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South America: Lima to Rio
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Highlights
Paracas: Mother nature has her favourites, and the Paracas National Reserve is one of them. We'll take a tour of this protected natural area guilded with deserts, islands and the beautiful blue ocean.
Nazca: Climbing up 43 ft in the sky, you'll see the fascinating group of geoglyphs called the Nazca Lines from a (really) tall tower. Think: desert artwork of spiders, spirals and a mysterious astronaut-like human.
Arequipa: Get to know the ‘white city’ better. Explore the highlights like Plaza de Armas and take some pics of the incredible backdrop of volcanoes.
Cusco: Your chance to pick up some mementos at San Pedro Markets and then see Cusco Cathedral, San Blas and Coricancha.
Sacred Valley: See llamas IRL and learn how Indigenous communities use weaving to share stories, identity, and culture — a tradition passed down without written language (and help keep ancient skills alive by providing sustainable income for local artisans!) Your visit here will help support the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 11: Sustainable Cities & Communities.
Machu Picchu: It’s the moment you’ve been waiting for! Time to explore the Incan citadel with your new Contiki fam. #travelgoals
Cusco: Travel from Cusco to Puno on a full-day journey that turns the transfer into part of the adventure. Along the way, you'll stop at Andahuaylillas, Raqchi, La Raya and Pucará, (plus enjoy buffet lunch with Andes views). It's a comfy ride with reclining seats, air conditioning and onboard restrooms.
La Paz: Tuck into a 3-course set menu at Manq’a (“food” in Aymara), a seriously cool restaurant with a big heart. Your meal supports culinary training and better opportunities for vulnerable youth, while championing sustainable, fairly priced local produce and proud cultural food traditions.
La Paz: See the city through the eyes of masked shoe shiners (these are the people who keep La Paz moving). Expect a walking tour that goes beyond the usual sights, with real stories about daily life, stigma, and informal work, all while supporting community projects that back shoe shiners and their families.
La Paz: Leave La Paz after dark and roll into Sucre on a 13-hour overnight journey. Oh yeah, and there are comfy reclining seats on this ride!
Sucre: Get your bearings in Bolivia’s “White City”. Wandering the colonial centre with its elegant plazas, architecture, and easy-going vibe. Then you can grab a proper local bite at Salteñería El Patio — Sucre’s go-to for juicy salteñas in a classic courtyard setting.
Potosi: Walk the UNESCO-listed historic centre where grand churches and cobbled streets meet the shadow of Cerro Rico. Expect a loop through Plaza 10 de Noviembre, plus time to dive into the Casa Nacional de la Moneda — the former mint turned museum that tells the story behind Potosí’s wealth (and its cost).
Potosi: Head to a local ex-miner’s home for a home-cooked meal and a no-filter chat about life in the mines. You'll enjoy local dishes like quinoa soup and potatoes, plus get a deeper look at the challenges (and resilience) behind this tough line of work.
Uyuni: Roll through Uyuni’s high-altitude outpost vibes — dusty streets, a lively plaza, and market stalls with llama wool and quinoa on repeat. It’s the rugged launchpad for what you came for… and your Trip Manager will help you get orientated before the big landscapes take over.
Uyuni Salt Flat: Near the Uyuni Salt Flats, this special stay is made out of salt. Yep, actual salt. It’s an accommodation with a seriously unique twist, serving up a stay in one of South America’s most surreal landscapes. Geological icon meets human ingenuity. Not a bad combo for a night on the trip!
Salta: Wander around Plaza 9 de Julio and the city’s leafy, pastel-lined streets, taking in the cathedral and the glow of San Francisco Church. As evening hits, you’ll have the chance to soak in the local peña scene (think folk music energy and regional flavours).
Buenos Aires: Head out with your Trip Manager to get the lay of the land — key spots, neighbourhood vibes, and the best ways to spend your free time.
Montevideo: Get your bearings in Uruguay’s laid-back capital with a stroll through Montevideo’s streets, plazas, and waterfront vibes. Expect local colour, easy wandering, and plenty of spots to pause for a cafe stop or a snack as you explore at your own pace.
Colonia Del Sacramento: Wander Colonia del Sacramento’s cobbled lanes and colonial streets at the perfect pace. Explore the Barrio Histórico, snap the lighthouse views, cafe-hop between bougainvillea-draped houses, then finish along the rambla as the Río de la Plata lights up at sunset.
San Antonio de Areco: Just 500 metres from the historic centre of San Antonio de Areco, this special stay gives you the best of both worlds: a real Argentine ranch setting with the town just a short walk away. Think classic estancia energy and a countryside backdrop without straying too far from the action.
Iguazú Falls: Take a walk through the lush rainforest trails, finishing up at the very edge of the Devil’s Throat. You’ll have time to wander the different walkways, basking in the views and watching out for rainbows and wildlife too. And if you’re feeling adventurous, how about the optional Gran Aventura speedboat ride?
