Epic Journey from the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean, via the depths of the Amazon

Friday, 13 June 2025

Fly to Buenos Aires

Depart on Thursday evening on an overnight flight to Buenos Aires, arriving the next morning. 

---

Saturday, 14 June 2025

Buenos Aires at Leisure

On arrival at Buenos Aires airport, you will be met by our representative who will take you to your hotel for 3 nights on a bed and breakfast basis. You will have a short introduction to the local area around your hotel, which is also an opportunity for our guide to provide advice, explain your programme and answer any questions you may have. The rest of the day to relax after the long flight and start exploring the city on your own. 

---

Sunday, 15 June 2025

Full day guided tour of Buenos Aires 

Today, our local Veloso Tours guide will take you on a full day tour of the "Paris of South America". We visit La Boca to see the brightly coloured houses in the famous 'Caminito', the cathedral and Presidential Palace with its famous balcony where Eva Perón and numerous presidents have made their public appearances. We end the afternoon at Recoleta, famous for its European architecture, trendy shops and street cafes. 

---

Monday, 16 June 2025

At leisure in Buenos Aires

Today is free for you to explore on your own or take one of our optional excursions (bookable locally). A dinner and tango show in the evening is a must. 

Tuesday, 17 June 2025

Iguazu Falls, the Argentinian side

Transfer to the airport and fly to Puerto Iguazu, from where we transfer to the spectacular Iguazu Falls and check into your chosen hotel or lodge for a 2-night stay including breakfast. The rest of the day is at leisure.

---

Wednesday, 18 June 2025

Guided tour of the Iguazu Falls

This morning we explore the Argentinian side of the Iguazu Falls in the company of our expert local guide who will take you on a walk along the trails of the Argentinian side of the awe-inspiring falls, surrounded by tropical rainforest. Observe swifts as they dive into the falls catching insects, butterflies flit about and toucans fly overhead. 

The afternoon is at your leisure to either relax in your chosen hotel or lodge or take further independent explorations in this natural wonder of the world.

Thursday, 19 June 2025

Brazilian side of the Falls & Fly to Rio

This morning we cross the border into Brazil and explore with our guide the scenic Brazilian side of the waterfalls with great panoramic views and the invigorating feeling of being so close to one of the world's greatest natural wonders. In the afternoon, take a flight to Rio de Janeiro, where we transfer to your hotel for four nights on a bed and breakfast basis.

---

Friday, 20 June 2025

Full Day Guided Tour of Rio 

Enjoy an included full day tour with our Veloso Tours local guide including visiting Rio's famous landmark, the statue of Christ the Redeemer on Corcovado mountain, granting fabulous views of the city and Guanabara Bay. You will pass through the lush forest of Tijuca, with its tropical trees, waterfalls and pleasant shade, before visiting the historic Royal Palace and Cathedral in the centre of the city. 

 

---

Saturday, 21 June 2025

At leisure in Rio 

Today is at leisure to explore the city, perhaps take an optional excursion (bookable locally) or enjoy the beaches of Rio. 

---

Sunday, 22 June 2025

At leisure in Rio

Explore Rio at your leisure. Our local guide can offer a wide range of optional excursions, depending on your interests.

Monday, 23 June 2025

Fly to Salvador

This morning we Fly to Salvador da Bahia, a city of contrasts, where Catholicism and Candomblé live side by side. The exotic cuisine reflects the African influences, the Pelourinho district is a delight with well preserved colonial buildings. The city celebrates the unique rhythms and dances that originate from the North-East of Brazil. The stay 3-nights in specially selected hotels including breakfast daily.

---

Tuesday, 24 June 2025

City Tour of Salvador

Our local guide will take you on an exploration of Salvador, visiting the city's markets, churches and the colourful Pelourinho district with colonial buildings lining the cobbled streets. Your guide will enthral you with stories of the city's dramatic history and fascinating culture. 

 

---

Wednesday, 25 June 2025

At leisure in Salvador 

Today is free to explore the city, its art galleries, museums, or take one of the excellent optional excursions. Or enjoy a relaxing day one of the many stunning beaches, perhaps enjoying some fresh, locally grilled fish for lunch. 

