Best of South America: Lima to Buenos Aires

Bienvenidos! Welcome to Lima, Peru. On arrival at Lima's Jorge Chavez International Airport, you'll be transferred to your hotel in the well-known coastal suburb of Miraflores. Your adventure begins with a welcome meeting at 2 pm where you'll meet your tour leader and travel group. From here, you’ll jump in a vehicle and head downtown for a guided walking tour of the city's historical centre. Take in the ornate spectacle of the colonial mansions, palaces and churches that line the streets, pay a visit to the San Francisco Monastery and its catacombs, and browse the fresh produce on offer at Lima's central market. Your walking tour wraps up in Lima's main square, with the rest of the day free to do as you wish. Perhaps head out for dinner with the group – your leader will have plenty of local recommendations.

Rise and shine early today for your journey into the wilds of the Peruvian Amazon. Take an early morning transfer to Lima airport, then board a flight to Puerto Maldonado. From here, you’ll board a motorised canoe and cruise deep into the jungle. The journey to your eco-lodge in the Madre de Dios region will take around three hours, and you'll be given a packed lunch on the way. Arrive and settle in to your thatched-roof lodge before a short orientation walk of the area close-by. Spend the evening getting acquainted with the sights and smells of the jungle and fall asleep to the sounds of nature.

Get ready for an unforgettable day exploring the depths of the Amazon Jungle. Set out on a half-day walk guided by local experts on the area's flora and fauna. Learn from your guides about the medicinal and practical uses for some of the plants that grow here, which Indigenous people have been studying and using for thousands of years. On your walk, keep an eye out for rainbow coloured macaws and butterflies, and listen for the barking call of the peccaries and chattering of monkeys that call the jungle home. This part of the Amazon is also known to house capybaras, giant otters and jabirus, so keep your eyes peeled for these creatures. Return to the lodge for lunch and some free time to relax. Once the sun goes down, venture out on a night walk in search of some of the jungle's nocturnal inhabitants.  

Leave behind the natural wonders of the Amazon for the man-made wonders of Cusco today. Return to Puerto Maldonado on a three-hour canoe ride to collect your luggage, then take a flight to the lofty city. When you arrive, get acquainted with Cusco during an orientation walk with your leader. This evening, you may like to head out for dinner with your fellow travellers – your leader can recommend some great local places to grab a meal. If you're feeling adventurous, why not try one of the many establishments serving up cuy, which you might know by the English name of guinea pig.

Start the day with a visit to Sacsayhuaman – the archaeological site of an Incan citadel on the outskirts of Cusco. Travel by private bus through the Sacred Valley. Known as Wilcamayo to the Incas, the valley has been a source of livelihood to the locals for hundreds of years. You’ll see maize crops covering the terraced valley walls and the sacred river beneath. On the way, visit an authentic Andean community close to the charming town of Pisac. You’ll get a chance to meet the locals and learn about their traditional textile weaving. After Visit the AMA Restaurant in Urubamba – this cafe provides employment opportunities and job training for single mothers throughout the Sacred Valley. Enjoy lunch and learn how this inclusive enterprise focuses on economic growth, gender equality and the support of vulnerable communities. Then continue on to your final stop for today – Ollantaytambo, where you’ll visit the town’s archaeological site of ancient Incan ruins.

Depending on the travel arrangements you made before the trip, during the next four days you’ll be doing one of the following: hiking the Inca Trail (Route 1), hiking the Quarry Trail (Route 2) or staying in Cusco for two days before taking the train to Aguas Calientes (Route 3). All routes visit Machu Picchu.

While away from Cusco, the bulk of your luggage will be stored at your hotel. If you’re hiking the Inca Trail or the Quarry Trail, the evening before you leave Cusco you'll receive a small duffle bag to carry your clothes in for the next four days (5 kg maximum). Your team of porters will carry these bags for you, together with the food and equipment for the trail. You won't have access to these items until the end of each day, as the porters will always be ahead of the group. If you’re travelling to Aguas Calientes by train, you'll be able to leave most of your luggage at the hotel in Cusco and travel with only a small bag for the overnight stay in Aguas Calientes.

