Issue link: http://gadventures.uberflip.com/i/619326
Dates and prices are subject to change. For booking, availability, and detailed itineraries, consult your travel agent or check online. Southern Cross Westbound — Rio to Lima Highlights › Stare in awe at Iguassu Falls › Search for wildlife in the Brazilian Pantanal › Spend 3 days exploring the Uyuni Salt Flats by 4x4 › Settle in with the locals at a homestay on Lake Titicaca › Conquer the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu What's Included Beach time on Ilha Grande. Iguassu Falls visit (Brazil and Argentina). Bonito stay. Pantanal wildlife excursion (2-day). 4x4 excursion to the Uyuni Salt Flats (3-day). Floating islands of Uros visit. Lake Titicaca guided tour. Sacred Valley and Ollantaytambo ruins guided tour with visit to a G Adventures-supported women's weaving project (full-day). Lunch at the G Adventures-supported Sacred Valley Community Restaurant in Huchuy Qosco, an indigenous village. Inca Trail guided hike with cooks and porters (4-day). G Adventures- supported handmade biodegradable soap products for use on the Inca Trail. Machu Picchu guided tour. Internal flights. All transport between destinations and to/from included activities. ACCOMMODATIONS Hotels (26 nts), overnight buses (2 nts), overnight trains (2 nts), camping (3 nts), homestay (1 nt), basic hotels on Uyuni Salt Flats excursion (2 nts, multi-share), tented room with hammocks in the Pantanal (2 nts, multi-share) TRANSPORT Public bus, plane, 4x4 vehicle, train, walking, hiking GROUP LEADER CEO throughout, specialist Inca Trail CEO on hike, local guides MEALS 35 breakfasts, 10 lunches, 7 dinners. Allow USD1160-1510 for meals not included. ITINERARY From the sands of Copacabana to the heights of the Bolivian Andes, this incredible 39-day journey will introduce you to the diverse landscape and people of South America. Explore the wetlands of the Pantanal and the bizarre landscape of the Uyuni Salt Flats, and revel in the mists of thundering Iguassu Falls. Gain greater insight into the culture on the region's public buses and meet locals from the rural towns along the way for an immersive experience that few travellers get to know. Get off the beaten path and experience Peru, Brazil and Bolivia —a vibrant cross-section of South America. DAY 1 RIO DE JANEIRO Arrive at any time. DAYS 2-6 ILHA GRANDE/PARATY Leave the exciting city of Rio behind and head south to Ilha Grande. Spend free time relaxing and exploring the island. Continue along the coast to Paraty. Opt to visit a cachaça distillery or take a boat excursion in the bay and explore the nearby islands and beaches. ( 5B ) DAYS 7-11 IGUASSU FALLS/ BONITO Transfer to São Paulo and then fly to the Iguassu Falls area. Enjoy two full days of exploration from both the Argentine and Brazilian sides. Opt to get a little wet and take a boat ride at the base of the falls. After travel to Bonito and opt to go snorkelling in the crystal-clear rivers. ( 5B ) DAYS 12-15 PANTANAL/SANTA CRUZ Journey into the Pantanal, a perfect place to experience the wildlife of Brazil. Enjoy a two-day excursion into the wetlands of the Pantanal with a local guide. Opportunities to spot wildlife such as monkeys, macaws, giant otters, and caiman. Continue by overnight train into Bolivia to Santa Cruz. ( 3B, 1L, 1D ) DAYS 16-18 SUCRE Fly to Sucre. Optional visit to the nearby dinosaur tracks, or explore the beautiful colonial city. ( 2B ) DAY 19 POTOSÍ Travel by bus to Potosí. Spend free time exploring the city. ( 1B ) DAYS 20-23 UYUNI/SALT FLATS/LA PAZ A major highlight in South America is the three-day 4x4 excursion into the Uyuni Salt Flats and surrounding desert altiplano. Gaze out across the vast white desert of the salt flats and marvel at the red and blue lagoons within the altiplano. Stay in simple hotels with solar panels to provide electricity and hot water. After travel to La Paz by an overnight train. ( 4B, 3L, 2D ) DAYS 24-25 LA PAZ Have free time to experience La Paz. Opt to take a city tour or explore the markets and winding streets. ( 1B ) DAY 26 LA PAZ/TIAHUANACO Before heading into Peru, visit the pre-Incan ruins of Tiahuanaco, an impressive ancient site. ( 1B ) DAYS 27-29 PUNO/ LAKE TITICACA/TAQUILE ISLAND Travel by bus through the altiplano, crossing the border to the Peruvian city of Puno, on the shores of Lake Titicaca. Enjoy a guided tour of Lake Titicaca with a homestay in a small village. Visit the floating islands of Uros before returning to Puno. Opt to visit the Sillustani burial site ( 3B, 2L, 1D ) DAYS 30-31 CUSCO Travel to Cusco. The next day is free to enjoy the city's museums and local markets or opt to take a city tour. ( 2B ) DAY 32 SACRED VALLEY/OLLANTAYTAMBO Enjoy a full-day guided tour of the Sacred Valley and Ollantaytambo ruins. Stop at the G Adventures-supported women's weaving co-op before visiting the Pisac ruins. Stop at the G Adventures-supported Parwa Community Restaurant in Huchuy Qosco for lunch. Finish the day by exploring the Ollantaytambo ruins with a local guide. ( 1B, 1L ) DAYS 33-36 INCA TRAIL/MACHU PICCHU Embark on the four-day guided Inca Trail hike ending at mystical Machu Picchu. Enjoy G Adventures-supported handmade biodegradable soap products provided on the trail. ( 4B, 3L, 3D ) DAY 37 CUSCO Enjoy a free day to explore Cusco or relax. Active options include whitewater rafting, horseback riding, and mountain biking. ( 1B ) DAY 38 CUSCO/LIMA Fly to Lima and enjoy the night in the city. ( 1B ) DAY 39 LIMA Depart at any time. ( 1B ) ADD TO YOUR EXPERIENCE SOUTHERN CROSS EASTBOUND — LIMA TO RIO: Want to travel east? Check out the 'Southern Cross Eastbound - Lima to Rio' trip. See tour SXMR on page 296. PERU ADRENALINE BUNDLE: Plan ahead by booking two great adventure activities in Cusco. See page 258. IGUASSU FALLS BOAT RIDE: Experience the power of Iguassu Falls on this adventure-filled boat ride. See page 294. Guaranteed Departures Number of IF YOU'RE BOOKED, YOU'RE GOING | departures / month. 2 1 3 2 3 2 4 2 2 1 2 ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ J F M A M J J A S O N D SOUTH AMERICA › MULTI-COUNTRY 298