South America Revealed
From CAD $19250
Guarantee
Group Tour
Easy
Rating
(10 reviews)
You’ll feel just like a local on this South American tour as you go from Rio's gorgeous beaches to vibrant capitals, national parks, and the Inca heart of Peru, learn to samba and mix the perfect caipirinha. Then let loose your inner explorer meeting giant tortoises, turtles and sea lions, cruising the Galapagos Islands.Please note that the flight between Lima and Quito is not included.
Highlights
Dining Summary
- 9 Dinner (D)
- 20 Breakfast (B)
- 6 Lunch (L)
Be My Guest
- Buenos Aires: Visit a family-run gaucho ranch for an energizing event of food, drink, music, dance and horseback riding demonstrations. Kick off with a lunch of empanadas, salads, asado meat of sausages, chicken and beef and drinks followed by flan with dulce de leche for dessert. You’ll even learn how to grill the asado. Discoveries continue over a demonstration of gaucho´s skill with horses and a lively show. Take time to wander among the historic, 150-year-old building past the cows and horses before taking home your keepsake leather accessory gift typical of this region.
- Lima: Visit a local market with Chef Ignacio and enjoy a special lunch at his cooking school.
Dive into Culture
- Rio de Janeiro: Head to a relaxed beachside setting for a hands-on introduction to Brazil’s iconic caipirinha. Learn how to muddle lime, sugar and cachaça to perfection as a Local Specialist shows you the ropes. Then step behind the bar and create your own, mastering the balance of flavors that make this refreshing cocktail a national favorite.
- Buenos Aires: Visit a gaucho painter’s studio to view his works, appreciate the diverse subjects of his paintings, learn the history of the gaucho town followed by a fascinating drawing demonstration.
- Lima: You’re treated to a lesson on how to pour the perfect sour, Peru’s native drink. In the good hands of professional chef Ignacio, the results are sure to be delicious. Ignacio will explain the history of Pisco – a type pf wine, the typical Pisco Sour, and an internationally less known but locally more popular drink called “Chilcano”. This cocktail of pisco, lime juice, Ginger ale and bitters is a refreshing twist on the pisco sour that will have you eager to share the recipe with your friends.
Iconic Experience
- Rio de Janeiro: Ride Brazil’s first cable car to Urca Hill, then on to the summit of Sugarloaf Mountain, 396 m (1,299 ft) above sea level. With your Travel Director, take in views over Botafogo Cove, Copacabana and Guanabara Bay, and hear how the mountain earned its name during the sugar trade, when molded sugar mirrored its shape.
- Corcovado: Climb into the clouds to the top of Corcovado Mountain to visit the iconic Christ the Redeemer. You’ll ride the Corcovado Railway, the first electrified railroad in Brazil, and an icon itself. The railway is actually older than the monument and even transported the pieces of the monument. The train has taken popes, kings, princes, presidents, artists, scientists - and now you - since its start in 1884. You’ll feel good about your travels too knowing that this electric train doesn’t pollute the surrounding Tijuca National Park. As you ascend 2,379 feet, consider the history of Christ the Redeemer built from 1926-1931, one of the Seven Wonders of the World, and one of the most famous Art Déco sculptures. Gaze out the window at the views of the Rio de Janeiro and, at the top, stand beneath the famous statue’s feet looking up to its top of 98 feet high.
- Iguassu Falls: Join a Local Specialist who will guide your exploration of the Brazilian side of the falls in this massive park spanning the border between Argentina and Brazil. The region hosts a variety of wildlife including tapirs, giant anteaters, howler monkeys, ocelots, jaguars, caymans and 400 species of birds - so be on the lookout for that special photo-op. Given Iguassu’s support of extreme habitats and diverse species, it’s no wonder it is on the UNESCO World Heritage List.
- Iguazú Falls: Join a local specialist for a walk along the long catwalk suspended above the swirling waters of the Iguazú River. View the chaotic crush of water pouring down Devil's throat falls. Then board an open-air ecological jungle train for a different perspective of the mighty cascades.
