Anden & Amazonas IV

[die Tourbeschreibung ist momentan nur auf Englisch verfügbar]

DAY 1: Lima (Peru)
Your tour leader will usually hold a group meeting at approx. 6.00pm on Day 1 (check the notice board in the hotel reception for the exact time and location). Your tour leader will give a briefing about the tour, outline the plan for the next few days, answer any questions and collect your ‘Local Fund’ payment in full in US$ cash. Then there will usually be the option for everyone to go out for dinner and drinks to start to get to know one another.
Lima was founded by the Spanish Conquistador Francisco Pizarro in 1535, after he eradicated the Incas and made the city his capital. Lima has many fine colonial buildings and some of the best museums in South America including the Gold Museum, Museum of the Inquisition and the Catacombs below the San Francisco Church. Peru’s capital has heaps to offer and many of the sights, including the city’s two main squares the Plaza de Armas and Plaza San Martin, are within easy walking distance.

DAYS 2-3: Paracas - Nazca
After a few days in Lima, a short drive along the Pacific coast brings us to Paracas where upon arrival we will have the option to go by speedboat to explore the Ballestas Islands, passing the unusual ‘Candelabra’, a giant design carved into a desert hill, along the way. On and around these celebrated islands you’ll see thousands of sea lions plus many varieties of aquatic birds. Continuing on, we stopover at Huacachina, a desert oasis surrounded by massive sand-dunes. You have the option to do an overnight excursion into the desert here sleeping under the stars this also incorporates the chance to take an awesome ride in dune-buggies or, for the even more courageous, sand boarding down the dunes is an unreal way to spend The afternoon and night, a good time for a Pisco Sour party!
Travelling further inland, we reach Nazca, famous for the strange parallel lines and geometrical figures etched into the desert floor. Here you can take a flight in a light aircraft to see the ‘monkey’, ‘hummingbird’, ‘condor’, ‘spider’ and even what appears to be a spaceman. There are many more designs to be seen on this 30 minute flight but to this day, no-one knows why they are there! After a short drive we’ll stop at the bizarre Chauchilla Cemetery where you’ll see ancient mummies that still have skin and hair intact after thousands of years.

DAYS 4-7: Puerta Inca – Arequipa
Heading back along the coast our journey takes us to Puerta Inca, the Inca's original fishing port, which was only re-discovered in the 1950’s. Tonight we camp by the beach just down from the actual ruins.
Travelling back into the foothills of the Andes we reach the city of Arequipa, located 2,380 metres above sea level and dominated by the conical snow-capped El Misti Volcano. Here the attractions include the Plaza de Armas, one of South America’s most charming main squares and the Santa Catalina Convent, which is like a walled colonial town dating back more than 400 years. Shrouded with mystery, the convent’s 450 nuns lived in complete seclusion until 1970.
From Arequipa you can choose to visit the Colca Canyon, which is twice as deep as the Grand Canyon, making it the world’s second deepest. From the lookout point at Cruz del Condor you can see the river flowing 1,200 metres below and you’ll have a very good chance of seeing condors as they soar out of the canyon on the hot thermal currents. Our base for visiting the canyon is the town of Chivay where we’ll also have time to soak in the nearby hot thermal pools.

DAYS 8-10: Cuzco
It gradually becomes greener as we get closer to the former Inca capital of Cuzco, which means ‘navel of the earth’ in the Inca language of Quechua. This enchanting city has a mostly indigenous population of around 275,000 and is centred around the Plaza de Armas, which is dominated by the Cathedral and La Compañia de Jesus Church. Nowadays Cuzco is also legendary for its party atmosphere and brilliant nightlife and is jam-packed with arcades housing many fine restaurants, bars and shops. For people wanting the challenge of the 4 day Inca Trail trek there will be a briefing in which your local guide will chat about the arrangements for the next few days.

We have a full day trip through the Sacred Valley of the Incas and if you’ve purchased your Cuzco visitor’s ticket previously then you’ll be able to visit Sacsayhuaman ruins with its huge stonework as well as the Pisac ruins perched on a hill high in the mountains and the famous Indian market of the same name, in the valley below (that’s free). This is a great place to buy textiles, pottery and jewellery, not to mention the delicious empanadas (pasties) at the famous bakery. After spending time at both, we move down the valley to the temple fortress of Ollantaytambo, with its enormous terraces climbing up the hillside (you’ll need your visitor’s ticket again). If you are trekking the Inca Trail you will spend the night here with a local family in preparation for the next four days.