Puerto Iguazu: Visit a jungle rescue and rehab centre dedicated to helping native animals recover and return to the rainforest when possible. Riding in by trailer and walking guided forest trails, you’ll hear each animal’s rescue story and learn about the real threats they face (trafficking, habitat loss, and road accidents).
Rio de Janeiro: Ever heard of Favelas? They're growing neighbourhoods in Brazil. And on this tour, we'll visit Favela Cantagalo near Rio. We'll check out the Portal of Saint Roman, walk through alleyways, see the 10 paintings of the Houses-Screen, and even stop by a few viewpoints along the way. You'll even visit the Museu de Favela-MUF, a historical museum about memories and cultural heritage of favelas in the world. It's a collection about 20,000 residents and their ways of life, and how their stories are an unknown but important part of Rio de Janeiro's history. Trust us, you don't wanna miss this one.
Machu Picchu: It’s the moment you’ve been waiting for! Time to explore the Incan citadel with your new Contiki fam. #travelgoals
Cusco: Travel from Cusco to Puno on a full-day journey that turns the transfer into part of the adventure. Along the way, you'll stop at Andahuaylillas, Raqchi, La Raya and Pucará, (plus enjoy buffet lunch with Andes views). It's a comfy ride with reclining seats, air conditioning and onboard restrooms.
La Paz: Tuck into a 3-course set menu at Manq’a (“food” in Aymara), a seriously cool restaurant with a big heart. Your meal supports culinary training and better opportunities for vulnerable youth, while championing sustainable, fairly priced local produce and proud cultural food traditions.
La Paz: See the city through the eyes of masked shoe shiners (these are the people who keep La Paz moving). Expect a walking tour that goes beyond the usual sights, with real stories about daily life, stigma, and informal work, all while supporting community projects that back shoe shiners and their families.
La Paz: Leave La Paz after dark and roll into Sucre on a 13-hour overnight journey. Oh yeah, and there are comfy reclining seats on this ride!
Sucre: Get your bearings in Bolivia’s “White City”. Wandering the colonial centre with its elegant plazas, architecture, and easy-going vibe. Then you can grab a proper local bite at Salteñería El Patio — Sucre’s go-to for juicy salteñas in a classic courtyard setting.
Potosi: Walk the UNESCO-listed historic centre where grand churches and cobbled streets meet the shadow of Cerro Rico. Expect a loop through Plaza 10 de Noviembre, plus time to dive into the Casa Nacional de la Moneda — the former mint turned museum that tells the story behind Potosí’s wealth (and its cost).
Potosi: Head to a local ex-miner’s home for a home-cooked meal and a no-filter chat about life in the mines. You'll enjoy local dishes like quinoa soup and potatoes, plus get a deeper look at the challenges (and resilience) behind this tough line of work.
Uyuni: Roll through Uyuni’s high-altitude outpost vibes — dusty streets, a lively plaza, and market stalls with llama wool and quinoa on repeat. It’s the rugged launchpad for what you came for… and your Trip Manager will help you get orientated before the big landscapes take over.
Uyuni Salt Flat: Near the Uyuni Salt Flats, this special stay is made out of salt. Yep, actual salt. It’s an accommodation with a seriously unique twist, serving up a stay in one of South America’s most surreal landscapes. Geological icon meets human ingenuity. Not a bad combo for a night on the trip!
Salta: Wander around Plaza 9 de Julio and the city’s leafy, pastel-lined streets, taking in the cathedral and the glow of San Francisco Church. As evening hits, you’ll have the chance to soak in the local peña scene (think folk music energy and regional flavours).
Buenos Aires: Head out with your Trip Manager to get the lay of the land — key spots, neighbourhood vibes, and the best ways to spend your free time.
Montevideo: Get your bearings in Uruguay’s laid-back capital with a stroll through Montevideo’s streets, plazas, and waterfront vibes. Expect local colour, easy wandering, and plenty of spots to pause for a cafe stop or a snack as you explore at your own pace.
Colonia Del Sacramento: Wander Colonia del Sacramento’s cobbled lanes and colonial streets at the perfect pace. Explore the Barrio Histórico, snap the lighthouse views, cafe-hop between bougainvillea-draped houses, then finish along the rambla as the Río de la Plata lights up at sunset.
San Antonio de Areco: Just 500 metres from the historic centre of San Antonio de Areco, this special stay gives you the best of both worlds: a real Argentine ranch setting with the town just a short walk away. Think classic estancia energy and a countryside backdrop without straying too far from the action.
Iguazú Falls: Take a walk through the lush rainforest trails, finishing up at the very edge of the Devil’s Throat. You’ll have time to wander the different walkways, basking in the views and watching out for rainbows and wildlife too. And if you’re feeling adventurous, how about the optional Gran Aventura speedboat ride?
