FROM QUITO

Week 1  Our journey starts just 25kms south of the Equator in the relaxed capital city of Quito. Ecuador’s small market town of Otavalo is just a few hours drive away and is famous for its colourful crafts, where we have a free day and spend our first night of the trip. Next we head to the banks of the Rio Napo and our gateway into the steamy Amazon jungle. Accompanied by experienced guides we explore this unique environment. We spend two nights in the jungle in which time we also hike into the exuberant vegetation to view the exotic wildlife and our guide will show us examples of medicinal and hallucinatory plants. There is also the chance to try our hand at whitewater rafting! Our next destination is Banos, a spa town where Ecuadorians go to relax in the thermal baths and hike the various mountain trails.

Week 2  After days filled with outdoor activities Ecuador is bid goodbye as we continue south to the border with Peru. En route, you will notice an amazing transition, from the good farming country of the tropical highland to the dry barren desert. Travelling along the Pacific Ocean coast we visit small coastal villages and camp on deserted sandy beaches. Further south we visit the imperial citadel of Chan Chan. Built by the pre-Inca Chimu kings, its the largest mud brick city in the world. We then stop off in Lima, the capital for a couple of days.

Week 3  Lima is a busy place, however, watching life go by on one of the many Plazas or visiting one of the Museums can be a relaxing and rewarding experience. Not far south is the marine reserve of Ballestas, a boat trip takes us close up to the Islands which are bursting with marine wildlife. Quite a contrast are the Nazca Lines. These huge figures and shapes, carved into the stony desert are best viewed from the air and are a great mystery to archaeologists. From here we start our ascent of the Andes.

Week 4  Our next two days are spent in the magnificent colonial city of Arequipa. From here you have the option to visit Colca Canyon accompanied by a local guide. Twice as deep as the Grand Canyon, Colca Canyon is an awesome place. Here too, condors can be seen circling lazily on the thermals rising from the canyon floor. Ahead lie some of the most arduous and punishing roads on the trip, however, after traversing some mountainous passes of nearly 5000 metres we are soon rewarded by our arrival in Cuzco.

Week 5  This outdoors capital of Peru is our base for the next 6 days, allowing enough time to explore this ancient city, the surrounding Sacred Valley and give the energetic amongst us enough time to hike the Inca Trail. The 2 or 4 day hike along the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu is a once in a lifetime experience and anyone with a reasonable level of fitness can master it. The Inca Trail is highly recommended and a definite highlight of the Peru leg of our tour and for some, the entire South America tour. There is also the option to try an alternative trek to Machu Picchu such as the Salkantay, Multi Sport or Vilcabamba.

Week 6  Bordering Peru and Bolivia is Lake Titicaca. The world's highest navigable lake at 3800m it is also home to the Uros Indians who have made their homes on floating reed islands. Spending the night with one of the local families provides an opportunity to experience their lifestyle and hospitality. La Paz, the highest capital city in the world, is our next destination, which is a great place to visit a 'pena' club dedicated to live Andean folk music and to visit some of the extraordinary street markets. A long and dusty drive across the Altiplano takes us to Potosi where vast amounts of silver were extracted from mines and shipped to Spain in years gone by. The adventurous will appreciate the option to go down one of these mines where mining techniques have remained unchanged for centuries. A tour of the National Money House, also provides a good look into Potosi's and Bolivia's past.

Week 7 & 8  Leaving the bleak Altiplano we reach the shimmering white Uyuni Salt Lake. It is possible to venture out into the salt lake on a 1 day excursion and the vastness of the salt flats is an unforgettable experience. Following in the steps of Butch Cassidy & Sundance Kid we reach Tupiza before the last stretch of our Bolivia travel leg. The colourful Humahuaca Canyon leads us to the attractive city of Salta in Argentina. Founded over 400 years ago Salta is a good place for live folk music venues and is also a great area for horse riding, mountain biking, mountain trekking and river rafting.

We have a few free days in Salta before crossing the mighty Andes again towards the Atacama Desert in Chile! The oasis town of San Pedro de Atacama is our next destination. Surrounded by the Valley of the Moon, salt lakes, volcanoes, as well as stone age dwellings, its a good place to spend a few days exploring. Continuing south we rejoin the Pacific Ocean and the Pan American Highway. We camp near to La Serena beach for a few days before our drive to Chiles capital, Santiago, which is a very modern, well-run city and quite a change to what we have been used to.

