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LIMA TO BUENOS AIRES ADVENTURE Lima Buenos Aires PERU EXPLORE SOUTH AMERICA Machu Lima Picchu Ollantaytambo Cuzco Puno Paracas Lake Titicaca Nazca La Paz Colca Canyon BOLIVIA Arequipa Potosi Uyuni Salt Flats San Pedro de Atacama CHILE Salta ARGENTINA Buenos Aires Highlights • Browse the colonial streets of Lima • Decipher the mysterious Nazca Lines • Hike the challenging Inca Trail • Stroll the ruins of Machu Picchu • Visit the highest city in the world • Explore a silver mine in Potosí • Cross the Salar de Uyuni by 4WD • Sample fine wines in Buenos Aires Departures 2015 START FINISH Jan 07 Feb 10 Jan 13 Feb 16 Jan 16 Feb 19 Feb 25 Mar 31 Mar 01 Apr 04 Mar 04 Apr 07 Mar 11 Apr 14 Mar 18 Apr 21 Mar 22 Apr 25 Mar 29 May 02 Apr 07 May 11 Apr 15 May 19 Apr 24 May 28 Inclusions START FINISH Apr 27 May 31 May 02 Jun 05 May 09 Jun 12 May 15 Jun 18 May 27 Jun 30 Jun 09 Jul 13 Jun 14 Jul 18 Jun 26 Jul 30 Jul 05 Aug 08 Jul 12 Aug 15 Jul 28 Aug 31 Aug 11 Sep 14 Aug 17 Sep 20 START FINISH Aug 23 Sep 26 Sep 08 Oct 12 Sep 22 Oct 26 Sep 26 Oct 30 Oct 05 Nov 08 Oct 16 Nov 19 Oct 27 Nov 30 Nov 03 Dec 07 Nov 23 Dec 27 Nov 26 Dec 30 Dec 03 Jan 06 Dec 15 Jan 18 Dec 24 Jan 27 Trip Style: YOLO Service Level: Basic Physical Grading: 4 Age Group: Exclusively for 18-39s Accommodation: Simple hotels (25 nts, some multishare), basic hostels (2 nts, multishare), overnight buses (3 nts), homestay (1 nt), camping (3 nts) Transport: Public bus, plane, train, 4WD Meals: 6 breakfasts, 6 lunches, 7 dinners Budget: Allow USD $1065- 1400 for meals not included Group Leader: Chief Experience Officer (CEO), specialist CEO on Inca Trail, local guides Group Size: Max 18, Avg 14 Tour Code: GASPMB My Own Room Available: Fr $989 You might like Go In Reverse Buenos Aires to Lima Adventure (35 days, GASABM) Fr $4,999 Extend your trip Lima to Rio Adventure (51 days, GASPMR) Fr $7,249 South America rewards those willing to explore. This epic adventure from Lima to Buenos Aires promises 35 fun-filled days, hiking the Inca Trail, spotting condors in the Colca Canyon and crossing the salt flats of Bolivia by 4WD vehicle. In Buenos Aires, you can try out your tango and feel quite sophisticated discussing the merits of your delicious ‘New World’ wine whilst tucking in to a juicy Argentinian steak. Along the way, you’ll engage with local cultures and meet a great group of fellow travellers. For those willing to invest their time, this big trip offers big returns. DAY 01 02-04 05-08 09-11 12-16 ITINERARY Lima Arrive into Peru’s capital city at any time today, relax at your hotel or head out to explore some of its vibrant neighbourhoods. This evening, meet up with your Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and the rest of your group to learn about the five weeks’ worth of adventures that lie ahead! Paracas / Nazca Spend the morning exploring more of Lima, which was founded in 1535 and retains a colonial feel despite its status as one of Latin America’s largest cities. Hop on a bus for the short trip down the coast to Paracas, where you can sample a healthy seafood ceviche and a glass of Pisco Sour. From here, you can choose to sail over to the wildlife haven of the Ballestas Islands to observe the sea lion colonies and Humboldt penguins. Travel on to Nazca, stopping along the way at the oasis of Huacachina for a visit to a local wine producer and perhaps some optional sandboarding. Nazca is home to the weird and wonderful Nazca Lines, fascinating symbols and designs that have been etched into the desert on a vast scale. Some resemble animals, fish and birds, but all of them are best appreciated with an aerial view so we recommend an optional sightseeing flight to take it all in. Historians debate their original meaning or purpose, and it’s fun to come up with your own theories! In the evening, enjoy a traditional Pachamanca