• An expert Travel Director and professional Driver
• Cherry-picked hotels, all tried and trusted
• All porterage and restaurant gratuities
• All hotel tips, charges and local taxes
• Breakfast daily and up to half of your evening meals
• Must-see sightseeing and surprise extras
• Audio headsets for flexible sightseeing
• Luxury air-conditioned coach with Wi-Fi in most countries or alternative transportation (such as rail journeys)
• Tickets for a ride aboard the Vistadome train to Machu Picchu
• A Trafalgar bonus all Intra-Air Flights: Rio de Janeiro to Iguassu, Iguassu to Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires to Lima, Lima to Cusco and Cusco to Lima, including porter service at all airports
• Optional Experiences and free time
• On occasion, hotels of similar standard and location may be utilised.

Itinerary

Day 1 | Welcome to Rio de Janeiro
Immerse yourself in the tropical allure of Rio de Janeiro – your launch pad to a South American exploration of capital cities and ancient cultures. Meet your local host on arrival and transfer to your hotel offering superb views of Copacabana Beach. This evening, we’ll join our Travel Director and fellow travellers for a festive dinner. Meals: Dinner Hotel: Windsor Excelsior Copacabana

Day 2 | Enjoy Rio de Janeiro and Sugarloaf Mountain
Ease into your morning Rio-style before joining your Travel Director to delve into the captivating contrasts of Brazil’s cidade maravilhosa (marvellous city). See the 18 -century Carioca Aqueduct, the colonial Candelaria church and the home of the Rio Carnival, the Sanbodromo. Ascend Sugarloaf Mountain via cable car for a ‘pinch me moment’ of inspiring bay and city views. Enjoy a free evening. Meals: Breakfast Hotel: Windsor Excelsior Copacabana

OPTIONAL EXPERIENCES:

Santa Teresa including Selarón Steps – Drive to the charming Santa Teresa hilltop neighbourhood. Walk around the winding narrow streets filled with colourful buildings, artists, and a bohemian ambiance. Pass by the “Largo das Neves” plaza and the “Nossa Senhora das Neves” Church. Then, walk towards the municipal park “Parque das Ruínas” where you can see an old historic mansion with art exhibitions and spectacular views of Rio and Guanabara Bay. End your tour at one of the city’s top attractions: the Selarón Steps. Made by Jorge Selarón, the 215 colourful steps are covered in bright ceramic mosaics. Adult: 40.00 USD

Ginga Tropical Show – Ginga Tropical celebrates the diversity and culture of the Northeast, Amazon, Pampas, Bahia and Rio De Janeiro though music and dance. Bohemian culture, folklore and mystical rituals are represented by the drummers and beautiful dancers dressed with carnival costumes. Adult: 125.00 USD

Day 3 | Uncover the Sights and Flavours of Rio de Janeiro
The iconic Christ the Redeemer beckons this morning as we journey by cogwheel train to the summit of Corcovado for impressive panoramic views. Returning to the city, we visit the shores of Copacabana and Ipanema, spending the rest of the day at leisure to watch Rio’s beautiful people living life to the fullest. This evening, learn how to mix the perfect caipirinha, then indulge in a sizzling Regional Dinner barbecue at a local churrascaria. Meals: Breakfast, Dinner Hotel: Windsor Excelsior Copacabana

Day 4 | Experience the Rhythms of Rio de Janeiro and off to Iguassu Falls
Journey into some of South America’s most beautiful natural landscapes taking a flight from Rio to Iguassu Falls, the UNESCO-listed magnificent falls that straddle the borders of Brazil, Argentina and Paraguay. Explore the Brazilian side of Iguassu Falls, ‘Big Waters’, in Iguassu National Park with a Local Specialist. Hike to the cascading falls through giant clouds and sprays of water feeling refreshed in the humidity. You’ll learn that while hot and humid, this lush micro-climate supports diverse fauna in its subtropical rainforest of over 2,000 species of vascular plants. Conclude your day crossing the border to Argentina to your hotel. Meals: Breakfast Hotel: Hotel Mercure

