Best of South America with Amazon and Galapagos Cruises

Dive into the heart of Chile, Argentina, Brazil and Peru. Explore the Peruvian Amazon rainforest, sail through the Galapagos Islands and be awestruck by Iguazu Falls, the Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu. Plus, enjoy stays in Santiago, Buenos Aires, Rio, Cusco and Lima.

Itinerary

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Day 1: Arrive Santiago

Welcome to Santiago. We’ll meet you on arrival and transfer you to your hotel. Then, set off on a guided discovery of Chile’s capital, wedged between the snow-capped Andes mountains and the Pacific Ocean. Tonight, join a welcome reception.

Day 2: Santiago

Travel to the coastal city of Valparaiso, where you’ll find colourful cliffside houses sloping down to the sea. Known to Chileans as the ‘Jewel of the Pacific,’ the city is an eclectic, sometimes chaotic mix of art, culture and commerce. Enjoy a Signature Experience before relaxing over lunch and then returning to Santiago.

Day 3: Santiago, Buenos Aires

Fly to Buenos Aires, Argentina’s elegant capital. On arrival, we’ll transfer you to your hotel in the city’s prominent Recoleta district. Home to some of Argentina’s wealthiest families, Recoleta is a leafy neighbourhood dotted with beautiful parks and grand mansions just north of the city centre.

Day 4: Buenos Aires

Join a guided discovery of the city, which includes the Italian-influenced barrio of La Boca, a neighbourhood known for its Latino vibe and brightly painted pedestrian streets. Explore the bohemian district of Palermo, filled with trendy eateries and galleries, before arriving at La Recoleta Cemetery. This is the resting place of Argentine notables such as the nation’s former First Lady Eva Peron.

Day 5: Buenos Aires

Design your day one of three ways with Freedom of Choice.

Day 6: Buenos Aires, Iguazu Falls

This morning, fly to Iguazu Falls. This natural wonder straddles the Argentina-Brazil border. Arriving on the Argentinian side, set off on the Rainforest Ecological Train to a series of walkways and viewing points, including one to the 80-metre-deep Devil’s Throat. Then continue to your hotel for a Signature Experience.

Day 7: Iguazu Falls

Spanning an area of some 2.7 kilometres, Iguazu Falls is made up of roughly 275 waterfalls waiting to be explored today. Soak up panoramic views of the falls with a leisurely walk between each of the viewing platforms. Later, see the falls from an entirely different perspective on a Freedom of Choice activity.

Day 8: Rio de Janeiro

Begin your day with a visit to Parque das Aves bird sanctuary where you’ll see a spectacular array of colourful native South American birds. Later, fly to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil’s most visited and naturally blessed city, set between lush forest mountains and sandy shores. On arrival, we’ll meet and transfer you to the elegant art deco grandeur of your hotel opposite the golden sands of iconic Copacabana Beach.

Day 9: Rio de Janeiro

See Rio from above with a visit to Corcovado, the mountain famed for its Christ the Redeemer statue, the world’s largest art deco sculpture. From here, enjoy sweeping city views. Towards evening, board a cable car to the summit of Sugarloaf Mountain to toast the sunset and incredible views with a drink. Tonight, dine at a local restaurant for Brazil’s famously delicious barbecue fare.

Day 10: Rio de Janeiro

Today, join a Freedom of Choice activity to experience more of Rio.

Day 11: Rio de Janeiro, Lima

Enjoy a leisurely morning before lunch at Confeitaria Colombo, an ornate coffee house considered one of the most beautiful cafes in the world and an iconic landmark of downtown Rio. Afterwards, we’ll transfer you to the airport for your included flight to Lima. In Lima, we’ll meet and transfer you to your hotel.

Day 12: Lima

Discover the Peruvian capital’s World Heritage-listed historic centre with an expert guide today. Afterwards enjoy a Signature Experience at a private hacienda.

Day 13: Lima, Sacred Valley

After breakfast today, we’ll transfer you to the airport for your included flight to Cusco, the pre-Columbian Inca capital of Peru. From here, travel to Chinchero, a small village in the Sacred Valley, tucked into the Andean highlands. Enjoy a special welcome from the local Misminay community followed by today’s Signature Experience, which demonstrates a craft passed down through generations.

Day 14: Sacred Valley, Maras, Moray

Continue exploring the Sacred Valley with a guide, including today’s Signature Experience exploring the stunning landscapes of the Salineras de Maras. Then enjoy lunch overlooking the Andes and Huaypo Lagoon.

Day 15: Sacred Valley, Machu Picchu

Today is set aside for a full immersion in the natural setting and incredible heritage of Machu Picchu. Board Inca Rail’s First Class Train for your Signature Experience. On arrival, set off on a locally guided exploration of the lost city of the Incas, one of the New Seven Wonders of the World. An eight-hour hike to Machu Picchu is also available at an additional coast (must be pre-booked).

Day 16: Machu Picchu, Cusco

This morning, relax at your hotel and perhaps join a culinary demonstration to learn the secrets of South American cuisine. Board the 360° train for your return trip to the Sacred Valley. Here, transfer by coach to Cusco and settle into your hotel in the heart of this historic city.

Day 17: Cusco

A guided discovery of Cusco takes you to Plaza de Armas, a square at the city’s historic heart. You’ll also visit the sacred sites of Koricancha and Cusco Cathedral. This evening, dine on flavours of Peru at MAP Cafe, located in the central courtyard of the Museum of Pre-Columbian Art.

