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Inca, Falls and Beaches
12 Days
Lima to Rio de Janeiro
Tour Code: TSPB
12 Days
Lima to Rio de Janeiro
Tour Code: TSPB
From US$ 4,019
Reviews
Tour Overview
This itinerary offers a great variety of scenery and a chance to see many remnants of the ancient cultures that flourished in Peru. From gastronomical delights awaiting you in Lima to incredible Inca fortresses in the Sacred Valley, you then move on to the vibrant and colourful country of Brazil. Here you will get a great taste of both the charm of the colonial history and the passion of this amazing country.
Please note: This is a sample itinerary and can be tailored to suit your own personal needs and budget. Click here for more information on our Tailor-made Tours.
Included Activities
- Arrival Transfer
- Half day tour of Lima
- Half Day Tour of Cusco
- Sacred Valley of the Incas Guided Tour
- Ollantaytambo ruins
- Machu Picchu Entrance and Guided Tour
- Iguazu Falls from Argentina
- Iguazu Falls from Brazil
- Day tour of Rio de Janeiro
- Departure Transfer
Itinerary
Day 1 - Arrive Lima
Welcome to Lima and the start of your adventure! You will be transferred from the airport to your hotel and have the remainder of the day free to relax and start exploring.
Lima was founded by the Spanish Conquistador Francisco Pizarro in 1535 after he eradicated the Incas and made the city his capital. It has many beautiful colonial buildings and some of the best museums in South America including the Gold Museum, Museum of the Inquisition and the Catacombs below the San Francisco Church. Peru's capital has much to offer and many of the sights, including the city's two main squares the Plaza de Armas and Plaza San Martin, are within easy walking distance The Plaza de Armas houses the Cathedral, Municipal Palace and Presidential Palace where the changing of the guard can be seen every day at 12 noon. There are also many markets in Lima, possibly the best being in the central district.
Included Excursions
Arrival Transfer
Accommodation
1 night(s) in hotels 
Day 2 - Lima City Tour
Today you enjoy a half day city tour of some of the highlights in Lima, covering its three historical periods: pre-hispanic, colonial and contemporary.
First you will visit the impressive Museo Larco, home to the best private collection of pre columbian art in Peru. Next up is Pachacamac, a fascinating archaeological site which is said to be first settled around A.D 200, and flourished for around 1300 years before the Spanish invaded. Enjoy a guided tour of the site before stopping at a local restaurant for lunch where you will learn how to make the famous Pisco Sour.
After lunch the tour will take you to downtown Lima, which is also listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Your guide will walk you through the many streets where you can observe the architecture, monuments and many important buildings. The next stop is the Convent of San Francisco, one of the best preserved buildings from the colonial times. Here you can explore the library and chilling catacombs, before climbing the tower for great views of the city.
Finally, you will visit the Magic Water Circuit where you will enjoy a fascinating show of lights, water and music. You will be transferred back to your hotel and have the remainder of the day free.
Included Excursions
Half day tour of Lima
Accommodation
1 night(s) in hotels
Meals
1 Breakfast(s)
Day 3 - Fly to Cusco & City Tour
Today you will be transferred to the airport by private vehicle in time for you flight to Cusco. Upon arrival you will be collected and taken to your hotel by private vehicle.
This afternoon you will join a group to explore the churches and cathedral around the charming Plaza de Armas. You will visit the complex of Koricancha, which contained the Temple of the Sun, the most sacred site in the Inca religion. It was the centrepiece of a vast astronomical observatory. Little remains of it today except for sections of its stone walls which hint at the sites once massive size. The Christian monastery of Santo Domingo was built on top of the complex, no doubt to signify that one religion had been replaced by another.
Afterwards, you will drive to the nearby ruins of Sacsayhuaman which reveal the Incas extraordinary architecture. Like all Inca constructions, the stones fit together perfectly without mortar and it would be hard to fit a single sheet of paper even between the biggest. It took almost one hundred years and thousands of men to complete. Next you visit a site shrouded in mystery, the large rock and intricate complex of Qenko. The site is named for the zigzag channels carved into the rock which are believed to have been used by Inca priests to pour sacred chicha or llama blood into as part of an annual ritual.