Route 1 Inca Trail
Today travel by minivan to the 82 km marker and meet your crew of local porters, cook and guide. The first day includes uphill trekking to the campsite, which is at 3100 m above sea level. On the way you’ll see the Inca sites of Ollantaytambo, Huillca Raccay and Llactapata, as well as incredible views of snow-capped Veronica Peak. In the evening, unwind at the campsite with a nourishing meal prepared by your cook.

Route 2 Quarry Trail
Make an early start today and drive to Choquequilla, a small ceremonial place where Incas worshipped the moon. Drive to the starting point of the trek, Rafq'a, and meet the horsemen who join us on the hike. After an hour’s walk, reach the small community of Socma. Carry on to the Perolniyoc Cascade lookout, an opportunity to stop for photos and a food break. Continue to the campsite, which is 3700 m above sea level. You should reach the campsite around lunchtime. After lunch, set off to explore the Q'orimarca archaeological site, which once served as a checkpoint to the Incas.

Route 3 Cusco
For those travellers not hiking, today you visit the archaeological site of Chinceros, on the way back to Cusco. Your Intrepid leader travels with you and is at hand to provide recommendations for your time in Cusco.

Route 1 Inca Trail
This is the most challenging day of the trek as you ascend a long steep path (approximately 5 hours) to reach the highest point of the trail. Colloquially known as 'Dead Woman's Pass', Warmiwanusca sits at a height of 4200 m above sea level, providing amazing views of the valley below. The group will then descend to the campsite in the Pacaymayo Valley at 3650 m.

Route 2 Quarry Trail
This is the most challenging and rewarding day of the hike. A 3 hour walk takes you to the top of the first pass of Puccaqasa (approximately 4370 m high). After enjoying picturesque views of the valley, it’s a short walk before stopping for lunch. After, make the two-hour hike to Kuychicassa, the highest pass of the trek at 4450 m. From here, descend to the sacred site the Incas called Intipunku. This is a sun gate, where the sun will stream through at particular times of the year and there are views of the Nevado Veronica mountain year-round. The Incas built several sun gates, the most notable overlooking Machu Picchu. Head to the campsite, only a stone’s throw away and at 3600 m.

Route 3 Cusco
Enjoy a free day in Cusco, the heart and soul of Peru. You may like to purchase a boleto turistico, which allows entry to the city's many museums and archaeological sites. Ask your leader for their recommendations.

Route 1 Inca Trail
Start the day with a climb through the Pacaymayo Valley to Runkuracay Pass (3980 m). Enjoy views of the snow-capped mountain of Cordillera Vilcabamba before descending for around 2 to 3 hours to the ruins of Sayacmarca. Continue over the trail’s third pass to the ruins of Phuyupatamarca (3850 m), also known as 'Town Above the Clouds'. Start the 2 hour descent down the Inca steps to the final night's campsite by the Winay Wayna archaeological site.

Route 2 Quarry Trail to Aguas Calientes
Today’s hike will all be downhill. The first stop is the incomplete Kachiqata quarry, where the Incas were intercepted by the Spanish. Around midday, come to the end of the trek. Explore the cobbled streets of Ollantaytambo before taking the short train journey to Aguas Calientes. This is where you’ll meet up with the travellers in your group who didn't hike. Spend the night in a comfortable hotel before tomorrow’s visit to Machu Picchu.

Route 3 Train to Aguas Calientes
After a 1.5 hour drive to Ollantaytambo, catch a train through the winding Urubamba Valley to Aguas Calientes (another 1.5 hours). The city is nestled in the cloud forest at the foot of Machu Picchu. This is where you’ll meet up with the travellers in your group who hiked the Quarry Trail. Spend the night in a comfortable hotel before tomorrow’s visit to Machu Picchu.

Route 1 Inca Trail
This is the final and most spectacular leg of the trek to Machu Picchu. The day starts before dawn with breakfast at 4 am. Say farewell to the porters as they descend to the train station and then begin hiking by 4.30 am. Once the final checkpoint opens at 5 am, begin the final leg of the trek. The walk to Intipunku (the Sun Gate) takes around 2.5 hours. Weather permitting, enjoy unforgettable views over the ‘Lost City of the Incas’ as you enter Machu Picchu through the Sun Gate.