Puerto Iguazu: Visit a jungle rescue and rehab centre dedicated to helping native animals recover and return to the rainforest when possible. Riding in by trailer and walking guided forest trails, you’ll hear each animal’s rescue story and learn about the real threats they face (trafficking, habitat loss, and road accidents).
Rio de Janeiro: Ever heard of Favelas? They're growing neighbourhoods in Brazil. And on this tour, we'll visit Favela Cantagalo near Rio. We'll check out the Portal of Saint Roman, walk through alleyways, see the 10 paintings of the Houses-Screen, and even stop by a few viewpoints along the way. You'll even visit the Museu de Favela-MUF, a historical museum about memories and cultural heritage of favelas in the world. It's a collection about 20,000 residents and their ways of life, and how their stories are an unknown but important part of Rio de Janeiro's history. Trust us, you don't wanna miss this one.
What's Included
Accommodation
NAIA Miraflores Hotel (or similar)Viajero Huacachina Hostel (or similar) HotelOvernight Bus HotelQema Arequipa (or similar) HotelViajero Cusco (or similar) HotelTunupa Lodge (or similar) HotelHotel Casona Plaza (or similar)Llachon Island Homestay (or similar) HotelHotel Las Brisas Centro (or similar)Hostal Sucre (or similar) HotelHotel Virreyes (or similar)Samay Wasi (or similar) HotelHotel De Sal "Tambo Loma" Colcha K (or similar)Hotel Ecologico de Piedra (or similar)Hostal Puritama (or similar) HotelHostal Prisamata (or similar) HotelViajero Hostel (or similar) HotelViajero Montevideo (or similar) HotelViajero Colonia (or similar) HotelEstancia la Cinacina (or similar) HotelSmart Cataratas Hotel (or similar)Refugio Hostel (or similar) HotelJo&Joe (or similar) Hotel
Go all in on South America. This six-country adventure is stacked with once-in-a-lifetime moments, from sandboarding in Huacachina and gazing at the mysterious Nazca Lines to exploring Peru's ancient Incan world of Cusco and Machu Picchu. Journey through the Sacred Valley by train, cross the otherworldly Salar de Uyuni salt flats, explore the Atacama Desert, tango in Buenos Aires and finish with a bang on the beaches of Rio de Janeiro. Six countries, bucket-list experiences and incredible value, with enough flexibility to explore your way.
day 1Lima
Hola, welcome to Lima! Youll meet your crew this evening in this beautiful city packed with rich cultural heritage. Then well get to know each other over a delicious dinner at a local restaurant.
Meals
Dinner
Location Visited
Lima
Accommodation
NAIA Miraflores Hotel (or similar)
day 2Lima to Huacachina via Paracas National Reserve
day 3Huacachina to Overnight Coach via Nazca Lines
day 4Overnight Coach to Arequipa
day 5Arequipa
day 6Arequipa to Cusco
day 7Cusco
day 8Cusco
day 9Cusco to Sacred Valley
day 10Sacred Valley
day 11Sacred Valley to Cusco via Machu Picchu
day 12Cusco
day 13Cusco
day 14Cusco to Puno
day 15Puno to Lake Titicaca
day 16Lake Titicaca to Puno
day 17Puno to La Paz
day 18La Paz
day 19La Paz to Overnight Bus
day 20Overnight Bus to Sucre
day 21Sucre
day 22Sucre to Potosi
day 23Potosi
day 24Potosi to Uyuni
day 25Uyuni to Uyuni Salt Flat
day 26Uyuni Salt Flat to Reserva Nacional de Fauna Andina Eduardo Avaroa
day 27Reserva Nacional de Fauna Andina Eduardo Avaroa to San Pedro de Atacama
day 28San Pedro de Atacama
day 29San Pedro de Atacama to Salta
day 30Salta
day 31Salta to Buenos Aires
day 32Buenos Aires
day 33Buenos Aires
day 34Buenos Aires to Montevideo
day 35Montevideo
day 36Montevideo to Colonia
day 37Colonia to San Antonio de Areco via Buenos Aires
day 38San Antonio de Areco to Puerto Iguazu
day 39Puerto Iguazu to Foz do Iguau
day 40Foz do Iguau
day 41Foz do Iguau to Ilha Grande via Rio de Janiero and Porto Real
day 42Ilha Grande
day 43Ilha Grande
day 44Ilha Grande to Rio de Janiero via Porto Real
day 45Rio de Janiero
day 46Rio de Janiero
Good to Know
Travel Insurance
Visa
Other Practical Information
1 other person is considering this tour right now.
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Premier tour and service level as the travel specialist who runs it has received 516 reviews for other tours with an average 4.8rating.