Day 5 | Iguassu National Park Argentinian side with local specialist
Get a different perspective of grandeur on the Argentinian side of the falls at the Devil’s throat. Your MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience finds you paying a visit to the Guarani community of Fortín M’bororé who open their doors to reveal the secrets of the jungle, their natural medicine, culture, songs, dances, crafts, philosophy and beliefs. Discover with the Guarani the “Spirit of the Trees”, a walk where you learn to walk through the interior of the Jungle guided by aboriginal experts. This afternoon, join an optional experience on Gran Aventura boat tour or an Argentinean experience learning about Argentine culture, tasting local dishes in a fivecourse dinner, sampling four Argentinean wines and mingling with travellers from around the world. Meals: Breakfast Hotel: Hotel Mercure

OPTIONAL EXPERIENCES:

Gran Aventura – Departing from the Operative Center or from the Visitors’ Center, we shall enter the jungle by the Yacaratiá trail in trucks specially designed for this environment. Bilingual guides (Spanish and English) will introduce the place’s natural and cultural resources. This 5 kms long stretch ends at Puerto Macuco. At its dock, visitors shall board on the boats that shall be sailing in the Lower Iguazu River for as long as 6 kms, heading towards the waterfalls area, enjoying plentiful rapids.Upon reaching the Tres Mosqueteros Fall, visitors shall be able to see the falls of both the Argentine and Brazilian sides crowned by the view of the Garganta del Diablo (Devil’s Throat). Afterwards, the most exciting point comes when facing the incomparable San Martín waterfall, the second in dimension and the hugest any boat may face. After that we’ll navigate 6km down river until Puerto Macuco from where, after walking up hill 150 mts we’ll ride the trucks 6Km back to our Operative Center. Adult: 110.00 USD

The Argentine Experience – Learn about Argentine culture, taste fantastic local dishes, drink exceptional wine, and mingle with fellow travelers from around the world, in a fun setting. Get a taste of the best local cuisine. Savour a 5-course dinner, paired with four exceptional wines from all the regions from Argentina. Adult: 65.00 USD

Day 6 | Iguassu Falls – Buenos Aires
Take a flight from Iguassu Falls to Buenos Aires, the capital of Argentina. Check into your hotel located in the heart of the cultural center at the historic Plaza San Martin and, with the rest of the day free, perhaps take a stroll around this upscale part of the city. Meals: Breakfast Hotel: Alvear Art Hotel

Day 7 | Buenos Aires Sightseeing and at Leisure
Leave Buenos Aires to San Antonio de Areco, the heart of the gaucho traditions in the pampas region, for a tour along its quaint streets lined with silversmiths. Take part in a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience visiting a local project of the Local Association for disabled people who are keeping up the tradition of making the alpargatas shoes. Appreciate more artisans paying a visit to a local artist’s studio observing how masterpieces are created. Cap off your day with a Be My Guest Experience, complete with sizzling asado steak, at a family-owned gaucho ranch where your watch cowboys show off the horsemanship accompanied by music and dance. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch Hotel: Alvear Art Hotel

OPTIONAL EXPERIENCES:

Journey to Tigre Delta – Head to the northern outskirts of Buenos Aires to the lush countryside of the Tigre Delta on this outing. This area is a popular weekend getaway for Buenos Aires residents. The delta features pretty scenery, lovely summer residences, relaxing vibe, yachting and a chance to see another way of Argentine life.  Adult: 118.00 USD

Wine Tasting – Leave your hotel and drive to “El Querandi”, a big house located in the historical district and considered a living testimony of the city. It was originally founded as a bar in 1920 and it was restored in 1992. “La Cave”, experience a wine tasting with local wines and their exquisite flavours. Adult: 50.00 USD

Day 8 | Buenos Aires Your Way Take

in the sights of Buenos Aires on a City Tour to the pink palace, cathedral and La Boca neighborhood. The rest of the day is free for you to relax and explore this exciting city on your own or join one of our tempting optionals. Head to the northern outskirts of Buenos Aires to the lush countryside of the Tigre Delta, a popular weekend getaway of scenery, summer residences, yachting and a chance to see another way of Argentine life. Or venture on a wine tasting trip to “El Querandi,” a big house located in the historical district and considered a living testimony of the city originally founded as a bar in 1920. This evening enjoy the passionate fiery and precise steps of some of Buenos Aires most talented tango dancers. Meals: Breakfast, Dinner Hotel: Alvear Art Hotel

