BEST OF SOUTH AMERICA – 13 Days

The Sacred Valley was a truly special place for the Inca civilization. Its many rivers and gorges, along with the fertility of their valleys, make this the most productive agricultural spot—the best corn in Peru grows here.

Upon arrival to Cuzco airport we’ll drive you to your hotel in Sacred Valley and you’ll have the rest of the afternoon to explore this enthralling Andean spot.

Your tour to Machu Picchu begins with a 4-hour train ride to Aguas Calientes. This town is also known as “Machu Picchu Pueblo” and is the last stop before entering the remains of the most important archaeological site in Peru. Machu Picchu means “Old Mountain” and is considered a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.

You’ll finally reach Machu Picchu (the ancient sanctuary and retreat for the Inca Pachacutec) after a short transfer by bus through the mountains.

Here, when we arrive at the exact destination that is the highlight of your trip, we will have those special moments which will most certainly be cherished forever.

Some of the places you can visit include the Intipunku, or “Sun Gate”, where the sun rises every day through a stone passageway, or the Inca Bridge, an incredible stone building that served as the entrance and exit of the citadel.

At the end of the tour you will take a bus back to Aguas Calientes and have lunch at ¨Cafe Inkaterra¨ in Machu Picchu. Enjoy your leisure time during the rest of the afternoon and a restful sleep in the town of Aguas Calientes.

Declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983, Cuzco contains the top examples of Incan architecture, which is based on their multiple uses of rock as the main building material. Machu Picchu is the most famous example of this practice.

In the afternoon, we’ll pick you up at your hotel to start your Cuzco city tour with a visit to the Coricancha, also known as the “Temple of the Sun”, the construction of which was ordered by Inca Pachacútec (1438-1471) when he was a powerful Incan leader. This is where the Sun (Inti, in Quechua) was worshipped during the reign of the Inca Empire.

We’ll continue on to visit the Cathedral, the most important building in the Main Square (construction lasted almost a century) and one of the most breathtaking Spanish colonial churches in America.

Our next stop will be the Sacsayhuamán fortress, an emblematic Incan piece of work, which protected the Holy City. It was built with giant megalithic blocks, the transportation and construction of which continue to be a mystery.

This day will end with a visit to some archeological main attractions. You’ll visit Qenqo, located just over 2 miles away from Cuzco City (where it is believed that agricultural rituals took place), to finish with the visit of the vestiges of Puka Pukara, the “red fortress”, located 4.5 miles away from Cuzco.

At the end of this full historical and natural immersion in Cuzco’s heritage, we’ll drive you back to your hotel.

In the morning we’ll pick you up to enjoy our 3-hour Buenos Aires city tour—You will be swept away by the highlights of our beloved Buenos Aires. Over the course of a half day you will have the chance to visit the historical and political center of the city in Plaza de Mayo (May Square), which contains the presidential house, Casa Rosada (the Pink House).

We’ll pass through San Telmo, with its cobblestone streets and the oldest residential neighborhood, and La Boca, where Buenos Aires turns colorful and tango is ever present; come to walk Caminito street and dance with the locals. The next stop is the chic and aristocratic Recoleta, where the big palaces remind us exactly why Buenos Aires is considered to be the “Paris of the South”.

In the evening we’ll pick you up from your hotel to bring you to a mystical place where you’ll discover one of our most ancient traditions.

Tango is more than our national dance. Tango is: our immigrant origins, the talent of our local artists, the sensuality of the Argentine women, and our way to deal with a broken heart; dancing our way through tragic yet eternal love stories.

Tonight you will enjoy a 3-hour professional display of tango and music with a group of local artists onstage, while immersed in an elegant and alluring place. The manners, ambience, clothes and dance steps which tango lovers used to practice 100 years ago will come to life once again and you will travel back in time for a night.

This spectacular demonstration of the finest local dancing will be accompanied by delicious Argentine and international cuisine. Dinner and beverages are included, so you can lose yourself in the ethereal taste of Malbec wine.

At the end of the evening, around midnight, you will be driven back to your hotel, fully in love with the bohemian spirit of our beloved Buenos Aires.

Say Hueque tips

Tango is, overall, a cultural experience that’s deeply rooted in Argentine hearts. Where do regular people go to dance tango? Check out our blog and dig into the mystery…

Today our driver and bilingual guide will pick you up at your hotel to take you to the Iguazú National Park, on the Argentine side. The falls are surrounded by a humid subtropical forest where the exuberant vegetation is home to many species of different animals and birds.

Our guide will help you spot some of them: ant birds, toucans, manakins, parrots, and coatis, just to name a few. Lower and upper walkways weave in and around the falls, permitting up-close and personal experiences with this magnificent spectacle of nature.

The Argentine side of the falls is filled with a myriad of paths and stairways which allow you to experience many different perspectives. You will have the chance to view The Devil’s Throat the largest of the falls and for many the most spellbinding. To get to The Devil’s Throat you will take the ecological train and then walk out along boardwalks.

After walking and taking pictures of exotic animals and plants, you will have some free time to eat lunch in this amazing environment. This exciting, 6-7-hour excursion is highly recommended in order to experience the true power of Iguazú Falls.

Say Hueque tips

Would you love to have a Great Adventure? The Great Adventure is an optional tour that you can add on this day. You will take an open air jeep through the rainforest and then a zodiac open air boat ride up the river to the base of the falls (there is a 100% chance that you will get soaking wet on this boat trip, so be sure to take some extra clothes!). Find out more about this adventurous tour and entrance fees to the national parks.

Today you’ll travel to the spellbinding Corcovado Hill, home to the famous Christ the Redeemer statue, which has achieved celebrity status around the world through each postcard sent by visitors from Rio.

After breakfast, we’ll pick you up at your hotel to take you on an 4-hour tour of Corcovado Hill, the rocky, 2330-foot guardian of Guanabara Bay. We’ll pass by Cosme Velho neighborhood, one of the most elegant places in Rio, and take the red cog train up to Corcovado Hill, crossing the dense vegetation of Tijuca forest in a jeep.

From here you’ll have your first taste of incredible views of the bay and the city! At the end of the railtrack, the granite giant awaits. Christ the Redeemer stands on the top of Corcovado Hill with arms wide open, praying for the wellbeing of Rio de Janeiro and its people.

From this privileged spot you will also see Sugarloaf mountain (another classic destination for travelers), the beautiful southern beaches, and the Rodrigo de Freitas Lagoon, whose waters support a gigantic floating Christmas tree during the holiday season.

At the appropriate hour, we’ll take you to the international airport for your flight back home.

If you’re not ready to throw in the towel just yet, take some trip-extension ideas from our comprehensive travel itineraries and keep on exploring other incredible destinations in South America.