South American Odyssey
Tour Itinerary: From Quito
Week 1: Accommodation: 
Your
journey starts just 25kms south of the Equator in the relaxed capital city of Quito. Ecuador’s small
market town of Otavalo is just a few hours drive away and is famous for
its colourful crafts, where we have a free day and spend our first night of the
trip. Next we head to the banks of the Rio Napo and our gateway into the
steamy Amazon jungle. Accompanied by experienced guides we explore this
unique environment. We spend two nights in the jungle in which time we also
hike into the exuberant vegetation to view the exotic wildlife and our guide
will show us examples of medicinal and hallucinatory plants. There is also the
chance to try our hand at whitewater rafting! Our next destination is Banos,
a spa town where Ecuadorians go to relax in the thermal baths and hike the
various mountain trails.
Week 2: Accommodation:
After
days filled with outdoor activities Ecuador
is bid goodbye as we continue south to the border with Peru. En
route, you will notice an amazing transition, from the good farming country of
the tropical highland to the dry barren desert. Travelling along the Pacific Ocean coast we visit small coastal villages and
camp on deserted sandy beaches. Further south we visit the imperial citadel of Chan
Chan. Built by the pre-Inca Chimu kings, its the largest mud brick city in
the world. We then stop off in Lima,
the capital for a couple of days.
Week 3: Accommodation:
Lima is a busy place, however, watching life go by on one
of the many Plazas or visiting one of the Museums can be a relaxing and
rewarding experience. Not far south is the marine reserve of Ballestas,
a boat trip takes us close up to the Islands
which are bursting with marine wildlife. Quite a contrast are the Nazca
Lines. These huge figures and shapes, carved into the stony desert are best
viewed from the air and are a great mystery to archaeologists. From here we
start our ascent of the Andes.
Week 4: Accommodation:
Our next two days are spent in the magnificent colonial city of Arequipa. From here you have the option to visit Colca Canyon accompanied by a local guide. Twice as deep as the Grand Canyon, Colca Canyon is an awesome place. Here too, condors can be seen circling lazily on the thermals rising from the canyon floor. Ahead lie some of the most arduous and punishing roads on the trip, however, after traversing some mountainous passes of nearly 5000 metres we are soon rewarded by our arrival in Cuzco.
Week 5: Accommodation:
This
outdoors capital of Peru is
our base for the next 6 days, allowing enough time to explore this ancient
city, the surrounding Sacred
Valley and give the
energetic amongst us enough time to hike the Inca Trail. The 2 or 4 day hike
along the Inca Trail
to Machu Picchu is a once in a lifetime experience and anyone with a
reasonable level of fitness can master it. The Inca Trail is highly recommended
and a definite highlight of the Peru
leg of our tour and for some, the entire South America
tour. There is also the option to try an alternative trek to Machu Picchu such as the Salkantay trek.
Week 6: Accommodation:
Bordering
Peru and Bolivia is Lake Titicaca.
The world's highest navigable lake at 3800m it is also home to the Uros
Indians who have made their homes on floating reed islands. Spending
the night with one of the local families provides an opportunity to experience
their lifestyle and hospitality. La
Paz, the highest capital city in the world,
is our next destination, which is a great place to visit a 'pena' club
dedicated to live Andean folk music and to visit some of the
extraordinary street markets. A long and dusty drive across the Altiplano
takes us to PotosiSpain in years gone by. The
adventurous will appreciate the option to go down one of these mines where
mining techniques have remained unchanged for centuries. A tour of the National
Money House, also provides a good look into Potosi's
and Bolivia's
past. where vast amounts of
silver were extracted from mines and shipped to
Weeks 7 & 8 : Accommodation:
Leaving
the bleak Altiplano we reach the shimmering white Uyuni Salt Lake. It is
possible to venture out into the salt lake on a 1 day excursion and the
vastness of the salt flats is an unforgettable experience. Following in the
steps of Butch Cassidy & Sundance Kid we reach Tupiza before the
last stretch of our Bolivia
travel leg. The colourful Humahuaca
CanyonSalta in Argentina.
Founded over 400 years ago Salta
is a good place for live folk music venues and is also a great area for horse
riding, mountain biking, mountain trekking and river rafting. We
have a few free days in Salta before crossing
the mighty Andes again towards the Atacama Desert in Chile! The
oasis town of San Pedro de Atacama is our next destination. Surrounded
by the Valley of the Moon, salt lakes, volcanoes, as well as stone age
dwellings, its a good place to spend a few days exploring. Continuing south we
rejoin the Pacific Ocean and the Pan American Highway.
