PERU
& THE GALAPAGOS ISLANDS
From the majestic Andes, towering snow-capped over tiny
villages and deep valleys, to the ancient cultures which
have
marked this land, Peru really has something for everyone.
The
jungles of the Amazon – one of the greatest rivers
in the world –
capture the imagination with teeming birdlife, such
as the many
varieties of hummingbird, and a range of animal life
which includes
the elusive jaguar. In the south, step back in time
by the blue waters
of Lake Titicaca, to see the indigenous Indian cultures
still practising
their ancient way of life, expressed through their colourful
festivals,
social ordering and craft production. Speculate on the
baffling Nazca
Lines, and see the ancient building techniques of the
Chavin, Wari and
Inca civilisations and impressive Spanish colonial architecture
which, in
places, is literally built on top of ancient cities. Of course,
no tour to
Peru is complete without a trip to enigmatic Machu Picchu, nestled high
amongst the clouds – a fitting climax to this most marvellous country.
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itineraries
ECUADOR
Coloured by the embroideries of indigenous people, the
ribbons of green
valleys beneath the Andes and an array
of beautiful birds, Ecuador is a fascinating
country
just waiting to be explored. The cities, including the
capital Quito, are
marked by the colonial architecture
of the Spanish conquistadors, while elsewhere the Incas
have left a trail of sites with their characteristic
stone work. Bustling markets overwhelm the senses with
a sea of people, many wearing traditional tribal dress,
selling everything from woven shawls to livestock, while
the ‘Avenue of the Volcanoes’ provides a
dramatic backdrop to any
journey, along with waterfalls, relaxing thermal baths,
and a range of walks. The cloud forests and rainforests
hide a wealth of animals and birds, but for an encounter
with history as well as wildlife, the absorbing Galapagos
Islands are the highlight of any tour, with many birds
and animals uniquely adapted to their environment. Ecuador
is a remarkable country and its manageable size ensures
it is an ideal introduction to South America.
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itineraries
CHILE
A melting pot of topography and peoples, thin Chile
stretches over 4000kms from the Atacama Desert in the
far north to the fire-gold autumn leaves of the southern
beeches in Tierra del Fuego. It is this diversity that
makes Chile so fascinating: archipelagos house fishing
fleets and pegged wooden churches while elsewhere the
desert light brings an
unforgettable clarity and remoteness. Be prepared to
be humbled by the expansive night skies, where a million
stars remind you of your place in the universe or choose
an easier philosophy with a glass of wine amongst the
Central Valley’s vineyards. Stand awestruck in
the Torres del Paine National Park, or travel far out
into the Pacific to look into the unmistakable obsidian
eyes of the Easter Island statues. Glaciers, indigenous
people, geysers and geoglyphs, Chile really has it all,
so follow the ghost of Francis Drake to this intriguing
land, and be moved by this beautiful country.
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itineraries
ARGENTINA
This vast and beautiful country stretches hundreds
of miles, covering shifting physical terrains, and diverse
lifestyles. From sophisticated Buenos Aires to the expansive
wilderness of Patagonia, Argentina tells a tale of riches
and ruin, of community and isolation, of the heat of
the tango, and the ice of ancient glaciers. Cowboys
still roam the countryside tending the cattle amongst
the Pampas, and the fireside is the best place to be
when they’re spit roasting beef for dinner below
a thousand stars. This is a land where you can travel
for miles and meet no-one, where you can face the Devil’s
Throat at Iguazú Falls but be eating in the best
restaurant in Buenos Aires the next day; a land where
the Incas stood, and before them, prehistoric man. Home
to penguins, whales and the museum at the end of the
world, to fine wine and a taste for good living –
with Argentina you can combine rugged landscapes with
smooth luxury for a most memorable experience.
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itineraries
BRAZIL
Tribal people, rare species and dramatic landscapes,
vast Brazil is a country of extremes with over three
million square miles to explore. From the high life
of Rio, with luxurious hotels and a rhythm of its own,
to the expanses of the Pantanal, where the waters rise
and fall in an annual ritual; this is a land marked
by both the slow pace of ecology and the faster expansion
of civilisations. In the melting pot, Dutch, French
and Portuguese colonial towns built on the wealth of
gold and sugar, tell stories of a hidden underbelly
of African slavery. White beaches tempt men with ill-gotten
gains, while the priests’ Christianity merges
with native customs to create the spectacle of carnival.
Combine this with the samba and bossa nova, powerful
Iguazú Falls and the expanses of Amazon rainforest,
Brazil is an exhilarating country rewarding the traveller
with breathtaking scenery and encounters with a natural
environment many times older than humanity.
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itineraries
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