Highlights of South America - 8th May, 2010 - 22 days - AU$6610 (land only)
Adventure Code: TTW006
Duration: 22 days
Starting in cosmopolitan Buenos Aires, enjoy the shopping and nightlife, the food and wine, before travelling to experience the mighty Iguazu Falls - all 275 of them! Set on the border of Brazil, Argentina and Parguay, Iguazu is the home of rich flora, beautiful birds, butterflies and other animals. One of South America's most impressive sights!
Get into the Brazilian spirit and zest for life in vibrant Rio de Janeiro, once of the world's greatest cities. Stroll your way along Copacabana beach and soon you will find music and dance: Brazilians love to have a good time!
Travelling from sea level to the soaring heights of the Andes, across great desserts and through the world's deepest canyon, we'll show you the mysterious Nazca Lines and gleaming white city of Arequipa in the shadow of Volcan Misti. The great Inca City of Cusco with it's bars, excellent restaurants, fantastic sites and great handicraft shopping, as well as the Sacred Valley and timeless Pisac market, in a land populated by llamas, condors and alpaca. Our journey continues as we travel to Puno, on the edge of lake Titicaca, from where we take a boat to the floating Uros reed islands. Join Adventurous Women as we take you to these sites and many more stunning highlights of South America.
Day 1 Arrive Buenos Aires
Day at leisure to either relax or explore the city.
Accommodation: The Salles Hotel - 4 Star, Meals: None
Day 2 Buenos Aires
After breakfast our guide will be escort us through this beautiful city, taking in sites such as "Plaza de Mayo", the Pink House, The Buenos Aires Cathedral, 9 of July Avenue, Colon Theatre, the Obelisk, La Boca neighborhood including traditional "Caminito Street", "Plaza San Martin", Recoleta Cemetery and Palermo Woods. In the afternoon we will return to our hotel with plenty of time to rest, before meeting up with our guide again in the evening. We will be taken to one of the best restaurants in Buenos Aires where we will enjoy a spectacular Tango Dinner Show.
Accommodation: The Salles Hotel - 4 Star, Meals: Breakfast and Dinner.
Day 3 Buenos Aires - Iguazu
After breakfast we will be transferred to the airport in order to take our flight to Iguazú. In the exit of Iguazú airport our guide will be waiting for us in order to greet and transfer us to Recanto Park Hotel. The Recanto Park Hotel is a 4 star hotel, located near the International Bus Terminal of Foz do Iguaçu and at 5 kilometres from down town including shopping and tourist attractions. This hotel is a modern style construction that offers 153 luxurious guest rooms all of them equipped with all amenities. This is a comfortable hotel with a warm atmosphere, a wide selection of entertainment and a large green area.
Accommodation: Recanto Park Hotel - 4 Star, Meals: Breakfast
Day 4 Full Day Iguazu Falls
After breakfast we will have an amazing experience at Iguazú Falls. These falls are an unforgettable spectacle, as they are considered one of the largest groups of falls in the world. They are located on the border between Argentina and Brazil, and the city of Foz do Iguassu borders with Paraguay. The falls have the shape of a horseshoe, are 2.7 km wide and 72 meters high. The falls are surrounded by a National Park with one of the best preserved native forests in the country. We will walk along the raised walkways to the edge of the falls where we will enjoy amazing views; The highlight of the trip is the view of Devil's Throat, which is 80 meters high and is the largest of the falls in the park. In the afternoon return to our hotel for our overnight stay.
Accommodation: Recanto Park Hotel - 4 Star, Meals: Breakfast
Day 5 Iguazu - Rio De Janeiro
In the morning we transfer to the airport to catch our flight to Rio de Janeiro where our guide will be waiting to transfer us to the August Copabana Hotel overnight.
Augustus Copacabana hotel is two blocks away from one the best beaches in the world, Copacabana. It is nearby many restaurants, nightclubs, bars, and theatres. The swimming pool with bar has an excellent panoramic view of Copacabana beach and Sugar Loaf. There is also a sauna bath and Jacuzzi if you feel like enjoying the facilities on offer.
Accommodation: Augustus Copacabana hotel, Meals: Breakfast.
Day 6 Rio de Janeiro
After breakfast, we will have free morning and at night we will enjoy of the illuminated night landscape of Rio de Janeiro, where a typical Brazilian restaurant awaits us. Then we will go to Plataforma Place where we can enjoy of a spectacular samba show with elaborate costumed mulatas, singers and dancers, presenting Brazil's folklore and capturing the carnival rhythms. Return to the hotel for overnight.
