Compare Grand South America by Indus Travels

Day 1: USA/Canada - Cartagena (Arrival)

Make your way to the International Airport to board your flight to Colombia and enjoy in-flight meals and services. Upon arrival you will be met by one of our representatives and transferred to your hotel. Later today you will enjoy a city tour. This fascinating half-day tour starts with the visit of the most important monuments of Cartagena. Start at the Convent of La Popa* (the highest point of the city) and continue to the Castillo de San Felipe, an immense fort filled with history and mysteries hidden in its stonewalled tunnels. Leaving the castle, visit the monument of Zapatos Viejos, the “Old Shoes”. Certainly the most impressive monument is the gigantic defensive wall that surrounds the old city, and overlooks the sea and its well-preserved colonial architecture. During the rest of the visit you will see the city’s churches, museums, plazas, restaurants, shops and jewelry stores. This combination of treasures makes Cartagena deserving of the title of UNESCO World Heritage Site: You will never forget this wonderful destination. Enjoy the balance of the day at leisure

*Note: at this moment La Popa is closed, so, this visit will be replaced by San Pedro Claver Convent.

Overnight in Cartagena

Day 2: Cartagena

Meals: Breakfast

Enjoy a full at leisure to explore the city at your own pace or to enjoy the day at the beach. Cartagena de Indias was founded in 1533 and is probably the most attractive city in South America today. The old part of the city is also called “the walled city”, where Cartagena conserves the beauty of its' colonial past. Narrow streets flanked by heavy oak doors, gorgeous flowered balconies and the welcoming and friendly people make Cartagena the perfect combination of colonial history and cultural experience. Beautiful beaches close by, such as the Rosario Islands, invite visitors with their crystal clear waters and there ist a large variety of excursions and tours to choose from.

Overnight in Cartagena

Optional: Full Day Excursion Isla San Pedro de Majagua

USD 100/ CAD 130 per person

Takes off in speed boat from the “Muelle Santa Cruz” towards “Rosario Islands” and Isla de Majagua. On arrival, a fruit cocktail is served. You have time to swim or relax on the small island with white sandy beaches awaits you. After lunch (fish, Coconutrice and a great dessert is served) you will have more time to relax, swim or snorkel. In the afternoon, return to Cartagena. Please note that there´s no individual tourguide on board just a general one for the whole group.

Note: The trip will be conducted in the company of an international group of tourists, under the supervision of a bilingual guide. The entrance to the aquarium costs 13 USD per person and is not included.

Day 3: Cartagena – Armenia (By Flight)

This morning, at the arranged time, you will be transferred to the airport to take your flight to Armenia via Bogota. Upon arrival in Armenia you will be met and transferred to your hotel. Enjoy the remainder of the day at leisure. Armenia is the capital of the Departamento Quindío located in the Coffee Triangle 290 kilometers west of Bogotá. Surrounded by beautiful landscapes, nature and ancient cultures, the region is a key player in Colombia's rich coffee culture. For anyone interested in nature and culture, Armenia and the Quindío department will be a highlight of their trip.

Overnight in Armenia

Day 4: Coffee Triangle

Meals: Breakfast

Today you will enjoy a full-day tour around the Cocora Valley and Salento. With its breathtaking landscapes, the Cocora Valley is one of the most beautiful valleys in Colombia. Here you will find the impressive Quindian wax palm which reaches an amazing height of 60 metres. It is also the official Colombian national tree and one of the tallest species of palm trees in the world. You will have time to visit Salento, a picturesque village with artisanal shops. Afterwards visit ‘El Ocaso’, a coffee growing farm. The visit includes a technical and practical introduction to the whole coffee cultivation and production process, from harvest to the cup.

