Spirit of South America with Amazon & Galápagos Cruise

26 days
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USTOA

Small Group Tour
Rum and rumba. Ruins and rainforests. Rio and revelry. This carefree vacation to South America has just the R&R you crave. From Brazil to Argentina and Peru to Ecuador, this multi-country tour of South America delivers a healthy dose of take-me-away scenery, sights, and sizzling culture. Sip caipirinhas at the top of Rio de Janeiro’s Sugarloaf Mountain. L...
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Overview

Trip type
Small Group Tour
Lodging level
Premium - 4 star
Physical level
Very Easy
Trip pace
Balanced schedule

Highlights

    • Rio de janeiro: Cable-car ride up Sugar Loaf Mountain and Sugar Loaf cocktail party; sightseeing with a Local Guide; visit Corcovado Mountain and the cathedral; Churrascaria dinner
    • Buenos aires: Sightseeing with a Local Guide; visit the Metropolitan Cathedral and Recoleta Cemetery; Tango dance lesson; Tango show
    • Iguassu falls: Sightseeing with a Local Guide; visit both sides of the falls; Ecological Jungle Train
    • Lima: Sightseeing with a Local Guide; visit San Francisco Monastery; dinner at Larco Herrera Museum; local Peruvian food market
    • Sacred valley: Visit Kenko Amphitheater and Pisac; Mother Earth Ceremony with a shaman; visit Ollantaytambo and a local home visit for a glimpse into rural Peruvian life
    • Machu picchu: Take the Vistadome train through the Urubamba Valley; sightseeing with Local Guide and two days entrance to the ruins
    • Cusco: Sightseeing with a Local Guide; visit the cathedral, the Santo Domingo Monastery, and Temple of Sacsayhuaman; farewell dinnerGALÁPAGOS
    • Explore the beauty of South America during this exhilarating vacation to Brazil, Argentina, Peru, and the Galápagos Islands
    • Visit its cosmopolitan and lively cities as well as its ancient treasures and scenic highlights, including the Amazon Jungle, where you’ll cruise along the chocolate-colored Rio Negro to its confluence with the yellow-gray Rio Solimões, where the two rivers form the Amazon

What's this trip about?

    Rum and rumba. Ruins and rainforests. Rio and revelry. This carefree vacation to South America has just the R&R you crave. From Brazil to Argentina and Peru to Ecuador, this multi-country tour of South America delivers a healthy dose of take-me-away scenery, sights, and sizzling culture. Sip caipirinhas at the top of Rio de Janeiro’s Sugarloaf Mountain. Learn the sultry steps of the tango in breezy Buenos Aires. Put down your book and lose yourself in the real-life mystery of Machu Picchu. The health, wealth, and safe travels bestowed upon you at a traditional Mother Earth Ceremony in Peru’s Sacred Valley will come to fruition as you feel the magical mist of the roaring Iguassu Falls, taste the creative cuisine in the world-renowned culinary capital of Lima, and travel back five centuries as you stroll along the stone streets of the Inca capital of Cusco. Looking for the perfect introduction to sensational South America? How about the “Meeting of the Waters” where the chocolate-hued Rio Negro flows alongside the yellowish Rio Solimões without ever mixing. You’ll also meet monkeys, catch piranhas, and explore a native caboclo village when you begin your tour of South America to Brazil’s Amazon. When satisfying your inner historian, don’t forget your inner naturalist. Cruise around the famed Galápagos archipelago, where you’ll share the shores with every native species from the blue-footed boobies to the pint-size penguin. A meet-and-greet with a colony of sea lions seals the deal on this wondrous extension to your South America vacation.

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Details

Itinerary focusClassic Highlights
Group sizeStandard Group - 25 + people
Age range6 years and up
Flights and transportN/A
Start City MANAUS, BRAZIL
End CityGUAYAQUIL

Travel Themes

  • 50 plus
  • Cultural

Destinations

  • South America
  • Argentina
  • Brazil
  • Ecuador
  • Peru

Attractions

  • Buenos Aires
  • Cusco
  • Galapagos Islands
  • Guayaquil
  • Lima
  • Machu Picchu
  • Manaus
  • Quito
  • Sacred Valley
  • San Cristobal
  • Santa Cruz Island

Activities

  • Culture

View Similar Trips

Itinerary

Travel Map

Day 1: ARRIVE IN MANAUS, BRAZIL

Welcome to Manaus! Upon arrival, you will be met by your Globus representative. (Dinner)

MANAUS-TOUCAN-DETAIL.jpg

Day 2: MANAUS–AMAZON JUNGLE

Rivers of Life Today your “Meeting of the Waters” tour passes the impressive British-built Customs House and the floating port. Cruise on the chocolate-hued Rio Negro to its confluence with the yellow-gray Rio Solimões, where the two rivers form the mighty Amazon. F...

