Brazil — The Americas — Explore Worldwide 2008/09 online holiday brochure

THE AMERICAS Salt desert' at Uyuni/John Carr BRAZIL * BOLIVIA * PERU Rio to Lima Explorer Ref RLE JFMAMJJASOND JFMA 29 DAYS HOTELS/HOSTALS/LODGE/SLEEPER TRAIN/SLEEPER BUS ANDEAN CROSSING FROM ATLANTIC TO PACIFIC Machu Picchu AGUAS CALIENTES BRAZIL The spectacular Iguacu Falls/Elaine Jones Pure Brazil Rio to Lima Explorer Ref RLE BOLIVIA BRAZIL MATO GROSSO Wildlife Reserve Campo BONITO Grande Ref BR JFMAMJJASOND JFMA 17 DAYS HOTELS/LODGE NATURE AT ITS FINEST LIMA CUSCO Ancient Inca capital LAKE TITICACA ISLA DEL SOL LA PAZ SANTA CRUZ DE LA SIERRA SUCRE POTOS� Silver mines PERU PACIFIC OCEAN PUNO Copacabana PUERTO QUIJARRO PANTANAL LODGE Puerto Suarez Miranda Colonial port UYUNI Salt Plains Brazil is home to many of the highlights of South America. On this trip, we aim to visit many of these including the world renowned Rio de Janeiro, the Pantanal Wildlife Reserve, the mighty Amazon and colonial Salvador. RIO DE JANEIRO Sugarloaf PARATI PA R A G U AY Sao Paulo CHILE km 0 ARGENTINA 1000 ILHA mountain GRANDE ATLANTIC OCEAN A challenging journey of discovery that takes us from the diverse fauna and flora of Brazil's Pantanal to the breathtaking Altipano of Bolivia, finally following the mighty Urubamba river to the Andean citadel of Machu Picchu. Stroll through colonial towns, swim in the Rio Negro, walk on the salt plains at Uyuni and watch the sun setting on Lake Titicaca. Rio de Janeiro & Pantanal From the carnival city of Rio we head south to the tropical island of Ilha Grande. Here we can explore jungle trails or snorkel from the island's wild and unspoilt beaches. Continuing on to the colonial port of Parati, we discover a charming town of cobbled streets, fine houses and flower-filled courtyards. We then fly west into the heart of the Pantanal, a vast area of wetland and one of the best places to see wild mammals and exotic birds in the whole of the Americas. Potosi Silver & Salt Plains Leaving Brazil behind us, we travel by train into the lush foothills of the Bolivian Andes and to the sleepy but captivating town of Sucre. From here, our route takes us on an incredible journey to Potosi where we will visit a mine in 'Silver Mountain' and wander through splendid colonial buildings. The Pantanal Wildlife Reserve/Chris Siviter Altiplano beckons and at Uyuni we drive out to the largest salt lake on the planet an astonishing, icy-looking pan with distant mountains and rugged volcanoes suspended beneath intense blue skies. Sacred Valley & Machu Picchu Taking a boat across Lake Titicaca, the highest navigable body of water in the world, we spend a memorable night on Isla del Sol before continuing on to Puno. One of the highlights of the trip will surely be the remarkable train ride to Cusco, a route that crosses high passes, valley bottoms and follows the surging torrents of the Urubamba River. Our final days can be spent exploring the sites and markets of the Sacred Valley and fittingly concludes at the fabled lost Inca city of Machu Picchu. Rio de Janeiro & Igua�u Falls South America is nothing if not a culture shock, and arriving in Rio we gradually acclimatise' with a range of excursions, from the cultural delights of the historic centre to the famous Sugar Loaf mountain, reached by cablecar or even with the chance to test your samba skills! We then spend time at one of the world's greatest and most impressive cataracts Igua�u Falls. Pantanal Wildlife We fly into the heart of the Mato Grosso region to explore the Pantanal Wildlife Reserve, habitat for an amazing variety of species including jabiru, scarlet macaws, piranhas and jacares! We then fly on to Manaus, the isolated