Grand Tour of South America

Day 1 - UK - In flight

Our nationwide shared chauffeur service collects you from home for your flight to Lima.

Day 2 - Lima

After our flight to Lima, we transfer to our hotel.

Day 3 - Lima

Our first full day in this seaside city, and we’ll waste no time in seeing what makes this city so special on a guided walking tour. We’ll start in this historic heart - Plaza Mayor - which has been painstakingly resorted and renovated in recent years. Dotted with palm trees and brightly coloured colonial buildings, it’s delightful to wander. The 18th-century cathedral is a highlight. We’ll then continue by coach to visit the Archbishop’s Palace and the baroque Government Palace. At the San Francisco Monastery, the Mudéjar-style interior is beautiful and wall-to-wall library of parchment dating back to the 15th century is fascinating. We’ll also stop by the Larco Museum, which details the development of pre-Columbian societies. The rest of the afternoon is yours to explore.

Day 4 - Lima - Sacred Valley

Our stay in Lima is short and sweet because today we venture into the Inca heartland of Peru and ancient Andean culture. We’ll head to the airport for our flight to Cuzco, the one-time capital of Incan civilisation, nestled in the Andean highlands. Surrounded by mountains at every angle, you’ll have the feeling you’ve been transported to a fairytale world of Inca myth and legend (or maybe that’s just the altitude). We continue our journey to the Sacred Valley, a river-carved area of flat, fertile land dotted with fortresses that have stood for hundreds of years. The well-preserved fortress of Ollantaytambo is particularly impressive - a 16th-century stronghold of Inca resistance against the Spanish. We’ll also stop by Pisac for its fun, lively market and stone Inca buildings, before checking into our hotel.

Day 5 - Machu Picchu

One of the standout highlights of Latin America is Machu Picchu. Every aspect of our day is exceptional and memorable. We’ll start with the train that winds its way up the Sacred Valley for your first breathtaking sight of the legendary mountaintop city. As we explore the ruins with a guide, it’s difficult to conceive the excitement of American archaeologist Hiram Bingham - the first ‘outsider’ to experience its majesty since its abandonment at the time of the Spanish Conquest. There’s plenty of time to appreciate this Inca citadel before we retrace our steps into the Sacred Valley.

Day 6 - Sacsayhuaman - Cuzco

We discover the ruins of another Inca fortress at Sacsayhuaman. Soak up the wonderful, panoramic vantage point on Cuzco and the surrounding plains and mountains. Imagine some 400 years ago, Inca warriors would have launched forays against Spanish-controlled Cuzco. The blocks used in its mighty walls demonstrate their masterful stonework - they weigh 200 tonnes, but they fit together so precisely that not even a piece of paper could fit between them. Back in Cuzco, we’ll enjoy a city tour with some time at leisure. This fascinating old city makes sure the old Incan ways are not forgotten. Colourful textiles, wild fiestas and carnivals keep the past vivid. The views surrounding the city are beautiful, from the Andean peaks to the Amazon lowlands.

Day 7 - Cuzco - Santiago

We say goodbye to Peru as we fly south to Santiago (flight may be via Lima), Chile’s capital city. On arrival, we’ll transfer to our hotel.

Day 8 - Santiago

Santiago is a delight to explore - a city of splendid colonial buildings sitting cheek by jowl with modern towers, interspersed with parks where friends gather to chat and play games - all framed by the majestic, snow-capped peaks of the Andes. Our tour commences at the National Museum, and also takes in Santiago’s historic centre, the bohemian Bellavista district and San Cristobal Hill, presenting superb city and mountain views. The remainder of the day is at leisure.

Day 9 - Valparaiso - Viña del Mar

A full-day excursion north of Santiago introduces two contrasting cities. Valparaiso, Chile’s main port city built over 42 hills, has a strong British character from the 19th century days of empire when Britain was Chile’s biggest trading partner. The port’s turbulent past included piratical raids and, over many years, heavy fortifications were established to protect the city and its cargoes. The historic quarter is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Viña del Mar could scarcely be more different - a popular, yet peaceful summer resort noted for its fine beaches, pristine parks and private gardens. En route back to Santiago, we stop at an award-winning winery for a brief tour and a tasting session with an expert sommelier.

Day 10 - Santiago - Puerto Varas

Today we fly to Puerto Montt, gateway to Chile’s ominous volcanoes, glacial lakes and sprawling national parks. We’ll take a quick tour of the city, stopping to enjoy the views of Angelemo Bay and Reloncavi Bay. We’ll then continue to the charms of Puerto Varas, nestled on the banks of the vast Lake Llanquihue - one of the largest lakes in Latin America. A truly magnificent setting for our stay.

