Explore Peru, Argentina & Brazil
Explore Peru, Argentina & Brazil
Explore Peru, Argentina & Brazil
18 Days Starting in Lima and ending in Rio de Janeiro
Visiting: Lima, Cusco , Aguas Calientes , Cusco, Puno , Lima , Buenos Aires , Buenos Aires, Ituizangó, Ibera Wetlands/Ituizangó, Foz do Iguazu, Iguazu Falls, Foz do Iguazu , Rio de Janeiro
Tour operator:
Tour code:
GGSGC
Guide Type:
Fully Guided
Group size:
1 - 12
Age range:
15-99 years
Tour operated in:
EnglishInterests:
Tour Overview
South America has many sides, from the energy of the cities and the beauty of the landscape to the spirit of the people. On this 18-day discovery, you’ll wind through the Inca heartlands and jungles of Peru, the enigmatic cities and natural wonders of Argentina and the dynamism of Brazil's vibrant Rio. See animals, meet locals, traverse trails and marvel at all the contrasts of this very special corner of the world. If you’re looking for a trip that hits not one, but two Wonders of the World off your bucket list – you’ve come to the right place. Take a guided tour of Machu Picchu, nestled high in the Andes Mountains, then visit Christ the Redeemer, overlooking breathtaking Rio. Wild ride, anyone?
Highlights
Itinerary
Day 1: Lima
Location: Lima
Bienvenidos! Welcome to Peru. With Indigenous cultures dating back millennia, this country is a fascinating land of Amazonian rainforests, diverse wildlife and soaring mountains. Your adventure begins in Lima with a welcome meeting at 2 pm at your hotel in Lima. After, head downtown for a guided walking tour of the city's historical centre to take in the colonial mansions, palaces and churches that line the streets. Then, you’ll have the rest of the afternoon free. You might visit the Museum of the Inquisition to learn about Spanish colonialism in Peru. Otherwise, wander around the city until night falls, then embark on an optional Lima Bites and Sights Tour with Urban Adventures, taking you to the bohemian Barranco district to sample the best local street food and Pisco cocktails.   
Included Activities:
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Optional Activities:
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Day 2: Cusco
Location: Cusco
Meals Included: breaksfast
This morning after breakfast, you’ll catch an early flight to Cusco. Spend a little time acclimatising to the high altitude (3450 m). Then, get acquainted with this charming city and its intriguing blend of cultures on a leader-led walking tour. Check out some of Cusco's main attractions, as well as its lesser-known sights, such as the Qoricancha temple, San Pedro market, the main square, the 12 Angled Stone, Regocijo Square and San Blas Square. Tonight is free to explore at your own pace or find the perfect dinner spot with your group and try some local Peruvian favourites.  
Included Activities:
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Optional Activities:
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Day 3: Aguas Calientes
Location: Aguas Calientes
Meals Included: breaksfast, lunch
Travel by private bus through the Sacred Valley on the outskirts of Cusco today. This lush valley, known as Wilcamayo to the Incas, has long been the main source of food for the high Andes. Maize crops can be seen surrounding the river and covering the terraces that are carved high into the valley walls. You’ll visit a community in the valley to learn about local lifestyles and activities. If your visit coincides with market day, you can browse the stalls in search of hand-painted beads or warm ponchos. Visit the AMA Restaurant in Urubamba for afternoon tea – this café is dedicated to working with single mothers throughout the Sacred Valley, where there are few opportunities for childcare and employment. As all the ingredients used here are grown and purchased locally, the establishment also prides itself on its organic and locally focused practices. Enjoy a coffee, tea or juice with a slice of vegan beet cake or a homemade cookie and then board a train from Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes – nestled in the cloud forest at the foot of Machu Picchu.
Included Activities:
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Day 4: Cusco
Location: Cusco
Meals Included: breaksfast
This morning, you’ll take an early bus up the winding road to Machu Picchu. Welcome to one of the famed Seven Wonders of the World! This is your chance to decide for yourself whether Machu Picchu was built around 1440 as a country retreat for the Incan nobility or as an ancient astronomical observatory. Enjoy a guided visit of the incredible site, giving you ample time to take in the many temples, palaces and living quarters. After taking advantage of the seemingly endless photo opportunities, you’ll return to Cusco.
