South America - Incas, Amazon and Buenos Aires 30 Sep - 12 Oct

Travel Experience in association with Explore Abroad is proud to present:

 

South America – Incas, Amazon and Buenos Aires

Escorted Tour         30 September – 12 October 2009

 

Come with us to explore the many fascinating faces of South America:  from modern and fiery Buenos Aires, to the antiquities of the Inca civilization in Peru – Cusco, the Sacred Valley and magical Machu Picchu, and the natural wonders of the Amazon – the planet's largest virgin jungle and most diverse wilderness

 

Excludes: Optional excursions Meals not indicated Personal expenses Tips Departure taxes payable locally

Includes:                                                                                                                     

• All flights
• All pre-payable airport taxes
• Travel insurance
• All accommodation in 4 star           

     hotels sharing

• Meals as indicated
• All transport and transfers
• All entrance fees as per itinerary
• English speaking guides throughout

Highlights:

• Machu Picchu
• Cusco
• Ollantaytambo
• Gentle and colourful Peruvians
• Amazon
• Stay in a forest lodge
• Forest walks
• Forest canopy tower
• Rainforest, rivers & lakes
• Exotic wildlife / birds
• Colourful handicraft

• Beautiful Buenos Aires
• Tango & Dinner Show

Day 1- Wed 30 Sep 09

Depart Johannesburg / Cape Town for Buenos Aires. Arrive mid afternoon, transfer to hotel.

 

Day 2 - Thu 1 Oct 09

Breakfast. A Buenos Aires City tour will take us all over this vibrant city. From the city centre with its colonial buildings and squares, for instance the Plaza de Mayo, the Casa Rosada (Pink Palace), and the Obelisco right in the middle of Avenida 9 de Julio – the widest street in the world, to the neighbourhoods where life is really happening, such as the colourful La Boca, San Telmo - birthplace of tango, Puerto Madero – rejuvenated docklands, Recoleta – classical with its famous cemetery resting place of Evita Peron, and Palermo Viejo – bohemian district with small restaurants, boutiques and art galleries. 

Evening: Visit a famous tango house for a Tango & Dinner Show: Delectable Argentinian cuisine combined with the lustre and emotions of the tango – Argentina's most famous invention!

Overnight in Buenos Aires.

 

Day 3 – Fri 2 Oct 09

After breakfast, we depart for San Antonio de Areco, 112km from Buenos Aires to experience life in a typical Argentinian town and estancia (Argentinian cattle ranch). This full day visit includes lunch in the form of an asado – a traditional Argentinian braai, visits to the various historic farm buildings, gaucho (Argentinian cowboy) horsemanship, skills and traditions,  traditional folk music and dance, silversmiths and relaxing in the tranquil surroundings of the little town and estancia. Overnight in Buenos Aires.

 

Day 4 – Sat 3 Oct 09

Breakfast. Transfer to airport for our flight to Lima, Peru. Arrive early afternoon, transfer to hotel. Overnight Lima.

 

Day 5 – Sun 4 Oct 09

Breakfast. Today we on our way to Cusco. Welcome to the land of the Inca. Afternoon at leisure – very important to take it easy in order to acclimatize to the high altitude. Overnight Cusco.

 

Day 6 – Mon 5 Oct 09

Breakfast – Lunch. A full day excursion to the "Sacred Valley of the Incas" – picturesque villages, terraces and Inca ruins in a soft green valley. Experience the life of the locals and their customs. Bargain at the typical Indian market of Pisac. After lunch it's off to Ollantaytambo, a town built on top of ancient Inca houses with its original Inca streets and water canals. Overnight Ollantaytambo.

 

Day 7 – Tue 6 Oct 09

 

and then by bus to Machu Picchu – the highlight of any visit to Peru. The visit to this ancient citadel will reveal the glorious beauty and engineering marvel of this Inca creation.  Rediscovered only in 1911, this stronghold, overlooking the deep canyon of the Urubamba River, is considered one of the most extraordinary examples of landscape architecture in the world. You will not be untouched by this visit – some find it inspiring, its beauty uplifting, to others it is deeply spiritual. Mid afternoon back to Cusco by bus and train. Overnight Cusco.

 

Day 8 – Wed 7 Oct 09

Breakfast.  Day at leisure to explore Cusco on your own, maybe to revisit the sights of yesterday or stock up on local crafts as gifts. Overnight in Cusco.

 

Day 9 – Thu 8 Oct 09

Breakfast – Lunch – Dinner. Today we fly to Puerto Maldonado for our 3 day/2 night Amazon experience. Our trip takes us to the Tambopata River Port, a 40 minute boat ride brings us to Posada Amazonas our base for the next two days. From here it is a 20min walk into the forest to the Canopy Tower – a 30m high outlook tower with spectacular views of the vast expanses of forests, rivers cutting through it and flocks of parrots in flight. Overnight Posada Amazonas.

 

Day 10 – Fri 9 Oct 09

Breakfast – Lunch – Dinner. Waking up to the sounds of the jungle you can join in all or some of the following or just relax in this magnificent setting. A 30min boat ride and 45min walk will take us to the Tres Chimbadas Oxbow Lake where we will paddle around in a catamaran searching for the family of giant river otters and other lakeside wildlife. Another 20min walk from Posada Amazonas will bring us to the Parrot Clay Lick – from a lookout just 20m away you will see how flocks of parrots, parakeets and other birds descend to ingest the clay of the river bank. The Ethno Botanical Tour will take us on a 20min boat ride down river to a trail designed by the Centro Nape community who produces medicine from forest plants.  After dinner there is an option of a night walk when most of the forest mammals are active but rarely seen. Much easier to find are frogs with shapes, colours and sounds that are as bizarre as their natural histories. Overnight Posada Amazonas.

 

Day 11 – Sat 10 Oct 09

Breakfast.  Sadly today we say goodbye to the jungle and make our way back to Lima.

Leisure time in and overnight Lima.

 

Day 12 -  Sun 11 Oct 09

Breakfast.  All good experiences come to an end and today we are travelling back to Buenos Aires for our flight back to South Africa.

 

Day 13 – Mon 12 Oct 09

Early morning arrival back in Johannesburg / Cape Town

 

Andre Nel

 

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