Anaconda Trail (Rio de Janeiro to La Paz)

Day 1 to 1

Arrive Rio de Janeiro

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. We start this fantastic tour from exciting Rio de Janeiro which has many things to see and do so you may want to arrive a couple of days early to get the most out of your stay here.  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 street 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.

Day 2 to 17

Parati - Sao Paulo - Curitiba - Foz do Iguacu - Asuncion - Ponta Pora -Bonito - Pantanal

Following the stunning coastline south, 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 to swim in the turquoise waters and eat fresh seafood. 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 renowned architect 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. Next 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. Then we move on through the rolling hills of Southern Brazil to 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. On the Brazil 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! We travel through fertile farmlands, destined for the tiny Republic of 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. 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. After sorting out our immigration procedures, at Pedro Juan Caballero, which you'll soon realise is the same town as Ponta Pora in Brazil, 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! Leaving Paraguay 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 our way towards the fabulous Pantanal. The town of Corumbá is a port city on the Rio Paraguay and the southern gateway to the Pantanal. 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. The ecosystem is known to be home to at least 3,500 species of plants, 650 species of birds, 400 species of fish, around 100 species of mammal, and 80 species of reptiles, with an estimated 10 million caimans alone. Keep your eyes peeled and you may see 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, its piranha stew! Visiting the Argentinean side of the falls will give you a completely different perspective from the Brazilian side. Here you may board a speed boat which will take you under the falls soaking you from head to toe - an 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.

Day 18 to 20

Corumba - Puerto Suarez -Santa Cruz - Sucre

From Corumbá we cross the frontier into Bolivia where we fly from the little airport at Puerto Suárez to Santa Cruz and enjoy free time sight seeing before transferring back to the airport for another flight 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 21 to 27

Potosi - Salar de Uyuni -Oruro - La Paz

A short journey along new roads brings us 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. (In Spanish there is still a saying, valer un potosí, "to be worth a fortune".) 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. Travelling along scenic passes we come 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, which covers some 10,500 square kilometres and estimated to contain 10 billion tons of salt. A 4WD excursion takes us to a hotel made entirely of salt and then surrounds you with a world of white and blue. Fish Island with 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. (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). We then return to Uyuni to catch the afternoon train to the old mining town of Oruro, an important commercial centre for the miners of the Altiplano, where we spend one night. UYUNI – ORURO 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. We continue our journey by bus with breathtaking views of the surrounding mountains as the road winds its way into 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 named "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 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 5,221 metres. Another fantastic excursion is to the emerald green area of 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 28 to 28

Depart La Paz

This tour concludes on day 28 in La Paz.