Next you explore the archeological site of Tambomachay, which is thought to be a site used to worship water as the source of life. Two aqueducts, artistically carved on the rock, transport and keep a constant flow of clean water. Your final stop is the red fortress of Puka Pukara which took its name from the colour of the stones (especially at dusk).
You will then be transferred back to your hotel and will have the remainder of the day free to explore and enjoy one of the many quaint restaurants in the historical centre.
Included Excursions
Half Day Tour of Cusco
Accommodation
1 night(s) in hotels
Meals
1 Breakfast(s)
Day 4 - The Sacred Valley
You will meet your guide and group this morning for your full day excursion through the Sacred Valley. Here the Incas lived, farmed and enjoyed the natural wealth of this verdant region. Visit the colourful and vibrant arts and crafts market in Pisac. The nearby Inca site has a citadel, turrets, military fortresses and astronomical observatories. The largest Inca cemetery in South America is also located here.
You will continue onto the town of Ollantaytambo, which has many houses built on the bases of the old Inca town with local people maintaining their ancestral customs. The complexity of these Inca constructions incorporated into the contemporary town is considered by many to be one of the most important living museums in the world. Above the town, the military fortress that protected this area of the valley prevails strategically between two mountains. On the summit of the archaeological complex stand six enormous monoliths with mysterious engravings of Inca iconography.
You will overnight in Ollantaytambo and the evening is free here at your leisure.
Included Excursions
Sacred Valley of the Incas Guided Tour,Ollantaytambo ruins
Accommodation
1 night(s) in hotels
Meals
1 Breakfast(s)
Day 5 - Machu Picchu
This morning you will catch the IncaRail train, just a short walk from your hotel, to Aguas Calientes - the gateway to Machu Picchu. Upon arrival your private guide will be there to meet you and take you on the shuttle bus up to the archaeological complex. Soak up the atmosphere as our guide brings the site to life with tales of Machu Picchu in its heyday. Later, there will be enough time to explore it at your own pace.
As you will have return IncaRail train tickets, you can make your own way down to Aguas Calientes in time for your transfer back to Cusco where you will be taken back to your hotel.
The evening is then at your leisure.
Included Excursions
Machu Picchu Entrance and Guided Tour
Accommodation
1 night(s) in hotels
Meals
1 Breakfast(s), 1 Lunch(es)
Day 6 - Cusco
Today is free to relax and explore some more of Cusco. Take a walking tour and admire the colonial buildings or wander the colourful San Pedro Market, where you can find fruits and vegetables in abundance as well as other local delicacies.
Spend the evening back at Plaza de Armas and experience Cusco after dark. With plenty quaint restaurants and vibrant bars around, the plaza is as lively as during the day.
Accommodation
1 night(s) in hotels
Meals
1 Breakfast(s)
Day 7 - Fly to Iguazu Falls
Early this morning you will be transferred from your hotel to the airport to meet your flight to Foz do Iguacu, otherwise known as Iguazu Falls. On arrival late that night, you will be met and driven to your hotel on the Brazilian side of the falls for check in.
The Falls were declared a Natural World Heritage in 1986 by UNESCO. The park has 458,000 acres that borders the Argentinean and Brazilian National Parks and the two countries are divided by the Iguazu River. Together they make this region one of the largest natural protected areas in South America.
Accommodation
1 night(s) in hotels
Meals
1 Breakfast(s)
Day 8 - Argentinian side of Iguazu Falls Day Excursion
Today you will be collected after breakfast to join your private guide to visit the National Park from the Argentinian side. The Lower Circuit is composed of a trail nearly a mile long that allows you to get close to some of the smaller waterfalls such as the Carlos Bozzetti Waterfall where you can take some great photos.
The Upper Circuit allows you to see the top of the majestic falls on the Argentinian side and you can enjoy a breath-taking panoramic view of the area. The view stretches from the Argentinean falls to San Martin Island and parts of the Brazilian falls. The Ecological Jungle Train takes you up to the Devil's Throat - the largest waterfall in the region. ?As you stand at the top of the impressive altitude of 107 metres, you get a feeling of the incredible power unleashed by millions of gallons of water cascading into space. Thanks to the newly built catwalk, you can get pretty close to this site. The entrance fee for this excursion is included.
