Iconic South America itinerary: Machu Picchu, Iguazu Falls & the Corcovado

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    Take a seat to soak up the beauty of Machu Picchu | Travel Nation

    Take a seat to soak up the beauty of Machu Picchu | Travel Nation

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    Get incredible views over the Rio coastline | Travel Nation

    Get incredible views over the Rio coastline

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    Locals in the Sacred Valley, Peru

    Meet the friendly people of Peru's Sacred Valley

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    Explore the colonial plazas of Lima | Travel Nation

    Explore the colonial plazas of Lima

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    Play football on iconic Ipanema Beach in Rio | Travel Nation

    Play football on iconic Ipanema Beach in Rio | Travel Nation

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    Gaze out over Iguazu Falls | Travel Nation

    Feel on top of the world at Iguazu Falls

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    Ride the Sugarloaf cable car in Rio | Travel Nation

    Ride the Sugarloaf cable car in Rio

Tailor-made holidays

Duration(in days): 16

From: UK

To: UK

From

£3,035

Inc. International flights (Per person, based on 2 sharing)

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See more ideas for: Brazil | Peru

    Visit three iconic destinations in one South America itinerary; the Sacred Valley, Cusco and Machu Picchu in Peru, Iguazu Falls on the border with Argentina and Brazil and Rio, Brazil.

    Begin with a couple of nights in Lima to get your bearings in the Peruvian capital, before flying to Cusco. Here, you’ll discover the fascinating Incan and colonial heritage and visit the Sacred Valley, home to many Inca ruins. Make your way to Machu Picchu for a guided tour of this spectacular citadel – a true feat of engineering.

    Leaving Peru behind, you’ll fly to Iguazu Falls, for a few days exploring these gigantic and impressive falls from both the Brazilian and Argentinean sides.

    Your final stop is Rio the capital of colours, smiles and samba rhythms. Standing on Corcovado mountain at the feet of the statue of Christ, you’ll have panoramic views over the entire city and the beauty of Guanabara Bay.

    Enjoy the trip of a lifetime and a perfect introduction to Latin American’s many beauty and culture.  This holiday makes the perfect introduction to three key regions in South America in just over 2 weeks!

    This itinerary can be tailored to suit your requirements; please contact one of our consultants to start planning your dream trip.

    This holiday includes

    • International and domestic flights
    • All transfers
    • All accommodation in Peru and Brazil
    • Excursions and meals as mentioned in the itinerary
    • First entrance ticket to Machu Picchu
    • Return train ticket to Aguas Calientes

    Highlights

    • Tick off 3 iconic destinations in one South America itinerary!
    • Get spectacular clifftop views over the Pacific in Miraflores, Lima
    • Climb the stairs of Incan Ollantaytambo fortress in the Sacred Valley
    • Admire Machu Picchu, one of the New Seven Wonders Of The World
    • Experience the thundering cascades of Iguazu Falls from the Brazilian & Argentinean sides
    • Marvel at the views over Rio from the top of the Corcovado and Sugar Loaf Mountain
    • Sip a local Caipirinha cocktail and watch the world go by on Copacabana beach

     

    Itinerary in brief:

    • 2 nights in Lima
    • 1 night in the Sacred Valley
    • 1 night in Aguas Calientes
    • 2 nights in Cusco
    • 3 nights in Foz do Iguacu
    • 4 nights in Rio de Janeiro

     

    Day 1: Depart UK

    Depart the UK from your chosen airport.

    Included: International flight

    Day 2: Arrive in Lima

    On arrival in Lima, you’ll be met and driven to your hotel in the city. Along the way, your guide will point out some of the city’s highlights and main attractions. One you arrive, you’ll check in for a two-night stay, with the rest of the afternoon at leisure for you to relax or explore.

    Included: Transfer, hotel

    Day 3: Lima city tour

    After breakfast, we’ve included a guided tour of the capital. You’ll visit the most important attractions including the main square, the Cathedral and Casa Aliaga - an old residence of the viceroyalty. You’ll also visit the Larco Museum which is home to an impressive pre-Hispanic collection of gold and silver pieces before heading to a park with spectacular cliff top views over the Pacific Ocean.

    Included: Breakfast, tour, hotel

    Day 4: Fly to Cusco

    After breakfast, you’ll be driven to the airport to catch your flight to Cusco. Once you land, you’ll be collected and driven to your selected hotel in the Sacred Valley.

    On the way, you will visit Awanakancha – a farm that’s home to many South American camelids and also a textile exhibition centre. It’s a living museum where you can see native Andean llamas and alpacas and you can learn the traditional techniques used to work with their wool and make finely spun garments. You’ll spend the night at a hotel in the Sacred Valley.

    Included: Breakfast, domestic flight, transfers, tour, hotel           

    Day 5: Pisac, Ollantaytambo and Aguas Calientes

    After breakfast, you will head to Pisac market where you’ll find stalls selling locally made textiles and crafts. We’ve included lunch at a local restaurant, before continuing on to Ollantaytambo, famous for its impressive Incan fortress which was conceived by the Incas to be a 'Tambo', a city of rest and accommodation for long distance travellers.

