Grand South America

Dining Summary

• 11 Dinner (D)
• 22 Breakfast (B)
• 14 Lunch (L)

Choice Highlights

Choose between two carefully selected activities
• Lima: Take a guided visit of the Monastery and its catacombs.
• Lima: Visit Casa Aliaga, one of the oldest houses in Lima which has been in the Aliaga family for 17 generations. This colonial house was built by Jerónimo de Aliaga Ramírez in 1535, the year Lima was established. The Aliaga family has lived within 40 rooms of the house ever since, rebuilding and remodelling it after earthquakes. Enter through the large wooden doors opening into a grand foyer with a staircase before touring the grand home.
Choose between two carefully selected activities
• Machu Picchu: Visit a working tea plantation.
• Machu Picchu: View the world's largest private collection of indigenous orchids around your hotel surrounded by the Cloud Forest.
• Machu Picchu: Embark on a twilight nature walk where your guide will point out medicinal plants, sacred Pre-Inca pictographs, and an enchanting waterfall in the Cloud Forest.
• Machu Picchu: Seize the opportunity to return to Machu Picchu a second time on this Personalize Your Day option. After exploring the ancient Inca citadel with your Local Expert earlier in the day, you can personalize your experience and create and savor your own moment at this enigmatic fortress.
Choose between two carefully selected activities
• Cusco: Visit the ruins of Tambomachay and enjoy a picturesque walk as you pass the ruins of Puca Pucara and Qenqo.
• Cusco: Arrive in San Blas, Cusco’s most artistic enclave, where cobbled lanes reveal artisan studios and vibrant galleries. Soak in the creative energy of this bohemian neighborhood before continuing to San Pedro market, a lively showcase of Andean culture filled with colorful produce, local delicacies and handcrafted treasures.
Choose between two carefully selected activities
• Santiago: Enjoy a cocktail reception followed by a Chilean seafood lunch at Mestizo Restaurante, where international gastronomy enhances traditional Chilean cuisine, resulting in delicious ceviches, main dishes, and desserts.
Choose between two carefully selected activities
• Buenos Aires: Meet the local gauchos and learn about the traditions of these South American Cowboys on a horseback ride.
• Buenos Aires: Explore the beautiful ranch on a leisurely walk, learning all about the gaucho lifestyle.

Additional Included Highlights

• Enjoy seamless personal assistance throughout your journey. From securing exclusive reservations, to organising transportation, your Travel Concierge ensures every aspect of your travel is tailored to your tastes and preferences.
• In select destinations, our network of Local Expert Guides will illuminate your journey on a deeper level.
• Included at all hotels.
• Hotel taxes, porterage and tips, as well as tips for included dining experiences, are included.
• Enjoy breakfast every morning, and an array of incredible dining options throughout your journey, infused with discovery and adventure.
• On days where a Relaxed Start (RS) is indicated, you can select to indulge in breakfast in bed.
• Enjoy complimentary hotel Wi-Fi. And, on select coaches, onboard Wi-Fi may also be available.
• Transfers are included on your journey start and end dates, and where additional accommodation has been booked in advance through Luxury Gold. Transfers to train stations or alternate hotels, in the same start or end city as the itinerary, may be requested.

Curated Experiences

• Lima: Visit the home of local artist Victor Delfin, known for his monumental El Beso sculpture at his workshop in the city's trendy Barranco district.
• Lake Titicaca: Join a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience a you as you meet a local family on Amantani Island. Home to about 4,000 inhabitants, you'll discover how the traditions and language of the Inca culture are being kept alive on this remote location not commonly visited by tourists.
• Ipanema: Meet Local Expert Cecelo, a local guitarist, music aficionado, and studio owner from Ipanema. Join him in Ipanema, the birthplace of Bossa Nova in the 1950s. You'll learn about the sounds and sights of the place that inspired this new genre of samba music and enjoy a private performance over a caipirinha cocktail.

