Explore South America - Volant Travel · • International airfare (to Lima, Peru & from Rio de Janeiro, ... Explore South America ... Foz do Iguaçu, Brazil

Explore South America

— Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Ecuador, Peru —

TOUR DETAILS

Explore South America • Price: $12,995 USD • Duration: 30 days • Date: February 19 - March 20, 2018 • Difficulty: Easy

Inclusions • All internal flights (while on tour)• All accommodations (2-3 star)• All meals• Transportation throughout tour• Airport transfers• Machu Picchu entrance fee• Galapagos National Park fee: $100• 1 Patagonian cruise to glacier• All National Park entrance fees• Corcovado Mountain entrance fee• Sugarloaf Mountain entrance fee• Tango show & dinner• Personal guide

Exclusions • International airfare (to Lima, Peru & from Rio de

Janeiro, Brazil)• Entrance fees to museums and other attractions • Personal items: Laundry, shopping, etc.

Highlights • Machu Picchu, Peru• Vistadome Train Ride, Andes Mountains, Peru• Sacred Valley of the Incas, Peru• Cusco, Peru• Lima, Peru• Quito, Ecuador• Galapagos Islands, Ecuador• Charles Darwin Research Center• Iguaçu Falls, Brazil / Argentina• Buenos Aires, Argentina• Tango Show & Dinner, Buenos Aires• Train Ride, Corcovado Mountain, Rio de Janeiro,

Brazil• Cable Car Ride, Sugarloaf Mountain, Rio de Janeiro,

Brazil• San Cristobal Hill• Patagonia, Argentina / Chile• Perito Moreno Glacier, Argentina• Torres Del Paine National Park, Chile

DAY ACTIVITY LOCATION - MEALS

1• Arrive: Jorge Chavez International Airport (LIM), Lima, Peru • Transfer to hotel• Miraflores and Pacific coast

Lima, Peru

Dinner

2

• Flight to Puerto Maldonado (90m)• Transfer to hotel• Leisurely afternoon in the Amazon Basin• Overnight: Puerto Maldonado

Puerto Maldonado

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

3 • Boat tour of the the Madre de Dios River• Overnight: Puerto Maldonado

Puerto Maldonado


4• Morning flight to Cusco, The Sacred Valley of the Incas (50m)• Inca ruins: Saqsaywaman, Rodadero, Puca Pucara, Tambomachay, Pisac• Overnight: Ollantaytambo, Sacred Valley

Ollantaytambo, Sacred Valley


5

• Visit the Inca ruins at Ollantaytambo• Board the Vistadome train for a ride through the Andes to Aguas Calientes• Optional: take a dip in the natural hot springs• Overnight: Aguas Calientes, Sacred Valley

Aguas Calientes, Sacred Valley


6

• Take an early morning bus ride to Machu Picchu• Explore the mystical Inca ruins of the Machu Picchu Citadel• Optional: hike to either Machu Picchu Mountain or Huayna Picchu Mountain• Train ride to Cusco• Overnight: Cusco

Aguas Calientes, Sacred Valley. Cusco


7

• Walking tour of Cusco’s most iconic sites: • Bascilica, Convent, and Catacombs of San Francisco; Cusco Cathedral• Step back into the 15th century while visiting Qorikancha, The Temple of the Sun, known as the

most important temple in the Inca Empire• Overnight: Cusco

Cusco


8

• Flight to Quito, Ecuador (6hrs)• Arrive: Mariscal Sucre International Airport• Tour Quito's Old Town: San Francisco & Santo Domingo Monasteries• Overnight: Quito

Quito, Ecuador


9 • Day trip to Otavalo for sights of the famous artisan markets or to Cotopaxi National Park• Overnight: Quito

Quito


10• Morning flight to Guayaquil (1hr)• Flight to Seymour Airport on Baltra Island(GPS) (2hrs)• Overnight: Santa Cruz Island

Guayaquil - Santa Cruz Island


11• Visit the Charles Darwin Research Station• Sights of the most famous tortoise species; Galapagos Giant Tortoise• Overnight: Cruise vessel

Santa Cruz Island


DAY

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Explore South America - 30 Days / 29 Nights Itinerary -

12 • Continue to Bartolomé Island for the most breathtaking landscapes in the archipelago.• Overnight: Cruise vessel

