Anaconda Trail (La Paz to Rio de Janeiro)

Day 1 to 1

Arrive La Paz

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. Our tour begins in La Paz, the highest capital city in the world at 3,636 metres. Built on a series of hills and considered one of the world's most beautiful cities, La Paz is built in the basin of a canyon with the snow-capped Mount Illimani in the background. Our hotel is very centrally located and is just around the corner from the city's colourful Indian street markets including the fascinating and suitably called "witches market'' where bowler-hatted women in their flared skirts sell such items as dead cats and llamas foetuses said to ward off evil spirits. The main square, Plaza Murillo, is also within walking distance. The square still retains its colonial buildings including the Presidential Palace. La Paz is possibly the best place to experience a traditional peña show of Andean music and dance where local bands play time-honoured instruments such as zampoñas (pipes) and charangos (ukulele). There are also many optional excursions available so you may want to arrive a couple of days early to get the most out of your stay 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!

Day 2 to 9

Oruro - Salar de Uyuni -Potosi - Sucre

Leaving La Paz we travel to the old mining town of Oruro, an important commercial centre for the miners of the Altiplano, where depending on current train times we spend one night. This morning we travel by train to the desolate town of Uyuni in the south of Bolivia. From here we visit what is claimed to be the largest salt flat in the world, the brilliant white vast Salar de Uyuni. A 4WD excursion takes us to a hotel made entirely of salt and then surrounds you with a world of white and blue. Visiting Fish Island stunning views of the lake prove quite otherworldly as giant cacti and wandering llama punctuate the scene and 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. We then return to Uyuni for one more night. (Note occasionally in the rainy season the salt flats become overly flooded and we may have to alter the itinerary if the salt flats are not safe to traverse). ORURO - UYUNI TRAINS: Please note that the timetable on this route changes frequently and this sometimes necessitates an extra day in La Paz or Corumba. Your tour leader will advise as early as possible if this is likely to happen on your tour. Travelling along scenic passes by public bus we come to the mining town of Potosí. The city was established by the Spanish in 1545 soon after the discovery of a rich vein of silver in a nearby hill, the Cerro Rico (or “rich hill”). It soon became the world's largest silver producer and 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 in appalling conditions. You have the option to visit the mines, stopping first at the miners market to buy gifts such as coca leaves, dynamite and cigarettes. In the mines we will experience the difficult conditions in which the miners work – including 50°c heat. We'll pass several of the shrines they have made to the “Tios” which they hope will protect them while they are working in what they believe is the devil's territory. If you'd like to learn more of the historic silver industry you can take a tour of the Moneda, a museum exhibiting coins, artwork, mummies and many other interesting artefacts from Potosí's history. A short journey along new roads brings us to Sucre, the official capital of Bolivia, where by law all buildings are painted white. Founded in 1538 it still has much of its colonial charm intact. The city is also famous for its warm and sunny climate. Don't miss a visit to the cathedral where you can see the jewel encrusted painting of Sucre's patron – the Virgin of Guadalupe. You have the option to visit the bustling Tarabuco market where “people watching” is as interesting as the market itself. Try some of the cooked meals in the food market if you want to sample some of the locally grown hot chillies! These Indians are famous for their weavings and multi-coloured textiles.

Day 10 to 14

Santa Cruz -Coromba - Pantanal

From Sucre we fly to Santa Cruz and enjoy some time for sight seeing before we fly onto the Bolivian border town of Puerto Suárez. After crossing the frontier, we then travel by road for the short tour to the Brazilian town of Corumbá, a port city on the Rio Paraguay and the southern gateway to the Pantanal. The next day we enter the Pantanal National Park for sightseeing in this fantastic region. The Amazon may have all the fame and glory, but the Pantanal is a far better place to see wildlife. The area is a huge wetland, about half the size of France, in the centre of South America. The Pantanal is truly, a birdwatchers paradise but it's also home to a multitude of other animals such as giant river otters, anacondas, iguanas, jaguars, ocelots, cougars, crocodiles, marsh deer, armadillos, giant and lesser anteaters, black howler monkeys and zebu bulls, to name but a few! You may have to work a bit to catch your lunch, but mind your fingers, it's piranha stew!

