Peru and Brazil group travel

Transfer Airport - Hotel The Peruvian capital Lima was founded in 1535 by the Spanish conqueror Francisco Pizarro. Here, one encounters both the crumbling glory of the colonial era and the vibrant vitality of an oriental market. There are melancholically overcast winters and pleasantly warm summers, and alongside extensive poverty-stricken areas stand venerable buildings in quiet, noble corners, where the evening air is scented with jasmine. Upon arrival in Lima, the transfer from the airport to the hotel takes place. Midrange: Overnight stay at the Hilton Garden Inn Lima Miraflores 4* or similar standard room. Comfort class: Overnight stay at the Casa Andina Premium Miraflores 4* or similar superior room.

Included meals: Breakfast Half-day city tour including San Francisco Monastery and Larco Museum (5h) During a city tour of Lima, you visit the colonial downtown with the Plaza de Armas, surrounded by magnificent buildings such as the Government Palace, the Town Hall, the Archbishop's Palace, and the Cathedral. Following this, the San Francisco Monastery with its catacombs and the largest collection of religious art in the Americas is scheduled. Then, the route leads to the restored Plaza San Martín. Continuing through the modern districts of San Isidro and Miraflores to the Pacific coast, where you can enjoy the view over the sea. Finally, you visit the Larco Museum, which presents over 45,000 pre-Columbian artworks, including ceramics, gold and silver pieces, textiles, and an extraordinary collection of erotic pottery from the Moche culture. Midrange: Overnight stay at the Hilton Garden Inn Lima Miraflores 4* or similar standard room. Comfort class: Overnight stay at the Casa Andina Premium Miraflores 4* or similar superior room.

Included meals: Breakfast Transfer Hotel – Airport Lima Flight Lima – Cusco (not included) Transfer Airport Cusco – Hotel in the Urubamba Valley with a visit to the Chinchero community and the Chinchero market along the way After the transfer to the airport in Lima, the onward flight to Cusco takes place. Your adventure vacation begins today. Your excursion today starts with a visit to the Chinchero community, located about 28 km from Cusco. Here you find the ruins of the palace of the Inca Tupac Yupanqui as well as beautiful colonial temples built on the foundations of Inca structures. Particularly remarkable is the Sunday market in Chinchero, where local producers from the Sacred Valley showcase their goods. This lively market delights visitors with a variety of handicrafts and textiles in the original pre-Columbian style. A transfer follows to the viewpoint “El Mirador de Racchi”, from where you enjoy a wonderful view of the Sacred Valley. Afterwards, you will be taken to your hotel. Midrange: Overnight stay at the Sonesta Posada del Inca Yucay 3-4* or similar (standard room) Comfort class: Overnight stay at the Aranwa Sacred Valley Hotel & Wellness 4-5* or similar (deluxe room).

Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch Half-day excursion to the Ollantaytambo ruins (4h) Today’s program includes a visit to Ollantaytambo, one of the most significant ruins from the Inca era. The massive fortress was one of the few places where the Spaniards lost a major battle during the conquest of Peru. Below the ruins lies Ollantaytambo, built on the foundations of Inca constructions. Ollantaytambo is one of the best examples of Inca urban planning, with the site having more religious than defensive significance. The temple district is located at the top of the terraces. The stones for the buildings came from a mountain 6 km away on the opposite bank of the Urubamba. The transport from the quarry to the construction site was a remarkable feat that required the labor of thousands of indigenous people. Lunch in a typical restaurant. Midrange: Overnight stay at the Sonesta Posada del Inca Yucay 3-4* or similar (standard room) Comfort class: Overnight stay at the Aranwa Sacred Valley Hotel & Wellness 4-5* or similar (deluxe room).

Included meals: Breakfast Full-day excursion to Machu Picchu (8h) In the morning, you will take the Vistadome train from Ollantaytambo through the Urubamba Valley to Aguas Calientes. From there, you will take shuttle buses up the winding road to Machu Picchu. The ruin city, discovered in 1911 by Hiram Bingham, is considered a hidden refuge of the Incas or a research and training site. After about a 2-hour guided tour of Machu Picchu, you will return to Aguas Calientes and continue by train to Ollantaytambo. Afterwards, you will be taken to your hotel in Cusco. Midrange: Overnight stay at the Xima Cusco 3-4* or similar (standard room) Comfort class: Overnight stay at the Aranwa Cusco Boutique 5* or similar (deluxe room).

