Ultimate South America
19 Days
Tour Description
Discover some of South America’s greatest cities—Rio de Janeiro, Buenos Aires, and Lima—and some of its most spectacular sites on this South America tour to Brazil, Argentina, and Peru. You’ll overnight in Rio de Janeiro, Iguassu Falls, Buenos Aires, Lima, the Sacred Valley, Machu Picchu, Cusco, and Lake Titicaca. Highlights of this South America tour include time at Iguassu Falls, one of the world’s most impressive sites. Experience the falls from both the Brazilian and Argentine sides, 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, where stones weighing up to 350 tons piece together to form a complex housing up to 10,000 men. Time in Peru’s Lake Titicaca, a lake of floating islands maintained over centuries by Indigenous people, gives you a chance to experience the world’s highest navigable lake and to learn about local practices. 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 Perón. In Lima, sightseeing focuses on the city’s colonial heritage with a visit to the baroque 11th-century San Francisco Monastery. All of this and more are included on this South America tour designed for the value-minded traveller who wants to experience it all!
Traveller Notes
Adventure is knocking with everything you need for perfectly affordable touring. Cosmos includes hand-selected accommodations, guided sightseeing, and seamless transportation between destinations—with value-minded travel lovers in mind. Explore with expert Cosmos Tour Directors and Local Guides, and private, first-class, air-conditioned motorcoach with free Wi-Fi (where available). Enhance your free time to explore like a local with your CosmosGO mobile app!
Maximum enjoyment of this holiday requires walking on cobblestone streets, uneven pathways, and climbing stairs. Elevations exceeding 10,000 feet can make even modest exertion a challenge. Maximum elevation on this tour is 13,000 ft.
Traveller Notes
Adventure is knocking with everything you need for perfectly affordable touring. Cosmos includes hand-selected accommodations, guided sightseeing, and seamless transportation between destinations—with value-minded travel lovers in mind. Explore with expert Cosmos Tour Directors and Local Guides, and private, first-class, air-conditioned motorcoach with free Wi-Fi (where available). Enhance your free time to explore like a local with your CosmosGO mobile app!
Maximum enjoyment of this holiday requires walking on cobblestone streets, uneven pathways, and climbing stairs. Elevations exceeding 10,000 feet can make even modest exertion a challenge. Maximum elevation on this tour is 13,000 ft.
Priced From:
$ 8463pp *
Start Location: Rio De Janeiro, Brazil
End Location: Lima, Peru
Major Destinations: Corcovado , Rio de Janeiro,Iguassu Falls, Argentina,San Francisco Monastery, Lima,Machu Picchu, Peru,Cusco, Peru,Lake Titicaca, Peru
Breakfast Meals Included:
18
Lunch Meals Included:
1
Dinner Meals Included:
6
Itinerary
Day
1
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL
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
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. (B)
Day
3
RIO DE JANEIRO
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. (B)
Day
4
RIO DE JANEIRO-IGUASSU FALLS
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! (B,D)
Day
5
IGUASSU FALLS
Cross the Brazilian border by motorcoach for a visit of the Argentine side of Iguassu Falls. Begin with a short ride on the open-air Ecological Jungle Train through the rainforest. A series of boardwalks takes you above the falls to see the water crashing down into the Devil's Throat. Your afternoon is free to explore, or you may opt to visit the Bird Park, home to many species of endemic birds, as well as flora from the area. (B)
Day
6
IGUASSU FALLS-BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA
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 cafes, and charming shops. (B)
Day
7
BUENOS AIRES
Morning sightseeing with a Local Guide focuses on the city's well-known landmarks, including the Teatro Colon 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 neighbourhoods, and Recoleta Cemetery, where Eva Peron is buried. End your day with an optional excursion to enjoy an Argentinean meal, followed by a sensuous Tango show highlighting this alluring dance so popular here. (B)
Day
8
BUENOS AIRES
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. (B)
Day
9
BUENOS AIRES-LIMA, PERU
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. (B)
Day
10
LIMA
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. (B,D)
Day
11
LIMA-CUSCO-SACRED VALLEY
Fly to Cusco high in the Andes and, upon arrival, descend into the Sacred Valley of the Incas. Learn about the importance of camelids (llama, vicuna, alpaca, and guanaco) for Inca cultures. See them up close and learn how their coats are transformed into colourful weaving fibres that are then used in ancient weaving techniques still in use today. Continue to Pisaq, a charming village with a famous market, where you have plenty of time to browse the many colourful 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. (B,D)
Day
12
SACRED VALLEY
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. (B)
Day
13
SACRED VALLEY-MACHU PICCHU
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. (B,D)
Day
14
MACHU PICCHU-CUSCO
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 on the Vistadome train to the former capital of the Inca Empire. (B)
Day
15
CUSCO
Embark on a guided sightseeing tour of Cusco that focuses on the city that was once the political, military, and cultural epicentre 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. Roll up your sleeves to participate in a tree-planting project supporting the local community. Return to Cusco for dinner at a local restaurant. (B,D)
Day
16
CUSCO-PUNO
Today, drive south 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 create the Inca Empire. (B)
Day
17
PUNO. EXCURSION TO LAKE TITICACA
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 people 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. (B,L,D)
Day
18
PUNO-JULIACA-LIMA
En route to Juliaca, stop at the pre-Incan burial grounds of Sillustani. See the above-ground tombs, chullpas, in which the Aymara people buried their high priests. You will be welcomed into a local home for an inside look at life here. Fly to Lima and transfer to your hotel. (B)
Day
19
LIMA
Your holiday ends after breakfast this morning. (B)
Dates & prices
Dates
Prices
Status
Departure Date :
2025-11-21
Return Date :
2025-12-09
Twin :
8653 NZD
Sold Out
Departure Date :
2025-11-07
Return Date :
2025-11-25
Twin :
8653 NZD
Open
Departure Date :
2025-10-24
Return Date :
2025-11-11
Twin :
8653 NZD
Open
Departure Date :
2025-10-10
Return Date :
2025-10-28
Twin :
8653 NZD
Open
Departure Date :
2025-09-26
Return Date :
2025-10-14
Twin :
8653 NZD
Open
Departure Date :
2025-09-12
Return Date :
2025-09-30
Twin :
8463 NZD
Open
Departure Date :
2025-08-01
Return Date :
2025-08-19
Twin :
8653 NZD
Open
Departure Date :
2025-07-04
Return Date :
2025-07-22
Twin :
8653 NZD
Open
Departure Date :
2025-06-20
Return Date :
2025-07-08
Twin :
8463 NZD
Open
Departure Date :
2025-05-23
Return Date :
2025-06-10
Twin :
8463 NZD
Open
Departure Date :
2025-04-11
Return Date :
2025-04-29
Twin :
8633 NZD
On Request
Departure Date :
2025-01-17
Return Date :
2025-02-04
Twin :
8633 NZD
Sold Out