Ultimate South America with Arequipa & Colca Canyon
Ultimate South America with Arequipa & Colca Canyon
Ultimate South America with Arequipa & Colca Canyon
23 Days Starting in Rio de and ending in Lima, Peru
Visiting: Rio de Janeiro, Iguazu Falls, Buenos Aires, Lima, Cusco, Sacred Valley, Machu Picchu, Juliaca, Puno, Lake Titicaca, Colca Canyon, Arequipa
Tour operator:
Tour code:
1206-2024
Guide Type:
Fully Guided
Age range:
5-99
Special diets catered:
Vegetarians
Tour operated in:
EnglishTrip Styles:
Interests:
Activities:
Tour Overview
Discover some of South America's greatest cities—Rio de Janeiro, Buenos Aires, and Lima—and some of its most fascinating sites and spectacular scenery on this South America tour. You'll overnight in Rio de Janeiro, Iguassu Falls, Buenos Aires, Lima, the Sacred Valley, Machu Picchu, Cusco, Lake Titicaca, Arequipa, and Colca Canyon. Guided sightseeing in each of the cities features the must-see sites. In Rio, take the cog railway to the summit of Corcovado to view the famous Christ the Redeemer statue. Your time in Buenos Aires includes a visit to Recoleta Cemetery, burial place for Eva Peron, and a Tango show. In Lima, your sightseeing focuses on the city's colonial heritage. Highlights of this South America tour include time at Iguassu Falls on both the Brazilian and Argentine sides. Experience the falls, hear the thundering roar, be amazed at the brilliant rainbows created by the clouds of spray, and stand in awe as you witness these 275 falls spanning nearly two miles! You’ll also be amazed at Machu Picchu, set in a majestic mountainside with ruins dating back to the 15th century. Glimpse the ancient history and culture as you enjoy this stunning and mystical place. Other tour highlights include a visit to the Inca ruins at Ollantaytambo and the Temple of Sacsayhuaman, with stones weighing up to 350 tons. Time in Peru's Lake Titicaca, a lake of floating islands maintained over centuries by the local Indians, gives you a chance to experience the world's highest navigable lake and to learn about local practices. At Colca Canyon, an impressive geological formation more than twice as deep as the Grand Canyon, you’ll witness condors soaring majestically above the canyon walls, marvel at the canyon, and relax at La Calera hot springs before time in Arequipa, known as the “White City” for its buildings made of volcanic rock. This South America tour designed for the value-minded traveler is a dream vacation!
Highlights
Itinerary
Day 1 : Rio De Janeiro,Brazil
Location: Rio de Janeiro
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Windsor Excelsior Copacabana
Welcome to spectacular Rio de Janeiro! After arrival, settle into your hotel and meet your Tour Director, who will have pointers for your free time exploration.
Day 2 : Rio De Janeiro
Location: Rio de Janeiro
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Windsor Excelsior Copacabana
Meals Included: Breakfast
Guided sightseeing begins with a drive along Rio’s famed Leblon, Ipanema, and more. Take the cog railway 2,300 feet up to the summit of Corcovado to view the Christ the Redeemer statue and enjoy 360-degree views of Guanabara Bay and the bustling city below. The famed statue was completed in 1931 becoming emblematic for both the city and the Brazilian nation as a whole. Your afternoon is free to explore.
Day 3 : Rio De Janeiro
Location: Rio de Janeiro
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Windsor Excelsior Copacabana
Meals Included: Breakfast
A free day in Rio allows you to relax on one of the beaches or take an optional excursion to the historic city of Petropolis.
Day 4 : Rio De Janeiro,Iguassu Falls
Location: Rio de Janeiro, Iguazu Falls
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Recanto Park
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Fly to Iguassu Falls, one of the greatest natural wonders of the world. Journey to the Brazilian side of the falls to see the 275 waterfalls cascading over a precipice almost two miles wide and 250 feet deep. Walk into Devil’s Throat Canyon, where clouds of mist, a thunderous roar, and 180-degree rainbows surround you—an unforgettable experience!
Day 5 : Iguassu Falls
Location: Iguazu Falls
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Recanto Park
Meals Included: Breakfast
Cross the Brazilian border by motorcoach and visit the Argentine side of Iguassu Falls. Begin with a short ride on the open-air Ecological Jungle Train through the surrounding rainforest. A series of boardwalks takes you above the falls for a look over the edge to see the water crashing down below into the Devil’s Throat. This afternoon, you may opt to visit the Bird Park, home to many species of endemic birds as well as flora from the area.