Overnight in Armenia

Day 5:    Armenia – Bogota (By Flight)

Meals: Breakfast

At the arranged time you will be transferred to the Armenia airport for your flight to Bogotá. Upon arrival to Bogotá you will be transferred to your hotel for check-in. Enjoy the balance of the day at leisure for you to explore the city at your own pace. The Colombian capital is located in the very center of the country at approx. 2650 meters above sea level in an area known as the Savanna of Bogotá (Sabana de Bogotá). The east side of the city is flanked by the Cordillera Oriental, which are foothills of the Andes Mountains. In terms of area, Bogotá is Colombia’s largest city: It extends more than 40 km from north to south, and 20km from east to west. It is not only the main economic and industrial center, but also the political heart of the country: The National Legislature, the Supreme Court of Justice and the residence of the President of the Republic (Casa de Nariño) reside here. With its 8 million inhabitants, the city is Colombia’s most populous and the huge cultural offer is among the best and largest in the country - Bogotá is home to numerous museums such as the famous Gold museum or the Botero museum, theatres and libraries.

Overnight in Bogota

Day 6: Bogota

Meals: Breakfast

Today you will have a closer look into Bogota’s highlights. Start with a guided visit to the City with Botero Museum. This guided visit to the Colombian capital starts in the Plaza de Bolívar (the city’s main square), which is surrounded by federal government buildings, and continues into the old colonial part of the city better known as “La Candelaria”, the San Francisco Church and the Botero Museum. The tour finishes with a trip in a cable car to the top of the Monserrate Hill, which offers a spectacular view of the city. Later today enjoy a visit to the Salt Cathedral of Zipaquirá. Leaving Bogotá to the north, cross the savanna landscape to the town of Zipaquirá, about 50 km away. Upon arrival you will be able to visit the fully functioning Salt Cathedral. This unique building was constructed approximately 120 meters underground in a former salt mine. The trip ends with a visit to Zipaquirá’s charming central square.

Overnight in Bogota

Day 7: Bogota – Cusco (By Flight) – Sacred Valley

Meals: Breakfast

Enjoy breakfast at the hotel and, at the arranged time, you will be transferred to Cartagena Airport for your departure flight. Enjoy a spectacular flight over the snow-capped Andes to the oldest inhabited city in the hemisphere, Cusco, at an elevation of 11,440 feet. Upon arrival, you’ll be met and transferred to Urubamba in the Sacred Valley.

Overnight in Urubamba

Day 8: Sacred Valley

Meals: Breakfast

Enjoy a day at leisure or take an optional tour.

Overnight in Urubamba

Optional: FD Excursion to Pisac Indian Market and the Ollantaytambo Fortress  USD 170/CAD 220 per person 

Enjoy a drive through the fertile countryside of the Urubamba Valley to the colonial village of Pisac, where you can explore the bustling Indian market (open Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays – on other days you will tour the archaeological site of Pisac), where you can buy many different types of Peruvian handicrafts, before visiting Ollantaytambo, an ancient Incan fort. Lunch today will be served at a beautiful country estate on the bank of the Urubamba River.

Day 9: Sacred Valley – Machu Picchu – Cusco                                    

Meals: Breakfast

‘This morning you will travel on the Expedition train through the Sacred Valley to Aguas Calientes, where you will board a shuttle up to the "Lost City of the Incas", Machu Picchu. Perched 8,200 feet above the valley, the city of Machu Picchu was hidden by mountains and semi-tropical jungle for 400 years until discovered by Hiram Bingham in 1911.  A knowledgeable tour guide will share the history of this mystical place with you. This afternoon you will take the train back to Ollantaytambo rail station, where you will be met and transferred to your hotel in Cusco.

Overnight in Cusco

Optional: Upgrade to Vistadome train service for an additional USD 95/CAD 125 per person

Optional: Enjoy lunch at the Belmond Sanctuary Lodge USD 60/CAD 80 per person

Day 10: Cusco

Meals: Breakfast

After breakfast enjoy a tour of the oldest continuously inhabited city in the western hemisphere, Cusco, and its nearby ruins. This gives you a chance to see how the Andean and Spanish cultures co-existed and influenced the city. The tour starts at Santo Domingo Convent, built on the site of Koricancha, which was an important ancient Inca palace and center of worship of the Sun God. The tour continues to the Main Square, site of the Cathedral and the La Compañía Church. Later you will visit the imposing Sacsayhuaman Fortress, just one example of the military Inca architecture in the area. Finally, the tour heads to the nearby archaeological sites of Qenko, Puca-Pucara and Tambomachay, which can be found to the north east of the city.