Bartolomé Island


13• Explore the largest island; Isabela Island• Enjoy the unparalleled flora and fauna on the island• Overnight: Cruise vessel

Isabela Island


14

• Tour the Charles Darwin Interpretation Center in Puerto Baquerizo• Visit the Galapaguera de Cerro Colorado (nature preserve)• Continue towards Baltra Island• Overnight: Cruise vessel

San Cristobol Island


15• Depart Seymour Airport on Baltra Island(GPS) to Guayaquil (2hrs)• Flight to Quito (1hr)• Overnight: Quito

Quito


16• Flight to Santiago, Chile (7 hrs)• Transfer to hotel• Overnight: Santiago, Chile

Santiago, Chile


17

• Familiarize yourself with Chilean culture on a city tour of Santiago: La Moneda Presidential Palace; Paseo Ahumada pedestrian avenue; Museum of Human Rights

• Take a ride on the adventurous funicular to the beautiful Cerro San Cristobal with its sweeping views of the city below

• Overnight: Santiago

Santiago, Chile


18• Flight to Punta Arenas, built along the Straight of Magellan (3hrs 25m)• Transfer to Puerto Natales (3hrs)• Overnight: Puerto Natales

Puerto Natales


19

• Board a day-long cruise through the Chilean fjords• Enjoy a short hike to the Serrano glacier• Visit a traditional gaucho ranch deep in the Bernardo O’Higgins National Park• Overnight: Puerto Natales

Puerto Natales


20

• Tour the UNESCO biosphere reserve: Torres Del Paine National Park• Board an evening cruise to reach one of the most spectacular, close-up views of the massive

Grey Glacier• Overnight: Puerto Natales

Puerto Natales


21• Transfer to El Calafate, Argentina (3hrs 30mins)• Take in the sunset over Argentina’s most scenic glacier: Perito Moreno• Overnight: El Calafate, Argentina

El Calafate, Argentina


22

• A free day for you to rest and recover• Enjoy the small town of El Calafate• Optional: take a cruise to the spectacular Upsala Glacier• Overnight: El Calafate

El Calafate


ACTIVITY LOCATION - MEALSDAY

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23

• Board a morning flight to Buenos Aires (3hrs 15m)• Experience the essence of South America at a tango show with a traditional Latin American

dinner• Overnight: Buenos Aires

Buenos Aires


24

• Experience the “Paris of South America”• Take a city tour of the cosmopolitan city center mixed with 19th century European-styled

architecture• Teatro Colon Opera House; Avenida 9 de Julio; Metropolitan Cathedral; Recoleta Cemetery; etc.• Overnight: Buenos Aires

Buenos Aires


25

• Flight to Iguazu Falls (1h 55m)• Explore the Argentine side of Iguazu Falls• Take in the magnificence and power of the “Devil’s Throat”• Overnight: Foz do Iguaçu, Brazil

Foz do Iguaçu, Brazil


26

• Explore the Brazilian side of Iguazu Falls• Eat lunch overlooking the massive falls• Optional: boat or helicopter tour of the falls• Overnight: Foz do Iguaçu, Brazil

Foz do Iguaçu, Brazil


27

• Flight to Rio de Janeiro (2h 10m)• Brief city tour: Maracanã stadium (2016 Summer Olympics); Sambadrome (Carnival parade

route); Metropolitan Cathedral• Ride the cable car to enjoy the sunset, mountaintop views at Sugarloaf Mountain• Dinner in the famous Lapa District of music and dance near the Carioca Aqueduct• Overnight: Rio de Janeiro

Rio de Janeiro


28

• Board a train to ride to the top of Corcovado Mountain and take in the vast, overlooking views of Rio de Janeiro.

• Take a picture with one of the most famous Art Deco statues in the world: Christ the Redeemer• Optional: Open-air market• Optional: Copacabana Beach or Ipanema Beach• Overnight: Rio de Janeiro

Rio de Janeiro


29

• Summit Sugarloaf Mountain via Cable car for sweeping views of the city• Optional: Open-air market• Optional: Copacabana Beach or Ipanema Beach• Overnight: Rio de Janeiro

Rio de Janeiro


30 • Our adventurous tour ends in Rio.• International Flights out of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Galeão International Airport

Breakfast

ACTIVITY LOCATION - MEALSDAY

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DAY 1: HOLA! WELCOME TO LIMA, PERU

A Volant representative will pick you up at the airport and transfer you to your hotel. We will spend the remainder of the day exploring Lima. Larcomar is a modern shopping center in the Miraflores District located right on the coast. After a long day of travel we can grab a bite to eat and walk along the Pacific Ocean. Make sure to stop by Parque del Amor, the home to a giant sculpture of a couple kissing as well as beautiful mosaic walls.

