Take in the ancient ruins of lost civilisations, elegant colonial buildings, spectacular natural beauty and passionate culinary and dance traditions of Latin America as you travel to the most iconic sights of Peru, Chile, Argentina and Brazil.
Depart on your scheduled, overnight flight to Lima, Peru.
Dinner
On arrival, you will be met and transferred to your hotel where you can rest and unwind before tonight's welcome dinner.
Breakfast
Today's tour of Peru's vibrant capital starts at the Plaza Mayor with a visit to the lovingly-restored 18th century cathedral on the plaza's edge. View the majestic Archbishop's Palace, City Hall and baroque facade of the Government Palace before continuing on to San Francisco Monastery, which boasts a network of underground chambers once used as the city cemetery. Wander through lively Plaza San Martin before stopping at the Larco Herrera Museum, where you'll learn more about ancient Peruvian culture. Enjoy the remainder of the day at leisure to take in more of the city sights.
Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Journey into the Incan heartland of Peru as today's flight takes you to the mountain city of Cusco and onwards to the Sacred Valley, an area of flat, fertile land which sustained many ancient towns and villages. En route, stop at the well-preserved terraced Incan ruins of Ollantaytambo fortress, a stronghold of Incan resistance against the Spanish, and the village of Pisac, renowned for its lively market and stone Incan buildings, before arriving at your hotel.
Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Journey by train to one of the New Seven Wonders of the World - Machu Picchu. A full-day tour takes you around the tombs, temples and palaces of this ancient city of ruins, believed to be built for an Incan emperor. A city never uncovered by colonizing Spaniards, the structures and agricultural terraces of Machu Picchu are an untouched testament to the culture of this lost civilization. Set between two forested Andean peaks beneath swirling clouds, with llamas often roaming the mountainside, the 550-year-old site offers spectacular views in addition to its archaeological wonders. Have lunch in the nearby town of Aguas Calientes and journey home by train after the day's tour.
Breakfast
Explore the Inca fortress of Sacsayhuaman, made up of precisely laid 200-tonne blocks that highlight the masterful stonework of that civilisation. Travel onward to Cusco for a city tour of this city nestled in the Andes and time at leisure to admire its fine colonial architecture.
Breakfast & Dinner
After breakfast, you'll be transferred to the airport for your flight to Santiago, Chile's cosmopolitan capital. Upon arrival, you'll be greeted by your local guide and transferred to your hotel. The rest of the day is at your leisure to explore Santiago at your own pace. You might choose to wander through the city's charming neighbourhoods, visit local shops, or simply relax and enjoy the vibrant atmosphere.
Breakfast
Santiago is slowly emerging from the shadow of its glitzier South American neighbours, with its splendid colonial buildings, majestic mountain backdrop and thriving culinary scene making it a delight to explore. Today's tour starts at the National Museum, and also takes in Santiago's historic centre, the bohemian Bellavista district and the views from San Cristobal Hill. Enjoy the rest of the day at leisure.
Breakfast
Wander the streets of the port city of Valparaiso as today's excursion takes you to this colourful city, built across 42 hills. Journey from its merry slopes and UNESCO-listed historic quarter to the coastal city of Vina del Mar - a resort known for its fine beaches and pristine parks. Travel back to Santiago, stopping en route at an award-winning winery in Casablanca Valley for a tour and tasting session.
Breakfast
Fly to the city of Puerto Montt. Here, you'll enjoy a brief tour that offers stunning views of Angelemo Bay and Reloncavi Bay. Following the tour, you'll continue to the charming town of Puerto Varas, known for its picturesque setting overlooking the expansive Lake Llanquihue. You'll spend the night in Puerto Varas, taking in the serene beauty of the lake and the surrounding landscape.
Breakfast & Dinner
After breakfast, you'll travel by coach and boat to the mountain resort of Bariloche. Along the way, you'll stop in the charming town of Peulla for lunch and some time to explore its scenic surroundings. Bariloche, nestled in the Andean foothills, offers a spectacular setting with its snowy mountains and stunning glacier-fed lake, providing a picturesque backdrop for your stay.
Breakfast
Take in Bariloche's breathtaking scenery on a drive to Mt Campanario where a lift to the summit allows for fantastic views of the lakes and towns below. Drive through the region, passing historic hotels and chapels, crossing rivers and bridges, and enjoying views over the peninsula before returning to your hotel in Bariloche for the night.