Day 6 : Iguassu Falls,Buenos Aires,Argentina
Location: Iguazu Falls, Buenos Aires
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Kenton Palace
Meals Included: Breakfast
This morning, cross the Brazilian border into Argentina by motorcoach to transfer to the Cataratas del Iguazu International Airport for your flight to Buenos Aires, Argentina’s cosmopolitan capital. After settling into your hotel, you may wish to familiarize yourself with the “Paris of South America” and its wide boulevards, outdoor cafés, and charming shops.
Day 7 : Buenos Aires
Location: Buenos Aires
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Kenton Palace
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Morning sightseeing with a Local Guide focuses on the city’s well-known landmarks, including the Teatro Colón Opera House and Plaza de Mayo, site of La Casa Rosada (the President’s Pink House), and Metropolitan Cathedral. Also, visit La Boca and San Telmo, one of Buenos Aires’ oldest neighborhoods, and Recoleta Cemetery, where Eva Perón is buried. End your day with an Argentinean meal, followed by a sensuous Tango show highlighting this alluring dance so popular here.
Day 8 : Buenos Aires
Location: Buenos Aires
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Kenton Palace
Meals Included: Breakfast
Today is free for independent activities, or you can take an optional excursion to visit a local estancia (ranch) to experience the life of the gauchos (cowboys) on a traditional Argentine ranch complete with a barbecue lunch.
Day 9 : Buenos Aires,Lima,Peru
Location: Buenos Aires, Lima
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Jose Antonio Lima Hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast
Board a flight for Lima, Peru. Heralded as the “City of Kings” by Spanish conquistadors, Lima still carries vestiges of its opulent past with its colonial buildings and world-class museums.
Day 10 : Lima
Location: Lima
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Jose Antonio Lima Hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Sightseeing today focuses on Lima’s colonial heritage. Founded in 1535, Lima was once the capital of Spain’s South American Empire. Visit the baroque 11th-century San Francisco Monastery, with Spanish and Moorish architecture throughout. Continue to Plaza Mayor, where you will see the Government Palace that houses the presidential palace and was once the home of Francisco Pizarro, founder of Lima and conqueror of Peru. Nearby, see the cathedral where Pizarro’s remains are buried. The remainder of your day is free to explore on your own. Enjoy dinner at a local restaurant this evening.
Day 11 : Lima,Cusco,Sacred Valley
Location: Lima, Cusco, Sacred Valley
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Fly to Cusco high in the Andes and, upon arrival, descend into the Sacred Valley of the Incas. Stop at Awanakancha and learn about the importance of camelids (llama, vicuña, alpaca, and guanaco) for Inca cultures. See them up close and learn how their coats are transformed into colorful weaving fibers that are then used in ancient weaving techniques still in use today. Continue to Pisac, a charming village with a famous Indian market, where you have plenty of time to browse the many colorful stalls selling handicrafts ranging from alpaca sweaters and blankets to painted vases and sterling silver. Later, arrive at your hotel, nestled in the peaceful Sacred Valley.
Day 12 : Sacred Valley
Location: Sacred Valley
Meals Included: Breakfast
Start the day with a visit to Ollantaytambo and the Inca ruins of the same name. Explore the archaeological site that was the scene of the Inca resistance during the Spanish conquest—the only place ever to resist Spanish attacks. You will see how the temple area at the top of the terraces was the perfect defensive stronghold. Next, visit a local home to experience life in this traditional village, which has been remarkably well preserved. Then, visit the Seminario Ceramics Workshop to learn about Peruvian ancient and modern art. End your day at a local chicheria for a taste of a typical Inca drink in Peru called chicha.
Day 13 : Sacred Valley,Machu Picchu
Location: Sacred Valley, Machu Picchu
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: El Mapi By Inkaterra
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Board the Vistadome train that cuts a path through the picturesque Urubamba Valley bound for Aguas Calientes, the quaint town closest to the “Lost City of the Incas.” Ascend the mountainside through tropical forest to the sacred refuge of Machu Picchu. Your guide recounts the many accomplishments of the Incas as you tour the terraced ruins dating back to the 15th century. Abandoned when the Inca Empire fell to the Spanish, these remarkable ruins remained undiscovered for nearly 400 years. For this reason, many of the mysteries surrounding Machu Picchu remain to this day.
