12-1/2 or 15 weeks

Quito/Lima to Rio (or V. Versa)

(Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Chile, Argentina, Uruguay, Brazil)

 

This extensive trip offers an overview of the most amazing and fascinating highlights of the South American continent.

The lush Amazon jungles of Ecuador, the majestic kingdoms of the Incas in Peru, the remote Altiplano and Salt Flats of Bolivia, the great outdoors in Patagonia and the largest party in the world at Rio’s Carnival and New Year’s Eve celebrations. These are just some of the things you will experience during this incredible journey.

Our Kingdoms and Carnivals trip is a true Expedition by nature of its long duration and some of the remote places we visit. You must expect a degree of hardship; digging your truck out of mud and sand, some long drives on rough and dusty dirt roads, camping and cooking in extremes of climate, from freezing in the Andes, to the heat of the Atacama Desert and thundering tropical downpours. BUT IT’S ALL WORTHIT!

You will discover South America in a way most travellers only dream of, meet people you would never otherwise encounter and gain a unique insight into Latin American culture. 

This tour can be joined in either Quito, Lima or Rio. All our Kingdoms and Carnivals tours coincide with either Carnival or the spectacular New Year’s Eve event in Rio at the end or beginning of each trip. For those beginning in Rio de Janeiro the daily itinerary should be followed in reverse. Should you wish to arrive a few days before the tour starts, we can help you arrange accommodation in Quito, Lima or Rio. For trips departing from Rio we can organise pre-tour accommodation for you during Carnival and New Year’s Eve.

 

Week 1 Our journey starts just 25kms south of the Equator in the relaxed capital city of Quito. Just a few hours drive away is the small market town of Otavalo, famous for its colourful crafts, where we have a free day and spend our first night of the trip. Next we head to the banks of the Rio Napo and our gateway into the steamy Amazon jungle. Using dugout canoes and accompanied by experienced guides it’s the ideal way to explore this unique environment. We spend two nights in the jungle in which time we also hike into the exuberant vegetation to view the exotic wildlife and our guide will show us examples of medicinal and hallucinatory plants. Our next destination is Banos, a spa town where Ecuadorians go to relax in the thermal baths, ride white-water rapids and hike the various mountain trails.

 Week 2 After days filled with outdoor activities we continue south to the border with Peru, you will notice an amazing transition, from the good farming country of the tropical highland to the dry barren desert. Travelling along the Pacific Ocean coast we visit small coastal villages and camp on deserted sandy beaches. Further south we visit the imperial citadel of Chan Chan. Built by the pre-Inca Chimu kings, it’s the largest mud brick city in the world.

Those on our 12½ week tour tour join us here.

Week 3 Lima, the capital of Peru is a busy place, however, watching life go by on one of the many Plazas or visiting one of the Museums can be a relaxing and rewarding experience. Not far south is the marine reserve of Ballestas, a boat trip takes us close up to the Islands which are bursting with marine wildlife. Quite a contrast are the Nazca Lines, these huge figures and shapes, carved into the stony desert are best viewed from the air and are a great mystery to archaeologists. From here we start our ascent of the Andes.

Week 4 Our next two days are spent in the magnificent colonial city of Arequipa.From here you have the option to visit Colca Canyon accompanied by a local guide. Twice as deep as the Grand Canyon, Colca Canyon is an awesome place. Here too, Condors can be seen circling lazily on the thermals rising from the canyon floor. Ahead lie some of the most arduous and punishing roads on the trip, however, after traversing some mountainous passes of nearly 5000 metres we are soon rewarded by our arrival in Cuzco.

Week 5 This outdoors capital of Peru is our base for the next 6 days, allowing enough time to explore this ancient city, the surrounding sacred valley and give the energetic amongst us enough time to hike the Inca Trail. The 2 or 4 day hike along the Inca trail to Machu Picchu is a once in a lifetime experience and anyone with a reasonable level of fitness can master it.

Week 6 Bordering Peru and Bolivia is Lake Titicaca. The world's highest navigable lake at 3800m it is also home to the Uros Indians who have made their homes on floating reed islands. Spending the night with one of the local families provides an opportunity to experience their lifestyle and hospitality. La Paz, the highest capital city in the world, is our next destination, which is a great place to visit a 'pena' club dedicated to live Andean folk music and to visit some of the extraordinary street markets. A long and dusty drive across the Altiplano takes us to Potosi where vast amounts of silver were extracted from mines and shipped to Spain in years gone by. The adventurous will appreciate the option to go down one of these mines where mining techniques have remained unchanged for centuries. A tour of the National Money House, also provides a good look into Potosi's and Bolivia's past.