Thursday, 26 June 2025

Guided tour of Brasília

Take a morning flight to Brazil's capital city, Brasília. An ultra-modern metropolis, set out in the form of a primed bow and arrow, with the 'super-blocks' spanning out in large arches. We spend the afternoon visiting the main areas of interest including the Palacio de Alvorada and the famous Metropolitan Cathedral. Overnight in Brasilia on a bed and breakfast basis.

Friday, 27 June 2025

Guided tour of Manaus 

Morning flight to Manaus in the heart of the Brazilian Amazon. Manaus boomed in the 19th century with the arrival of the rubber barons and reminders of this grand era are everywhere to be seen. Our local guide will show you the grandiose Opera House, the municipal market where you can see the huge variety of exotic fruit and fish that can be found in the Amazon rainforest. Overnight in Manaus.

Saturday, 28 June 2025

Amazon rainforest cruise

We take a short flight into the heart of the Amazon to Tabatinga and continue to Leticia, an isolated fishing port bustling with trade between Peru, Colombia and Brazil. 

After an included lunch, embark our river boat, the Peruvian operated Phytelephas, for a 4-night adventure upstream on the Amazon River to Iquitos on a full board basis with daily excursions included. The ship has an authentic local design with three decks, cabins with private facilities, air-conditioning, lounge, dining room and large observation sun deck with a bar for cool drinks at sunset after the day's excursions. Enjoy daily excursions to observe the flora and fauna of the rainforest, the wildlife and local the villages along the remote riverbanks.

We leave the Amazon and cross the border into the Peruvian Amazon where the Amazon River is still a wide mass of freshwater with many local boats of all sizes laden with timber, local produce and other materials passing us by. Our route upstream towards Iquitos is a delight, with regular stops to explore the local communities that make this remote part of the world their home. 

---

Sunday, 29 June 2025

Amazon rainforest cruise

We leave the Amazon in Brazil and cross the border into the Peruvian Amazon. Here, the Amazon River is still a wide mass of freshwater with many local boats and crafts of all sizes laden with timber, local produce and other materials passing us by. Our route upstream towards Iquitos is a sheer delight, with regular stops to explore the local communities that make this remote part of the world their home.

---

Monday, 30 June 2025

Amazon rainforest cruise

Continue sailing on the Amazon towards Iquitos.

---

Tuesday, 01 July 2025

Amazon rainforest cruise

Cruising the Amazon to Iquitos.

Wednesday, 02 July 2025

Iquitos to Lima

The cruise arrives in Iquitos today, where we disembark and transfer to the airport, bound for Lima. On arrival, once you have checked into your hotel, you will have an arrival welcome briefing with your guide. We stay in Lima for 2-nights on a bed and breakfast basis.

 

---

Thursday, 03 July 2025

Guided tour of Lima 

This morning enjoy an included guided tour of Lima, visiting the grand colonial squares, the historic Plaza de Armas with buildings decorated with intricate wooden balconies and the Larco Herrera museum, which houses fascinating artefacts from pre-Inca and Inca times. The rest of the day is at leisure, a good opportunity to visit one of the sophisticated new restaurants offering excellent fusion cuisine. 

Friday, 04 July 2025

Fly to La Paz

Transfer to the airport and fly to La Paz, the world's highest capital city (3,636m), where you stay for 2 nights including breakfast. A fascinating city settled in a large basin, where adobe houses cling precariously to the sheer sides. 

---

Saturday, 05 July 2025

Guided tour of La Paz

Our local guide will escort you around the maze of streets and alleyways to visit colonial squares, churches and streets lined with little shops selling wonderful weavings, traditional musical instruments and jewellery. You tour continues to the witches' market, where charismatic ladies sell a range of herbs, bottled potions and amulets to cure all ills. 

