South America Expedition
Chile, Argentina, Brazil and Peru - 2010 Flagship Expedition
Departure Dates:
- Jun 14, 2010 - Jul 30, 2010
Itinerary: 17 Days / 16 Nights
Day 1
Monday, June 14, 2010
Lima, Peru
Arrive Lima and transfer to the elegant Country Club Hotel, located in the exclusive San Isidro neighborhood of Lima. Gather this evening for a welcome reception and dinner.
Lodging: Country Club (D)
Day 2
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
San Pedro de Atacama, Chile
This morning fly by private air to the town of Calama, your gateway to the scenic Atacama desert. On arrival drive to San Pedro de Atacama, a tranquil oasis town located in the altiplano of northern Chile and surrounded by high volcanoes and stunning landscapes. Formerly the center of Atacama culture, San Pedro is the archeological capital of Chile. After lunch enjoy a short walking tour through the village's narrow dirt streets that are lined with adobe and cactus wood houses. Visit the church situated on one side of the square and shaded by capsicum trees that date from the 18th century. Continue to the Gustavo Le Paige Archeological and Ethnological Museum that houses a world renowned collection of ancient Indian mummies and pottery displays, and visit the informal markets. From the museum we drive south to the small village of Toconao, known for its carved stone work and white volcanic stone houses. Continue to the expansive Atacama salt flats and National Flamingo Reserve. In some places the salt layer opens into the Chaxa lake that are the favorite habitat of Chilean and Andean flamingos, Chilean coots, wild geese, rufous chested plovers, Baird turnstones, Andean gulls, rufous backed negritos, and Chilean burrowing owls. Return to hotel to freshen up before dinner.
Lodging: Explora Atacama (B,L,D)
Day 3
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
San Pedro de Atacama, Chile
Well before dawn depart for the Tatio Geysers, driving towards the high Andes and across the High Plateau, crowned by the spectacular Putama Volcano. Continue ascending to the famous Tatio Geysers that lie at 14,800 feet amid soaring peaks. View the geysers as the day's first light strikes the giant columns of steam that shoot from deep within the earth. Hike through the surrounding fumaroles, geysers and colorful mineral craters before descending to the valley floor and returning to our hotel for a relaxing afternoon. This evening depart for the Valley of the Moon, located in the salt mountain range that lies West of San Pedro and is composed of impressive geological formations, giant sand dunes, salt crystals.
Lodging: Explora Atacama (B,L,D)
Day 4
Thursday, June 17, 2010
San Pedro de Atacama, Chile
Today choose your own adventure. Take a horseback riding exploration into the desert or set off on a mountain bike through the desert trails and ridges.
Lodging: Explora Atacama (B,L,D)
Day 5
Friday, June 18, 2010
Salta, Argentina
Return by road to Calama to board your private aircraft for a flight to Northwest Argentina, an area known for its evocative landscapes, dramatic wind-carved rock formations and mountain passes tinted in vibrant rainbow colors. On arrival in Salta, the most colonial city in Argentina, depart on a city tour to include the Cathedral, an example of the old Spanish architecture, the charming San Francisco Church, the ancient City-Hall, the main square and the handicraft market ending at San Bernardo hill, a magnificent balcony overlooking the Lerma Valley. Return to the hotel for dinner and overnight
Lodging: Solar de la Plaza (B,L,D)
Day 6
Saturday, June 19, 2010
Purmamarca, Argentina
After breakfast depart by road for Humahuaca Gorge, recently declared Patrimonio de la Humanidad (Patrimony of Humanity) by UNESCO, and combines spectacular landscape with archaeological richness. As you proceed north, you'll visit agricole villages that produce fruits, vegetables and breed sheep. Arriving at Coctaca, learn about its pre-Hispanic cultivation terraces when you visit its archeological site. Enjoy a visit to Humahuaca and the archeological site of Zapagua where an aborigine guide will interpret and explain the history behind the ancient petroglyphics found there.
