Discover the very best of South America's natural and man-made wonders in style

Personalised journeys from start to finish

Every trip helps support Conservation

Every detail taken care of

  • Personalised journeys from start to finish

  • Every trip helps support Conservation

  • Every detail taken care of

Itinerary highlights

  • Delve deep into the secrets and scenery of Peru's Sacred Valley
  • Enjoy a private tour of magnificent Machu Picchu
  • Enjoy a thrilling boat trip at Iguassu Falls
  • Visit the iconic Christ the Redeemer on Corcovado Mountain
  • Take a cable car to the top of Sugarloaf Mountain

What's included

  • Private tours of Machu Picchu, the Sacred Valley, Cusco, Iguassu Falls and Rio de Janeiro
  • Luxury train to Machu Picchu
  • Iguassu Falls Gran Aventura boat trip
  • Luxury accommodation throughout
  • Meet and greet airport service
  • Full support from your Travel Designer and Concierge before, during and after your trip
Use this itinerary to inspire your bespoke journey

At a glance

This 12-day trip trip takes you to some of South America’s most iconic sights, from Peru’s ancient citadels and sweeping valleys to the crashing waterfalls and epic capital of Brazil.

Your adventure starts in Peru’s beautiful Sacred Valley, an area rich in history and communities living the same way they have been for centuries. You’ll visit Ollantaytambo Fortress, clinging to the sides of the mountains, as well as the salt terraces of Maras and the Inca ruins of Moray.

From here you’ll catch the train to Machu Picchu, one of the New Seven Wonders of the World. The Lost Incan City is one of South America’s most evocative sights and your expert guide will bring it to life on a private tour. After spending a night in your luxury lodge, you’ll enjoy some time by yourself to explore before catching the train to Cusco where you’ll have two days to discover this beautiful colonial city.

It’s then onto Brazil, starting with two days exploring the mighty Iguassu Falls. With 275 falls cascading over almost three kilometres of the Parana River, this is an incredible sight and you’ll have the chance to explore both the Brazilian and Argentinian side, getting right up close and feeling the spray on a boat trip.

The final stop of your epic adventure is one of the greatest cities of them all, Rio de Janeiro. This incredible city has an energy that is undeniably contagious, and you’ll spend your time visiting the likes of the Christ the Redeemer, the historic centre and heading to the top of Sugarloaf mountain for one of the best views over the city, hills and beaches.

Example trip itinerary

Days 1-4

The Sacred Valley

Flights & transfers

Transfer

Meet and greet at Lima airport

Flight

Flight from Lima to Cusco

Transfer

Private transfer to your hotel in the Sacred Valley

Accommodation in The Sacred Valley

peruvian-women-national-dress-sacred-valley
Three days exploring the Sacred Valley Three days exploring the Sacred Valley

Spend your time relaxing and exploring the incredible scenery of the Sacred Valley. It's a great place to experience the culture of Peru and the landscape is breathtaking.

ollantaytambo-peru
Ollantaytambo Ollantaytambo

Visit the Inca fortress town of Ollantaytambo. The site was built just as the Spaniards arrived and is one of the most important if not visible vestiges of how the Incas inhabited and functioned in their cities making it a fascinating place to explore. There is a fortress at the top of the hill (and quite a few steps) which is particularly interesting to investigate for the techniques the Incas used in its construction.

sacred-valley-maras
Maras and Moray Maras and Moray

Explore the fascinating and beautiful sites of Maras and Moray. Maras is an open system of terraces that has been used for centuries to harvest salt from a stream of mineral rich water that comes from within the mountain. Moray is an ancient system of Inca terraces which they used to acclimatise new plants to the high altitude environment.

Flights & transfers

Transfer

Private transfer to Ollanta Station

Transfer

Train to Machu Picchu

Days 4-5

Machu Picchu

Trains to Machu Picchu

machu-picchu-ruins-peru
Private tour of Machu Picchu Private tour of Machu Picchu

Your private guide will take you on a comprehensive tour of the Machu Picchu citadel, really bringing it to life by detailing the history, significance and myths surrounding it as well as taking you to the hidden corners and best viewpoints. After your tour, you'll descend to Aguas Calientes for a delicious lunch at the rustically elegant Inkaterra hotel, before an afternoon at leisure. You can explore the areas around Machu Picchu or carry on exploring the ruins.

Return in the evening to overnight at your chosen hotel in the Machu Picchu area.

Accommodation in Machu Picchu

A llama walks around the ruins of Machu Picchu
Morning free to explore Machu Picchu Morning free to explore Machu Picchu

You have the morning free to explore the famous site on your own.

Flights & transfers

Transfer

Train from Machu Picchu

Trains from Machu Picchu

Flights & transfers

Transfer

Private transfer from Ollanta Station to your hotel in Cusco

Days 5-7

Cusco

Accommodation in Cusco

The terracotta roofs of the Cusco skyline, Peru
Two days in Cusco Two days in Cusco

Enjoy this beautiful city and UNESCO World Heritage site. You'll have our list of recommendations as well as private guides on hand to enjoy the best of this beautiful city. We can arrange a number of private, interest-led tours to booking fine restaurants for you. Your personal travel designer will be able to recommend activities that are most suitable to your interests.

