Lima to Rio Adventure

Arrive in time for a welcome meeting with your group and guide at 6p.m. If you arrive early, enjoy a free day exploring Peru's lively capital city and sample the delights of the so-called 'City of Kings'.

Travel to the oasis of Huacachina. Ride over the epic dunes surrounding the settlement in a dune buggy, followed by a sandboarding session. Head back to Huacachina as the sun sets behind the dunes, and enjoy a pisco sour or two! 

Enjoy some free time in Huacachina this morning. Then transfer to Nazca, stopping on the way at a pisco winery for a tasting. This evening in Nazca, head out for a Pachamanca-style dinner with your group.

The captivating Nazca Lines are an archaeological wonder, where strange patterns and pictures are etched into this flat desert in crisscross patterns. An optional light aircraft flight over the lines can be arranged for an extra cost of around USD100. Alternatively, you can learn about Nazca culture on an optional desert cemetery and pottery workshop tour. Board an overnight bus and make tracks for Arequipa.

Lap up the laid-back vibe in the Peruvian city of Arequipa.  Soak up the sun as it bounces off the dazzling white buildings and explore the central plaza and cathedral, visit the Convent of Santa Catalina, or just people-watch at a streetside café.  Arequipa is surrounded by stunning mountains, such as the famous El Misti Volcano, and you can get a spectacular view of its snow-capped peak from the city.

Drive through amazing landscape full of Inca and pre-Inca terracing for an overnight stay at the Colca Canyon, where if you're lucky you may just spot the king of the Andes, the Andean Condor.  Set in breathtaking scenery, you may also see traditional Peruvian animals such as alpacas, llamas and vicuñas as you enjoy a stay off the beaten track in Peru. You also have the option to soak your tired muscles in the local hot springs - bliss! Return to Arequipa in the afternoon of day 7.

Enjoy one final free day in Arequipa before hopping on an overnight bus this evening, bound for the city of Cusco.

Get to know this amazing Peruvian city at your own pace with two free days to explore. Optional activities include museum visits, Incan ruins, city tour, horse riding, church visits, whitewater rafting, mountain biking, bungee jumping and much more!

Head for Ollantaytambo today with a stop at Ccaccaccollo Women's Weaving Centre. See how the locals make clothes, meet the llamas, and pick up some souvenirs. We'll also stop at a local brewery where you can try some artisanal beer. 

Leave Ollantaytambo and travel by van to km 82 of the trail, where your epic hike begins!

Please note: Due to sustainable tourism regulations on the Inca Trail there is a cap on the number of people allowed to walk the trail on any one day. This may mean that on certain dates the trek permits have sold out and you will not be able to trek the Inca Trail. In this unlikely event you will take an alternate route to Machu Picchu. Speak to us for more information. 

An early start sees you climbing the long, steep path to Warmiwañusca, better known as Dead Woman's Pass, and which is the highest point of the trek at 4,198m (13,769 ft). You can expect to arrive at camp in the early afternoon, where you can switch off and relax in stunning surroundings.

Two more passes are on the agenda today, plus more incredible Incan ruins. Your first pass to conquer is Runquraqay at 3,950m (13,113 ft) where on a clear day you can see the spectacular, snow-capped Cordillera Vilcabamba. Hike gently through cloud forest to your second pass of the day, past Incan ruins and up to a height of 3,700m (12,136 ft) for sensational views of the Urubamba Valley. At 3,650m (11,972 ft) you reach the ruins of Phuyupatamarca, the "Town Above the Clouds." Camp either here or 1.5 hrs further along, near the Wiñay Wayna ruins (Forever Young) located at 2,650m (8,694 ft).

Wake early, at around 3.30a.m for a pre-dawn hike to the stunning Sun Gate, where you can watch the sunrise. On a clear day you can catch your first glimpse of the breathtaking ruins of Machu Picchu and you'll then hike on to the ancient ruined city of Machu Picchu for a guided tour and free time to explore. If time permits, you can also opt to visit the Inca Bridge. Catch the bus to Aguas Calientes to meet your guide and relax before your train back to Cusco in the afternoon.

Enjoy a free day relaxing and unwinding in Cusco, enjoying a well-earned rest after your efforts on the Inca Trail.

Today is a day of travel, riding on a local bus through the high Altiplano region to Puno on Lake Titicaca.

Board a boat towards Taquile Island, where you'll enjoy a local lunch and some shopping in the local weaving cooperatives. Travel on to a homestay on the shores of Lake Titicaca and experience some of the traditional local music and dance. During your stay you'll also take a trip to the floating islands of the Uros people and have the option to visit the ruins of the Sillustani Burial Towers.

Enjoy a full-day driving around lovely Lake Titicaca and back through the Altiplano to the soaring Bolivian city of La Paz.

Founded in 1548, La Ciudad de Nuestra Señora de La Paz (the City of Our Lady of Peace) is bursting with museums and historic churches and is famous for its bustling markets. Optional activities in La Paz include a tour to Chacaltaya in the Andes, a visit to the Tiahuanaco Ruins, a city tour or a trip to the unique witches market! On the evening of day 22 you will board an overnight bus to Sucre.

