Iconic South America itinerary: Machu Picchu, Iguazu Falls & the Corcovado

Itinerary in brief:

• 2 nights in Lima
• 1 night in the Sacred Valley
• 1 night in Aguas Calientes
• 2 nights in Cusco
• 3 nights in Foz do Iguacu
• 4 nights in Rio de Janeiro

Day 1: Depart UK

Depart the UK from your chosen airport.

Included: International flight

Day 2: Arrive in Lima

On arrival in Lima, you’ll be met and driven to your hotel in the city. Along the way, your guide will point out some of the city’s highlights and main attractions. One you arrive, you’ll check in for a two-night stay, with the rest of the afternoon at leisure for you to relax or explore.

Included: Transfer, hotel

Day 3: Lima city tour

After breakfast, we’ve included a guided tour of the capital. You’ll visit the most important attractions including the main square, the Cathedral and Casa Aliaga - an old residence of the viceroyalty. You’ll also visit the Larco Museum which is home to an impressive pre-Hispanic collection of gold and silver pieces before heading to a park with spectacular cliff top views over the Pacific Ocean.

Included: Breakfast, tour, hotel

Day 4: Fly to Cusco

After breakfast, you’ll be driven to the airport to catch your flight to Cusco. Once you land, you’ll be collected and driven to your selected hotel in the Sacred Valley.

On the way, you will visit Awanakancha – a farm that’s home to many South American camelids and also a textile exhibition centre. It’s a living museum where you can see native Andean llamas and alpacas and you can learn the traditional techniques used to work with their wool and make finely spun garments. You’ll spend the night at a hotel in the Sacred Valley.

Included: Breakfast, domestic flight, transfers, tour, hotel           

Day 5: Pisac, Ollantaytambo and Aguas Calientes

After breakfast, you will head to Pisac market where you’ll find stalls selling locally made textiles and crafts. We’ve included lunch at a local restaurant, before continuing on to Ollantaytambo, famous for its impressive Incan fortress which was conceived by the Incas to be a 'Tambo', a city of rest and accommodation for long distance travellers.

After the tour, you’ll be driven to Ollanta Station to board a train to Aguas Calientes, the gateway town to Machu Picchu, where you will spend the night.

Included: Breakfast, transfers, tour, train, hotel               

Day 6: Machu Picchu

After breakfast, you’ll take a short bus ride up to the entrance of Machu Picchu. Machu Picchu means 'Old Mountain' and is one of the New Seven Wonders of the World. You’ll have a guided tour and time to explore the ruins independently this morning.

At the end of the tour, hop on the bus back to Aguas Calientes, where we’ve included lunch at Café Inkaterra. In the afternoon, make your way back to Aguas Calientes train station to take your train back to Ollanta station, from where you will be collected and driven back to your hotel in Cusco.

Included: Breakfast, return bus ticket, entrance and guided tour of Machu Picchu, lunch, train, transfer, hotel   

Day 7: Cusco city tour

Today after breakfast, you’ll be collected for a guided tour of this spectacular historic city. You will visit the main sights and also Sacsayhuaman ruins just on the outskirts of Cusco. Every year on the 24^th of June the famous Inti Raymi festival takes place here, recreating the ancient Incan tradition of worshipping and celebrating the sun.

Included: Breakfast, city tour, hotel       

Day 8: Fly to Foz do Iguacu

Today you’ll be driven to Cusco airport to catch a flight to Foz do Iguacu (via Lima). Once you land in Brazil, you’ll be met and taken to your hotel.

Included: Breakfast, transfers, international flight, hotel

Day 9: Tour of the Argentinean side of Iguazu falls      

After breakfast, you’ll meet your guide who will drive you to the Argentinean entrance of the Iguazu National Park and take you for a walk along the edge of the falls. The walk talks around 4 or 5 hours and you’ll witness the power and majesty of the thundering falls from up close. You’ll eventually come to Garganta del Diablo, (the Devil’s Throat) where you can experience the sensation of standing right above the falls! 

Included: Breakfast, transfers, guided tour, hotel            

Day 10: Tour of the Brazilian side of the falls    

Today you have an opportunity to appreciate the falls from a completely different perspective and another country! After breakfast, you will be picked up by your guide and taken for a tour of the Brazilian side of the falls. Today’s walk is around 2 hours and will give you a more distanced, panoramic view of the falls.

Included: Breakfast, transfers, guided tour, hotel            

Day 11: Fly to Rio de Janeiro

After breakfast, you will be driven back to the airport for your flight to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. When you land, you’ll be met and taken to your hotel on Copacabana beach.

Included: Breakfast, transfers, domestic flight, hotel      

Day 12: ‘Four Wonders’ jeep tour of Rio de Janeiro

Enjoy breakfast at the hotel followed by a day packed full of beautiful sights and fun – as we’ve included an open-top jeep Rio city tour, to four of the main attractions. You’ll visit the lush Tijuca forest, the botanical gardens, take a cable car up Sugarloaf Mountain and the most iconic of them all, Corcovado Mountain to stand at the feet of the statue of Christ the Redeemer. Lunch is also included at a typical Brazilian restaurant.      

Included: Breakfast, tour with entrance fees, lunch, hotel            

Days 13 & 14: Days at leisure

We’ve include a few free days for you to make the most of this buzzing city. However, you choose to explore, be sure to unwind with a Caipirinha whilst soaking up the famous Brazilian sunshine on Copacabana or Ipanema beaches!           

Included: Breakfast, hotel          

Day 15: Depart Rio 

After breakfast, you will be driven to the airport for your flight back home.

Included: Breakfast, transfer, international flight           

Day 16: Arrive UK    

Land back in the UK.

Why not add in a stopover?