Overnight in Cusco         

Day 11: Cusco – Puno

Meals: Breakfast and Lunch

Today one of South America's most extraordinary overland trips takes you by bus from Cusco to Puno, passing through striking highland scenery and picturesque Andean villages.  En-route you will stop at the town of Andahuaylillas.  The church here was founded in 1580 and is a showcase of the colonial art in Peru, sometimes called "the Sistine Chapel of the Americas” due to its rich interior.  You will also stop at Raqchi to see the remains of the remarkable temple of Viracocha, considered by historians to be a particularly important Inca construction, and at La Raya, the highest pass on the route.  As well as beautiful views of the surrounding countryside you will see llamas, alpacas and vicunas wandering wild.  The last stop before Puno is Pucara, an old ceremonial site that shows evidence of a pre-Inca civilization. You will arrive in Puno later this afternoon / evening. 

Overnight in Puno

Day 12: Uros And Taquile Islands On Lake Titicaca

Meals: Breakfast and Lunch

Today you can enjoy an amazing boat excursion out onto the highest navigable lake in the world, Lake Titicaca, to see the floating Uros Islands and Taquile Island.  The floating islands of the Uros Indians are made by tying totora reeds together and are a must-see for any traveller.  The Uros people consider themselves Lords of the Lake; they hunt wild birds and maintain traditional fishing methods.  Taquile is a very important site known for its archaeological remains, sacred and ceremonial sites and festivals. The island is characterized by its friendly inhabitants, who maintain the customs and traditional clothing of their ancestors – there are many fine, woollen hand-made goods on sale here. 

Overnight in Puno

Day 13: Puno – Lima (By Flight)

Meals: Breakfast

Today you will be transferred to the airport at Juliaca for a flight back to Lima. Upon arrival you will be met by your local guide and transferred to your hotel. Enjoy the remainder of the day at leisure or perhaps take an optional tour to explore the capital city of Peru.  Overnight in Lima

Optional: Half Day Tour of Lima and the Larco Museum USD 85/CAD 110 per person

Visit some of Lima’s finest sites, including the lovely Plaza Mayor, the Government Palace, San Francisco Church and the exquisite Torre Tagle Palace. In modern Lima you will drive along the exclusive residential areas of Miraflores and San Isidro before visiting the world famous Larco Museum.  Founded in 1926 and housed in in a unique vice-royal mansion of the 18th century built over a 7th century pre-Columbian pyramid, the museum boasts the finest gold and silver from Ancient Peru and a famous erotic archaeological collection.

Day 14: Lima - Buenos Aires (By Flight)

Meals: Breakfast

Today you will be transferred to Lima International Airport for your flight to Buenos Aires, Argentina’s delightful capital city.  Upon arrival in Buenos Aires you will be met by our company representative and transferred to your hotel. The remainder of the day is free for you to spend at leisure.

Overnight in Buenos Aires

Optional: Tango Show incl. dinner at the Restaurant Viejo Almacen or La Ventana or similar:  USD 90/CAD 120 per person on a SIC basis

Day 15: Buenos Aires

Meals: Breakfast

Today you can enjoy a guided half-day city tour of Buenos Aires. Beginning with a drive to the Plaza de Mayo, you will see the “Casa Rosada” (the pink house, home of the government), the Cabildo (town hall) and the Metropolitan Cathedral, home of the Archbishop of Buenos Aires. The tour continues to the district of San Telmo, one of the most fashionable and desirable places to live in the city, and the famous La Boca neighbourhood. Here colourful tin houses and lively street life provides ample photographic opportunities. Next, the tour heads to Recoleta, the quarter of the rich of Buenos Aires. In Recoleta’s cemetery, you can see the grave of Evita Perón, Argentina’s former First Lady and beloved heroine of the working classes. Finally, the tour takes in Avenida 9 de Julio, the widest avenue in the world, the Federal Court of Justice in Plaza Lavalle, and Teatro Colón, before stopping off at leafy Palermo for a wander in its pretty parks and gardens. Return to the hotel.