DAY 2: LIMA - PUERTO MALDONADO Early this morning we will transfer back to the Jorge Chávez International Airport and fly down to the Padre Aldamiz International Airport in Puerto Maldonado. There are a number of different activity options available to us while in this region. You may choose to observe the colorful macaws at the salt lick in Tambopata National Reserve or i Manu National Park. Or maybe you would prefer to explore Lago Valencia, a lake situated near the Bolivian border that is home to the giant river otter and the squirrel monkey. Whatever you decide just know that you are officially in the Amazon Rainforest.

DAY 3: PUERTO MALDONADO - AMAZON BASIN

Don't be frightened, that deep rumble noise off in distance is just a howler monkey starting his day. Once we have decided to do the same we will take a boat tour of the Madre de Dios river. This paradise of biodiversity is home to an abundance of wildlife, winding rivers and never-ending forests. Your nature guide will open your eyes to the many different species of flora and fauna. For those who may be interested your afternoon can be spent in any one of the nature reserves in the area. Tonight will be our last night in Puerto Maldonado.

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DAY 4: SACERD VALLEY OF THE INCAS - OLLANTAYTAMBO After our short flight to Cusco we will explore many different archeological sites in the Sacred Valley of the Incas. Some of which are called Saqsaywaman, Rodadero, Humedal Wayllarqocha, Tambomachay and Pisac. We will also see spectacular views of the Urumbamba River. Tonight we will rest in Ollantaytambo, the only Inca settlement that has been inhabited since its inception.

DAY 5: SACRED VALLEY OF THE INCAS - OLLANTAYTAMBO Waking up among the gods, we will spend our morning visiting the archeological sites of Ollantaytambo. We will witness the massive Incan Fortress that includes large stone terraces. Next, a 90 minute ride aboard the Vistadome train will take us to Aguas Calientes. Along the way peer outside for incredible views of the Sacred Valley. In the afternoon we will have time for an optional dip in the hot springs. Our evening will be spent in Aguas Calientes.

DAY 6: AGUAS CALIENTES - MACHU PICCHU

For our fifth day of adventure we will catch an early bus ride (20 minutes) to Machu Picchu. The morning sun will magnify the beauty of the citadel. Our day in the "Lost City of the Incas" will be spiritually awakening as the history here is immeasurable. The majority of our day will be spent hiking around the ruins. For those willing and able we will have the option to hike the Machu Picchu Mountain or Huayna Picchu Mountain later in the day. In the evening return enjoy the scenic train ride back to Cusco.

DAY 7: CUSCO Enjoy a full day sightseeing tour of Cusco. In the heart of the former capital of the Incas we will tour the Plaza de Armas, Cusco Cathedral, Iglesia De La Santo Domingo and the Iglesia De La Compania De Jesus. We will also check out sites that date back to the 15th century including the Temple of the Sun and Qorikancha. As we explore this colonial city we will encounter local shopping markets as well as buildings that were once covered in gold. Much like in Lima the Plaza de Armas is considered the center square of Cusco. Here there are picturesque gardens as well as a central fountain to see. Colonial paintings inside the Cusco Cathedral are also a must. Our comfortable accommodations tonight will be in Cusco.

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DAY 8: WELCOME TO ECUADOR

A Volant representative will pick you up at the airport and transfer you to your hotel. Spend the remainder of the day exploring Quito. Made an UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1978, Quito's Old Town should not be missed. View sights such as the Monastery of San Francisco, Monastery of Santo Domingo and the Church and Jesuit College of La Compañía.

DAY 9: QUITO

Embark North to Otavalo to view some one Ecuador's most famous artisan markets or south to Cotopaxi National Park. Choose today to spend time among lively man made landscapes or impressive natural ones. Enjoy a leisurely evening before continuing to the Galapagos Islands.

