SOUTH AMERICAN ADVENTURE

DEPARTURES APR 09 ONWARDS

The itinerary & departure dates displayed on this page are valid for departures from April 2009 onwards. If you are interested in travelling before April 2009 please click here to view our current page.

OVERVIEW

South America - a land to be explored...Discover the continent's highlights on this journey throughout Chile, Bolivia, Brazil and Argentina. Enjoy guided hikes in San Pedro de Atacama and Uyuni, soak in natural hot springs, snorkel in Bonito's clear rivers, boat alongside the spectacular Iguazu Falls, and sleep in hammocks deep within the Pantanal. With local culture and adventure filled days, the South American Adventure shows you the best of the real South America!

WHAT'S INCLUDED

• Services of a local English/Spanish/Portugese speaking tour leader
• All transportation by adventure vehicle, train & plane
• 21 nights hotel/rustic lodge, 2 nights hammocks & 1 overnight train service. No single supplements will be charged. Single travellers will be matched with a fellow passenger of the same sex.
• Guided day hikes in San Pedro, Uyuni, Samaipata, Pantanal, Bonito and Iguacu National Park
• El Tatio Geysers with local hot springs and Uyuni Salt Flats 4X4 vehicle tour
• Tour of Moon Valley
• Horse riding, guided trekking and piranha fishing in Pantanal (with some meals)
• Guided tour of Samaipata ruins
• Entry to Balneario do Sol and El Fuerte
• Guided tour of Iguacu Falls
• Overnight train to Brazil
• Guided city tour of Buenos Aires
• Admission to all national parks as per itinerary
• 14 breakfasts, 3 lunches & 4 dinners. Other meals paid locally

OPTIONAL ACTIVITIES

• Cave scuba diving in Bonito US$100
• Boat trip under Iguacu Falls US$30
• Tango show w/dinner in Buenos Aires US$60
• Horseback riding in San Pedro US$40
• Mountain Biking in San Pedro US$25
• Whitewater rafting in Bonito US $30

TREK NOTES

Sleeping bag required (Minimum rating of Season 2)

TRIP ITINERARY

Our routes have been carefully chosen to include the best night stops and highlights. However, as local and operational conditions may vary and unforeseen circumstances can arise, the following itinerary should be used as a guideline.

Days: 1 Arrive Santiago, Chile

Arrive into Santiago and transfer (not included) to our gateway hotel at your leisure. Rest of day to relax and prepare for your adventure.
Accommodation: Hotel included

Days: 2 San Pedro de Atacama, Chile

After breakfast, we will transfer to the Santiago airport for our flight to northern Chile and the Atacama Desert. Upon arrival to San Pedro de Atacama, we will check into our local hotel and have the evening free to check out the local night life.
Accommodation: Hotel/Hosteria included

Days: 3 & 4 San Pedro de Atacama, Chile

In the morning we will explore historic San Pedro de Atacama and its surroundings. In the afternoon, we will visit the majestic Moon Valley and Death Valley, whose surreal landscapes are complimented by the interesting coloured stones and sand formations. In the evening be prepared to enjoy an unforgettable desert sunset with a delicious Pisco Sour.

The following morning, we set out for the El Tatio Geysers, the world's highest geyser basin at 4321 meters above sea level. One of the continents great natural spectacles, watching the geysers fuming set against the fantastic altiplano scenery is fantastic. We can also enjoy a soak in the nearby thermal waters. After the visit to the Geysers, we visit some altiplano old towns and head back to San Pedro.
Accommodation: Hotel/Hosteria included

Days: 5 Laguna Colorado, Chile

Today we set off towards the Bolivian border. Our first stop in the eerie terrain is the windswept, blue green waters of Laguna Verde. The waters of this lake contain high concentrations of lead, arsenic, calcium carbonates, and sulphur giving it an amazing jade colour set off by the nearby 6000 meter Volcano Licancabur; a fantastic spot in the high desert. Continuing on through this surreal landscape we then stop at 60 sq km Laguna Colorada whose waters are a flaming red ringed by the white borax and salt that encrust its shores. This is one of South America's more remote and isolated marvels.
Accommodation: Hostel included

Days: 6 Uyuni Salt Flats, Bolivia

We continue our trip along the Bolivian altiplano and through some bizarre landscape to arrive in front of the Uyuni Salt Flats. The incredible geography of southern Bolivia and the huge salt flats of Uyuni are impressive. With the largest at over 12,000 sq kms and highest point at over 3600 meters above sea level, these salt flats compose of over 10 billion tons of salt.
Accommodation: Hostel included

Days: 7 Uyuni & Potosi, Bolivia

We cross this amazing salt flat, that will leave no doubt in your mind, that it is the biggest of the world, and then we have lunch at Isla del Pescado. This is an oasis full of cactus in the middle of the salt flat. Early afternoon, we will then briefly visit the city of Uyuni, and then continue our way north to Potosi.
Accommodation: Hotel included