Accommodation: Augustus Copacabana hotel, Meals: Breakfast / Dinner
Day 7 Rio de Janeiro: Visit to Corcovado & Sugar Loaf Mountain
After breakfast we will visit one of the most represented places in Rio de Janeiro. To start with this tour we will catch a train to arrive to El Corcovado, visiting the Christ the Redeemer, where we will have an amazing view of this city, here you can see the Ti juca rainforest, Guanabara Bay, the Sugar Loaf, the Maracana Stadium and even the neighboring city of Niteroi. Later we will visit the Cascatinha de Taunay, a waterfall which plunges down from a height of 30m and the beaches located at the south of this area. Lunch and departure to the Sugar Loaf, the most popular way of reaching the top is to take the cable car. Later we will visit the Flamenco Park, the Metropolitan Cathedral, the Downtown Rio and we will stop in Macaraná stadium to get good shots of the outside of this famous place. Return to the hotel for overnight.
Accommodation: Augustus Copacabana hotel, Meals: Breakfast / Lunch
Day 8 Rio de Janeiro - Buzios - Rio de Janeiro
After breakfast we will go to Buzios a charming town surrounded by over twenty-five beaches, located only 105 miles from Rio, a short 2 ½ hour trip. In Buzios port we will take a small boat know as "Escunas" in order to travel along this peninsula, where we will have the opportunity to bath in some of the crystal clear beaches that contrast with the sculptured landscape and lush vegetation. Some of these are João Fernandes, Isla Feia and Tartaruga beach. Late in the afternoon we will return to our hotel in Rio de Janeiro overnight.
Accommodation: Augustus Copacabana hotel, Meals: Breakfast / Lunch
Day 9 Rio de Janeiro
Free day at your own leisure to relax or perhaps take a walk through the streets of this beautiful city. Accommodation: Augustus Copacabana hotel, Meals: Breakfast
Day 10 Rio de Janeiro - Lima
After breakfast we will be transferred to the airport to catch our flight to Lima. At our arrival to Lima our guide will be waiting for us to meet and transfer us to our hotel. In the afternoon we will visit the colonial site of Lima, land of Viceroys of ancient times, carrying out a wide journey for their main streets, avenues and residential neighborhoods, Bigger Square, Cathedral, Church of San Francisco, Santo Domingo, Bishop Palace and Government Palace. Later that day we will visit the modern part of Lima, where we learn about pre-inca's sites "Huaca Huallamarca", located in San Isidro and "La Huaca Pucllana" in Miraflores. After these sites we will go onto "Love Park" which is located on the cliffs of Chorrillos overlooking the Pacific Ocean. It is surrounded by walls of romantic quotes scripted in mosaic tiles and a monumental statue of 2 lovers embracing each other in the centre of the park. Return to the hotel overnight.
Accommodation: Casa Andina Classic - Miraflores San Antonio Hotel, Meals: Breakfast
Day 11 Lima to Paracas: Las Islas Ballestas
After an early breakfast our guide will drive us to Paracas where we will take a motorised canoe to travel to the Ballestas Islands, on route we will have the opportunity to see the famous "Candlestick", a figure drawn in a sand hill and oriented to the Pampas of Nazca. At our arrival to the Ballestas Islands we will enjoy having real contact with nature, having the opportunity to see sea lions, Humboldt penguins and different species of the marine birds that nest in the islands. Return to the port and in the afternoon we will depart to Paracas to overnight in Hacienda Bahia Paracas Hotel located south of Lima by the seashore.
Accommodation: Hacienda Bahía Paracas Hotel, Meals: Breakfast
Day 12 Paracas to Nazca and return to Lima
After breakfast we will take our private transportation to arrive to Nazca city where we will have the opportunity to choose between a visit of the Pre-Inca Cemetery of Chauchilla where you can find several tombs, centuries old or to catch an aircraft to fly over the Mysterious Lines of Nazca, from where you will see the huge figures in the desert that can only be appreciated from the air. They represent figures like the Monkey, the Hummingbird, the Cóndor, the Lizard, the Spider, the Whale, the Tree, the Hands, the Astronaut and many lines that cross the Pampas of Nazca. Nobody knows how they were made, but according to a theory they were part of a Great Astronomical Calendar that represented the constellations. In the afternoon departure to Lima to overnight. Please note that the visit to the Cemetery is included for those not wanting to do the flight. For those looking at doing the over flight of the Nazca lines there is an additional surcharge of AUD 140.00 per person Accommodation: Casa Andina Classic - Miraflores San Antonio Hotel, Meals: Breakfast
Day 13 Lima - Cuzco & it's Korikancha Temple
After breakfast our guide will pick us up from our hotel and drive us to the airport to catch our Cuzco flight. The flight will take us about 1 hour and 25 minutes approximately. Once in Cuzco our local guide will be waiting to transfer us to Amaru Hostel, where we will have a welcome drink of Coca's mate, a typical drink of this zone.
