We’ll commence on the coast of Brazil at the world’s most famous beach city, to the equator in the Andes, from one coast to another, this is an epic adventure if ever there was one! We’ll take you to the Pantanal wetlands, Iguazu Falls and across the Chaco of northern Argentina, through the ancient Inca Empire and into the world’s largest rainforest. From the Atlantic to the Pacific, Panama hats and pristine peaks, you’ll be immersed in the Latino way of life every step of the way.
Day 1 to 2 - Rio de Janiero
Day 1 is simply an arrival day with no pre-organised activities, so you will have free time to relax and see some of the sights. We arrive in Rio de Janeiro, one of the most beautiful cities in the world. You can take a trip up to Sugar Loaf Mountain and Corcovado with its famous Statue of Christ – both of which offer great city views, visit to the Botanical Gardens or the famous beaches of Copacabana, Ipanema and Leblon. And of course, if you are in Rio around February/March time, get ready for the world's biggest party, THE RIO CARNIVAL!
Please Note that the 4 nights during Rio Carnival are not included in the tour price and it is essential to pre-book accommodation if you wish to stay in Tucan Travel accommodation for the Carnival. Please see our brochure or the ‘Useful Information’ section of our website for important booking info and prices.
Day 4 to 5 - Parati – free camping Campo Grande
A short four hour drive down the coast to Parati, an awesome little colonial town. Vehicles are banned from entering the town centre leaving the cobbled streets traffic free and peaceful. Parati was a major port for the exportation of gold and coffee during the 17th and 19th centuries respectively and recommended excursions include a sailing schooner cruise around the bays, rainforest treks and walking the gold trail. Moving on we make our way westbound free camping en route as we travel across the rolling hills of Southern Brazil passing the modern city of Campo Grande.
Day 6 to 7 - Pantanal
Our next stop is the Pantanal Wildlife Reserve, a massive wetland of 230,000 square kilometres. One of the unusual things about the Pantanal is that there are also many farms in the area and the animals from these farms live quite comfortably with the other wildlife in the region. Wild animals include approximately 650 species of birds, capybara, howler monkeys, pumas, jaguars, ocelots, coatis, yellow anacondas, marsh deer, caiman, tapir and many more. The Pantanal is excellent for wildlife spotting as the region is more open and flat than a jungle setting. Please note the Tucan Travel vehicle will go to the Pantanal, if you choose not to do this excursion then Tucan Travel will pay for your transport to the next destination, however accommodation and food will be at your own cost.
Day 8 to 10 - Bonito
Next we reach Bonito where we have plenty of time to enjoy its waterfalls, caves and rivers. A variety of activities are available which include cave and river snorkelling, rafting, rainforest walks and wildlife spotting.
Day 11 to 14 - Foz do Iguacu
From here we drive to Foz do Iguaçu (Iguazu Falls), where some 275 waterfalls cascade over a two and a half kilometre wide cliff face. We spend the next 3-4 nights here and there is plenty to do. You can visit both sides of the falls; on the Brazilian side there are panoramic views of the numerous waterfalls and on the Argentine side you can walk through rainforest and along catwalks directly above the falls. On the Argentine side you’ll also find the famous "Devil's Throat" where fourteen falls drop with such force that there is always a massive cloud of spray overhead.
For a bird’s eye view over the entire falls you can take an optional scenic helicopter ride. There is also an excellent bird park nearby and you can visit the world’s largest hydroelectric dam at Itaipu. If you want to do a bit of country counting, then you can pop into neighbouring Paraguay by public bus (you don’t even have to get your passport stamped) for a bit of shopping in Ciudad del Esté.
Day 15 to 16 - San Ignacio (Argentina) – free camping
Heading south we cross over into Argentina and stop over at San Ignacio Mini where there are some of the best kept Jesuit ruins in the region. As we follow the River Paraná we reach the Chaco, a mixture of savannah and marshlands teeming with wildlife. We will hopefully spot lots of wildlife and the odd gaucho (Argentine cowboy). Continuing on we free-camp en route to the striking city of Salta in the Lerma Valley, established in 1582.
Day 17 to 19 - Salta – free camping
Salta has many old colonial buildings, a cathedral with ancient statues of Cristo del Milagro (Miracle of Christ) and the Virgin Mary, which were brought over from Spain in 1592. Some spectacular scenery awaits us as we head north through Argentina in the form of an arid landscape of giant cacti and unusual rock coloration in the Humahuaca Canyon.
