Summary

You always wanted to travel to South America but not sure where to start? Our South American Dream is the perfect itinerary for first-time travellers to the continent! Explore South America in three weeks. Visit Buenos Aires and have some fun learning the basic steps of tango. Stroll along Copacabana Beach in Rio de Janeiro and see the majesty of thundering Iguazu Falls.

Fly across the continent to Peru and learn about the Inca during your stay in the Sacred Valley of the Incas, Machu Picchu and Cuzco. Then travel south to Puno where you can experience the strange sensation of walking on Lake Titicaca’s famous Uros floating islands.

Continue to La Paz and wander through the fascinating witches’ market and the Moon Valley. Finally, fly to Santiago de Chile before coming back home.

This is our suggested tailor-made itinerary that we hope can guide you towards your perfect first-time travel to South America. We can customise it to meet your needs to make your holiday in South America, an unforgettable one. So, if you love active holidays, there are plenty of great day hikes or cycling tours we can add.

Alternatively, if you have a little more time, why not include the Amazon or Galapagos? Or ask us about how to enhance your experience! Depending on the time of year, it may make more sense to start in Peru and finish in Argentina. Talk to our travel specialists today. This tailor-made three weeks in South America tour is fully flexible to suit your tastes and budget.

Highlights

Explore Buenos Aires’ most vibrant districts and main sites
Learn the basic steps of tango before an authentic tango dinner & show
Enjoy a full day tour of Corcovado and its famous Christ the Redeemer, Tijuca forest and the Sugarloaf with cable car ride for spectacular views of this magical city.
Be amazed by the spectacular landscape of crashing waterfalls at Iguazu. Both sides have beautiful panoramic views of the falls.
Lima is perfect for those who are interested in colonial monuments, for archaeology enthusiasts, handicraft collectors, museum aficionados and those who like to eat splendid food.
Explore the beautiful Sacred Valley of the Incas and let Machu Picchu inspire you!
Get a great perspective of UNESCO World Heritage Listed city of Cuzco and it’s nearby ruins
Embark on a cultural journey and explore the islands of Uros, and learn about their indigenous people and traditions
Visit the highest capital in the world and enjoy walking through its famous witches’ market
Walk through beautiful and bohemian Lastarria & Bellavista neighbourhoods.
Plenty of time at leisure to explore on your own

ITINERARY

Day 1 Buenos Aires

Fly to Buenos Aires. Upon your arrival, you will be transferred to your hotel. Recoleta, San Telmo and Palermo districts all offer wonderful accommodation options.

Day 2 Buenos Aires

Today’s tour will take you to the city’s southern districts. Explore vibrant ‘microcentro’ with its historic buildings and monuments. Visit the famous Plaza 25 de Mayo and see the Casa Rosada. You will then continue to the bohemian district of San Telmo and visit Caminito in La Boca for some great photo opportunities, finishing in Puerto Madero. This modern waterfront district is well-known for its restaurants. For the rest of the day you’re free to continue exploring on your own.
Ask us about unique touring options including visits to Buenos Aires’ ancient passages, a specialised Art tour, the Jewish history of Buenos Aires, visits to Classic Cafes or an architecture tour among many options.

Day 3 Buenos Aires

Continue exploring Buenos Aires. Tour the northern districts, including famous Recoleta Cemetery and the leafy suburb of Palermo, with its elegant mansions, funky cafes and local fashion and homeware boutiques. In the evening, learn the basic steps of tango before your dinner and tango show.

Day 4 Buenos Aires/Rio de Janeiro

Transfer to the airport for your flight to Rio, arriving in time for a stroll or a sundowner on Copacabana Beach

Day 5 Rio de Janeiro

A full-day tour of Rio’s most beautiful and famous sights. Admire the spectacular views from Mount Corcovado and see the famous statue of Christ the Redeemer. After a traditional BBQ lunch, ride the cable car to the top of iconic Sugarloaf Mountain.

Day 6 Rio de Janeiro

This day is yours to explore this captivating city on your own. We suggest a tour of the Botanical Gardens, a visit to the Museum of Tomorrow, or participate of a percussion class. For a more active option, you can do bike tours or hike Mount Corcovado to Christ the Redeemer in Rio.

Day 7 Rio de Janeiro/Foz do Iguacu

After a morning at leisure take an afternoon flight to the mighty Iguaçu Falls.
The Brazilian side of the falls offers visitors a panoramic view of all 275 cascades that form the world’s most voluminous waterfalls. Walk along the paths inside the park and see the imposing Bozzeti Falls across the border. The path continues to the spectacular lookout over the Garganta del Diablo, or Devils Throat Falls, just 150m away. Ask us about the special optional tour of a helicopter ride over the falls for the ultimate experience.

Day 8 Foz do Iguacu

Full day tour of the Argentine side of the Falls including the Devil’s Throat balcony. Depart this morning on a full day tour of the Argentine side of Iguazu Falls, located inside the Iguazu National Park and declared a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1984. The falls are actually a group of more than 275 individual cataracts up to 70 meters high, which are fed by the River Iguaçu and border Brazil, Argentina and Paraguay. The Argentine side allows you to explore the beauty of the forested area around the falls; during today’s tour you will see a wide variety of ferns, orchids, begonias, birds and butterflies.
Optional, experience the staggering power of the falls by riding the Iguazú River rapids, with the roaring waterfalls towering over your head followed by a 4WD ride inside the jungle.