- Buenos Aires: Experience the beauty of the Tango and learn about it's traditions. Here at El Viejo Almacen in the neighborhood of San Telmo, you’re in the most classic house of tango putting on shows since 1969 and preserving the architecture and atmosphere of Tango culture.
- Buenos Aires: Embark on a Buenos Aires City Tour with a Local Specialist. Walk through the wide boulevards of this beautiful capital admiring the spirit of a city whose European and Latin American influences can be seen around every turn. See the pink palace, the seat of the Argentine national government and president's office whose balcony Juan and “Evita” Perón addressed the people in the 1940s and 1950s. Visit the cathedral and wander through the lively and colorful La Boca neighborhood lined with restaurants, street artists and local art around every corner.
- Buenos Aires: Uncover San Antonio de Areco, the heart of the “gaucho” traditions in the “pampas” region. Walk around the small village’s cobblestoned streets appreciating its quaint historical center. See the main square, the church, and meet some of the locals along the way. Also known as the ‘Cradle of Tradition’ the colonial town was founded over 280 years ago and is filled with old bars (“pulperías”) and artisan shops with over 30 silversmiths. Known as “platería criolla”, the traditional Argentinean silverworks include knives, jewelry and other traditional items.
- Lima: Take in the highlights of Lima, the 'City of the Kings,' including a panoramic view of the ancient districts. Join a local specialist for a visit to the UNESCO-listed Historic Center. Learn how before it was destroyed by earthquakes in the mid-18th century, observing how the historic buildings display a collaboration between local craftspeople and others from the Old World. Then drive along the coastline as you learn more about the fascinating history of Peru's capital city.
- Cusco: Visit the mystical Incan stronghold of Ollantaytambo. These famous ruins are a massive Inca fortress made of large stone terraces stretching out across a hillside. Walk among the stone platforms, the sun temple of six monoliths and the Princess Baths fountain ― the Baño de la Nusta at the base of the ruins flowing from carved stone into a pool. Over your exploration, learn how the old town is an Inca-era grid of cobblestoned streets and adobe buildings.
- Machu Picchu: Soak in every moment of your Machu Picchu tour in style as you descend to the Lost City in the clouds aboard the Vistadome train. Traveling the Inca Trail, you’ll traverse dramatic landscapes with a panoramic view of the soaring peaks, river, and ruins. Sit back and relax as you enjoy this multi-sensory journey complete with background music, an informative audio commentary highlighting interesting sites, and an included light snack.
- Machu Picchu: Take a shuttle to the top of the mountain where you’ll meet your local specialist for a guided hike of Machu Picchu. 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.
- Cusco: Enjoy the flavors of chicha, a Peruvian corn beer. Hear about how chicha is brewed by the local indigenous women and its history dating back to the time of the Incas as a favorite drink of the Andes. Learn about the two types of chicha, alcoholic sour chicha de jora made from fermented jora corn and the non-alcoholic, sweet chicha morada.
- Machu Picchu: The ruins of Machu Picchu beckon yet again and we enjoy one final opportunity to reconnect with its story. Journey to take in the ruins at sunrise spending some time on your own to explore the hill-top fortress. Soak in every moment at this iconic site, making stops at points of interest while your guide shares their insights on the archaeological sites.
- Cusco: Join your Local Specialist for a guided walk through Cusco's colonial center, including the nearby 13th-century Incan settlement of Koricancha. Here in Cusco’s Golden Temple of the Sun dedicated to the Sun God Inti, view the trapezoidal and irregular shapes and rounded edges. Note how the stones fit together and were built simply by placing them on top of each other without using any mortar. This staggered placement also enables them to withstand earthquakes.