In the afternoon we visit the beautiful city of Cuzco, we will begin with a visit of San Cristobal church and its main square. Later we will visit the San Pedro market where we will be able to observe different agricultural products from the zone and to share with the local people. Then we will continue with a visit of one of the most famous neighborhoods of Cusco, San Blas that is characterised by its craftsmen and narrow streets. After this visit we will descend by a narrow street where we will observe the famous stone of the twelve angles, symbol of the perfection of the Inca architecture. Finally we will visit the Cathedral and Korikancha or the Temple to the Sun. Return to your hotel to overnight.
Accommodation: Amaru Hostal - Private Rooms, Meals: Breakfast
Day 14 Sacsayhuaman Archeological Site
After breakfast we will depart to Sacsayhuaman Archeological site and you will visit Q'engo, The Temple of the moon, a sacred place for the native people; then our guide will drive us to Tambomachay, where we will have the opportunity to purify our soul by drinking the water found in this place. After this visit, our guide will drive us to Puca Pucara ruins and onto the famous Sacsayhuaman fortress. Return to Cuzco where you will have time to buy some souvenirs.
Accommodation: Amaru Hostal - Private Rooms, Meals: Breakfast
Day 15 Inca/ Machu Picchu
THE INCA TRAIL - TREKKERS
After breakfast your guide will transfer you to the train station to catch your train to Ollaytaytambo where you will have time to visit this place and prepare your body to start the Inca Trail. You will walk from Ollaytaytambo until Intipunku or the Sun's gate, place with a spectacular view of Machu Picchu, from there we will only have to walk for 40 minutes more to arrive to this mysterious city. Overnight in Inti Inn Machu Picchu Hotel.
The Inti Inn Machu Picchu hotel is located at few minutes from Machu Picchu Bus Station, Handicraft Market and the Peru Rail Train Station. This is a modern building hotel with rustic style, mixing the construction with the natural surrounding environment. It offers comfortable rooms with air conditioning and a nice restaurant where all the mornings we will enjoy of our buffet breakfast.
Accommodation for Trekkers: Inti Inn Machu Picchu hotel, Meals: Breakfast / Lunch
THE SACRED VALLEY - NON TREKKERS
After breakfast we will visit the Sacred Valley of the Inca, this valley was undoubtedly a key area of settlement to the Incas. Its agreeable climate and fertile plains make a rare and fruitful combination for the high Andes. It was also the route to the jungle and therefore an area with access to the fruits and plants of the tropical lowlands.
Nowadays the Sacred Valley remains a lush agricultural region supplying the city of Cuzco with much of its produce such as corn, fruit and vegetables. Here we can visit the market of Pisac that the main days of Pisac's market are on Sundays, but there are smaller markets on both Tuesday and Thursday. However Pisac is a pretty village and has plenty of small handicraft shops and is worth a visit on any day of the week. After this visit we will continue to Ollantaytambo where we can find ruins of ancient military forces located near the town. Besides it is an attractive little town located at the western end of the Sacred Valley (about two and a half hours by bus from Cusco). The town has been built on top of original Inca foundations and is the best surviving example of Inca town planning.
Accommodation for Non Trekkers: Paqaritampu hotel, Meals: Breakfast / Lunch
Day 16 - The Amazing Machu Picchu Archeological Site.
Trekkers - Rest and recover early this morning until the rest of your group arrives from Ollantaytambo.
Non Trekkers - After breakfast our guide will transfer you to the train station to catch your train (Vistadomo Category) to Aguas Calientes, the closest town to Machu Picchu.
Both Groups - At your arrival our guide will drive you to the bus station to depart to the famous Machu Picchu Archaeological site, during this trip we will have an excellent view of the canyon formed by the Urubamba river. We will enter to the town and we start to enter to the enigmatic ruins, discovering the terraces, walls, ceremonial places, and hidden spaces. After this amazing experience we will have a delicious lunch and in the afternoon you will catch the train to return to Cuzco, overnight.