Day 9 Foz do Iguacu/Lima

Free morning. Afternoon tour of the Brazilian side of the falls for the best panoramic view and a visit to the bird park. Fly to Lima and transfer to your hotel.

Day 10 Lima

A half-day sightseeing tour of Lima’s historic centre, the seaside suburbs of Miraflores and San Isidro with a guided tour the Larco Museum. Ask us about a visit to private art galleries or a culinary tour.

Day 11 Lima/Sacred Valley

Fly to Cuzco. On arrival you will be met and transferred to your hotel in the Sacred Valley of the Incas. Located at around 2,700m above sea level, the valley is a great place to spend your first few days acclimatising before moving up to the more challenging heights of Cuzco (3,400m).

Day 12 Sacred Valley

A full-day tour through the Sacred Valley of the Incas, including the small picturesque village of Chinchero where you can learn about ancient weaving techniques. Afterwards continue to Ollantaytambo village and fortress, one of the most monumental architectural complexes of the ancient Inca Empire, one of the few places where the Spanish conquistadors lost a major battle.

Day 13 Sacred Valley

Free day. Optional Community Project day; visit an Andean village for a more indepth cultural encounter. Learn about their way of living and their everyday activities including a one-on-one weaving lesson. We encourage you to bring along a water filter donation which will change the life of a family.

Day 14 Sacred Valley/Machu Picchu

Today is sure to be a highlight of your trip! Travel by Vistadome train to the famous Inca citadel of Machu Picchu and enjoy a guided tour of the archaeological site. Overnight in Aguas Calientes. Consider adding the optional Express Inca Trail, a spectacular 6-hour moderate walk to Machu Picchu, arriving through the Sun Gate.

Day 15 Machu Picchu/Cuzco

Return to Machu Picchu this morning to continue your unguided exploration of this extensive site. Consider a hike to Huayna Picchu for stunning views. Catch an afternoon train to Cuzco.

Day 16 Cuzco

A half-day walking tour of the main sights of Cuzco, including the Plaza de Armas, cathedral, Koricancha Temple, San Blas Church and handcraft workshops. Finish with a visit to the nearby ruins of Sacsayhuaman.

Day 17 Cuzco

A free day to explore this fascinating city on your own. Ask us about a cooking lesson or trekking Rainbow Mountain (strenuous activity) or visit one of it’s nine museums.

Day 18 Cuzco/Puno

Depart by bus this morning on a full day tour across the altiplano to Puno, situated on the shores of Lake Titicaca. Entry fees to local sites along the way are included. This daily service from Cuzco to Puno steadily climbs up the Vilcanota Valley towards the head waters of the Urubamba River and the highest point of the trip, Abra La Raya at 4321 metres above sea level. From Abra La Raya, it is a gradual descent into the opening grassy plains towards Lake Titicaca and towards the Bolivian Altiplano and eventually to down to the lake’s edge where Puno is nestled.
Alternatively you can board the overnight Belmond Andean Explorer.

Day 19 Puno

Depart this morning on a half day tour out to the famous Uros Islands. After short 20-minute trip out of Puno harbour, you arrive at the floating islands of Uros, where 300 Uros Indians live and fish on the man-made islands made entirely of totora reeds that grow in the lake. Enjoy the colourful traditional dress of the men and women and perhaps take a ride in s surprisingly stable totora canoe before returning to your hotel.
Option to include Taquile or Amantani Islands to learn more about these unique communities. Or ask us about staying overnight in a homestay or a first class hotel on Amantani Island.

Day 20 Puno/La Paz

You will be met at your hotel this morning and depart from Puno on a tour travelling around Lake Titicaca and across the border into Bolivia. You will visit the town of Copacabana and it’s pretty Cathedral before boarding the catamaran for Sun Island. Arriving to the southern end of Sun Island, we disembark and visit the Inca Garden and Stairs, the Inti Wati Complex and experience a Kallawaya Ancient Ceremony.
You will also have the opportunity to see a replica of the reed boats once used by the Aymara Indians and see a demonstration of how these ingenious boats plied the water. Visit the Pilkokaina Inca Ruins before boarding the catamaran and sitting down to a delicious buffet lunch. We sail to Chua, where you will disembark and continue the rest of your journey to La Paz by road, arriving this evening at your hotel.
Option to stay overnight on Sun Island Lodge or on board the catamaran.

Day 21 La Paz

Depart this morning on a half day sightseeing tour of La Paz, including the city’s fantastic street markets, rich in handicrafts, weavings and witchcraft artefacts. We visit the colonial part of the city, including San Francisco Church, the Gold Museum, Murillo Square and the outdoor replica of the Tiahuanaco temple, before continuing to the modern part of town. Finally, admire the natural geological formations of the Valley of the Moon.

Day 22 La Paz/Santiago de Chile

Morning at leisure. Fly to Santiago and transfer to your hotel.

Day 23 Santiago de Chile

Discover Chile’s vibrant capital, Santiago on a half day guided sightseeing tour. Visit Bellas Artes, San Cristobal and lovely Lastarria before exploring the downtown area. Ask us about adding a visit to La Chascona (Neruda’s house) or a winery tour.