Overnight in Buenos Aires

Day 16: Buenos Aires – Iguaçu (By Flight)

Meals: Breakfast

This morning you will be transferred to the domestic airport for your flight to Iguazu. Upon arrival in Iguazu you will be met and transferred to the Argentinean Iguassu National Park to Iguassu Falls on the Argentinean side. You will make a short stop at the Visitor’s Centre and from there proceed along the Inferior Circuit, the down-river falls, to the Superior Circuit, the up-river cascades. The Ecological Jungle Train leads you to the most impressive observation point of the falls – The Devil´s Throat.  After your visit you will be transferred to the hotel on the Brazilian side of the falls to check in. Overnight at Iguassu on the Brazilian side

Day 17: Iguaçu

Meals: Breakfast

Today you will visit Iguassu National Park and the Brazilian side of the falls by motor coach. You can follow the paths following the cascades and then along the catwalk which leads you very close to the bottom of the Devil’s Throat. You will have magnificent views from here. Afterwards you take an elevator back up to the road where you will meet your coach for the journey back to the hotel. Enjoy your afternoon at leisure.

Overnight at Iguassu

Day 18: Iguaçu – Rio De Janeiro (By Flight)

Meals: Breakfast

Today you will be transferred to the airport in Iguassu for your flight to Rio de Janeiro. On arrival at the airport in Rio you will be met and transferred to your hotel for check in. Remaining of the day at leisure.

Overnight in Rio de Janeiro

Optional:  Rio by Night Show at Plataforma without dinner:          USD 155/CAD 200 per person on a SIC basis

Visit a folklore and Carnival show featuring skilled dancers, entertainers, samba bands and wonderful costumes in a wonderful display of Brazilian folklore and Carnival.

Day 19: Rio De Janeiro

Meals: Breakfast

This morning enjoy a tour of Rio. Downtown is the business heart of Rio. It is a part of the city where colonial Rio meets modern skyscrapers. Passing along Rio Branco Avenue, you will see Candelaria Church, which was built in the late 18th century and only completed in 1898. The headquarters of major Brazilian banks and commercial enterprises are also located on this avenue. You will also see the Opera House (Teatro Municipal) and Carioca Square, the Church of Santo Antonio built in the 17th century as well as the contrast of the modern buildings such as Petrobras and the Cathedral. You will see Rio's aqueduct built in the 18th century and these days connects the downtown to the Santa Teresa district, an old residential area. Afterwards you will drive through Flamengo Park to one of the highlights of Rio. From the park, you can see the famous Sugar Loaf Mountain. This famous mountain is reached by cable car 1,200 feet high. From up top of Sugar Loaf Mountain you can look down on Rio and discover one of the most spectacular views in the world.

Afternoon at leisure – the following optional tours can be booked.

Overnight in Rio

Optional: Half day Corcovado & Beaches tour: USD 120 / CAD 160 per person on a SIC basis

Enjoy a half day beach tour including a visit to the Corcovado statue. The first stop on this tour will be Cosme Velho Station to board a cog-train for the ride through Tijuca Forest up to Corcovado Mountain. The train ride takes approximately 20 minutes and is a wonderful opportunity for a closer look at the forest’s lush tropical vegetation and to enjoy the scenic landscapes of the beaches and the city. Disembark at the top of Corcovado and then take the stairs up to the lookout where the towering statue of Christ the Redeemer stands and the marvelous views. Afterwards descend back down by train and continue passing by some of Rio’s beaches.

Day 20: Rio De Janeiro – USA /Canada

Meals: Breakfast

Enjoy your day at leisure or book an optional tour. This evening you will be transferred to Rio International Airport for your flight back home.

Optional: Half Day Jeep Tour Tijuca Forest (Minimum 4 Pax):       USD 80 / CAD 110 Per Person on a SIC basis

Following pick-up in open-air jeeps at the hotel, guests will be taken to the stunning Tijuca Atlantic Forest - the largest urban forest in the world. We will make stops at the Chinese Vista with magnificent views of Ipanema and Copacabana beaches, Guanabara Bay and Sugar Loaf. During the tour, guests often spot tropical animals like monkeys, sloths and exotic birds. On the way back to the hotel, we will stop at Pepino Beach to watch the hang gliders fly through the air. The duration of this tour is approximately 4 hours.

From May 1st until September 30th all half-day Jeep Tours on shared basis scheduled for afternoons will require minimum of 5 passengers to depart.