South America Revealed with Brazilian Amazon and Galápagos Legend East Cruise

South America Revealed with Brazilian Amazon and Galápagos Legend East Cruise

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South America Revealed with Brazilian Amazon and Galápagos Legend East Cruise

24 Days Starting in Manaus and ending in Quito

Visiting: Manaus, Amazon Rainforest, Rio de Janeiro, Iguassu Falls, Buenos Aires, Lima, Cusco, Sacred Valley, Ollantaytambo, Machu Picchu, Quito, Baltra Island, Bartolomé Island, South Plaza Island, North Seymour Island, San Cristobal Island

Tour operator:

Trafalgar

Guide Type:

Fully Guided

Trip Styles:

Cruise

This tour is no longer available

Tour Overview

Glide upstream through rainforests of Amazon in search of lone tapirs, grunting capybaras and the giant anaconda before you explore vibrant capitals of South America and the Inca heart of Peru. Then, immerse yourself in the natural splendour of Darwin's Galápagos.

Highlights

  • Explore Rio de Janeiro, Buenos Aires, Lima and Cusco with a Local Specialist

  • Visit Sugarloaf Mountain, the Christ the Redeemer statue, Iguassu Falls, Pisac, Ollantaytambo ruins, Machu Picchu, Sacsayhuaman and the Larco Museum

  • 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

  • Connect with Locals Visit home to Local Amazonians (Cablocos) with an opportunity for piranha fishing.

  • MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Visit Monkey Forest, a rehabilitation center and wildlife refuge.

  • Dive Into Culture Visit a Samba school to see and experience this symbol of Brazil.

  • Dive into Culture Experience the beauty of the Tango and learn about its traditions.

  • Connect with Locals Dine at the home of a local family in the bohemian neighbourhood of Palermo Soho with its European-style homes and hip attitude.

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Itinerary

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Day 1: Arrive Manaus

Location: Manaus

Accommodation: Quality Hotel Manaus

Fly to Manaus (not included in holiday price on pre-trip extension), the Brazilian gateway of the Amazon. You’ll be transferred to your hotel before embarking on a city tour that will reveal the wealth of the city’s former rubber barons. Visit the grand Palacio Rio Negro with its displays reflecting traditional Amazonian culture, then discover the floating harbour and nearby Customs House. Admire the metallic architecture of the vibrant Mercado Municipal, based on the Les Halles marketplace in Paris and see the Renaissance opera house, constructed during the city’s golden age.

Day 2: The River Of Manaus

Location: Manaus

Accommodation: Amazon Ecopark Jungle Lodge

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

We journey upstream today to see first-hand the tremendous 'Meeting of the Waters'. Watch how the dark waters of the Rio Negro merge with the sandy brown water of the Solimões and then flows eastward to the Atlantic. After lunch, consider joining an optional canoe trip down a smaller tributary and try your hand at piranha fishing, or simply immerse yourself in your jungle surrounds. Later, we transfer to our lodge on the banks of the Rio Taruma.

Day 3: The Diverse Fauna Of The Amazon Dive Into Culture

Location: Manaus, Amazon Rainforest, Manaus

Accommodation: Amazon Ecopark Jungle Lodge

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Walk beneath the towering canopy of the world’s largest rainforest – the life source of Planet Earth and an area of exceptional biodiversity. We’ll embark on a guided walk this morning with our Local Specialist, keeping a keen eye out for shy capybara or the giant coils of the anaconda as it naps on the branches of a tree. Take part in a Be My Guest Experience during your visit to Cablocos. Take an opportunity to try piranha fishing as you immerse yourself in the rituals and heritage of the native Amazonians. Visit Monkey Forest, a rehabilitation centre and wildlife refuge, as your MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience. Later, return to your lodge for dinner against the backdrop of cicadas, bulldog bats and Screaming Piha, the signature sound of the Amazon.

