Great South American Journey - Caracas to Quito

Itinerary

Day 1 Arrive Caracas

Arrive in Caracas at any time.

Day 2-10 Mochima / Canaima National Park / Sta Elena

Travel east towards Puerto La Cruz and enjoy the beautiful Caribbean beaches and snorkeling of Mochima National Park. Next head south to Ciudad Bolivar, for an optional excursion into Canaima National Park, and take an optional flight over Angel Falls—the tallest in the world. In the wet season (July to January) an optional three-day boat and hiking excursion to the falls can be arranged. Explore Venezuela’s famous Gran Sabana for more waterfalls and spectacular scenic views.

Day 11-15 Manaus/ Amazonas

Moving into the vast Amazon Basin, we arrive in Manaus. This is an important trading city of the northern Amazon region, and also has some interesting markets, museums and parks. A 3-day optional excursion into the depths of the rainforest promises unique tropical wildlife and unforgettable encounters with indigenous groups.

Day 16-20 Pará (Amazon River) (4B,3L,3D)

A 4 day river trip takes us from the depths of the Amazon to the city of Belem and the Atlantic Ocean. You will never forget the days spent cruising along the river that carries 20% of the world’s fresh water.

Day 21-32 Maranhão, Piaui, Ceará

We head to Sao Luis. The historic city covered in hand-painted Portuguese tiles. Then along the coast we’ll find a series of secluded oases, mangrove clad rivers, and beautiful remote beaches, where small fishing villages are hidden amongst huge sand dunes providing excellent opportunities for horse riding and sand boarding.

Day 33-38 Pernambuco / Bahía

Visit Praia da Pipa, a great place for dolphin spotting. We continue on to the colonial town of Olinda, famous for its cultural traditions, beautiful architecture, folk artwork and festivals.

Day 39-40 Salvador

We travel south to the Brazilian state known for its music and folklore. Besides stunning colonial architecture, Salvador has a fascinating history and a culture heavily influenced by the traditions, dances and religions of the African slaves brought to South America by the Portuguese to work on the sugar plantations. Enjoy the exotic Samba rhythms as you explore the charming city streets, its markets and historical buildings, or take an optional excursion to the sea turtle sanctuary. A short flight takes us to Rio.

Day 41-50 Rio de Janeiro / Paraty /Ilha Grande/ Iguassu Falls

Arrive in Rio and enjoy the city. There are many optional activities your tour leader can help you to arrange. Few cities enjoy such a dramatic setting as Rio, whose images of the Corcovado (Christ the Redeemer) and Pao de Acucar (Sugar Loaf) are synonymous with Carnival and the joie de vivre embodied by the Cariocas. Head to some of the famous beaches like Ipanema or Copacabana, and prepare yourself for an experience unlike anything else on Earth. From Rio we head south along the Atlantic coast to the port of Angra dos Reis, and onward by ferry to Ilha Grande. Relax and enjoy a cool Caipirinha on the beach, or try surfing. Further down the mainland coast we encounter the quaint colonial town of Paraty, an architectural gem famous for its churches. After Paraty we head west to the awesome Iguassu Falls, where we spend a couple of days to take full advantage of the many opportunities and activities here.

Day 51-55 Salto, Montevideo, Colonia

From Brazil we cross through Argentina into Uruguay, and stay in the city of Salto for some welcome relaxation in the thermal baths… or go have a blast at the water park! After some time in the capital city of Montevideo, we travel along the shores of the Rio de la Plata to the charming colonial city of Colonia del Sacramento.

Day 56-58 Buenos Aires

We will cross the Rio de la Plata by ferry to reach the dynamic city of Buenos Aires. There is much to do in this vibrant metropolis, with plenty of museums, theaters, and historical areas. Be sure to catch some tango at one of the many tanguerias, or tango houses.

Day 59-62 Nightbus / Bariloche

After a full day exploring the capital city we will board a nightbus southbound for Bariloche, in Upper Patagonia. A popular resort town for Argentines, the spectacular surroundings of Bariloche offer loads of outdoor options, like hiking, biking, parapenting, lake tours, and skiing/snowboarding (in season). Bariloche is also famous for its quality and quantity of chocolate.

Day 63-64 Puerto Montt/ Puerto Varas

After a beautiful journey through the Andes of Southern Argentina, we will cross into Chile and arrive at Puerto Montt. This is Chile’s most important southern port and it is the gateway for explorers going further south into Patagonia. Take a day trip to the island of Chiloé and sample the seafood!

Day 65-67 Pucón

From Puerto Montt we continue north to the Lake District of Chile, and the town of Pucón. This is a mecca for outdoor enthusiasts, with activities galore. Some of these include a volcano climb, hiking in one of the many national parks, rafting, mountain biking, and skiing/snowboarding (in season).

Day 68 Nightbus / Santiago

A nightbus will take us north to the bustling metropolis city of Santiago.

Day 69-72 Santiago

Santiago is Chile’s largest city and capital, with internationally recognized vineyards and Andean ski resorts very close by. Explore the many museums, parks and trendy cafés. Optional day-trips include a trip to Valparaiso and Viña del Mar and to Isla Negra, Pablo Neruda’s seaside home.

Day 73-74 La Serena

A journey north takes us to the seaside city of La Serena. The city has an attractive, colonial feel to it, with many places of interest outside the city. Take a tour to the Elqui Valley and visit a Pisco factory, or maybe stop by one of the numerous international astronomical observatories scattered throughout the valley.