Breakfast & Dinner
After breakfast, you'll depart for your flight to Buenos Aires, Argentina's vibrant capital. Upon arrival, you'll be greeted and transferred to your hotel. The remainder of the day is yours to spend at leisure, allowing you to explore the city's dynamic atmosphere, visit local attractions, or simply relax and soak in the lively ambiance.
Breakfast
Today's tour leads you from the city square at Plaza de Mayo past the architectural wonders of Avenida de Mayo. Continue on to the historic neighbourhood of San Telmo before visiting the colorful alleyways and cantinas of La Boca and the modern offices and apartments of gentrified Puerto Madero. Explore the extraordinarily ornate gravestones of Recoleta's Cemetery before returning to your hotel.
Breakfast & Dinner
Enjoy a day of leisure followed by a night of merriment with an evening dinner and tango show at historic El Querandi restaurant. Witness Argentina's passionate traditional dance and enjoy delicious local food and wine in a traditional setting.
Breakfast & Dinner
After breakfast, catch your flight to Iguacu Falls, Brazil, one of the Seven Natural Wonders of World. Upon arrival, a day trip takes you into Argentina to experience the mighty waterfalls from the Argentinian side. Marvel at its thundering waters as you walk along elevated footbridges to observation points with sweeping views, then make your way to Devil's Throat, the U-shaped section of the waterfall which got its name from the deep roar and clouds of mist it emits as water cascades through. Return to the Brazilian side for your overnight stay.
Breakfast & Lunch
After breakfast, you'll head towards the National Park do Iguaçu, one of Brazil's largest vegetation reserves. Upon arrival at the visitors' centre, you'll board a bus for a tour through the park, leading to the start of the footbridges over the Iguazu River cliffs. These footbridges stretch nearly a kilometer, offering panoramic views of Isla San Martín and the majestic Bossetti, San Martín, and Three Musketeers waterfalls. Towards the end of the walk, you'll reach a viewpoint providing a unique perspective of the Devil's Throat, often enhanced by the formation of rainbows. The itinerary concludes near the Salto Floriano waterfall, where you can visit a small store and access a panoramic elevator if desired. Transfer back to your hotel where the rest of the afternoon is at leisure.
Breakfast & Dinner
After breakfast, you'll be transferred to the airport for your flight to Rio de Janeiro. Upon arrival, you'll be greeted and transferred to your hotel. The rest of the day is yours to spend at leisure, allowing you to explore the vibrant city, visit local attractions, or simply relax and soak in the lively atmosphere. Dinner is included at your hotel this evening.
Breakfast
This morning, you'll travel to the summit of Sugar Loaf Mountain for a fantastic bird's eye view of Rio de Janeiro and Copacabana Beach. Next, you'll head to the forested peak of Corcovado to see Rio's iconic Christ the Redeemer statue up close. This 30-meter-tall figure, a symbol of peace and Christianity, overlooks the city, providing an awe-inspiring view of Rio's landscape. You'll have the chance to appreciate the intricate details of the statue and the serene atmosphere surrounding this world-renowned landmark.
Breakfast & Dinner
Enjoy a day at leisure to explore the sights of Rio. You might join the sun-seekers on Ipanema Beach or explore the city's beautiful cathedrals, such as the Metropolitan Cathedral. For a taste of local culture, consider visiting the vibrant neighbourhood of Santa Teresa. Tonight's farewell dinner at a barbeque steakhouse marks the end of your tour, offering a delightful opportunity to savour traditional Brazilian cuisine and reflect on your journey.
Breakfast
After breakfast, transfer to the airport for your flight to the UK.
Your flight lands back in the UK today.
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There were so many highlights, with amazing views and wonderful experiences every day. A wonderful tour that covers some of the most amazing sights on the planet.
Clive Danks
01 Apr 25Every day was a new adventure, this holiday exceeded our expectations. The guides were fantastic and knowledgeable. Despite travelling through four countries and ten flights, everything went smoothly.
Shaun Geldard-Williams
25 Nov 22Just want to say thank you for organising a wonderful and memorable trip. Very professional guides, hotels save for Kentons in Argentina are very good, and in some cases excellent ie Santiago and Peurto Varas. Will certainly go with Mercury again. Nothing to add. Just enjoy it as it’s a sensational trip and well organised by Mercury.
Norman Luper
23 Nov 18The order of events and sightseeing may vary according to local conditions or for operational purposes. The schedules of the domestic airlines in country are subject to frequent changes. For this reason, we have indicated approximate times only. Your local guide will inform you of any schedule changes as they are informed of them. The driving times listed are point to point and do not include the duration of excursions or stops en route. Some road construction and/or weather conditions may lengthen the driving times. Our intention is to adhere to the day-to-day itinerary as printed; however, order of events and sightseeing may vary according to local conditions.
