Andes plus Amazon (Caracas to La Paz)

Day 1 to 1

Arrive Caracas (Venezuela)

Day 1 is simply an arrival day with no pre-organised activities, so you will have free time to relax and see some of the sights. Your tour leader will usually hold a group meeting at approx. 6.00pm on day 1 (check the notice board in the hotel reception for the exact time and location). Your tour leader will give a briefing about the tour, outline the plan for the next few days, answer any questions and collect your local fund payment in full in US$ cash. Then there will usually be the option for everyone to go out for dinner and drinks to start to get to know one another. Venezuela’s capital city, Caracas, is 960 metres above sea level and has one of South America's most pleasant climates. Venezuela is one of the largest oil producers in the world and this very modern city has an efficient metro system, which goes from our hotel area into the city centre in minutes. Caracas has many lovely plazas, parks, museums and impressive buildings, it was the birthplace of the Liberator, Simón Bolívar, whose presence is still seen everywhere. Because of the climate, there are many outdoor cafés and restaurants where you can sit and watch the world go by. If you want to have time to explore Caracas properly you may want to arrive a day or two early.

Day 2 to 3

Morrocoy National Park

Heading west, our first stop is the islands, beaches and reefs of the Morrocoy National Park. The islands are dotted with palms and secluded beaches and the reefs and calm waters make for good snorkelling and diving for beginners. There are several good islands to choose from but Cayo Sombrero and Playuela are recommended. It is also possible to walk between some of the islands with appropriate footwear. To the north of the park, Cuare Wildlife Sanctuary is a large nesting area for scarlet ibis, flamingos and herons.

Day 4 to 7

Merida

The city of Mérida is surrounded by the beautiful mountains of Venezuela’s High Andes. It was founded in 1558 and still retains many interesting colonial buildings. Mérida is our base for exploring the Sierra Nevada National Park – Venezuela’s only range where snow lies permanently on the higher peaks. There is the chance to take a 2 or 3 day hike through breathtaking scenery culminating in an exciting cable car ride back to the city. This cable car was built by the French in 1958 and is the longest and highest aerial cableway in the world. With a few days to explore Merida, you will have plenty of time to get to know this beautiful city.

Day 8 to 10

Llanos

Leaving Merida we head into the flatlands of Llanos, one of the best places in the world to see birds and other wildlife such as caipivara, caiman, anacondas, pumas, monkeys and freshwater dolphins. Stretching from the Andes to the Orinoco River, this sparsely populated wilderness covers 300,000 sq km – a third of Venezuela’s total area! It is also in this area where most of the country’s cattle graze, they are mostly the Zebu variety, which comes from Brazil and India.

Day 12 to 15

San Fernando de Apure - Mochima National ParkPuerto la Cruz

We travel eastwards stopping for the night in San Fernando, the capital of the state of Apure and a fast growing trade and transport hub. Heading back up to the Caribbean coast we spend two days in Mochima National Park. Easily one of Venezuela’s most beautiful regions the park is characterized by hundreds of tiny Caribbean islands, plentiful beaches and coves and excellent coral reef. There are options for snorkelling, fishing and swimming. We stop in Puerto la Cruz, a large port city. Whilst here you can explore the enormous shopping centres or take a walk along the ‘Paseo Colon’ (Colombus promenade), a popular waterfront area to see and be seen. Isla de Margarita can also be visited from here, a picturesque Caribbean island with a mountainous interior, spectacular beaches and a warm tropical climate.

Day 16 to 18

Ciudad Bolivar - option to visit Angel Falls

Heading back inland we come to Ciudad Bolivar on the Orinoco River. This town was once called Angostura and is where Angostura Bitters originate. It is also where Simón Bolívar was declared President of Gran Colombia. This interesting little colonial town is our base for the optional excursion to the Angel Falls. From Ciudad Bolivar we can fly south to the small village of Canaima where there are many interesting waterfalls flowing into a black lagoon - the colour emanating from the tannin of the local vegetation. From here you can either fly (on the day excursion) or take dugout canoes and trek (staying overnight at very basic lodges/huts) to the base of the world’s highest waterfall, Angel Falls. The falls, named after an American pilot, Jimmy Angel, who discovered them in 1937, drop nearly 1,000 metres from the flat-topped mountain called Auyan-Tepuy to the jungle floor below. This whole area is the Canaima National Park and there is an abundance of delightful waterfalls, lagoons and flat-topped mountains called tepuyes. Throughout the park you can see many local Pemòn Indian settlements in this sparsely populated land, which covers an area of 30,000 square kilometres. You will never forget the beauty of this “lost world” region.