Sunday, 06 July 2025

Lake Titicaca

Enjoy a drive on a scenic road, with the snow-capped cordillera in the background, to Lake Titicaca, the world's highest navigable lake. We skirt the lake, catching glimpses of the locals working the Inca terraces with the help of oxen and stop for lunch at the charming lakeshore village of Copacabana. We visit the church of Our Lady of Copacabana (the Patron Saint of Bolivia) and take a boat trip to Sun Island before crossing the border into Peru and continuing to Puno where you spend 2 nights (including breakfast) in a hotel overlooking the lake. 

---

Monday, 07 July 2025

Uros & Taquile Islands

Today we take a boat trip to the floating reed islands of Uros. Although the Uros Indians of these islands have intermarried with Aymaras and no pure-blooded Uros exist, many of the inhabitants of the islands still practice the old traditions of fishing, trapping birds and living on the lake plants. The totora reeds which grow abundantly in the shallows of the lake are used for their boats, houses and islands. We continue by boat to the beautiful island of Taquile, 3 hours from the mainland. The island is rocky and requires a steep climb to the town. It is famous for its fine weavings and the traditional dress of the inhabitants. 

Tuesday, 08 July 2025

Andean Explorer train to Cusco

This morning we board the luxurious Andean Explorer train to Cusco crossing the dramatic Andean landscape. Included lunch and afternoon tea will be served at your table, as you admire the passing panoramic scenery. The route takes you through beautiful Andean landscapes of snow covered mountains, past fields of grazing cattle, hot springs and small villages. Little stations crop up in the middle of the altiplano, or 'high plain', where local people wait to sell local food and handicrafts. On arrival in Cusco, you will be met by our representative and taken to your hotel in the Urubamba Valley "Sacred Valley of the Incas" for 2 nights on a bed and breakfast basis.

---

Wednesday, 09 July 2025

Guided tour of the Sacred Valley of the Incas

Up early today to enjoy a full day excursion of the Sacred Valley of the Incas (Urubamba Valley), affording stunning views of the fertile plains and Inca terracing. We visit the ruins of Ollantaytambo, scaling the hill above a charming Inca village, and Pisac ruins, which provide us with some of the most impressive examples of Inca masonry. After an included lunch, we continue to Pisac market, a colourful affair, where local food, alpaca weavings and handicrafts are sold. If there is time we may also drive back up to Pisac ruins for a great view at sunset of the Urubamba valley below. 

---

Thursday, 10 July 2025

At leisure

A day to relax at your chosen hotel or lodge or enjoy a trek (or other optional activities) in the stunning Sacred Valley.

Friday, 11 July 2025

Vistadome train to Machu Picchu

Today, with an air of great anticipation, we join Peru Rail's Vistadome train for a spectacular journey following the Urubamba River and culminating at the Inca citadel of Machu Picchu. Once at the ruins, you will have an included lunch, a private guided tour and free time to explore. We stay overnight in a nearby hotel on a bed and breakfast basis.

 

Saturday, 12 July 2025

Return to Cusco

This morning is free to explore Machu Picchu further or possibly climb Huayna Picchu or walk to Intipunku, the Gate of the Sun, at the end of the Inca Trail. After an included lunch, we take the Vistadome train back to Cusco, where you will stay for 3 nights (including breakfast daily).

---

Sunday, 13 July 2025

Cusco Tour

Enjoy a guided tour of Cusco, exploring the fascinating blend of Inca and colonial heritage. Beautiful colonial buildings rest upon Inca foundations unchanged over the centuries. We also visit the nearby Inca archaeological sites of Qenqo and Sacsayhuamán, an astounding megalithic structure, whose massive stones, weighing over 100 tons, fit together with incredible perfection. 

---

Monday, 14 July 2025

At leisure in Cusco

A full day at leisure in Cusco to explore the city, relax, take an optional extra excursion, or simply enjoy the surroundings and atmosphere of this magnificent city. 

Tuesday, 15 July 2025

Fly back to the UK

Transfer to the airport for your flight to Lima and connect with your overnight flight back to the UK.

---

Wednesday, 16 July 2025

Arrive in the UK

Arrive in the UK in the morning.