Included Activities:
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Day 5: Cusco
Location: Cusco
Meals Included: breaksfast
Today after breakfast, you can enjoy free time to relax, shop and explore Cusco's many sights. Maybe rest your weary legs at a cafe on Plaza de Armas or head to the San Pedro Market, where you can find vegetables, meats, local cheeses, chocolates, herbal medicines and many local handicrafts. It’s a great place to pick up souvenirs or ingredients for a picnic. The market is also where many locals (and daring travellers) go to eat ‘mystery soups.’ Some may be just chicken – however, the most popular among the locals usually contain frogs or offal. For those looking for something active, why not try mountain biking in the hills surrounding Cusco?  
Optional Activities:
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Day 6: Puno
Location: Puno
Meals Included: breaksfast
This morning after breakfast, you’ll travel through the dramatic scenery of the high Altiplano to Puno – located on the shores of serene Lake Titicaca. At an altitude of 3800 m, Lake Titicaca is the world's highest navigable lake. Today includes a bit of a long drive, but it’s worth the first glimpse of immense Lake Titicaca, whose seemingly endless waters stretch into the horizon. Puno is a melting pot of Indigenous Aymara and Quechuan culture and traditional Andean customs, and it wears its traditions on its sleeve. If you're lucky, your trip will coincide with one of the many cultural festivals here. Ask your leader where you can get the best grilled trout tonight – a true local specialty perfect for dinner.   
Day 7: Puno
Location: Puno
Meals Included: breaksfast, lunch, dinner
This morning, you’ll take a tour of the immense lake by motorboat, stopping at the floating Uros Islands that look like they could come from a Pixar or Studio Ghibli movie. Built by the Uros people to protect themselves from encroaching Inca forces hundreds of years ago, the islands are constructed from many layers of totora reeds that grow in the shallows of the lake. Get a closer look at contemporary life on the shores of the lake with a homestay in a local community. Help your host family with their daily activities, try out a few words in the Quechua language and maybe even join a local soccer game to make some friends on the makeshift pitch. Tonight, sit down and swap stories with your hosts, who will cook you a feast full of traditional Peruvian favourites.  
Included Activities:
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Day 8: Lima
Location: Lima
Meals Included: breaksfast
This morning after breakfast at your homestay, take a bus to Juliaca airport. Then, you’ll take an included flight back to Lima, where you’ll have a free night. Maybe head out with your fellow travellers for a celebratory dinner (some of your group will be leaving the trip tomorrow). 
Optional Activities:
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Day 9: Buenos Aires
Location: Buenos Aires
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals Included: breaksfast
This mroning catch a short flight to Posadas, followed by a drive to Ituzaingo (approximately 1 hour). Ituizangó will serve as your base to explore the beautiful Ibera Wetlands region in the north of Argentina. Spanning more than 15,000 square kilometres, the Ibera wetlands are roughly the size of Belgium, which gives you an idea of how much there is to explore. The biodiversity in incredible, and the swamps, lakes and lagoons are home to such creatures as otters, alligators, deer, wolves and black howler monkeys, just to name a few. Keep a look out too for those oddly noble-looking creatures, the capybaras. These cousins of guinea pigs are the largest rodents in the world.
Optional Activities:
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Day 10: Buenos Aires
Location: Buenos Aires
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals Included: breaksfast
Enjoy some breakfast, then embark on an orientation walk through this fantastic city. You'll be introduced to some of Buenos Aires' major sights – the likes of the Colon Theatre, the Obelisc and Plaza de Mayo. Along the way, learn a little more about Argentina's independence from Spain.
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Optional Activities:
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Day 11: Ituizangó
Location: Ituizangó
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals Included: breaksfast
This mroning catch a short flight to Posadas, followed by a drive to Ituzaingo (approximately 1 hour). Ituizangó will serve as your base to explore the beautiful Ibera Wetlands region in the north of Argentina. Spanning more than 15,000 square kilometres, the Ibera wetlands are roughly the size of Belgium, which gives you an idea of how much there is to explore. The biodiversity in incredible, and the swamps, lakes and lagoons are home to such creatures as otters, alligators, deer, wolves and black howler monkeys, just to name a few. Keep a look out too for those oddly noble-looking creatures, the capybaras. These cousins of guinea pigs are the largest rodents in the world.
