnessed the stunning falls of Iguazu we finally come full circle back to vibrant Buenos Aires. Includes tour leader, local guides, arrival transfer, accomodation (24 nights comfortable hotel, 1 night homestay, 2 nights jungle lodge), some meals (27 breakfasts, 5 lunches, 3 dinners), transport, sightseeing.
For nearly 30 years, we have lead the field in small group adventure travel. See the iconic sights as well as get off the beaten track to discover the 'real' country, and come away understanding something more of the world. Our innovative and interactive itineraries include as much as possible to ensure that you get the most out of your valuable time away, but also contain plenty of time to relax and explore by yourself. Traveling in small group, and by private transport, means that you will have the company of other like-minded travelers, your holiday will be safe and stress-free and that the impact on environment and community is kept to a minimum.
As part of our responsible travel policy we also employ local leaders and actively avoid international hotel chains, preferring to give our patronage to authentic, centrally-located and owner-managed establishments whenever possible. Our locally born and raised leaders are great fun and will be a great part of your holiday because of their intimate knowledge of the sights, culture and customs, history and language of their homeland. Once you have traveled with a local leader you will understand that there is no better way!
day-by-day itinerary
| Day 1-2: | (Sun) Arrive in Buenos Aires. City tour. |
| Day 3-4: | Morning flight to Puerto Iguazu. Explore Argentinean and Brazilian side of the falls. |
| Day 5-7: | Fly to Rio de Janeiro. City tour including Sugarloaf, Christ the Redeemer, Ipanema and Copacabana beaches. |
| Day 8: | Fly to Peruvian capital, Lima. |
| Day 9: | City tour of Lima's Colonial Centre. |
| Day 10-11: | Fly to Iquitos. Boat to Jungle Lodge. Jungle and river excursions. |
| Day 12: | Return to Iquitos. Afternoon flight to Lima. |
| Day 13-14: | Fly to Cusco. City tour and excursion to Sacsayhuaman and the Sacred Valley including Ollantaytambo and Pisac. |
| Day 15-16: | Train to Aguas Calientes. Visit Machu Picchu and return to Cusco. |
| Day 17-18: | Visit Pumamarca ruins and Peru's Challenge Community Project. Free day to relax. |
| Day 19: | Drive to Puno on the shores of Lake Titicaca. |
| Day 20: | Visit Lake Titicaca, the Uros Indians and the ancient burial chambers at Sillustani. |
| Day 21: | Enter Bolivia and head to La Paz via the ancient ruins of Tiahuanaco. |
| Day 22: | La Paz city tour. |
| Day 23-24: | Fly to Santiago and explore the colonial centre and enjoy a winery tour. |
| Day 25-26: | South to Puerto Varas, in the heart of the Lakes District, to discover stunning mountain scenery. |
| Day 27: | The 'Lakes Crossing' by boat and bus to Bariloche in Argentina. |
| Day 28: | Afternoon flight to Buenos Aires where trip ends on arrival (Sat). |
small group adventure holiday
Typically you will be sharing your experiences with between 4-20 like minded travellers (depending on the trip, operator and how many others are booked on the trip) and you'll have a group leader with you. Whether you are travelling alone or with friends its good value, and a great way to meet new people! While itineraries are pre-planned there is some flexibility and you'll have plenty of privacy. This trip will appeal to travellers of all ages who enjoy meeting new people as well as seeing new places.highly commended
This tourism business was Highly Commended in our 2007 Virgin Holidays Responsible Tourism Awards - the largest awards of their kind in the world, and organised by responsibletravel.com in association with The Times, World Travel Market and Geographical Magazine, of the Royal Geographical Society.Since 2004, the Awards has recognised individuals, companies and organisations in travel making a big commitment to the culture and economies of local communities and helping to conserve biodiversity.
how this holiday makes a difference
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See South America through the eyes of locals, as your Argentine, Chilean, Peruvian, Bolivian and Brazilian tour leaders give you a first-hand insight into the exotic and colourful tapestry that makes up their homeland. Wandering around historic colonial towns and cities, discovering magnificent archaeological sites, exploring picturesque lakes and mountains and uncovering secluded villages impart to travellers an awareness of these valuable natural and historical gems and the importance of them being preserved and protected, so that they can be enjoyed and appreciated by future generations. The people living in the various regions also have rich and enduring cultures, which are unveiled on this trip. Equally important, your local tour leaders help us to understand the traditions of these proud people, ensuring you don’t commit any cultural ‘faux pas’.
This trip also visits Peru’s Challenge, a non-government charity that works to improve the lives of some of the poorest children living on the outskirts of Cusco by providing health services, education and fresh water. To support tour programs in this part of the world this operator is training their tour leaders on a variety of issues, from environmental awareness to First Aid. This not only assists in the conduct of a tour but also provides leaders with important life skills. By only employing tour leaders born and bred in the regions they visit, they are supporting local economies. This operator prefers to give their patronage to small owner-managed hotels rather than those from international chains, as they feel these places offer quality and character and also directly benefit local people. Through offering employment and steady revenue, tourism can ultimately make a real positive difference to local communities. |
Tourism can be good and bad for destinations & local people. We carefully screen every holiday against our criteria for responsible travel. 'Look behind the brochure' to find how each holiday makes a difference (see left). We don't claim to be perfect - there is no global accreditation - but we've led the way since 2001 and screened 1000's of holidays. We invite every traveller to write a review about their experiences and responsible tourism. This valuable feedback is sent to the people who run the holidays. We keep a very close eye on it and take off holidays that don't live up to our standards. |