Great South American Journey - La Paz to Rio

Itinerary

Day 1 Arrive La Paz

Arrive in La Paz at any time.

Day 2 La Paz

The highest capital in the world, La Paz is the perfect city to explore on foot, once you adjust to the altitude! With streets lined with market stalls and vendors, experiencing the pace on the street and the vibrant atmosphere of La Paz is incredible.

Day 3-7 Cochabamba / Sucre Day 3-7 Cochabamba / Sucre

Travel south to Cochabamba, renowned for its spring-like climate. Explore the city then take a night bus to Sucre. Beautiful architecture and good museums are complimented by optional activities such as a visit to see 60 million year old dinosaur footprints.

Day 8-9 Potosí

The highest city of its size in the world, UNESCO declared Potosí a World Heritage Site in recognition of its splendid but tragic history in the mining of silver during the time of Spanish colonization.

Day 10-12 Uyuni / 4x4 Desert Crossing Excursion (2B,3L,2D)

A surreal landscape awaits between the Salar de Uyuni and the Atacama Desert (Chile), the driest in the world. Travel by 4X4 and marvel at the contrast of piercing blue skies and blinding white salt on the flat lakebed.

Day 13-15 San Pedro de Atacama

Descending almost 3000 metres, we arrive at the small desert oasis of San Pedro de Atacama. Optional excursions include biking, exploring nearby ruins, horseback riding, or a tour of the Valley of the Moon.

Day 16-19 La Serena / Santiago

Travel south along the coast to the beachside city of La Serena. Relax for the night before heading to Santiago on Day 18. Santiago is known equally for its museums and parks and its vineyards and ski resorts. Visit the vibrant Bellavista neighbourhood or go exploring.

Day 20-23 Pucón

Spend a day exploring Santiago then take a night bus bound for Pucón in Chile's Lake District. Climb a volcano, hike in the mountains, go rafting or skiing (in season), or just relax and enjoy Pucón's stunning backdrop.

Day 24-25 Puerto Montt/Puerto Varas

A trip further south brings us to the city of Puerto Montt, the gateway for explorers going into the Patagonian wilderness. Take a day trip to the island of Chiloé and sample the delicious seafood!

Day 26-28 Bariloche

Journey through the mountains of upper Patagonia into Argentina and arrive at Bariloche, a popular resort town for Argentines. The spectacular surroundings offer a plethora of outdoor activities including hiking, biking, paragliding, lake tours, and skiing/snowboarding (in season).

Day 29-33 Night Bus/ Buenos Aires

Travel by bus to the Argentine capital of Buenos Aires. Known as the ‘Paris of the Americas,’ Buenos Aires is a vibrant city full of life. Visit the districts of La Boca, Recoleta, and San Telmo or catch a tango show at one of the many famous tanguerías.

Day 34-36 Colonia / Montevideo

Cross the Rio de la Plata by ferry to reach Uruguay. Colonia features a unique culture, rich history and captivating architecture that make the cobblestone streets come alive. We then travel to the nation's capital, Montevideo, where we get a true feel for Uruguayan culture.

Day 37-38 Salto

Today we travel through picturesque settlements and pastures before arriving in Salto. There you can relax in the thermal baths, enjoy spa treatments or have a blast at the water park before we hop on a night bus to Iguassu.

Day 39-41 Iguassu Falls

Our visit to Brazil begins with a switch to Portuguese and a visit to the magnificent Iguassu Falls, bordering Brazil, Paraguay, and Argentina. Sit back and soak in the stunning beauty and raw power of Iguassu, or opt for an exhilarating boat tour into the spray of the falls.

Day 42-43 Paraty

Admire colonial architecture of the seaside town of Paraty or take trip to a traditional plantation or Fazenda where you can try the local beverage Cachaça.

Day 44-46 Ihla Grande

Head to paradise on earth on Ihla Grande and relax on one of the 102 beaches of Ilha Grande with a cool Caipirinha - or try surfing...

Day 47 Rio de Janeiro

Heading north along the Atlantic coast, we arrive at Brazil's ocean-side jewel, Rio de Janeiro. Few cities enjoy such a dramatic setting as Rio, whose images of the Corcovado (Christ the Redeemer) and Pao de Açucar (Sugarloaf) are synonymous with Carnival and the 'joie de vivre' embodied by the Cariocas. Enjoy the famous beaches of Ipanema and Copacabana.