Week 9  Ahead of us lie the southern areas with deep blue lakes and snow-capped mountains. Pucon, in the heart of the Lake District, is our base camp for the next few days from where it is possible to organise whitewater rafting, skiing, horse riding and hikes up nearby Villarrica Volcano. We ascend the Andes via some spectacular mountain passes before entering Argentina and arriving in Bariloche. This is a very popular holiday destination for Argentines and the top ski resort on the continent with great hiking trails and nightlife.

Week 10  Heading into the deep south on a good dirt road we enter the vast wilderness of Patagonia. Spectacular National Parks make this region a paradise for hiking enthusiasts and outdoor lovers. Los Glaciares Nat. Park has the largest glacier in the world and here we have the option to take a boat ride close up to Moreno Glacier almost 200ft high. Torres del Paine Nat. Park is another area of outstanding beauty where huge granite cliffs dominate the landscape and hiking is a great way to explore the area.

Week 11  We continue south to Ushuaia on the wild and hauntingly beautiful island of Tierra del Fuego the most southerly point on earth you are ever likely to travel to. Next we cross to the Atlantic coast of Patagonia and visit one of the marine sanctuaries. Penguins, Sea Lions, Sea Elephants, Birds and sometimes Whales can be seen. Following the excellent paved roads north along the coast we pass through some quite affluent towns. One, Puerto Madryn, was the landing place over a century ago for the first group of Welsh settlers that subsequently colonised and now farm the surrounding area.

Week 12  A days drive north is the smart cosmopolitan city of Buenos Aires where you could be forgiven for thinking you were back in Europe. There is plenty to do, museums, horse racing, football matches, shopping, tango dancing and restaurants that serve some of the best steaks in the world.

Week 13  Uruguay is our next destination and the quaint town of Colonia. With its lovely beach and calm and quiet atmosphere, it is a complete contrast to the previous days in Buenos Aires. We then travel northwards and cross back into Argentina and visit the Jesuit Missions of San Ignacio before continuing onto Iguazu Falls which forms the natural border between Argentina, Paraguay and Brazil. We spend the next three days in the town while admiring the falls that are higher than Niagara and wider than Victoria Falls. You can also undertake a number of optional activities such as boat trips, helicopter flights and mountain bike riding.

Week 14  Next we head into Brazil and travel to Bonito, also a popular place with Brazilian holidaymakers and where we can swim and snorkel in crystal clear rivers and lakes as well as hike into the lush forests. We then journey to the Pantanal region where we can organise treks out into the vast wetlands, home to hundreds of species of birds and fish, including Piranha, as well as an abundance of reptiles such as alligators and other animals.

Week 15  Our final destination before Rio de Janeiro is the coastal village of Parati. This unspoilt and picturesque town has remained fundamentally unaltered for three centuries. Cars have been banned from its cobbled streets that run down to the seashore, instead mountain bikes are used and are a good way to get around. Another great way to explore the secluded islands of this pristine coastline is taking a sailing trip in one of the traditional schooners. Our final drive takes us to the hedonistic playground of Rio de Janeiro, where folk are raring to party out of their minds and live purely for the moment. The Carnival and New Years Eve celebrations are always chaotic, crowded and great fun!

FROM RIO

Week 1  Our trip begins in Rio after the chaotic, crowded, crazy celebrations of Carnival or New Year’s Eve. On the first day we drive south to the coastal village of Parati. This unspoilt and picturesque town has remained fundamentally unaltered for three centuries. Cars have been banned from its cobbled streets that run down to the seashore; instead mountain bikes are used and are a good way to get around. Another great way to explore the secluded islands of this pristine coastline is taking a sailing trip in one of the traditional schooners.

Week 2  We then journey on to the Pantanal region where we organise treks out into the vast wetlands which is home to over 600 species of birds and 350 kinds of fish, piranha being common, as well as an abundance of reptiles and animals. Next stop is Bonito where we can swim and snorkel in some of the clearest rivers and lakes in the world. Spectacular walks in the mountainous forests may reveal wildlife that includes monkeys, alligators and anaconda.