Day 19 to 20

Salto de Karma -Boa Vista (Brazil)

We continue through the vast Canaima National Park on our way into the south of Venezuela where the landscape turns to savannah. Dotted with hundreds of mountains, the whole region is known as La Gran Sabana. This area was totally inaccessible until the 1970’s when a road was built. It was finally completed in 1990 and is now one of the best roads in the country. Salto de Karma (Waterfall) is our last stop in Venezuela before we cross into Brazil and enter the expansive Amazon rainforest, where we first stay near to the city of Boa Vista.

Day 21 to 27

Manaus - optional jungle excursion - Manaus

The jungle city of Manaus used to be the world’s largest suppliers of rubber. During that heady era the famous Teatro Amazonas (Opera House) was built and completed in 1896. You have a couple of days to explore Manaus before there is the option to join an exciting 3 day excursion deep into the jungle by boat or dugout canoe in search of caiman, fresh water dolphins, jaguar and many other creatures of this threatened rainforest. (If you choose not to take the jungle excursion, you will have extra free time in Manaus). The local guide on this trip will give you an in-depth view of the past and present day lives of the Amazonian Indians. He or she will also explain the importance of manioc (a root vegetable which must be processed to remove the cyanide) to the Indian economy and diet as well as explaining the uses of numerous other jungle plants. You will also go to the meeting point: where the black waters of the Rio Negro and the yellow-brown waters of the Solimões River run side by side for several kilometres, providing an excellent photo opportunity. Returning to Manaus, you have a couple of days to finish sightseeing. A visit to the fascinating waterside markets is highly recommended.

Day 28 to 31

Amazon ferry

From Manaus we cruise down the world’s longest river, the Amazon, which flows for 6,200 kilometres. We travel by riverboat for 1,368 kilometres through the jungle. From the start the river is around 8 kilometres wide but widens in excess of 10 kilometres at some points. As we are going downriver, the boat spends much of its time in the strong currents in the centre of the river but there are various stops en-route. Toward the end of this adventure the river becomes narrow as we travel through one of the hundreds of estuaries in the delta headed for Belem. Our accommodation on the riverboat is in hammocks (purchased locally for approx. US$20 to US$50) for the 4 or 5 nights (depending on the river current) and usually, each boat has a bar on board plus all meals are included. This is a great opportunity to relax, read books and enjoy incredible sunsets before arriving in the city of Belem with new Brazilian friends and fond memories of the mighty Amazon.

Day 32 to 33

Belem - free camping

Belem has fascinating waterfront markets, the Theatre of Peace (one of the largest theatres in Brazil), the excellent Goeldi Museum which houses a zoo, and there are many stalls in the markets for cheap and tasty meals. Another interesting spot to visit is the Bosque Rodrigo Alves, a public garden with many species of native flora as well as a small collection of animals. Leaving Belem we make our way to Sete Cidades National Park stopping to free camp en route.

Day 34 to 35

Sete Cidades National Park -Ubajara National park

The Sete Cidades National Park contains strange 190 million year old rock formations, caverns and natural swimming pools. Sete Cidades Park was named after the ‘seven cities’ its rock formations are said to resemble. From here it’s Ubajara National Park famous for its caves, pretty forest scenery and waterfalls. Here you can take a cablecar ride down into the caves, which also accords great views of the Sertâo scenery.

Day 36 to 41

Canoa Quebrada -Jericoacoara

We travel to Canoa Quebrada on the brazillian coast. The state of Rio Grande do Norte is famous for its beautiful beaches. Canoa Quebrada is a fishing village built on a sand dune with long deserted beaches ideal for relaxation and swimming. For the more active there are two exciting optional activities: sandboarding down the dunes or horse riding along them. We spend three nights here and there many bars and restaurants to keep you busy. Further along the coast we have a stopover in Jericoacoara, known locally as Jeri, where all main streets lead to the beach. We’ll spend a couple of days here enjoying the unhurried lifestyle, amongst beautiful beaches and rustic wooden buildings surrounded by plants and flowers. You can try energetic options like windsurfing and kitesurfing, take some capoeira lessons, join a dunebuggy ride to a local freshwater lagoon, go horseback riding or just relax in the sun at the beach.