DAYS 11-14: Inca Trail or free time in Cuzco
If you are not hiking the Inca Trail, you will return to Cuzco where there are many other options available including an overnight trip by train to Machu Picchu, white water rafting, horse riding, mountain biking, jungle excursions, shopping (make sure you bargain!) and sightseeing etc.
If you have chosen to hike the Inca Trail you will cross spectacular passes and visit more Inca ruins en-route to the Lost City of the Incas, Machu Picchu. A local guide will lead this expedition and there will be cooks and porters to carry the main equipment, leaving you with just a small daypack. The trek begins after a short bus journey and the first day is a relatively easy 4½ hour 13km walk which will get you limbered up for the highest pass at Warmiwañusca (4,200m) which you will reach before lunchtime on Day 2 (and which translates to “Dead Woman’s Pass”!). During Day 2 you will cover approximately 9km in about 5-7 hours and after the high pass it’s all down hill as the trail winds its way along old Inca stairs to our campsite. On Day 3 we pass the ruins of Runkurakay, Sayacmarca and Phuyupatamarca, walking approximately 15km in 7 hours. The last morning, after an overnight stop at Wiñay-Wayna, you will rise early for the final walk to Machu Picchu and greet daybreak over the famous “Sun Gate”. There will then be time to explore on your own or simply take in the magnificence of the place before your guided tour. The ruins were only discovered by the outside world in 1911, when American explorer Hiram Bingham found them while looking for another “lost city” called Vilcabamba. Due to their isolation many of the buildings are still quite intact and you can’t help but admire Huayna Picchu (“Young Mountain”), which towers above the ruins. It is a hard climb to the top of the mountain (it takes about 50 minutes) but you are rewarded with spectacular views over the whole site. After spending most of the day at Machu Picchu you have the chance to soak your tired muscles in the hot springs at Aguas Calientes or meander through the markets before returning to Cuzco by train.

DAYS 15-16: Cuzco
Making the most of your last free time in Cuzco you can explore its amazing churches, colonial buildings and picturesque streets, most of which have Inca walls, arches and doorways. Leaving Cuzco, we drive along roads bordered by herds of llamas, alpacas and vicuñas before reaching the Altiplano (high plain). Our journey takes us past hot mineral pools, snow-capped mountains, through villages where the Indians sell food, fur hats and alpaca sweaters. And over the La Raya Pass at 4,321 metres before arriving at the Sillustani ruins. Here you will have the option to visit these ancient burial towers. Our final destination for today is Puno on the edge of Lake Titicaca. The opportunity to try some of the fresh fish from the lake in one of the restaurants in Puno tonight. DAYS 17-19: Puno
After a night in Puno, on the shores of lake Titicaca which at 3,855 metres, is the highest navigable lake in the world. From here you have the chance to take an excursion to the islands of Amantaní and Taquile. On Amantaní we arrange homestay accommodation with the native Quechua Indian families and you will have the chance to eat with the family, perhaps enjoy a party and dancing and maybe play soccer with the local children! The next morning you’ll visit Taquile Island where the people live in simple adobe huts and the men knit colourful hats. You will also visit the floating reed islands in the Bay of Puno, to see the Uros Indians’ way of life and ride in a traditional reed boat. Continuing back to Puno, you’ll arrive in time to visit the colourful markets.

DAYS 20-22: La Paz (Bolivia)
We drive around Lake Titicaca to the border town of Desaguadero where we can change money before crossing into Bolivia. Our first stop in Bolivia is at the pre-inca ruins of Tiahuancho, a fascinating site dating back 2,000 years. Driving on through the scenic countryside we pass adobe villages before reaching a highway which winds its way down the canyon into La Paz, the highest capital city in the world at 3,636 metres.
La Paz is built in the basin of a spectacular ancient crater caused by a meteorite, with the snow-capped Mount Illimani in the background. The city has colourful Indian street markets including the ‘witches market’ where women in flared skirts sell, amongst other things, dead cats and llama foetuses which are placed under new buildings to keep evil spirits away. The main square, Plaza Murillo, is where many years ago a president of the republic was lynched from a lamppost. La Paz is one of the best places to see a traditional peña show of Andean music and dance where local musicians play their time-honoured instruments such as zampoñas (pipes) and charangos (ukulele).
There are heaps of optional excursions available in La Paz. 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!

