Explore 6 South American Countries in 16 Days

Arrival in Bogota

We meet our team at Istanbul Airport early in the morning. After a flight of approximately 14 hours with Turkish Airlines, we arrive in Bogota, the capital of Colombia. Upon arrival, we head to Monserrate Hill. We take the funicular to the top to enjoy panoramic views of Bogota and take photos. At the end of the day, we check into our hotel to rest in the cool breeze from the Andes Mountains.

Our Istanbul (IST) - Bogota (BOG) flight TK 800 departs at 08:05 and arrives at 15:50.

We stay at the 4-star NH Collection Bogotá Terra 100 Royal or a similar hotel.

Salt Cathedral to Lima

We begin the day with a journey to Zipaquira, north of Bogota, known as the salt capital. Here, we visit the Salt Cathedral, carved into underground salt rock and known for its architecture. We then return to Bogota to visit the Gold Museum, which displays gold artifacts thousands of years old, and explore the historic Candelaria neighborhood, known for its colorful streets. In the evening, we fly to Lima, the capital of Peru, to learn about the Inca civilization.

Our flight with Wingo Airlines from Bogota (BOG) to Lima (LIM) is scheduled for 21:38 - 00:56 (+1).

We stay at the 4-star Casa Andina Standard Miraflores or a similar hotel.

Exploring colonial Lima

Today, we explore the streets of Lima on the Pacific Ocean coast, where traces of the colonial era remain. After photographing the Presidential Palace and Lima Cathedral in Plaza de Armas square, we visit San Francisco Monastery, known for its underground passages. We then head to Miraflores and take a break at Love Park, overlooking the Pacific. We visit the Larco Museum, which presents Peru's 5000 years of history in chronological order.

We have lunch at a local restaurant during the tour.

We stay at the 4-star Casa Andina Standard Miraflores or a similar hotel.

Onward to Cusco

Early in the morning, we fly to Cusco, located in the Andes and the former capital of the Inca Empire. Our flight with LATAM Airlines from Lima (LIM) to Cusco (CUZ) is scheduled for 06:40 - 08:05. Upon arrival, we visit Korikancha (Golden Temple), where Inca stonework lies beneath Spanish architecture, and Cusco Cathedral. We then explore San Pedro Market, see local products and learn about Andean culture.

Dinner will be served at the hotel. Overnight accommodation will be at the 4-star Sonesta Hotel Cusco or similar hotels.

Sacred Valley and Ollantaytambo

We set off for the Sacred Valley, which stretches along the Urubamba River in the Andes. We have free time in the market and town of Pisac, where local people continue to barter using traditional methods. We then explore the ancient town of Ollantaytambo, built on the edge of a cliff. Here, we examine how the Incas joined large stones without mortar, using precise measurements. This visit introduces us to Inca construction techniques before our trip to Machu Picchu tomorrow.

We have lunch at a local restaurant during the Sacred Valley tour.

Accommodation will be at the 4-star Pakaritampu Hotel or similar hotels.

Machu Picchu

Early in the morning, we board the glass-roofed Vistadome train at Ollantaytambo station and travel along the Urubamba River to the town of Aguas Calientes. We then take a short bus ride to Machu Picchu, the lost city of the Incas that remained hidden for thousands of years. With commentary from our guide, we explore the city's stone structures, terraces and sacred temples. At the end of the day, we return by train and check into our hotel in Cusco.

Round-trip transport is provided by the Vistadome Panoramic Train. We have lunch at a local restaurant during the tour. Accommodation is at the 4-star Sonesta Hotel Cusco or similar hotels.

On to Santiago

Today we leave the Inca lands and travel to Santiago, the capital of Chile, located in the foothills of the Andes. Upon arrival, we go up San Cristobal Hill for panoramic views of the city. We then visit the Cathedral in the historic Plaza de Armas square. After walking through streets with European influences, we check in to our hotel.

Our flight LA 2367 from Cusco (CUZ) to Santiago (SCL) departs at 08:50 and arrives at 14:15.

We stay at the 4-star Mercure Santiago Centro or similar hotels.

