A 45-day adventure experience through the heart of South America. This trip has it all!

Southern Cross trips:
Southern Cross (SXRM)
Itinerary
Day 1 Lima
Arrive in Lima at any time.
Day 2-4 Pisco / Nazca
Travel to Pisco, renowned for its liquor, from where you can visit the Ballestas Islands. Continue to Nazca, and take an optional flight over the desert to view the mysterious Nazca Lines, and tour a Pre-Incan cemetery. Night bus to Arequipa.
Day 5-7 Arequipa / Chivay / Colca Canyon
Leaving from Arequipa, spend two days exploring the Colca Canyon, one of the deepest canyons in the world and home to the majestic Andean Condor.
Day 8-9 Cuzco / Ollantaytambo
Fly to Cuzco and explore this colonial gem. Travel through the Sacred Valley and visit ancient Incan sites, including the picturesque town and ruins of Ollantaytambo.
Day 10-13 Inca Trail to Machu Picchu (3B,3L,3D)
Begin a once in a lifetime journey on the ancient trail of the Incas. Ruins and spectacular mountain scenery fill each day. On the final day watch the sunrise over Machu Picchu. Return to Cuzco in the evening.
Day 14-19 Cuzco / Puno / Lake Titicaca (B, L, D)
Relax and walk the streets of Cuzco, go rafting, riding or biking. Enjoy spectacular views on a travel day through the high Altiplano to Puno. Take a boat trip to the Taquile and Uros islands, and an overnight immersion into Peruvian rural life with a village homestay.
Day 20-25 La Paz/ Uyuni / Salt Lakes Excursion (3B, 3L, 3D)
Wander the streets of La Paz, the highest capital in the world. Travel to Uyuni by bus/train, and spend three days exploring the piercing blue skies and white salt flats of the Salar de Uyuni by 4X4.
Day 26-29 Potosi / Sucre
Descend into a working mine in World Heritage Potosi, a silver mining centre during colonial times. Continue to historic Sucre, full of museums and colonial buildings.
Day 30-33 Santa Cruz / Puerto Suarez / Corumba / Pantanal (2B, 2L, 2D)
Fly to Santa Cruz, and take an overnight train ride to Puerto Suarez, on the border with Brazil. Marvel at macaws, Jabiru storks, giant otters, and caimans on a 2-day excursion to the Pantanal wetlands.
Day 34-39 Bonito / Iguassu Falls
Snorkel in crystal clear rivers, or visit caves and waterfalls in Bonito. Cross through the vast cattle ranches of Mato Grosso do Sul en route to magnificent Iguassu Falls.
Day 40-44 Curitiba / Rio de Janeiro
Travel to Curitiba and head for one of the laid-back coastal islands. Finally, head north to incomparable Rio de Janeiro. Don't forget Copacabana beach!
Day 45 Depart Rio de Janeiro
Accommodation
Simple hotels (34-35 nts), buses (3-4 nts), camping (5 nts), homestay (1 nt).
Associated RT Project
Optional visit to Planeterra community projects
Brochure Intro
A 45-day adventure experience through the heart of South America. This trip has it all!
Brochure Notes
1. Last minute bookings of this trip and all trips that include the Inca Trail will be on an "on request" basis only. To make a booking request of a tour that includes the Inca Trail, G.A.P Adventures requires your full name, date of birth, nationality and passport number.

2. Please advise at time of booking if you do not wish to hike the Inca Trail. Instead, you will have 2 nights in Cuzco, travel by train for a night in Aguas Calientes, and join the hikers for the tour of Machu Picchu.
Brox Budget
Allow USD600 for meals not included. For additional expenses, see dossier.
Brox Group Leader
G.A.P leader throughout, local guides in the Nazca cemetery, Colca Canyon, the Sacred Valley, on the Inca Trail, on Lake Titicaca, and while in the Pantanal.
Combination
This trip is made up of two sections - Lima to La Paz PXML and La Paz to Rio SXLR.
Departure
Departs weekly
Departure GuaranteeDepEnd
Fri-Sun
Group Size
Max 15, Avg 10
Highlights
Pisco, Nazca Lines, Arequipa, Colca Canyon, Cuzco, Inca Trail, Machu Picchu, Lake Titicaca, La Paz, Salar de Uyuni Salt Flats, Potosi, Sucre, Santa Cruz, Pantanal Wetlands, Iguassu Falls, Rio de Janeiro.
Included Highlights
- Day tour Nazca Cemetery and potter's workshop
- Guided tour of Colca Canyon (overnight)
- Guided tour of the Sacred Valley
- 4-day hike on the Inca Trail with local guide, cook and porters
- Guided tour of Machu Picchu
- Guided tour of Taquile and Uros Islands on Lake Titicaca
- 3-day 4 wheel drive excursion to the Salar de Uyuni
- 2-day wildlife excursion to the Pantanal
- Visit to Iguassu Falls
Local Payment
USD500
Meals Included
All meals while hiking the Inca Trail and during homestay and while visiting Uyuni Salt Flats and in the Pantanal.
Recommendation
This trip is also available with a 2-day Amazon Jungle excursion, spending less time in Cuzco. More information on our Southern Cross & Amazon SJMR tour is available on the pricing pages.
Reverse Itinerary
This trip also runs in reverse - see trip code SXRM.
StartFinish
Lima to Rio de Janeiro
Testimonial
"Wow, what an amazing trip, great itinerary, brilliant sights, great organisation, great accomodation, great leaders, what more can I say, a once in a lifetime experience!" - Robert Morris travelled on Southern Cross (Full)
Transport
Public bus, local flight, train, boat, hiking, 4WD truck.
Website Referral
For more information, a detailed trip itinerary, and trip availability please visit our website.