Day 42 to 45

Olinda -Maceio

Tracing the coastline south we come to Olinda, which has a variety of historic churches, convents and monasteries, dating back to 1537.  We spend a couple of nights here, with free time to visit nearby Recife, a city built on three islands and joined by a series of bridges. Here an old prison has been converted into a cultural centre which also houses some unique shops. If you want to see how the other half live in Brazil, then you can visit the richseaside suburb of Boa Viagem. Moving on we come to Maceio, where you have the opportunity to hire jangadas (typical Brazilian sailing boats). The boatmen can take you out to a natural reef swimming pool about two kilometres from the shore, where you can order cocktails and crayfish from surrounding boats!

Day 46 to 48

Salvador

Salvador is the capital city of the state of Bahia and the third largest city in Brazil. The centre of Salvador has many historic colonial buildings and dates back to 1549; it was the original Brazilian capital until 1763. It is situated on the bay of Todos os Santos, is the largest bay on the Brazilian coast and has 38 islands, some of which can be visited by ferry on an optional excursion. There are also enormous elevators going from the upper to the lower city, where the docks are situated. It is in this area, just outside Mercado Modelo, where we can find the Bahians practising the foot fighting sport of Capoeira, which was originally brought to Brazil by black Angolan slaves. Another key feature of Bahian life is the Afro-Brazilian religion of candomblé and you may be able to see one of their amazing ceremonies (please check locally for schedules of these optional tours), alternatively, we can enjoy the traditional music of the area with a strong emphasis towards drums in the evening.

Day 49 to 52

Porto Seguro - free camping

The beautiful coastal town of Porto Seguro has miles of palm fringed beaches and bars, which are great places to sample delicious fresh fruit juices, or the Brazilian national cocktail of caiparinha (be careful of this one though!). Just north of here is where the Portuguese, led by Pedro Alvares Cabral, first landed in 1500 and a cross marks the site. There is plenty of typical Bahian food available in Porto Seguro and you may want to try the delicious moqueca, a hot spicy seafood casserole. We free camp en route as we make our way into the interior destined for Ouro Prêto.

Day 53 to 54

Ouro Preto

The whole area was once a mining region and this celebrated town was founded in 1711 and is a National Historic Monument. This quaint municipality has much colonial architecture, which gives an aura of times past. Cobbled streets wind up and down steep hills and the town boasts churches, fountains, terraced gardens.

Day 55 to 60

Rio de Janiero

We drive on to Rio de Janeiro, one of the most beautiful cities in the world and where our trip ends. There are many things to see and do in Rio so you may wish to stay on for a few more days after the end of the trip. You can take a trip up to Sugar Loaf Mountain and Corcovado with its famous Statue of Christ – both of which offer great city views, visit to the Botanical Gardens or the famous beaches of Copacabana, Ipanema and Leblon. And of course, if you are in Rio around February/March time, get ready for the world's biggest party, THE RIO CARNIVAL! Please Note that the 4 nights during Rio Carnival are not included in the tour price and it is essential to pre-book accommodation if you wish to stay on for the Carnival. Please see our brochure or the ‘Travel Info’ section of our website for important booking info and prices.

Day 61 to 65

Parati - free camping -Campo Grande

A short four hour drive down the coast to Parati, an awesome little colonial town. Vehicles are banned from entering the town centre leaving the cobbled streets traffic free and peaceful. Parati was a major port for the exportation of gold and coffee during the 17th and 19th centuries respectively and recommended excursions include a sailing schooner cruise around the bays, rainforest treks and walking the gold trail. Moving on we make our way westbound free camping en route as we travel across the rolling hills of Southern Brazil passing the modern city of Campo Grande.

Day 66 to 68

Pantanal

Our next stop is the Pantanal Wildlife Reserve, a massive wetland of 230,000 square kilometres. One of the unusual things about the Pantanal is that there are also many farms in the area and the animals from these farms live quite comfortably with the other wildlife in the region. Wild animals include approximately 650 species of birds, capybara, howler monkeys, pumas, jaguars, ocelots, coatis, yellow anacondas, marsh deer, caiman, tapir and many more. The Pantanal is excellent for wildlife spotting as the region is more open and flat than a jungle setting.

Day 69 to 71

Bonito

Next we reach Bonito where we have plenty of time to enjoy its waterfalls, caves and rivers. A variety of activities are available which include cave and river snorkelling, rafting, rainforest walks and wildlife spotting.