Route 2 Machu Picchu to Cusco
Take an early bus up to Machu Picchu at 5.30 am. The city was built around 1440 AD as a country retreat for Incan nobility, but there’s evidence that the land had been a sacred Incan site for much longer. Take a guided tour around the ruins of temples, palaces and living quarters.

Route 3 Machu Picchu to Cusco
Take an early bus up to Machu Picchu at 5.30 am. The city was built around 1440 AD as a country retreat for Incan nobility, but there’s evidence that the land had been a sacred Incan site for much longer. Take a guided tour around the ruins of temples, palaces and living quarters.

For all travellers, after taking advantage of the seemingly endless photo opportunities, it's time to catch the bus to Aguas Calientes where you’ll stop for lunch together. From here, take a scenic train ride to Ollantaytambo, then drive back to Cusco, arriving in the evening.

Enjoy some free time to delve deeper into all Cusco has to offer. Those with weary legs may want to simply grab a coffee from a cafe at Plaza de Armas and do some people-watching. The Manos Unidas is a great choice for a meal. In addition to serving up delicious food, this central pizzeria also provides vocational training to young adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. This afternoon head to “Casa Intrepid” Here, you’ll learn how to craft the iconic Pisco Sour, Peru’s national cocktail, in this hands-on mixology class. You'll discover the perfect balance of Pisco, lime juice, simple syrup, egg white, and bitters — and the story behind the drink that captures the spirit of Peruvian culture and hospitality. Salud! This evening perhaps head out for dinner with the group – your leader will have plenty of local recommendations.

Travel by comfortable public bus (with reclining chairs) for around 7 hours to the tiny but unique town of Puno. This journey will take you on decent roads through spectacular mountain scenery. Arrive in Puno, located on the shores of Lake Titicaca, a melting pot of Aymara and Quechuan Indian culture where traditional Andean customs are still strongly represented. The town is known as the folklore capital of Peru and is famous for its traditional dances. Many festivals are celebrated here, especially the Virgen de la Candelaria, so if you're lucky your visit might coincide with one of the colourful evening parades, when the streets fill with costumed dancers and musicians.

High in the Peruvian Andes lies Lake Titicaca, the highest navigable lake in the world. From its shores, the water stretches endlessly, inviting exploration. Today, sail across the lake to the fascinating floating islands of the Uros – built from layers of totora reeds that must be replaced as they rot. Learn how the Uros have sustained this way of life since pre-Inca times, even crafting reed boats that last up to a year. Then, continue to Taquile Island, where men traditionally knit and women spin wool. When you arrive, hike uphill to the main part of the island for sweeping lake views. Tonight, maybe sit down to a simple dinner of quinoa soup and muna tea.

This morning, travel to La Paz by bus. When you arrive, maybe ride the Mi Teleferico cable car for panoramic views over the city, wander through the Witches Market (Mercado de las Brujas) or watch a Cholita wrestling show. This afternoon, you’ll have another welcome meeting at 6 pm to meet the new travellers joining you on the last leg of your epic adventure. After your meeting, maybe join your group for dinner at a local restaurant – your local leader will have the best recommendations!

After breakfast, set off on a walking tour through La Paz. See the San Francisco Church, the historic Plaza Murillo and Calle Jaen, where interesting museums are clustered together. Then, discover traditional Bolivian crafts and medicinal herbs at the Witches’ Market (Mercado de las Brujas) before riding the teleferico (cable car) over the city. Stop at the famous Killi Killi viewpoint, then head to Moon Valley – a geological site where erosion has formed a large collection of sandstone monoliths, shaped over thousands of years. The rest of the day is free for you to explore the city at your own pace. Maybe unwind on a nearby beach or explore the Sopocachi Neighborhood and find a bohemian-style bistro for dinner.

