2024-25 Peru, Antarctica & Brazil

Arrival to Lima, reception at the airport and transfer by private vehicle to your hotel.

After breakfast, a guided visit of colonial and modern Lima, including the cathedral, dating from 1654, the main square, which still houses the original bronze fountain built in 1650, and the San Francisco Convent and its catacombs. Known as the city of the kings, Lima was founded in 1535 by Pizarro and rebuilt in 1991, the same year that UNESCO declared it a world heritage site. One of the very few South American cities that preserve the colonial past, Lima was home to the Spanish viceroy during the time of the Spanish colonialists. The tour will include a visit to the residential areas of San Isidro and Miraflores, before stopping at Larco Mar to enjoy a view of the beautiful Pacific Ocean. Return to your hotel in Lima.

After breakfast, transfer to the airport for your flight to Cuzco, the ancient Inca capital of the Incas. After the one hour flight, reception and transfer to your hotel, Los Andes. In the afternoon, a guided tour of Cuzco including the Cathedral, Qoricancha temple, the Inca fortress of Sacsayhuaman overlooking Cuzco, Qenko and Puka Pukara. Return to the hotel.

Enjoy a good nigh's sleep before transfer to the train station for the boarding of the Expedition train to Aguas Calientes. Arrival, assistance with your luggage and check-into your hotel, El Sanctuario before boarding of the bus for the short ride up to Machu Picchu, the ancient Inca citadel.
Shortly after, a guided tour of Machu Picchu, the most spectacular ancient city in the world. Built by the Inca Pachacutec, and comprising stone blocks fitted with masterful precision, Machu Picchu harmoniously blends into the mountain landscape. There are many theories as to the origins behind Machu Picchu but three of the most popular ideas include a temple to the sun, a fortress against the jungle inhabitants or a sanctuary for the Incas. This fabulous city has houses, temples, warehouses, a large central square, all connected by narrow roads and steps, and is surrounded by terraces cut into the mountain side which were used for agriculture. Lunch at the Sanctuary Lodge before free time. Accommodation in Aguas Calientes.

Free day in Machu Picchu. Today no guide is provided as we feel that Machu Picchu requires a certain amount of self-discovery to be fully understood. Returning to Cuzco onboard the train and to your hotel.

After breakfast at your hotel, start of a full-day's excursion to the beautiful Urubamba, the Sacred Valley of the Incas, situated between Pisac and Ollantaytambo. It is an exceptionally fertile valley that was and remains the larder of Cuzco. You will visit the village of Pisac, founded during colonial times, and set at the foot of a hill crowned by the remains of an ancient Inca city. On Sundays, Tuesdays and Thursdays, you will witness Indians bartering their products in the main square and artisans from around the area sell their woven alpaca wool blankets and ponchos, engraved gourds, antique reproductions, jewellery, etc. After lunch, continue your trip to Ollantaytambo, the only Inca town that was not defeated by the Spanish with an opportunity to explore the ruins which tower above. You will then return to Cuzco after this full day with wonderful memories of the heart of the Inca land.

After early breakfast, we bid farewell to Cuzco and take a short drive in a private car to the airport for the flight to Puerto Maldonado. Arrival to Puerto Maldonado. Reception at the airport and transfer to the river port, whilst hearing an introductory talk about the city and surrounding areas, in addition to the characteristics of the Amazon region. You will embark on a 45-minute boat ride on the Madre de Dios River until your arrival at the Reserva Amazonica Rainforest lodge. Here you will be assigned to your cabin.
After lunch, an afternoon excursions begin including a guided walk along one of the trails close to the lodge. The trails wind past important giant trees of the forest such as the kapok and the strangler fig, and you may see superb examples of bird and insect life.
You will also take a boat ride along the Madre de Dios River to see the change in the environment as twilight gives way to darkness. Animals and birds are replaced by special species adapted to the darkness, such as nightjars, owls, capybara, and caiman. You may choose to take the Twilight Rainforest excursion as an alternative. Cocktails and buffet dinner in the dining room of the lodge's main pavilion.