Day 3: AMAZON JUNGLE

Monkey Business Accompanied by a Naturalist, enjoy a guided walk to see the flora and fauna that thrive in the Amazon. After lunch, sail up the river to visit an Amazon native Caboclo Village to learn about their traditions and culture. Also, try your hand at piranha...

Day 4: AMAZON JUNGLE–MANAUS–RIO DE JANEIRO

Brazilian Boomtown This morning, depart the Ecopark for Manaus. Take a guided sightseeing tour to explore the city’s vestiges of its glory days during the rubber boom. See the famed Opera House, built in 1896 with materials imported from Europe. Visit a local market,...

Day 5: RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL

Reaching New Heights After free time this morning, meet your Tour Director at 3:30pm for a drive to the base of 1,300-foot-high Sugarloaf Mountain. Ascend by cable car to its summit, where you can take in spectacular vistas of the city. Next, toast the start of a me...

Day 6: RIO DE JANEIRO

Heavenly Views The city’s landmark, the statue of Christ the Redeemer, crowns Corcovado Mountain, a rounded peak rising 2,300 feet from the bay below. A scenic ride by cog railway leads to the top, where a breathtaking 360-degree panorama affords sweeping views. From...

Day 7: RIO DE JANEIRO

Beaches, Boutiques & Bites A full day at leisure to enjoy Rio. Relax on one of the world-famous beaches or take advantage of the world-class shopping or fine dining. (Breakfast)

FREE TIME TIPS EXPLORE MORE Spend free time in Rio de Janeiro with an option...

Day 8: RIO DE JANEIRO–BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA

The Boulevards of Buenos Aires Fly to Buenos Aires, proud capital of the vast country that occupies most of the southern part of the continent. After arriving at your central hotel, acquaint yourself with the “Paris of South America” and its wide boulevards and outd...

Day 9: BUENOS AIRES

Dining, Dancing & Dazzling Your included sightseeing this morning starts in La Boca, a vibrant district and site of the city’s first port. Take a short walking tour of this unique enclave at the mouth of the river and then on to San Telmo, famous for its late-co...

Day 10: BUENOS AIRES

Argentine Adventures Today is a full day at leisure. (Breakfast)

FREE TIME TIPS EXPLORE MORE Discover the timeless traditions of Argentina with an optional excursion to the pampas (grasslands). Experience the atmosphere of Argentine country life as you visit a...

Day 11: BUENOS AIRES–IGUASSU FALLS, BRAZIL

What a Rush! This morning, fly to Iguassu Falls, Argentina. The spectacle of this 2-mile-wide rushing torrent—with some cataracts as high as 250 feet—is nothing short of hypnotic. The clouds of spray, the incessant roar, and the surrounding luxuriant tropical growth ...

Day 12: IGUASSU FALLS–LIMA, PERU

Taking the Plunge Today is dedicated to exploring the Brazilian side of Iguassu Falls from a completely different vantage point than in Argentina. A walk along the pathway at the base of the falls takes you into the Devil’s Throat Canyon, with spectacular panoramic v...

Day 13: LIMA

Legendary Lima Your city sightseeing tour focuses on Lima’s rich colonial history as well as the modern city. See the 18th-century San Francisco Monastery with its unique cloisters, Government Palace, and the cathedral situated around the vast Plaza de Armas. Tonigh...

Day 14: LIMA–CUSCO–SACRED VALLEY

Empire of the Andes Fly to Cusco, the impressive Andean city that was once the capital of the Inca Empire. Head into the Sacred Valley of the Incas and visit the semi-circular Kenko Amphitheater with its stone altars and labyrinth of passages, and see the ancient si...

Day 15: SACRED VALLEY–MACHU PICCHU

Mystery on the Mountain This morning, visit the Inca Fortress of Ollantaytambo, followed by [LF] a visit to a local home, meet some of the area’s families, and experience their way of life in the Sacred Valley. Then, board the Vistadome train for a scenic journey th...

Day 16: MACHU PICCHU–CUSCO

Here Comes the Sun A morning at leisure in Machu Picchu allows you to wake up early to see the sunrise over Machu Picchu with your second included entrance to the ruins. After lunch, return to the Sacred Valley by train and continue to Cusco. (Breakfast,Lunch)

...