DAYS 23-25: Free camping – Sucre – Potosi
From La Paz we travel across the Altiplano on our way to Sucre where we spend a couple of nights. This is the official capital of Bolivia even though the governing of the country actually takes place in La Paz. Sucre is a small attractive city where, by law, all the buildings are painted white. Our next stop is Potosí (4,070 metres), the highest city of its size on earth with a population of 110,000. The city was established in 1545 soon after the discovery of a rich vein of silver in a nearby hill, the Cerro Rico (or “rich hill”). 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 where conditions were so appalling and dangerous that miners died in astronomical numbers, either in accidents or from silicosis pneumonia. You have the chance to visit one of the mines where you can see first hand how rough the working conditions were and still are!

DAYS 26-27: Uyuni
Travelling on we head to the desolate town of Uyuni in the south of Bolivia, to visit what is claimed to be the largest salt flat in the world, the brilliant white vast Salar de Uyuni. There is an opportunity to take an excursion onto the salar by 4x4 stopping of at places such as ‘Fish Island’ where there are great views of the surrounding lake and giant cacti 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.

DAYS 28-30: Free Camping – Salta (Argentina)
Winding our way along the dusty roads of Bolivia, which are some of the worst in South America, we head towards the Argentine border free camping enroute amidst the vividly coloured rock formations and giant cacti. We pass through Tupiza and Villazon before crossing into Northern Argentina where you will be amazed by the arid beauty of the Humahuaca Canyon. Next stop is the striking city of Salta in the Lerma Valley, established in 1582. Salta has many old colonial buildings, a cathedral with ancient statues of Cristo del Milagro (Miracle of Christ) and the Virgin Mary, which were brought over from Spain in 1592. A variety of excursions await you here including rafting, rappelling and many more.

DAYS 31-32: Free Camping – San Ignacio
We travel through the Chaco, a mixture of savannah and marshlands teeming with wildlife. We will be free-camping along the way and will hopefully see lots of wildlife and the odd gaucho (Argentine cowboy) as we make our way to San Ignacio Mini to visit some of the best kept Jesuit ruins in the region.

DAYS 33-36: Foz do Iguacu (Brazil)
We spend time in Puerto Iguazu so as to visit the Iguazu falls from the Argentinean side. Iguazu falls where some 275 waterfalls cascade over a two and a half kilometre wide cliff face. We then cross into Brazil to reach Foz do Iguaçu (Iguazu Falls), and visit these stunning falls from the Brazilian side, offering a contrast to the Argentine side. We spend several nights here and there is plenty to do; on the Brazilian side there are panoramic views of the numerous waterfalls and on the Argentine side you can walk through rainforest and along catwalks directly above the falls. 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. For a bird’s eye view over the entire falls you can take an optional scenic helicopter ride. There is also an excellent bird park nearby and you can visit the world’s largest hydroelectric dam at Itaipu where videos show the environmental planning behind the dam project (this tour is free!). If you want to do a bit of country counting, then you can pop into neighbouring Paraguay by public bus (you don’t even have to get your passport stamped) for a bit of shopping in Ciudad del Esté.

DAYS 37-39: Free Camping – Bonito
Leaving Foz do Iguaçu we free camp on the way to Bonito where we have plenty of time to enjoy its waterfalls, caves and rivers. A variety of activities are available which include cave and river snorkelling, rafting, rainforest walks and wildlife spotting.

DAYS 40-42: Pantanal
Our next stop is the Pantanal Wildlife Reserve, a massive wetland of 230,000 square kilometres. One of the unusual things about the Pantanal is that there are also many farms in the area and the animals from these farms live quite comfortably with the other wildlife in the region. Wild animals include approximately 650 species of birds, capybara, howler monkeys, pumas, jaguars, ocelots, coatis, yellow anacondas, marsh deer, caiman, tapir and many more. The Pantanal is excellent for wildlife spotting as the region is more open and flat than a jungle setting.

DAYS 43-47: Campo Grande – Free Camping – Parati
Leaving the Pantanal, we make our way past the modern city of Campo Grande and across the rolling hills of Southern Brazil to Parati, free camping en route. Parati, our final destination before Rio, is an awesome little colonial coastal town and we have several nights here. Vehicles are banned from entering the town centre leaving the cobbled streets traffic free and peaceful. Parati was a major port for the exportation of gold and coffee during the 17th and 19th centuries respectively and recommended excursions include a sailing schooner cruise around the bays, rainforest treks and walking the gold trail.