OPTIONAL EXPERIENCES:
Wine Tasting – Leave your hotel and drive to “El Querandi”, a big house located in the historical district and considered a living testimony of the city. It was originally founded as a bar in 1920 and it was restored in 1992. “La Cave”, experience a wine tasting with local wines and their exquisite flavours. Adult: 50.00 USD

Journey to Tigre Delta – Head to the northern outskirts of Buenos Aires to the lush countryside of the Tigre Delta on this outing. This area is a popular weekend getaway for Buenos Aires residents. The delta features pretty scenery, lovely summer residences, relaxing vibe, yachting and a chance to see another way of Argentine life.  Adult: 118.00 USD

Day 9 | Venture to Lima, the City of Kings

The capital of the New World extends a warm welcome on your epic voyage through the iconic and unexpected highlights of Peru. Meet your local host on arrival and transfer to your hotel in the upscale shopping district of Miraflores. This evening, you’ll join your Travel Director and fellow travellers for dinner at 6 p.m. Meals: Breakfast, Dinner Hotel: Iberostar Hotel Lima

Day 10 | Savour the Flavours of Lima

Francisco Pizarro’s ‘City of Kings’ is ours to explore this morning as we discover the colonial heritage of Lima’s UNESCO-listed Historic Centre with our Local Specialist. Admire the ornate baroque façades of the Church of San Francisco and discover its hidden catacombs. Celebrate Lima’s status as the culinary capital of South America next, and meet Ignacio Barrios who has worked alongside many of Peru’s most award-winning chefs. Visit a local market where Ignacio will explain how Peruvian fruits, vegetables, seafood and meats are the basis of Peruvian cooking. Then continue to his cooking school where you’ll Connect With Locals and enjoy a demonstration on how to prepare some of Peru’s most popular dishes. You’ll have an opportunity to sample some of these at a Be My Guest experience lunch before spending the rest of the day at leisure. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch Hotel: Iberostar Hotel Lima

OPTIONAL EXPERIENCES:

Experience The Magic Circuit Of The Water – The Magic Water Circuit is the world’s largest fountain complex of beautiful interactive fountains featuring swaying water, coloured lights and lasers dancing with the music. The first fountain to welcome you, known as the Magic Fountain, forces water to a height of more than 250 feet (80 meters). Adult: 42.00 USD

Walking Tour of Miraflores – Miraflores is arguably the most lively district of Lima. From your hotel, take a walking tour with a local expert towards the Boardwalk of Miraflores, a cliff overtowering the ocean at around 130ft altitude, before walking by the popular shopping centre Larcomar and on towards the Kennedy Park, the heart of Miraflores. Your local expert will not only talk more about the district and its history, but will also explain more about Lima’s and Peru’s history and more importantly, the everyday life of the limeños. End this tour either at Kennedy Park for additional exploration on your own, or a lovely dinner at one of the restaurants in “Pasaje de Ramón”, or walk with the guide back to your hotel. Adult: 29.00 USD

Day 11 | Admire the Local Culture of Cusco and Sacred Valley
Board a morning flight to Cusco and the Sacred Valley. MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® when you visit Manos de la Comunidad, a Weaving Centre where you’ll uncover the traditions of the Sacred Valley, called “lindaje”. Then continue to a former 18th century colonial-style monastery, our hotel for the night. MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® and learn more about the artisan traditions meeting Nilda Callañaupa Alvarez, a master Quechua weaver and the first person from her village to attend university. She has been an ambassador for Andean traditions since she began learning ancient preColumbian weaving techniques as a young girl in the 1960s. MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience as your visit helps to preserve and promote traditional pre-Columbian weaving techniques in the 21st century. Meals: Breakfast, Lunch Hotel: Sonesta Posadas del Inca Yucay