Lodging: El Manantial del Silencio (B,L,D)
Day 7
Sunday, June 20, 2010
Purmamarca, Argentina
Depart on a hike along the town of Purmamarca and visit the visually striking Cerro de los Siete Colores (hill of seven colors). Continue towards the Great Salt Lakes to be offered a tasting of regional dishes accompanied by a chef in a restaurant completely made of salt. Descend the winding Cuesta del Lipán on foot and return to the hotel for a siesta.
Lodging: El Manantial del Silencio (B,L,D)
Day 8
Monday, June 21, 2010
Pantanal, Brazil
After breakfast return to Salta and depart by private air for Cuiaba, Brazil. In Cuiaba set off for the Pantanal, driving about 1 hour and 10 minutes on paved roads to reach Poconé, the start of the Transpantaneira Road. The Transpantaneira is the finest and only year-round road that penetrates the heart of the 50 million acres of the Pantanal, the world's largest freshwater wetland. This gravel-and-dirt road offers a greater quantity and variety of wildlife than any other road in the Pantanal. Drive one hour and a half to two hours and a half observing and photographing wildlife, and in the afternoon, reach the Pantanal Wildlife Center at kilometer mark 66 of the road. The secluded lodge is less than a mile off the road, on its very own long, private driveway. Pantanal Wildlife Center was once called Fazenda Santa Tereza. The "Fazenda" was a traditional cattle ranch. Today, it is an eco-lodge on 3,500 hectares of flooded lands situated at the end of Rio Pixaim River, deep in the Pantanal. The Pantanal is one of the world's largest wilderness areas containing forests, meadows and open savannahs, and is home to an abundance of wildlife including rare birds, reptiles, fish and mammals This sub-tropical forest also includes important tree species such as lapacho, quebracho colorado (from which tannin is extracted), and guatambú, and includes an abundance of philodendrons and orchids.
Lodging: Pantanal Wildlife Center (B,L,D)
Day 9
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
Pantanal, Brazil
After breakfast depart for an early morning walk in the surrounding area. Return prior to lunch in time to relax. After lunch, depart by boat to tour of the Rio Pixaim. Pantanal Wildlife Center is an excellent location for bird watching. It is also one of the best sites for viewing wild giant otters from a distance of only 3 to 16 feet away. You'll be amazed at the size of these otters at 6 feet long and 70 pounds. You'll hear them interact through high-pitched hums and squeals. Often they will come close to the boat, craning their necks, and snorting loudly. Spend time viewing wildlife from the mobile canopy towers near fruiting trees. Electric catamarans are available for long-lens photography on the intimate, wildlife-rich river that flows next to the lodge. These floating blinds are designed to allow you to sneak up silently on mammals and birds along the banks of the river.
Lodging: Pantanal Wildlife Center (B,L,D)
Day 10
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
Pantanal, Brazil
Depart by road to the end of the Transpantaneira. The road dead-ends at the Cuiabá River, where you board boats and navigate an hour upstream to your base at the Jaguar Research Center. The Jaguar Research Center is located in the pristine, protected 270,000-acre Meeting of the Waters State Park. The park's name refers to the three navigable rivers that join inside it. The Jaguar Research Center is in a location that has the highest density of jaguars and jaguar sightings in the entire Pantanal. The habitat along this river allows for numerous jaguars to roam the area hunting their favorite dry-season prey: the abundant 4-7 foot caimans and plump capybaras.
Lodging: Jaguar Research Center (B,L,D)
Day 11
Thursday, June 24, 2010
Pantanal, Brazil
After an early breakfast, depart on a full day boat trip to observe the diversity of the animals in the region. We will watch for jaguars, tapirs, anteaters, giant otters, birds and other animals common to this region. We'll use small boats to explore narrow and wild rivers in the core of this huge park. Return to the Center at the end of the afternoon in time for dinner.