- Cusco: Begin your day at the ruins of the UNESCO-listed Sacsayhuamán fortress overlooking Cusco. With zig zagging walls and ruins of giant stones, see how the shape and harmony of the landscape is similar to Machu Picchu. Stroll through this Incan architecture of sacred buildings such as residential buildings, towers, shrines, warehouses, roads and aqueducts. And while you may not be able to take in the grand scale, the complex design is based on the shape of the head of a puma, a sacred animal in Inca spirituality.
- Lima: Join a local specialist for a tour of the Rafael Larco Herrera Museum which houses the largest private collection of pre-Columbian Peruvian art in the world. You'll also explore the extensive collection of Peruvian gold and silver from ancient times. Learn the history of the museum founded by Rafael Larco on July 28th, 1926 in Trujillo followed by in 1958 when Larco moved his collection to Lima to a unique colonial residence built on top of a VIII century pyramid.
MAKE TRAVEL MATTER®
- Iguazú Falls: Visiting the ancestral Guarani community for an immersive MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience. Join the Guarani for a jungle walk, first greeted by an aboriginal guide who leads you through trails that surround and crisscross the village. Learn about the beliefs, myths, legends and the virtues of medicinal plants and their uses before visiting the temple in the heart of the jungle discovering the initiation and baptism rituals of the tribe. See the plantations, their homes and their hunting traps for different kinds of animals that they used in ancient times. Your visit ends with a display of handicrafts using resources such as wood, lianas and seeds.
- Buenos Aires: Visit a workshop where people with special abilities manufacture in an artisanal way the traditional shoe of the gauchos: "alpargatas", still used in the countryside and by many rural workers. Learn about the production process. This MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience helps the association to support youth and adults develop their abilities to make these traditional shoes and is the only factory offering disabled people job opportunities.
- Cusco: Visit Manos de la Comunidad weaving center to learn about artistic traditions and the four Andean camels: Llamas, Alpacas, Vicuñas and Guanacos. Then step inside a private area to discover one of the traditions of the Sacred Valley called “linderaje”. This typical tradition of several communities reinforces the borders of each community and involves several customs, one of which is man dancing in typical women’s clothes. Then enjoy an exclusive lunch at a beautiful outdoor space near the Weaving Center. Your visit directly supports United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities.
- Sacred Valley: Meet the artisans working to preserve Peru’s textile heritage through a social project led by Nely Uscapi Levita and José Carlos Sallo Huallpayunca. With a focus on economic empowerment and education, this initiative supports women across Chinchero and beyond, helping them pass down ancestral weaving techniques while improving their livelihoods through sustainable craft. Your visit directly supports United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities.
Must-see Highlights
- Explore Both the Brazilian and Argentinean side of Iguazú Falls, Lima, Cusco, Machu Picchu, Larco Museum
- Visit Sugarloaf Mountain, Christ the Redeemer, Ollantaytambo Ruins, Sacsayhuaman, San Antonio de Areco
- See the Teatro Colon, Copacabana Beach and the Casa Rosada
- Scenic Drive through the Sacred Valley
- Scenic Train Ride to Machu Picchu aboard the Vistadome train
Trafalgar Difference
- Sacred Valley: Admire your idyllic setting within the Sacred Valley and take in the 18th-century colonial-style features of Sonesta Posadas del Inca Yucay, a former monastery complete with plazas and cobbled streets.
Trip Details
Product Code: 34424
Tour Type: Group Tour
Accommodation: Deluxe
Transport: Private
Guide Language: English
Travel Styles:
Adventure
Tour Operator:
Trafalgar (CA)
Supplier Code: 136.799A
Starts: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Finishes: Quito, Ecuador
Duration: 21 days
Departures: Not Guaranteed
Physical Rating:
Easy
Includes
Whats Included
- An expert Travel Director and professional Driver
- Cherry-picked hotels, all tried and trusted
- All porterage and restaurant gratuities
- All hotel tips, charges and local taxes
- Breakfast daily and up to half of your evening meals
- Must-see sightseeing and surprise extras
- Audio headsets for flexible sightseeing
- Luxury air-conditioned coach with Wi-Fi in most countries or alternative transportation (such as rail journeys)
- Tickets for a ride aboard the Vistadome train to Machu Picchu
- A Trafalgar bonus all Intra-Air Flights: Rio de Janeiro to Iguaz�, Iguaz� to Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires to Lima, Lima to Cusco and Cusco to Lima, including porter service at all airports
- Optional Experiences and free time
- On occasion, hotels of similar standard and location may be utilized.
