Wonders of South America | South America
 Machu Picchu in morning light |
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22 days / 21 nights
| Location | Nights |
| Santiago | 3 |
| Lima | 2 |
| Cusco | 4 |
| Machu Picchu | 1 |
| Puerto Varas | 1 |
| Bariloche | 3 |
| Buenos Aires | 3 |
| Iguazu Falls | 1 |
| Rio de Janeiro | 3 |
Day 01 Arrive Santiago
Arrive to an A&K welcome with your tour escort. This evening visit Santiago’s most important contemporary art galleries in the elegant barrio of Vitacura with a welcome pisco sour.
Grand Hyatt (Grand Deluxe Room)
Day 02 Santiago – Lima
Fly to Lima. An afternoon tour of colonial and modern Lima taking in the Government Palace, the Cathedral, the Plaza de Armas and the Archaeological Museum. A drive through San Isidro and Miraflores showcases these elegant seaside districts and this evening is a special occasion at the Casa Hacienda Moreyra with a cooking demonstration followed by dinner (B,D).
Casa Andina Private Collection (Junior Suite)
Day 03 Lima – Cusco (3,000M)
Fly to Cusco. An afternoon to acclimatise in this fine colonial city (B).
Hotel Libertador (Deluxe Room)
Day 04 Cusco
A morning guided walk around this colonial city with its cathedral and the beautiful Plaza de Armas and then on to the nearby Inca ruins of Sacsayhuaman. Finish at Colcampata House for pisco sours before lunch (B,L).
Hotel Libertador (Deluxe Room)
Day 05 Cusco – Sacred Valley – Cusco
Today is spent exploring the Sacred Valley, heartland of the Incas, a charming area full of archaeological sites, Inca terraces and quaint colonial churches. A highlight is the area’s colourful market towns including Chincheros where you are invited into the home of a local weaver to observe the production of regional handicrafts. Visit also the 15th century town of Ollantaytambo with its Inca ruins (B,L).
Hotel Libertador (Deluxe Room)
Day 06 Cusco – Machu Picchu (2,350M)
Transfer to Poroy Station to board the train for the scenic Vistadome journey along a narrow gauge line to Machu Picchu. Marvel at these breathtaking ruins which were rediscovered in 1911 by Hiram Bingham. Your tour of the site is in the company of Alfredo Mormontoy, resident archaeologist at Machu Picchu since 2001. He gives an exclusive insight into the history of Machu Picchu, the mystery surrounding its use and demise, and into current work and research being undertaken at the complex (B,L,D).
Inkaterra Machu Picchu (Superior Room)
Day 07 Machu Picchu – Cusco
A fascinating morning to further explore the ruins with your guide. After lunch board the Vistadome for the return journey to Cusco (B,L).
Hotel Libertador (Deluxe Room)
Day 08 Cusco – Lima
A return flight to Lima today where you are treated to a tour of the famous Gold Museum, Peru’s most popular, which houses an excellent collection of pre-Columbian gold, silver and bronze, ceramics, weavings and mummies (B).
Casa Andina Private Collection (Junior Suite)
Day 09 Lima – Santiago
Return by air to Santiago with an afternoon touring the sights. Stroll around the Plaza de la Constitucion, see the Cathedral and panoramic views from San Cristobal Hill. A&K also arranges a tour of the inspirational Pre-Columbian Art Museum with the curator (B).
Grand Hyatt (Grand Deluxe Room)
Day 10 Santiago
Journey south into the Maipo Valley, one of Chile’s most famous wine growing regions. You will visit two of the country’s finest wineries with lunch at Dona Paula on the Santa Rita estate (B,L).
Grand Hyatt (Grand Deluxe Room)
Day 11 Santiago – Puerto Varas
A flight south to Puerto Montt in the Chilean Lake District and your hotel at Puerto Varas (B).
Hotel Melia Patagonia (Superior Room)
Day 12 Puerto Varas – Bariloche
Today is the outstanding journey across the Andes to Bariloche in Argentina. This is an exclusive trip travelling along the shores of Lake Llanquihue visiting villages along the way. Lunch at Villa La Angostura and a private motor boat trip on Lake Nahuel Huapi (seasonal) (B,L).