We camp near to La Serena beach for a few days before our drive to Chiles capital, Santiago, which is a very modern,
well-run city and quite a change to what we have been used to. leads us to the attractive
city of
Week 9: Accommodation:
Ahead
of us lie the southern areas with deep blue lakes and snow-capped mountains. Pucon,
in the heart of the Lake District,
is our base camp for the next few days from where it is possible to organise whitewater
rafting, skiing, horse riding and hikes up nearby Villarrica Volcano. We
ascend the Andes via some spectacular mountain passes before entering Argentina and
arriving in Bariloche. This is a very popular holiday destination for
Argentines and the top ski resort on the continent with great hiking trails and
nightlife.
Week 10: Accommodation:
Heading
into the deep south on a good dirt road we enter the vast wilderness of Patagonia. Spectacular National Parks make
this region a paradise for hiking enthusiasts and outdoor lovers. Los
Glaciares Nat. Park has the largest glacier in the world and here we have
the option to take a boat ride close up to Moreno Glacier almost 200ft high.
Torres del Paine Nat. Park is another area of outstanding beauty where
huge granite cliffs dominate the landscape and hiking is a great way to explore
the area.
Week 11: Accommodation:
We
continue south to Ushuaia on the wild and hauntingly beautiful island of Tierra del Fuego the most
southerly point on earth you are ever likely to travel to. Next we cross to the
Atlantic coast of Patagonia and visit
one of the marine sanctuaries. Penguins, Sea Lions, Sea Elephants, Birds and
sometimes Whales can be seen. Following the excellent paved roads north
along the coast we pass through some quite affluent towns. One, Puerto
Madryn, was the landing place over a century ago for the first group of
Welsh settlers that subsequently colonised and now farm the surrounding area.
Week 12: Accommodation:
A
days drive north is the smart cosmopolitan city of Buenos
Aires where you could be forgiven for thinking you were back in
Europe. There is plenty to do, museums, horse racing, football matches,
shopping, tango dancing and restaurants that serve some of the best steaks in
the world.
Week 13: Accommodation:
Uruguay is our next destination and the quaint town of Colonia. With its
lovely beach and calm and quiet atmosphere, it is a complete contrast to the
previous days in Buenos Aires.
We then travel northwards and cross back into Argentina
and visit the Jesuit Missions of San Ignacio before continuing onto Iguazu Falls
which forms the natural border between Argentina,
Paraguay and Brazil. We
spend the next three days in the town while admiring the falls that are higher
than Niagara and wider than Victoria Falls.
You can also undertake a number of optional activities such as boat trips,
helicopter flights and mountain bike riding.
Week 14: Accommodation:
Next
we head into Brazil and travel to Bonito, also a popular place
with Brazilian holidaymakers and where we can swim and snorkel in crystal clear
rivers and lakes as well as hike into the lush forests. We then journey to the Pantanal
region where we can organise treks out into the vast wetlands, home to
hundreds of species of birds and fish, including Piranha, as well as an
abundance of reptiles such as alligators and other animals.
Week 15: Accommodation:
Our
final destination before Rio de Janeiro is the coastal
village of Parati. This unspoilt and
picturesque town has remained fundamentally unaltered for three centuries. Cars
have been banned from its cobbled streets that run down to the seashore,
instead mountain bikes are used and are a good way to get around. Another great
way to explore the secluded islands of this pristine coastline is taking a sailing
trip in one of the traditional schooners. Our final drive takes us to the
hedonistic playground of Rio de
Janeiro, where folk are raring to party out
of their minds and live purely for the moment. The Carnival and New Years Eve
celebrations are always chaotic, crowded and great fun!
Tour Itinerary: From Rio
Week 1: Accommodation:
Our trip begins in Rio
after the chaotic, crowded, crazy celebrations of Carnival or New Year’s
Eve. On the first day we drive south
to the coastal village
of Parati. This unspoilt and picturesque town has
remained fundamentally unaltered for three centuries. Cars have been banned from its cobbled
streets that run down to the seashore; instead mountain bikes are used and are
a good way to get around. Another great
way to explore the secluded islands of this pristine coastline is taking a sailing
trip in one of the traditional
schooners.
Week 2: Accommodation:
We then journey on to the Pantanal region where we organise treks out into the vast wetlands which is home to over 600 species of birds and 350 kinds of fish, piranha being common, as well as an abundance of
reptiles and animals. Next
stop is Bonito where we can
swim and snorkel in some of the clearest rivers and lakes in the world.
Spectacular walks in the mountainous forests may reveal wildlife that includes monkeys, alligators and anaconda.
