South America Inca Journey with Galapagos Cruise

Welcome to Santiago. We'll meet you on arrival and transfer you to your hotel. Then, set off on a guided discovery of Chile's capital, wedged between the snow-capped Andes mountains and the Pacific Ocean. Tonight, join a welcome reception. Stay Two Nights: The Singular Santiago

Travel to the coastal city of Valparaiso, where you'll find colourful cliffside houses sloping down to the sea. Known to Chileans as the ‘Jewel of the Pacific,' the city is an eclectic, sometimes chaotic mix of art, culture and commerce. Enjoy a Signature Experience before relaxing over lunch and then returning to Santiago. (B/L)

Signature Experiences:

• Explore this World Heritage-listed city's historic quarter before a funicular ride offers great views over Valparaiso.

Fly to Buenos Aires, Argentina's elegant capital. On arrival, we'll transfer you to your hotel in the city's prominent Recoleta district. Home to some of Argentina's wealthiest families, Recoleta is a leafy neighbourhood dotted with beautiful parks and grand mansions just north of the city centre. Stay Three Nights: Buenos Aires, Alvear Palace Hotel (B)

Signature Experiences:

• In Buenos Aires, enjoy a taste of local culture with a tango demonstration and a selection of tapas.

Join a guided discovery of the city, which includes the Italian-influenced barrio of La Boca, a neighbourhood known for its Latino vibe and brightly painted pedestrian streets. Explore the bohemian district of Palermo, filled with trendy eateries and galleries, before arriving at La Recoleta Cemetery. This is the resting place of Argentine notables such as the nation's former First Lady Eva Peron. (B)

Design your day one of three ways with Freedom of Choice. (B/D)

Freedom of Choice:

• Perhaps journey to the island of Tigre for a cruise along the waterways of the Parana Delta. Discover daily life within this maze of rainforest and tiny islands, which is also a haven for birdlife. Or you might like to explore the Parisian influence on Buenos Aires during a walking tour. Alternatively, join a street art tour which takes you via Palermo and Viejo, hotspots for street art culture, and destinations that draw local and international artists to deck out streets in their urban artwork, at every turn.
• Tonight, enjoy dinner a local restaurant of your choice from a selection of local restaurants.

This morning, fly to Iguassu Falls. This natural wonder straddles the Argentina-Brazil border. Arriving on the Argentinian side, set off on the Rainforest Ecological Train to a series of walkways and viewing points, including one to the 80-metre-deep Devil's Throat. Then continue to your hotel for a Signature Experience. Stay Two Nights: Iguassu Falls, Belmond Hotel das Cataratas (B/D)

Signature Experiences:

• Stay within Brazil's Iguassu Falls National Park for two nights, enjoying the property's unrivalled location.

Spanning an area of some 2.7 kilometres, Iguassu Falls is made up of roughly 275 waterfalls waiting to be explored today. Soak up panoramic views of the falls with a leisurely walk between each of the viewing platforms. Later, see the falls from an entirely different angle on a Freedom of Choice activity. (B)

Freedom of Choice:

• Get up close to the roaring cascades of Iguassu Falls on an included jet boat safari, or for a special bird's-eye-view, soar over the falls on a helicopter flight.

Begin your day with a visit to Parque das Aves bird sanctuary where you'll see a spectacular array of colourful native South American birds. Later, fly to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil's naturally blessed capital, set between lush forest mountains and sandy shores. On arrival, we'll meet and transfer you to the elegant art deco grandeur of your hotel opposite the golden sands of iconic Copacabana Beach. Stay Three Nights: Rio de Janeiro, Belmond Copacabana Palace (B)

See Rio from on high with a visit to Corcovado, the mountain famed for its Christ the Redeemer statue, the world's largest art deco sculpture. From here, enjoy sweeping city views. Towards evening, board a cable car to the summit of Sugarloaf Mountain to toast the sunset and incredible views with a drink. Tonight, dine at a local restaurant for Brazil's famously delicious barbecue. (B/D)

Today, join a Freedom of Choice activity to experience more of Rio. (B)

Freedom of Choice:

• This morning is set aside for you to sail the waters of Guanabara Bay aboard a schooner sailing ship. If you'd prefer to stay on dry land, perhaps join a colonial walking tour, where the legends woven through the city's narrow colonial-era streets are brought to life.

Today we'll transfer you to the airport for your included flight to Lima. On arrival, we'll meet and transfer you to your hotel. Stay Two Nights: Country Club Lima Hotel (B/L)

Discover the Peruvian capital's World Heritage-listed historic centre with an expert guide today. Afterwards enjoy a Signature Experience at a private hacienda. (B/L)

Signature Experiences:

• Pay a visit to a private hacienda which showcases the nation's regional traditions. Live music and dance greet you before you sit down to lunch and a Peruvian Paso horse show.

After breakfast today, we'll transfer you to the airport for your included flight to Cusco, the ancient Inca capital of Peru. From here, travel to Chinchero, a small village in the Sacred Valley, tucked into the Andean highlands. Enjoy a special welcome from the local Misminay community followed by today's Signature Experience, which demonstrates a craft passed down through generations. Stay Two Nights: Sacred Valley, Tambo del Inka, A Luxury Collection Resort & Spa (B/D)

Signature Experiences:

• Enjoy a traditional weaving demonstration which reveals how South America's colourful materials are created by hand.

Continue exploring the Sacred Valley with a guide, including today's Signature Experience exploring the stunning landscapes of the Salineras de Maras. Then enjoy lunch overlooking the Andes and Huaypo Lagoon. (B/L)

Signature Experiences:

• See the glistening salt pools spill over the terraced slopes at the World Heritage-listed Salt Mines of Maras. Visit the circular Moray Inca terraces archaeological site.