Included meals: Breakfast Half-day city tour including ruins (3h) In the morning, a half-day city tour begins through Cusco, once the capital of the Inca Empire and the center of the Andes. You visit the Plaza de Armas with the cathedral built on the ruins of an Inca palace, as well as the Korikancha, the ancient sun temple of the Incas. Afterwards, the path leads through the picturesque colonial streets to Sacsayhuaman, an impressive fortress ruin with panoramic views over Cusco, and other nearby ruins. In the afternoon, you have free time. Midrange: Overnight stay at the Xima Cusco 3-4* or similar (standard room) Comfort class: Overnight stay at the Aranwa Cusco Boutique 5* or similar (deluxe room).

Included meals: Breakfast Day at leisure The day is at leisure. The following excursions can be optionally booked on site: Optional: Full-day excursion to the Rainbow Mountain (12h) - on a group basis The tour starts early at 5:30 AM with a transfer from the hotel. After a 1.5-hour drive to Tintinco, you will have breakfast before continuing to the community of Wasi Pata. From here, a hike of about 1 hour and 40 minutes begins through the Red Valley with a view of the Ausangate mountain range. Along the way, you may observe herds of alpacas and llamas. At Vinicunca Mountain (5,040 m), the Rainbow Mountain, you will be greeted with impressive views of the colorful sediment layers and the surrounding valley. After about 30 minutes on site, you return to Wasi Pata, where the vehicle waits. After a lunch on the way, you will return to Cusco and arrive around 5:30 PM. Midrange: Overnight stay at the Xima Cusco 3-4* or similar (standard room) Comfort class: Overnight stay at the Aranwa Cusco Boutique 5* or similar (deluxe room).

Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch Bus ride from Cusco to Puno – on a group basis Today you will undertake a full-day bus trip from Cusco to Puno through the Peru highlands. The route leads past snow-capped peaks and reaches an altitude of over 4,300 m before descending to Puno on Lake Titicaca. Along the way, you will visit the city of Andahuaylillas with its famous church, the ruins of Racchi, and the city of Pucara. Lunch is included. The bus trip is conducted with a German or English-speaking guide and along with other travelers. Midrange: Overnight stay at the Lake Titicaca 3* Hotel or a similar hotel (standard room) Comfort class: Overnight stay at the GHL Lago Titicaca 4* or a similar hotel (superior room).

Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch Full-day excursion Uros & Taquile including lunch (8h) Transfer to Juliaca Airport Flight Juliaca – Lima (not included) Transfer Airport Lima – Hotel The boat trip first leads to the Uros Islands, where the inhabitants live on floating reed islands and have preserved their traditional ways of living. Here you can admire and purchase Uros handicrafts. Afterwards, you go to the island of Taquile in the Peruvian part of Lake Titicaca. The island is known for its traditional, handcrafted textiles and for the knitting men who produce high-quality knitted goods. On Taquile, there are no streets or electricity, and agricultural terraces date back to the time before the Incas. Lunch on the island is included. After returning, you will be transferred to Juliaca Airport. A box dinner is included. Then you will fly to Lima (flight not included), where a transfer to your hotel awaits. Midrange: Overnight stay at the Hilton Garden Inn Lima Miraflores 4* or similar (standard room) Comfort class: Overnight stay at the Casa Andina Premium Miraflores 4* or similar (superior room).

Included meals: Breakfast Transfer Hotel – Airport Lima Flight Lima – Rio de Janeiro (not included) Transfer Airport Rio de Janeiro – Hotel Transfer to Lima Airport. Flight to Rio de Janeiro (not included). Rio de Janeiro impresses with lush vegetation, deep blue sea, and white sandy beaches. The city lies between mountains and sea, populated by friendly Cariocas, and offers numerous cultural and entertainment options. Despite the daily traffic chaos of eight million people and a million vehicles, the enthusiasm of the locals remains undeterred. For them, the wonder and beauty of Rio are unparalleled. After arriving in Rio, the transfer to the hotel takes place. Midrange: Overnight stay at the Mirador Rio Copacabana 3-4* Hotel or similar (standard room) Comfort class: Overnight stay at the Windsor Excelsior 4* Hotel or similar (superior room).