Week 7 & 8 Leaving the bleak Altiplano we reach the shimmering white Uyuni Salt Lake. It is possible to venture out into the salt lake on a 1 day excursion and the vastness of the salt flats is an unforgettable experience. Following in the steps of Butch Cassidy & Sundance Kid we reach Tupiza, in Argentina. The colourful Humahuaca Canyon leads us to the attractive city of Salta. Founded over 400 years ago Salta is a good place for live folk music venues and is also a great area for horse riding, mountain biking, mountain trekking and river rafting. We have a few free days in Salta before crossing the mighty Andes again towards the Atacama Desert in Chile!

The oasis town of San Pedro de Atacama is our next destination. Surrounded by the Valley of the Moon, salt lakes, volcanoes, as well as stone age dwellings, it’s a good place to spend a few days exploring. Continuing south we rejoin the Pacific Ocean and the Pan American Highway. We camp at La Serena beach for a few days before our drive to Chile’s capital, Santiago, which is a very modern, well-run city and quite a change to what we have been used to.

Week 9 Ahead of us lie the southern areas with deep blue lakes and snow-capped mountains. Pucon, in the heart of the Lake District, is our base camp for the next few days from where it is possible to organise white water rafting, skiing, horse riding and hikes up nearby Villarrica Volcano. We ascend the Andes via some spectacular mountain passes before entering Argentina and arriving in Bariloche.

This is a very popular holiday destination for Argentines and the top ski resort on the continent with great hiking trails and nightlife.

Week 10 Heading into the deep south on a good dirt road we enter the vast wilderness of Patagonia. Spectacular National Parks make this region a paradise for hiking enthusiasts and outdoor lovers. Los Glaciares NP has the largest glacier in the world and here we have the option to take a boat ride close up to Moreno Glacier – almost 200ft high. Torres del Paine NP is another area of outstanding beauty where huge granite cliffs dominate the landscape and hiking is a great way to explore the area.

Week 11 We continue south to Ushuaia on the wild and hauntingly beautiful island of Tierra del Fuego – the most southerly point on earth you are ever likely to travel to. Next we cross to the Atlantic coast of Patagonia and visit one of the marine sanctuaries. Penguins, Sea Lions, Sea Elephants, Birds and sometimes Whales can be seen. Following the excellent paved roads north along the coast we pass through some quite affluent towns. One, Puerto Madryn, was the landing place over a century ago for the first group of Welsh settlers that subsequently colonised and now farm the surrounding area.

Week 12 A days drive north is the smart cosmopolitan city of Buenos Aires where you could be forgiven for thinking you were back in Europe. There is plenty to do, museums, horse racing, football matches, shopping, tango dancing and restaurants that serve some of the best steaks in the world.

Week 13 Uruguay is our next destination and the quaint town of Colonia. With its lovely beach and calm and quiet atmosphere, it is a complete contrast to the previous days in Buenos Aires. We spend the following two days in the capital of Uruguay – Montevideo. With its great nightlife and fantastic beaches, it really does live up to expectations. We cross back into Argentina and visit El Palmar National Park, home to a wide variety of birds, mammals and reptiles before visiting the Jesuit Missions of San Ignacio. Iguazu Falls is the natural border between Argentina, Paraguay and Brazil. Higher than Niagara and wider than Victoria Falls they are an awe-inspiring place to spend the next three days. Here you can undertake a number of optional activities such as boat trips, helicopter flights and mountain bike riding.

Week 14 Next we head into Brazil. Bonito, where we can swim and snorkel in crystal clear rivers and lakes as well as hike into the lush forests, is also a popular place with Brazilian holidaymakers. We then journey to the Pantanal region where we can organise treks out into the vast wetlands, home to hundreds of species of birds and fish, including Piranha, as well as an abundance of reptiles such as alligators and other animals.

New Years Eve in Rio

The celebration of New Year in Brazil – and especially on the beaches of Rio de Janeiro – is a unique spectacle.

In Brazil, December 31 is the feast of Lemanja, the Goddess of the Sea, and one of the most important of the Macumba and Candomble deities. Devotees of Lamanja start arriving on the beaches of Brazil in their thousands early on December 31. By early afternoon Copacabana Beach in Rio de Janeiro will be a living sea of people as the Macumba rituals are played out. As the evening wears on, more and more people arrive to join in the celebrations and by midnight hundreds of thousands will be present on Copacabana.

