Itinerary
- Day 1
Rio de Janeiro
You'll arrive in Rio de Janeiro and check into your hotel overlooking Copacabana beach. The evening brings a welcome dinner with your Travel Director and fellow travelers, giving you a chance to meet everyone and settle in before exploring the city proper.
- Meals
- Dinner (Festive dinner with Travel Director and fellow travelers)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Windsor Excelsior Copacabana)
Landmarks Copacabana Beach 
- Day 2
Rio de Janeiro
Start your day riding a historic cable car up to Sugarloaf Mountain, stopping at Urca Hill along the way for broad views across Guanabara Bay toward Copacabana. After driving past the famous Ipanema and Copacabana beaches, your afternoon opens up for your own plans. If you're interested, you can head to the colorful Selarón Steps or catch an evening show at the Roxy Dinner Show.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Windsor Excelsior Copacabana)
Included Activities
- Ride historic cable car to Sugarloaf Mountain with stop at Urca Hill
- Drive past Ipanema and Copacabana beaches
Optional Activities
- Visit Selarón Steps, a colorful mosaic staircase and local landmark
- Brazilian flavors and performance at Roxy Dinner Show
Landmarks Sugarloaf Mountain Urca Hill Guanabara Bay Ipanema Beach Copacabana Beach Selarón Steps 
- Day 3
Rio de Janeiro
A cogwheel train takes you up Corcovado to the Christ the Redeemer statue, where you'll get sweeping views across Rio on clear days. Back in the city, you'll spend time at Copacabana and Ipanema beaches before having the afternoon free. Tonight includes a caipirinha-making lesson followed by a churrascaria dinner with grilled meats at a local restaurant.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner (Sizzling barbecue dinner at local churrascaria)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Windsor Excelsior Copacabana)
Included Activities
- Ride cogwheel train to summit of Corcovado
- Visit Christ the Redeemer statue
- Visit shores of Copacabana and Ipanema beaches
- Learn to mix caipirinha from a Local Specialist
- Barbecue dinner at local churrascaria
Landmarks Christ the Redeemer Corcovado Mountain Copacabana Beach Ipanema Beach - Day 4
Rio de Janeiro to Iguazu Falls
You'll fly from Rio to Iguazu Falls, one of the largest waterfall systems in the world. Working with a local specialist, you'll hike through the Brazilian side, walking through mist and spray to get close to the falls while learning about the subtropical rainforest around you. Later you'll cross into Argentina to reach your hotel there.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Hotel Mercure)
Included Activities
- Explore Brazilian side of Iguassu Falls in Iguaçu National Park with Local Specialist
- Hike to cascading falls through water spray and humidity
Landmarks Iguazu Falls Iguaçu National Park 
- Day 5
Iguazu Falls - Argentine Side
From the Argentine side, you'll see the dramatic Devil's Throat section of Iguazu Falls. The day includes a visit to the Guarani community at Fortín Mbororá, where local guides lead you through the jungle and share knowledge about traditional medicine, cultural practices, and forest ecology. Afternoon choices include a boat tour through the falls or a dinner featuring Argentine wine and local specialties.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Hotel Mercure)
Included Activities
- Visit Devil's Throat on Argentine side of falls
- Visit Guarani community of Fortín M'boror é
- Learn about jungle medicine, culture, songs, dances, and crafts
- Guided jungle walk through interior with aboriginal experts to learn 'Spirit of the Trees'
Optional Activities
- Gran Aventura boat tour
- Argentine cultural experience with five-course dinner sampling four Argentinian wines
Landmarks Devil's Throat Iguazu Falls - Day 6
Iguazu Falls to Buenos Aires
You'll fly to Buenos Aires and settle into your hotel near Plaza San Martin in the cultural center. The rest of the day is yours to wander the upscale neighborhood. If wine interests you, there's an optional tasting experience at El Querandi, a historic colonial-era bar that's been operating since 1920.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Alvear Art Hotel), Hotel (Intercontinental)
Optional Activities
- Wine tasting trip to 'El Querandi' in the historical district
Landmarks Plaza San Martin 
- Day 7
Buenos Aires
A city tour takes you through Buenos Aires, showing you the pink Casa Rosada palace, the cathedral, and La Boca with its lively street energy. Your afternoon is free to do what you like. This evening you'll see tango dancers at El Viejo Almacen, watching skilled performers demonstrate the passionate and precise movements the city is known for.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner (Tango performance at El Viejo Almacen in San Telmo neighborhood)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Intercontinental)
Included Activities
- Buenos Aires City Tour with Local Specialist
- Visit Casa Rosada (pink palace)
- Visit cathedral
- Explore La Boca neighborhood
- Tango performance at El Viejo Almacen
Landmarks Casa Rosada La Boca El Viejo Almacen - Day 8
San Antonio de Areco
You'll head out to San Antonio de Areco in the pampas, where gaucho traditions run deep. Walking through cobblestone streets, you'll visit silversmiths and a workshop where local artists create traditional alpargatas shoes. The day finishes at a family-run gaucho ranch with grilled asado steak while cowboys showcase their horsemanship skills with live music and dancing.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Empanadas, salads, asado meat of sausages, chicken and beef, drinks, and flan with dulce de leche for dessert. Learn how to grill the asado.), Dinner
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Intercontinental)
Included Activities
- Tour San Antonio de Areco streets with silversmiths
- Visit Local Association for disabled people workshop making traditional alpargatas shoes
- Visit local artist's studio
- Be My Guest experience at family-owned gaucho ranch with asado steak
- Watch gaucho horsemanship demonstration with music and dance
Landmarks San Antonio de Areco - Day 9
Buenos Aires to Lima
After flying to Lima, Peru's capital, a local host will meet you at the airport and transfer you to your hotel in Miraflores, the upscale shopping district. This evening you'll have dinner with your Travel Director and group to kick off the Peru portion of your trip.
