Peru & Brazil Essentials Tour

Arrival in Lima, reception and transfer to your hotel.

After breakfast, a guided visit of colonial and modern Lima, including the cathedral, which still houses the original bronze fountain built in 1650, and the San Francisco Convent and its catacombs. Known as the city of the kings, Lima was founded in 1535 by Pizarro and rebuilt in 1991, the same year that UNESCO declared it a world heritage site. Transfer to the airport for the afternoon flight to Cuzco. Arrival in Cuzco, reception and transfer to you hotel.

Meals: B

Afternoon guided visit of the four ruins nearby; the Sacsayhuaman Fortress overlooking the of Cuzco, a pre Inca architectural masterpiece; Kenko, a rock sanctuary whose main attraction is the monolithic altar representing a puma, the red Fortress of Puca-Pucara and Tambomachay, a beautiful fountain fed by a spring forming a series of basins continue to the city of Cuzco; the Main Square, the Cathedral and the Koricancha or Temple of the Sun. Return to your hotel.

Meals: B

Full-day excursion to the beautiful Urubamba, the Sacred Valley of the Inca situated between Pisac and Ollantaytambo. Visit the village of Pisac, founded during colonial times, and set at the foot of a hill crowned by the remains of an ancient Inca city. Visit the market. After a buffet lunch, a visit to Ollantaytambo, with an opportunity to explore the ruins which tower above. Return to your hotel.

Meals: B & L

After breakfast, take the train to Aguas Calientes. Guided tour of Machu Picchu, the most spectacular ancient city in the world. This fabulous city has houses, temples, warehouses, a large central square, all connected by narrow roads and steps, and is surrounded by terraces cut into the mountain side which were used for agriculture. After the tour, free time to enjoy this magical and spiritual wonder. Opportunity for a trek (approx 1 hour) up to the sungate (Intipunku), which is a part of the Inca Trail, for a magical view of the sanctuary. Return to Aguas Calientes and to your hotel.

Meals: B

Opportunity to return to the sanctuary (bus tickets and entrance tickets not included). Return to Cuzco with the afternoon train. Arrival and transfer to your hotel.

Meals: B

Departure by tourist coach to Puno. The journey will take you across the imposing altiplano region of Peru affording magnificent views of the majestic snow peaks of the. Along the route, there shall be plenty of opportunities to see alpacas and vicuñas in their natural habitat. A stop for lunch. Stops will also be made at Pukara and several other archaeological sites. Arrival in Puno and transfer to your hotel.

Meals: B & L

Early transfer to the port for the boat journey on Lake Titicaca to the floating islands of Uros. Made entirely of reeds and inhabited by the Aymara Uros people, they live in huts built on platforms of reeds, not more than 30-40 cms/1foot thick. Short hike on the islands, then the boat trip continues as far as the island of Taquile. Members of this self supporting Aymara community receive visitors in their colourful national costume and show them around the island. Taquile is renowned for its fine, decorative weavings. Lunch before returning to your hotel in Puno.

Meals: B & L

After breakfast, transfer to the airport for the flight to Lima and your connecting flight to Rio de Janeiro.

Meals: B

Arrival early in the morning, reception and transfer to your hotel. Free day.

Meals: B

After breakfast, a half day visit of the 'marvelous city' including a sightseeing tour to Sugar Loaf Mountain. A two-stage cable car takes you to the top of Sugar Loaf Mountain where you will enjoy a splendid view of Rio, Copacabana Beach, and Guanabara Bay. Return to your hotel.

Meals: B

After breakfast, a half day visit to Corcovado, the mountain home to the world famous, Christo de Redentor statue for a magnificent 360° panoramic view of Rio. After, a trip to the Tijuca forest, a luxuriant tropical forest only minutes away from this huge metropolis. The Tijuca Forest is considered the largest urban forest in the world. Return to your hotel.

Meals: B

Free day at leisure.

Meals: B

Transfer to the airport for the flight to Iguazu. Arrival, reception and transfer to your hotel. Half day excursion to the Argentinean side of the falls. Transfer across the border to get a closer appreciation of these magnificent waterfalls.

Meals: B

After breakfast, a half day excursion to the fabulous UNESCO World Heritage Iguazu falls, the most voluminous falls in the world and more than three times the width of the Niagara Falls. The falls lie on the three borders of Brazil, Argentina and Paraguay. Return to your hotel.

Meals: B

After breakfast, transfer to the airport for your return flight home.

Meals: B