Valparaiso and Viña del Mar

We travel to Valparaiso, a UNESCO World Heritage Site on Chile's Pacific coast. In this port city known for its bohemian character, we see colorful houses built on steep hillsides, historic funiculars and street art. During our visit, we ride Valparaiso's historic hillside funiculars and follow in Pablo Neruda's footsteps. We then head to Viña del Mar, the Garden City, known for its modern beaches and gardens. After a day accompanied by ocean breezes, we return to Santiago in the evening.

We stay at the 4-star Mercure Santiago Centro or a similar hotel.

Arrival in Buenos Aires

We fly over the Andes and arrive in Buenos Aires, known as the Paris of the South. Upon arrival, we begin exploring the city, known for its wide boulevards and historic buildings. In the evening, we prepare to watch a world-famous Tango Show with dinner in Argentina, the birthplace of tango. The Tango Show with dinner is offered at an extra cost.

Our flight AR 1285 from Santiago (SCL) to Buenos Aires (AEP) operates from 12:20 - 14:25.

We stay at the 4-star 725 Conti Hotel or similar hotels.

Buenos Aires and Colonia

We begin the day with visits to some of Buenos Aires' landmarks: the Obelisk, Plaza de Mayo and the pink Presidential Palace (Casa Rosada). We then explore La Boca, known for its colorful houses, and Recoleta, known for its aristocratic character. In the afternoon, guests who wish to join us take a ferry across the Rio de la Plata River for a day trip to Colonia del Sacramento, a historic city in Uruguay that retains its colonial character.

Transportation to Colonia (Uruguay) is by ferry.

Accommodation is at the 4-star 725 Conti Hotel or similar hotels.

Tigre Delta boat trip

We leave the city for the Tigre Delta, known for its river channels and island life. During a boat tour on the Paraná River delta, we observe riverside villas and wildlife. On our return, we have free time at the San Telmo market in Buenos Aires or among the antique shops.

Accommodation will be at the 4-star 725 Conti Hotel or similar hotels.

Iguazu Falls

We arrive in Iguazu, one of the world's largest waterfall systems, on a morning flight. The falls can be viewed from both Argentina and Brazil. We walk to the point known as Devil's Throat to observe the power of the water. After our walk through the tropical forest, we check in to our hotel on the Brazilian side.

Our flight AR 1720 from Buenos Aires (AEP) to Iguazu (IGR) departs at 09:30 and arrives at 11:20.

We stay at the 4-star Bourbon Cataratas Do Brasil Resort or a similar hotel.

On to Rio de Janeiro

We leave Iguazu and fly to Rio de Janeiro. Upon arrival, we visit Copacabana and Ipanema beaches. For dinner, we enjoy meat dishes at Brazil's Churrascaria restaurants.

Our flight G3 1075 departs from Iguazu (IGU) at 14:10 and arrives in Rio (GIG) at 16:00.

We stay at the 4-star Windsor Excelsior Copacabana or a similar hotel.

Corcovado and Sugar Loaf

We take the train up Corcovado Mountain, home to the Christ the Redeemer statue, a symbol of Rio voted one of the seven wonders of the world. From here, we enjoy a 360-degree view of the city. We then take the cable car up Sugar Loaf Mountain to see the views of the Atlantic Ocean and Guanabara Bay.

Today's activity is a tour of the Christ the Redeemer statue and a cable car ride up Sugar Loaf Mountain.

Accommodation is at the 4-star Windsor Excelsior Copacabana or similar hotels.

Return journey begins

During the first half of the day, we finish our last shopping and sightseeing in Rio before transferring to the airport. For the return journey of our 16-day trip, we fly first with Gol Airlines, then with Turkish Airlines.

After our tour, we transfer to the airport and depart for São Paulo at 21:40 with Gol Airlines. After a flight of approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes, we arrive at São Paulo Guarulhos Airport at 22:55. We complete our baggage and ticket procedures and go through passport control. We then depart from SAO PAULO for Istanbul at 04:05 on a scheduled Turkish Airlines flight.

Arrival in Istanbul

We arrive at Istanbul Airport in the afternoon. This marks the end of our Grande South America tour, covering 6 countries from Colombia to Brazil.