Peru Explora Valle Sagrado
A calm base in the Sacred Valley, with guided walks every day and time to acclimatise before Machu Picchu.
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south america
South America is enormous and wonderfully varied, so the best trips focus on a few regions and do them well.
Peru is the classic first visit, with Machu Picchu, the Sacred Valley and the Amazon. Ecuador adds the Galápagos, one of the great wildlife experiences anywhere, and Bolivia’s salt flats are unlike anything else on earth.
Chile and Argentina share Patagonia, with glaciers, granite towers and long, empty roads, while Chile’s Atacama desert and Argentina’s wine country around Mendoza are perfect for slowing down. Brazil brings Rio, Iguaçu Falls and the Pantanal, and Colombia has colonial Cartagena, coffee country and the Caribbean coast.
Altitude and distance both need thought, so we plan the order carefully and build in time to acclimatise.
where to go
Seven countries, from the Caribbean coast to Cape Horn. Hover over one to see what it's like and when to go.
Hover over or tap a destination to explore
where to stay
Lodges that make the most of extraordinary places, and city hotels we love. We'll help you choose the right one for each stage of the journey.
Peru A calm base in the Sacred Valley, with guided walks every day and time to acclimatise before Machu Picchu.
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Peru An all-inclusive lodge on its own peninsula on Lake Titicaca, at almost 3,800 metres.
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Ecuador A hilltop lodge on Santa Cruz with its own yacht, for exploring the Galápagos without a long cruise.
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Chile Fourteen villas facing the Torres del Paine, each with its own private guide and vehicle.
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Chile Low adobe-style rooms with volcano views near San Pedro de Atacama, and superb stargazing.
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Argentina A 1930s palace in Recoleta, Buenos Aires, with lovely gardens and an excellent wine cellar.
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Brazil The only hotel inside the park on the Brazilian side of the falls, so you can see them before the crowds arrive.
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Brazil Rio's most stylish address, on Ipanema beach with a rooftop pool looking across to the Two Brothers mountain.
Ask us about this hotelLooking for something different? We work with many more hotels and villas in this part of the world, and we'll happily suggest the right one for you.
We plan the route so you gain height gradually, often starting in the Sacred Valley before Cusco, and allow a quieter first day. Most people adjust well with a little time.
The Andes and Machu Picchu are best from April to October, Patagonia from October to April, and the Galápagos are good all year. If you’re combining regions, we’ll suggest the right order.
Both are excellent. A small expedition ship reaches the more remote islands, while a land-based lodge suits families and anyone who prefers to sleep on dry land.
Yes. Expedition ships sail from Ushuaia in Argentina or Punta Arenas in Chile between November and March, so Patagonia makes a natural first stop.
Very much so. The Galápagos, Iguaçu Falls and Patagonia are wonderful with older children, and we’ll choose lodges with family rooms and guides who are great with young explorers.
get in touch
Tell us which places are on your list and how long you have, and we'll suggest a route in the right order.
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