Today’s adventure begins with a scenic journey across the Andean plateaus to the high-altitude frontier town of Uyuni, perched at the edge of the altiplano stretching toward Argentina and Chile. Along the way, stop to stretch your legs and maybe grab some lunch. When you arrive in Uyuni this afternoon, the rest of the day is free. Maybe relax in your hotel or find a local restaurant for dinner – your leader will have the best recommendations!

This morning, visit the Train Cemetery on the deserted outskirts of Uyuni. The town was once a distribution hub for trains carrying minerals on their way to Pacific Ocean ports but in the 1940s the mining industry collapsed, and many trains were abandoned. Spend the morning walking through the old and rusting antique train carriages and steam engines before heading out into Uyuni’s Salt Flats. Explore the lake by 4WD, first visiting the small town of Colchani, where you'll see how the local farm processes salt from the Salar. Then, see the Salt Hotel – this hotel in the heart of the Salt Flats is built entirely from salt! After, discover the cacti and coral-like structures on the rocky island of Isla Inca Wasi before stopping for a picnic lunch in the middle of the salt flats. After, visit the iconic salt sculpture that rises from the endless white expanse – a striking tribute to Dakar Rally (a cross-county rally in all-terrain vehicles). Tonight, if the weather allows, maybe watch the sunset over the otherworldly landscape before heading back to your hotel for the evening.

Today, travel through the Andean Desert to Siloli Desert. Today is a bit of a long travel day, so it's a good idea to get stuck into your book or favourite podcasts. Along the way, you’ll pass the active Ollague Volcano and small colourful lakes. Stop at San Cristobal de Lipez – a small village known for its relocated church (Iglesia San Cristobal Lipez), which was moved stone by stone when the original town was moved due to silver mining. Then, travel to Alota, known for its rock formations before continuing to Hedionda and the Canapa Lagoons – often home to a vibrant group of flamingos! Finish your day at the Siloli Desert, where you’ll see a vast expanse of volcanos and arid terrain. When you arrive, settle into your accommodation in the middle of the desert before heading out to dinner with your group.

This morning, visit Laguna Colorada (Red Lagoon) - a shallow salt lake in the Eduardo Avaroa Andean Fauna National Reserve. Then, continue your journey to the Sol de Manana Geysers. After spending some time soaking in the hot springs of Polques, travel across the Pampas de Dali Desert to Laguna Verde – a green lagoon at the foot of Licancabur Volcano. Continue to the Bolivian border post (Hito Cajon). Change vehicles and descend along the paved road to the Chile immigration post on the outskirts of San Pedro de Atacama – a town set on an arid high plateau in the Andres mountains and the gateway to the Atacama Desert (the driest non-polar desert on Earth!). After the immigration procedures, the rest of the night is free.

Today is a free day. Maybe see the geothermal activity at El Tatio Geysers, explore the red rock formations and volcanic landscape at Piedras Rojas or walk through the ruins of the ancient fortress at Pukara de Quitor and learn about the pre-Hispanic Lickan Antay culture. This evening perhaps head out for dinner with the group – your leader will have plenty of local recommendations.

Travel to Atacama Desert’s most colourful and captivating landscape this morning – the Rainbow Valley, named after the vivid reds, greens, yellows and whites that paint the hills. From a scenic viewpoint, watch the valley’s natural colours come alive as the sun rises over Rainbow Canyon. Then, continue to Yerbas Buenas where you’ll learn about the region’s most important collection of petroglyphs (ancient rock carvings) that reveal the lives and beliefs of the area’s earliest inhabitants. This afternoon, travel across the Cordillera de la Sal (Salt Mountain Range) to the Valle de la Luna (Valley of the Moon) - a valley with small but sharp crested hills, created by the wind, which resembles the moon’s surface. Watch as the sun sets over the moon-like landscape. Tonight, maybe join your group at a local restaurant for dinner and celebrate the last night of your trip with some local dishes like pastel de choclo (corn and meat casserole) or empanadas (savoury pastries filled with meat, cheese or seafood).

Today, you'll board a flight to Santiago, Chile for the next leg of your trip. When you arrive, you'll be met by a representative and transferred to your hotel. Settle in, then meet the new travellers in your group at 6 pm tonight. After the meeting, maybe head out for dinner at one of the great local restaurants – your leader will have some suggestions!