Tour of Cusco and nearby ruins Tour of Cusco and nearby ruins

Your local expert guide will collect you from your hotel for a private tour of the city, starting out at the Santo Domingo convent monastery. This former colonial monastery was previously the Koricancha Temple, one of the most important temples devoted to the worship of the sun. According to the chronicles, it was covered in gold leaf and filled with golden representations of nature. Your next stop will be the Plaza de Armas and the Cathedral.

You will be driven by private vehicle to the countryside just outside Cusco to visit some of the remarkable Inca ruins in the area such as the cult centre of Sacsayhuaman, the temple and amphitheatre of Kenko, and the Red Fortress of Puca Pucara.

Flights & transfers

Transfer

Private transfer to Cusco airport

Flight

Flight from Cusco to Lima

Flight

Flight from Lima to Iguassu

Transfer

Private transfer to your hotel near Iguassu Falls

Days 7-9

Iguassu Falls

Accommodation in Iguassu Falls

Two days in Iguassu Falls Two days in Iguassu Falls

Enjoy this stunning natural wonder of the world. Most of our clients choose our full day private tour of the Falls with one of our expert guides, however we do offer variations on this to include boat safaris or hikes through the surrounding national park.

Full-day private tour to the Argentinean side of Iguassu Falls Full-day private tour to the Argentinean side of Iguassu Falls

Your guide will pick you up from your hotel and bring you by private vehicle to the entrance of the park on the Argentinian side. You'll then be taking the rest of the tour mainly on foot, exploring the various wooden walkways that lead through the national park and close to the many chutes of the falls.

One of the most spectacular sites of the falls is the Devil's Throat' which sees the largest flow of water. In order to visit the Devil’s Throat, you must board a train at the Main Station or at the Cataratas Station, close to the Upper Circuit. For those who love trekking there is the one-kilometre-long Sendero Verde (Green Trail) that connects the Visitors Centre to the Cataratas Station and to the Upper Circuit.

Once you are at Devil’s Throat Station, you will walk for just over a kilometre on a flat catwalk built over the Upper Iguassu River. This catwalk crosses several islands. Once you get to the end of the catwalks, you will be surprised by a strategic lookout point resting on the side.

Gran Aventura by boat Gran Aventura by boat

Head up the river in a specially-prepared boat that brings you to the base of Iguassu Falls where you'll be able to admire and feel them up close. Whirlpools, waves and currents provoked by the Falls make this an unmissable part of any visit to the park.

Your guide will bring you to the starting point where large trucks specially adapted to this tour will take you and other visitors to explore six kilometres of subtropical forest. From here you will board special high-powered Zodiac boats that will take you, at high speed, to enjoy one of the most unforgettable experiences in the region: direct contact with the mighty Falls. After this incredible trip, you will get off the boat at the base of the Falls, onto a catwalk that connects to the lower visitation circuit of the Falls.

Flights & transfers

Transfer

Private transfer to Iguassu airport

Flight

Flight from Iguassu to Rio de Janeiro

Transfer

Private transfer to your hotel in Rio de Janeiro

Days 9-12

Rio de Janeiro

Accommodation in Rio de Janeiro

View from the Sugarloaf cable car, Rio de Janeiro
Three days exploring Rio Three days exploring Rio

Spending your days in the heady 'Marvellous City' you can explore and enjoy Rio at your leisure. You'll have a full set of recommendations and advice from us on how to really make the most of the city.

christ-the-redemeer-rio-de-janeiro
Visit Christ the Redeemer on Corcovado mountain Visit Christ the Redeemer on Corcovado mountain

Christ the Redeemer statue is Rio’s most famous attraction with his arms stretched out, he looks to be blessing the entire city. At 710 metres above the centre on the Corcovado Hill, the statue is surrounded by wide, open terraces from where you get unbeatable vistas of the city's impressive littoral, the southern neighbourhoods of Copacabana and Ipanema, the Lagoon, the Sugar Loaf and the town of Niterói.

Visit the neighbourhood of Santa Teresa Visit the neighbourhood of Santa Teresa

The faded grandeur of this part of the city, often referred to as the Montmartre of Rio, set into the hills close to the centre of town, still retains a rich cultural atmosphere of art, music and history. Mansions line the narrow streets struggling with the encroaching vegetation and incline, and is still home to many painters cafes and artists studios. You can stop for a drink or lunch at one of the many charming restaurants, bistros and cafes that populate Santa Teresa’s lively streets. Your guide will also take you to the Ruins Park, a cultural centre in the remains of a 19th century house which has a Belvedere that commands some of the best views over Rio.

Tour the historic centre of Rio Tour the historic centre of Rio

Your guide will escort you through the narrow 19th century streets at your required pace, stopping at the magnificent Baroque churches and the ruins of the old port from where most of Brazil’s gold left for its long journey to Europe. You will also see many other culturally interesting and historical attractions that illustrate the city’s rich and varied heritage.

Cable Car at Sugar Loaf Mountain, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Cable car to the top of Sugarloaf Mountain Cable car to the top of Sugarloaf Mountain

This massive granite rock, 396 metres tall, is one of the city’s most emblematic landmarks, adorning many a postcard. You will take the cable car with your guide from the Guanabara Bay entrance in the Urca district. At the zenith the view of Rio and its neighbourhoods sprawled over bays, coves, and appearing from dense green hillsides is unrivalled and quite spectacular.

Flights & transfers

Transfer

Private transfer to Rio's international airport

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12-Day Example Trip
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