Week 3: Accommodation:
We travel to the incredible Iguazu Falls which form the natural border between Argentina, Paraguay
and Brazil. Higher than Niagara and wider than Victoria Falls, they are an awe-inspiring place to spend
the next three days. The lush tropical forest surrounding the falls has many
walking trails leading to smaller hidden falls, ideal to refresh from the
steaming heat and abounding with parrots, toucans, woodpeckers and colourful
plants. Here you can also undertake a number of optional activities such as rafting,
helicopter flights and mountain bike riding. Leaving Brazil
we cross into Argentina. This area, close to the border with Paraguay, was
home to many Jesuit Missions built in the 16th century to convert the Guarany Indians. We visit the ruins of
San Ignacio before crossing
another border into Uruguay
- a relatively little known country when compared with its neighbours.
Week 4: Accommodation:
We spend a couple of days in the lively town of Colonia del Sacramento with its excellent
beaches and pleasant tree lined streets.
Continuing south and returning to Argentina,
we arrive in Buenos Aires. A few days in this smart cosmopolitan city and
you could be forgiven for thinking you were back in Europe.
There is plenty to do, museums, horse racing, football matches, shopping,
tango dancing for the confident,
restaurants that serve the best steak in the world, and many plazas with
cafes to sit and observe Argentinean life go by.
Week 5: Accommodation:
From Buenos Aires we traverse the
vast Pampas grasslands, South America's cowboy country, where gun-toting gauchos
on horseback look after vast herds of cattle.
Following the Atlantic coast of Patagonia, we stop in Puerto Madryn which
was the landing place over a century ago for the first group of Welsh settlers
that subsequently colonised and now farm the surrounding area. We visit one of the marine sanctuaries in this region where we might see Penguins,
Sea Lions, Sea Elephants, Sea Birds and maybe even Whales. We continue south towards the wild and hauntingly beautiful land
at worlds end, the island
of Tierra del Fuego. We cross by ferry and visit the most southerly
town in the world Ushuaia,
from where we can view the green waters of the Beagle Channel and the
surrounding snow clad peaks.
Week 6: Accommodation:
Heading north we return to the mainland and enter Chile. Torres del Paine Nat. Park is an
area of outstanding beauty where huge granite cliffs dominate the landscape. A
good way to explore the area is either hiking
or by horseback. Back over the
border in Argentina we go to
the stupendous Los Glaciares Nat. Park - it has the largest glacier in the world and here we have the
option to take a boat ride up close to Moreno Glacier, almost 200 ft high. For trips that depart Rio in January we are
usually able to join the Camino Austral in Chile.
Large parts of this road are only open in the summer months of January and
February. It is a breath taking spectacle as we pass tree lined fjords and
penetrate deep in to a land of spiralling volcanoes and glaciers and camp next
to rushing rivers and rainforest. For tours departing over the rest of the year we continue through
the vast wilderness of Patagonia, heading north on a good dirt road. The
perpetual wind makes it difficult for trees and plants to grow, so for a while
we are faced with endless grassland and wide open spaces.
Week 7: Accommodation:
A long drive is soon rewarded as we
arrive in Bariloche. This very popular holiday destination for
Argentines is the top ski resort on the continent and also has several hiking trails and a great nightlife. Ascending the Andes via some spectacular
mountain passes we cross the border again and arrive in Pucon, an
outdoors centre in Chile’s
beautiful Lake
District. This will be our base for the next few days
from where we can organise whitewater
rafting, skiing, water sports, horse riding and one day hikes up nearby
Villarrica Volcano. We then pass small villages and leave behind the deep
blue lakes and towering mountains and arrive in Chile’s modern capital, Santiago.
Week 8: Accommodation:
Leaving
Santiago we
head for the Pacific coastline and relax at a beach campsite near to La Serena for a couple of days. Rejoining the Pan American highway we enter
the Atacama Desert.
On our way north we stop off at a number of settlements and we also camp
overnight in this barren but beautiful wilderness. Leaving the Pacific
Ocean coastline we head towards the oasis town of San Pedro de
Atacama.
Week 9: Accommodation:
We
spend a few days here, exploring the fantastic surrounding landscapes of the Valley of the Moon, salt lakes, as well
as stone age dwellings. From the desert
our ascent through the Andean passes is spectacular, with dozens of volcanic
peaks all over 5000m, leading us to the attractive colonial city of Salta in Argentina. From here we venture into Bolivia
where you will notice the difference as paved roads become non-existent and
locals still follow tradition, wearing bright woollen clothes and bowler hats. Quite
a contrast is the shimmering white Uyuni Salt
Lake.
Taking a 1 day trip out onto the largest
salt flats in the world with no road and only vague tracks to follow makes
for an unforgettable experience.