Sucre's museums and colonial buildings make this a fascinating, historic place to explore. Optional activities include a dinosaur tracks excursion, hiking, biking, paragliding, horse riding, a visit to a textile weaving project or a visit to a local village.

Sitting at a soaring height of 4070m (13,350 ft), Potosí is the highest city of its size on earth and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site famous for its part in Spanish colonial silver mining history. Enjoy some free time in this Bolivian city, or opt to visit a local silver mine for a unique tour experience (extra cost of USD21)

Travel by private vehicle to the town of Uyuni, the starting point for your upcoming salt flats excursion. This isolated spot, with its challenging weather, has nonetheless earned the nickname of Hija Predilecta de Bolivia (Bolivia's Favourite Daughter).

Enjoy a 3-day excursion into Bolivia's salt flats. The unique landscape is one of crisp white salt beds, bright blue sky, volcanoes and bubbling geysers. We'll stop at a local village to learn about their way of life and have a meal prepared for us. Tonight we'll stay in a salt-brick bungalow!

Continue your 4x4 adventure through the Salar de Uyuni - amazing!

After ending your unique salt flats tour today, cross the border into Chile and travel by private bus to the small town of San Pedro de Atacama, which lies on the edge of the Atacama Desert, the driest place on earth.

Spend some free time marvelling at the scenery, go mountain biking, horse riding or sandboarding or opt to visit the bizarre lunar landscape of the Valley of the Moon.

Cross the border into Argentina by first-class bus and after a long, 10-hour comfortable journey you will arrive in Salta, in the Lerma Valley of northern Argentina. Optional activities here include a tour to see the stunning Quebrada de las Conchas gorge and to sample wines at Cafayate.

Hop on an inclusive internal flight to Buenos Aires and soak up the cosmopolitan cool of Argentina's charming capital city. Hang out at the Plaza de Mayo, treat yourself in smart Recoleta, watch a football match at the legendary Bombonera or just enjoy the laid-back lifestyle. Optional activities include a city tour, a tango & dinner show and much more!

Cross over by ferry into Uruguay today and tick another South American destination off your bucket list! Your first Uruguayan stop-off is the charming colonial city of Colonia Del Sacramento, where your guide will take you on a short orientation walk. The rest of the day is free for you to explore. Rent a golf cart (18USD per person) and discover the Old Town using this unique mode of transport!

Travel by local bus into Uruguay's buzzing capital city, Montevideo. The next two days are free time for you to discover this lively city at your own pace and try exciting optional activities, which include museum visits, a tour of the football stadium, shopping at Port Market, cycling, a city tour or a day trip to Punta del Este.

Enjoy rural life down on a traditional working ranch, known in the region as an 'estancia', for the next two nights. Learn about the history of the area, turn your hand to some farm tasks, tuck into a barbeque, explore the region on foot or on horseback or sit back, sip local wines and enjoy the scenery.

In the morning you will cross another country border, into Gualeguaychu in Argentina, and you will then begin the long overnight journey by bus to Iguassu Falls.

The UNESCO World Heritage site of Foz do Iguaçu, or Iguassu Falls, is located on the border of Brazil, Paraguay and Argentina. On the way, you will visit Jasy Pora community with a local expert to learn more about the indigenous community and their relationship to the environment. You will spend two days at this awesome site and get to view the falls from the Argentine side.

Please note: if you are travelling before the 30th January, you will not visit the Jasy Pora community. 

Fly to São Paulo very early on day 45 (around 6am) and head for the gorgeous Brazilian coast, driving along winding roads to Paraty. Paraty's bay bursts with beautiful beaches and over 65 tropical islands. You will have 2 free days here to explore and try optional activities: Go on a jeep tour, visit a Cachaça distillery, take a boat tour, hike, dive, swim or snorkel or enjoy a horseback ride.

Travel along the Atlantic coast and take a ferry to the idyllic, tranquil island of llha Grande. Relax in paradise as you laze on sandy beaches, swim, spot wonderful wildlife or try awesome optional activities such as biking, snorkelling, surfing, hiking, diving or a boat tour.

Catch the ferry back to mainland Brazil and jump in a private van for a ride to Brazil's buzzing city of Rio. You'll be staying in a hostel in Copacabana tonight.

Visit a local favela this morning -  try some local beer and take part in a capoeira session.  Spend the rest of the day enjoying this beautiful city.  Relax on Copacabana beach, take the cable car to Sugarloaf Mountain, or take a selfie at the top of Christ the Redeemer.

Your epic adventure tour ends today in Rio and you are free to depart at any time. Say goodbye to your guide and your new-found travelling friends and look back on 51 unforgettable days and some amazing memories of South America!

Everyone's dream trip looks a little different, and this group tour is your chance to explore South America on a budget. Whilst we take care of the accommodation, transport, guide and must-do activities, this trip is designed with maximum flexibility in mind to give you control over the itinerary. You'll have plenty of free time and freedom to shape your own adventures with a wide variety of optional activities available to book during your trip, so you can choose experiences around your preferences and budget.

Whether you're after an action-packed itinerary or want to explore at a relaxed pace, this trip is your chance to do so. This style of trips are some of the most budget-friendly options we offer, making them accessible to a wide range of different travellers.