Discover South America's wonders, from Santiago's sunlit valleys to Patagonia's shifting glaciers. Experience vibrant Buenos Aires, feel the thunder of Iguassu Falls, explore Rio's rhythmic streets alongside local guides, and journey to Peru's high Andes to stand before the ancient citadel of Machu Picchu.
Travel Style
National Geographic Journeys
Service Level
Upgraded
Physical Grading
3 - Average
What's Included
Your Journeys Highlight Moment: Wine, Family and Vineyard Experience, Santiago
Your Journeys Highlight Moment: Traditional Andean Experience, Urubamba
Your Journeys Highlight Moment: Cusco Planetarium, Cusco
Your G for Good Moment: Buenos Aires City Tour & Isla Maciel Cultural Experience, Buenos Aires
Your G for Good Moment: Parque de la Papa (Potato Park), Pisac
Your G for Good Moment: Parwa Community Restaurant the Sacred Valley, Lamay
Your Welcome Moment: Welcome Meeting, Santiago
Your Discover Moment: Buenos Aires
Your Foodie Moment: Dinner at a Churrascaría, Foz do Iguaçu
Your Foodie Moment: Traditional Pachamanca Dinner, Urubamba
Your Discover Moment: Cusco. Arrival transfer. Santiago city tour with a local guide. Orientation walk in Puerto Natales. Full-day panoramic tour of Torres del Paine National Park. Visit the Glaciarium Museum in El Calafate. Guided tour to the Perito Moreno Glacier. Boat ride to the north face of Perito Moreno Glacier. Visit the Brazilian and Argentine sides of Iguassu Falls over 2 days. Sugarloaf Mountain cable car visit. Full-day Rio de Janeiro tour to "Little Africa," Lapa and Christ the Redeemer. Guided visit of the Santa Teresa district and botanical gardens. International flight from Rio de Janeiro to Lima. Two-day Sacred Valley tour including Ollantaytambo, Moray, and Pisac ruins and pre-Inca salt pans. Traditional pachamanca-style dinner. Scenic train and guided tour of Machu Picchu. Internal flights. All transport between destinations and to/from included activities
What are the main highlights of this trip?
Experience a private winery tour near Santiago and enjoy a hosted tasting of wines paired with gourmet bites. Explore Torres del Paine on a guided tour past granite peaks and turquoise lakes,.Take in views from scenic boardwalks and cruise past the dramatic northern face of Perito Moreno glacier. Explore the historic streets of Buenos Aires with local guides to discover neighbourhood histories and vibrant street art. Experience the Argentine and Brazilian sides of Iguassu Falls over two full days. Ascend Sugarloaf Mountain for sweeping views of Rio. Explore Rio’s historic Afro-Brazilian roots and learn the stories that gave birth to samba. Wander hilltop streets and the ruins of a grand mansion in Rio's Santa Teresa district. Have lunch at a G Adventures-supported community restaurant in the Sacred Valley. Visit the “Parque de la Papa” (“Potato Park”) community with a local guide for immersive time observing agricultural, weaving, and cultural traditions. Explore Machu Picchu with an expert guide to uncover its secrets. Visit the Cusco Planetarium to gaze up at the southern sky and learn about the ancient Incas’ relationship with the cosmos.
What is the maximum and typical number of participants on this tour?
Max 16, Avg 12.
What meals are included in this trip?
21 breakfasts, 8 lunches, 3 dinners
What are the modes of transportation on my trip?
Private vehicle, plane, boat, local bus, train, walking.
Is there an extra cost for travelling solo?
We believe single travellers should not have to pay more to travel so our group trips are designed for shared accommodation and do not involve a single supplement. Single travellers joining group trips are paired in twin or multi-share accommodation with someone of the same sex for the duration of the trip. Some of our Independent trips are designed differently and single travellers on these itineraries must pay the single trip price.
Where will we stay during the trip?
Hotels (21 nts).
Santiago
Arrive at any time. Arrival transfer is included.
Santiago
Discover Santiago’s historical heart on a morning city tour, stepping through the bustling Plaza de Armas, admiring the Metropolitan Cathedral, and passing the grand La Moneda Palace. Afterwards, head into the surrounding hills to a boutique organic winery for an insider's look at the winemaking process. Meet the vineyard owners and hear the stories of their families and of the winery, before a private tasting and delicious lunch of fresh, regional ingredients. Take part in a seasonal viticulture workshop to learn hands-on care, from shoot management to irrigation and harvest before returning to the city for the evening.