Day 20 to 22 - Uyuni (Bolivia)
Winding our way along the dusty roads of Bolivia, some of the worst in South America, passing through Villazon and Tupiza. Reaching the desolate town of Uyuni, in the south of Bolivia, we visit what is claimed to be the largest salt flat in the world, the brilliant white vast Salar de Uyuni. There is an opportunity to take an excursion to Fish Island where there are great views of the surrounding lake and giant cacti provide perfect photo opportunities. The fantastic contrast of the brilliant blue sky (weather permitting of course) and the pure white of the salt flats will take your breath away.
Day 23 to 25 - Potosi – free camping
Our next stop is Potosí (4,070 metres), the highest city of its size on earth with a population of 110,000. The city was established in 1545 soon after the discovery of a rich vein of silver in a nearby hill, the Cerro Rico (or “rich hill”). Silver from Potosí underwrote the Spanish economy, particularly the monarchy's extravagance, for over two centuries. Millions of Indians, and later, African slaves, worked in the mines where conditions were so appalling and dangerous that miners died in astronomical numbers, either in accidents or from silicosis pneumonia. You have the chance to visit one of the mines (Optional) where you can see first hand how rough the working conditions were and still are! From here we travel across the Altiplano on our way to La Paz.
Day 26 to 28 - La Paz
La Paz is built in the basin of a spectacular ancient crater caused by a meteorite, with the snow-capped Mount Illimani in the background. The city has colourful Indian street markets including the ‘witches market’ where women in flared skirts sell, amongst other things, dead cats and llama foetuses which are placed under new buildings to keep evil spirits away. The main square, Plaza Murillo, is where many years ago a president of the republic was lynched from a lamppost. La Paz is one of the best places to see a traditional peña show of Andean music and dance where local musicians play their time-honoured instruments such as zampoñas (pipes) and charangos (ukulele).
There are heaps of optional excursions available in La Paz.
Check out the Moon Valley with its strange rock formations shaped by the weather or take in the incredible views from Mount Chacaltaya and the world's highest ski resort at 5,221metres. Another fantastic excursion is to Coroico, the gateway to the Bolivian jungle region and a great place to see sub-tropical vegetation and plants. En-route you will cross a 5,000 metre high pass before descending to 1,300 metres on narrow mountain roads bordered by sheer drops. The excursion to Coroico can also be done by mountain bike, as it is downhill nearly all the way and very exhilarating, but not for the fainthearted!
Day 29 to 32 - Puno (Peru)
Continuing across the Altiplano (high plane) and crossing into Peru we stop at the border town of Desaguadero where we will change money. From here we drive around the southern end of Lake Titicaca which, at 3,855 metres above sea level, is the highest navigable lake in the world. Driving onto Puno we hope to arrive in time to visit the colourful markets. From here you have the chance to take an excursion to the islands of Amantaní and Taquile. On Amantaní we arrange homestay accommodation with the native Quechua Indian families and you will have the chance to eat with the family, perhaps enjoy a party and dancing and maybe play soccer with the local children! The next morning you’ll visit Taquile Island where the people live in simple adobe huts and the men knit colourful hats. You will also visit the floating reed islands in the Bay of Puno, to see the Uros Indians’ way of life and ride in a traditional reed boat before continuing back to Puno.
Day 33 to 35 - Cuzco
We leave Puno and travel via the Sillustani ruins where you will have the option to visit these ancient burial towers and the fascinating little museum. Leaving Sillustani we drive along roads bordered by herds of llamas, alpacas and vicuñas. Our journey takes us past hot mineral pools, snow-capped mountains, through villages where the Indians sell food, fur hats and alpaca sweaters and over the La Raya Pass at 4,321 metres.
It gradually becomes greener as we get closer to the former Inca capital of Cuzco, which means ‘navel of the earth’ in the Inca language of Quechua. This enchanting city has a mostly indigenous population of around 275,000 and is centred around the Plaza de Armas, which is dominated by the Cathedral and La Compañia de Jesus Church. Nowadays Cuzco is also legendary for its party atmosphere and brilliant nightlife and is jam-packed with arcades housing many fine restaurants, bars and shops. For people wanting the challenge of the 4 day Inca Trail Trek there will be a briefing in which your local guide will chat about the arrangements for the next few days.