Days: 8 Potosi, Bolivia

Once one of the continent's largest and wealthiest cities, Potosi is now a shell of its former self. However, the town itself has plenty to see, including the Royal Mint with its fantastic history and splendor, the ornate churches, monuments and the other remnants of this grand colonial city. It sits at 4070 meters and is the highest city of its size in the world. The silver mines nearby have been depleted, but iron ore has taken its place and a visit to these mines can be arranged in the afternoon. We will tour the city in the morning and the afternoon will be at leisure.
Accommodation: Hotel included

Days: 9 & 10 Sucre, Bolivia

In the morning, we continue on to Sucre with more colonial architecture ahead as we visit Bolivia's most beautiful city. Declared a world heritage site in 1991, the atmosphere here is distinctly Spanish Colonial and we will have a chance to take in all the city's beautiful attractions including Casa de la Libertad, Museo textileetnografico, Museo de la Recoleta, the bustling market, to name a few.
Accommodation: Hotel included

Days: 11 & 12 Samaipata, Bolivia

Our route now takes us eastward down the slopes of the Andes where we will pass through high cloud forest and the lush fertile terrain that makes up these eastern valleys. Driving along the foothills of the Cordillera Oriental, the views are beautiful and very far removed from the arid altiplano. Our next stop is down at 1650 meters above sea level at the tranquil town of Samaipata. We will make an evening visit to the pre-incan ceremonial site of El Fuerte.
Accommodation: Hotel included

Days: 13 Santa Cruz, Bolivia

We continue on to Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Bolivia's second largest city. Relax in the central park beneath the cathedral and explore the city at your leisure.
Accommodation: Hotel included

Days: 14 Night Train into Brazil

Morning at leisure as we prepare to cross the international border. In the afternoon, we will board the train that will take us to the border with Brazil. This train is very comfortable (according to the South American standards ) and the trip is really nice. We spend the night in the train and arrive to Brazil in the morning.
Accommodation: Overnight Train included

Days: 15 & 16 Pantanal, Brazil

Upon our arrival to Brazil, we will meet our Brazilian partners that will take us into the heart of the Pantanal. The Pantanal is a vast wetland covering some 225,000 square kilometers and home of the greatest concentration of fauna in the new world. With fantastic wildlife viewing opportunities around every corner our next days will be centered on finding the creatures that inhabit these marshlands. Tapir, anacondas, sloth, anteaters, jacares, and over 300 species of birds roam this beautiful part of Brazil and we will make camp on a remote farm that is home to many of the fascinating animals. On day 13 we will enjoy a full day of included activities - horse back riding , trekking and piranha fishing.
Accommodation: Guest house hammocks included

Days: 17 Pantanal & Bonito Lodge, Brazil

Day in the Pantanal for optional tours, wildlife viewing and fun activities. In the evening we will go to Bonito.
Accommodation: Hostel included

Days: 18 & 19 Bonito Lodge, Brazil

The highlights here are swimming, beautiful waterfalls, subterranean caves and snorkeling down incredibly clear rivers while gazing face to face with hundreds of fish. All this is set amongst the lush forests and granite and marble hills of the Serra do Bodoquena. We will spend the afternoon relaxing in the natural swimming park of Balneario do Sol. The next day is at leisure for optional excursions, one of our favourites is a snorkeling trip to Rio da Prata.
Accommodation: Lodge included

Days: 20 Iguacu Falls, Brazil

Heading south once again, we journey to the world famous Iguacu Falls where the river Iguacu sweeps through immense lush forest and plunges over 270 falls as high as 80 meters and up to 3 km wide. Iguacu is wider than Victoria falls, higher than Niagara, and more beautiful than both. We will arrive late in the day to relax at our comfortable hotel in Iguacu.
Accommodation: Hotel included

Days: 21 & 22 Iguacu Falls, Brazil & Argentina

On our first full day here we will visit the Brazilian side of the falls to take in the big panoramas and maybe even an optional helicopter flights over the falls. We then go to the Argentine side in the afternoon. The next day we have a full day excursion to the Argentine side of the falls, we will appreciate the difference in perspective. Count the innumerable butterflies and rainbows while walking beside the falls.
Accommodation: Hostel included

Days: 23 Uguacu Falls & Buenos Aires, Argentina

With the morning at leisure to further explore these majestic falls and the local area, we will transfer to the airport for our flight to Buenos Aires. Arriving to South America's most cosmopolitan (and European) city, we will transfer to the hotel to freshen up, before touring the city in the afternoon and then going out in the evening.
Accommodation: Hotel included

Days: 24 & 25 Buenos Aires, Argentina

Enjoy the next day at leisure to explore this fantastic city. Try one of the many restaurants serving up world famous Argentine beef and fantastic seafood. Choose a full day optional tour to visit the pampas and gauchos (cowboys) or visit to Delta del Tigre's riverfront and markets. Choose to experience a tango performance or take a tango lesson. This city has everything to offer!
Accomodation: Hotel included

Tour ends in Buenos Aires in the morning of day 25.

SOUTH AMERICAN ADVENTURE departing from SANTIAGO

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