DAYS 48-50: Rio de Janeiro (Brazil)
We say goodbye to our campsite possibly with a lunch of locally caught seafood and drive on to Rio de Janeiro, one of the most beautiful cities in the world. There are many things to see and do in Rio. You can take a trip up to Sugar Loaf Mountain and Corcovado with its famous Statue of Christ – both of which offer great city views, visit to the Botanical Gardens or the famous beaches of Copacabana, Ipanema and Leblon.

DAYS 51-53: Ouro Prêto – free camping
From Rio we begin to make our way further north into Brazil. This whole area was once a mining region and this celebrated town of Ouro Prêto was founded in 1711 and is a National Historic Monument. This quaint municipality has much colonial architecture, which gives an aura of times past. Cobbled streets wind up and down steep hills and the town boasts churches, fountains, terraced gardens. After a couple of days here we free camp en route to Porto Seguro.

DAYS 54-55: Porto Seguro
The beautiful coastal town of Porto Seguro has miles of palmfringed beaches and bars, which are great places to sample delicious fresh fruit juices, or the Brazilian national cocktail of caiparinha (be careful of this one though!). Just north of here is where the Portuguese, led by Pedro Alvares Cabral, first landed in 1500 and a cross marks the site. There is plenty of typical Bahian food available in Porto Seguro and you may want to try the delicious moqueca, a hot spicy seafood casserole.

DAYS 56-58: Salvador
Continuing up the coast we head for Salvador, we enter the city by ferry over the bay of all saints to the capital city of the state of Bahia. The centre of Salvador has many historic colonial buildings and dates back to 1549; it was the original Brazilian capital until 1763. It is situated on the bay of Todos os Santos, is the largest bay on the Brazilian coast and has 38 islands, some of which can be visited by ferry on an optional excursion. There are also enormous elevators going from the upper to the lower city, where the docks are situated. It is in this area, just outside Mercado Modelo, where we can find the Bahians practising the foot fighting sport of Capoeira, which was originally brought to Brazil by black Angolan slaves. Another key feature of Bahian life is the Afro-Brazilian religion of candomblé and you may be able to see one of their amazing ceremonies (please check locally for schedules of these optional tours), alternatively, we can enjoy the traditional music of the area with a strong emphasis towards drums in the evening.

DAYS 59-62: Maceio – Olinda
Tracing the coastline north we come to Maceio, where you have the opportunity to hire jangadas (typical Brazilian sailing boats). The boatmen can take you out to a natural reef swimming pool about two kilometres from the shore, where you can order cocktails and crayfish from nearby boats! Following the coast northwards our next exciting destination is the old colonial town of Olinda, which has a variety of historic churches, convents and monasteries, dating back to 1537. Nearby is Recife, a city built on three islands and joined by a series of bridges. Here an old prison has been converted into a cultural centre, which is not only impressive and interesting, but also houses some unique shops. If you want to see how the other half live in Brazil, then you can visit the rich seaside suburb of Boa Viagem.

DAYS 63-67: Praia Pipa – Canoa Quebrada
Further up the coast we have a stopover in Praia Pipa where we spend a couple of days enjoying the beach. The state of Rio Grande do Norte is famous for its beautiful beaches and Canoa Quebrada is a fishing village built on a sand dune with long deserted beaches ideal for relaxation and swimming. For the more active there are two exciting optional activities: sandboarding down the dunes or horse riding along them. We spend three nights here and there many bars and restaurants to keep you busy. We travel through the city of Fortaleza, an old Dutch enclave dating back to 1649, on our way to Ubajara National Park.

DAYS 68-70: Ubajara National Park – Sete Cidades National Park
Leaving the coast behind we head inland to our next stop at Ubajara National Park famous for its caves, pretty forest scenery and waterfalls. Here you can take a cable-car ride down into the caves, which also accords great views of the Sertâo, scenery. About ½ a day’s drive brings us to the Sete Cidades National Park, which contains strange 190 million year old rock formations, caverns and natural swimming pools. Sete Cidades Park was named after the ‘seven cities’ its rock formations are said to resemble.