Price
Price per person: (Double Occupancy) CAD $19250 ($917 /day)
Itinerary
Launch your leisurely exploration of South America to the sultry beats of the Bossa Nova and Samba. A local host will take you to your hotel where you’ll enjoy superb views of Copacabana beach and its beautiful people, just minutes from downtown Rio. This evening, we enjoy a festive dinner with our Travel Director and fellow travelers.
Accommodation: Windsor Excelsior Copacabana
Meals: Dinner
Join your Travel Director and ride the historic cable car to Sugarloaf Mountain, pausing at Urca Hill before reaching the summit for sweeping views over Guanabara Bay and Copacabana. Hear how this iconic peak got its name during Brazil’s sugar trade era. After a drive past Ipanema and the Copacabana beaches, your afternoon is at leisure. Perhaps choose an Optional Experience to the Selarón Steps, a colorful mosaic staircase and local landmark. This evening, you could choose an Optional Experience if you wish: enjoy Brazilian flavors and a performance at the city’s famous Roxy Dinner Show.
Accommodation: Windsor Excelsior Copacabana
Meals: Breakfast
The iconic Christ the Redeemer beckons this morning as we journey by cogwheel train to the summit of Corcovado for impressive panoramic views. Returning to the city, we visit the shores of Copacabana and Ipanema, spending the rest of the day at leisure to watch Rio’s beautiful people living life to the fullest. This evening, learn how to mix the perfect caipirinha, then indulge in a sizzling barbecue dinner at a local churrascaria.
Accommodation: Windsor Excelsior Copacabana
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Journey into some of South America’s most beautiful natural landscapes taking a flight from Rio to Iguazú Falls, the UNESCO-listed magnificent falls that straddle the borders of Brazil, Argentina and Paraguay. Explore the Brazilian side of Iguassu Falls, 'Big Waters', in Iguaçu National Park with a Local Specialist. Hike to the cascading falls through giant clouds and sprays of water feeling refreshed in the humidity. You’ll learn that while hot and humid, this lush micro-climate supports diverse fauna in its subtropical rainforest of over 2,000 species of vascular plants. Conclude your day crossing the border to Argentina to your hotel.
Accommodation: Hotel Mercure
Meals: Breakfast
Get a different perspective of grandeur on the Argentinian side of the falls at the Devil's Throat. Your MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience finds you paying a visit to the Guarani community of Fortín M'bororé who open their doors to reveal the secrets of the jungle, their natural medicine, culture, songs, dances, crafts, philosophy and beliefs. Discover with the Guarani the "Spirit of the Trees", a walk where you learn to walk through the interior of the Jungle guided by aboriginal experts. This afternoon, join an optional experience on Gran Aventura boat tour or an Argentinean experience learning about Argentine culture, tasting local dishes in a five-course dinner, sampling four Argentinian wines and mingling with travelers from around the world.
Accommodation: Hotel Mercure
Meals: Breakfast
Take a flight from Iguazú Falls to Buenos Aires, the capital of Argentina. Check into your hotel located in the heart of the cultural center at the historic Plaza San Martin and, with the rest of the day free, perhaps take a stroll around this upscale part of the city. Or venture on a wine tasting trip to “El Querandi,” a big house located in the historical district and considered a living testimony of the city originally founded as a bar in 1920.
Accommodation: Intercontinental
Meals: Breakfast
Take in the sights of Buenos Aires on a City Tour to the pink palace, cathedral and La Boca neighborhood. The rest of the afternoon is free for you to relax and explore this exciting city on your own. This evening enjoy the passionate fiery and precise steps of some of Buenos Aires most talented tango dancers.