Santiago/Puerto Natales
Board a morning flight heading deep into the southern reaches of Patagonia. Touch down in Puerto Natales, a coastal town resting along the waters of the Ultima Esperanza Sound, where colourful homes stand against a backdrop of wind-swept fjords and snowcapped peaks. Transfer to your hotel and spend the evening settling in and relaxing before gathering with your Expedition Leader for a short orientation walk of the town on the way to an optional dinner out with the group.
Torres del Paine National Park/Puerto Natales
Set off on a full-day guided journey through Torres del Paine National Park. Pause to admire Grey Glacier and the iceberg-dotted waters of Grey Lake on a short walk, then drive past the turquoise expanse of Pehoé Lake toward the Cuernos Lookout. Share a picnic lunch overlooking Nordenskjöld Lake, marvel at the roaring power of Salto Grande Waterfall, and take in views across Sarmiento Lake and the Blue Lagoon, where wild guanacos roam the steppe. Enjoy dinner back in Puerto Natales, reminiscing about the day's adventures before turning in for the evening.
Puerto Natales/El Calafate
Travel across the vast, rolling steppes of the Patagonian border into Argentina. Stop en route at a local restaurant to share lunch and stories with your fellow travellers. Continue onward to El Calafate, the gateway to Argentina's glacial wonders on the shores of Lake Argentino. Join your National Geographic Expedition Leader for a brief walk through town, then visit the interactive Glaciarium Museum to learn about the ice fields that have shaped this wild region.
El Calafate
Head into Los Glaciares National Park for a guided encounter with the Perito Moreno Glacier. Walk along a network of wooden boardwalks to view the towering ice wall from different angles, watching and listening to the glacier calve. Next, step aboard a boat for a cruise along the glacier's northern face to feel its sheer scale. After lunch inside the park, continue exploring the trail network for panoramic views of the glacier before returning to El Calafate for an evening on your own.
El Calafate/Buenos Aires
Travel to the airport for your flight to vibrant Buenos Aires. Upon arrival, check into your hotel and take the afternoon to settle in, explore the historic avenues, or relax in a traditional neighbourhood café. Tonight is yours to spend as you wish, or consider joining an optional evening tango show paired with a classic Argentine dinner, taking in the passion and music that define the culture here.
Buenos Aires
Spend the day enjoying Buenos Aires at your own pace. Explore the cobbled streets of San Telmo, admire the bright facades of La Boca, or relax in a historic café over fresh pastries and coffee. As evening falls, gather back at the hotel to meet your National Geographic Expedition Leader and welcome any fellow travelers joining for the next leg of your journey. Over an optional dinner out with the group, swap stories from your Patagonian adventures and look ahead to the lush landscapes and cascading waters of Brazil.
Buenos Aires
Set out on a guided tour of Buenos Aires. Drive past the gilded facade of Teatro Colón and the soaring Obelisk toward Plaza de Mayo, stopping briefly at the Casa Rosada and the Metropolitan Cathedral. Continue to colourful La Boca, stroll along the brightly painted Caminito street museum before meeting your guides from the Isla Maciel community, a G Adventures-supported project. Cross the 1914 Avellaneda Bridge over the Riachuelo River into the Isla Maciel neighbourhood, taking in vivid murals and social history up close before heading back over the water. Enjoy lunch together, then spend the rest of the afternoon and evening at leisure.
Buenos Aires/Foz do Iguaçu
Board a morning flight to Puerto Iguazú, trading city streets for lush subtropical green. Crossing into Brazil, step onto the trails on the Brazilian side of Iguassu Falls, where expansive footpaths reveal breath-taking panoramic views of hundreds of waterfalls cascading through the jungle mist. Feel the cool spray on your face as you take in the sheer scale of the landscape. Spend a free afternoon to settle into your surroundings, then gather tonight for a dinner featuring delicious local flavours.
Foz do Iguaçu
This morning, cross the border back into Argentina, and spend the entire day exploring the Argentine side of Iguassu Falls. Board the park’s rainforest train to reach the trailheads, walking along scenic boardwalks that wind through dense jungle canopy and over rushing waters. Pass vibrant tropical flora, pausing to take in sweeping views of the cascades from multiple viewpoints. Return to Brazil and head to your hotel to relax and spend the evening at your own pace.
Foz do Iguaçu/Rio de Janeiro
Transfer to the airport for a short flight to Rio de Janeiro, where verdant mountains plunge straight into the blue Atlantic Ocean. Set out on an afternoon tour, taking a cable car up Sugarloaf Mountain to soak in sweeping panoramic views across Guanabara Bay and the sprawling city below. Afterward, enjoy a scenic drive past the sands of Botafogo, Copacabana, and Ipanema, watching beach culture come alive at golden hour, then settle into a free evening on your own.
