Rio de Janeiro: 23rd February to 1st April

by Amy | Thu Feb 23 2017 | #itinerary

39 Days – Rio de Janeiro to Lima

Day 1 – Rio de Janeiro

• Arrival Day and Welcome Meeting.

Day 2 – Rio de Janeiro to Ilha Grande

• Bus & Ferry – From Rio, head south along the Atlantic coast to one of the most picturesque, laid-back islands on the coast, llha Grande.
• Free Time – Explore this piece of paradise any way you wish.

Day 3 – Ilha Grande

• Carte Blanche – There’s plenty to see and do in Ilha Grande, and we wanted to make sure that you had some time to take it all in.

Day 4 – Ilha Grande to Paraty

• Ferry & Bus – Travel up the coast to Paraty and wander the cobblestoned streets of this colonial beach side town.

Day 5 & 6 – Paraty

• Free Time – Enjoy two free days to explore.

Day 7 – Paraty to Foz Do Iguacu

• Flight – Transfer to Sao Paulo for a flight to the magnificent Iguassu Falls.
• Iguassu Falls – These falls border Brazil, Paraguay and Argentina, explore the Brazilian side which offers a grand overview.

Day 8 – Foz Do Iguacu

• Iguassu Falls – Cross the border to Argentina for a new perspective of the falls, exploring a series of catwalks and trails.

Day 9 – Foz Do Iguacu to Bonito

• Free Time – Enjoy some free time before travelling to Bonito.

Day 10 & 11 – Bonito

• Carte Blanche – Enjoy two full days in Bonito as there’s plenty to see and do.

Day 12 – Bonito to Pantanal

• Journey into the Pantanal, a perfect place to experience the wildlife of Brazil.

Day 13 – Pantanal

• Enjoy an excursion into the wetland of the Pantanal with a local guide.

Day 14 – Pantanal to Santa Cruz De la Sierra

• Overnight Train – Leave the Pantanal and head for the border, crossing into Bolivia and heading into Santa Cruz.

Day 15 – Santa Cruz De la Sierra

• Free Time – After a long day travel stretch your legs wondering the city.

Day 16 – Santa Cruz De la Sierra to Sucre

• Plane – Fly to Sucre and explore this beautiful colonial city.

Day 17 & 18 – Sucre

• Carte Blanche – Free time to explore the city, the former capital of Bolivia.

Day 19 – Sucre to Potosi

• Bus – Settle in and scan the scenery.
• Free Time – Enjoy the afternoon in Potosi.

Day 20 – Potosi to Uyuni

• Travel through the Bolivian landscape to the town of Uyuni, the jumping off point for the three day 4×4 excursion to the Uyuni Salt.

Day 21 – Uyuni to Salar de Uyuni

• Enjoy travelling in a 4×4 to the Uyuni Salt Flats and surrounding desert Altiplano with spectacular scenery.

Day 22 – Salar de Uyuni

• Continue exploring the Uyuni Salt Flats. Admire the spectacular scenery while passing red and blue lagoons along the route. Spot wild llamas, alpacas and even flamingos deep within the desert.

Day 23 – Salar de Uyuni to La Paz

• Rise early to cover more ground of the Uyuni Salt Flats, as the scenery changes to Volcanoes, Salt Lakes and Geysers. Then travel by overnight train to La Paz.

Day 24 – La Paz

• Enjoy the afternoon in La Paz.

Day 25 – La Paz

• Use another free day to explore La Paz.

Day 26 – La Paz

• Visit the pre-Incan ruins of Tiahuanaco.

Day 27 – La Paz to Puno

• Travel by bus through the Altiplano, crossing the border to the Peruvian city of Puno, on the shored of Lake Titicaca.

Day 28 – Puno to Lago Titicaca

• Enjoy a guided tour of Lake Titicaca.

Day 29 – Lago Titicaca to Puno

• Visit the floating islands of Uros before returning to Puno.

Day 30 – Puno to Cusco

• Hop aboard a local bus for a full days drive to Cusco.

Day 31 – Cusco

• Carte Blanche – Enjoy a free day to explore the city’s museums and local markets.

Day 32 – Cusco to Ollantaytambo

• Enjoy a full day guided tour of the Sacred Valley and Ollantaytambo ruins.

Day 33 – Inca Trail

• Inca Trail km 82 to Wayllabamba Camp – 11km. Ease into things with a straight forward day of hiking, the meandering streams, stunning Andean scenery, and ancient Incan ruins will give you plenty to look at.

Day 34 – Inca Trail

• Wayllabamba Camp to Paqaymayo Camp – 12km. Trek over progressively spectacular and steeper terrain on you way to Warmiwanusca, better known as Dead Woman’s Pass. This is the highest point of the trek at 4,198m (13,769ft).

Day 35 – Inca Trail

• Paqaymayo Camp to Winaywayna – 16km. Cross two passes and more ruins along the way. The first pass is Runquraqay at 3,950m (13,113ft) where, on a clear day, hikers can catch a glimpse of the snow-capped Cordillera Vilcabamba. Hike through cloud forest on the gentle clime to the second pass of the day, walking through original Incan constructions.

Day 36 – Machu Picchu to Cusco

• Winaywayna to Machu Piccu – 4km. The final day of the hike starts pre-dawn to reach the Sun Gate before sunrise. Catch the first views of the breathtaking ruins of Machu Picchu, followed by a guided tour of the Lost City.

Day 37 – Cusco * Mum and Jon depart to meet Alex, Gill, Stuart and Zoe for a Colombian Adventure.

• Carte Blanche – Enjoy a free day to explore or relax.

Day 38 – Cusco to Lima

• Plane – Take a short flight to the coast and the capital city of Lima.

Day 39 – Lima

• End of tour – Next tour has already begun!

Accommodation

26 nights in Hotels, 2 nights on Overnight Buses, 2 nights on Overnight Trains, 3 nights Camping, 1 night at a Home Stay, 2 nights at a Multi-share Hotel and 2 nights in a Tented room with Hammocks