Week 3  We travel to the incredible Iguazu Falls which form the natural border between Argentina, Paraguay and Brazil. Higher than Niagara and wider than Victoria Falls, they are an awe-inspiring place to spend the next three days. The lush tropical forest surrounding the falls has many walking trails leading to smaller hidden falls, ideal to refresh from the steaming heat and abounding with parrots, toucans, woodpeckers and colourful plants. Here you can also undertake a number of optional activities such as rafting, helicopter flights and mountain bike riding.

Leaving Brazil we cross into Argentina. This area, close to the border with Paraguay, was home to many Jesuit Missions built in the 16th century to convert the Guarany Indians. We visit the ruins of San Ignacio before crossing another border into Uruguay - a relatively little known country when compared with its neighbours.

Week 4  We spend a couple of days in the lively town of Colonia del Sacramento with its excellent beaches and pleasant tree lined streets. Continuing south and returning to Argentina, we arrive in Buenos Aires. A few days in this smart cosmopolitan city and you could be forgiven for thinking you were back in Europe. There is plenty to do, museums, horse racing, football matches, shopping, tango dancing for the confident, restaurants that serve the best steak in the world, and many plazas with cafes to sit and observe Argentinean life go by.

Week 5 From Buenos Aires we traverse the vast Pampas grasslands, South America's cowboy country, where gun-toting gauchos on horseback look after vast herds of cattle. Following the Atlantic coast of Patagonia, we stop in Puerto Madryn which was the landing place over a century ago for the first group of Welsh settlers that subsequently colonised and now farm the surrounding area. We visit one of the marine sanctuaries in this region where we might see Penguins, Sea Lions, Sea Elephants, Sea Birds and maybe even Whales.

We continue south towards the wild and hauntingly beautiful land at worlds end, the island of Tierra del Fuego. We cross by ferry and visit the most southerly town in the world Ushuaia, from where we can view the green waters of the Beagle Channel and the surrounding snow clad peaks.

Week 6  Heading north we return to the mainland and enter Chile. Torres del Paine Nat. Park is an area of outstanding beauty where huge granite cliffs dominate the landscape. A good way to explore the area is either hiking or by horseback. Back over the border in Argentina we go to the stupendous Los Glaciares Nat. Park - it has the largest glacier in the world and here we have the option to take a boat ride up close to Moreno Glacier, almost 200 ft high. For trips that depart Rio in January we are usually able to join the Camino Austral in Chile. Large parts of this road are only open in the summer months of January and February. It is a breath taking spectacle as we pass tree lined fjords and penetrate deep in to a land of spiralling volcanoes and glaciers and camp next to rushing rivers and rainforest.

For tours departing over the rest of the year we continue through the vast wilderness of Patagonia, heading north on a good dirt road. The perpetual wind makes it difficult for trees and plants to grow, so for a while we are faced with endless grassland and wide open spaces.

Week 7  A long drive is soon rewarded as we arrive in Bariloche. This very popular holiday destination for Argentines is the top ski resort on the continent and also has several hiking trails and a great nightlife. Ascending the Andes via some spectacular mountain passes we cross the border again and arrive in Pucon, an outdoors centre in Chile’s beautiful Lake District. This will be our base for the next few days from where we can organise white-water rafting, skiing, water sports, horse riding and one day hikes up nearby Villarrica Volcano. We then pass small villages and leave behind the deep blue lakes and towering mountains and arrive in Chile’s modern capital, Santiago.

Week 8  Leaving Santiago we head for the Pacific coastline and relax at a beach campsite near to La Serena for a couple of days. Rejoining the Pan American highway we enter the Atacama Desert. On our way north we stop off at a number of settlements and we also camp overnight in this barren but beautiful wilderness. Leaving the Pacific Ocean coastline we head towards the oasis town of San Pedro de Atacama.

Week 9  We spend a few days here, exploring the fantastic surrounding landscapes of the Valley of the Moon, salt lakes, as well as stone age dwellings. From the desert our ascent through the Andean passes is spectacular, with dozens of volcanic peaks all over 5000m, leading us to the attractive colonial city of Salta in Argentina. From here we venture into Bolivia where you will notice the difference as paved roads become non-existent and locals still follow tradition, wearing bright woollen clothes and bowler hats.

Quite a contrast is the shimmering white Uyuni Salt Lake. Taking a 1 day trip out onto the largest salt flats in the world with no road and only vague tracks to follow makes for an unforgettable experience.