Rio de Janeiro
Delve into the soul of the city on a visit to Rio's "Little Africa," exploring key historical sites to learn about the profound influence of African culture on Brazilian heritage and samba. Pass the Sambadrome before stopping for lunch. Afterward, walk past the white arches of the Carioca Aqueduct, climb the colourful, mosaic-tiled Selarón Steps in Lapa, and stand at the feet of the towering Christ the Redeemer statue high atop Corcovado Mountain.
Rio de Janeiro
Head into the bohemian hilltop enclave of Santa Teresa, where narrow cobblestone streets are lined with historic mansions and artist studios. Visit Parque das Ruínas, a public park built around the glass-and-steel restoration of a 20th-century mansion, taking in art galleries and sweeping views of Guanabara Bay. Wander along the garden trails of the lush and tropical botanical gardens before returning to your hotel.
Rio de Janeiro/Lima
Bid farewell to Brazil and fly west across the heart of South America over the Andes to Peru. After touching down in Lima, you'll meet your driver and head to your hotel, located in the upscale district of Miraflores on the shores of the Pacific Ocean. Settle in and take some time to explore the area around the hotel before gathering in the evening with your Expedition Leader and any new travel companions joining the next leg of the journey.
Lima/Urubamba
Board an early flight to Cusco, once the capital of the Inca empire, then drive to Urubamba through the scenic Sacred Valley. Explore the terraced salt pans of Maras, which have been used for salt extraction since pre-Inca times, and tour the Inca site of Moray—believed to have been an agricultural laboratory where priests would test soils and crops. Later, we’ll enjoy a meal of local specialities, prepared by chefs in this region for a millennium.
Urubamba
Continue exploring the Sacred Valley with a visit to the G Adventures–supported Parque de la Papa, or Potato Park, a rural Andean community working to preserve hundreds of varieties of native potato. During this exclusive experience, you'll walk through the park with a local guide to learn about potato cultivation, traditional weaving, and the importance of both these practices to Andean culture. We’ll also tour the fascinating Inca ruins of Ollantaytambo and Pisac and enjoy a meal at the G Adventures–supported Parwa Community Restaurant in Huchuy Qosqo.
Urubamba/Aguas Calientes
Catch an early transfer to the Ollantaytambo station and board a train to Aguas Calientes, the gateway to Machu Picchu. Ride through lush Andean scenery, enjoying breathtaking views of ancient ruins and everyday life. Settle into your hotel in Aguas Calientes, and choose from a variety of optional activities: take a relaxing soak in the local hot springs, visit a beautiful botanical garden, or wander the handicraft stalls in town as you prepare for an early start the following day to go up to Machu Picchu.
Aguas Calientes/Cusco
This morning, embark on a guided tour of Machu Picchu—the 15th-century Inca citadel famously introduced to the world by archaeologist Hiram Bingham in the April 1913 issue of National Geographic magazine. After being taken through the temples and terraces of this awe-inspiring UNESCO World Heritage site, return to Cusco by train.
Cusco
Spend the day exploring charming Cusco. Opt to visit Plaza de Armas, the historic main square; the 15th-century Sacsayhuaman fortress; or some of the city’s museums and ornate churches. This evening, we’ll head to the Cusco Planetarium to learn about the importance of astronomy to the ancient Inca and, weather permitting, look out at the glittering, starry sky through telescopes. Please remember that star gazing is completely weather dependent and sometimes there can be cloudy skies.
Cusco/Lima
Fly back to Lima. Spend the rest of the day at your leisure in the Peruvian capital. Visit the San Francisco Monastery, part of Lima’s World Heritage-listed historic center, and descend into its famed catacombs. Wander across Plaza Mayor, the city’s oldest public square, and enjoy Peruvian tapas and a tasting of pisco sours before returning to your hotel.
Lima
Depart at any time.
What are the mandatory travel insurance requirements for this trip?
Travel Insurance: Travel insurance is compulsory in order to participate on any of our trips. When travelling on a group trip, you will not be permitted to join the group until evidence of travel insurance has been sighted by your Expedition Leader, who will take note of your insurance details. When selecting a travel insurance policy please bear in mind that all clients must have medical coverage and that we require a minimum coverage of USD 200,000 for repatriation and emergency rescue. We strongly recommend that the policy also covers personal liability, cancellation, curtailment and loss of luggage and personal effects. If you have credit card insurance we require proof of purchase of the trip (a receipt of credit card statement) with a credit card in your name. Contact your bank for details of their participating insurer, the level of coverage and emergency contact telephone number.
Have Questions? Email Us or call us at (336) 617-0137