Today is set aside for a full immersion in the natural setting and incredible heritage of Machu Picchu. Board Inca Rail's First Class Train for your Signature Experience. On arrival, set off on a locally guided exploration of the lost city of the Incas, one of the New Seven Wonders of the World. An eight-hour hike to Machu Picchu is also available at an additional coast (must be pre-booked) Stay: Machu Picchu, Sumaq Hotel (B/L/D)

Signature Experiences:

• Board Inca Rail's First Class Train and travel through forested landscapes to the lost Inca empire of Machu Picchu. Enjoy a gourmet Andean-inspired lunch on board while taking in the view.

This morning, relax at your hotel and perhaps join a culinary demonstration to learn the secrets of South American cuisine. After a leisurely lunch, board the 360° train for your return trip to the Sacred Valley. Here, transfer by coach to Cusco and either join a historical tour of Cusco's Convent of Santo Domingo or enjoy the evening at your hotel. Stay Two Nights: Cusco, JW Marriott Hotel (B/D)

A guided discovery of Cusco takes you to Plaza de Armas, a square at the city's historic heart. You'll also visit the sacred sites of Koricancha and Cusco Cathedral. This evening, dine on flavours of Peru at MAP Cafe, located in the central courtyard of the Museum of Pre-Columbian Art. (B/D)

After breakfast, set off on a journey through the stunning Peruvian highlands aboard the Belmond Andean Explorer train. Stay Two Nights: Belmond Andean Explorer (B/L/D)

Signature Experiences:

• Board the Belmond Andean Explorer train for an incredible two-night rail journey through Peru's Andes Mountain range.

Early risers will be rewarded with a glorious sunrise before enjoying a sumptuous breakfast on board. Afterwards, explore Lake Titicaca, the world's highest navigable body of water. One of the most important places in Andean culture, the lake was considered to be the birthplace of the cosmos or, as it is more commonly known, the birthplace of the sun. (B/L/D)

Visit Sambay Caves, home to cave paintings thousands of years old. Later, enjoy lunch on board the train before arriving in Arequipa. Blessed by 300 days of sunshine annually and filled with incredibly dazzling white-stone buildings, the ‘White City' is a delight to explore. Stay: Arequipa, Casa Andina Private Collection (B/L/D)

This morning, explore this ancient city with a guide. Visit the World Heritage-listed city centre where you can admire beautiful colonial architecture, including the 16th-century Santa Catalina Convent. Fly to Lima this evening. Stay: Wyndham Costa Del Sol Lima Airport Hotel (B)

After breakfast, you will fly to Guayaquil, Ecuador, the gateway to the Galapagos Islands. Be met on arrival and transfer you to your hotel. Stay: Guayaquil Hilton (B)

This morning, fly to Baltra Island in the heart of the Galapagos Islands National Park. Around 1,000 kilometres off the coast of Ecuador, the Galapagos archipelago is teeming with plants and wildlife, often referred to as a living museum. This afternoon, travel to the Charles Darwin Research Station in Santa Cruz and learn about the biologists' mission to preserve the archipelago's ecosystems. Discover the breeding programs in place for endangered animals like the captivating Galapagos tortoises.

Later, transfer to your luxury, twin-hulled catamaran, the M/C Elite to embark on your Galapagos Islands cruise adventure. Stay Four Nights: M/C Elite (B/L/D)

Today begins with a visit to Genovesa Island, a crescent shaped island known for having a variety bird life. Ascend Prince Philip's Steps, also called El Barranco, for spectacular scenery. This afternoon, explore Darwin Bay, a sand and coral beach that is the perfect vantage point to see an array of birdlife. For a closer look at the bay's sea life, snorkel, kayak or paddle board in the bay's sheltered waters or follow a walking trail along mangroves to see a stunning view overlooking the cliffs and the bay below. (B/L/D)

Visit the sheltered bay of Buccaneer Cove in Santiago, once a refuge for buccaneers, whalers and pirates, it is now a safe nesting site for turtles. Embark on a panga ride along the eroded shoreline and spot the different rock formations and species of nesting birds on your journey. Afterwards, discover Espumilla Beach, an exquisite stretch of white sand home to a colony of sea lions. Later, you will learn about the human history of the Galapagos Islands at Egas Port, a former salt mine, then venture inland on a trail past tidal pools, grottoes and more local wildlife. (B/L/D)

Begin the day at one of the most beautiful, pristine white sand beaches in the Galapagos, Bachas Beach in Santa Cruz. Keep an eye out for sea turtles, crabs and even pink flamingos that frequent the saltwater lagoon behind the beach.

Later, visit a pair of crater-like sinkholes known as the ‘twins' located in the Santa Cruz Highlands. Take a trail that leads up and around the rims of these empty lava chambers for the best viewpoint. Here, bask in the scenery of the surrounding lush highlands, ideal for discovering an abundance of wildlife. See giant tortoises in their natural habitat, spot the distinct red feathers of Vermilion Flycatchers and with a bit of luck, an endemic short-ear owl. (B/L/D)

Take an early morning visit via a panga ride to Lobos Island, also known as Sea Lion Island, off San Cristobal. Here, you may wish to snorkel in the clear, calm waters to watch herds of local sea lions swim alongside green turtles and rays. Alternatively, take an inland trail to encounter blue-footed boobies and frigates. Then, it is time to farewell the majestic Galapagos Islands, depart from San Cristobal Airport and return to mainland Ecuador before a final dinner. Stay: Galapagos Islands, Guayaquil (B/L/D)

After breakfast, your South American adventure concludes with a transfer to the airport for your onward flight. (B)