South America Highlights with Peru
South America Highlights with Peru
South America Highlights with Peru
16 Days Starting and ending in United Kingdom
Visiting: United Kingdom, Lima, Cusco, Sacred Valley, Pisac, Machu Picchu, Buenos Aires, Estancia Santa Susana, Iguazu Falls, Rio de Janeiro
Tour operator:
Tour code:
SHP
Guide Type:
Fully Guided
Group size:
1 - 50
Physical rating:
Please contact Riviera Travel if you have any concerns regarding the suitability of the holiday due to reduced mobility.
Age range:
9-99
Special diets catered:
Vegetarians, Please contact Riviera Travel with specific dietary requests.
Tour operated in:
EnglishTrip Styles:
Interests:
Activities:
From:
$6444 (USD) including Flights from the UKTour Overview
In the minds of many, Peru is inextricably associated with the Incas, the remarkable civilisation that, by the 16th century, had created one of the greatest empires in the world. Their territory stretched, in modern-day terms, from Colombia in the north, to Chile and Argentina in the south. Amazingly, this dominance was achieved without the benefit of the written word, ferrous metals, horses, currency or wheels. We stay for two days in the beautiful rural surroundings of the Sacred Valley, the bread basket of the Incas, and for two nights in Cusco, one of the oldest inhabited cities in the Americas. Nestling in dramatic Andean hills, it's among the continent's most interesting destinations. Immense, virtually earthquake-proof Incan walls line cobbled streets and form the foundations of some very well-preserved colonial buildings, reminiscent of medieval Spain. We see Cusco's cathedral, fabulous art and opulent treasure collections, as well as the main square where the conquistadors were almost overwhelmed.
Machu Picchu is the most striking image of Peru. One of the greatest archaeological discoveries of modern times, it is located along a ridge with a breathtaking landscape of rich rainforest, precipitous gorges and lofty peaks, stretching as far as the eye can see. Nothing prepares you for the excitement as you approach the site, and then the sheer exhilaration when it comes into view. You ascend a slope and, suddenly, there it is - the classic view you've seen in countless photographs, but all the more magnificent when seen firsthand.
Argentina, the second-largest country in South America, is known for its gauchos (cowboys), its huge steaks, its excellent wines, and the invention of the tango. We'll sample all of these during our three-night stay in Buenos Aires - sophisticated, cosmopolitan and the most 'European' of the South American capitals. With its wide tree-lined avenues, cafe culture and upmarket boutiques, Buenos Aires cannot fail to surprise and delight you.
Iguazu Falls may not be as well-known as Niagara or Victoria Falls, but it outshines them all in its sheer scale and majesty! Spanning the border between Argentina and Brazil, each side has its own particular attractions. Don't miss the chance to experience the falls from below on our exciting optional jetboat trip.
Highlights
Itinerary
Day 1 : Departure
Location: United Kingdom, Lima
Accommodation: Overnight Flight
Meals Included: No Meals
Arrive at the airport for your overnight flight to Lima, via São Paulo.
Day 2 : Arrival In Lima
Location: Lima
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Casa Andina Select Miraflores
Meals Included: No Meals
On arrival, we transfer by coach to Lima. In the afternoon, we’ll see the Presidential Palace, the Plaza del Armas and the charming Baroque San Francisco church, in the central and UNESCO listed colonial area of the city.
Day 3 : Sacred Valley
Location: Cusco
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Casa Andina Premium Valle Sagrado Hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast
Today we fly to Cusco, the ancient capital of the Incas. To help you acclimatise to the altitude, we spend two nights at the slightly lower altitude of the Urubamba Valley, the ‘Sacred Valley of the Incas’, just below Cusco.
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Day 4 : Pisac & Sacred Valley
Location: Sacred Valley, Pisac
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Casa Andina Premium Valle Sagrado Hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch
We spend the day in the Sacred Valley, firstly visiting Pisac, famous for its colourful indigenous market with a huge range of local handicrafts. It’s a fantastic sight, full of traditionally dressed locals bartering for all kinds of produce. All sorts of handicraft are available, too, from vibrant handmade rugs and ponchos in bright reds and yellows, to local ceramics and a wide variety of llama and alpaca knitwear.