Day 17: CUSCO

Sun Worship & Spanish Conquests On your guided sightseeing tour of Cusco today, learn more about the Inca and Spanish influence. Begin at the heart of Cusco in the Plaza de Armas (main square), with a visit to the imposing Cathedral, where construction began in ...

Day 18: CUSCO–LIMA

Hasta Luego, Cusco A short morning flight returns you to Lima. For a special treat, make a stop at a local [LF] Peruvian food market to get a real taste of the life of the local people. The remainder of the day is at leisure to explore on your own. (Breakfast)

Day 19: LIMA–QUITO, ECUADOR

Welcome to Quito! Fly to Quito, where you will be met by a Globus representative. Free time this evening. (Breakfast)

TOUR HIGHLIGHT ACCOMMODATION SPOTLIGHT Centrally located across from the nightly craft market in El Ejido Park and near the Casa de la Cultura ...

Day 20: QUITO

Quintessential Quito On an included city tour, see Independence Square with its Cathedral and San Francisco Plaza Church, and the Basilica. (Breakfast)

TOUR HIGHLIGHT ART & ARCHITECTURE Ecuador’s capital city of San Francisco de Quito stands on the ruins o...

Day 21: QUITO–SAN CRISTOBAL ISLAND (EMBARKATION)–GALÁPAGOS CRUISING

Adventure on the Horizon Take a morning flight to San Cristobal, one of the remote Galápagos Islands. Upon arrival, board the Galápagos Legend for your 4-night cruise. On San Cristobal, visit the Interpretation Center with your Naturalist and learn about ongoing con...

Day 22: CRUISING: ESPAÑOLA ISLAND

Survival of the Fittest Join your Naturalist guide for excursions to Gardner Bay and Punta Suárez on Española Island, one of the oldest islands in the archipelago. At Gardner Bay, see one of the most stunning beaches in all of Galapagos that is home to a colony of Ga...

Day 23: CRUISING: FLOREANA ISLAND

Kaleidoscope of Life This morning, visit Post Office Bay, named for the wooden barrel that served as an informal post office for sailors passing through. Here, you may also encounter Darwin’s finches, yellow warblers, and lava lizards, and take advantage of another c...

Day 24: CRUISING: SANTA CRUZ ISLAND

A View from the Top This morning, visit Dragon Hill, where you will find a brackish lagoon frequented by shorebirds, ducks, and flamingos. Further inland, the trail heads up the hill and offers a beautiful view of the archipelago, as well as the chance to see land ig...

Day 25: CRUISING: SANTA CRUZ–BALTRA (DISEMBARKATION)–GUAYAQUIL

Gentle Giants Drive to the highlands of Santa Cruz Island and visit the Tortoise Reserve where giant tortoises are found in their natural habitat. See and learn about the conservation and breeding programs to protect the endangered tortoise species found here. Contin...

Day 26: GUAYAQUIL

Safe travels until we meet again! Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning. (Breakfast)

GUAYAQUIL-DOOR.jpg

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Dates & Availability

Price From $9,949
Price per day$383
Last Updated: 4/17/2024
Start Date
Finish Date
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10 May 2024
04 Jun 2024
$9,949
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21 Jun 2024
16 Jul 2024
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19 Jul 2024
13 Aug 2024
$9,979
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13 Sep 2024
08 Oct 2024
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27 Sep 2024
22 Oct 2024
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11 Oct 2024
05 Nov 2024
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25 Oct 2024
19 Nov 2024
$9,949
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08 Nov 2024
03 Dec 2024
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17 Jan 2025
11 Feb 2025
$10,649
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14 Feb 2025
11 Mar 2025
$10,589
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Check Current Availability, prices, specials with Globus.

The total tour cost includes the tour price (regular or promotional) and the compulsory local payment. The promotional price is subject to change. Check directly with the operator for the latest price offer. The tour operator requires you to pay only the tour price to purchase your travel. The compulsory local payment will be paid when you join the trip. All prices are based on double, twin or triple share occupancy. Solo passengers will be accommodated in a double, twin or triple room according to availability with a passenger(s) of the same gender. Single supplement only needs to be paid if the passenger does not want to share and requests their own room. Discounts can only be applied at the time of booking and cannot be added at a later date, regardless of any changes made to the original booking.

Prices may vary due to local taxes and trip seasonality. Click "Request Info" to inquire directly with the tour operator for the final trip price.

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kit

Mar 2024

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guide Sites are amazing, but tour ruins it

This tour has amazing sites, good hotels in great locations, great pace BUT the tour director that was assigned to be with our small group added nothing to the exper...