Day 4: From The Amazon To Rio De Janeiro Make Travel Matter

Location: Manaus, Rio de Janeiro

Accommodation: Windsor Excelsior Copacabana

Meals Included: Breakfast, Welcome Reception

Return to Manaus Airport as your Amazon experience comes to an end. Fly to Rio de Janeiro and meet a local host who will take you to your hotel where you’ll enjoy superb ocean views of Copacabana beach and its beautiful people, just minutes from downtown Rio. This evening, we enjoy a festive Welcome Reception with our Travel Director and fellow travellers.
Flight from Manaus to Rio De Janeiro is not included in package and has to be booked & paid for separately.

Day 5: Enjoy Rio De Janeiro And Sugarloaf Mountain

Location: Rio de Janeiro

Accommodation: Windsor Excelsior Copacabana

Meals Included: Breakfast

Ease into your morning Rio-style before joining your Travel Director to delve into the captivating contrasts of Brazil’s cidade maravilhosa (marvellous city). See the 18th-century Carioca Aqueduct, the colonial Candelaria church and the home of the Rio Carnival, the Sanbodromo. Ascend Sugarloaf Mountain via cable car for a 'pinch me moment' of inspiring bay and city views. Enjoy a free evening.

Day 6: Uncover The Sights And Flavours Of Rio De Janeiro

Location: Rio de Janeiro

Accommodation: Windsor Excelsior Copacabana

Meals Included: Breakfast, Regional Dinner

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 Regional Dinner barbecue at a local churrascaria.

Day 7: Experience The Rhythms Of Rio De Janeiro And Off To Iguassu Falls Dive Into Culture

Location: Rio de Janeiro, Iguassu Falls

Accommodation: The Bourbon Cataratas Resort

Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner

Spend your lazy moments in Rio soaking up the laid-back carioca life before you Connect With Locals at a local samba school to see their preparations for Carnival Week. You’ll learn how to sway those hips to the tunes of 'Mais que nada' and 'The Girl from Ipanema' during your visit. From the intoxicating beat of Rio to the thundering roar of Iguassu, we fly to the magnificent falls that straddle the borders of Brazil, Argentina and Paraguay. This evening, we’ll enjoy dinner together, pondering Rio’s party vibe and the inspiring force of nature nearby.

Day 8: Soak In The Brazilian Side Of Iguassu Falls

Location: Iguassu Falls

Accommodation: The Bourbon Cataratas Resort

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch

Explore the Brazil side of Iguassu Falls, joining a Local Specialist in the UNESCO-listed Iguassu National Park for a walk through the rainforest to the base of the falls. Indulge in lunch at a local restaurant against the backdrop of the falls before returning to your resort for an afternoon at leisure. Consider joining one of our optional experiences, including a jetboat ride(^) to the base of the falls or visit a tropical bird reserve, home to more than 500 species of birds.

Day 9: Discover The Argentinian Side Of Iguassu Falls

Location: Iguassu Falls, Buenos Aires

Accommodation: Alvear Art Hotel

Meals Included: Breakfast

Cross the border into Argentina to see the falls from a different perspective. Meet your Local Specialist, then board an open-air ecological jungle train through the rainforest. We leave this force of nature behind for the sophisticated Argentinian capital of Buenos Aires.

Day 10: Explore Buenos Aires Dive Into Culture

Location: Buenos Aires

Accommodation: Alvear Art Hotel

Meals Included: Breakfast, Regional Dinner

Connect with the seamless mix of European elegance meets Latin energy, joining your Local Specialist for a guided tour of Buenos Aires’ most notable sites, including the iconic Casa Rosada and colourful neighbourhood of La Boca. Admire the opulent façade of Teatro Colon, then visit the Recoleta Cemetery, where Argentina’s beloved former first lady, Eva Peron (Evita), is buried. This evening, indulge in the delicious flavours of Argentine beef during a Regional Dinner. Later, we’ll Dive Into Culture, ending the evening with a stirring, sensual Tango performance.

