Journeys: Highlights of Patagonia, Brazil & Peru - 22 Days

Arrive at any time. Arrival transfer is included.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 the tour operator-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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Continue exploring the Sacred Valley with a visit to the the tour operator–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 the tour operator–supported Parwa Community Restaurant in Huchuy Qosqo.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Depart at any time.