Accommodation: Intercontinental
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Leave Buenos Aires for San Antonio de Areco, the heart of the gaucho traditions in the pampas region, for a tour along its quaint streets lined with silversmiths. Take part in a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience visiting a local project of the Local Association for disabled people who are keeping up the tradition of making the alpargatas shoes. Appreciate more artisans paying a visit to a local artist's studio observing how masterpieces are created. Cap off your day with a Be My Guest experience, complete with sizzling asado steak, at a family-owned gaucho ranch where your watch cowboys show off the horsemanship accompanied by music and dance.
Accommodation: Intercontinental
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
The capital of the New World extends a warm welcome on your epic voyage through the iconic and unexpected highlights of Peru. Meet your local host on arrival and transfer to your hotel in the upscale shopping district of Miraflores. This evening, you’ll join your Travel Director and fellow travelers for dinner.
Accommodation: Iberostar Hotel Lima
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Francisco Pizarro’s 'City of Kings' is ours to explore this morning as we discover the colonial heritage of Lima’s UNESCO-listed Historic Center with our Local Specialist. Admire the ornate baroque façades of the Church of San Francisco and discover its hidden catacombs. Celebrate Lima’s status as the culinary capital of South America next, and meet Ignacio Barrios who has worked alongside many of Peru's most award-winning chefs. Visit a local market where Ignacio will explain how Peruvian fruits, vegetables, seafood and meats are the basis of Peruvian cooking. Then continue to his cooking school where you'll Connect With Locals and enjoy a demonstration on how to prepare some of Peru's most popular dishes. You’ll have an opportunity to sample some of these at a Be My Guest experience lunch before spending the rest of the day at leisure.
Accommodation: Iberostar Hotel Lima
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Fly to Cusco this morning and head straight into the Sacred Valley, where your day begins with a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience at the Manos de la Comunidad weaving center. You’ll uncover the traditions of the Sacred Valley, called “lindaje”. After a lunch of local flavors, check in to your Stays with Stories experience at Sonesta Posadas del Inca Yucay, a former 18th-century monastery set among peaceful gardens. Later, connect with artisans working to protect Peru’s textile heritage. This MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience helps fund skills training and job creation across villages like Chinchero and Parobamba
Accommodation: Sonesta Posadas del Inca Yucay
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
The Sacred Valley reveals its mysteries today as we encounter the remains of the mighty Inca empire. Our first stop this morning is the famous Inca hilltop fortress, Ollantaytambo, built from massive blocks of stone. We board the Vistadome train (light snack included) for our epic journey to the UNESCO-listed Machu Picchu, where a Local Specialist will lead us through the ruins of this once-great fortress. Explore the iconic great Temple of the Sun, the House of the Priest, the Sacred Plaza and the Intihuatana, an intricately carved rock most likely used as a sundial centuries ago. Tonight, we’ll dine at our hotel.
Accommodation: El MaPi
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
We return to Machu Picchu this morning with an opportunity to explore this mythical fortress on our own terms. Then it’s off to Cusco, stopping en route at a local chichería for a taste of chicha. Dive Into Culture and learn how this Peruvian corn beer is made by local women.
Accommodation: Novotel Cusco
Meals: Breakfast
Embark on a sightseeing tour of the sacred city of Cusco this morning with your Local Specialist, admiring the 16th-century Spanish colonial buildings that stand on the foundations of former Inca temples and palaces. See the baroque Cathedral on the Plaza de Armas and 17th-century Church of Santo Domingo. Visit the ruins of the Sacsayhuaman fortress and see nearby warehouses where the Incas once stored their grain. The afternoon is free to explore on your terms.
Accommodation: Novotel Cusco
Meals: Breakfast
A leisurely start to our day sees us return to Lima late this morning. Enjoy an afternoon at leisure, join your Local Specialist at the Larco Museum for an evening exploration of its collection of pre-Columbian art. We’ll indulge in a memorable Farewell Dinner in the museum’s garden.
