South America Revealed with Brazilian Amazon and Easter Island

from $13832

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itinerary
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Duration: 22 Days

The stunning beaches of Rio are your launchpad to this epic South American tour as you samba through vibrant capitals, national parks, and the Inca heart of Peru, even learning how to mix the perfect caipirinha. Glide upstream through the biodiverse Brazilian Amazon and uncover the secrets of remote Easter Island’s Rapa Nui people who once lived there.

Fly to Manaus (not included in holiday price on pre-trip extension), the Brazilian gateway of the Amazon. You’ll be transferred to your hotel before embarking on a city tour that will reveal the wealth of the city’s former rubber barons. Visit the grand Palacio Rio Negro with its displays reflecting traditional Amazonian culture, then discover the floating harbor and nearby Customs House. Admire the metallic architecture of the vibrant Mercado Municipal, based on the Les Halles marketplace in Paris and see the Renaissance opera house, constructed during the city’s golden age.

We journey upstream today to see first-hand the tremendous 'Meeting of the Waters'. Watch how the dark waters of the Rio Negro merge with the sandy brown water of the Solimões and then flows eastward to the Atlantic. After lunch, consider joining an optional canoe trip down a smaller tributary and try your hand at piranha fishing, or simply immerse yourself in your jungle surrounds. Later, we transfer to our lodge on the banks of the Rio Taruma.

Walk beneath the towering canopy of the world’s largest rainforest – the life source of Planet Earth and an area of exceptional biodiversity. We’ll embark on a guided walk this morning with our Local Specialist, keeping a keen eye out for shy capybara or the giant coils of the anaconda as it naps on the branches of a tree. Take part in a Be My Guest Experience during your visit to Cablocos. Take an opportunity to try piranha fishing as you immerse yourself in the rituals and heritage of the native Amazonians. Visit Monkey Forest, a rehabilitation center and wildlife refuge, as your MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience. Later, return to your lodge for dinner against the backdrop of cicadas, bulldog bats and Screaming Piha, the signature sound of the Amazon.

Return to Manaus Airport as your Amazon experience comes to an end. Fly to Rio de Janeiro and meet a local host who will take you to your hotel where you’ll enjoy superb ocean views of Copacabana beach and its beautiful people, just minutes from downtown Rio. This evening, we enjoy a festive Welcome Reception with our Travel Director and fellow travelers. Flight from Manaus to Rio De Janeiro is not included in package and has to be booked & paid for separately.

Ease into your morning Rio-style before joining your Travel Director to delve into the captivating contrasts of Brazil’s cidade maravilhosa (marvelous city). See the 18th-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.

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.

Spend your lazy moments in Rio soaking up the laid-back carioca life before you Connect With Locals at a local samba school to see their preparations for Carnival Week. You’ll learn how to sway those hips to the tunes of 'Mais que nada' and 'The Girl from Ipanema' during your visit. From the intoxicating beat of Rio to the thundering roar of Iguassu, we fly to the magnificent falls that straddle the borders of Brazil, Argentina and Paraguay. This evening, we’ll enjoy dinner together, pondering Rio’s party vibe and the inspiring force of nature nearby.

Explore the Brazil side of Iguassu Falls, joining a Local Specialist in the UNESCO-listed Iguassu National Park for a walk through the rainforest to the base of the falls. Indulge in lunch at a local restaurant against the backdrop of the falls before returning to your resort for an afternoon at leisure. Consider joining one of our optional experiences, including a jetboat ride(^) to the base of the falls or visit a tropical bird reserve, home to more than 500 species of birds.

Cross the border into Argentina to see the falls from a different perspective. Meet your Local Specialist, then board an open-air ecological jungle train through the rainforest. We leave this force of nature behind for the sophisticated Argentinian capital of Buenos Aires.

Connect with the seamless mix of European elegance meets Latin energy, joining your Local Specialist for a guided tour of Buenos Aires’ most notable sites, including the iconic Casa Rosada and colorful neighborhood of La Boca. Admire the opulent façade of Teatro Colon, then visit the Recoleta Cemetery, where Argentina’s beloved former first lady, Eva Peron (Evita), is buried. This evening, indulge in the delicious flavors of Argentine beef during a Regional Dinner. Later, we’ll Dive Into Culture, ending the evening with a stirring, sensual Tango performance.

