Quito to Rio de Janeiro overland tour
| country: | Bolivia, Brazil, Ecuador, Peru |
| trip type: | A small group adventure |
| departures: | 2010: 23 Apr, 7 May, 21 May, 28 May, 11 Jun, 9 Jul, 16 Jul, 23 Jul, 6 Aug, 20 Aug, 10 Sep, 8 Oct, 5 Nov, 26 Nov, 17 Dec 2011: 14 Jan, 21 Jan, 4 Feb, 11 Mar, 25 Mar, 1 Apr, 15 Apr, 13 May, 20 May |
| price: | From £3240 (61 days) excluding flights. We can arrange flights from the UK. |
| vouchers: | Gift vouchers can be used with this holiday |
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introduction to Quito to Rio de Janeiro overland tour
Prepare for the ultimate South American adventure packed full of cosmopolitan capitals and breathtaking beauty on this journey from captivating Quito to vibrant Rio de Janeiro. Travel through Ecuador’s volcanic landscapes, the lush Amazon rainforest, Peru’s desert coast, the vast landscapes of Bolivia and then end up in the wilds of Brazil. Hike the Inca Trail, get to know the locals at a homestay on Lake Titicaca, sleep out on the eerie Uyuni salt flats, spot rare wildlife on the Panatanal and stare in wonder at the mighty Iguazu Falls. With plenty of free time and a do-it-yourself approach, this adventure is the perfect trip through the highlights of South America.
day-by-day itinerary
| Days 1-2: | Quito. Surrounded by volcanoes and resting across a spectacular Andean valley, Quito is an impressive sight. For breathtaking views over the city visit El Panecillo. |
| Days 3-4: | Amazon Jungle. Encounter exotic flora and fauna on an adventure into the heart of the Amazon. Walk through the jungle, swim beneath crystal clear waterfalls and visit a Quichua family to learn about life in this fascinating region. |
| Days 5-7: | Banos. Enjoy the volcanic landscapes on foot, by bike or from the warm waters of Banos' famous hot springs. |
| Days 8-9: | Cuenca. Stroll the narrow cobblestone streets and chill out in a shady plaza. For a glimpse of everyday life, stop by the flower market in front of the Church of Carmen de la Asuncion. |
| Days 10-13: | Mancora/Trujillo. Take an optional visit of the ruins of the mysterious mud city of Chan Chan, the largest pre-Columbian city in the Americas, and the world's largest abode city. |
| Days 14-15: | Lima. Discover the heart of Spanish colonial America in Peru's City of Kings. Walk along the shoreline at Miraflores or enjoy a pisco sour at one of the city's many fine bars. |
| Day 16: | Pisco. Take an optional visit to the Ballestas Islands to spot the pelicans, red-footed boobies, flamingos, sea lions and penguins. |
| Days 17-18: | Nazca. Discover the mystery of the Nazca Lines. |
| Days 19-21: | Arequipa/Colca Canyon. Spot condors resting on thermal air currents high above the canyon's floor and listen to the sound of the Colca River rushing by 1,200 m below the dramatic edge. |
| Days 22-24: | Cuzco/Ollantaytambo. Discover colonial Cuzco and travel through the Sacred Valley of the Incas. |
| Days 25-28: | Inca Trail. Trek the spectacular Inca Trail along high plateaus, past ancient ruins and through lush cloud forests: the view of Machu Picchu through the Sun Gate is a great sight at the end of this challenging trek. |
| Day 29: | Cuzco. Chill out in the town's cobblestone streets or enjoy some of the many adventure sports on offer. |
| Days 30-32: | Puno/Lake Titicaca. Make local friends during a homestay on the world's highest navigable lake. |
| Day 33: | Copacabana. With luck, witness the spectacle of locals taking their confetti-covered cars and trucks to be blessed at the Copacabana Church. |
| Days 34-38: | La Paz. Browse the weird and wonderful stalls at the Witches' Market. |
| Days 39-41: | Salar de Uyuni. Explore the surreal landscapes, multicoloured lakes, smoldering volcanoes and cacti-studded islands of of Salar de Uyuni. |
| Days 42-43: | Potosi. For a truly eye-opening experience, why not descend deep into the mines of Cerro Rico to learn about life in one of the tin mines. |
| Days 44-45: | Sucre. Admire the wealth of white architecture in colonial Sucre. |
| Days 46-47: | Santa Cruz. Head to Bolivia's border-lowlands and discover Santa Cruz, the country's agricultural capital. |
| Days 48-49: | Pantanal. See the abundant wetland wildlife of the Pantanal. |
| Days 50-52: | Bonito. Find a piece of aquatic paradise among the natural swimming holes teeming with fish and caves dripping with amazing stalactite formations. |
| Days 53-54: | Foz do Iguazu. Take an optional visit to the thundering Iguazu Falls to admire the 270 cascading falls up close. In the evening of day 54 take an overnight bus to Sao Paulo. |
| Days 55-56: | Paraty. Explore the beaches, walking trails and waterfalls of the surrounding national parks. |
| Days 57-59: | IIha Grande. Kick back on the white sand shores of Ilha Grande and maybe take a walk along the forested trails to find Brazil's best beach. |
| Days 60-61: | Rio de Janeiro. Filled with colour, music and the sounds of samba, Rio de Janeiro is a captivating end to this odyssey. Party in Lapa, see sunset from Sugarloaf or seek out a jazz bar to celebrate the end of the adventure over an icy caipirinha. |
small group adventure holiday
This is a 'small group adventure' - on our group trips you'll be with a maximum of 11 like minded travellers and you'll have a group leader with you. Whether you are travelling alone or with friends it's 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 people from other parts of the world as well as seeing new places! (more) Because of our small group size, we're able to guarantee departures for all of our trips. Once you have booked and paid your deposit, your trip is guaranteed to go!
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.
award winner
This tourism business won an Award in our 2006 First Choice Responsible Tourism Awards - organised by responsibletravel.com in association with The Times, World Travel Market and Geographical Magazine, of the Royal Geographical Society. The central tenet of the Awards, in which winners are nominated by tourists, is that all types of tourism – from niche to mainstream – can and should be operated in a way that respects and benefits destinations and local people.
how this holiday makes a difference
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This trip gives you plenty of opportunities to get to know the culture and vibrant history of Latin America. There are numerous chances for local interaction as we cover so much ground using all means of public transport. You’ll be surprised how much you can learn from a friendly local who strikes up a conversation during your journey.
Your leader and the occasional local guide will be able to direct you to many local eateries throughout the trip, helping you discover real local fare at real local prices (and probably helping you learn some Spanish at the same time). All travellers are encouraged to explore with the group and on their own, learn a few words of the language and interact with the locals as much as possible. There are plenty of opportunities to support local merchants in the markets and stalls that we pass along the way. We can purchase traditional handicrafts from local artisans and learn more about the importance of preserving these crafts. When hiking, we always ensure that travellers stick to marked trails, take all their rubbish with them and follow a set of hiking guidelines for the protection of the environment. In Ballestas Islands, besides learning about the wildlife such as sea lions, dolphins, penguins and a variety of bird species, take a walk along the town's lively peatonal and find a cafe to sample the famed Pisco Sour, or for some local food specialties head to the Plaza de Armas where the locals hang out and munch on tejas. These activities ensure we contribute to the local economy of the Pisco region, which has been recently devastated by an earthquake from which the people are still struggling to recover. In Colca Canyon, you will spend one night at a home stay, where you will experience first hand the rigorous way of life in the Andes, just as it was on the Inca's times. |
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. |
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