Accommodation: Iberostar Hotel Lima
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Transfer to the airport for your onward flight to Ecuador (flight not included in holiday price). Enjoy a warm welcome in Quito where you will be greeted at the airport and taken to your hotel.
Accommodation: Sheraton
Meals: Breakfast
Visit the historical center of Quito, which was the first place in the world to be designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and travel to the 'Middle of the World' to stand on the Equator. Enjoy the rest of the day at leisure.
Accommodation: Sheraton
Meals: Breakfast
Land on Baltra Island and meet your Local Specialist who’ll take you to the Galápagos Legend. After settling in, cruise towards the northern coast of Santa Cruz Island to explore Black Turtle Cove — a quiet inlet surrounded by mangroves and only accessible by water. Keep watch for green sea turtles gliding near the surface, white-tipped reef sharks just below and rays moving through the shallows. Overhead, you might spot pelicans, herons and egrets nesting in the branches. This area is a protected turtle sanctuary, offering your first chance to see the unique wildlife that makes these islands so special. Return to the ship this evening for dinner and your first night onboard.
Accommodation: M/V Galápagos Legend
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Visit to Genovesa Island today, climbing up the rocky Prince Phillip's Steps in search of Nazca boobies, red-footed boobies and Darwin’s famed finches. Walk to expansive lava field over which Wedge-rumped storm petrels swarm, then continue to Darwin Bay.
Accommodation: M/V Galápagos Legend
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
The marine iguanas of South Plaza Island view our arrival with indifference as we embark on our walk from the small lava dock. We’ll see the shallow lake where flamingos come to feed, then continue inland in search of land iguanas. Arriving Santa Fé island later, we’ll enjoy a snorkel amongst sea lions, turtles, reef sharks and spotted eagle rays, then walk past a forest of giant Opuntia cacti.
Accommodation: M/V Galápagos Legend
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Travel into the central highlands of Santa Cruz Island for the best opportunity to walk among wild Galápagos giant tortoises. These iconic reptiles can weigh over 270kg and move slowly through the grassy landscape as you follow their path. Along the way, spot other native wildlife, including several species of the finches that helped shape Darwin’s theory of evolution. Continue to Baltra Airport for your return flight to Quito. Arrival into Quito is scheduled for 5pm, so please keep this in mind when booking onward travel.
Meals: Breakfast
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Tour Operator
Trafalgar (CA)
Family owned and run since 1920, The Travel Corporation (TTC) is the world leader in immersive travel experiences across an extensive range of travel categories. Each year TTC's 40 award winning hospitality and travel brands connect over 1 million happy travellers to the world. We give you access to the 12 DMC’s behind these brands, so you can build your business by capitalizing on the extensive experience, local expertise, and financial assurance of TTC. LOCAL EXPERTISE The world leaders in travel for over 100 years, we offer unparalleled local expertise with a global footprint. Our 12 DMCs, led by experienced in-destination teams, deliver experience rich travel solutions in more than 80 countries. Additionally, our market based teams are on hand to support across our 40 offices worldwide
In Business Since 1931
Reviews
Sharon Seok Yin Kwok - Traveled, May 2024
The Travel Directors are dedicated and the hotels I stayed in were very nice. The pace was quite relaxing and the itinerary covered a lot of places.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 06/08/2024
Heng Chick Jimmy Lim - Traveled, May 2024
Too many internal flights are tiring. Otherwise, its a good trip.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 06/05/2024
Trusted Customer - Traveled, May 2024
Wonderful First experience in South America! Tour directors were knowledge. Purchase was smooth. Itinerary is acceptable but would be better to do away with few optional tours, like magical fountain in Lima.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 06/19/2024
Siew Khoon Heng - Traveled, May 2024
Eye opener for South America. Yes. Good. Yes. I think Peru has much to offer than Brazil & Argentina. The rainforest tour was the worst . Guides not able to explain. Wasted time. Tour guide for Brazil & Argentina Rodrigo did his job well. For Peru I must say guide Dente did his job very well. Always with a smile under very tight and rushed conditions. Logistics very heavy but he did well and organized.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 06/26/2024