Included meals: Breakfast Full-day excursion: City tour, Sugarloaf & Corcovado (8h) After leaving the hotel, you will take a boat to the Cosme Velho Station to take the cog train through the Tijuca Forest to the 728 m high Corcovado. The approximately 20-minute ride offers great views of the tropical vegetation, the beaches, and the city. Upon arriving at the top, you will reach the Christ statue after few steps and can enjoy the impressive view. Afterwards, you take the train back. The journey continues along the famous beaches to the Urca district, where you take the cable car to the 390 m high Sugarloaf. After descending, you drive along Guanabara Bay and Flamingo Park towards downtown, passing landmarks such as the Candelaria Church, the Saint Sebastian Cathedral, the Lapa Arches, the City Theater, the National Library, and the Art Museum. Finally, you visit the Sambadrome, the venue for Carnival. Note: In exceptional cases where the train does not operate, the round trip will be done instead with city council-approved vans to/from Largo do Machado parking lot. Midrange: Overnight stay at the Mirador Rio Copacabana 3-4* or similar (standard room) Comfort class: Overnight stay at the Windsor Excelsior 4* or similar (superior room).

Included meals: Breakfast Transfer Hotel – Airport Rio de Janeiro Flight Rio de Janeiro – Iguassu (not included) Transfer Airport Iguassu – Hotel Visit the Brazilian side of the falls (2h 30min) You will be taken from the hotel to the airport in Rio. Flight to Iguassu (not included). In Iguassu, you will be taken from the airport to the hotel. Iguassu is the largest natural wonder in South Brazil, an impressive series of 275 waterfalls that plunge into a gorge on the border of Paraguay and Argentina. The falls extend over about 3 km and create a constant spray, often accompanied by a rainbow. Surrounded by subtropical forest, this natural wonder radiates an untouched, pristine beauty. Afterwards, you will visit the Brazilian side of the waterfalls, which due to their size and location in the tropical rainforest are among the most stunning natural sights in South America. From a viewpoint near the Devil's Throat, you have a breathtaking panoramic view of the falls. A boardwalk leads you to the lower cliff, where you experience the roaring water, the mist, and a semicircle of rainbows up close. Then back to the hotel. Midrange: Overnight stay at the Viale Cataratas 3-4* or similar (deluxe room) Comfort class: Overnight stay at the Recanto Cataratas Thermas Resort & Convention 4* or similar (deluxe room).

Included meals: Breakfast Visit the Argentinian side of the falls (6h) A journey through South America would be incomplete without the majestic Iguazu Falls. After breakfast, you will visit the Argentinian side of the falls. The journey takes you over the Tancredo Neves Bridge over the Iguassu River, which forms the natural border between Brazil and Argentina (short customs formalities at the border). While you can mainly enjoy the panorama of the falls on the Brazilian side, on the Argentinian side you hike on the lower and upper circuit very close between the individual waterfalls. With the Ecological Jungle Train, you go as far as the Devil's Throat Station, from where a short walk leads you to the spectacular viewpoint of the Devil's Throat. Return to the hotel on the Brazilian side. Midrange: Overnight stay at the Viale Cataratas 3-4* or similar (deluxe room) Comfort class: Overnight stay at the Recanto Cataratas Thermas Resort & Convention 4* or similar (deluxe room).

Included meals: Breakfast Transfer Hotel – Airport Iguassu Flight Iguassu – Salvador (not included) Transfer Airport Salvador – Hotel Transfer to the airport for the onward flight to Salvador da Bahia. Transfer from the airport to the hotel. Salvador da Bahia – The city of Afro-Brazilian cultures is known for its beautiful beaches as well as the historical old town. With its baroque churches and monasteries from the 17th and 18th centuries, Salvador is one of the most impressive colonial cities in Brazil. Midrange: Overnight stay at the Novotel Salvador Rio Vermelho 4* (superior room) Comfort class: Overnight stay at the Fera Palace 4-5* (superior room).

Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch City tour in Salvador (6h) After breakfast, the city tour begins. Salvador da Bahia was the first capital of Brazil and has significant importance for Brazilian history. You will visit the old town Pelourinho with its colorful colonial houses, the famous Elevador Lacerda, the Cathedral, and the Church of Bonfim. One of the most beautiful churches in the city, the Igreja de São Francisco, is also visited. The journey continues to the Mercado Modelo, where you can buy some souvenirs. At noon, you enjoy a typical Bahian lunch on this experience journey. Midrange: Overnight stay at the Novotel Salvador Rio Vermelho 4* (superior room) Comfort class: Overnight stay at the Fera Palace 4-5* (superior room).

Included meals: Breakfast Transfer Hotel – Airport Salvador Depending on flight time, transfer to the airport.