The faithful offer gifts to Lemanja and at a few seconds to midnight they lay their offerings on the seashore and, if all goes to plan, the waves will pluck their gifts up and drag them into the depths.

The New Year is greeted by a spectacular fireworks display after which the city goes back to partying and year’s first samba strikes up. New Year parties are held in the road, in oceanfront apartments, in all the beachfront hotels and on boats off Copacabana. By dawn many of the partygoers will still be on the beach to see the sun rise.

 

Week 15 Our final destination before Rio de Janeiro is the coastal village of Parati. This unspoilt and picturesque town has remained fundamentally unaltered for three centuries. Our final drive takes us to the hedonistic playground of Rio de Janeiro, where folk are raring to party out of their minds and live purely for the moment.

The Carnival and New Year’s Eve celebrations are always chaotic, crowded and fun!

 

What's Included

• 2 Days 2 Nights Jungle Excursion*
• Chan Chan Ruins*
• Inca Trail Trek to Machu Picchu (4 days trek including all meals on Inca Trail)
• Boat tour and overnight stay with local family on Lake Titicaca
• Valley of the Moon Atacama Desert
• Pucon
• Bariloche
• Los Glaciares & Torres del Paine Nat. Park
• El Palmar Nat. Park
• Tierra del Fuego
• Pantanal & Bonito
• Jesuit Missions
• Iguazu Falls
• All transport on Expedition Truck
• All accommodation fees
• Camping and cooking equipment
• Meals prepared by group - 50% approx
• Services of 2 Crew
• 15 week trip only

 

What's NOT Included

• International Flights
• Airport Taxes and Transfers
• Travel Insurance
• Visas
• Drinks
• Meals while in Hotels
• Tips and Optional Excursions as listed

 

Optional Excursions  - Excursion Price (£) Price ($)

• Whitewater rafting - Banos (15 week trip only) £20.00 $35.00
• 1 Day Canyoning incld lunch (15 week trip only) £23.00 $40.00
• Horse Riding - Banos (15 week trip only) £15.00 $25.00
• Ballestas Islands Boat trip £9.00 $15.00
• Flight over Nazca Lines £24.00 $40.00
• Chauchilla Cemetery £6.00 $10.00
• Sacred Valley Tour - Cuzco £9.00 $15.00
• Potosi Mine - guided tour £6.00 $10.00
• Villarrica Volcano Climb £21.00 $35.00
• Moreno Glacier Boat trip £24.00 $40.00
• Glacier Ice Trekking £55.00 $95.00
• Whitwater rafting - Iguazu Falls £9.00 $15.00
• Helicopter flight of Iguazu Falls £38.00 $65.00
• Tickets for Rio Sambodrome £30.00 $50.00
• Uyuni Salt Flats day trip £18.00 $30.00
• Parati Boat Cruise £6.00 $10.00
• Bonito - 1 day snorkelling & guide £24.00 $40.00
• Pantanal Excursions (from) £12.00 $20.00

Important: Before you travel please check your Tour Voucher and Arrival Information for the latest joining instructions. This will be sent to you upon receipt of final payment.

 All itineraries are subject to change without prior notice.

 

South America - Essential Information

Travelling Style

 

CAMPING / OVERLAND TRUCK TRIP - On our truck tours we stay in simple hotels, guesthouses or camp in both designated campsites, and desert or bush-camp using two person tents. We usually cook using gas stoves and take turns, so expect to cook about every 15 days or so. Driving days normally start around 8am and finish around 5pm with stops for lunch and buying of food, seeing local sights etc. We will not be travelling every day. The average group size is around 18 although our vehicles can carry a maximum of 23.

LOCAL TRANSPORT / HOTEL TRIP - For the Peru Encompassed local transport trips we use internal flights, trains and coaches. The hotels we use vary from small friendly guesthouses to three star hotels. We eat in local restaurants and the group size is a maximum of 15 people.

Climate

In South America you will experience a wide range of conditions. From very cold temperatures and snow in the highlands and mountains of the Andes, to heavy rainfalls in the tropical jungle areas, to blazing sunshine on the coast, South America has it all.

Spending Money and Local Payment

At the beginning of your trip the crew will collect the Local Payment in US Dollars Cash. For personal spending we suggest an average of $150 per week. Personal spending requirements vary hugely depending on individuals. We cannot specify every cost, however, you need to allow for visas, drinks, occasional meals out, curios and local crafts, emails etc. Budget on optional side trips separately. Credit cards are only accepted in the main cities so you need to bring at least a third of your spending money in US Dollars cash and the rest in US Dollar Travellers Cheques. 