After an included lunch, we visit the impressive hillside fortress of Ollantaytambo, the site of a rare Conquistador defeat. You can examine the astonishingly intricate and precise Incan stonework, all fashioned using stone tools.
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Day 5 : Machu Picchu
Location: Machu Picchu, Sacred Valley, Cusco
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Hotel Costa Del Sol Ramada
Meals Included: Breakfast
Today you’ll experience one of the highlights of your tour. We board the Explorer train on one of the world’s most spectacular rail journeys through the increasingly narrow Urubamba River gorge to the legendary Machu Picchu. As we descend, the scenery changes from semiarid brush and cactus to dense, lush rainforest. Below us the river rushes headlong into numerous rapids, whilst above the precipitous
sides of the gorge rise to dizzying heights.
Nothing can prepare you for your first sight of the ‘Lost City of the Incas’, the only Inca settlement never discovered or destroyed by the Spanish – its wonder and mystique are simply astounding. No one knows why it was built in such an inaccessible spot or why it was mysteriously abandoned. Set along a high ridge, it was rediscovered in 1910 by Hiram Bingham, an American explorer. We return by train to the Sacred Valley, from where we drive to Cusco.
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Day 6 : Cusco
Location: Cusco
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Hotel Costa Del Sol Ramada
Meals Included: Breakfast
Cusco is a mixture of colonial architecture interspersed with fascinating Inca remains. The main square, nestling within a maze of narrow streets and quaint plazas, has been the city centre since Inca times. Today, it’s thesite of the 16th-century cathedral, so huge it took a hundred years to complete. We visit the Qorichancha, the Incan temple to the sun, the ‘navel’ of their world and originally covered in sheets of pure gold. Although a Spanish convent was built over the Inca temple, many of the internal walls remain. Cusco is such a beautiful city, with so many fascinating corners to explore, that this afternoon is free for you to make your own discoveries. Our hotel is centrally located, so you can easily walk
everywhere.
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Day 7 : Flight To Buenos Aires
Location: Lima, Buenos Aires
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: 725 Continental Hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast
This morning we fly back to Lima to connect with our flight to Buenos Aires in Argentina, arriving late in the afternoon.
Day 8 : Pampas Ranch
Location: Estancia Santa Susana
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: 725 Continental Hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch
After breakfast, we drive out of the city to the Pampas plains to the west of Buenos Aires. Our destination is the Estancia Santa Susana, originally created by Irish migrants and today still a working ranch spread across almost 3,000 acres. The original house is beautifully preserved and gives a fascinating insight into life here during the late 19th century. The ranch has plenty of horses and in true gaucho tradition, you’ll see them showing off their equestrian skills. An excellent lunch is included featuring Argentinian beef on the barbecue, which you can enjoy with local songs and dances.
Day 9 : Buenos Aires & Tango Show
Location: Buenos Aires
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: 725 Continental Hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Today we explore the fascinating metropolis of Buenos Aires. Known as the Paris of South America, with its wide tree-lined avenues, squares, parks and grand public buildings, it exudes an unmistakable style. We’ll visit the Plaza de Mayo and the pink-coloured Presidential Palace, from where Evita Peron used to speak to huge rallies. We’ll see the colourful barrios (districts) of San Telmo and La Boca, and also visit Recoleta Cemetery to see Evita Peron’s final resting place. This evening we enjoy a visit to one of the city’s best tango shows, with dinner included.
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Day 10 : Fly To Iguazu Falls
Location: Iguazu Falls
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Mercure Iguazu Hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast
This morning we take the short flight to Iguazu Falls, arriving in the mid-afternoon. And spend the afternoon seeing Iguazu Falls from the Brazilian side
Day 11 : Iguazu Falls
Location: Iguazu Falls
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Mercure Iguazu Hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast
The Argentinian side of the falls is known for its numerous viewpoints including the stunning Devils’ Throat balcony. There are many small and large falls, which are easily accessed by wooden boardwalks through the lush forest surrounding the falls. We also catch the charming open-sided ‘jungle train’ to the head of the falls. For the more adventurous, there is the option to take a jetboat ride to the foot
of the falls on the Iguazu river – you will get seriously wet!
Day 12 : Fly To Rio De Janeiro
Location: Rio de Janeiro
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Windsor Leme
Meals Included: Breakfast
We cross the border to the Brazilian side of the falls, where you are literally surrounded by falling water! There’s also the option of arranging a helicopter flight over the falls.