Llao Llao Resort (Lake Room)
Day 13 – Day 14 Bariloche
Two full days spent in the beautiful alpine surrounds of Bariloche. There is an excursion to Cerro Campanario with a chairlift ride to the top for heartstopping views of the lakes, mountains and forest but the remainder of your time is at leisure with optional resort activities including mountain biking, fishing and sailing (B).
Llao Llao Resort (Lake Room)
Day 15 Bariloche – Buenos Aires
Fly into the Argentine capital and transfer to your hotel. This evening is a special dinner in the home of one of Buenos Aires’ leading chefs (B,D).
Sofitel Buenos Aires (Deluxe Room)
Day 16 Buenos Aires
This morning enjoy a guided tour of the city. Visit the old port district of La Boca and bohemian San Telmo, the Plaza de Mayo leaving time to wander through the famous Recoleta cemetery. An afternoon of dance as you pay a visit to the historic Café Tortoni for an introduction to the intricacies of the tango. To round off the day take in the elegant tango performance at the sophisticated Esquina Carlos Gardel where A&K arranges VIP viewing and dinner (B,D).
Sofitel Buenos Aires (Deluxe Room)
Day 17 Design Your Day Buenos Aires
With so much to see in this sophisticated metropolis, we leave the choice to you. Pick one of the following activities according to your preference: Tour the city’s finest galleries and museums including MALBA and Isaac Fernando Blanco Museum of Spanish-American Art with an expert guide. Or comb the city’s boutiques and specialty stores with your own personal shopper. Or discover the delights of Buenos Aires by bike (B,L).
Sofitel Buenos Aires (Deluxe Room)
Day 18 Buenos Aires – Iguazu Falls
Fly to Iguazu Falls to witness the incredible spectacle of the Parana and Iguazu Rivers plunging over hard granite in a series of gigantic waterfalls. Visit first the Brazilian side where the panoramic ciews are awesome and take a scenic helicopter flight. Then on to the Argentine side where travellers get close up to the thundering torrent of water which plunges over the steep cliffs before walking through the jungle to a catwalk for dramatic views of the ‘Devil’s Throat’ cataract (B).
Sheraton Iguazu Resort & Spa (Falls View Room)
Day 19 Iguazu – Rio de Janeiro
This morning a scenic helicopter flight gives you a birds eye view before touring the Brazilian side of the Falls where panoramic views are at their best. Afterwards, your flight to Rio de Janeiro delivers you to your hotel, situated in front of famous Ipanema Beach. A treat in store tonight with a welcome cocktail and children’s samba performance in the hotel (B).
Sofitel Rio de Janeiro (Deluxe Ocean Front Room)
Day 20 – Day 21 Rio de Janeiro
Two days in this vibrant city with plenty to do. Start with a city tour taking in the Catholic Cathedral, the San Benito Monastery and a cable car ride up the iconic Sugar Loaf mountain followed by a typical BBQ lunch at Porcao Rio’s. There is an excursion to the charming hillside district of Santa Teresa and a journey up Corcovado Hill to the Tijuca Forest and breathtaking views from the new ‘World Wonder’ the Statue of Christ the Redeemer. There is a half day free for exploring the famous beaches of Ipanema and Leblon or some last minute shopping and a farewell dinner in the home of artist Joao Carl
A Haven for Artists and Intellectuals
The Santa Teresa district of Rio is a haven for artists and intellectuals. It is a charming hilly area with many colonial and 19th century buildings set in narrow, curving, tree-lined streets. Meet renowned painter Favoretto whose lovely home has strong Mediterranean influences. He welcomes A&K guests into his happy home for an evening of authentic Brazilian hospitality.
The charming Ignacio Aguirre is your escort throughout South America. Born in Santiago, he is one of A&K’s leading guides and is a fluent English speaker with interests in wine, environmental preservation and birdwatching. Guiding has taken Ignacio right throughout his home country from north to south and he declares Pucon in the Lake District his favourite spot for outdoor pursuits.
Buenos Aires' Museum of Latin American Modern Art
One of Buenos Aires’ tourist sights worth the hype is undoubtedly the Museum of Latin American Modern Art. Housed in a striking minimalist space it showcases an outstanding collection of modern Latin American art produced during the 20th Century, with some 270 works by Argentinean and Latin American artists. See works by Diego Rivera, Tarsila do Amaral, Wifredo Lam, Frida Kahlo and Fernando Botero amongst others.