Exceptional Dining

• Lima: You can relax before meeting your Travel Concierge at 18.00 for a Welcome Dinner where local flavors and contemporary culinary techniques highlight the pillars of Peruvian cuisine.
• Lima: Stop for lunch at the cultural and gastronomic Casa Tambo. Established in the late 18th century, this iconic restaurant is also a celebrated cultural heritage site and museum. Casa Tambo isn't just a place to stay, it's a visual adventure! Dive into an artistic wonderland featuring jaw-dropping pieces, including the iconic works of master sculptor Víctor Delfín. Tuck into a selection of authentic Peruvian dishes that showcase the rich traditional flavors of the region, complemented by a contemporary cocktail menu featuring Peruvian distillates.
• Sacred Valley: Experience a caja china lunch, a popular way to create a delicious meal in Peru, cooked in a wooden box.
• Machu Picchu: Enjoy lunch at Café Inkaterra, located between the Machu Picchu train tracks and surrounded by lush forest.
• Sacred Valley: Savor a Pachamanca feast in the Sacred valley. This traditional way to slow cook local vegetables and meats using hot stones and clay pots underground is a communal rite in the Sacred Valley that dates back to pre-historic times. It is a way to celebrate and show gratitude to Pachamama, "Mother Earth".
• Cusco: Dine in the courtyard of the Museum of Pre-Colombian Art. Using exquisite local ingredients, MAP Cafe offers an innovated surprised-packed menu and outstanding service.
• Lake Titicaca: Sit down with community members for a farm-to-table lunch featuring ingredients grown on the island before exploring the terraced hillsides and viewing the skillfully made crafts the inhabitants are known for.
• Lima: Savor a creative array of seasonal dishes created by chef Arlette Eulert at Matria. This Peruvian restaurant boasts organic ingredients that change according to the season.
• Santiago: Enjoy a cocktail reception followed by a Chilean seafood lunch at Mestizo Restaurante, where international gastronomy enhances traditional Chilean cuisine, resulting in delicious ceviches, main dishes, and desserts.
• Buenos Aires: Savor a delicious meal, and enjoy fabulous live music, solo singers and a breathtaking display of authentic tango at Rojo Tango.
• Buenos Aires: Head to Fogón Asado, opening exclusively for Luxury Gold this afternoon. Indulge at a restaurant that presents a new way of living the traditional Argentine 'asado'. During this experience, see, feel and taste the unique grilling techniques. Sip on a welcome cocktail and meet the chef. Start an exquisite 6-course tasting menu that includes the best cuts of meat, fire-roasted seasonal vegetables, traditional recipes, and much more that brings 'asado' to new heights.
• Buenos Aires: Get a taste of gaucho life with a delicious asado Highlight Lunch.
• Iguassu Falls: Enjoy dinner with wine surrounded by a subtropical forest at Ipe Grill where you'll choose from a selection of traditional Brazilian barbecue or international cuisine.
• Rio de Janeiro: Enjoy an authentic lunch at a local churrascaria, a traditional Brazilian steakhouse. Here, servers come to your table with knives and skewers of delectable cuts of meat. A quintessential Brazilian experience.
• Rio de Janeiro: Your dinner is served at the French-Brazilian L'Etoile Restaurant. Enjoy breathtaking views of the ocean from the 26th floor as you toast to your journey.

Magnificent Stays

• Machu Picchu: This enchanting Andean village hotel is located within 12.3 acres of pristine cloud forest. The spectacular grounds are laced with paths that wind past waterfalls and trails, and organic gardens that wander through the misty forest. A place to relax, while exploring nature and encountering the wonders of the Incan civilization, experiencing authentic travel.
• Cusco: Dating back nearly five centuries, the storied mansion of the Palacio del Inka stands in the historic center of Cusco. Directly across from the Qoricancha (Temple of the Sun), it is a five-minute walk from the main square and less than a mile from an array of museums, markets and restaurants. Uniting the past and present, Andes Spirit Spa presents indigenous treatments and an indoor therapy pool. Meanwhile, Inti Raymi Restaurant offers authentic Peruvian dishes.
• Iguassu Falls: Step through the doors into a world of understated luxury. The luxurious Belmond das Cataratas is the only hotel inside the National Park and sits alongside the falls. Soak up the jungle chorus while you float in the pool, stroll gardens bejeweled with orchids and sip caipirinhas as the sun goes down. Embark on the ultimate adventure at South America's first and only Forbes Five Star hotel, and you’ll never want to leave.

MAKE TRAVEL MATTER

• Sacred Valley: Join a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience as you meet Nilda Callañaupa Alvarez, a Quechua scholar, director of the Center for Traditional Textiles of Cusco. Learn about her mission to preserve traditional weaving techniques.
• Sacred Valley: Visit the village of Lamay for a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER ® Experience with the locals. First stop at the guinea pig sheds to learn more about the animals and how this traditional activity evolved into a business opportunity in Lamay. Your immersive visit is organized by “La Base Lamay,” an initiative that involves locals from the village and nearby communities in tourism activities to generate fair and higher income. At a traditional chichería bar frequented by locals, learn about making “chicha de jora” (a traditional corn beer) and taste a healthy snack, called “picante”.
• Iguassu Falls: On this MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience, see several native birds in their natural habitat. One of the largest bird parks in Latin America, the Bird Park is an integrated conservation center for birds of the Atlantic Forest and is home to 120 species of birds.