If booking more than 12 weeks before departure a deposit of £295.00pp will need to be paid at the time of booking with the full amount payable at 12 weeks prior to departure. The deposit applies to adults and children. If you are within 12 weeks of travel then the full balance of the holiday will be payable.
British passport holders are not currently required to obtain a visa in order to travel to Peru, Chile, Argentina or Brazil.
Your passport must have an “expiry date “ at least 6 months after the date you arrive.
Further advice should be sought from the applicable tourist authority for other nationalities and for general queries. We strongly advise you to check your destinations' Tourist Board or Embassy for the most up to date guidelines.
Please note your final documentation will be sent to you approximately 21 days before departure. Check in baggage is included with your flight. Weight restrictions will be finalized on your final documentation. Should you wish to take additional luggage you will need to pay extra at check-in. Check-in should be at least 3 hours before departure. If you wish to arrange Airport car parking or accommodation at preferential rates, we recommend you book this in advance with Holiday Extras on 0333 188 0407, quoting HX313.
IMPORTANT: A printed E-ticket is no longer required at check-in, all you need to do is present your passport to the staff at the desk and your boarding pass will be given to you. Please note that you should carry your invoice with flight details on it as you will need to show this at the airport.
We strongly recommend that you and all members of your party are suitably insured as soon as you book your holiday. It is a condition of booking that you must have suitable travel insurance. It is important that you purchase travel insurance that suitably covers your participation in whatever activities you may undertake at the time that you make your booking. To assist you with this, we have arranged travel insurance in partnership with Holiday Extras, including up to a 20% discount, which is given to all Mercury Holidays customers. To arrange your insurance with Holiday Extras, please visit https://www.mercuryholidays.co.uk/info/insurance for more details. Please ensure you provide us with the name of your insurer, policy number and their 24 hour emergency contact number as soon as possible. Mercury Holidays will not be liable for any costs incurred by you due to your failure to take out suitable travel insurance from the date of booking.
It is your responsibility to check any health & vaccination requirements applicable to your booked arrangements. We can only provide general information about this. Health and hygiene facilities and disease risks vary from country to country. You should take health advice about your own needs as early as possible and in good time before your departure. Sources of information include; www.fco.gov.uk, www.travelhealthpro.org.uk, www.hpa. org.uk, your General Practitioner or a specialist clinic.
Altitude Sickness
Altitude sickness is a fairly common condition that can occur when you ascend to a high altitude (generally higher than 2,500 metres above sea level) quickly. The decrease in atmospheric pressure can make breathing more difficult as the body is not able to take in as much oxygen. Most cases are mild with symptoms that can include: a headache, nausea, dizziness and exhaustion. Several of the places in Peru are located at high altitude (over 2,500 metres above sea level) including Puno, Lake Titicaca and Cusco. Therefore, you may find you experience some symptoms at this altitude. It is advised that at these high altitudes, you keep hydrated and avoid alcohol. If you do experience symptoms of altitude sickness during your tour, ensure you tell your guide immediately who will be able to advise the best thing for you to do. You can contact your GP before you travel for advice on medication for altitude sickness.
This tour is accessible to most people with an average level of fitness and normal mobility. It involves full days of sightseeing, often on foot, and includes some climbing of steps, getting on and off coaches and at times long walks often across uneven paths and hills. This tour is not suitable for anyone with walking difficulties.
The currency in Peru is the Nuevo Sol (S/.), the currency of Chile is the Chilean Peso (CLP/CH$), in Argentina, the currency is the Argentinian Peso (ARS) and in Brazil the currency is the Brail Real (R$).
We recommend that you exchange your currency before you leave the UK. US Dollars are widely accepted should you wish to keep an alternative currency on you. Cash machines are available in all the major cities to withdraw money in local currency.
You can exchange currency at exchange stores and Cash Machines are available in all major cities. Local stores only accept Local Currency. Major Credit and Debit cards are widely accepted in all countries.
As normal practice you may be asked for your credit card details on check-in at the hotel in order to cover any extras incurred during your stay. If you do not have a credit card, you may be asked for a cash deposit. MasterCard and Visa are widely accepted in hotels as well as American Express.
You will need to take some extra money with you to cover any personal purchases, such as souvenirs, laundry and extra drinks and snacks as well as your lunch and dinner on each day. Approximately £650-£800 per person should be sufficient for the tour.