Enjoy a full day at leisure to pursue your own interests in the 'Paris of South America'. Admire the works of Degas, El Greco and Van Gogh at the Museum of Belles Artes or sample delicious dulce de leche ice-cream at the famous Café Tortoni. Feeling adventurous? Consider an optional trip into the countryside to visit a traditional estancia (ranch), including a lively equestrian show and traditional parrillada (barbecue) lunch. Later, we’ll Connect With Locals, joining a family at their home in Palermo Soho for a dinner during our Be My Guest experience.

We leave one capital behind for another, traveling to Peru’s capital, Lima. On arrival, transfer to your hotel in San Isidro.

Francisco Pizarro’s 'City of Kings' is ours to explore this morning as we discover the colonial heritage of Lima’s UNESCO-listed Historic Center 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.

Board a morning flight to Cusco and the Sacred Valley. Dive Into Culture and visit the Pisac market displaying Quechua arts and crafts. Connect With Locals and meet Nilda Callañaupa Alvarez, a master Quechua weaver, and the first person from her village to attend university. She been an ambassador for Andean traditions since she began learning ancient pre-Columbian weaving techniques as a young girl in the 1960s. Your MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience helps to preserve and promote traditional pre-Columbian weaving techniques in the 21st century. End the day at your Stays With Stories, a former 18th-century colonial-style monastery in the Sacred Valley.

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.

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.

Discover Cusco’s colonial center with your Local Specialist, highlighting the city’s most important landmarks of both the Inca and the Colonial times including the Plaza de Armas where a cathedral stands on the ruins of the ancient Inca Palace. Stop at the Temple of the Sun, Korikancha, before visiting the ruins of Sacsayhuamán, a UNESCO-listed Incan fortress with tremendous views over Cusco. The afternoon is free to join an optional experience including a visit to the Chocolate Museum, Cusco off the beaten track or the Incan agricultural greenhouse and salt wells of Maras & Moray.

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 pre-Columbian art. We’ll indulge in a memorable Farewell Dinner in the museum’s garden.

It’s time to say goodbye to your fellow travelers as your trip comes to an end. Head to Lima and fly to Santiago International Airport (flight not included in holiday price). Stay the night in Chile's vibrant capital of Santiago before heading on to your Easter Island extension tomorrow.

Fly to Easter Island (flight not included in holiday price) and connect with the legend and lore of one of the world’s most remote and remarkable islands, delving into the ancient culture of the Rapa Nui who once prospered on this land. Our first stop on this mystical adventure is Ahu Akivi, where we’ll enjoy a private guided excursion with our Local Specialist to view its seven Moai statues, facing the ocean. Learn about their astronomically precise location and how they were placed there to use their mana to protect the inhabitants of the nearby village. Continue to ancient Ahu Hanga Poukura to see the tumbled Moai statues that stand as a testament to ancient battles. Then, visit the Puna Pau quarry with its red scoria stone.

Embark on a privately guided excursion with our Local Specialist to the southern coast and witness the perfectly preserved ceremonial Ahu Vaihu in the bay of Hanga Te'e. Set out with your boxed picnic lunch and proceed to Rano Raraku, a quarry of almost 900 stone statues - 397 of them still located at the slopes of the Rano Kau volcano. Visit Ahu Tongariki, the largest ahu on the island, then continue to the eastern coast and visit Ahu Te Pito Kura with its Paro Maoi, the largest maoi statue ever erected. Afterward, visit scenic Anakena beach, where the king first set foot on the island.

Journey to the UNESCO-listed Rapa Nui National Park. Join a private excursion with our Local Specialist up the extinct Rano Kau volcano. Admire views of the island from its slopes, then drive to the village of Orongo, where you’ll view petroglyphs revealing the local culture. Later, catch a glimpse the three islets of Motu Nui, Motu Iti and Motu Kao Kao on the opposite coast. Then it’s on to Ahu Vinapu for further evidence of the pre-Incan architectural influence. Our final stop is at the Ana Kai Tangata to view the ornate cave paintings from its mouth. Return to your hotel this afternoon before being transferred to the airport. Airport arrival is at 12 p.m., please be aware when booking your flights.