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mike

Feb 2024

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Never Again

Just returned from Italy. Guides were very informative. Hotels went downhill with each city. Dinners which were included were absolutely horrible - vegetable lasagna...

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In country help

Jan 2024

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Tour company help is most needed in-country

This is an upcoming trip that I haven't taken yet - the Sicilian Escape. I booked my own international flights for round trip to the launch point in Palermo. My erro...

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Logistics

Accommodation

Hotel Blue Tree Premium ManausLocated in the Adrianopolis district of Manaus nearby the Amazonas shopping center, the Hotel Blue Tree Premium Manaus features a rooftop pool with views of the city, on-site restaurant, bar, fitness center, and sauna.ManausBrazilAv Umberto Calderaro Filho, 817 - AdrianopolisEcopark Jungle LodgeInside the Amazon Jungle on the Rio Negro, enjoy daily excursions to learn about the flora, fauna, and indigenous tribes. Rooms feature private facilities and air-conditioning.ManausBrazilAmazonHilton Rio CopacabanaLocated just steps away from the famous Copacabana beach and waterfront, Hilton Copacabana offers two sparkling swimming pools, a full-service wellness spa, multiple restaurants and bars, beachside service at Copacabana's waterfront, and comfortable and cozy guestrooms with spectacular views. Rio de JaneiroBrazilAvenida Atlantica 1020Hotel EmperadorAn oasis of tranquility in the heart of this pulsating and vibrant city, the Emperador's distinctive and unique features stand out amongst the competition. Enjoy ultimate comfort in one of the 265 spacious rooms, offering contemporary ambience matched with state-of-the-art technical amenities. From the moment you enter the Buenos Aires Hotel Emperador, you'll experience the majesty of the lobby, combining modern style with the natural colors of the year-round green gardens.Buenos AiresArgentinaAv del Libertador 420Bourbon Cataratas HotelThe Bourbon Cataratas Resort Hotel, is strategically located near the main tourist sites of Iguassu. Exclusive and professional staff take care of every detail.Iguassu FallsBrazilRodovia Das Cataratas KM 2,5Hotel Pullman Miraflores The Pullman Miraflores hotel combins lifestyle and design for business and leisure. Located in the exclusive Miraflores district, near the Pacific Ocean, this hotel is not far from Larcomar shopping center. With over 236 rooms, Plural lounge restaurant, gym, pool and a spectacular Rooftop Bar the Pullman Miraflores offers an amazing place to stay and relax. LimaPeruC. Juan Fanning 515 - 525Casa Andina Premium Valle Sagrado Hotel and VillasThe Casa Andina Premium Collection hotel in the Sacred Valley is a luxurious and satisfying retreat. Combining fine food, comfortable rooms, and personalized attention, it is the Valley's most complete hotel. In addition to a spa, a fitness center, and romantic dining, this hotel is best known for providing panoramic views of the Andes in every room. This charming mountain chalet-style hotel adds style and comfort to the already stunning atmosphere of Peru's Sacred Valley.Urubamba ValleyPeru5to Paradero YanahuaraSumaq Machu Picchu HotelThe Sumaq Hotel is located at the foot of the Machu Picchu ruins and boasts an Andean health spa, bar, restaurant, gift shop, and business center.Machu PicchuPeruAv Hermanos Ayar Mz 1 Lote 3Casa Andina Premium CuscoA beautifully renovated 18th-century manor house is located 3 blocks from Cusco's Plaza de Armas. The hotel is distinguished by its 3 interior patios with wooden balconies. The principal patio, featuring a gurgling stone fountain, is one of Cusco's emblematic colonial courtyards. Amenities include a gourmet restaurant, bar, reading room, room service, gift shop, and laundry service.CuscoPeruPlazoleta Limacpampa Chico 473Hilton Colon Quito (SAT)The Hilton Colon Quito hotel is 10 minute walk from the colonial Old Town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This modern hotel enjoys spectacular views of the city. Amenities include a fitness center, spa, outdoor heated pool, 5 restaurants/lounges, laundry service, concierge, florist, barber shop, and gift shop.QuitoEcuadorAve Amazonas N 1914 Y Patria Avenida 1Hilton Colon Guayaquil - SATCombining excellent service and a laid-back resort feel, Hilton Colon Guayaquil is conveniently located only a few minutes from Jose Joaquin de Olmedo International Airport. The hotel is the perfect retreat for those traveling to and from the Galapagos Islands. GuayaquilEcuadorAv Francisco de Orellana Mz 111,

Transportation & Flights

Participation in this tour requires a purchase of additional local flights. ,
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Age Requirements
6 years and up
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Trip ID
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