| country: | Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile |
| trip type: | A small group adventure |
| departures: | 2008: 31 Aug, 14 Dec 2009: 15 Feb, 29 Mar |
| price: | From £1444 - £1465 (24 days) excluding flights. Local payment approx US $300. Price includes English/Spanish/Portuguese speaking tour leader, all land transportation, 21 nights hotel/lodge/hostel accommodation and admission to all National Parks as per itinerary |
the amazing things you'll be doing
On this epic journey across South America, explore the continent’s highlights… spectacular Iguaçu Falls, the wildlife of Brazil’s Pantanal, the vast Uyuni Salt Flats, timeless Bolivia and much more await you on this true adventure!
Starting in the capital of Santiago, we fly to the Atacama Desert and spend a few days taking in the endless natural beauty the desert sands have left behind. We will tour the incredible El Tatio Geysers- the world’s highest geyser basin at 4321 meters- and then soak in natural thermal pools under a backdrop of soaring volcanoes. Crossing over the Andes via the altiplano we will stop and explore the massive Uyuni salt flats with a guided 4X4 vehicle tour and then marvel at the different coloured lakes that appear like oasis in a huge sea of white salt.
Shaking off the dust and salt, we venture into Bolivia’s colonial heartland and visit two fascinating cities; Potosi with its rich history of mining, and Bolivia’s most beautiful city, Sucre. Explore the bustling markets, ornate churches and museums before some karaoke by the plaza! Further eastward we head into some of Bolivia’s most remote and least visited wilderness areas.
After an overnight train ride into Brazil, we visit the fantastic Pantanal for a few days of wildlife viewing. Based at our local families’ guest house that is fully equipped with comfortable hammocks for sleeping and a talented local chef, we will hike and horse ride through the wetlands to observe anacondas, macaws, tapirs and jacarés (alligators) before fishing for piranha. Leaving the Pantanal, we then cross through the forests to the ecotourism epicentre of Bonito. Known throughout South America for its caves, waterfalls and natural springs, enjoy a refreshing swim or snorkel in the crystal clear rivers and you will surely feel rejuvenated.
Heading south, we stop at Iguaçu Falls, one of the world’s most amazing natural wonders. Iguaçu Falls offers beautiful walks in the protected forests, boat trips up to the towering falls and an abundance of toucans and butterflies in the trees! Some say the Argentine side is the best and others that the Brazilian side is more impressive- you decide! Arriving refreshed in cosmopolitan Buenos Aires we will tour the city’s lovely centre and enjoy the hospitality of the friendly Porteños. Visit the nearby Pampas for a gaucho tour, enjoy the world’s finest steak dinner or watch a tango performance in romantic San Telmo before finishing this incredible southern expedition.
Starting in the capital of Santiago, we fly to the Atacama Desert and spend a few days taking in the endless natural beauty the desert sands have left behind. We will tour the incredible El Tatio Geysers- the world’s highest geyser basin at 4321 meters- and then soak in natural thermal pools under a backdrop of soaring volcanoes. Crossing over the Andes via the altiplano we will stop and explore the massive Uyuni salt flats with a guided 4X4 vehicle tour and then marvel at the different coloured lakes that appear like oasis in a huge sea of white salt.
Shaking off the dust and salt, we venture into Bolivia’s colonial heartland and visit two fascinating cities; Potosi with its rich history of mining, and Bolivia’s most beautiful city, Sucre. Explore the bustling markets, ornate churches and museums before some karaoke by the plaza! Further eastward we head into some of Bolivia’s most remote and least visited wilderness areas.
After an overnight train ride into Brazil, we visit the fantastic Pantanal for a few days of wildlife viewing. Based at our local families’ guest house that is fully equipped with comfortable hammocks for sleeping and a talented local chef, we will hike and horse ride through the wetlands to observe anacondas, macaws, tapirs and jacarés (alligators) before fishing for piranha. Leaving the Pantanal, we then cross through the forests to the ecotourism epicentre of Bonito. Known throughout South America for its caves, waterfalls and natural springs, enjoy a refreshing swim or snorkel in the crystal clear rivers and you will surely feel rejuvenated.