Day 11 - Vicente Perez Rosales National Park - Nahuel Huapi National Park - San Carlos de Bariloche

Get set for a day of scenic exploration. Our unforgettable journey takes us across lakes and through the dramatic Andes into Argentina. We’ll trace the south shore of Lake Llanquihue to the small town of Petrohue. From here, we’ll board a catamaran, crossing Lake Todos los Santos in Vicente Perez Rosales National Park. We stop in Peulla with free time, then continue onwards and upwards by road across the Andes and the Perez Rosales Pass into Argentina. We’ll cruise across two further lakes - Lake Frias and the immense, glacier-carved Lake Nahuel Huapi - before finally arriving in San Carlos de Bariloche.

Day 12 - San Carlos de Bariloche

You’ll wake up to the generous views of the lakes this morning and we’ll waste no time getting to know this beautiful region. As we explore, you might get the feeling you’re in a European alpine resort, thanks to the influence of the Swiss, Austrians and Germans who once settled here. We’ll stop at the foot of the Campanario Mountain, the Llao Llao peninsula and the Angostura River, in the shadow of the Lopez Mountains. The afternoon is free. There are plenty of hilly hiking trails - or visit a local chocolatier for a taste of Argentina’s best chocolate.

Day 13 - San Carlos de Bariloche - Buenos Aires

We’ll have the morning to gulp in the last of that fresh mountain air before we board our flight to one of the world’s most iconic cities, beautiful Buenos Aires.

Day 14 - Buenos Aires

The ‘Paris of the South’, Buenos Aires is a city of simmering excitement and a tango heartbeat. A glimmer of its European past is barely buried under its lively Latino present. Sweeping green spaces are interspersed with grand French and Italian-style architecture, colourful street art decorates traditional neighbourhoods. You’ll be hooked on this city before you even realise it’s happened. We’ll spend the morning on a tour of the best bits. The leafy Plaza de Mayo is lined with grand buildings including Casa Rosada, Cabildo and the Metropolitan Cathedral. We’ll continue to one of the city’s most desirable residential districts, San Telmo, before exploring La Boca, a district famous for its colourful tin houses and Italian immigrant history. Finally, we’ll visit the walled cemetery of Recoleta to view the elaborate mausoleums and resting places of Argentinean luminaries, including Eva Peron.

Day 15 - Buenos Aires

You can choose to spend today at leisure to explore the city further.

Day 16 - Iguazu Falls

The World Heritage Site of Iguazu Falls is world famous. A series of 275 distinct waterfalls, watching the water thunder in front of you is a surreal experience. We’ll take a flight from Buenos Aires today to see this stunning natural border dividing Argentina, Brazil and Paraguay. Taller than Niagara and twice as wide, Iguazu Falls are an unrivalled spectacle in the Americas. We’ll take in the unforgettable Argentinean side of the falls today, watching the thunderous cascades set against a lush jungle backdrop, before crossing into our fourth and final country on our tour, Brazil.

Day 17 - Iguazu Falls

A further day to snap even more photos of Iguazu Falls, this time on the Brazilian side, where carefully constructed walkways and viewing points yield breathtaking panoramic vistas - a photographer’s delight! Relax or explore independently this afternoon.

Day 18 - Rio de Janeiro

We fly to Rio de Janeiro today (possibly indirect). Upon arrival, we transfer to our hotel.

Day 19 - Rio de Janeiro

The ‘samba city’ of Rio de Janeiro is another ‘must-see’ of world travel. Our full day tour includes a cog-train ride through the Tijuca Forest to the summit of ‘hunchback’ Corcovado Mountain, appreciating far-reaching views from virtually the same perspective as the iconic Statue of Christ the Redeemer, recently voted one of the ‘New Seven Wonders of the World’. We also pass some of the famous beaches and ascend the equally iconic Sugarloaf Mountain by cable car for more outstanding city views, this time with Christ the Redeemer in sight.

Day 20 - Rio de Janeiro

Free to relax and make your own discoveries in Rio before a farewell dinner at a popular churrascaria restaurant this evening.

Day 21 - Rio de Janeiro - In flight

Transfer to the airport for your return flight to the UK.

Day 22 - UK

Upon arrival, your vehicle will be waiting for the journey home.