- Meals
- Dinner (Dinner with Travel Director and fellow travelers)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Iberostar Hotel Lima)
Landmarks Miraflores - Day 10
Lima
A local specialist guides you through Lima's Historic Centre, a UNESCO site, where you'll see baroque architecture including the Church of San Francisco and its underground catacombs. You'll meet Chef Ignacio Barrios, who's trained alongside Peru's top chefs. At a local market, you'll learn about Peruvian ingredients before heading to his cooking school for a hands-on demonstration and lunch sampling regional dishes. The rest of your day is free.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Be My Guest lunch at cooking school sampling Peruvian dishes prepared during demonstration)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Iberostar Hotel Lima)
Included Activities
- Visit UNESCO-listed Historic Centre of Lima with Local Specialist
- Admire Church of San Francisco with ornate baroque facades
- Explore hidden catacombs of Church of San Francisco
- Visit local market with Chef Ignacio
- Cooking demonstration at Ignacio's cooking school
- Be My Guest lunch at cooking school sampling Peruvian dishes
Landmarks Church of San Francisco Historic Centre of Lima - Day 11
Lima to Cusco - Sacred Valley
You'll fly to Cusco this morning and head straight into the Sacred Valley. First stop is the Manos de la Comunidad weaving center for a cultural experience learning about traditional textile methods and Andean alpacas. After lunch featuring local flavors, you'll check into your hotel at the Sonesta Posadas del Inca Yucay, a converted 18th-century monastery surrounded by gardens. Later you'll visit textile artists working in nearby villages like Chinchero and Parobamba.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Exclusive lunch of local flavors at outdoor space near Weaving Centre)
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Sonesta Posadas del Inca Yucay)
Included Activities
- Visit Manos de la Comunidad weaving centre
- Learn about 'lindaje' tradition of Sacred Valley
- Learn about four Andean camels: Llamas, Alpacas, Vicuñas and Guanacos
- Exclusive lunch at outdoor space near Weaving Centre
- Connect with artisans preserving Peru's textile heritage
Landmarks Sacred Valley Manos de la Comunidad weaving centre Chinchero - Day 12
Sacred Valley - Machu Picchu
Start at Ollantaytambo, the famous Inca fortress with massive stone construction. From there, the Vistadome train carries you through dramatic mountain scenery to Machu Picchu. A local guide will walk you through the ruins, pointing out the Temple of the Sun, House of the Priest, Sacred Plaza, and the Intihuatana stone. You'll dine at your hotel this evening.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Snack (Light snack included on Vistadome train), Dinner
- Accommodation
- Hotel (El MaPi)
Included Activities
- Visit Ollantaytambo Inca fortress
- Board Vistadome train to Machu Picchu with light snack included
- Guided tour of Machu Picchu ruins with Local Specialist
- Visit Temple of the Sun
- Visit House of the Priest
- Visit Sacred Plaza
- Visit Intihuatana stone
Landmarks Ollantaytambo Machu Picchu Temple of the Sun House of the Priest Sacred Plaza Intihuatana - Day 13
Machu Picchu to Cusco
You'll spend this morning back at Machu Picchu, exploring at your own pace without a guide this time. Then the train heads back to Cusco, stopping at a local chicharía along the way. There you'll learn how chicha, a traditional Peruvian corn beer, is made by local women using centuries-old methods.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Novotel Cusco)
Included Activities
- Return to Machu Picchu for independent exploration
- Stop at local chichería
- Learn how chicha (Peruvian corn beer) is made by local women
Landmarks Machu Picchu - Day 14
Cusco
With a local specialist, you'll explore Cusco's sacred city, seeing Spanish colonial buildings built on the foundations of Inca structures. You'll check out the baroque Cathedral on Plaza de Armas, the 17th-century Church of Santo Domingo, and the Sacsayhuamán fortress ruins outside the city. You'll also visit Inca storehouses nearby. Your afternoon is free to explore independently.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Novotel Cusco)
Included Activities