Day 18: Cusco, Lima, Iquitos, Amazon Cruise

Board an early flight via Lima to Iquitos, a city located on the banks of the Peruvian Amazon. Here, you’ll step aboard your boutique vessel and set off to discover the spectacular flora and fauna as you explore the Pacaya-Samiria National Reserve. Naturalist guides will reveal the secrets of the rainforest and its inhabitants; taking skiff boats to hidden corners of the river, trail walks through the lush vegetation, or on a gentle kayak in calm creeks. This afternoon, embark on a skiff exploration along the Maranon River and listen to the rhythmic sounds of the jungle as you settle in.

Day 19: Amazon Cruise

Spend the morning on the waters of the Samiria River on a skiff exploration. Travel on a stable and safe boat accompanied by an expert naturalist guide and learn about this part of the river.  After lunch, relax back on board before the afternoon’s excursions. During the low water season (June – October), ascend to the rainforest canopy on a suspended walkway, one of the longest treetop walks in the world, and enjoy a bird’s-eye view of the Amazon and its elevated ecosystem. In the high water season (November – May), embark on another fascinating skiff excursion or try your luck at piranha fishing.

Day 20: Amazon Cruise

Get even closer to the water on a kayaking trip in the calm waters of the Reserve at Yanayacu Pucate Then, search for more amazing creatures and vegetation, as your naturalist guide takes you deep into the rainforest on a jungle walk at Fundo Casual. Get an intimate view of the Amazon’s ecosystem and wildlife inhabiting this unique environment including frogs, snakes and insects.

Day 21: Amazon Cruise

Today you have the chance to fish for piranhas on the Yarapa River and discover other exotic animals who call the river home. As you cruise, watch for scarlet macaws, Amazonian parrotlets, iguanas and squirrel monkeys.

Day 22: Amazon Cruise, Lima

Your cruise ends with a transfer to Iquitos. On the way, stop off for a visit to the Rescue and Rehabilitation Center of River Mammals. Learn about the rescue work achieved by volunteers at the centre, then hear about manatees and feed these majestic, endangered animals. Finally, board your flight to Lima.

Day 23: Lima, Guayaquil

This morning fly from Lima to Guayaquil, the gateway to the Galapagos Islands. On arrival to Guayaquil, embark on a scenic tour of Ecuador’s second largest city, taking in its flagship sights. Guayaquil Heritage Cemetery is an infinite sea of opulent white marble statues and heavenly adornment, while Barrio Las Penas is a vivacious rainbow of colourfully decorated buildings. Parque Seminario is best known for its thriving population of friendly iguanas, who roam free-range and happily coexist with human visitors. Other key sights you will visit today include the neo-Gothic Metropolitan Cathedral, the expansive Malecon 2000 esplanade, majestic Administration Square and more.

Day 24: Guayaquil, Galapagos Islands

This morning, fly to Baltra Island, in the heart of the Galapagos Islands National Park. Take a small ferry ride across the channel to Santa Cruz Island. Explore the island’s highlands and learn about its unique ecosystems and biodiversity before enjoying lunch at a local restaurant. Afterwards, marvel at the archipelago’s famous giant tortoises in their natural habitat at a special reserve, which also features several lava tunnels. The tortoises are easy to spot, lumbering about, eating grass and leaves, and wallowing in small pools. The final stop for the day is Puerto Ayora, where you will board your floating home for the next four nights, La Pinta.

Day 25: Galapagos Islands

Explore Eden Islet off the coast of Santa Cruz this morning, where you will observe blue-footed boobies and reef sharks, and have the opportunity to snorkel and ride in a glass-bottom boat. Later in the day, discover the beautiful Sombrero Chino Islet and its resident white-tipped reef sharks and Galapagos penguins. The island’s crescent-shaped white sand beach offers excellent swimming and snorkelling.

Day 26: Galapagos Islands

This morning, visit the stunning and otherworldly Bartolome Island. A steep but rewarding climb up the Summit Trail offers panoramic vistas from the top. Following this, you may choose to enjoy a magical dinghy ride around the colossal Pinnacle Rock before relaxing on the beach, snorkelling in the paradisiacal waters or taking in the underwater ecosystem from a glass-bottom boat. After your included lunch on board, you have the option to travel by pangas to Sullivan Bay, and discover the remnants of a lava field that flowed to the bay less than a century ago. This is the perfect place to appreciate the volcanic origins of the Galapagos Islands and its unique ecosystems.

Day 27: Galapagos Islands

Enjoy another day exploring the islands by yacht on La Pinta. Today’s highlights include visits to Darwin Bay and Prince Philip’s Steps at Genovesa Island. Observe the fascinating marine and land birds at Darwin Bay and explore the bay’s volcanic geology. You will also have the opportunity to swim and snorkel in the beautiful and tranquil waters. This afternoon, on Genovesa Island, you might opt to ascend Prince Philip’s Steps and enjoy a captivating walk across the island to marvel at colonies of Nazca boobies, frigate birds, storm petrels and the elusive short-eared owl.

Day 28: Galapagos Islands, Guayaquil

This morning, bid farewell to La Pinta and make your way to Baltra Island airport for your return flight to Guayaquil. This evening, enjoy a farewell dinner.

Day 29: Depart Guayaquil

After breakfast, your South American adventure concludes with a transfer to the airport for your onward flight.