Quito to Rio de Janeiro overland tour
| country: | Bolivia, Brazil, Ecuador, Peru |
| trip type: | A small group adventure |
| departures: | 2009: 30 Jan, 27 Feb, 27 Mar, 24 Apr, 22 May, 12 Jun, 26 Jun |
| price: | From £2400 (9 weeks) excluding flights. Local payment US $1200. Price includes simple hotels (46 nts), jungle lodge (3 nts), overnight coach (5 nts), camping (5 nts) and some meals. We can arrange flights from the UK. All departure dates are guaranteed |
the amazing things you'll be doing
Take a fascinating overland adventure through the spectacular parts of South America that few visitors experience. Travelling from the volcanic landscapes of Ecuador to the lush Amazon rainforest, the desert coast of Peru and through the ancient Incan Empire to the vast landscapes of Bolivia and the wilds of Brazil, this odyssey has South America covered.
day-by-day itinerary
| Day 1-2: | Quito. Visit El Panecillo for great views. |
| Day 3-4: | Amazon Jungle. Encounter exotic flora and fauna. |
| Day 5-7: | Banos. Experience volcanic landscapes on foot, by bike or from the hot springs. |
| Day 8-9: | Cuenca. Stroll cobblestone streets and chill-out in a shady plaza. |
| Day 10-13: | Mancora/Trujillo. Visit the mud city of Chan Chan. |
| Day 14-15: | Lima. Check out the heart of Spanish colonial America in Peru's City of Kings. |
| Day 16: | Pisco. Visit the Ballestas Islands. |
| Day 17-18: | Nazca. See the Nazca Lines and visit an ancient burial ground. |
| Day 19-21: | Arequipa/Colca Canyon. Travel to dramatic Colca Canyon and spot condors. |
| Day 22-24: | Cuzco/Ollantaytambo. Explore Cuzco and travel through the Sacred Valley of the Incas. |
| Day 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. |
| Day 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. |
| Day 34-38: | La Paz. Browse the weird and wonderful stalls at the Witches' Market. |
| Day 39-41: | Salar de Uyuni. Explore the surreal landscapes, multicoloured lakes, smoldering volcanoes and cacti-studded islands of of Salar de Uyuni. |
| Day 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. |
| Day 44-45: | Sucre. Admire the wealth of white architecture in colonial Sucre. |
| Day 46-47: | Santa Cruz. Head to Bolivia's border-lowlands and discover Santa Cruz, the country's agricultural capital. |
| Day 48-49: | Pantanal. See the abundant wetland wildlife of the Pantanal. |
| Day 50-52: | Bonito. Find a piece of aquatic paradise among the natural swimming holes teeming with fish and caves dripping with amazing stalactite formations. |
| Day 53-54: | Iguazu Falls. Head to the thundering Iguazu Falls to admire the 270 cascading falls up close. |
| Day 55-56: | Curitiba. Enjoy the vibe in this university town or stop by the botanical gardens to admire the French style gardens. |
| Day 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. |
| Day 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!
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. |