Day 12 | Journey to Machu Picchu
The Sacred Valley reveals its mysteries today as we encounter the remains of the mighty Inca empire. Our first stop this morning is the famous Inca hilltop fortress, Ollantaytambo, built from massive blocks of stone. We board the Vistadome train (light snack included) for our epic journey to the UNESCO-listed Machu Picchu, where a Local Specialist will lead us through the ruins of this once-great fortress. Explore the iconic great Temple of the Sun, the House of the Priest, the Sacred Plaza and the Intihuatana, an intricately carved rock most likely used as a sundial centuries ago. Tonight, we’ll dine at our hotel. Meals: Breakfast, Dinner Hotel: El MaPi

Day 13 | Continue in Machu Picchu then Return to Cusco

We return to Machu Picchu this morning with an opportunity to explore this mythical fortress on our own terms. Then it’s off to Cusco, stopping en route at a local chicheria for a taste of chicha. Dive Into Culture and learn how this Peruvian corn beer is made by local women. Meals: Breakfast Hotel: Novotel Cusco

Day 14 | Step Back in Time in Cusco
Embark on a sightseeing tour of the sacred city of Cusco this morning with your Local Specialist, admiring the 16th century Spanish colonial buildings that stand on the foundations of former Inca temples and palaces. See the baroque Cathedral on the Plaza de Armas and 17th-century Church of Santo Domingo. Visit the ruins of the Sacsayhuaman fortress and see nearby warehouses where the Incas once stored their grain. The afternoon is free to explore on your terms. Meals: Breakfast Hotel: Novotel Cusco

OPTIONAL EXPERIENCES:

Moray and Maras – Explore ancient history and living traditions on a visit to the UNESCO World Heritage Maras Salt Mine. Discover how salt from this region where the Incas once harvested salt is now exported to the entire world. Unlock the secrets of how the Incas found a water stream with high salt content and learned – in Pre-Incan times – how to build terraces to extract salt. You’ll love learning how the same technique is still used today and getting to see the local families who own the different salt pans work on site. It’s an incredible way to connect with the community who then sells all things salt including salt cooking salt mixes, pure pink salt, chocolate with salt and bathing salts. Then head northwest of Cusco, visit the Moray Incan laboratory to unlock how the Incas determined the ideal altitude to grow crops in the Sacred Valley. You’ll love learning how this ancient culture learned how to build these round terraces on a high plateau and experimented with different kinds of soils and temperatures to grow their crops. Adult: 80.00 USD

Cusco After Dark – Experience Cusco like never before! During your walking tour through the streets of the ancient city, you will learn its darkest secrets. Stories only locals know about and are shared exclusively in this experience. Go beyond the usual city tour in Cusco, and learn something you can drop as an exclusive inside story at your next gathering with friends and family. To add to the experience, this tour is offered during sunset (5 am) or after dark (starting at 6 pm) only. Adult: 37.00 USD

Cusco – Off the Beaten Track – Start your visit with the oldest Cemetery of Cusco, Cementerio General de la Almudena. Your guide will not only explain burial rites, but also relate personal stories, and most of all, stories about the citizens of Cusco buried here. From funny stories to tragic ones, what is guaranteed is that you will learn a lot of stories to tell! After that, you will walk through Coripata neighbourhood back to Plaza de Armas in Cusco. On the way, you will get a glimpse into Cusco and how it is rarely seen through the eyes of a tourist. You will see tiny stores that sell everything from tombstones to everyday goods, and hear stories about the neighbourhood and how life in Cusco works for the Cuzqueños. You will also learn more about Cusco’s history, and how it evolved from the Capital of the Incas to what it is today. Adult: 46.00 USD

Visit and Workshop at Choco Museum – Visit the Choco Museum where you will learn the Peruvian chocolate making process from the cacao bean to the chocolate bar. You will participate in making the chocolate and experience the true feeling of a chocolate maker. Adult: 47.00 USD

Day 15 | Onward to Lima
A leisurely start to our day sees us return to Lima late this morning. Enjoy an afternoon at leisure, join your Local Specialist at the Larco Museum for an evening exploration of its collection of preColumbian art. We’ll indulge in a memorable Farewell Dinner in the museum’s garden. Meals: Breakfast, Dinner Hotel: Iberostar Hotel Lima

Day 16 | Farewell Lima
Say hasta luego to Lima and transfer to the airport for your flight home or extend your stay in Lima. Meals: Breakfast