Day 14 : Machu Picchu,Cusco
Location: Machu Picchu, Cusco
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Jose Antonio Cusco
Meals Included: Breakfast
Enjoy some free time this morning to explore the mountain town of Aguas Calientes; perhaps visit the local market, quaint boutiques, or take a walk along nearby trails. Later this afternoon, return to Cusco, former capital of the Inca Empire.
Day 15 : Cusco
Location: Cusco
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Jose Antonio Cusco
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Embark on a guided sightseeing tour of Cusco that focuses on the city that was once the political, military, and cultural epicenter of the Incas. In fact, Inca foundations can still be found in Cusco, with the Spanish baroque structures built on top. Visit the Santo Domingo Monastery, where these two forms of architecture are melded together with the temple of both cultures atop one another. Also, see the Cathedral in the Plaza de Armas before a visit to the Temple of Sacsayhuaman. Some of the best examples of Inca masonry can be found at this fortress, where stones weighing up to 350 tons are pieced together to form a complex that could house up to 10,000 men. Learn about the ceremonies and battles that took place here on your tour. Also, see the ruins of Kenko and Puca Pucara before returning to Cusco. Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant followed by an evening at leisure.
Day 16 : Cusco,Juliaca,Puno
Location: Cusco, Juliaca, Puno
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Xima Puno Hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast
Fly to Juliaca, then transfer to Puno on the shores of Lake Titicaca. Legend says the first Inca, Manco Capac, arose from the waters of the lake by the power of the sun god to found the Inca Empire.
Day 17 : Puno. Excursion To Lake Titicaca
Location: Lake Titicaca, Puno
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Xima Puno Hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Experience fascinating Lake Titicaca today as you embark on a motorboat tour of the highest navigable lake in the world and its manmade islands. On Taquile Island, see how the local people integrate their Inca and Spanish past. Continue to the Uros floating islands, a group of approximately 40 artificially made islands. Learn how the Uros Indians construct their islands, homes, boats, and many other resources completely of tortora reed, a centuries-old practice. Enjoy a farewell dinner hosted by your Tour Director this evening.
Day 18 : Puno,Colca Canyon
Location: Puno, Colca Canyon
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Casa Andina Standard Colca Hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch
This morning, depart Puno for a scenic drive to Colca Canyon. Enjoy scenery of Pre-Columbian terraces populated with vicuñas and a variety of birds, and stop for lunch in the town of Chivay. This afternoon, arrive in Colca Canyon.
Day 19 : Colca Canyon
Location: Colca Canyon
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Casa Andina Standard Colca Hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch
Today, spend time in the Colca Canyon, an impressive geological formation more than twice as deep as the Grand Canyon. Visit Condors’ Cross, an observation point, where you can view the Andean condor in flight at eye level, followed by a visit to the town of Yanque. This afternoon is free for independent exploration.
Day 20 : Colca Canyon,Arequipa
Location: Colca Canyon, Arequipa
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Casa Andina Select Arequipa
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch
Drive to Arequipa located in the Chili River Valley and flanked by three snowcapped volcanoes: Misti, Chachani, and Pichu Pichu. Known as the “white city,” Arequipa definitely does justice to its nickname, as its buildings are made of sillar, a white volcanic rock found throughout the area. The stone embellishes the facades of the city’s homes and churches.
Day 21 : Arequipa
Location: Arequipa
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Casa Andina Select Arequipa
Meals Included: Breakfast
This morning, a city tour of Arequipa shows off the Plaza de Armas and the Cathedral before visiting the Jesuit church, considered the best example of the mestizo baroque style. Continue to the residential districts of Yanahuara and Chilina, where you enjoy a magnificent view of Arequipa’s countryside and the Mount Misti volcano.
Day 22 : Arequipa,Lima
Location: Arequipa, Lima
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Jose Antonio Lima Hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast
Fly to Lima today.
Day 23 : Lima
Location: Lima
Meals Included: Breakfast
Your vacation ends after breakfast this morning.
What's Included
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Accommodation
It may occasionally be necessary to use alternative hotels of a similar standard to those shown.
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Fully Guided
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Meals
Breakfast-22
Lunch-4
Dinner-7
What's Not Included
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Tipping and Gratuities
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International Travel
UNESCO Sites
City of Cusco|Historic Center of Lima|Historic Sanctuary of Machu Picchu|Historical Centre of the City of Arequipa|Iguazu National Park
Accommodation
Windsor Excelsior Copacabana
Perfectly positioned on the beaches of the Copacabana in Rio, the Windsor Excelsior welcomes guests through a softly lit lobby and provides exceptional accommodations. With a restaurant serving International fare with Brazilian flourishes, the rooftop pool and poolside bar, and complimentary towels, umbrellas and lounge chairs for use on Copacabana Beach, the Excelsior provides all of the details and services you'd expect for the perfect stay in Rio de Janeiro.