Accommodation: Amaru Hostal - Private Rooms, Meals: Breakfast / Lunch
Day 17 - Cuzco - Puno
In the morning we will take a tourist bus to Puno (sharing service). On route we will visit the chapel of Andahuaylillas and Rachi the God Wiracocha temple, where we will see the rest of the enormous columns that supported the ceiling of this incredible temple. We will then break for lunch and then continue our trip to the Museum of Pucara Ruins, late afternoon arrival to Puno for overnight
Accommodation: Conde De Lemos Hotel, Meals: Breakfast / Lunch
Day 18 - The Sacred Lake of the Incas - "The Titicaca"
After breakfast we will travel to the Sacred Lake of the Incas "The Titicaca" where we will visit the Floating Islands of the Uros, an old community that arrived at this Island looking for a refuge where they could be hidden from the Incas and Spanish conquests. Here we will learn how the people of the place make small canoes by totora for their transportation. In the afternoon we will visit the Pre Inca cemetery where you can find the tombs or Chullpas (6 meters in height) of Hatun Collan, an important Inca chief. Return to Puno for overnight.
Accommodation: Conde De Lemos Hotel, Meals: Breakfast / Lunch
Day 19 Puno - La Paz
Breakfast and departure to Copacabana, on the way we will stop in Juli and Pomata to visit these small towns. At our arrival to Copacabana we will visit the Sanctuary of the Virgin Morena, then we will be transferred to the port to catch a catamaran where we will have the opportunity to travel through the Sacred Lake of the Incas "Titicaca", lunch on board. In the afternoon we will go to the Island of the Sun and the complex of "Inti Wata", where we will visit the underground Site Museum and the pre-Incas agricultural terraces. Arrival to Chua port where our bus will be waiting for us to drive us to Gloria Hotel, overnight.
Gloria Hotel is a comfortable and convenient hotel which is in an ideal location offering us the possibility to have an unforgettable and exciting experience in the city of La Paz. Situated in Downtown La Paz, Gloria Hotel is close to the commercial and historical centers of the city. The hotel has cosy guest rooms which are well furnished and equipped with standard amenities.
Accommodation: Gloria Hotel, Meals: Breakfast / Lunch
Day 20 La Paz: City Tour
After breakfast we will explore one of the most representated sites of La Paz. San Francisco Church, the witches market, typical Indian market and visits to various museums. Next we continue to the plaza Murillo where the legislative and governmental palaces are located. A little later we will be admiring a replica of the subterranean Temple of Tiwanaku, leaving the center of La Paz we pass through residential zones to arrive in the unique landscape of the moon valley, an area of striking natural geological formations. Return to the hotel to overnight.
Accommodation: Gloria Hotel, Meals: Breakfast
Day 21 La Paz - Lima
After breakfast our guide will be waiting for us in the lobby of our hotel to transfer you to the airport to catch your flight back to Lima. In Lima we will be transferred to our hotel, time to walk in the area or buy some souvenirs. Overnight - Lima.
Accommodation: Casa Andina Classic - Miraflores San Antonio Hotel, Meals: Breakfast
Day 22 Depart Lima
After breakfast you will be transferred to the airport in order to catch your onward or homeward bound flight.
Meals: Breakfast
PACAKGE INCLUDES
Adventurous Women Group Escort from Buenos Aires through to Lima (22 days),
Private Transportation,
Transfers airport - hotel - airport,
Train to Machu Picchu (Vistadome category),
Local Bilingual Naturalist Guides
Accommodation based on Twin rooms
Excursions detailed in the itinerary
2 days/ 1 night Inca Trail
Meals as described
Entrance fee to the museums and churches of the city tours,
Entrance fee to Machu Picchu, Uros, Taquile, Sun Island.
Flight Lima - Cuzco
PACKAGE EXCLUDES:
International & Regional Airfares and Taxes
Visas to enter Countries visited
Travel Insurance - highly recommended
Nazca overflight - Allow AU$140
Meals - unless otherwise stated
Personal expenses - such as tipping, laundry etc
Entrance fee to the cable car in Rio de Janeiro - Optional
Entrance fee to Iguazú National Park (Argentina US$15 and Brasil US$10 - payable locally)
This tour is fully escorted by Adventurous Women and is facilitated by Kumuka Worldwide in conjunction with Flight Centre Floreat, Western Australia T/A licence 9TA 589
