The incredible adventure. From the moment you arrive in Santiago de Chile, to your departure from Salvador de Bahia in Brazil, you’ll be amazed at the diversity of both landscape and culture that this circuit offers. Plaza de Armas in Santiago, crowded with artists displaying their work, the Indian inhabitants of Atacama, tango dancers in San Telmo and the samba rhythm filling the air in Rio and Bahia are only some of the attractions. Add the desolate landscape of salt pans at Atacama, the lush beech forests and lakes of Puerto Varas, the snow-capped peaks of the Torres del Paine, the vineyards of Mendoza, the avenues of Buenos Aires, the beaches of Rio, the magnificent Iguaçu Falls and the dense rain forest of the Amazon. This route offers it all.      
Includes: All transfers days 1-29 as per itinerary, 28 nights’ accommodation, touring in coach, public inter-city coach, boat and air, local English speaking guides, entry fees to included sites, portage for one bag per person, meals as indicated.

Not included: International flights from/to Australia, visas, flight Buenos Aires-Rio on Day 19, exit taxes if applicable, other meals, personal purchases, travel insurance, tips, optional activities. 

ITINERARY
 

Day 1: Santiago
You are met on arrival and transferred to your city hotel. Rest of day at leisure.

Day 2: Santiago   [B]
The morning is at leisure. Meet your guide for an afternoon city tour. Visit the Church of San Francisco, Barrio Paris and Londres, the Club Hipico and Plaza de Armas. Afterwards ascend San Cristobal Hill for views across the city to the Andes.

Day 3: Santiago   [B]
A day at leisure but we recommend the optional full-day guided tour to the beach-resort city of Valparaiso and Vina del Mar.

Day 4: Atacama   [B]
Transfers and flight to Calama, then by road to San Pedro de Atacama for check-in. An afternoon tour includes a stroll through the city, occupied by a Palaeolithic civilization before Spanish colonization and visiting the Moon Valley for sunset.

Day 5: Atacama   [BL]
A full day guided tour visits the world’s driest desert, the Atacama. We see the expansive sand plains, the Salt Lake, organic sculptures of volcanic stone, and verdant oasis.

Day 6: Atacama   [B]
A day at leisure in the town allows time to appreciate the beautiful colonial architecture and Indian culture. An optional half-day tour includes a visit to the geysers at El Tatio at 4.3km above sea level.

Day 7: Santiago   [B]
Transfers and flight to Santiago and transfer to your hotel. During the afternoon take part in a half-day tour to the Cavas de Maipo vineyard, established in 1714.

Day 8: Puerto Natales   [B]
A morning flight to Punta Arenas is followed by a tour of the city, the most southerly city in Chile, located on the shores of the Magellan Strait. Later we board the public bus to Puerto Natales for overnight.

Day 9: Torres del Paine   [B]
A full-day excursion to this incredible national park, a region of mountain peaks, lakes and forests.

Day 10: Punta Arenas   [B]
We return to Punta Arenas by public bus where you can take the optional visit to the penguin colony at Otway Bay available 15Oct-15Mar, or to Nandu Park with its flocks of flightless birds. Overnight.

Day 11: Santiago   [B]
Transfers and flight to Santiago. You are met on arrival and transferred to your hotel.
The day is at leisure in Santiago.

Day 12: Santiago   [B]
A full day at leisure in Santiago or you may repeat the half day tour (at no charge) of day two.  

Day 13: Santiago   [B]
A full day at leisure in Santiago or you may take the optional full day excursion to Valparaiso and Vina del Mar.

Day 14: Mendoza   [B]
Depart by public bus across the Andes. The route follows Ruta 60 through the foothills and then past Aconcagua, the highest peak in South America. After passing through the Andes Tunnel the road descends to Mendoza, the centre of Argentina’s huge wine region.

Day 15: Mendoza   [B]
A tour of the city includes Independence Plaza and the ‘Founding Area’, as well as General Martin Park and the Hill of Glory. An optional afternoon extension includes a visit to a bodega for wine tasting.

Day 16: Buenos Aires   [B]
Morning transfers and flight to Buenos Aires. An afternoon tour takes you to Casa Rosada, Plaza de Mayo, down the world’s widest avenue, and to the suburbs of San Telmo and La Boca. Optional evening visit to a Tango Show with Dinner.
 
Day 17: Buenos Aires   [B]
A day at leisure in the ‘Paris of South America’. You may wish to return to colourful La Boca for a stroll through the art market or see dancers busking outside sidewalk cafes. Optional full day visit to a traditional Estancia to see gauchos at work, with BBQ lunch.

Day 18: Buenos Aires   [B]
A half day tour to the Delta region where the Plate River meets the Parana River. Here you see aristocratic mansions, islands with luxuriant vegetation, and the leisure lifestyle of Portofinos, the people of Buenos Aires.

Day 19: Rio de Janeiro   [B]
Transfer and flight to Rio (this flight not included). Arrival transfer to your hotel. Rest of day at leisure.

Day 20: Rio de Janeiro   [B]
A half day guided tour of the sights of Rio. Drive along Guanabara Bay and Flamengo Park, through Downtown seeing the iconic buildings, then ascend Sugarloaf Mountain by cable car. An optional afternoon tour ascends to the Christ the Redeemer statue on Corcovado Mountain.

Day 21: Rio de Janeiro   [B]
A full day at leisure or you can take any of the following options: Full day coach tour through forests, mountains and valleys to Petropolis, or full day tour of tropical islands of Sepetiba Bay on a two-masted schooner with lunch, or Rio by Night evening folkloric carnival show.

Day 22: Iguassu   [B]
Transfer and flight to Iguaçu, and check in at your hotel. Afternoon enter the Nat. Park and follow the catwalks to viewing platforms and to the base of Devil’s Throat.

Day 23: Iguaçu   [B]
Cross to the Argentinean side and follow both the Superior and Inferior Circuit walks to viewing points, then board the Jungle Train to view the Devil’s Throat, the most spectacular view of all.
 
Day 24: Amazon River   [B]
Transfer and flight to Manaus, the main port on the Amazon River. We transfer by boat to the Amazon Eco-Park Lodge deep in the tropical forest. Rest of day at leisure.
 
Day 25: Amazon   [BLD]
A full day excursion to explore the variety of fauna and flora of the forest
 
Day 26: Amazon Basin   [BLD]
A full day boating trip to the ‘meeting of the waters’.
 
Day 27: Salvador da Bahia   [B]
After a visit to the Monkey Jungle we transfers to Manaus by boat, then join a tour of this unique city on the river. Later transfer and flight to Salvador da Bahia. On arrival check in at your hotel for two nights.
 
Day 28: Salvador da Bahia   [B]
A morning tour visits the Farol da Barra, the coastal Barra District, the Municipal Square and the Lacerda Elevator for breathtaking views across Baia de Todas Santos. Optional tonight is a visit to ‘Bahia By Night’, a vibrant night of dance and Afro-Brazilian music.
 
Day 29: Departure   [B]
After breakfast transfer to the airport for onward flight.