South American Explorer
Overview
Highlights
- Travel to the heart of the Amazon
- Reach dizzying heights on the Inca Trail
- Navigate Peru and Bolivia's high waters across Lake Titicaca
- Visit Bolivia's Salar de Uyuni
- Unwind in Argentina's Lake District
- Visit Argentina and tango in Buenos Aires
- Be awed by the mighty Iguazu Falls
- Party in Brazil's vibrant Rio de Janeiro
What's this trip about?
Details
Travel Themes
Destinations
Itinerary
Kick off this Latin American adventure exploring the Old Town’s cobblestone streets or head to a funky bar in Quito's modern New Town.
Learn the secrets of the Amazon rainforest and the medicinal uses of plants on a local-guided tour of the jungle.
With two free days in Banos, you might want to watch sunrise from the thermal springs or experience an adrenaline rush high in the Ecuadorian Andes - whitewater rafting, anyone? Banos has long been a favourite place to travel in Ecuador and it's not hard to see why.
Wander cobblestone streets and admire the red-tiled roofs, flower markets and plazas of Cuenca, a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Cross the border into Peru and spend a free day relaxing on Zorritos beach, surfing or taking an optional boat tour through the mangrove swamps.
Visit the colorful local market of Chiclayo or perhaps visit the Sipan museum, a very informative piece on what's been called the most important recent achaeological discovery in Peru.
Explore the historical city of Trujillo and the nearby ancient Chimu capital of Chan Chan.
Wander the well-preserved historical centre of Peru's capital, Lima.
Head to the Plaza de Armas for some tasty local cuisine or a Pisco sour - Peru's national drink made from a type of brandy.
Opt to visit the Ballestas Islands, a famed wildlife haven, before heading to the Nazca lines to discover ancient mummies and mysterious colossal etchings.
Journey to Arequipa and see why it's nicknamed the 'White City'.
Enjoy a free day in Arequipa before taking an overnight bus to Cusco.
Founded by the Incas then taken by the Spaniards, Cuzco is the South American continent's oldest continuously inhabited city. Get a feel for this city, arguably one of the most attractive in Peru, on a guided orientation walk through its winding lane ways. In spare ti...
Explore the terraced Sacred Valley filled with Inca ruins, colourful markets and scenic villages.
Walk through dense cloud forests and past ancient ruins on an awe-inspiring Inca Trail trek to Machu Picchu.
Relax in a cafe back in Cuzco or hit the mountain tracks on a daring bike ride.
Stop in at Puno, the folklore capital of Peru. Take a boat tour of Lake Titicaca, the world's highest navigable lake, and experience local life at a homestay.
Travel to Bolivia's eclectic capital La Paz. Browse the Witches' Market for everything from woolly hats and alpaca gloves to potions and incantations to cure any ailment. Celebrate the end of the Peru and Ecuador Adventure with a night on the tiles.
Travel from La Paz to Sucre and peruse a bejewelled painting at the Museo de la Catedral, compare footprints with those of a dinosaur at Cal Orck'o or head to Recoleta, an old convent at the top of a hill from where you will be able to see why Sucre is regarded as Bolivia's most beautiful city.
Learn about the bleak past of what was once the world's richest city.
Discover the gleaming salt flats, cactus-studded islands, multicoloured lakes and abundant wildlife of the surreal Salar de Uyuni.
Leave behind the mesmerising salt flats of Uyuni and make tracks to San Pedro de Atacama in Chile. Located in the Atacama Desert, this oasis town has low-lying adobe buildings lining narrow streets. It's a charming town, to say the least, and a great place see mummies and various Indian artefacts.
Cross the border between Bolivia and Argentina and delve into the pre-Columbian and colonial history of one of Argentina's most splendid towns, Salta. Need a thrill? Optional bungee jumping and horseriding can be easily arranged. After a few days here, you'll have no doubt why the Argentineans affectionately call this city 'Salta the Pretty'.
Visit bountiful, sun-kissed vineyards and lock lips with some Malbec - Mendoza's premier wine. Winter travellers will delight in the nearby ski resorts, though Mendoza is a treat all year round. To give a little back, choose to visit Brazos Abiertos, a community project that supports local underprivileged children and mothers.
Travel across the spectacular Andes and arrive in the bustling capital of Chile, Santiago. At the centre is the Plaza de Armas, home to the cathedral. For a serene look at Chilean life, visit Barrio Bella Vista - a cluster of cafes and galleries affectionately referred to as the 'Paris Quarter'. It is here that the Bolivia and Argentina exploration comes to an end.