20 Breakfast (B)
2 Welcome Reception (WR)
3 Regional Dinner (RD)
5 Dinner (D)
5 Lunch (L)
2 Be My Guest (BMG)
1 Farewell Dinner (FD)

Buenos Aires: Dine at the home of a local family in the bohemian neighborhood of Palermo Soho with its European-style homes and hip attitude.
Lima: Visit a local market with Chef Ignacio and enjoy a special lunch at his cooking school.
Amazon Rainforest: Visit home to Local Amazonians, Caboclos, with an opportunity for piranha fishing.

Buenos Aires: Experience the beauty of the Tango and learn about its traditions.
Sacred Valley: Visit the Pisac market displaying indigeneous Quechua arts and crafts from communities from the surrounding highlands.
Cusco: Enjoy the flavors of chicha, a Peruvian corn beer. Hear about how chicha is brewed by the local indigenous women and its history dating back to the time of the Incas as a favorite drink of the Andes. Learn about the two types of chicha, alcoholic sour chicha de jora made from fermented jora corn and the non-alcoholic, sweet chicha morada.
Cusco: Enjoy cusquenian dishes and a folkloric dance perfomance.

Rio de Janeiro: Journey high above Guanabara Bay first to Urca hill and then the top of Sugarloaf at 1,299 feet above sea level for views of Botafogo cove, Copacabana, and Guanabara Bay. Take in all the dramatic views with plenty of photos knowing you’re a part of history. This Cable Car linking Urca hill to Sugarloaf Mountain built in 1912 was the first Brazilian cable car and the third in the world. You’ll also learn the story of the name Sugarloaf, the most popular version saying that from the sixteenth to eighteenth centuries, at the peak of sugar cane production, the mounds of refined sugar resembled the shape of the mountain itself. A sweet story with a stunning view.
Corcovado: Climb into the clouds to the top of Corcovado Mountain to visit the iconic Christ the Redeemer. You’ll ride the Corcovado Railway, the first electrified railroad in Brazil, and an icon itself. The railway is actually older than the monument and even transported the pieces of the monument. The train has taken popes, kings, princes, presidents, artists, scientists - and now you - since its start in 1884. You’ll feel good about your travels too knowing that this electric train doesn’t pollute the surrounding Tijuca National Park. As you ascend 2,379 feet, consider the history of Christ the Redeemer built from 1926-1931, one of the Seven Wonders of the World, and one of the most famous Art Déco sculptures. Gaze out the window at the views of the Rio de Janeiro and, at the top, stand beneath the famous statue’s feet looking up to its top of 98 feet high.
Iguassu Falls: Join a Local Specialist who will guide your exploration of the Brazilian side of the falls in this massive park spanning the border between Argentina and Brazil. The region hosts a variety of wildlife including tapirs, giant anteaters, howler monkeys, ocelots, jaguars, caymans and 400 species of birds - so be on the lookout for that special photo-op. Given Iguassu’s support of extreme habitats and diverse species, it’s no wonder it is on the UNESCO World Heritage List.
Iguassu Falls: Join a local specialist for a walk along the long catwalk suspended above the swirling waters of the Iguassu River. View the chaotic crush of water pouring down Devil's throat falls. Then board an open-air ecological jungle train for a different perspective of the mighty cascades.
Buenos Aires: Embark on a Buenos Aires City Tour with a Local Specialist. Walk through the wide boulevards of this beautiful capital admiring the spirit of a city whose European and Latin American influences can be seen around every turn. See the pink palace, the seat of the Argentine national government and president's office whose balcony Juan and “Evita” Perón addressed the people in the 1940s and 1950s. Visit the cathedral and wander through the lively and colorful La Boca neighborhood lined with restaurants, street artists and local art around every corner.
Lima: Take in the highlights of Lima, the 'City of the Kings,' including a panoramic view of the ancient districts. Join a local specialist for a visit to the UNESCO-listed Historic Center. Learn how before it was destroyed by earthquakes in the mid-18th century, observing how the historic buildings display a collaboration between local craftspeople and others from the Old World. Then drive along the coastline as you learn more about the fascinating history of Peru's capital city.
Cusco: Visit the mystical Incan stronghold of Ollantaytambo with a Local Specialist. These famous ruins are a massive Inca fortress made of large stone terraces stretching out across a hillside. Walk among the stone platforms, the sun temple of six monoliths and the Princess Baths fountain ― the Baño de la Nusta at the base of the ruins flowing from carved stone into a pool. Over your exploration, learn how the old town is an Inca-era grid of cobblestoned streets and adobe buildings.
Machu Picchu: Soak in every moment of your Machu Picchu tour in style as you descend to the Lost City in the clouds aboard the Vistadome train. Traveling the Inca Trail, you’ll traverse dramatic landscapes with a panoramic view of the soaring peaks, river, and ruins. Sit back and relax as you enjoy this multi-sensory journey complete with background music, an informative audio commentary highlighting interesting sites, and an included light snack.
Machu Picchu: Take a shuttle to the top of the mountain where you’ll meet your local specialist for a guided hike of Machu Picchu. You’ll learn about Machu Picchu’s history and the use of each section of including ceremonial, storage, agriculture, temples, astronomical, and observatory as well as the possible reasons why the Incas left Machu Picchu.
Machu Picchu: The ruins of Machu Picchu beckon yet again and we enjoy one final opportunity to reconnect with its story. Journey to take in the ruins at sunrise spending some time on your own to explore the hill-top fortress. Soak in every moment at this iconic site, making stops at points of interest while your guide shares their insights on the archaeological sites.
Cusco: Join your Local Specialist for a guided walk through Cusco's colonial center, including the nearby 13th century Incan settlement of Koricancha. Here in Cusco’s Golden Temple of the Sun dedicated to the Sun God Inti, view the trapezoidal and irregular shapes and rounded edges. Note how the stones fit together and were built simply by placing them on top of each other without using any mortar. This staggered placement also enables them to withstand earthquakes.
Cusco: Begin your day at the ruins of the UNESCO-listed Sacsayhuamán fortress overlooking Cusco. With zig zagging walls and ruins of giant stones, see how the shape and harmony of the landscape is similar to Machu Picchu. Stroll through this Incan architecture of sacred buildings such as residential buildings, towers, shrines, warehouses, roads and aqueducts. And while you may not be able to take in the grand scale, the complex design is based on the shape of the head of a puma, a sacred animal in Inca spirituality.
Lima: Join a local specialist for a tour of the Rafael Larco Herrera Museum which houses the largest private collection of pre-Columbian Peruvian art in the world. You'll also explore the extensive collection of Peruvian gold and silver from ancient times. Learn the history of the museum founded by Rafael Larco on July 28th, 1926 in Trujillo followed by in 1958 when Larco moved his collection to Lima to a unique colonial residence built on top of a VIII century pyramid.