Afterwards, you will be transferred to your hotel where the remainder of the day is at your leisure.
Included Excursions
Iguazu Falls from Argentina
Accommodation
1 night(s) in hotels
Meals
1 Breakfast(s)
Day 9 - Half Day Brazilian side of Iguazu Falls and fly to Rio
Today you will take in the Falls from the Brazilian side as you stroll the 1,200 metres of catwalks with your private guide on this half-day excursion. Walking along, take in the breath-taking views of the 275 waterfalls from a number of different perspectives. The four main rapids on the Brazilian side are: Floriano, Deodoro, Benjamin Constant and Salto Union or The Devil's Throat.
As you come to the end of the path, you can hear the roar and see the spray long before you see the water itself. Prepare to get wet, even from a distance, as the spray travels a long way and watch out for the almost permanent rainbow. The entrance fee for this excursion is also included.
Afterwards, you will be taken to the airport by private vehicle to catch your flight on to Rio. Upon arrival you will be met at the airport and transferred to your hotel in Copacabana by private vehicle. Rio de Janeiro never fails to impress with its effervescent modern outlook that reflects the progression throughout its 500 year history. The historic sites, sparkling beaches, green belts music and literature, yearly Carnival celebration and jubilant attitude of the locals rightly attract millions to the city. ?The evening is yours to explore at your own pace.
Included Excursions
Iguazu Falls from Brazil
Accommodation
1 night(s) in hotels
Meals
1 Breakfast(s)
Day 10 - Rio de Janeiro City Tour
Today you will be collected from your hotel for a full day small group jeep tour, to discover Rio's most stunning points. Your day will start at the Tijuca Forest which is an ecologically preserved area and the biggest urban forest in the world. You will stop at the Chinese View Turret where you will have spectacular views of Ipanema and Copacabana beaches, Guanabara Bay and the city of Niteroi. Walk around the crystalline waterfalls and hike through gentle trails in the forest. After the visit to the National Park, you will continue to Corcovado Hill, located in the Tijuca Forest, where the Christ Redeemer Statue is located. From the observatory, you will see several landmarks including the Maracana Stadium and the Sugarloaf Mountain.
After lunch you will continue on to that very site, located at the mouth of Guanabara Bay, which once acted as a visual reference for navigators. Its privileged location and significance to Rio's history make it an iconic landmark in the city. To finish the tour, you will visit the Botanical Garden, created by D. Joao VI in 1817 to serve as a cultivation centre for exotic plants. With many pleasing hiding places, it was one of Tom Jobim's favourite spots who was the co-inventor of Bossa Nova music.
The rest of the day is free.
Included Excursions
Day tour of Rio de Janeiro
Accommodation
1 night(s) in hotels
Meals
1 Breakfast(s), 1 Lunch(es)
Day 11 - Rio de Janeiro
Today is free to explore Rio. In the city centre, you can stroll around Rio's old colonial buildings and wander around the skyscrapers of the financial district. Alternatively, you may like to visit the Botanical Gardens, one of the world-famous beaches of Copacabana or Ipanema, or the beautiful Rodrigues de Freitas Lagoon.
In the evening, why not enjoy a samba show and get a true insight into what makes Carnival so special.
Accommodation
1 night(s) in hotels
Meals
1 Breakfast(s)
Day 12 - Depart Rio de Janeiro
Your adventure of a lifetime comes to an end today. If you have a late flight or have lengthened your stay by adding post tour accommodation you will have more time to explore the sights.
At the scheduled time, you will be transferred from your hotel to the airport by private vehicle to meet your onwards flight.
Included Excursions
Departure Transfer
Meals
1 Breakfast(s)
Essential Information
What's Not Included
- Visas and travel insurance
- International flights to/from the start/end of your tour and departure taxes
- Spending money – budget for meals, snacks, drinks, limited souvenirs, laundry, tips and any extras
Enquiry
Prefer to speak to a specialist?
0800 804 8435
Tailor-made Operations Manager
Melita
Why I love this trip
Some of the greatest highlights in South America are included in this itinerary, including bustling cities, ancient history and incredible natural beauty. Contact me to hear how we can personalise this tour to meet your needs.
