Best of South America with Amazon Cruise

Overview

Explore iconic cities and incredible natural wonders on a journey through Chile, Argentina, Brazil and Peru, including a four-night boutique luxury cruise through the Peruvian Amazon.

 

Inclusions

• 18 nights’ luxury stays
• A four-night cruise aboard Delfin III through the Amazon rainforest in Peru
• Enjoy the finest regional dining – a total of 43 meals
• Services of an expert APT Tour Director and local guides
• Travel to Valparaiso for a guided discovery of the historic quarter and a funicular ride
• Experience a stay at the only hotel located within Iguacu National Park, Brazil
• Enjoy lunch and a Peruvian Paso horse show in Lima at a private hacienda
• Visit Machu Picchu and set off on a locally guided exploration of the lost city of the Incas, one of the New Seven Wonders of the World

Signature Experiences

Designed Exclusively for APT guests

SIGNATURE EXPERIENCE

These once-in-a-lifetime moments allow you to experience an unforgettable world of exclusive moments, incredible cultures and charming surprises

FREEDOM OF CHOICE™

Give your holiday a personal touch with a choice of included sightseeing or dining options

Itinerary

Day  1 - Arrive Santiago

Welcome to Santiago. We’ll meet you on arrival and transfer you to your hotel. Tonight, join a welcome dinner.

Stay: Three Nights, The Singular Santiago

Daily: Dinner

Day 2 - Santiago, Valparaiso

Signature Experience

Explore this World Heritage-listed city’s historic quarter before a funicular ride offering great views over Valparaiso.

Travel to the coastal city of Valparaiso, where you’ll find colourful cliffside houses sloping down to the sea. Known to Chileans as the ‘Jewel of the Pacific', the city is an eclectic, sometimes chaotic mix of art, culture and commerce. Enjoy a Signature Experience before relaxing over lunch at a local vineyard and then returning to Santiago.

Daily: Breakfast Lunch

Day 3 - Santiago

Freedom Of Choice™

Perhaps savour traditional Chilean cuisine at the charming Bar Liguria or indulge in dinner at the modern Ambrosia Restaurant.

This morning you’ll set off on a guided discovery of the vibrant Chilean capital, which is wedged between the snow-capped Andes Mountains and the Pacific Ocean. Enjoy an afternoon at your leisure before choosing where to dine this evening.

Daily: Breakfast Dinner

Day 4 - Santiago, Buenos Aires

Signature Experience

In Buenos Aires, enjoy a taste of local culture with a tango demonstration and a selection of tapas.

Fly to Buenos Aires, Argentina’s elegant capital. On arrival, we’ll transfer you to your hotel in the city’s prominent Recoleta district. Home to some of Argentina’s wealthiest families, Recoleta is a leafy neighbourhood dotted with beautiful parks and grand mansions just north of the city centre.

Stay: Three Nights, Buenos Aires, Hotel Casa Lucia

Daily: Breakfast

Day 5 - Buenos Aires

Freedom Of Choice™

Tonight, choose from three dining options: dinner and a tango show; dine in style at Alvear Grill; or sit down to a traditional Argentinian Asado experience.

Join a guided discovery of the city, which includes the Italian-influenced barrio of La Boca, a neighbourhood known for its Latino vibe and brightly painted pedestrian streets. Explore the bohemian district of Palermo, filled with trendy eateries and galleries, before arriving at La Recoleta Cemetery. This is the resting place of Argentine notables such as the nation’s former First Lady Eva Peron.

Daily: Breakfast Dinner

Day 6 - Buenos Aires

Freedom Of Choice™

Perhaps journey to the island of Tigre for a cruise along the waterways of the Parana Delta. Discover daily life within this maze of rainforest and tiny islands, which is also a haven for birdlife. Or you might like to explore the Parisian influence on Buenos Aires during a walking tour. Alternatively, join a fascinating tour of the iconic and majestic Teatro Colon, considered the world’s leading opera house by acoustic finesse, and immerse yourself in the city’s sophisticated high arts scene.

Design your day one of three ways with Freedom of Choice Touring.

Daily: Breakfast

Day 7 - Buenos Aires, Iguazu Falls

Signature Experience

Stay within Brazil’s Iguacu National Park for two nights, enjoying the property’s unrivalled location.