Week 10: Accommodation:
Continuing north we arrive in Potosi. At over 4000m, it is the highest city of its
size in the world and 400 years ago it was the largest city in all the Americas. Vast amounts of silver were extracted from Potosi and shipped to Spain. There are tours to the mines and it is still
clear to see that unfortunately, working conditions here have hardly improved
over the centuries. The adventurous
among us will appreciate the opportunity to go down one of these mines with a
local guide. Visiting the ancient
mint or having a tour around the Casa Nacional de Moneda (National Money
House) also provides a good look into Potosi’s
and Bolivia’s
past. The history and past colonial
splendour make Potosi
a fascinating place to visit. A tortuous drive across the Altiplano, where
Aymara and Quechua Indians scrape a sparse living from their small plots of
land in this harsh climate, brings us to La
Paz.
The highest capital city in the world, it is built on a steep slope that
falls away from the Altiplano. The top
of the city is about 2000ft above the bottom part. Unusually, all the rich suburbs are in the
lower city area because the air is thicker with oxygen lower down. La
Paz is a great place to visit a ‘pena’ club,
where live bands entertain us with Andean folk music.
Week 11: Accommodation:
Leaving La Paz we
head to Puno in Peru. Nestling on the shores of Lake Titicaca
it is a friendly, well-kept place and much calmer than the hustle and bustle of
La Paz. Lake Titicaca
is the world’s highest navigable lake at 3800m, it is also the original place
of the Uros Indians who have made their homes on floating reed islands. By boat we visit the floating islands during
the day and then we go that one step
beyond the average and spend the night with one of the Indian families on the
lesser known islands Isla Amantani or Taquile. Spending some time in
these local communities will provide a unique opportunity to learn more about
the traditional lifestyle of the Andean people and their customs. From Lake Titicaca we now have to face some fairly
arduous roads as we make our way to Cuzco,
the outdoors capital of Peru
and our base for the next 6 days. This
gives us enough time to hike the 2 or 4 day Inca Trail to Machu
Picchu, enjoy the architectural uniqueness of Cuzco and explore some of the colourful
surrounding markets. Many believe that Machu Picchu itself cannot
be understood without following the steps of the Incas on the Inca Trail.
Week 12: Accommodation:
From Cuzco
we head west, passing herds of llama, alpacas and unspoilt Andean villages as
we head towards the world’s deepest canyon.
Twice as deep as the Grand Canyon, Colca Canyon
is an awesome spectacle. Here you have
the option, accompanied by a local guide, of a one day excursion to view Condors
circling lazily on the thermals rising from the canyon floor. From here we begin dropping down out of the
Andes as we head to Arequipa, a beautiful
colonial city set at the foot of the impressive El
Misti Volcano.
Week 13: Accommodation:
Puerto
Inca, the
ancient Inca port for Cuzco
is our next destination and an interesting place to camp on the beach and relax
for a couple of days. We now travel to one of the world’s great archaeological
mysteries – The Nazca Lines.
These huge figures and shapes, carved into the stony desert are best
viewed from the air. Thought to have
been made by three different groups of people going back more than 2000 years,
there are many different theories and books about what they signify and why
they are there. Following the Coastal Highway,
the Ballestas Islands in the Paracas National Reserve is our next
stop. Here we take a boat trip to view
one of the most important marine reserves in the world with one of the highest
concentrations of rare and exotic sea birds and sea mammals. Further up the
coast is Peru’s
capital city, Lima.
Week 14: Accommodation:
Continuing north along the coast we reach the Chan Chan ruins, the imperial citadel of the pre-Inca Chimu Kings which the Incas later conquered. It claims to be the largest mud brick city in the world. Nearing the border with Ecuador we have a couple of relaxing days camping on the beach at Punta Sal before leaving Peru behind. You will see an almost immediate change from the dry, barren desert of Peru through sub-tropical forest to the fertile farming country of highland Ecuador. We reach the outdoors mecca of Banos, a spa town nestled at the foot of a volcano, where Ecuadorians go to relax in the thermal baths and where you can hike, mountain bike or horse-ride to one of the surrounding waterfalls or the impressive nearby rocky canyon.
Week 15: Accommodation:
Descending
to the lowlands and the steamy edge of the Amazon
basin, we arrive in the town of Tena, gateway to the Amazon jungle. Here,
accompanied by experienced guides, we explore on foot this exotic environment
and you also have the chance to go whitewater
rafting on the rapids of the Rio Napo. Returning
to higher altitudes and mountain scenery, we visit the town of Otavalo, famous for its colourful crafts market.
Finally we cross the Equator to end our journey in the capital of Ecuador, Quito.
NOTE:
Adventure travel is not an exact science. The very unpredictability, which makes it
such a rewarding experience, means occasionally we must amend our itineraries
to take into account changing local circumstances. In such situations we’ll always try to
minimise any disruption, but you need to bear in mind that from time to time
events occur outside our control. While
our crew are experienced and knowledgeable of the countries through which we
travel they are not tour guides as such. In some places we visit, experienced local guides will be available.