South America Highlights

  • Best price guaranteed
  • No booking fees
  • Booking Type Instant booking
  • duration 44 days
  • tour type Small group Request as private
  • age requirement 15-99 yrs
  • max group size 16
  • guiding method Fully guided
  • Tour Code BM-10189
  • Footprint Carbonneutral CO2 emissions resulting from all trips on Bookmundi will be offset via investments in carbon reduction projects.
  • Operated in English
map
  • Starts Lima, Peru
  • Ends Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
HIGHLIGHTS Download trip notes
  • Whether you trek the classic Inca Trail, the Inca Quarry Trail or take the scenic train route, the ancient ruins of Machu Picchu are a majestic destination, no matter how you get there.
  • The floating islands of Uros on Lake Titicaca are a marvel of concept, construction and history. Take a boat tour on the lake and spend the night with a local family in a traditional island community.
  • Salar de Uyuni's desert landscapes are so unique they’re almost extra-terrestrial. Embark on a three-day adventure via 4WD passing cactus islands, train cemeteries and mineral lakes teeming with flamingos.
  • Harness your inner gaucho during a three-day stay at a working estancia in Uruguay. Whether it’s getting involved in daily farm chores, working with livestock or simply relaxing, experience a unique way of life and Uruguayan hospitality at its best.
  • The mighty Iguazu Falls straddle the border between Argentina and Brazil, and you’ll be able to see it from both sides with your small group.
The "South America Highlights" trip starts from Lima and ends in Rio de Janeiro. The "South America Highlights" trip is a cultural, religious and historic sites tour that takes 44 days. You will travel through Puno, Altiplano, Estancia and 22 other destinations visiting Peru, Argentina and 3 more countries. This is a guided small group tour. The trip includes accommodation, transport, meals and others.

There’s times when it’s appropriate to dip a toe in, and there’s times when it’s best to dive in head first. Get ready to jump straight into the action on this trip from Lima to Rio, with plenty of time for independent exploring and taking things at your own pace. This trip takes in the very best of the centre of South America – from trekking the Inca Trail to Macchu Pichu to partying in Rio de Janiero. Visit Iguaza Falls, stroll the barrios of Buenos Aires, snap pictures at the incredible Uyuni Salt Flats, look out over the Nazca Lines and explore the histories and cultures of this incredible part of the world at a pace that allows you to do as much as you want. 
ITINERARY Expand All
  • Day 1: Lima
  • Day 2: Lima
  • Day 3: Paracas
  • Day 4: Nazca
  • Day 5: Arequipa
  • Day 6: Arequipa
  • Day 7: Colca Canyon
  • Day 8: Arequipa
  • Day 9: Arequipa - Overnight Bus to Cusco
  • Day 10: Cusco
  • Day 11: Inca Trail, Inca Quarry Trail or Train option
  • Day 12: Inca Trail, Inca Quarry Trail or Train option
  • Day 13: Inca Trail, Inca Quarry Trail or Train option
  • Day 14: Inca Trail, Inca Quarry Trail or Train option and Machu Picchu / Ollantaytambo
  • Day 15: Sacred Valley / Cusco
  • Day 16: Cusco
  • Day 17: Puno - Lake Titicaca
  • Day 18: Puno
  • Day 19: Puno
  • Day 20: La Paz
  • Day 21: La Paz
  • Day 22: La Paz
  • Day 23: Sucre
  • Day 24: Sucre
  • Day 25: Potosi
  • Day 26: Uyuni
  • Day 27: Salar de Uyuni
  • Day 28: Salar de Uyuni
  • Day 29: Uyuni
  • Day 30: Uyuni – Tilcara
  • Day 31: Tilcara
  • Day 32-34: Buenos Aires
  • Day 35: Buenos Aires
  • Day 36: Colonia del Sacramento
  • Day 37: Estancia Stay
  • Day 38-39: Estancia Stay
  • Day 40: Overnight Bus - Iguazu Falls
  • Day 41: Iguazu Falls (Brazilian Side)
  • Day 42: Iguazu Falls (Argentinian side)
  • Day 43: Rio de Janeiro
  • Day 44: Rio de Janeiro
WHAT'S INCLUDED
Accommodation
  • Camping (with basic facilities) (3 nights), Dormitory (2 nights), Estancia (3 nights), Homestay (1 night), Hotel (31 nights), Overnight bus (3 nights)
Meals
  • 38 Breakfasts, 10 Lunches, 10 Dinners
Transport
  • 4x4 , Bus , Coach , Ferry , Minibus , Overnight bus , Plane , Taxi , Van
Guide
  • An expert tour leader
Included Activities
  • Lima - Leader-led walking tour
  • Colca Canyon - Guided tour
  • Colca Canyon Condor Visit
  • Cusco - Leader-led orientation walk
  • 3 Night/4 Day Inca Trail (or 2 Night/3 Day Inca Quarry Trail) guided hike(s) with porters' support. Or guided Cusco stay (Machu Picchu by train)
  • Machu Picchu - Entrance & Guided visit
  • Sacred Valley - Community visit & lunch
  • Lake Titicaca - Boat tour & Homestay
  • Salt flats - Visit to 'Fish Island/Inca Wasi'
  • Uyuni - Colchani Salt Factory Visit
  • Eduardo Avaroa National Reserve - Altiplano tour including Laguna Colorada
  • Buenos Aires - Leader-led orientation walk
  • Tacuarembo - 3-Night Stay on a Working Estancia
  • Iguazu Falls - Tour of the Brazilian side of the falls
  • Iguazu Falls - Tour of the Argentinian side of the falls
WHAT'S EXCLUDED
  • Any international flights to Lima and from Rio de Janeiro are not included in this price. We always recommend that you arrive 1 day prior to your tour starting date.
  • Travel insurance is not included in this South America Highlights tour. Travel insurance is mandatory to buy. World Nomads' travel insurance has been designed by travelers for travelers.
CUSTOMER REVIEWS
This tour has not received any customer reviews yet. However, you can expect a Premier This travel specialist is consistently delivering tours which receive customer ratings above 4.5 on average. tour and service level as the travel specialist who runs it has received 187 reviews for other tours with an average 4.6 rating.
REQUEST A PRIVATE, CUSTOMIZABLE DEPARTURE By design, this is a group tour. You can however request a private, customized version of this tour for yourself or your private group of people. Private departures are usually more expensive, but come with these benefits:
  • Personal Itinerary can be tweaked and customized.
  • Protected Travel within your own bubble.
  • Professional Access our Travel Specialists' insider knowledge.
  • Privacy Enjoy a tour focused solely on you or your travel group.
Request a private and/or personalized departure To design a private tour, we'll ask you some more information in the following steps.
Why Book with Bookmundi
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GOOD TO KNOW Download trip notes
CANCELLATION