Day 12: Ibera Wetlands/Ituizangó
Location: Ibera Wetlands/Ituizangó
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals Included: breaksfast, lunch
Take part on a full day (approximately 8-10 hour) walking tour and car safari with a guide. You might see any number of obscure species – maybe caiman or swamp deer, perhaps even an armadillo, or a flock of rhea (which are like a South American equivalent of an emu). Anacondas, though particularly hard to spot at certain times of the year, are also known to inhabit these wetlands. Keep an eye to the sky, as you're bound to catch a glimpse of some of the 350 bird species here, from the sharp-tailed tyrant to the gorgeous and garish yellow robin. For lunch enjoy a delicious barbecue (Asado) and even have a go at kneading some dough to bake Argentinian bread. Chat to your friendly hosts and gain insight into everyday life in Argentina while sampling some traditonal mate (tea).
Included Activities:
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Day 13: Foz Do Iguazu
Location: Foz do Iguazu
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals Included: breaksfast
Enjoy some breakfast and prepare for a long travel day. From Ituizangó take a comfortable local bus to Puerto Iguazu (approximately 7 hours). Arrive at Puerto Iguazu bus station and take a mini van to visit a Guarani community for the rare opportunity to meet some of the region’s few remaining indigenous people. Later, cross the border into Brazil and continue to your hotel in Foz do Iguazu (approximately one hour, depending on traffic at the Argentina–Brazil border).
Included Activities:
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Day 14: Iguazu Falls
Location: Iguazu Falls
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals Included: breaksfast
Here at Iguazu, you'll visit the mighty waterfalls from both the Brazilian and Argentinian sides. At over 2 kilometres long, Iguazu Falls are actually a series of cataracts. There are over 270 falls in all, and with some reaching up to 80 metres in height, they are wider than Victoria Falls and higher than Niagara. Enjoy the magnificent panoramas on the Brazilian side of Iguazu Falls. Seeing the falls from this side has its perks, such as a view of San Martin Island which you don't quite get from the Argentinean side. You might like to take a helicopter ride over the falls while you're here. This optional excursion gives you spectacular views of the falls and the lush green parklands that surround it.
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Optional Activities:
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Day 15: Foz Do Iguazu
Location: Foz do Iguazu
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals Included: breaksfast
Today we go to the Argentinean side of the Falls where it’s possible to follow a series of boardwalks to get up close to the thundering waters – so close you can almost touch them.
Included Activities:
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Optional Activities:
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Day 16: Rio De Janeiro
Location: Rio de Janeiro
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals Included: breaksfast
Travel by plane to Rio de Janeiro, the festive heart of Brazil. Settle into your hotel and then set out on an orientation walk with your leader. Rio is a fascinating and diverse city best known for its contrasting images of favelas (shanty towns) and the glitz and glamour of Carnaval. With free time, you can choose from many optional activities. Perhaps head to a football game, take a cable car ride between Praia Vermelha and the Sugarloaf Mountain for incredible views over town. For further options, chat to your leader.
Optional Activities:
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Day 17: Rio De Janeiro
Location: Rio de Janeiro
Accommodation: Hotel
Meals Included: breaksfast
This morning you'll be picked up at your hotel first thing in the morning and head straight to Christ the Redeemer to beat the crowds. Soak up the early morning air and take some photos of this iconic statue before heading to a traditional local Farmer's Market. Your local leader will show you some of the best foods to try as well as providing plenty of interesting facts about the market traditions. Today you'll have a free afternoon, so may wish to return to the hotel with your leader to relax. Otherwise, a visit to Sugarloaf is a great way to spend the rest of the day.
Included Activities:
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Day 18: Rio De Janeiro
Location: Rio de Janeiro
Meals Included: breaksfast
There are no activities planned for the final day and you are able to depart the accommodation at any time.
Optional Activities:
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What's Included
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Accommodation
Hotel (16 Nights), Homestay (1 Night) -
Lima - Leader-led walking tour
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Cusco - Leader-led orientation walk
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Sacred Valley - Community visit & lunch
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Sacred Valley - AMA Snack and Drink
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Machu Picchu - Entrance and guided tour
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Lake Titicaca - Boat tour & Homestay
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Buenos Aires - Leader-led orientation walk
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Ibera Wetlands - Day tour
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Iguazu Falls - Tour of the Brazilian side of the falls
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Iguazu Falls - Tour of the Argentinian side of the falls
What's Not Included
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Tipping and Gratuities
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International Travel
Transport
- Boat , Bus , Private , Vehicle , Plane , Train
Accommodation
- The style of accommodation indicated in the day-to-day itinerary is a guideline only and may change. On some occasions, alternative arrangements may need to be made due to the lack of availability of rooms in our preferred accommodation. In these cases, we will use a similar standard of accommodation.