- Guided sightseeing tour of Cusco with Local Specialist
- View 16th-century Spanish colonial buildings built on Inca temple foundations
- Visit baroque Cathedral on Plaza de Armas
- Visit 17th-century Church of Santo Domingo
- Visit Sacsayhuamán fortress ruins
- See Inca grain storage warehouses
Landmarks Plaza de Armas Cathedral of Cusco Church of Santo Domingo Sacsayhuamán - Day 15
Cusco to Lima
You'll have a relaxed morning before heading back to Lima late in the day. The afternoon is yours to spend as you like. If you're interested in pre-Columbian art, there's an optional evening visit to the Larco Museum with your local specialist, finishing with a farewell dinner in the museum's garden.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Iberostar Hotel Lima)
Optional Activities
- Evening exploration of Rafael Larco Herrera Museum collection of pre-Columbian art with Local Specialist
- Farewell Dinner in museum's garden
Landmarks Rafael Larco Herrera Museum - Day 16
Lima to Quito
You'll transfer to the airport in Lima and fly to Ecuador. Upon landing in Quito, you'll be greeted and taken to your hotel, giving you time to settle and adjust to the city's high altitude location.
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Sheraton)
- Day 17
Quito
Quito's historical center gets your attention first, the site of the world's first UNESCO World Heritage designation. Later, you'll travel to the 'Middle of the World' to stand directly on the Equator line. The rest of your day is free to explore on your own terms.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Sheraton)
Included Activities
- Visit historical centre of Quito
- Visit 'Middle of the World' location on the Equator
Landmarks Historic Centre of Quito Middle of the World - Day 18
Quito to Galápagos Islands - North Seymour
You'll fly to the Galápagos Islands and board the M/V Galápagos Legend cruise ship at Baltra airport. The ship heads to North Seymour Island where you'll see magnificent frigatebirds, blue-footed boobies displaying their famous bright feet, and colonies of sea lions.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
- Accommodation
- Hotel (M/V Galápagos Legend)
Included Activities
- Transfer to M/V Galápagos Legend cruise ship
- Sail to North Seymour Island
- View magnificent frigatebirds
- View blue-footed boobies
- View sea lions
Landmarks North Seymour Island - Day 19
Galápagos Islands - Bartolome and Santiago
At Bartolome Island, you'll hike to the summit for views across the volcanic landscape. Afterward, snorkeling gives you a chance to see Galápagos penguins in their natural habitat. The day includes a stop at Santiago Island for more exploration and wildlife viewing.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Hike to Bartolome Island summit
- Snorkeling at Bartolome Island
- View Galápagos Penguins
- Visit Santiago Island
Landmarks Bartolome Island Santiago Island - Day 20
Galápagos Islands - San Cristobal
This morning you'll visit Pitt Point, climbing a steep volcanic hill to a spot where all three booby species gather. Next is Cerro Brujo, where a coral sand beach lets you connect with sea lions or snorkel beneath Witch's Hill for a different perspective on the islands' marine life.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit Pitt Point on San Cristobal Island
- Ascend steep volcanic tuff hill
- Spot three booby species
- Visit Cerro Brujo coral sand beach
- Connect with resident sea lions
- Snorkel in shadow of Witch's Hill
Landmarks Pitt Point San Cristobal Island Cerro Brujo - Day 21
Galápagos Islands - Departure
At San Cristóbal Island, you'll visit the Cerro Colorado Tortoise Reserve and the La Galapaguera breeding center. There you'll learn about conservation efforts for the San Cristóbal tortoise population and see different life stages of these iconic creatures. Before heading to San Cristóbal Airport for your flight back to Quito, you'll have time to pick up last-minute souvenirs in town.
- Meals
- Breakfast
- Accommodation
- Hotel (Alvear Art Hotel)
Included Activities
- Visit Cerro Colorado Tortoise Reserve
- Visit La Galapaguera breeding centre
- Learn about San Cristóbal tortoise population restoration
- View tortoises at different life stages
Optional Activities
- Shop for last-minute souvenirs in town
Landmarks Cerro Colorado Tortoise Reserve La Galapaguera