This morning, fly to Iguazu Falls. This natural wonder straddles the Argentina-Brazil border. Arriving on the Argentinian side, set off on the Rainforest Ecological Train to a series of walkways and viewing points, including one to the 80-metre-deep Devil’s Throat.

Stay: Two Nights, Iguaza Falls, Belmond Hotel das Cataratas

Daily: Breakfast Dinner

Day 8 - Iguazu Falls 

Signature Experience

Indulge in a cachaca tasting this evening at your hotel, which boasts one of the largest cachaca collections in Brazil. In celebration of Brazil’s national spirit, well known as the key ingredient in the Caipirinha cocktail, a cachaca sommelier will lead you on a delightful journey of flavours.

Freedom Of Choice™

Get up close to the roaring cascades of Iguazu Falls on an included jet boat safari, or for a special bird’s-eye-view, soar over the falls on a helicopter flight.

Spanning a width of some 2.7 kilometres, Iguazu Falls is made up of roughly 275 waterfalls waiting to be explored today. Soak up panoramic views of the falls with a leisurely walk between each of the viewing platforms. Later, see the falls from an entirely different perspective on a Freedom of Choice activity.

Daily: Breakfast

Day 9 - Rio de Janeiro

Begin your day with a visit to Parque das Aves bird sanctuary where you’ll see a spectacular array of colourful native South American birds. Later, fly to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil’s most visited and naturally blessed city, set between lush forest mountains and sandy shores. On arrival, we’ll meet and transfer you to the elegant art deco grandeur of your hotel opposite the golden sands of iconic Copacabana Beach.

Stay: Three Nights, Rio De Janeiro, Belmond Copacabana Palace

Daily: Breakfast

Day 10 - Rio de Janeiro

See Rio de Janeiro from above with a visit to Corcovado, the mountain famed for its Christ the Redeemer statue, the world’s largest art deco sculpture. From here, enjoy sweeping city views. Towards evening, board a cable car to the summit of Sugarloaf Mountain to toast the sunset and incredible views with a drink. Tonight, dine at a local restaurant on Brazil’s famously delicious barbecue fare.

Daily: Breakfast Dinner

Day 11 - Rio de Janeiro

Freedom Of Choice™

This morning is set aside for you to sail the waters of Guanabara Bay aboard a schooner sailing ship. If you’d prefer to stay on dry land, perhaps join a colonial walking tour, where the legends woven through the city’s narrow colonial-era streets are brought to life.

Today, join a Freedom of Choice activity to experience more of Rio de Janeiro.

Daily: Breakfast

Day 12 - Rio de Janeiro, Lima

After breakfast this morning, be transferred to the airport for your included flight to Lima, where we’ll meet you and transfer you to your hotel. Savour a delicious lunch at Cafe del Museo before enjoying a visit to Larco Museum.

Stay: Two Nights, Country Club Lima Hotel

Daily: Breakfast Lunch

Day 13 - Lima

Signature Experience

Pay a visit to a private hacienda to enjoy lunch and a Peruvian Paso horse show.

Discover the Peruvian capital’s World Heritage-listed historic centre with an expert guide today. Afterwards, enjoy a Signature Experience at a private hacienda before visiting the ruins of Pachacamac.

Daily: Breakfast Lunch

Day 14 - Lima, Sacred Valley

After breakfast today, we’ll transfer you to the airport for your included flight to Cusco, the pre-Columbian Inca capital of Peru. From here, be transferred to your hotel before a visit to the working corn farm Hacienda Sarapampa, where you’ll enjoy a delicious farm-to-table lunch.

Stay: Two Nights, Sacred Valley, Tambo del Inka, A Luxury Collection Resort & Spa

Daily: Breakfast Lunch

Day 15 - Sacred Valley, Maras, Moray

Signature Experience

Enjoy a traditional weaving demonstration which reveals how South America’s colourful materials are created by hand.

Signature Experience

See the glistening salt pools spill over the terraced slopes at the World Heritage-listed Salt Mines of Maras. Visit the circular Moray Inca terraces archaeological site.

Travel to a small community tucked away in the Sacred Valley hillside. Enjoy a special welcome from the local Misminay community followed by a Signature Experience which demonstrates a craft passed down through generations. Continue exploring the Sacred Valley with a guide, including another Signature Experience exploring the stunning landscapes of the Salineras de Maras. Enjoy dinner at your hotel this evening.