    After the tour, you’ll be driven to Ollanta Station to board a train to Aguas Calientes, the gateway town to Machu Picchu, where you will spend the night.

    Included: Breakfast, transfers, tour, train, hotel               

    Day 6: Machu Picchu

    After breakfast, you’ll take a short bus ride up to the entrance of Machu Picchu. Machu Picchu means 'Old Mountain' and is one of the New Seven Wonders of the World. You’ll have a guided tour and time to explore the ruins independently this morning.

    At the end of the tour, hop on the bus back to Aguas Calientes, where we’ve included lunch at Café Inkaterra. In the afternoon, make your way back to Aguas Calientes train station to take your train back to Ollanta station, from where you will be collected and driven back to your hotel in Cusco.

    Included: Breakfast, return bus ticket, entrance and guided tour of Machu Picchu, lunch, train, transfer, hotel   

    Day 7: Cusco city tour

    Today after breakfast, you’ll be collected for a guided tour of this spectacular historic city. You will visit the main sights and also Sacsayhuaman ruins just on the outskirts of Cusco. Every year on the 24th of June the famous Inti Raymi festival takes place here, recreating the ancient Incan tradition of worshipping and celebrating the sun.

    Included: Breakfast, city tour, hotel       

    Day 8: Fly to Foz do Iguacu

    Today you’ll be driven to Cusco airport to catch a flight to Foz do Iguacu (via Lima). Once you land in Brazil, you’ll be met and taken to your hotel.

    Included: Breakfast, transfers, international flight, hotel

    Day 9: Tour of the Argentinean side of Iguazu falls      

    After breakfast, you’ll meet your guide who will drive you to the Argentinean entrance of the Iguazu National Park and take you for a walk along the edge of the falls. The walk talks around 4 or 5 hours and you’ll witness the power and majesty of the thundering falls from up close. You’ll eventually come to Garganta del Diablo, (the Devil’s Throat) where you can experience the sensation of standing right above the falls! 

    Included: Breakfast, transfers, guided tour, hotel            

    Day 10: Tour of the Brazilian side of the falls    

    Today you have an opportunity to appreciate the falls from a completely different perspective and another country! After breakfast, you will be picked up by your guide and taken for a tour of the Brazilian side of the falls. Today’s walk is around 2 hours and will give you a more distanced, panoramic view of the falls.

    Included: Breakfast, transfers, guided tour, hotel            

    Day 11: Fly to Rio de Janeiro

    After breakfast, you will be driven back to the airport for your flight to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. When you land, you’ll be met and taken to your hotel on Copacabana beach.

    Included: Breakfast, transfers, domestic flight, hotel      

    Day 12: ‘Four Wonders’ jeep tour of Rio de Janeiro

    Enjoy breakfast at the hotel followed by a day packed full of beautiful sights and fun – as we’ve included an open-top jeep Rio city tour, to four of the main attractions. You’ll visit the lush Tijuca forest, the botanical gardens, take a cable car up Sugarloaf Mountain and the most iconic of them all, Corcovado Mountain to stand at the feet of the statue of Christ the Redeemer. Lunch is also included at a typical Brazilian restaurant.      

    Included: Breakfast, tour with entrance fees, lunch, hotel            

    Days 13 & 14: Days at leisure

    We’ve include a few free days for you to make the most of this buzzing city. However, you choose to explore, be sure to unwind with a Caipirinha whilst soaking up the famous Brazilian sunshine on Copacabana or Ipanema beaches!           

    Included: Breakfast, hotel          

    Day 15: Depart Rio 

    After breakfast, you will be driven to the airport for your flight back home.

    Included: Breakfast, transfer, international flight           

    Day 16: Arrive UK    

    Land back in the UK.

    Why not add in a stopover?

    What's included
    • International and domestic flights
    • Return airport transfers
    • Entrance fee to Machu Picchu
    • Meals as mentioned in the itinerary
    • Excursions as mentioned in the itinerary

    The destinations included in this itinerary can be visited all year round. However, the drier and sunnier time for Peru is between May and October and it is better to avoid the months of December to March in Brazil, as Rio de Janeiro is exceptionally hot and Foz do Iguacu has the highest rainfall.

    This itinerary is purely a suggestion and can be tailor-made to your requirements, so please contact us with your dates and requests, and we’ll put together a bespoke quotation for you.           

    Not included
    • Any meals not mentioned
    • Personal expenses
    • Tips & gratuities

    13 nights in 4* standard accommodation.

    Hotels in this category include:

    • Hotel José Antonio Lima

    • Casa Andina Premium Valle Sagrado

    • El Mapi Hotel Machu Picchu

    • Costa del Sol Ramada Cusco

    • Hotel San Martin Foz do Iguacu

    • Pestana Rio Atlantica Rio de Janeiro