Day 72 to 75

Foz do Iguacu

From here we drive to Foz do Iguaçu (Iguazu Falls), where some 275 waterfalls cascade over a two and a half kilometre wide cliff face. We spend the next 3-4 nights here and there is plenty to do. You can visit both sides of the falls; on the Brazilian side there are panoramic views of the numerous waterfalls and on the Argentine side you can walk through rainforest and along catwalks directly above the falls. On the Argentine side you’ll also find the famous "Devil's Throat" where fourteen falls drop with such force that there is always a massive cloud of spray overhead. For a bird’s eye view over the entire falls you can take an optional scenic helicopter ride. There is also an excellent bird park nearby and you can visit the world’s largest hydroelectric dam at Itaipu where videos show the environmental planning behind the dam project (this tour is free!). If you want to do a bit of country counting, then you can pop into neighbouring Paraguay by public bus (you don’t even have to get your passport stamped) for a bit of shopping in Ciudad del Esté.

Day 76 to 77

San Ignacio (Argentina) free camping

Heading south we cross over into Argentina and stop over at San Ignacio Mini where there are some of the best kept Jesuit ruins in the region. As we follow the River Paraná we reach the Chaco, a mixture of savannah and marshlands teeming with wildlife. We will hopefully spot lots of wildlife and the odd gaucho (Argentine cowboy). Continuing on we free-camp en route to the striking city of Salta in the Lerma Valley, established in 1582.

Day 78 to 80

Salta

Salta has many old colonial buildings, a cathedral with ancient statues of Cristo del Milagro (Miracle of Christ) and the Virgin Mary, which were brought over from Spain in 1592. Some spectacular scenery awaits us as we head north through Argentina in the form of an arid landscape of giant cacti and unusual rock coloration in the Humahuaca Canyon.

Day 81 to 82

Uyuni (Bolivia)

Winding our way along the dusty roads of Bolivia, some of the worst in South America, passing through Villazon and Tupiza. Reaching the desolate town of Uyuni, in the south of Bolivia, we visit what is claimed to be the largest salt flat in the world, the brilliant white vast Salar de Uyuni. There is an opportunity to take an excursion to Fish Island where there are great views of the surrounding lake and giant cacti provide perfect photo opportunities. The fantastic contrast of the brilliant blue sky (weather permitting of course) and the pure white of the salt flats will take your breath away.

Day 83 to 85

Potosi

Our next stop is Potosí (4,070 metres), the highest city of its size on earth with a population of 110,000. The city was established in 1545 soon after the discovery of a rich vein of silver in a nearby hill, the Cerro Rico (or “rich hill”). Silver from Potosí underwrote the Spanish economy, particularly the monarchy's extravagance, for over two centuries. Millions of Indians, and later, African slaves, worked in the mines where conditions were so appalling and dangerous that miners died in astronomical numbers, either in accidents or from silicosis pneumonia. You have the chance to visit one of the mines (Optional) where you can see first hand how rough the working conditions were and still are! From here we travel across the Altiplano on our way to La Paz.

Day 86 to 87

Depart La Paz

La Paz is built in the basin of a spectacular ancient crater caused by a meteorite, with the snow-capped Mount Illimani in the background. The city has colourful Indian street markets including the ‘witches market’ where women in flared skirts sell, amongst other things, dead cats and llama foetuses which are placed under new buildings to keep evil spirits away. The main square, Plaza Murillo, is where many years ago a president of the republic was lynched from a lamppost. La Paz is one of the best places to see a traditional peña show of Andean music and dance where local musicians play their time-honoured instruments such as zampoñas (pipes) and charangos (ukulele). There are heaps of optional excursions available in La Paz so you may want to add a couple of extra days on to the end of your tour to ensure you get the most out of your time here. Check out the Moon Valley with its strange rock formations shaped by the weather or take in the incredible views from Mount Chacaltaya and the world's highest ski resort at 5,221metres. Another fantastic excursion is to Coroico, the gateway to the Bolivian jungle region and a great place to see sub-tropical vegetation and plants. En-route you will cross a 5,000 metre high pass before descending to 1,300 metres on narrow mountain roads bordered by sheer drops. The excursion to Coroico can also be done by mountain bike, as it is downhill nearly all the way and very exhilarating, but not for the fainthearted Our tour concludes on day 87.