We have a full day trip through the Sacred Valley of the Incas (Optional - at additional cost) and if you’ve purchased your full Cuzco visitor’s ticket previously then you’ll be able to visit the Pisac ruins perched on a hill high in the mountains and the famous Indian market of the same name, in the valley below (that’s free). This is a great place to buy textiles, pottery and jewellery, not to mention the delicious empanadas (pasties) at the famous bakery. After spending time at both, we move down the valley to the temple fortress of Ollantaytambo, with its enormous terraces climbing up the hillside (you’ll need your visitor’s ticket again). If you are trekking the Inca Trail you will spend the night here at one of the little hostels in preparation for the next four days.
Day 36 to 40 - Inca Trail or free time in Cuzco
THE INCA TRAIL
Please see the brochure or the ‘Useful Information’ section of our website for important booking regulations and prices. You may not be able to complete the trek if you do not read this information. For more details about the trail facilities, equipment, preparation etc. please ask your agent for an ‘Inca Trail Info Sheet’. If you are trekking the alternative Lares Trek you should ask for a ‘Lares Trek Info Sheet’. Both documents are available to download from our website.
If you are not hiking the Inca Trail, you will return to Cuzco where there are many other options available including an overnight trip by train to Machu Picchu, white water rafting, horse riding, mountain biking, canoeing, jungle excursions, shopping (make sure you bargain!) and sightseeing etc.
If you have chosen to hike the Inca Trail you will cross spectacular passes and visit more Inca ruins en-route to the Lost City of the Incas, Machu Picchu. A local guide will lead this expedition and there will be cooks and porters to carry the main equipment, leaving you with just a small daypack. The trek begins after a short bus journey and the first day is a relatively easy 4½ hour 10km walk which will get you limbered up for the highest pass at Warmiwañusca (4,200m) which you will reach before lunchtime on Day 2 (and which translates to “Dead Woman’s Pass”!). During Day 2 you will cover approximately 12km in about 7 hours and after the high pass it’s all down hill as the trail winds its way along old Inca stairs to our campsite. On Day 3 we pass the ruins of Sayacmarca and Phuyupatamarca, walking approximately 15km in 7 hours. The last morning, after an overnight stop at Wiñay-Wayna, you will rise early for the final walk to Machu Picchu and greet daybreak over the famous “Sun Gate”. There will then be time to explore on your own or simply take in the magnificence of the place before your guided tour. The ruins were only discovered by the outside world in 1911, when American explorer Hiram Bingham found them while looking for another “lost city” called Vilcabamba. Due to their isolation many of the buildings are still quite intact and you can’t help but admire Huayna Picchu (“Young Mountain”), which towers above the ruins. It is a hard climb to the top of the mountain (it takes about 50 minutes) but you are rewarded with spectacular views over the whole site. After spending most of the day at Machu Picchu you have the chance to soak your tired muscles in the hot springs at Aguas Calientes or meander through the markets before returning to Cuzco by train.
Day 41 to 42 - Cuzco
Making the most of your last free time in Cuzco you can explore its amazing churches, colonial buildings and picturesque streets, most of which have Inca walls, arches and doorways.
Day 43 to 45 - Arequipa Puerto Inca
We drive down into the foothills of the Andes, to the start of the desert and the city of Arequipa, located 2,380 metres above sea level and dominated by the conical snow-capped El Misti Volcano. Here the attractions include the Plaza de Armas, one of South America’s most charming main squares and the Santa Catalina Convent, which is like a walled colonial town dating back more than 400 years. Shrouded with mystery, the convent’s 450 nuns lived in complete seclusion until 1970.
From Arequipa you have the option to visit the Colca Canyon, which is twice as deep as the Grand Canyon, making it the world’s deepest. From the lookout point at Cruz del Condor you can see the river flowing 1,200 metres below and you’ll have a very good chance of seeing condors as they soar out of the canyon on the hot thermal currents. Our base for visiting the canyon is the town of Chivay where we’ll also have time to soak in the nearby hot thermal pools.
Travelling back to the coast we visit Puerto Inca, the Inca's original fishing port, which was only rediscovered in the 1950’s. Here we camp by the beach just down from the actual ruins.
Day 46 to 49 - Nazca - Paracas
Continuing on we stop at the bizarre Chauchilla Cemetery where you’ll see ancient mummies that still have skin and hair intact after thousands of years. Travelling further inland, we reach Nazca, famous for the strange parallel lines and geometrical figures etched into the desert floor. Here you can take a flight in a light aircraft to see the ‘monkey’, ‘hummingbird’, ‘condor’, ‘spider’ and even what appears to be a spaceman. There are many more designs to be seen on this 30 minute flight but to this day, no-one knows why they are there! Continuing on, we stopover at Huacachina, a desert oasis surrounded by massive sand-dunes. Here you have the chance to take an awesome ride in dune-buggies or, for the even more courageous, sand boarding down the dunes is an unreal way to spend an hour or two.