Passport Moments

• Sacred Valley: Learn from locals about the process of salt mining.The cascading salt terraces along this scenic canyon have been harvested using an evaporation technique since the times of the Incas and has been passed down by local families, who still harvest salt from it today to sell to the local market.
• Sacred Valley: A local shaman will perform a welcoming ceremony to the Sacred Valley and the mystical Andes Mountains that surround it.
• Ollantaytambo: Join a local expert and visit the ruins of Ollantaytambo. See the magnificent views of the ruins on the side of the cliffs above the Urubamba river.
• Machu Picchu: Experience Machu Picchu with a Local Expert. You’ll learn about Machu Picchu’s history and the use of each section of including ceremonial, storage, agriculture, temples, astronomical, and observatory as well as the possible reasons why the Incas left Machu Picchu.
• Sacred Valley: Travel back to the Sacred Valley by train, offering you great views with panoramic windows and an outdoor observation carriage.
• Cusco: Join your Local Expert for a visit to the ruins of Sacsayhuamán, one of the most important Incan sites and a UNESCO Cultural Heritage Site. You'll also visit Koricancha, also known as the Temple of the Sun, and the beautiful colonial neighborhood of San Blas and the magnificent Cathedral at Plaza de Armas which took 100 years to complete.
• Lake Titicaca: Visit the Uros Floating Islands to learn about the lifestyle and customs of the local people and enjoy lunch with this community that bundles reeds from the lake to build floating platforms, houses and canoes.
• Santiago: Meet a Local Expert for an in-depth city exploration. Start out at the heart of the city, seeing the Chilean University, San Francisco Church and the Santa Lucia Hill. Then visit the Plaza de Armas and the cathedral. Cross the Mapocho river to the bohemian Bellavista district on the way to San Cristóbal Hill, where you will have the best views of Santiago and the Andes Mountains.
• Santiago: Visit Kingston Family Vineyards, a small boutique winery located in Casablanca Valley for an introduction to and tasting of their exquisite wines.
• Valparaiso: From Santiago, head west towards Valparaíso. Pass by the main square where you can see the monument honoring the 1879 Naval Battle of Iquique. Declared a World Heritage by UNESCO, Valparaíso offers unique ocean landscapes with colorful neighborhoods, picturesque cobblestone streets, and old cable cars.
• Buenos Aires: Take a tour of this historical and prestigious opera house and explore the Main Hall, Foyer, Bustos Gallery and the Golden Hall.
• Iguassu Falls: Head to the Argentinean side of Iguassu Falls and view the unfathomable Devil's Throat with a Local Expert.
• Iguassu Falls: Join a local expert for a spectacular walk past thundering curtains of water and misty rainbows on the Brazilian side of the falls. Explore the base of the falls and see the impressive panoramic view of San Martin Island.
• Rio de Janeiro: Experience sightseeing with a Local Expert and a cable car journey to the lofty heights of Sugarloaf Mountain with fast-track admission.
• Rio de Janeiro: Visit this beautiful library that was built in the heart of Rio by the Portuguese monarchy.
• Rio de Janeiro: Visit the Centro Cultural Banco do Brasil, one of the most important cultural centers in the country. Admire the Art Deco design by Francisco Joaquim Bethencourt da Silva.
• Rio de Janeiro: Take a train ride up Corcovado Hill through the Tijuca National Forest to the open arms of Christ the Redeemer and magnificent views over the legendary bay.

Personalise your day

• Lima: Take a guided visit of the Monastery and its catacombs.
• Lima: Visit Casa Aliaga, one of the oldest houses in Lima which has been in the Aliaga family for 17 generations. This colonial house was built by Jerónimo de Aliaga Ramírez in 1535, the year Lima was established. The Aliaga family has lived within 40 rooms of the house ever since, rebuilding and remodelling it after earthquakes. Enter through the large wooden doors opening into a grand foyer with a staircase before touring the grand home.
• Machu Picchu: Visit a working tea plantation.
• Machu Picchu: View the world's largest private collection of indigenous orchids around your hotel surrounded by the Cloud Forest.
• Machu Picchu: Embark on a twilight nature walk where your guide will point out medicinal plants, sacred Pre-Inca pictographs, and an enchanting waterfall in the Cloud Forest.
• Machu Picchu: Seize the opportunity to return to Machu Picchu a second time on this Personalize Your Day option. After exploring the ancient Inca citadel with your Local Expert earlier in the day, you can personalize your experience and create and savor your own moment at this enigmatic fortress.
• Cusco: Visit the ruins of Tambomachay and enjoy a picturesque walk as you pass the ruins of Puca Pucara and Qenqo.
• Cusco: Arrive in San Blas, Cusco’s most artistic enclave, where cobbled lanes reveal artisan studios and vibrant galleries. Soak in the creative energy of this bohemian neighborhood before continuing to San Pedro market, a lively showcase of Andean culture filled with colorful produce, local delicacies and handcrafted treasures.
• Buenos Aires: Meet the local gauchos and learn about the traditions of these South American Cowboys on a horseback ride.
• Buenos Aires: Explore the beautiful ranch on a leisurely walk, learning all about the gaucho lifestyle.