Day 15 to 18

Bonito -Asuncion

Leaving the Pantanal behind us we travel to Bonito in the Sierra do Bodoquena mountains, famous for its caving and river activities. The following day is free to try some of the snorkelling activities in the lakes and rivers (optional). For those who prefer to stay on dry land, spectacular walks though the forest and mountains are on offer. After a free morning in Bonito we make a lunchtime departure for Ponta Pora, where we spend the night. We then enter the tiny Republic of Paraguay at Pedro Juan Caballero, which you'll soon realise is the same town as Ponta Pora as there is no border as such! You simply cross the road from one country to the other whenever you like. Only the change of language will give you a hint as to which country you are in! After sorting out our immigration procedures, we travel across the Paraguayan pampas, where we might spot the South American rhea bird (a type of emu) as well as the typical cowboys, (gauchos) en route to Paraguay's capital city, Asunción. You can shop until you drop in the city's huge duty free zone and along the riverfront are the Government and Municipal Palaces, and the cathedral.

Day 19 to 26

Iguazu Falls - Curitiba -Sao Paulo - Parati

We travel over fertile farmlands destined for the Brazilian town of Foz do Iguaçu, our base for visiting the famous Iguazu Falls - the most magnificent waterfalls in the world. Unlike most other waterfalls that have just one or two cataracts, at Iguazú there are 275 cataracts in a magnificent 3 kilometre-long U shape that we will visit from both the Brazil and Argentina sides. Visiting the Argentine side of the falls you can board a speed boat which will take you under the falls soaking you from head to toe – an optional adventure you'll never forget! 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. Moving on through the rolling hills of Southern Brazil we arrive at the university town of Curitiba where we spend the night before you have the option to take a scenic train trip to the coast. We then visit the world's fastest growing city, Sâo Paulo, which has a metropolitan population of 19 million. We can visit a snake farm and the Latin American Exhibition Centre designed by Oscar Niemeyer, who also designed Brasília, the country's capital (optional tours). After a hard day of sightseeing we can relax and perhaps have a meal in the Japanese quarter. Following the stunning coastline north, we come to colonial Parati, an old pirate town with streets made of stone slabs designed to let the tide wash over and clean them. You have an option to go on a full day boat cruise around the bay with plenty of time for swimming in the turquoise waters and eating the fresh seafood. Visiting the Brazilian side of the falls will give you a completely different perspective from the Argentine side. On the Brazilian side you can see the falls by walking through the rainforest and along catwalks above and below the rushing water or, for a bird's eye view a helicopter flight is on offer (optional). You can also visit the world's largest hydroelectric dam at Itaipu (optional) where you can learn more about the ecological issues faced during the dam's construction. There is also a very interesting bird park nearby – perfect for that must-have photo with a toucan!

Day 27 to 28

Depart Rio de Janeiro

We arrive at our last stop on this tour in the early afternoon. Fantastic Rio de Janeiro has many things to see and do. There are trips up Sugar Loaf Mountain by cable car and Corcovado, with its famous Statue of Christ, for great city views. Another interesting journey is on the old tram system across the viaduct into the cobblestone neighbourhood of Santa Teresa. A walking tour of Rio's historic buildings is also a lovely way to pass an afternoon, or you may like to visit the Botanical Gardens or one of the famous beaches, such as Copacabana, Ipanema or Leblon. If you are in Rio around February, get ready for the world's biggest party – the Rio Carnival!  Please note that the 4 post-tour nights during Rio Carnival are not included in the tour price and it is essential to pre-book accommodation during this time if you want to experience the Carnival. Our tour concludes on day 28.