Tipping
It is customary to tip both your driver and guide and is at your discretion. We would recommend approximately £5.00 ($6.00) per person per day in total. This will be collected at the end of your day and can be paid in both local currency and US dollars. Tipping at Restaurants/Hotels etc is discretionary, but on average is around 10%
Local Tax A local tax called Ecotasa of approximately AR$45 per person per night is to be paid to the hotel in Bariloche upon check in or check out.
The minimum number of travellers in your group will be 10 and the maximum will be 35. If in the unlikely event, there are less than 10 people booked on your tour date, we will endeavour to reduce any disruption to your holiday and try to operate your tour with lower passenger numbers. If we are not able to operate your departure date then you may be asked to change to a different date and a full refund will be made available to you should this alternative not be suitable.
Private Tour: If you have booked a private tour, there will be no minimum passenger number.
This is an escorted tour where we use Local Expert guides in each country. You will also be guided by a local expert in some of the cities you visit.
For groups of 7 people or less you will have an English speaking Driver Guide or a Driver and Local/Monument Guides in each city.
Private Tour: If you have booked a private tour then you will be accompanied by a Driver Guide or a Driver and Local Guides. These will be available to you during all scheduled sightseeing. Private Tours can depart on any day of the week depending on flight and train schedules and the opening days of the attractions. They will follow the itinerary as described in the brochure unless you have been advised otherwise and you will still have all of the same meals, sightseeing and local excursions included.
Your accommodation is selected for convenience, location, comfort or character, and can range from business hotels to leisure hotels. Hotel accommodation is generally rated as local three to four-star standard, but please note there is no international classification system for hotels, and differences in facilities and quality do exist compared to what you might expect in the UK. All group tours hotels have private bathroom facilities and air-conditioning, where needed. Rest assured that all accommodation used by Mercury Holidays is regularly inspected by our staff and partners to ensure that standards meet your needs.
Triple Rooms are available, but please note that these are on a request basis and the 3rd bed is a “rollaway” bed and may reduce the overall floorspace of the room.
Where an international flight arrives during early morning, we will endeavour to provide an Early Check In to your hotel, this is subject to availability. The usual hotel check in time is from 2pm onwards.
Meals will be provided as per the detailed itinerary. When included Breakfast will be of western style and served in the hotel each morning. Lunch and dinner when included will be a local restaurants or at your hotel, giving the opportunity to experience a variety of dishes and local flavours. For those days when dinner is not included your guide will be able to offer recommendations if you wish.
Vegetarian and Vegan meals can be catered for. Please contact Customer Experience for questions about other dietary requirements or allergy information.
It is not recommended to drink the tap water, even in developed counties water may contain unfamiliar elements that can cause upset stomachs. In less developed countries water is not filtered in the same way as the UK. Bottled Water will be available to purchase at Shops, Hotels & Lodges.
On your arrival in Lima, Peru you will be met by a representative from our local agent, Pure Peru, holding a sign displaying: “Mercury Holidays”. The Mercury Holidays/ Pure Peru representative will show you to your transfer vehicle. Please note for your arrival in Santiago on day 7 if you cannot see your representative they will be at Exit Gate 4. There are many illegal taxis operating around Santiago Airport and they have been known to steal from tourists. Official taxis are dark blue in colour.
If you need to contact our agency representatives during your stay, the details are:
Peru (Pure Peru) Office Phone Number: 0051 998 754 080 (Opening hours 8:30am to 5:30pm) E-mail Address: customer-service@pure-peru.com
Emergency contact information: Mobile telephone numbers: 0051 99 875 4080
Chile (Southbound Travel) Address: Cowork Latam Apoquindo Avenue 2930, Las Condes - Santiago-Chile Telephone 24 hour: 00 569 9639 1191 E-mail: emergency@southbound.travel
Emergency contact information: Telephone number: 0056 956816943
Argentina (Eurotur) Address: Viamonte 486, Buenos Aires, Argentina Office Phone Number: 0054 11 4312 6077 Email: patricia.parra@eurotur.tur.ar
Emergency contact information: Email: 247@eurotur.tur.ar Mobile telephone numbers: 0054 911 6878 1562
Brazil (Blumar) Address: Rua Siqueira Campos, 43 - cob 02, Copacabana, Rio de Janeiro, 22031-901 Phone: 0055 21 2142 9300 E-mail: juliepires@blumar.com.br
Emergency contact information: 24-hour phone number: 0055 21 99109 7256