Health

Vaccinations - It is advisable to be vaccinated against Typhoid, Tetanus, Polio, Hepatitis A and Meningitis. Consult your doctor about having Yellow Fever, Hepatitis B and Rabies shots. Malaria - The only areas we visit with a recognised malaria risk are the Amazon Jungle, The Pantanal and Iguazu Falls. You cannot be vaccinated against malaria but there are a number of preventative treatments. While some GPs are quite well-versed in tropical medicine and malarial prevention many are not! If you are not happy with the information your doctor has provided, contact a reputable travel clinic in your area or phone us and we can give you details of several clinics.

Passport and Visas

At the time of printing, United Kindom, Ireland and South Africa passport holders do not require

visas for any of the countries we visit in South America. Australia, New Zealand, USA and Canada passport holders require a visa for Brazil only. Your passport must be valid for at least nine months from the start date of your trip and you will need one blank page for each country you intend to visit.

Starting and Ending your Trip

Quito, Lima, La Paz, Santiago and Rio de Janeiro are the start and finish points of our tours in South America. We recommend arriving a couple of days before your trip starts in order to acclimatise and give yourself a free day. Most people also give themselves a few days at the end of their trips to experience the cities our trips finish in and chill out before travelling on to their final destinations. We can advise you of places to stay and on getting around these cities. We can also reserve accommodation in Rio during Carnival and New Year.

Quito, Only 25 kilometres south of the equator it would be easy to imagine a city basking in intense tropical heat. However, at a height of 2850m (9350ft) it has a climate more similar to spring in southern England. The city was founded by the Incas and is set in a hollow below a towering volcano and surrounded by mountains. The old quarter is characterised by steep, narrow, cobbled streets. The restaurants here are cheaper and more likely to serve local dishes. If you are lucky you will find one serving Cuy, one of the national dishes of baked guinea pig. Quito also has many museums and 16th and 17th century churches, which are well worth visiting.

Lima, Like Quito has a mild climate. It was at one time the chief city of Spanish South America. With an estimated 8 million people inhabiting Lima it has a vibrant and varied atmosphere and is a great place to spend a couple of days. There are quite a few interesting and informative museums as well as cathedrals and churches in the old colonial part of the city to visit.

La Paz, the highest capital in the world lies in a steep canyon. The view from the air as you fly in is dramatic, with snow covered Mt. Illimani at 6400m towering almost 3000m above the city. It has interesting markets selling local cuisine and ethnic crafts including jumpers and woollen garments made from Alpaca, llama and Vicuna wool. There are a number of festivals in La Paz and we try and time our visits to coincide with some of these.

Santiago, is essentially a modern city of 5 million people. A smart underground metro, well kept parks and cleanliness and efficiency are the things that strike a visitor on arrival. There are a number of very informative museums with pre-colonial and post-colonial history. Santiago is a pleasant and safe place to spend a few days.

Rio de Janeiro is visually, one of the most stunningly beautiful cities in the world. The Corcovado (hunchback) mountain and the Sugar Loaf dominate the skyline. This and the giant white sweep of Copacabana beach overlooking the azure Guanabara Bay, provide the 'cariocas', as Rio's citizens are known, with the setting for the explosive, frenetic sensuality of the annual 'carnival'.

Carnivals and Festivals

Fiestas (festivals) are a fundamental part of life for most Latin Americans. Arriving in a city or village during one of these inevitably frenetic celebrations is an experience you will always remember. However be prepared for some serious partying and a hangover the size of the Amazon! There are too many fiestas to mention but where possible your tour leaders will always try and incorporate one during your trip. Among the most noteable celebrations are News Years Eve on Copabana Beach and the annual ‘carnaval’ which takes place the weekend before Ash Wednesday in towns and villages across the continent. The biggest ‘carnaval’ is in Rio which we visit each year on our Kingdoms and Carnivals and Coast to Coast trips. The dates for ‘carnaval’ in the next three years are; 21 - 24 Feb 2004, 05 - 08 Feb 2005 and 25 - 28 Feb 2006.

Local Customs

People in the countries we visit are usually extremely friendly and helpful. Most Latin Americans, if they can afford it, take pride in their clothes and appearance and it is appreciated if travellers make an effort to do like wise. Buying clothing locally can help you look less like a tourist. In the more remote Andean regions ask before photographing people as this may cause offense.