capital of the vast Amazonas region, clustered around the lavish opera/theatre where Sarah Bernhardt once played. Amazon Rainforest & Colonial Salvador Taking a launch, we spend two nights in the Amazon rainforest at our lodge. We have time to explore the area by canoe and on foot. Finally we end our journey in Salvador, one of the continent's most atmospheric cities, rich in colonial architecture and African rhythms. IGUACU FALLS Devil's Throat' ARGENTINA 0 km 1000 Pa r an � Essential information, departure dates & prices see Pricing & Information Supplement L A N O T I P A L Pure Brazil Ref BR Amazonian Capital MANAUS Am AMAZONIA Lodge Jungle walks azo n AT L A N T I C OCEAN FACTFILE Itinerary Day 1 Fly London/Rio de Janeiro. 2 Arrive Rio. 3 In Rio; city tour and cablecar to Sugar Loaf. 4 Fly Igua�u. 5 At Igua�u; visit Falls. 6 Fly Cuiaba. 7 Drive into Pantanal Wildlife Reserve; game viewing by boat and on foot. 8 & 9 In the Pantanal. 10 Return to Cuiaba; fly Manaus via Brasilia. 11 Boat to Jungle Lodge. 12 In Amazonia; jungle walks; alligator spotting; Meeting of the Waters'. 13 Boat and bus to Manaus; fly Salvador. 14 & 15 In Salvador; city tour. 16 Fly London. 17 Arrive London. Accommodation & Meals: 9nts hotel, 5nts lodge; 14 breakfasts, 5 lunches & 5 dinners included. See insert p2. Mode of Travel: Minibus/Launches/Bus/Flights as itinerary. Comment: An unforgettable adventure to the contrasting highlights of Brazil. Tour Staff & Support: Explore Tour Leader plus driver(s), boatmen and some local guides. Group Size: Approx. 14 to 18. BRAZIL MATO GROS SO BOLIVIA Colonial Capital SALVADOR Brasilia CUIABA PANTANAL FACTFILE Itinerary Day 1 Fly London/Rio de Janeiro. 2 & 3 In Rio; tour and cablecar to Sugar Loaf, time at leisure. 4 Drive and boat to Ilha Grande. 5 Optional boat trip and snorkelling. 6 Boat and drive to Parati. 7 Drive Sao Paolo; fly Campo Grande, drive Bonito. 8 In Bonito; optional Blue Lake Cave. 9 Drive to the Pantanal and boat trip on Miranda and Negro Rivers. 10 Full day exploring the Pantanal. 11 AM in the Pantanal; PM drive to Puerto Quijarro (Bolivia). 12 Optional visit to monkey reserve or boat trip; train to Santa Cruz de la Sierra. 13 Arrive Santa Cruz, fly Sucre; orientation tour. 14 Day at leisure, optional trip to Bolivian countryside. 15 Drive to Potosi, city tour. 16 Visit silver mines; drive to Uyuni. 17 Full day exploring salt plains; public bus to La Paz. 18 Arrive La Paz; city tour. 19 In La Paz; optional visit to the Yungas. 20 Drive Copacabana, boat to Isla del Sol. 21 Boat and drive to Puno (Peru); visit Sullistani (optional). 22 Train to Cusco. 23 Optional visit to Sacred Valley and Pisac Market. 24 Train to Aguas Calientes; visit Machu Picchu. 25 Revisit Machu Picchu; train to Cusco. 26 Day at leisure in Cusco. 27 Fly Lima, optional city tour. 28 Fly London. 29 Arrive London. Accommodation & Meals: 21nts hotel, 2nts lodge, 2 nts hostals, 1 nt sleeper train, 1nt overnight bus; 25 breakfasts, 2 lunches & 2 dinners included. See insert p2. Mode of Travel: Train/Boat/Minicoach/Public bus/Flights as itinerary. Comment: An unforgettable journey crossing through the contrasting landscapes of 3 of South America's most incredible countries. There are 2 long journeys, on an overnight train and on a comfortable overnight bus. Uneven dirt roads are the norm in the Pantanal, all other roads are generally well paved. Tour Staff & Support: Explore Tour Leader plus driver(s), boatmen and some local guides. Group Size: Approx. 14 to 18. Wildlife Reserve Game viewing by boat & on foot PA R AG UA Y Cablecar to Sugarloaf Sao RIO DE JANEIRO Paulo Enjoying Ipanema Beach, Rio de Janeiro/Karen Ward 221

The Americas contd… Brazil