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South america
43 DaYS
Quito to Buenos Aires
An epic adventure crossing this great continent from east to west. The highlights come thick and fast as we journey from Ecuador, through Peru and Bolivia, to Argentina.
n colonial quito n aMazon jungle n banoS n devilS noSe rail adventure n cuenca n zorritoS beach n chan chan ruinS n colonial liMa n cuSco n the Sacred valley n 4-day inca trail trek n Machu Picchu n lake titicaca hoMeStay n la Paz n Sucre n PotoSi n uyuni Salt deSert n quebrada de huMahuaca n tilcara Pre-inca ruinS n colonial Salta n cordoba & the jeSuit MiSSionS n buenoS aireS
Days 10-14/Zorritos Beach - Chiclayo - Trujillo We travel in to Peru and on to Zorritos Beach. We spend a night here before heading to Chiclayo and then on to Trujillo where we explore the massive adobe ruins of Chan Chan and the imperial city of the Chimu Kingdom. Theres also a chance to enjoy time at Huanchaco surf beach, famous for its great surfing and reed fishing rafts. We then take the overnight bus to the capital of Lima. Days 15-18/Lima - Cusco We arrive in Lima where we have time to explore the excellent museums, galleries and religious sites of this colonial city. The local markets offer a range of handicrafts from all around the country and are well worth a visit. We then make our ascent to the former Inca capital of Cusco. The Plaza de Armas is the centre of the city and many cathedrals and museums are within walking distance. There is so much to explore in this region including the great Inca sites of Sacsayhuaman, Quenca and Tambo Machay and, further afield, the beautiful Sacred Valley and the fortress ruins of Pisac and Ollantaytambo. Days 19-23/Trekking the Inca Trail A major highlight of our trip is the amazing four-day trek along ancient Inca trails to Machu Picchu. For full details of this great hike refer to page 130. After our trek we have a final day in Cusco to relax and further explore this interesting city. Days 24-28/Lake Titicaca - La Paz A drive through picturesque mountain scenery brings us to Puno, on the shores of Lake Titicaca. We visit the floating reed islands and enjoy an overnight homestay with a local Uros Indian family a truly memorable experience! We farewell our new friends and travel in to Bolivia. We visit the beautiful village of Copacabana, where we see the local church housing the statue of the Black Madonna. Our next stop is the highest capital city in the world La Paz. Day 29/La Paz La Paz is waiting to be explored! Built in a huge canyon, the city is made up of an intriguing maze of cobblestone streets and there is plenty of free time to take it all in before we take an overnight bus bound for Sucre. Days 30-31/Sucre The historical city of Sucre is known for its well-preserved buildings that date from the 18th and 19th-century. A tour through the old city allows us to explore the Franciscan Monastery of La Recolta, the Museum of La Casa de la Libertad and the chapel of the Virgin of Guadalupe. Days 32-33/Potosi - Uyuni A short drive will take us to the town of Potosi. In colonial times, silver mining in the massive Cerro Rico mountain transformed this city into the biggest in the Americas. Well gain an insight in to this historic town on a tour of the city. On Day 33, we drive to Uyuni. Day 34/Uyuni Salt Desert We venture out and explore the fascinating salt plains of the Uyuni desert. A visit to the village of Jirira will allow us to enjoy spectacular views from the Tunupa Volcano. We return to Uyuni for the overnight train journey across this desolate landscape to Villazon.
Day 35/Humahuaca - Tilcara Our Bolivia stay comes to an end as we cross the border into Argentina. We are met by our Argentinean leader and travel through the stunning Humahuaca Gorge, a major trade route for thousands of years. We encounter some incredible scenery on our travels and we enjoy a visit to the Humahuaca and Uquia villages before arriving in the town of Tilcara for the night. Days 36-38/Salta An early start sees us rewarded with the magical sunrise at the famous seven colours mountain. We embark on a short trek in the area of Los Colorados and discover the beautiful surrounds. We then continue to Salta, Argentinas most traditional city, and enjoy the many fine buildings and the laid-back atmosphere of this colonial city. Optional side trips to the wonderful towns of Cachi and Cafayate are available. On Day 38 we take an overnight bus journey to Cordoba. Days 39-40/Cordoba Called the Heartland of Argentina for its location in the geographical centre of the country, Cordoba has a strong colonial history, much of which can be traced back to the Jesuit period. Well enjoy a walking tour of the colonial centre and, on a full day excursion into the surrounding countryside, well explore the Unesco World Heritage missions of Capilla de Candonga, Ascochinga, Santa Catalina and Santa Maria. Its a great outing and when we return to Cordoba in the evening well join the overnight bus to the capital. Days 41-43/Buenos Aires The vibrant city of Buenos Aires is sure to impress! It is one of the worlds cities and is home to grand avenues, bustling streets, old-world cafes, stylish restaurants and an exhuberant atmosphere. A guided walking tour will familiarise you with this great city before you head out to explore for yourself perhaps learn the tango or take in football match. Your journey comes to an end on the morning of Day 43. Why not consider adding on a trip to the magnificent Iguazu Falls before heading for home?
Days 1-2/Quito Our overland adventure begins in Ecuadors capital, Quito. The first two days are yours to explore old Quito, the great museums and the citys classic buildings. You may also choose to take advantage of the many of optional excursions, hikes and climbs in the surrounding area. Days 3-4/Amazon Jungle Leaving Quito, we descend in to the Amazon basin. A jungle lodge is our base for exploring the incredible Amazon Jungle and its abundance of flora and fauna. A local guide shares his expertise with us during our stay. Days 5-9/Banos - Rio Bamba - Cuenca We head to the quaint town of Banos, set in the mountains and dwarfed by the majestic Tungurahua Volcano. There is time to swim in the thermal baths or join some of the many optional adventure activities on offer. Rio Bamba is our next stop we spend a night here before boarding the Devils Nose train through incredible mountain scenery to the town of Cuenca. Here we explore the Inca ruins of Ingapirca.
Group size: Maximum 15. Grade: Active. Transport: boat, bus, canoe, mini-van, on foot, plane, taxi, train, trek. Accommodation: 3 nights camping, 2 nights jungle lodge, 1 night overnight train, 3 nights overnight bus, 32 nights hotel, 1 night homestay. Meals: 38 breakfasts, 6 lunches, 6 dinners. Local payment: Your tour leader will collect US$550 from each person on Day 1. Want more? Link this trip with another Geckos adventure: Complete Galapagos, Galapagos Adventure, Galapagos at a Glance, Amazing Iguazu. Tour Code: GSQB. Prices: See inside cover Further Info & Trip Notes: www.geckosadventures.co.uk/trips/gsqb
Starts Sun 2007 11-Nov 16-Dec Finishes Sun 23-Dec 27-Jan 2008 03-Feb 16-Mar 27-Apr 08-Jun 20-Jul 31-Aug 12-Oct 23-Nov 31-Aug 12-Oct 23-Nov 04-Jan 2009 04-Jan 15-Feb 15-Feb 29-Mar 29-Mar 10-May
trip info
16-Mar 27-Apr 08-Jun 20-Jul
COLOMBIA
Cuenca Tumbes Zorritos
ECUADOR
Quito
Mishuali Banos
BRAZIL
on River A ma z
PERU
Mancora Huanchaco Trujillo u Lima Machu Picchu u
Quito to Buenos Aires
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Cusco La Puno Paz BOLIVIA Copacabana Sucre Potosi Uyuni Villazon
CHILE
Tilcara Salta
PARAGUAY
Iguazu Falls
ARGENTINA
Santiago Cordoba ob Buenos Aires
URUGUAY
136
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inbro