Wake up early to observe the sun rise over the Madre de Dios River before a buffet breakfast with eggs, cereals, local fruits, and fresh bread.
You will then gather in the Eco-Centre for your morning excursions.
A five-minute boat ride takes you to the Canopy Inkaterra Interpretation Centre where you can ascend the first tower, 45 metres (150 feet) above the forest floor. Spend an hour and a half walking on the bridges that stretch between seven platforms, as you see giant strangler fig trees, orchids, toucans, woodpeckers, trogons, and with luck, monkeys or a three-toed sloth. You will then embark on a 40-minute boat ride that takes you to the Tambopata National Reserve. Spend an hour-and-a-half walking the 3 km (1.8 mile) trail through the wildlife-rich reserve, and you will arrive at the breath-taking oxbow lake, Lake Sandoval. Here you will have an excellent opportunity to see the endangered giant river otter.

After breakfast, check out of the lodge and return by boat to Puerto Maldonado, an hour and a half upriver. Visit the city's Butterfly Farm, unique in Peru where you can experience several dozen of the more than 3,800 varieties of butterflies and moths found in Peru.
Assistance with your luggage, prior to boarding your flight to Lima and connecting flight to Santiago de Chile. Arrival and transfer to your hotel.

After breakfast, transfer to the airport for your flight to Punta Arenas. Arrival and transfer to your hotel.

After breakfast, transfer to the airport for the flight to the Antarctic airport of Frei Base at King George Island. You will fly over the Magellan Strait, Tierra del Fuego Island, Darwin Mountain Range, the mythical Cape Horn and the raft Drake Passage. Finally arriving at King George Island, gateway to the white continent, where most of the antarctic scientific bases are located. Here you can also find the Chilean village "Villa Las Estrellas", place where several Chilean families live all year round.
Upon your arrival you will be welcomed by our Antarctic-expert tour guide who will take you on a tour visiting the following sites:

• Villa Las Estrellas (first settlement inhabited by civilians)
• Orthodox Russian Church (At Bellingshausen Station)
• Navigation on a zodiac boat to Ardley Island to visit some penguin colonies
• Navigation around Collins glacier.

Today, you will visit the sea lion colony in the Drake Sea, marine birds, penguins and weddell seals at the Chinese research station. Also a visit to Ardley Island to visit the papua penguin colony there.
This place is one of the only places on earth that is still pristine. Its unique beauty contrasted with its extreme weather conditions, make it an exotic and enchanting destination for all those privileged travellers who are planning a visit to the end of the world.
You will visit the impressive landscapes of the white continent, see part of its wildlife and experience the daily life of men populating this territory in the name of science and investigation. Return flight to Punta Arenas and transfer to your hotel.

After breakfast, transfer to the airport for the flight to Santiago and connect with your flight to Rio de Janeiro. Arrival, reception and transfer to your hotel.

Free day at leisure.

After breakfast, a full day visit of the "marvelous city" including a sightseeing tour to Sugar Loaf Mountain. A two-stage cable car takes you to the top of Sugar Loaf Mountain where you will enjoy a splendid view of Rio, Copacabana Beach, and Guanabara Bay. After lunch (not included) a trip to the heart of Rio for a historical city tour including Santa Teresa, the Teatro Municipal and the Fine Arts Museum.

After breakfast, a half day visit to Corcovado, the mountain home to the world famous, Christo de Redentor statue for a magnificent 360° panoramic view of Rio. Return to your hotel for an afternoon of leisure.

After breakfast, transfer to the airport for the flight to Iguazu. Arrival, reception and transfer to your hotel.

Excursion of the Iguazu falls, the most voluminous falls in the world and more than three times the width of the Niagara Falls. The falls lie on the three borders of Brazil, Argentina and Paraguay. Return to your hotel.

After breakfast, transfer to the airport for the flight to Sao Paulo and connect with your flight home.