Rio de Janeiro: Visit a samba school to see and learn about this symbol of Brazil.
Sacred Valley: Enjoy a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience 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 pre-Columbian weaving techniques as a young girl in the 1960s. You'll learn about traditional weaving practice using natural dyeing techniques and its importance to their identity and culture. Your visit makes a difference in helping to preserve and promote traditional pre-Columbian weaving techniques in the 21st century.
Amazon Rainforest: Visit Monkey Forest, a rehabilitation center and wildlife refuge.

: Explore Rio de Janeiro, Buenos Aires, Lima and Cusco with a Local Specialist, Explore both the Brazilian & Argentinean side of Iguassu Falls with a local specialist, Enjoy a Tango & Dinner Show
: Visit Sugarloaf Mountain, the Christ the Redeemer statue, Iguassu Falls, Pisac, Ollantaytambo ruins, Machu Picchu, Sacsayhuaman, a local Samba School in Rio and the Larco Museum
: See the Teatro Colon, Copacabana Beach and the Casa Rosada
: Scenic Drive through the Sacred Valley
: Scenic Train Ride to Machu Picchu aboard the Vistadome train

Sacred Valley: Enjoy this Stays With Stories, at Sonesta Posadas del Inca Yucay, a former 18th-century colonial-style monastery in the Sacred Valley.

: 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

Start Date: 2023-10-03

End Date: 2023-10-24

twin

Adult Price: $14090

Child Price: $13247

triple

Adult Price: $13832

Child Price: $12989

single

Adult Price: $17073

Start Date: 2023-11-21

End Date: 2023-12-12