Heading south, we stop at Iguaçu Falls, one of the world’s most amazing natural wonders. Iguaçu Falls offers beautiful walks in the protected forests, boat trips up to the towering falls and an abundance of toucans and butterflies in the trees! Some say the Argentine side is the best and others that the Brazilian side is more impressive- you decide! Arriving refreshed in cosmopolitan Buenos Aires we will tour the city’s lovely centre and enjoy the hospitality of the friendly Porteños. Visit the nearby Pampas for a gaucho tour, enjoy the world’s finest steak dinner or watch a tango performance in romantic San Telmo before finishing this incredible southern expedition.
day-by-day itinerary
| Day 1-3: | San Pedro |
| Day 4: | Altiplano |
| Day 5: | Uyuni |
| Day 6-7: | Potosi |
| Day 8-9: | Sucre |
| Day 10: | Samaipata |
| Day 11: | Santa Cruz |
| Day 12: | Night train to Brazil |
| Day 13-14 | Pantanal |
| Day 15: | Pantanal/Bonito |
| Day 16-17 | Bonito |
| Day 18-20: | Iguaçu Falls |
| Day 21: | Luxury Overnight Bus |
| Day 22-24: | Buenos Aires |
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.how this holiday makes a difference
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This trip is designed for those who enjoy walking/hiking, want to explore South America’s natural beauty and discover why visitors are so passionate about this beautiful region. We travel in small, intimate groups (maximum of 13 passengers) and have the benefit of a professionally trained local guide who knows the best places in the national parks, national monuments and wilderness areas to respectfully observe wildlife, to enjoy fun, adventurous activities and appreciate the flavours of the local culture.
This tour is lodging based and we will overnight in locally owned 3 star hotels and lodges. We also spend 2 nights in communal hammocks whilst in Brazil’s Pantanal including some meals. Otherwise, when lodging we eat our meals in locally owned restaurants, and throughout the trip we utilize established local suppliers for activities that help support local business and keep money in the community. We have over 35 years of experience operating small-group adventure tours (13 client maximum) throughout North/Central/South America that foster understanding, appreciation and conservation of the cultures and environments we visit. We are committed to working with our clients and the peoples of our host destinations to ensure direct economic benefits at a community level. We aim to operate beyond best practice guidelines and to provide a tour programme that creates a positive impact on the lands that we visit and a lasting impression for those who travel with us. The tour is led by one of our fully trained local guides. Prior to leading our groups, guides must successfully complete our pre-season intensive training programme. During this time we support the guides with accommodation, activities and supplemental salary. We utilize private vehicle and local suppliers for accommodation and activities throughout to ensure the economic benefit stays in the local community. This includes working with local operators and lodging in locally owned hotels/lodges whenever possible. Also, we include guided hiking in the national parks, horseback riding, piranha fishing, and more on this incredible journey. When staying in hotels/lodges en route, we endeavor to eat our meals in locally owned, family run restaurants which supports local business, as well as allows passengers to experience local flavour and mix with local people when appropriate. On this tour, we also include visits and entry admission to all national parks and monuments listed in the itinerary. Fees support park upkeep and conservation projects, and we encourage our clients to visit the visitor centres for additional information about the region. Our published traveller’s code of conduct is further promoted by our leaders throughout the tour, and particularly in the first night’s orientation talk. Our RT policy or traveller’s code of conduct is made available to all travellers prior to departure. This includes policies on the following: • Established policy to support recycling (and to educate our clients on recycling) on all of our tours in North/Central/South America. We aim to utilize properties that recycle glass and plastics. When this service is not available, we will pack and store recycling in our own containers and drive them to a suitable facility • Leave No Trace is a national and international campaign designed to assist outdoor enthusiasts about how to reduce their impacts when enjoying the outdoors. Because this trip spends much time exploring the National Parks and "wilderness" areas, familiarizing clients with the "Leave No Trace" ethic will help minimize the impact on the natural environment. 100% of our UK corporate headquarters’ power is green (renewable). We contribute to local charities and projects such as “Tourism Cares for America” (of which we are a founding member), “Friends of Big Bend” and the “Mojave Desert Land Trust”- organizations dedicated to improving and/or expanding national parks. |
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. |