Week 10  Continuing north we arrive in Potosi. At over 4000m, it is the highest city of its size in the world and 400 years ago it was the largest city in all the Americas. Vast amounts of silver were extracted from Potosi and shipped to Spain. There are tours to the mines and it is still clear to see that unfortunately, working conditions here have hardly improved over the centuries. The adventurous among us will appreciate the opportunity to go down one of these mines with a local guide. Visiting the ancient mint or having a tour around the Casa Nacional de Moneda (National Money House) also provides a good look into Potosi’s and Bolivia’s past. The history and past colonial splendour make Potosi a fascinating place to visit.

A tortuous drive across the Altiplano, where Aymara and Quechua Indians scrape a sparse living from their small plots of land in this harsh climate, brings us to La Paz. The highest capital city in the world, it is built on a steep slope that falls away from the Altiplano. The top of the city is about 2000ft above the bottom part. Unusually, all the rich suburbs are in the lower city area because the air is thicker with oxygen lower down. La Paz is a great place to visit a ‘pena’ club, where live bands entertain us with Andean folk music.

Week 11  Leaving La Paz we head to Puno in Peru. Nestling on the shores of Lake Titicaca it is a friendly, well-kept place and much calmer than the hustle and bustle of La Paz. Lake Titicaca is the world’s highest navigable lake at 3800m, it is also the original place of the Uros Indians who have made their homes on floating reed islands. By boat we visit the floating islands during the day and then we go that one step beyond the average and spend the night with one of the Indian families on the lesser known islands Isla Amantani or Taquile. Spending some time in these local communities will provide a unique opportunity to learn more about the traditional lifestyle of the Andean people and their customs.

From Lake Titicaca we now have to face some fairly arduous roads as we make our way to Cuzco, the outdoors capital of Peru and our base for the next 6 days. This gives us enough time to hike the 2 or 4 day Inca Trail to Machu Picchu, enjoy the architectural uniqueness of Cuzco and explore some of the colourful surrounding markets. Many believe that Machu Picchu itself cannot be understood without following the steps of the Incas on the Inca Trail.

Week 12  From Cuzco we head west, passing herds of llama, alpacas and unspoilt Andean villages as we head towards the world’s deepest canyon. Twice as deep as the Grand Canyon, Colca Canyon is an awesome spectacle. Here you have the option, accompanied by a local guide, of a one day excursion to view Condors circling lazily on the thermals rising from the canyon floor. From here we begin dropping down out of the Andes as we head to Arequipa, a beautiful colonial city set at the foot of the impressive El Misti Volcano.

Week 13  Puerto Inca, the ancient Inca port for Cuzco is our next destination and an interesting place to camp on the beach and relax for a couple of days. We now travel to one of the world’s great archaeological mysteries – The Nazca Lines. These huge figures and shapes, carved into the stony desert are best viewed from the air. Thought to have been made by three different groups of people going back more than 2000 years, there are many different theories and books about what they signify and why they are there. Following the Coastal Highway, the Ballestas Islands in the Paracas National Reserve is our next stop. Here we take a boat trip to view one of the most important marine reserves in the world with one of the highest concentrations of rare and exotic sea birds and sea mammals. Further up the coast is Peru’s capital city, Lima.

Week 14  Continuing north along the coast we reach the Chan Chan ruins, the imperial citadel of the pre-Inca Chimu Kings which the Incas later conquered. It claims to be the largest mud brick city in the world. Nearing the border with Ecuador we have a couple of relaxing days camping on the beach at Punta Sal before leaving Peru behind.

You will see an almost immediate change from the dry, barren desert of Peru through sub-tropical forest to the fertile farming country of highland Ecuador. We reach the outdoors mecca of Banos, a spa town nestled at the foot of a volcano, where Ecuadorians go to relax in the thermal baths and where you can hike, mountain bike or horse-ride to one of the surrounding waterfalls or the impressive nearby rocky canyon.

Week 15  Descending to the lowlands and the steamy edge of the Amazon basin, we arrive in the town of Tena, gateway to the Amazon jungle. Here, accompanied by experienced guides, we explore on foot this exotic environment and you also have the chance to go whitewater rafting on the rapids of the Rio Napo.

Returning to higher altitudes and mountain scenery, we visit the town of Otavalo, famous for its colourful crafts market. Finally we cross the Equator to end our journey in the capital of Ecuador, Quito.