Trusted Customer - Traveled, May 2024
Both Tour Directors did a good job. Sales office service in Singapore needs improvement in providing details instead of us asking. Felt shortchange when couldn’t get the old price of twin arrangement like the rest of the group participants when I changed from single supplement to twin despite bringing in another customer. Need to change Windsor hotel in Rio de janerio to a better grade hotel. It was the start of the trip and was totally shocked by the grade of hotel given. The hotel is so tired, smells etc…. Hilton nearby in same location could have been considered.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 06/18/2024
Trusted Customer - Traveled, May 2020
The overall trip was fine but could have been done much better.My trip started with a disaster. I had a gold chain around my neck which was ripped off with in a few minutes as I walked on the beautiful Copa Cabana beach in Reo.The hotel was wonderful but neither the hotel staff nor our tour director told me ,not to wear that chain.Only after the fact ,they said that I should not have done that. The welcome dinner was great ,but the travelers did not get a chance to introduce themselves.The next day was a short tour of the city with all of the afternoon free.If we were to explore the city on our own ,what did we need Trafalgar for ? . The next day was a trip to Christ the Redeemer.The tour director knew ,that the visibility was zero but she went ahead with the tour anyway .The afternoon was nice and sunny and the afternoon was free ,but the tour director made no effort to accommodate the travelers. The visit to Iguassu falls was wonderful ,truly a worth seeing site ,both from the Brazil and the Argentine side.The trip to Argentina was fine ,but once again there was not much to do on the last day .The optional trip was marginally OK ,mainly because there was no other choice . The flight form Buenos Aires was at 7:25 AM and the wake up time at the hotel was 3:30 AM.Who on vacation , wants to get up at that time to catch a flight . The second half of the trip ( Peru ) was much better, mainly because the tour director was engaged and knowledgeable.The visit to Machu Pichu was wonderful . However,it was for two days .The second day was a hiking trip at 6 AM .It could have been better planned ,so we could have had a better view of the whole thing . The visit to Cusco was very good ,although it took some getting used to the altitude. The hotels in general were very good, but the Vegetarian food which we had requested was not good at all.Sometimes ,my wife who is a strict vegetarian went without any food.I am sure ,we paid good money for that. Finally ,almost all the trips started very early in the morning.Although that might have provided an opportunity to see more things,that did not seem to be the case.On the contrary ,it felt as if we were rushing all the time ,rather than having a relaxing vacation. That is my 2 cents worth .If you have any more specific questions ,feel free to get in touch with me. See the first paragraph of this review.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 05/30/2020
Richard Sanders - Traveled, April 2024
Trafalgar is the best. Excellent, excellent tour guides! Pickup at the airport was above and beyond. All transportation was well planned and executed. Exactly why I continue to choose Trafalgar. Itinerary was well planned with a good balance of planned activities and extra excursions. It hit the highlights of the countries. Visa requirement for Brazil made the country less attractive. Brazil visit wasn't worth the hassle and expense of a visa. Better to have spent more time in Argentina or add Chile or Uruguay and bypass Brazil.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 05/17/2024
Trusted Customer - Traveled, March 2024
Our guides did a great job. It was just a great trip. Hotels and food was very good. I thought the hotels and food was 5 star. No complaints here.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 04/20/2024
Trusted Customer - Traveled, March 2024
Good Service and excellent civerage of the limited days I had on South America.Good Value for Money considering the extent of the coverage
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 04/27/2024
Michael Smith - Traveled, March 2023
Just Go. The best possible experience with the tour director keeping things running smoothly. We saw more than we hoped to....sunrise over Machu Picchu stands out. You will be busy....fun busy. Meals and experiences should not be missed.
Source: Tour operator Submitted: 04/22/2023
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