What can we say about Machu Picchu that hasn't already been said? Clinging to the mountain-tops, high in the Andes, surrounded by lush forests and steep cliffs, this lost Inca city is truly one of the wonders of the world, so wouldn't it be nice to fit a visit in with a holiday in Brazil? This holiday includes Machu Picchu and both Iguazu Falls and Rio.
Day One - Your Holiday in Peru Begins!
Arrive in Lima on an evening flight as you begin your holiday in Peru! You will be met at the airport and driven to your hotel in the trendy Miraflores area of the city in time to take a walk around the elegant Parque Kennedy and perhaps to take in an evening meal on your first night in Peru. Of course, since this is your first night on holiday in Peru, then if you're feeling up to it then Miraflores is a great place for a night out...
Day Two - Travel to Cusco
Today you will catch a lunchtime flight to Cusco - the ancient Inca capital. You will be taken to your hotel and then we have left the rest of the afternoon free for you to have a bit of an explore. Cusco is an incredible city with modern life existing side-by-side with centuries of history. You will be having a full city tour tomorrow but it's still a good idea to have a walk around the town as you get used to the altitude. In the evening it's worth trying out one of the restaurants around the buzzing Plaza de Armas as Cusco has probably the best cuisine and nightlife outside Lima!
Day Three - City tour of Cusco
Today will be spent on a tour of the main sites in the city itself, and also in the surrounding hills. You will visit the fortress of Sacsayhuaman, the temple complex at Kenko, Tambomachay and many other unique and beautiful locations. You will have the evening free to relax and enjoy a meal overlooking the lively central square.
Day Four - Machu Picchu: the Lost Inca City
In many ways today is the climax to your Peru holiday. You will set off early in the morning to take the scenic train along the valley of the Urubamba to Machu Picchu, giving you the full afternoon at this breathtaking lost Inca city. Gazing down on this semi-mythical city, high up in the cloud forest is an unforgettable experience that will stay with you forever. After a full-day exploring the site you will return by train to Cusco.
Day Five - Travel to Iguazu Falls
After breakfast this morning we'll pick you up and take you back to the airport to catch a flight to the Brazilian town of Foz do Iguacu. We'll be there to meet you and take you to your hotel in this small town, which is the jumping-off point for visits to the amazing Iguazu Falls. You'll arrive in the late afternoon so you have plenty of time to wander around and enjoy the laidback atmosphere of Foz.
Day Six - Iguazu Falls (Argentinian side)
This morning we will enjoy your first visit to the famous and spectacular Iguazu Falls. Higher than Niagara Falls, and wider than Victoria Falls, Iguazu takes your breath away with its sheer beauty and awesome power. We will visit today from the Argentinian side, where a system of walkways projecting out into the middle of the waterfall system allow you to really feel the power of the waterfalls all around you. It’s a fantastic way to get up close and personal with this awesome natural spectacle.
Day Seven - Iguazu Falls (Brazilian side)
Today we will re-visit Iguazu Falls, but this time from the Brazilian side of the Falls, where a long walkway along the canyon top allows you to appreciate the scale of Iguazu as you work your way along to a point giving you a panoramic view of the famous Devil's Throat, where 14 separate falls combine in a drop of 350 feet, sending spray over 100 feet into the air for a permanent rainbow! After spending the morning re-visiting the falls, we will take you on to the airport for a short flight to the fabulous city of Rio de Janeiro. You will be met at the airport and driven to your hotel in the stylish Copacabana area of the city in time to take a walk along the waterfront and perhaps to take in an evening meal on your first night here in Rio. Of course, since this is your first night on holiday in Brazil, then if you're feeling up to it then Copacabana is a great place for a night out...
Day Eight - Tour of Rio: Corcovado and Tijuca National Park
You'll have some free time this morning to recover from your journey, and then this afternoon we will pick you up from your hotel and drive through Rio to the base of Mt. Corcovado. Here we will board a funicular railway which carries us up through the dense Tijuca atlantic rainforest to the top of the mountain and the base of the famous Christ the Redeemer statue that has become one of the most famous symbols of Rio, and indeed Brazil. The views over the city from the top are absolutely amazing and it's the perfect way to get your bearings and pick out where to visit next!
Day Nine - Free day in Rio
A holiday isn't a holiday if you don't have a chance to relax so today is all yours - you could head to some of Rio's famous sights, such as Copacabana Beach or the bohemian Leblon area. You could take a trip to the Maracana or to the top of Sugarloaf Mountain or just kick back in Ipanema and go for a stroll along the waterfront...
Day Ten - Last day on holiday in Brazil
You will have some free time this morning to make sure you haven't missed an inch of Rio, and then sadly your Brazil holiday will be coming to an end, as we pick you up from your hotel to make sure your Brazil holiday ends perfectly by getting to the airport in plenty of time to catch the flight back home.
Easy upgrades
As we've said, we can tailormake your itinerary to your exact specifications, and you can have a look at our Brazil Guide or some of our other Brazil Holidays for ideas about how to add to our Brazil holidays, but we can also offer you some easy optional extras which fit into this exact itinerary:
Trek the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu - from £250pp
This holiday takes you to Machu Picchu by train but if you'd like to keep thing authentic, then why not trek the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu instead. It will only add three days to this itinerary and is an amazing experience that you will remember for the rest of your life.
Lake Titicaca - from £200pp
If you'd like to see a little more of Peru during your holiday there, why not travel a little further along the Andes and take a boat trip out onto the amazing Lake Titicaca? It's a great way to see more of the history and culture of Peru.
Buzios - from £500pp
If you think you'd like to add in some quality relazation time to this trip and you're not sure that the beaches of Rio will be enough for you, let us take you north out of the city to the beautiful Buzios peninsula, where there is a different beach for everyone...
Boat trip at Iguazu Falls - from £90pp
There are many great ways to experience Iguazu Falls but if you want to feel the raw power of the water then the best way is to get out onto it! A boat trip takes you right up to the Falls themselves.
Tailormade for you
Of course, what we want you to remember is that we're here to offer you any guidance and advice you need. We're not about trying to sell you more than you want - we want you to have the holiday that's right for you, so give us a call or send us an email and we can start to find out which of our Brazil holidays is right for you!