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DAY 10: GUAYAQUIL - SANTA CRUZ ISLAND

Catch a morning flight to Guayaquil and continue on to the Galapagos Islands. Arrive in the afternoon at the Seymour Airport on Baltra Island(GPS). Use the remainder of the day to explore the immaculate beaches and nature scenes.

DAY 11: SANTA CRUZ ISLAND

Enjoy a full day sightseeing tour of Santa Cruz Island. Home to the Charles Darwin Research Station and the most famous living tortoise species; Galapagos Giant Tortoise. Embark out to the surrounding waters and spend the next four nights aboard a cruise vessel.

DAY 12: BARTOLOME ISLAND

Make your way towards Bartolome Island a volcanic islet off of Santiago Island and view some of the most breathtaking landscapes in the whole archipelago.

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DAY 13: ISABELA ISLAND

Continue to the largest island in the Galapagos. This island is notable for its rich population of bird, animal and marine life. Explore the volcanoes that have created this island and view the eerie Wall of Tears; created by local prisoners during WWII.

DAY 14: SAN CRISTOBAL ISLAND

Spend the day on San Cristóbal Island. Composed of three of four inactive volcanoes, Darwin first landed here in 1835. Visit the Charles Darwn Interpretation Center in Puerto Baquerizo Moreno or visit the Galapaguera de Cerro Colorado (nature preserve). Continue back to Baltra Island to conclude this tour of the Galapagos.

DAY 15: QUITO

Climb aboard your flight to Guayaquil and continue back to Quito. Enjoy a leisurely evening before embarking on the next leg of this incredible experience.

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DAY 16: CUSCO - SANTIAGO, CHILE As you say goodbye to the mystical lands of the Incas, prepare yourself to spend the majority of the day in the air. Maybe take the time to read up on Santiago or brush up on your Spanish, as the next couple of days will be spent in Chile. Once we land we will only be 30 minutes outside the capital of Chile. Tonight plan on a relaxing evening at our hotel to gear up for our walking tour of Santiago tomorrow.

DAY 17: SANTIAGO After breakfast we will embark on our tour of the city. Walking along Paseo Ahumada, pedestrian avenue, we will come across La Moneda Presidential Palace. La Moneda Palace houses the offices of Chile's president. Once we've concluded our walking tour we will take a funicular northeast of the city center to San Cristóbal Hill. At the top of this hill there is a remarkable overlook with views of the Santiago skyline and Andes mountain range. Make sure to take the time to admire the Statue of the Immaculate Conception which is located at the summit of San Cristobal Hill. This statue is an iconic site for the Catholic Church of Chile. After we descend back into the city we will have the option to tour the Museum of Memory and Human Rights. This museum honors the victims of human rights violations that occurred during the civic-military regime. Tonight will be our last night in Santiago.

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DAY 18: SANTIAGO - PUNTA ARENAS - PUERTO NATALES Today we change gears and head to the region of Patagonia. Leaving Santiago behind us our next stop is Punta Arenas. After lunch on the coast we will drive to Puerto Natales. Although long, this three hour drive offers stunning landscapes. We will stay in Puerto Natales for the night as this city is the perfect stepping-off point for Chile’s Torres del Paine National Park.

DAY 19: PUERTO NATALES Embarking on the "Channel of Last Hope" we will spend our day cruising through Chilean fjords in Bernardo O’Higgins National Park. Keep your eyes peeled for sea lions, cormorants, and condors. The boat ride will take us to an enclosed glacial lagoon. Here, the Serrano Glacier as well as the Balmaceda Glacier can be viewed. At this point we will have the opportunity for a short hike up to the glaciers. The small watershed in front of the magnificent glaciers , Estancia Perales, will prove to be a good resting point during our day. Expect to have lunch here. We will cruise back to Puerto Natales for the evening.

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DAY 20: PUERTO NATALES - TORRES DEL PAINE NATIONAL PARK Considered one of the largest and most visited parks in Chile, Torres Del Paine National Park offers pristine views of sparkling lakes, jagged mountains, glaciers as well as flora and fauna found nowhere else on Earth. This park is considered a UNESCO biosphere reserve and covers nearly 950 square miles of land. In the evening we will be taking a sunset cruise to get up close to the Grey Glacier. This glacier just about covers 100 square miles of land. Watching the days' final sun beams bounce off the glacier is a memory to last a lifetime.