Adrenaline junkies and thrillseekers will delight in the bundle of activities on offer in Pucon, Chile's adventure capital. Set out on a hike up the smouldering Volcán Villarrica, or get to mountain biking, whitewater rafting, hiking, climbing, horse riding - whatever gets your blood pumping!
Journey over the Andes and into Argentina. Drop by the country's picturesque Lake District for excellent skiing or trekking possibilities, weather permitting.
Savour the fine dining opportunities, artisan chocolate shops and quaint, chalet-style wooden architecture of Bariloche. With plenty of ski runs open during winter and stunning lakes sure to entice swimmers over summer, you could well be forgiven for thinking you were in Northern Italy.
Fiery Latin passion, European elegance and superb cuisine combine to make Buenos Aires one of the world's most enthralling cities. Nibble on alfajores, wander San Telmo's cobblestone streets, talk football with Portenos in a cafe or get a history lesson at the quirky ...
Hop aboard a ferry across the tea-coloured Rio de la Plata to the Uruguayan port town of Colonia. Wander the town's quaint narrow streets, dine at a riverside restaurant and admire the homely mix of sandstone architecture at every twist and turn.
Travel on to Uruguay's vibrant beach-side capital, Montevideo. Hit the attractive beaches, park your posterior at one of the pretty plaza cafes, or feast on sizzling plates of barbecued meats to sizzling sounds of live jazz beats at Mercado del Puerto.
Sample something of the simpler life on a traditional estancia (ranch) homestay. Those prone to pondering a possible career change may like to test their mettle helping out with the daily farm chores, such as sheep herding or tending the garden. Otherwise just sit back on the veranda and chew the fat with your travel companions before being treated to some hearty Uruguayan home cooking.
Venture out for a visit to Argentina's most breathtaking attraction, the mighty Iguazu Falls. Cross the wooden walkways to peer over the ledge at thousands of litres of water thundering down the Iguazu River. Wider than Victoria Falls, higher than Niagara Falls and covered in swathes of lush jungle, they're a truly awe-inspring spectacle to behold and explore.
Travel to paradisal Paraty for a spot of Brazilian-style rest and relaxation. Dawdle the wide cobblestone streets or head off along the network of jungle trails in search of waterfalls and wildlife.
With a unique blend of tropical beaches and steamy rainforest, Ilha Grande is one of Brazil's most idyllic island getaways. Relax beachside with a caipirinha in hand, hike through the forests to Praia Lopes Mendes or don a mask and snorkel and enter an underwater wonderland.
What better place to end this South American odyssey than in rowdy and rambunctious Rio de Janeiro. Sprawl on the sands of Copacabana, hike up Sugarloaf Mountain for stunning bay views and revel 'til you drop at the local bars and street parties that overwhelm this sensational city.
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Dates & Availability
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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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The Intrepid Travel Experience
If you’re looking for adventure, you’ve come to the right place. For the past 25 years, we’ve been taking small groups of travelers on unforgettable trips around the world. What makes them unforgettable? Take a look for yourself and discover the Intrepid experience.
Our travelers have three styles of tour to choose from: Basix, Original and Comfort. Each has a different level of inclusions and accommodation, but all have unforgettable real life experiences as part of the package. Travellers can also choose themed trips, such as Family, Sailing or Food, to suit their interests.
Our group size has an average of just ten travellers, which allows us to get off the beaten track, use local accommodation and transport, and really get to know the culture. It also ensures we are contributing to the local economy; by choosing local suppliers we were able to keep AUD 60 million in local economies in 2012. We’re also working hard to reduce our carbon footprint and were the first in our sector to introduce carbon offset trips. This, along with our many corporate sustainability activities, has meant we’re one of the travel industry’s leaders in responsible travel.
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Intrepid Travel has come a long way since its beginnings in 1989. From two university friends, a typewriter and a kitchen desk, it is now a proud member of The Intrepid Group, taking over 100,000 travelers every year.
Intrepid Travel is part of The Intrepid Group of companies, alongside leading small group adventure companies Peregrine, Urban Adventures and PEAK DMC.
Despite growing into a global business with over 1,000 staff based all over the world and over 800 different trips across every continent, we’ve remained devoted to the same grassroots values and responsible travel philosophies that we had at the very beginning.
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Meals introduction
While travelling with us you'll experience the vast array of wonderful food available in the world. Your group leader will be able to suggest restaurants to try during your trip. On our camping trips we often cook the region's specialities so you don't miss out. To give you the maximum flexibility in deciding where, what and with whom to eat, generally not all meals are included in the trip price. This also gives you more budgeting flexibility. As a rule our groups tend to eat together to enable you to taste a larger variety of dishes and enjoy each other's company. There's no obligation to do this though.
Meals
25 Breakfasts, 11 Lunches, 10 Dinners
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