Day 75-78 Nightbus / San Pedro de Atacama

A night bus will bring us further north to the dry desert regions of the country, where we stop in the little town of San Pedro de Atacama. There are plenty of optional excursions here, like biking, exploring nearby ruins, horseback riding, and a tour of the Valley of the Moon.

Day 79-81 4x4 Desert Crossing Excursion / Uyuni (2B,2L,2D)

Climbing almost 3000 metres into the Chilean altiplano, we embark on our 3 day desert crossing into Bolivia. We spend three days in the stunning landscapes between the Atacama Desert (Chile) and the Salar de Uyuni (Bolivia). The area’s unusual landscapes of mountains, active volcanoes, and geysers lend it an air of inexplicable intrigue and its wildlife will surprise you.

Day 82 Potosí

Potosí is the highest city of its size in the world. UNESCO declared it a World Heritage Site in recognition of its splendid and tragic history in the mining of silver during the time of Spanish colonization. There is time for an optional tour to the working mines of the Mountain of Silver.

Day 83-85 Sucre

With beautiful architecture and plenty of good museums, the city of Sucre has much to offer you during our two days here. Optional activities include a visit to dinosaur footprints, an old tin baron’s mansion, a textile cooperative, mountain biking and hiking.

Day 86-87 Nightbus / Cochabamba

From the Bolivian highlands, we travel north to the city of Cochabamba, famous for its spring-like climate and for its chicha (fermented maize drink). Explore the museums and this pleasant city before travelling onward to the capital city of La Paz.

Day 88-90 La Paz

With streets lined with market stalls and vendors, the pace on the street and the vibrant atmosphere is an incredible experience in La Paz. Optional activities include museums, shopping, excursions to Tiahuanaco ruins, a tour of the Valley of the Moon, or a visit to Chacaltaya, the highest ski resort in the world.

Day 91-93 Puno

The drive around Lake Titicaca and through the altiplano from La Paz to Peru is impressive and won’t soon be forgotten. From there, we head to Puno, on the shores of Lake Titicaca. There is an overnight excursion to the Islands on Lake Titicaca. This includes a visit to the Uros floating islands, and an overnight stay with a family on Taquile or Amantani island.

Day 94 Cuzco

Today a full day's bus journey takes us through the high Altiplano region to get from Puno to Cuzco, the capital of the Inca Empire.

Day 95-101 Cuzco / Ollantaytambo / Inca Trail (3B,3L,3D)

Cuzco is the perfect base for optional explorations of the city and area as well as a range of stimulating outdoor activities. We will spend the next few days relaxing and exploring this fascinating city, while taking time to acclimatize before our trek. Ollantaytambo is a major Inca ruin site and picturesque town. We depart Ollantaytambo for km 82 where we begin our walk in the footsteps of the Incas. Our local crew of porters, cook and guide will look after us well for the duration of the hike. Walking the trail that linked this ancient empire will supply you with breathtaking views at every step, as we move from high plateau areas to dense cloud forest. On the final day of the hike we climb the steps to the Sun Gate overlooking the peaks that surround Machu Picchu. In the afternoon, we have the chance to soak in the hot springs of Aguas Calientes, before taking the train back to Cuzco.

Day 102-106 Arequipa / Colca Canyon

Arequipa is a beautiful colonial city surrounded by spectacular mountains. It is also the starting point for an excursion to view one of the deepest canyons in the world, Colca Canyon. With a little luck, we will be able to observe the majestic Andean Condors soaring above the canyon walls.

Day 107-108 Nazca / Pisco

Current theories suggest that the Nazca Lines may be part of a complex agricultural calendar. We can only guess and wonder. There is time for an optional flight over the lines, which is the best way to see them. Pisco is an oasis in a barren land and a fairly important port town. Optional excursion to view the bird and sea lion colonies of the nearby Ballestas Islands.

Day 109-110 Lima

The City of Kings beckons visitors with its historical buildings, museums and districts of Miraflores and Barranco, which offer good night-life and cafés where you can relax and watch the world go by.

Day 111-114 Trujillo / Mancora

Heading north from Lima along the coast, we reach Trujillo, the largest city in northern Peru. It is known for its beautiful colonial structures and nearby attractions of Chan-Chan ruins and the fishing town of Huanchaco. Enjoy the relaxing beach atmosphere in Mancora, before heading north across the border.

Day 115-116 Cuenca

Ecuador's third largest town, Cuenca retains a pleasant provincial air with its colonial architecture, art galleries, and museums. The surrounding countryside is an outdoor playground. Visit national parks, take beautiful walks in the countryside and explore Ecuador’s only Inca ruin site.

Day 117-118 Baños

Baños means 'baths' and that is precisely what the town is famous for. The town is the perfect setting for outdoor pursuits, including horseback riding, hiking, mountain biking and climbing.

Day 119-122 Quito / Amazon Jungle Lodge (3B,3L,3D)

We fly to Coca, located on the edge of the Amazon. We travel by motorized dugout canoe to our Amazon lodge - your home in the rainforest. Our Amazon lodge provides comfort in the jungle with private bathrooms, hot and cold running water and screened jungle-view rooms. Climb a tower 43m (141 ft) tall to view the canopy and choose from various guided jungle walks, bird watching and wildlife spotting activities.

Day 123 Quito

Ecuador's capital city has a rich colonial past and is a perfect spot to end your journey. Optional activities include a trip to the Andean highlands for a cultural experience in Otavalo.