Day 11: Buenos Aires Your Way Connect With Locals

Location: Buenos Aires

Accommodation: Alvear Art Hotel

Meals Included: Breakfast, Be My Guest

Enjoy a full day at leisure to pursue your own interests in the 'Paris of South America'. Admire the works of Degas, El Greco and Van Gogh at the Museum of Belles Artes or sample delicious dulce de leche ice-cream at the famous Café Tortoni. Feeling adventurous? Consider an optional trip into the countryside to visit a traditional estancia (ranch), including a lively equestrian show and traditional parrillada (barbecue) lunch. Later, we’ll Connect With Locals, joining a family at their home in Palermo Soho for a dinner during our Be My Guest experience.

Day 12: Venture To Lima, The City Of Kings

Location: Buenos Aires, Lima

Accommodation: Novotel Lima San Isidro

Meals Included: Breakfast

We leave one capital behind for another, travelling to Peru’s capital, Lima. On arrival, transfer to your hotel in San Isidro.

Day 13: Savour The Flavours Of Lima Connect With Locals

Location: Lima

Accommodation: Novotel Lima San Isidro

Meals Included: Breakfast, Be My Guest

Francisco Pizarro’s 'City of Kings' is ours to explore this morning as we discover the colonial heritage of Lima’s UNESCO-listed Historic Centre 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.

Day 14: Admire The Local Culture Of Cusco And Sacred Valley Connect With Locals Make Travel Matter Stays With Stories

Location: Lima, Cusco, Sacred Valley

Accommodation: Sonesta Posadas del Inca Yucay

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Board a morning flight to Cusco and the Sacred Valley. Dive Into Culture and visit the Pisac market displaying Quechua arts and crafts. Connect With Locals and meet Nilda Callañaupa Alvarez, a master Quechua weaver, and the first person from her village to attend university. She been an ambassador for Andean traditions since she began learning ancient pre-Columbian weaving techniques as a young girl in the 1960s. Your MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience helps to preserve and promote traditional pre-Columbian weaving techniques in the 21st century. End the day at your Stays With Stories, a former 18th-century colonial-style monastery in the Sacred Valley.

Day 15: Journey To Machu Picchu

Location: Sacred Valley, Ollantaytambo, Machu Picchu

Accommodation: El MaPi

Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner

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.

Day 16: Continue In Machu Picchu Then Return To Cusco Dive Into Culture

Location: Machu Picchu, Cusco

Accommodation: Hotel Novotel Cusco

Meals Included: Breakfast

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 chicheria for a taste of chicha. Dive Into Culture and learn how this Peruvian corn beer is made by local women.

Day 17: Explore Cusco And Sacsayhuaman Dive Into Culture

Location: Cusco

Accommodation: Novotel Lima San Isidro

Meals Included: Breakfast, Regional Dinner

Discover Cusco’s colonial centre with your Local Specialist, highlighting the city’s most important landmarks of both the Inca and the Colonial times including the Plaza de Armas where a cathedral stands on the ruins of the ancient Inca Palace. Stop at the Temple of the Sun, Korikancha, before visiting the ruins of Sacsayhuamán, a UNESCO-listed Incan fortress with tremendous views over Cusco. The afternoon is free to join an optional experience including a visit to the Chocolate Museum, Cusco off the beaten track or the Incan agricultural greenhouse and salt wells of Maras & Moray.

Day 18: Onward To Lima

Location: Cusco, Lima

Accommodation: Novotel Lima San Isidro

Meals Included: Breakfast, Farewell Dinner

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.

Day 19: Travel To Quito

Location: Lima, Quito

Accommodation: Sheraton

Meals Included: Breakfast

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.

Day 20: Uncover Historic Quito

Location: Quito

Accommodation: Sheraton

Meals Included: Breakfast

Visit the historical centre 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.

Day 21: Bartolome Island And Galapagos Penguins

Location: Quito, Baltra Island, Bartolomé Island

Accommodation: M/V Galápagos Legend

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch

Discover a land that inspired Darwin to form his Theory of Natural Selection. On arrival at Baltra airport, transfer to the M/V Galápagos Legend. Sail to Bartolomé Island, hiking to its summit for soul-stirring views, then snorkel in the midst of Galápagos penguins.