- Throughout the trip, we request that our properties prepare rooms in time for our arrival, especially if we're arriving prior to normal check-in time. However, this isn't always possible which means we won't be able to check-in immediately on arrival at some hotels. Instead, we can store our luggage and explore our new destination or on some trips, have use of shared day rooms until all rooms are available.
Included Activities
- Lima - Leader-led walking tour
- Cusco - Orientation Walk
- Cusco - Chocolate Museum Visit & Hot Chocolate
- Sacred Valley - Community visit & lunch
- Machu Picchu - Entrance and guided tour
- Lake Titicaca - Boat tour & Homestay
- Buenos Aires - Orientation walk
- Ibera Wetlands - Day tour
- Iguazu Falls - Entrance & tour of the Brazilian side of the falls
- Iguazu Falls - Entrance & tour of the Argentinian side of the falls
- Iguazu Falls - Guarani community visit
- Rio de Janeiro - Corcovado, Christ the Redeemer & Farmer's Market Urban Adventure
Important Information
- 1. Full passport details are required at the time of booking. The passport you travel with must match the booking details provided to us. This information is necessary to purchase entry permits to certain sites and flight tickets. Delays in providing this information could result in additional booking fees or changes to your itinerary.
- 2. A single supplement is available if you’d prefer not to share a room on this trip. The single supplement excludes Day 7 (Homestay) where you will be in shared accommodation and is subject to availability. Please speak to your booking agent for further information.
- 3. This trip starts in Lima on Day 1 at 2pm. This allows time after the welcome meeting to explore Lima.
- 4. Please ensure you have a day pack or small overnight bag in addition to your main luggage. This will be needed for the Homestay at Lake Titicaca and the night in Aguas Calientes, as you will be leaving your main luggage at the hotels in Puno and Cusco.
- 5. This trip includes a domestic flight. Argentina is particularly strict on excess baggage and usually enforces a maximum allowance of 15kg for check in luggage.
- 6. We recommend taking USD cash with you to Argentina and exchanging it to Argentinian pesos locally. While ATMs are widely available, there is a daily limit for withdrawals and the exchange rate fluctuates.
Mode of Transport
- Boat , Bus , Private , Vehicle , Plane , Train
Check out our Q&As
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Is this trip right for you
This trip visits places that are at high altitude, and as a result some people can suffer from altitude sickness, regardless of age or physical health. Please see the Medical and health information section of the Essential Trip Information for more detail.
There are several orientation walks and city tours during this trip, so there will be quite a lot of walking. It’s important to always bring plenty of water, wear comfortable walking shoes and ensure you use adequate sun protection. Wearing layers is a good way to tackle the heat.
The facilities are basic at your homestay on Lake Titicaca. While creature comforts are few and far between while you're there, many travellers find the experience a rewarding one.
According to Machu Picchu visiting regulations, all visitors must follow a pre-determined route within the site. This route must be followed in one direction only, and once the guided visit commences exiting and re-entering the site is not permitted. Once the guided visit concludes, visitors must exit the site and personal exploration of Machu Picchu is not permitted. Please refer to the Itinerary for details. -
What policies are in place for Covid-19?
Please contact us for latest COVID-19 policies
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How long has the tour company been trading?
Intrepid Travel has been taking travellers around the world for over 30 years
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Will the accommodation included meet local health and safety regulations?
Yes
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What Ethical Travel credentials does the tour company have?
Since 2002, The Intrepid Foundation has supported over 130 organisations across the world. We’re creating positive impact through the joy of travel, community and connection.
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Do you operate a “single share” option and how does it work?
Over 50% of traveller travel solo with Intrepid. You can choose to share a room with another solo travelle of the same sex for no additional charge, or choose to pay a single supplement if you’d like your own room. Please request this when booking, and we will secure you a single supplement wherever possible. Please note, if you are booking a last-minute trip, it may be harder for us to secure a single room
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Free Date Changes
Intrepid Travel allows you to make 10 free date changes, as long as the change is made at least 56 days before the start of the tour.
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Transfer as credit to Future Tours
Intrepid Travel allows you to transfer existing payments to a future tour to avoid cancellation fees if you can't travel and inform intrepid travel, 56 days before departure.
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Low Deposit
Intrepid Travel requires a minimum deposit of 400 USD per person or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 56 days before departure.
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Cancellation Policy
We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of intrepid travel charges.
Up to 56 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.
At 55 days before tour starts: Forfeit 30% of booking price.
At 30 days before tour starts: Forfeit 60% of booking price.
At 14 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of booking price.
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Terms and Conditions