Lodging: Pantanal Wildlife Center (B,L,D)
Day 12
Friday, June 25, 2010
Urubamba Valley
Return to Cuiaba airport for a private flight to Cusco. Upon arrival at Cusco Airport, board vehicles for a transfer to the Sacred Valley to visit the colorful Pisaq market and its ruins. At an elevation of 8,500 feet, the Urubamba Valley, or Sacred Valley of the Incas, is the historic heart of the Inca Empire. It was intensively cultivated with terraces increasing its harvest several fold. Your accommodations here offer rustic Andean ambience surrounded by a landscape of whispering eucalyptus and the majestic mountains of the Andes on the flanks of the Cordillera Sur, where the Vilcanota River runs through the Sacred Valley of the Incas.
Lodging: Casa Andina (B,L,D)
Day 13
Saturday, June 26, 2010
Urubamba Valley
After breakfast depart for the fortress of Ollantaytambo, a formidable stone structure that climbs massive terraces to the top of a peak. The fortress is the site of the greatest Inca victory over the Spanish during the wars of conquest. After visiting Ollantaytambo drive through impressive mountain scenery and past Inca terraces to the private hacienda of the Orihuela family, who have farmed the valley for over 350 years. After lunch at their country mansion, visit their impressive collection of colonial art before heading to the town of Chincheros. Chincheros, one of the few places in the Sacred Valley that visibly maintains the Incan urban design: the remains of the Incan palace, the colonial church erected on stone foundations, and its impeccable cultivation terraces.
Lodging: Casa Andina (B,L,D)
Day 14
Sunday, June 27, 2010
Machu Picchu
You will be transferred to Ollanta station where you will catch the train to Machu Picchu. The 1.5-hour train journey follows the ever-narrowing gorge of the Urubamba River to Aguas Calientes town. On the way you will see picturesque Andean scenery and traditional villages. As we approach the Machu Picchu Sanctuary, the valley turns into a canyon and the vegetation changes to a cloud forest. Then you'll board a bus for a 30-minute drive up the switchback road to Machu Picchu and check into the Orient Express Sanctuary Lodge, just steps away from the archeological site. Once at the site and after an orientation by your guide, you'll have some time for a guided exploration of the fabled Inca citadel. Situated on the spine of a jungle cloaked granite peak towering some 600 meters above an entrenched meander of the roaring river below, the site is frequently shrouded in misty clouds pierced by the powerful equatorial sun. Constructed from precisely sculptured granite blocks carefully joined with the projecting exposed stone of the surrounding mountain, the site may well be the finest architectural achievement of the new world.
Lodging: Sanctuary Lodge (B,L,D)
Day 15
Monday, June 28, 2010
Machu Picchu/Cusco
In the morning, rise early take a private, guided visit of Machu Picchu. Morning visits, before the arrival of the majority of site visitors, provide a rare opportunity to appreciate your majestic surroundings in relative stillness. After lunch return to Cusco on the luxury Hiram Bingham dinner train, named for Hiram Bingham, the American explorer who stumbled on to Machu Picchu in 1911. On arrival into Cusco transfer to the luxurious Hotel Monasterio, originally built as a monestary in 1592, and reflecting a fusion of Spanish and Inca styles.
Lodging: Hotel Monasterio (B,L,D)
Day 16
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
Cusco, Peru
Depart this morning on a walking tour of Cusco's highlights including the Koricancha, temple of the Sun, the 12-angled stone, the Main Plaza, the Cathedral and much more. Then continue to visit the amazing Sacsayhuaman, a huge fortress of massive stones. Tonight enjoy a festive farewell celebration with a private performance by the Cusco Children's Choir.
Lodging: Hotel Monasterio (B,L,D)
Day 17
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
Lima, Peru
Drive to Cusco Airport for your commercial flight to Lima. On arrival into Lima connect with your overnight flight home.
Lodging: (B)
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