Grand Tour of South America

Day 1 – UK – In flight

Titan’s VIP door-to-door travel service collects you from home for your flight to Lima.

UK – In flight

Day 2 – Lima

On arrival in Lima, we’ll transfer to our hotel.

Four Points by Sheraton Miraflores, Lima (4-star)

Day 3 – Lima

Our first full day in this seaside city, and we’ll waste no time in seeing what makes this city so special on a guided walking tour. We’ll start in this historic heart – Plaza Mayor – which has been painstakingly resorted and renovated in recent years. Dotted with palm trees and brightly coloured colonial buildings, it’s delightful to wander. The 18th-century cathedral is a highlight. We’ll then continue by coach to visit the Archbishop’s Palace and the baroque Government Palace. At the San Francisco Monastery, the Mudéjar-style interior is beautiful and wall-to-wall library of parchment dating back to the 15th century is fascinating. We’ll also stop by the Larco Museum, which details the development of pre-Columbian societies. The rest of the afternoon is yours to explore.

Excursions & visits:

City tour of Lima (morning)

Four Points by Sheraton Miraflores, Lima (4-star)

Day 4 – Lima – Sacred Valley

Our stay in Lima is short and sweet because today we venture into the Inca heartland of Peru and ancient Andean culture. We’ll head to the airport for our flight to Cuzco, the one-time capital of Incan civilisation, nestled in the Andean highlands. Surrounded by mountains at every angle, you’ll have the feeling you’ve been transported to a fairytale world of Inca myth and legend (or maybe that’s just the altitude). We continue our journey to the Sacred Valley, a river-carved area of flat, fertile land dotted with fortresses that have stood for hundreds of years. The well-preserved fortress of Ollantaytambo is particularly impressive – a 16th-century stronghold of Inca resistance against the Spanish. We’ll also stop by Pisac for its fun, lively market and stone Inca buildings, before checking into our hotel.

Excursions & visits:

Visit Sacred Valley including fortress of Ollantaytambo and Pisac village (afternoon)

Sonesta Posadas del Inca Yucay (3-star)

Day 5 – Machu Picchu

One of the standout highlights of Latin America is Machu Picchu. Every aspect of our day is exceptional and memorable. We’ll start with the train that winds its way up the Sacred Valley for your first breathtaking sight of the legendary mountaintop city. As we explore the ruins with a guide, it’s difficult to conceive the excitement of American archaeologist Hiram Bingham – the first ‘outsider’ to experience its majesty since its abandonment at the time of the Spanish Conquest. There’s plenty of time to appreciate this Inca citadel before we retrace our steps into the Sacred Valley.

Excursions & visits:

Excursion to Machu Picchu (all day)

Sonesta Posadas del Inca Yucay (3-star)

Day 6 – Sacsayhuaman – Cuzco

We discover the ruins of another Inca fortress at Sacsayhuaman. Soak up the wonderful, panoramic vantage point on Cuzco and the surrounding plains and mountains. Imagine some 400 years ago, Inca warriors would have launched forays against Spanish-controlled Cuzco. The blocks used in its mighty walls demonstrate their masterful stonework – they weigh 200 tonnes, but they fit together so precisely that not even a piece of paper could fit between them. Back in Cuzco, we’ll enjoy a city with some time at leisure. This fascinating old city makes sure the old Incan ways are not forgotten. Colourful textiles, wild fiestas and carnivals keep the past vivid. The views surrounding the city are beautiful, from the Andean peaks to the Amazon lowlands.

Excursions & visits:

Visit to Sacsayhuaman ruins (morning)
City tour of Cuzco (afternoon)

Xima Cusco Hotel (4-star)

Day 7 – Cuzco – Santiago

We say goodbye to Peru as we fly south via Lima to Santiago, Chile’s capital city. On arrival, we’ll transfer to our hotel.

Plaza San Francisco, Santiago (5-star)

Day 8 – Santiago

Santiago is a delight to explore – a city of splendid colonial buildings sitting cheek by jowl with modern towers, interspersed with parks where friends gather to chat and play games – all framed by the majestic, snow-capped peaks of the Andes. Our tour commences at the National Museum, and also takes in Santiago’s historic centre, the bohemian Bellavista district and San Cristobal Hill, presenting superb city and mountain views. The remainder of the day is at leisure.

Excursions & visits:

City tour of Santiago (morning)

Plaza San Francisco, Santiago (5-star)

Day 9 – Valparaiso – Viña del Mar

A full-day excursion north of Santiago introduces two contrasting cities. Valparaiso, Chile’s main port city built over 42 hills, has a strong British character from the 19th century days of empire when Britain was Chile’s biggest trading partner. The port’s turbulent past included piratical raids and, over many years, heavy fortifications were established to protect the city and its cargoes. The historic quarter is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Viña del Mar could scarcely be more different – a popular, yet peaceful summer resort noted for its fine beaches, pristine parks and private gardens. En route back to Santiago, we stop at an award-winning winery for a brief tour and a tasting session with an expert sommelier.

Excursions & visits:

Excursion to Valparaiso and Viña del Mar, including winery tour and tasting (all day)

Plaza San Francisco, Santiago (5-star)

Day 10 – Santiago – Puerto Varas

Today we fly to Puerto Montt, gateway to Chile’s ominous volcanoes, glacial lakes and sprawling national parks. We’ll take a quick tour of the city, stopping to enjoy the views of Angelemo Bay and Reloncavi Bay. We’ll then continue to the charms of Puerto Varas, nestled on the banks of the vast Lake Llanquihue – one of the largest lakes in Latin America. A truly magnificent setting for our stay.

Excursions & visits:

Puerto Montt orientation tour (afternoon)

Cabanas del Lago, Puerto Varas (4-star)