meal that is cooked underground, before catching the night bus to Arequipa. (D) Arequipa / Colca Canyon Arequipa is Peru’s second city, but maintains a more laid-back atmosphere than the capital. It is also known as ‘the White City’ due to the light coloured volcanic rock used in its construction. You have a free day to explore here and the top draws for visitors are the café-lined main plaza and cathedral. You may also wish to pay an optional visit to the Convent of Santa Catalina, which offers a brief respite from the outside world and a unique view into a bygone way of life. Spectacular mountains surround Arequipa and, on Day 6, you can marvel at El Misti Volcano, whose beautiful snow-capped summit stands at 5,822m (19,096ft). On Day 7, set off for an overnight guided tour to Colca Canyon, which incorporates a remarkable drive through Inca and pre-Inca terracing. Once at the Colca Canyon, look out for awesome Andean condors soaring overhead, as well as alpacas, llamas and vicuñas. Drive back to Arequipa on Day 8, before taking the night bus to Cuzco. Cuzco / Ollantaytambo Arriving off the night bus, Cuzco does not disappoint. It is one of Peru’s most attractive cities and certainly its most popular amongst international visitors. There are great museums, churches and Inca sites to check out, or, if you want to get your adrenalin pumping, then head off river rafting, mountain biking or horse riding. You can climb up the hill to Sacsayhuamán (pronounced ‘sexy woman’) or browse the markets for handicrafts and souvenirs. Travel through the Sacred Valley to Ollantaytambo where you’ll stay the night before you embark on the Inca Trail. The town’s major Inca ruin site will sufficiently whet your appetite for what lies ahead. Inca Trail to Machu Picchu An undoubted highlight of the trip for anyone brave enough to tackle it, the Inca Trail is a legendary multi-day hike. You’ll start at Km 82 and, over the next few days trek around 44kms (27 miles), crossing no fewer than three mountain passes. Warmiwañusca, or Dead Woman’s Pass, is the highest - standing at 4,198m (13,769ft). This world-famous trail takes you through beautiful cloud forest and original Inca constructions such as a causeway and tunnel. Take time to absorb the scenery while your porters race ahead to set up camp. Check your camera batteries for the final day as you head up to the ‘Sun Gate’ to see the breathtaking sunrise over Machu Picchu - enchanting and epic! Wander around the remarkable ruins of Machu Picchu with your guide before heading back to Cuzco to rest, shower and celebrate. (3B, 3L, 3D) 24 VISIT WWW.STATRAVEL.COM
FR $4,999 35 DAYS Laguna Verde, Uyuni Salt Flats Sandboarding, Atacama Desert, Chile EXPLORE SOUTH AMERICA Dinosaur Tracks Park, Sucre, Bolivia Weaving Project, Sacred Valley, Peru Convent of Santa Catalina, Arequipa 17-19 20-22 23-24 25-26 27-29 30-31 32-33 34 35 Puno / Lake Titicaca You’ll travel by bus through the stunning altiplano region to Puno. From here, you’ll take a boat trip to visit the floating Islands of Uros before immersing yourself in Peruvian rural life with a homestay in a small village. Take in the extensive views of the lake and enjoy spectacular sunsets, starry skies and a traditional evening of dinner and dancing. You’ll get a true feel for life on Lake Titicaca. (B, L, D) La Paz Cross the border into Bolivia and ascend to La Paz, regarded as one of the highest cities in the world and situated at nearly 4,000m (13,120ft) above sea level. At this altitude we don’t recommend anything too strenuous! You have free time to explore La Paz with its many fine museums, religious buildings and the fascinating Mercado de Hechicería (Witches’ Market), where you can purchase any number of lotions and potions to remedy your illnesses... real or imagined! There’s a wealth of shops selling fine alpaca wool products, silver jewellery and woven textiles, so