Daily: Breakfast Dinner

Day 16 - Sacred Valley, Machu Picchu

Signature Experience

Board Inca Rail’s First Class Train and travel through forested landscapes to the lost Inca citadel of Machu Picchu. Enjoy a gourmet Andean-inspired lunch on board while taking in the view.

Today is set aside for a remarkable journey to Machu Picchu as you board Inca Rail’s First Class Train for your Signature Experience.

Stay: Machu Picchu, Sumaq Hotel

Daily: Breakfast Lunch Dinner

Day 17 - Machu Picchu, Cusco

This morning, you’ll enjoy a full immersion into the natural setting and incredible heritage of Machu Picchu as you set off on a locally guided exploration of the lost city of the Incas, one of the New Seven Wonders of the World. Later, board the Vistadome Machu Pichu train for your return trip to the Sacred Valley. Here, transfer by coach to Cusco and settle into your hotel in the heart of this historic city.

Stay: Two Nights, Cusco, JW Marriott

Daily: Breakfast Lunch

Day 18 - Cusco

Freedom Of Choice™

Indulge in marvellous five-star Peruvian cuisine as you learn the ropes from the experts with a lunchtime cooking class at Rooftop Kitchen Cusco overlooking the city. Alternatively, set out for a visit to the beautiful Cusco Cathedral.

A guided discovery of Cusco takes you to Plaza de Armas, a square at the city’s historic heart. You’ll also visit the sacred site of Koricancha and the historic citadel Sacsayhuaman. This afternoon, delve into Peruvian culture on a Freedom of Choice experience. This evening, dine on flavours of Peru at MAP Cafe, located in the central courtyard of the Museum of Pre-Columbian Art.

Daily: Breakfast Dinner

Day 19 - Cusco, Lima, Iquitos, Amazon Cruise

Board an early flight via Lima to Iquitos, a city located on the banks of the Peruvian Amazon. Here, you’ll step aboard your boutique vessel and set off to discover the spectacular flora and fauna as you explore the Pacaya-Samiria National Reserve. Naturalist guides will reveal the secrets of the rainforest and its inhabitants; taking skiff boats to hidden corners of the river, trail walks through the lush vegetation, or on a gentle kayak in calm creeks. This afternoon, embark on a skiff exploration along the Maranon River and listen to the rhythmic sounds of the jungle as you settle in.

Stay: Four Nights, Delfin III

Daily: Breakfast Dinner

Day 20 - Amazon Cruise

Spend the morning on the waters of the Samiria River on a skiff exploration. Travel on a stable and safe boat accompanied by an expert naturalist guide and learn about this part of the river. After lunch, relax back on board before the afternoon’s excursions. During the low water season (June – October), ascend to the rainforest canopy on a suspended walkway, one of the longest treetop walks in the world, and enjoy a bird’s-eye view of the Amazon and its elevated ecosystem. In the high water season (November – May), embark on another fascinating skiff excursion or try your luck at piranha fishing.

Daily: Breakfast Lunch Dinner

Day 21 - Amazon Cruise

Get even closer to the water on a kayaking trip in the calm waters of the Reserve at Yanayacu-Pucate. Then, search for more amazing creatures and vegetation, as your naturalist guide takes you deep into the rainforest on a jungle walk at Fundo Casual. Get an intimate view of the Amazon’s ecosystem and wildlife inhabiting this unique environment including frogs, snakes and insects.

Daily: Breakfast Lunch Dinner

Day 22 - Amazon Cruise

Today you have the chance to fish for piranhas on the Yarapa River and discover other exotic animals who call the river home. As you cruise, watch for scarlet macaws, Amazonian parrotlets, iguanas and squirrel monkeys.

Daily: Breakfast Lunch Dinner

Day 23 - Amazon Cruise, Depart Iquitos

Your cruise ends with a transfer to Iquitos. On the way, stop off for a visit to the Rescue and Rehabilitation Center of River Mammals. Learn about the rescue work achieved by volunteers at the centre, then hear about manatees and feed these majestic, endangered animals. Later, your tour comes to an end with a transfer to the airport for your onward flight.

Daily: Breakfast