Day 22: South Plaza Islet And The Famous Galapagos Sea Lions

Location: South Plaza Island, North Seymour Island

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Our first destination today is South Plaza Island, home to the famed Galápagos sea lions and the unusual prickly pear cactus tree which dot the island’s red landscape. Next is North Seymour Island, on whose long sandy beach and rocks, the resident sea lions and marine iguanas sun themselves.

Day 23: Uncover San Cristobal Island

Location: San Cristobal Island

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

We journey to Pitt Point this morning, ascending to a high point on the steep volcanic tuff hill to see if we can spot all three of the booby species simultaneously. Cerro Brujo’s coral sand beach is our next destination, where we can connect with the resident sea lions or snorkel in the shadow of Witch’s Hill.

Day 24: Depart San Cristobal Island

Location: San Cristobal Island, Quito

Meals Included: Breakfast

Enjoy a first-hand encounter with the giant tortoises of La Galapaguera de Cerro Colorado, a tortoise reserve that protects the island’s tortoise population. Your Galápagos exhibition at its end, transfer to San Cristobal Airport for your return flight to Quito. Airport arrival time in Quito will be at 7 p.m.; please be aware when booking your flights.

What's Included

  • 23 Breakfasts

  • 1 Welcome Reception

  • 3 Regional Dinners

  • 8 Dinners

  • 7 Lunches

  • 2 Be My Guests

  • 1 Farewell Dinner

  • An expert Travel Director and professional Driver

  • Cherry-picked hotels, all tried and trusted

  • All porterage and restaurant gratuities

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Check out our Q&As

  • Who will be my travelling companions on the tour?

    The beauty of taking a guided holiday with us is that you’ll have the opportunity to meet and travel with people from all over the globe.

  • What policies are in place for Covid-19?

    Vaccination against Covid-19 is not mandatory to travel with Trafalgar. However, we strongly recommend that guests are vaccinated before travelling. Please note that airlines and/or other authorities may have different requirements. It is the guest's responsibility to comply with these requirements at all times.

  • How long has the tour company been trading?

    Since 1947

  • What Ethical Travel credentials does the tour company have?

    Trafalgar is a founding partner of the TreadRight Foundation, a not-for-profit organisation established in 2008. So far, the charity has donated more than US$2 million to help underprivileged communities and support sustainable tourism around the world.

  • Will the accommodation included meet local health and safety regulations?

    Yes

Reviews of this Operator

Renato Arrieta  

Best tour I joined so far

14-Jan-2023

My first time with Trafalgar and I see no reason why I should not join them again.

Feefo Trusted Reviews
King Ng, Lafayette, California  

Very well planned trip with timely breaks during the coach ride..

08-Nov-2021

It was a well organized tour group and we hit lots of interesting and beautiful scenes. Like our previous trips with Trafalgar, tourists were treated with well manner and professional tour guide/director, making our trip very enjoyable and delightful!

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Trusted Customer  

Best of Egypt

14-Jan-2023

We really did see the best of Egypt and beyond. Our tour guide, Mohammad, guided us through the rich history and the urban and rural life of such a unique and delightful country. We felt very safe and pampered.

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Marshal Daguio  

Wonderful Best Of Turkey

06-Nov-2021

It was my first time with Trafalgar Tour and I had a wonderful trip from day 1 till the last day. The Tour Director, Yocel Atik is very knowledgeable and Excellent. The health director and coach driver are helpful and supportive as well. The hotels selected were comfortable especially Rixos Hotel and Movenpick Hotel. The Best of Turkey is better than I expected.

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Barbara, Canada  

Irish Experience

09-Nov-2021

I am single and travel alone. I always feel secure and well-looked after when I travel with Trafalgar

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  • Transfer as credit to Future Tours

    Trafalgar allows you to transfer existing payments to a future tour to avoid cancellation fees if you can't travel and inform trafalgar, 90 days before departure.

  • Low Deposit

    Trafalgar 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.

  • Cancellation Policy

    We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of trafalgar charges.

    Up to 60 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.

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