An early start will take us to Paracas where there is the option to go by speedboat to explore the Ballestas Islands, passing the unusual ‘Candelabra’, a giant design carved into a desert hill, along the way. On and around these celebrated islands you’ll see thousands of sea lions plus many varieties of aquatic birds.
Day 50 to 52 - Lima
From Paracas we have a short drive into Lima, the capital of Peru. Lima was founded by the Spanish Conquistador Francisco Pizarro in 1535, after he eradicated the Incas and made the city his capital. Lima has many fine colonial buildings and some of the best museums in South America including the Gold Museum, Museum of the Inquisition and the Catacombs below the San Francisco Church. Peru’s capital has heaps to offer and many of the sights, including the city’s two main squares the Plaza de Armas and Plaza San Martin, are within easy walking distance.
Day 53 to 55 - Huaraz
After a couple of days in Lima, we head inland stopping over at the ruins of Paramonga as we make our way into the high Cordillera Blanca Mountains and the small town of Huaraz. Located close to Peru’s highest peak, Huascarán (6,768 metres) the town is renowned for its trekking, climbing and spectacular scenery. We have plenty of time to enjoy the beauty of this place.
Day 56 to 58 - Huanchaco - Punta Sal
Next we make our way to the small coastal town of Huanchaco. Huanchaco is renowned for great beachside seafood restaurants and the reed boats that the fishermen use to ride the huge surf, reputedly, the longest in the world. Huanchaco is also our base for those who want to check out Chan Chán, the largest mud-city in the world built by Chimú Kings and covering 26 square kilometres. The famous Pyramids of the Sun and Moon are also nearby. Leaving Huanchaco we pass through the attractive oasis town of Piura and the oil derricks in the Sechura Desert and camp at the beautiful beach of Punta Sal for three nights. We have two full days of sun, surf and relaxation - possibly a good time for a few chickens on a spit, if we can find some firewood!
Day 59 to 63 - Cuenca (Ecuador) - Banos
As we travel along the northern coast we pass through villages where fishermen work with their small hand nets. We cross the border into Ecuador over the International bridge into bustling, chaotic Huaquillas. Continuing into the mountains we reach the old colonial market city of Cuenca, Ecuador's third largest city, founded in 1557. Cuenca is where the Panama hat originated and you’ll have the opportunity to visit one of the factories. It is also the place to buy cheap, high quality gold and silver.
We travel onto Ingapirca, Ecuador’s most important Inca ruins which we’ll visit before carrying onto Baños; a health resort renowned for its hot thermal springs. Besides soaking in the hot pools, there are opportunities for walks or horse riding in the hills, or you can climb Mt. Tungurahua (if it is not erupting), a volcano in the nearby Sangay National Park.
Day 64 to 65 - Misahualli
Heading out of the Andes and along the edge of the rainforest we stop at the little community of Misahualli in the heart of the Amazon Basin. There is an option to take motorised dugout canoes downriver and enter the Amazon jungle on foot. The excursion is led by our local guide who will give details about the plants, creatures and people of the region. We stay overnight in rustic huts made of bamboo and leaves.
Day 66 to 68 - Otavalo
After Misahualli, we visit the famous Otavalo market north of Quito. It’s a wonderful place to shop for all kinds of handicrafts and to take really good photographs. The Otavalo Indians, who come from their villages to sell livestock, produce and textiles, are distinct in appearance – the men wear calf length white trousers and sandals and have their long hair braided, while the women wear white frilly blouses, black skirts and have gold coloured jewellery twirled around their necks.
Day 69 to 70 - Quito
Our last leg of this fantastic journey is a short drive into Quito, where the trip ends. We arrive in Quito around mid afternoon on day 170 so if you are departing on day 171 you will not have much time to explore the city. You may therefore wish to allow a few extra days in Quito at the end of your trip. At 2,850 metres above sea level, Quito is the second highest capital city in the world, after La Paz. It was founded in 1534 by the Spanish and was originally an Inca stronghold. It is situated in a hollow at the base of the live Volcano Pichincha and the whole length of the city can be seen from atop Panecillo Hill where the enormous Statue of the Virgin of Quito stands. The city has two main sections – the old and the new. The new is the main commercial area with lots of good restaurants and bars, whereas the old city is the colonial area with steep calles (cobblestone streets), busy plazas and Indian markets.
