FROM LIMA

Week 1  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.

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 2  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 3  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 4 & 5  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 6  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 7  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 8  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 9  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 10  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 11  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 12  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!