No additional cancellation fees apply for this South America Highlights tour. You can cancel the tour up to 58 days prior departure and avoid paying the full amount, but your deposit paid is non-refundable. No refund applies for cancellations within 57 days of departure.

Payment

For any tour departures within 25 May 2024, full payment is required. For tours that depart later than 25 May 2024, a deposit is required to confirm this tour, and the remaining balance will be charged 57 days before trip departure.

Travel Insurance

South America Highlights tour requires that you have adequate and valid travel insurance covering medical and personal accidents, including repatriation costs and emergency evacuation. World Nomads offers travel insurance for independent travelers and intrepid families.

Visa

For this South America Highlights tour getting the required visa(s) is the responsibility for each individual traveller, as visa requirements vary depending on your nationality. We recommend to check with your local embassies representing the countries that you are traveling to, as part of this itinerary.

Is this trip right for you
  • There are some long travel days and five overnight bus journeys on this trip. Although the buses feature comfortable reclining seats, they are not beds. There’s also usually a toilet on-board, and some of the buses make toilet stops. These trips can be tiresome, but an adventure trip around South America wouldn’t be complete without an overnight bus journey.
  • You’ll be staying in some very basic group accommodation with shared facilities, especially along the Inca Trail and on Lake Titicaca (where there are drop toilets and no showers). This is all part of the adventure of being among nature.
  • There will be a lot of hiking and walking on this trip (especially on the Inca Trail which can be quite challenging), so this requires a moderate level of fitness. There are a few different trail options to suit your interests and physical capabilities. Please bring durable footwear suitable to hiking. See the ‘What to Take’ section of the Essential Trip Information for more details.
  • 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.
  • While at the estancia in Uruguay, you can choose to participate in the day-to-day activities of the farm as much or as little as you like. If you do choose to get involved, prepare for some early morning starts and to get your hands dirty when working directly with animals. The accommodation is multi-share and meals are served family style. Please inform your booking agent if you have any dietary requirements.
  • Travellers who choose different ways of reaching Machu Picchu (Inca Trail, Quarry Trail or Train), will not follow the same routes within Machu Picchu. This means that you may not be able to have photos together, overlooking Machu Picchu. This applies to travellers on the same booking or separate bookings.
COVID VACCINATION POLICY
  • Proof of vaccination against COVID-19 is no longer mandatory on departures after 1st January 2023. Nonetheless, all travellers are strongly advised to be vaccinated as a safety measure to protect themselves and others on the tour. This policy excludes all Polar trips and select adventure cruises, where testing and vaccination are required.
  • Also, proof of vaccination may still be required at specific entry points or by the airlines. Therefore, please make sure to check all the travel requirements carefully before travelling.
COVID-19 Safety Measures

This trip incorporates the following COVID-19 measures:

  • This tour has received the World Travel and Tourism Council’s Safe Travels stamp, which provides travellers with assurance that COVID-19 health and hygiene global standardised protocols have been adopted.
  • Hygiene and safety guidelines will be followed to ensure your well being is looked after during travels.
NEED HELP OR HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT THIS TOUR?
If you have any question about this tour or need help with planning a trip, please do not hesitate to get in touch with us. We're ready to help.
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