Recanto Park
Recanto Park features spectacular architecture that is integrated with the natural exuberance of an area set aside as a native conservation area. With sophisticated surroundings, comfortable guestrooms, and a wide variety of amenities, guests will enjoy a relaxing stay in Iguassu Falls.
Kenton Palace
Ideally located in the San Telmo district nearby some of Buenos Aires' most prominent attractions, Kenton Palace features a wine cellar with hand-picked local wines, fitness center, wireless internet access, and on-site restaurant.
Jose Antonio Lima Hotel
Located in the exciting Miraflores district, the Jose Antonio Hotel features comfortable guestrooms, a business center, souvenir shop, and complimentary Wi-Fi.
Sonesta Posadas del Inca - Sacred Valley - Yucay
Bursting with character, the Sonesta Posadas del Inca hotel is the leader in boutique hotels in the Sacred Valley. Featuring a rustic ambiance with modern comforts, dynamite local cuisine, and friendly service, it makes for a memorable stay in one of the most remarkable places in the world. The colonial-style former monastery is surrounded by views of the Andes and beautiful gardens - a leisurely and soothing escape.
El Mapi by Inkaterra
Smart and contemporary are the defining elements of this hotel, amidst the commercial village of Machu Picchu Pueblo. The hotel welcomes a wide range of guests expecting an uncomplicated visit. Hotel amenities include a restaurant, bar, hot-water pond, gift shop, Internet, and laundry service.
Jose Antonio Cusco
Located in the heart of the archaeological center of America's oldest city. A few minutes from the Plaza de Armas, this hotel has modern architecture with fine colonial details.
Lake Titicaca Puno Hotel
Just five minutes from the town of Puno and in front of Lake Titicaca, Lake Titicaca Puno hotel provides an ideal base for discovering Peruvian culture and exploring the surrounding areas. With a restaurant that is open from early morning to late night and a lounge with a grand fireplace, the hotel has a constant feeling of comfort and a welcoming atmosphere. Not to mention the beautiful grounds you'll enjoy every day!
Casa Andina Standard Colca Hotel
Rustic, relaxed & intimate, with individual stone casitas, plant-lined walkways, an open-air patio with center fountain, and the hotel's own vegetable garden, the Casa Andina offers guests a breathtaking experience. Amenities include an on-site planetarium and restaurant, local musicians and dancers performing Andean and Colca musical traditions, chaman hut, bar, fireplace lounge, and business center.
Casa Andina Select Arequipa
Perfectly positioned amongst the buildings of the "White City," the Casa Andina Select Arequipa features a traditional exterior with updated and stylish interiors. Offering a wealth of services like room service, laundry, an outdoor pool, business center, and modern rooms, this hotel provides the comforts you'd expect at home in a unique, colonial setting that is distinctly Peruvian.
Check out our Q&As
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Are the local guides on the tour English speaking?
Yes
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Will I know the names and details of all the accommodation before I depart?
Yes
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Are flights included in this tour?
Yes
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Will passengers from another country be participating in the tour?
Yes
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Are children permitted to take part in the tour?
Yes
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How long has the tour company been trading?
Since 1961
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What Ethical Travel credentials does the tour company have?
Cosmos is committed to minimizing our impact on the environment and to reducing dependence on non-renewable resources. In this endeavor, we have implemented policies to support this mission and are working carefully to enhance our products with this mission and our values combined. We are committed to complying with all relevant legislation and/or regulations.
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What documents will I receive before I travel?
Travel documents, including any air tickets, itineraries, and other information, are available approximately two to three weeks prior to departure provided full payment has been received.
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What happens if I need to change my holiday date once I’ve booked?
All guests are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 for travel through February, 2023. Beginning March 1, 2023, while we highly recommend vaccination, we will no longer require it. We ask all guests to comply with airline and destination requirements, which still may apply. To check your destination requirements for your travel dates, view the Latest Travel & Health Restrictions for Travel.
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Low Deposit
Cosmos requires a minimum deposit of 200 GBP per person or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 90 days before departure.
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Cancellation Policy
We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of cosmos charges.
Up to 91 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.
At 90 days before tour starts: Forfeit 50% of booking price.
At 29 days before tour starts: Forfeit 80% of booking price.
At 1 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of booking price.