After breakfast, discover Santiago’s architecture and urban landscapes with a local guide. Begin in the heart of the city at Cerro Santa Lucia, where Santiago was founded, before passing historic churches, European-inspired neighbourhoods and some of the capital’s most emblematic civic buildings. Along the way, you’ll see the impressive Palacio de La Moneda, wander through the financial district and learn about the events that have shaped modern Chile. Continue to Plaza de Armas, the city’s historic main square, then head to the lively Central Market to taste mote hon huesillo (a traditional non-alcoholic drink made with dried and cooked peaches with a touch of chancaca and spices). Finish the walk in Santiago’s cultural quarter, passing the Fine Arts Museum and a few beautiful parks before returning to your hotel.

This morning, set off from Santiago to the small city of Los Andes to the north, near the Andes Mountains. On the way, you’ll have a winery tour and tasting at Sanchez de Loria Winery in the heart of the Aconcagua Valley. This family-owned estate has been crafting exceptional wines since 1890. Explore its historic vineyards, traditional winery facilities, the family wine cellar and the manor house for a peek into Chile’s rich winemaking heritage. Tonight you’re free to spend some downtime at the hotel or rally your group for dinner and a glass of local wine.

Travel to Mendoza today, crossing the breathtaking Los Caracoles Mountain Pass in the Andes, the famous zigzagging mountain road that connects Chile and Argentina. Along the way, stop at the turquoise Laguna del Inca, explore the iconic natural rock formation of Puente del Inca and take in panoramic views of Aconcagua – the highest peak in the Western Hemisphere at 6962 m (22,841 ft) above sea level. When you arrive in Mendoza, go for a walk with your leader. Check out the city’s tree-lined spaces and get a taste of local life along the bustling street Peatonal Sarmiento. Tonight, you may opt to head out to dinner with your group at a local restaurant.

Today, you’ll explore the Mendoza region, where nearly three-quarters of Argentina’s wine is produced – including the signature Malbec. Sip at the source during tours and tastings at two world-class and innovative wineries. Meet with a local wine expert and learn about the different varieties of grapes and production methods used at each winery, then sample some award-winning vintages. Have lunch at the winery, then visit an olive oil factory where you’ll learn how it’s produced and, of course, taste the best varieties.

Today, fly from the vineyards of Mendoza to the colourful streets of Buenos Aires. When you arrive, you can spend the afternoon soaking up the Argentinean capital’s mix of European and Latin culture on an orientation walk with your leader. In the evening, learn some new moves at a tango class with your group, then have dinner and watch a spectacular live tango show at El Aljibe.

Today, take a ferry across the Rio de la Plata to Colonia del Sacramento. When you arrive, take a walking tour along this UNESCO World Heritage site’s cobblestone streets with your leader. The city was founded in 1680 by the Portuguese and sandwiched in between the Portuguese colony of Brazil and the Spanish vice Royalty of the River Plate (later Argentina, Uruguay and Southern Brazil). If you like, go up to the top of the lighthouse for a great view of the city and river. Sit down to a traditional Uruguayan lunch, then take the ferry back to Buenos Aires.

Start the day exploring the streets of the San Telmo neighbourhood – one of Buenos Aires’ oldest neighbourhoods and an open-air museum where fileteado decorates every corner. This traditional art form, known for its stylised lines and drawings of colourful, climbing flowers, is deeply woven into the porteno (a person from Buenos Aires) identity. Then, visit San Pedro Gonzalez Telmo Church, home to several works by master artist Martiniano Arce, and make your way to the iconic San Telmo Market. After, it’s your chance to get artsy during a fileteado workshop. While enjoying a typical porteno afternoon snack, learn the techniques and secrets of fileteado with a master artist. Create your own piece to take home as a keepsak, then tuck into a traditional asado (barbecue) dinner. Chat with your friendly host about their life here while feasting on meats, provoleta cheese and plenty of local wine.

Your trip comes to an end after breakfast this morning. If you're planning to stay on in Buenos Aires, just speak to your booking agent ahead of time to organise extra accommodation.