In the afternoon, we take the short flight to Rio de Janeiro, where we stay three nights with breakfast at the new three-star superior Arena Leme Hotel, perfectly located right on Copacabana beach. All our rooms have stunning sea views.Â
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Day 13 : Rio De Janeiro
Location: Rio de Janeiro
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Windsor Leme
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch
Today we visit the statue of Christ the Redeemer, one of the highlights of the tour. Reached by a Swiss-built cog railway through the Tijuca Forest National Park, the granite peak stands at 2,300ft, with the statue itself a further 100ft tall. The views in all directions are simply outstanding. On return to sea level, we take a walk through Rio’s charming Botanical Gardens before our included lunch of Brazilian barbecued meats (a vegetarian option is available).Â
Day 14 : Rio De Janeiro
Location: Rio de Janeiro
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Windsor Leme
Meals Included: Breakfast
This morning we board the breathtaking two-stage cable car to the top of Sugarloaf Mountain, which overlooks some of Rio’s most spectacular bays and beaches. We follow this with a tour through the centre of Rio and an included lunch at one of the city’s most iconic restaurants, the beautiful belle-époque Confeitaria Colombo.Â
Day 15
Location: Rio de Janeiro
Accommodation: Overnight Flight
Meals Included: Breakfast
Transfer to the airport for your return flight
Day 16 : Arrive Home
Location: United Kingdom
Meals Included: No Meals
Arrive back in the UK after a truly memorable tour.
What's Included
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Accommodation
13 nights’ accommodation
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Airport Transfers at Destination
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All Domestic Transportation (including internal flights)
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Meals
Daily breakfast and five meals
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International Travel
Scheduled flights to Lima and returning from Rio de Janeiro, as well as all internal flights
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Fully Guided
The services of a Riviera Travel tour manager
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Hotel porterage of one item of luggage per person
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All tours as mentioned
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All transfers
What's Not Included
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Tipping and Gratuities
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Insurance
Check out our Q&As
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Are flights included in this tour?
Scheduled flights to Lima and returning from Rio de Janeiro, as well as all internal flights
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Will there be an escort accompanying this tour?
Yes
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Will I know the names and details of all the accommodation before I depart?
Yes
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Is there any free time to explore places during the tour?
As detailed in the itinerary
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Are airport transfers included in this tour?
Yes
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Are the local guides on the tour English speaking?
Yes
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What is the standard of the hotels on this tour?
As detailed in the itinerary
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Is the tour coach air conditioned?
Yes
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Are children permitted to take part in the tour?
We are unable to accommodate children under 9 years old at the date of departure..
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Are all the relevant entry visa’s included in the price of the tour?
No
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How long has the tour company been trading?
For almost 40 years
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I have reduced mobility; can I still travel?
We want to ensure you make the correct choice before you book your holiday with us. If you have any concerns regarding the suitability of the holiday due to reduced mobility we would encourage you to contact us to discuss these concerns
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Do I require travel insurance?
It is a condition of booking that you carry suitable travel insurance.
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What is my luggage allowance?
You will receive details of your luggage allowance with your final travel documents, which are sent approximately 10 days prior to your date of departure.
Reviews of this Operator
Dates & Availability
Sunday - Monday
Sep 22, 2024 - Oct 07, 2024Sunday - Monday
Oct 20, 2024 - Nov 04, 2024Sunday - Monday
Nov 10, 2024 - Nov 25, 2024Sunday - Monday
Mar 16, 2025 - Mar 31, 2025Sunday - Monday
May 18, 2025 - Jun 02, 2025Sunday - Monday
Sep 28, 2025 - Oct 13, 2025Sunday - Monday
Oct 12, 2025 - Oct 27, 2025Sunday - Monday
Nov 09, 2025 - Nov 24, 2025Book with Confidence
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Low Deposit
Riviera Travel requires a minimum deposit of 500 GBP per person or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 75 days before departure.
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Cancellation Policy
We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of riviera travel charges.
Up to 75 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.
At 74 days before tour starts: Forfeit 50% of booking price.
At 60 days before tour starts: Forfeit 70% of booking price.
At 30 days before tour starts: Forfeit 90% of booking price.
At 14 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of booking price.
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Terms and Conditions