take in a spot of shopping before boarding the overnight bus to Sucre on Day 22. Sucre Often referred to as the ‘White City’, Sucre is Bolivia’s capital and former home of the Spanish Royal Court, who ruled from here over their vast colonial possessions. Sucre also has strong links with the Latin American independence movement, gaining its present name in 1825 after General Sucre, who was Simon Bolivar’s second-in-command. Optional activities here include an excursion to walk in the footprints of dinosaurs, visits to a tin baron’s mansion or textile co-operative, hiking trails or mountain bike rides. Potosí Travel by bus to Potosí, a UNESCO World Heritage Site with a fascinating history as a silver mining centre during colonial times. There is time to visit the Casa de la Moneda Museum and for an eyeopening excursion to the working mines of the Mountain of Silver, where the methods used to extract this precious metal are unchanged in decades, if not centuries. Much of the silver was shipped back to Spain, and countless numbers of indigenous people and African slaves lost their lives in the mines. Perhaps surprisingly, by 1650, Potosí was the most populated city in the world - its 160,000 inhabitants exceeded that of London, Paris, Madrid and other important ‘old world’ cities. Salar de Uyuni / Salt Flats The isolated town of Uyuni is the starting point for your salt flats excursion, and you’ll spend the next three days in 4WD vehicles exploring the stunning landscapes between the Salar de Uyuni and the Atacama Desert. The contrast of piercing blue skies and blinding white salt on the flat lakebed is quite unbelievable. The colour palette gets even more vivid at the Laguna Colorada, coloured red due to algae and plankton, and then at the Laguna Verde which has a striking blue-green appearance due to mineral concentrations in its waters. The area’s unusual landscape of mountains, active volcanoes, geysers and moon-like territory is like nowhere on earth. (2B, 2L, 2D) San Pedro de Atacama Descend almost 3,000m from the high altiplano of Bolivia, and cross into Chile to arrive at the small desert resort of San Pedro de Atacama. The town is the gateway to the Atacama Desert, one of the biggest and driest on the planet. It offers plenty of excursion opportunities like biking, exploring nearby ruins, horseback riding and visits to the dramatic Valley of the Moon. Salta Make your way to Salta, situated in the Lerma Valley in northern Argentina and famous for its delicious local speciality, the empanada. On Day 13, you can pay an optional visit to the scenic Quebrada de las Conchas, sample the local wines from the vineyards of Cafayate or experience the celebrations at a ‘Peña’ folklore show. Buenos Aires Today, you’ll skip the long journey to the coast with a quick flight over to Argentina’s stylish capital, Buenos Aires, which has a distinctly European feel. After an optional city tour, there’s time to explore at your own pace. Head to some of the diverse neighbourhoods such as San Telmo, colourful La Boca or stylish Recoleta to really get a flavour of the city and to sample the world’s best steaks and some of the fine wines for which Argentina has earned a well-deserved reputation. Buenos Aires The tour comes to an end today, so it’s time to say goodbye to your new-found travelling buddies. 25
Page 1 and 2: EXPLORE SOUTH AMERICA EXPLORE SOUTH
Page 3 and 4: FR $9,449 65 DAYS ECUADOR Quito Man
Page 5: FR $7,999 45 DAYS Machu Picchu La P
Page 9 and 10: LA PAZ TO BUENOS AIRES ADVENTURE La
Page 11 and 12: FR $4,699 25 DAYS Paraty, Brazil Ho
Page 13 and 14: FR $6,999 39 DAYS Salar de Uyuni, B
Page 15 and 16: FR $7,249 51 DAYS Rio de Janeiro Tr
Page 17 and 18: THE EXPLORER Cuzco Rio de Janeiro F
Page 19 and 20: MULTI-COUNTRY PASSES Included Exper
Page 21: PERU MAGICAL PERU WAYS Lima Cuzco |

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