DAY 21: PUERTO NATALES - PERITO MORENO GLACIER - EL CALAFATE, ARGENTINA Today we will make our way from Chilean Patagonia to the Argentinian side. After a 3.5 hour drive to El Calafante we will spend the remainder of the day exploring Perito Moreno Glacier in Los Glaciares National Park. This glacier is considered to be one of the last remaining bodies of ice that is still growing. Tonight we will rest in El Calafante, about an hour drive from the glacier.

DAY 22: EL CALAFATE Take a load off and use the day to rest. The small town of El Calafate offers a quaint shopping experience, gorgeous views of Lake Argentina and a small yet diverse night life. If you are so inclined there will also be an optional cruise to the Upsala Glacier.

DAY 23: EL CALAFATE - BUENOS AIRES For our next leg of the trip we will take a 3 hour flight from El Calafate to Buenos Aires. Considered to be the "Paris of South America" we will spend two nights here in the birthplace of the tango. Tonight while we delve into Argentinian cuisine we will also observe a flashy tango performance.

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DAY 25: BUENOS AIRES - IGUAZU FALLS The first part of the day we will fly from Buenos Aires to Iguazu falls. After about a two hour flight we will explore the Argentinian side of the falls. Behold the wonder of the largest falls on the planet, where five different waterfalls dump into the Iguazu River. At this point we will hike out to the very edge of the falls for a classic snapshot of Devil's Throat. Keep your eyes peeled for toucans, butterflies, coatis and other animals in this area. After spending about four hours walking along the many catwalks that cover the river we will drive into Brazil to Foz do Iguaçu for the night.

DAY 24: BUENOS AIRES

Immerse yourself into the hustle and bustle that is Buenos Aires. Within todays city tour along Avenida 9 de Julio we will explore sites such as the Teatro Colon opera house, Metropolitan Cathedral, Recoleta Cemetery, Presidential Palace, the Casa Rosada and finally the bright neighborhood of La Boca. Be sure to stop by the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Buenos Aires as this is the former church of Pope Francis I and is one of many European style buildings in the city. Our day will conclude with dinner and a show as we be taking advantage of this city's flourishing night life.

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DAY 26: IGUAZU FALLS Only a short transfer from our hotel to the Brazilian side of Iguazu Falls we will have the opportunity to explore more of this National Park. Today you will have the option for a boat or helicopter tour of the falls. Be sure to soak up the raw natural beauty one last time before we make our way back to Foz do Iguaçu for the night.

DAY 27: IGUAZU FALLS - RIO DE JANEIRO After a morning flight from Iguazu Falls to Rio de Janeiro we will spend the rest of the day touring the city. It won't take long to see why Rio de Janeiro is considered the cultural capital or Brazil. Among the many sites to see we will stop by the Maracanã football stadium where Brazil hosted the 2014 World Cup Finals. The Sambadrome or the carnival parade route is also a must see. While downtown we will also tour the Metropolitan Cathedral. The cathedral's unique architecture was inspired by the Mayan pyramids of Mexico. In the evening we will make our way to Sugarloaf Mountain for spectacular views of the Atlantic and to watch the sunset over Rio de Janeiro. To conclude our day we will have dinner in the Lapa District near an aqueduct.

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DAY 28-29: RIO DE JANEIRO For our last day in South America will take a thirty minute train ride to the mountain, Corcovado to stand beneath the Christ the Redeemer statue. As one of the new seven wonders of the world this statue took 9 years to build beginning in 1922. Made completely of Soapstone and reinforced concrete the statue stands the 98 foot tall not including the 26 foot tall pedestal. Later in the day we will tour a number of open air markets in the area. Be sure to sample some of the exotic food Brazil has to offer. If you so desire there will also be an optional trip to the Copacabana or Ipanema beaches. We will conclude our evening with a farewell dinner.

DAY 30: RIO DE JANEIRO - TOUR ENDS International Flight home from Galeão International Airport in Rio de Janeiro. Thank you for choosing Volant Travel.

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Explore South America - Volant Travel · • International airfare (to Lima, Peru & from Rio de Janeiro, ... Explore South America ... Foz do Iguaçu, Brazil