DAYS 71-73: Free camping – Belem
Leaving Sete Cidades National Park we make our way to Belem stopping to free camp en route. Belem has fascinating waterfront markets, the Theatre of Peace (one of the largest theatres in Brazil), the excellent Goeldi Museum which houses a zoo, and there are many stalls in the markets for cheap and tasty meals. Another interesting spot to visit is the Bosque Rodrigo Alves, a public garden with many species of native flora as well as a small collection of animals.

DAYS 74-78: Amazon ferry
From Belém we cruise up the world’s longest river, the Amazon, which flows for 6,200 kilometres. We travel by riverboat for 1,368 kilometres into the jungle. At the start of this adventure the river is narrow as we travel through one of the hundreds of estuaries in the delta but then it widens to in excess of 10 kilometres and it is still around 8 kilometres wide at our destination, the city of Manaus. As we are going upriver, the boat stays mostly close to the shoreline to avoid the stronger currents. Accommodation on the riverboat is in hammocks (purchased locally for approx. US$20 to US$50) for 4 or 5 nights (depending on the river current) and usually, each boat has a bar on board plus all meals are included ion the price. This is a great opportunity to relax, read books and enjoy incredible sunsets before arriving in Manaus with new Brazilian friends and fond memories of the mighty Amazon.

DAYS 79-85: Manaus – optional jungle excursion – Manaus
The jungle city of Manaus used to be the world’s largest suppliers of rubber. During that heady era the famous Teatro Amazonas (Opera House) was built and completed in 1896. You have a couple of days to explore Manaus before there is the option to join an exciting 3 day excursion deep into the jungle by boat or dugout canoe in search of caiman, fresh water dolphins, jaguar and many other creatures of this threatened rainforest. (If you choose not to take the jungle excursion, you will have extra free time in Manaus). The local guide on this trip will give you an in-depth view of the past and present day lives of the Amazonian Indians. He or she will also explain the importance of manioc (a root vegetable which must be processed to remove the cyanide) to the Indian economy and diet as well as explaining the uses of numerous other jungle plants. You will also go to the meeting point: where the black waters of the Rio Negro and the yellow-brown waters of the Solimões River run side by side for several kilometres, providing an excellent photo opportunity. Returning to Manaus, you have a couple of days to finish sightseeing. A visit to the fascinating waterside markets is highly recommended.

DAYS 86-87: Boa Vista – Salto de Karma (Venezuela)
Our final night in Brazil is spent near the city of Boa Vista before crossing the border into Venezuela for an overnight stop at Salto de Karma. The landscape in the south of Venezuela turns to savannah. Dotted with hundreds of mountains, the whole region is known as La Gran Sabana. This area was totally inaccessible until the 1970’s when a road was built. It was finally completed in 1990 and is now one of the best roads in the country. We continue into the country reaching Ciudad Bolivar on the banks of the Orinoco river.

DAYS 88-90: Ciudad Bolivar – option to visit Angel Falls
Ciudad Bolivar was once called Angostura and is where Angostura Bitters originate. It is also where Simón Bolívar was declared President of Gran Colombia. This interesting little colonial town is our base for the optional excursion to the Angel Falls. From Ciudad Bolivar we can fly south to the small village of Canaima where there are many interesting waterfalls flowing into a black lagoon - the colour emanating from the tannin of the local vegetation. From here you can either fly (on the day excursion) or take dugout canoes and trek (staying overnight at very basic lodges/huts) to the base of the world’s highest waterfall, Angel Falls. The falls, named after an American pilot, Jimmy Angel, who discovered them in 1937, drop nearly 1,000 metres from the flat-topped mountain called Auyan-Tepuy to the jungle floor below.
The Canaima National Park has an abundance of delightful waterfalls, lagoons and flat-topped mountains called tepuyes. Throughout the park you can see many local Pemòn Indian settlements in this sparsely populated land, which covers an area of 30,000 square kilometres. You will never forget the beauty of this “lost world” region.

DAYS 91-94: Guacharo Caves – Mochima National Park – San Fernando de Apure – Reaching the coast we stop at Cueva del Guacharo or the Guacharo Caves where you have the chance to see as many as 18,000 guacharos (oil birds) in their natural habitat. The birds support a number of other wildlife including mice, crabs and fish. The cave has been penetrated for more than 10km along a small steam and the atmosphere changes the further you explore. The inquisitive may like to venture in to find the ‘Cave of Silence’ and the ‘Wall of the Wind’.
Further along the Caribbean coast we spend two days in Mochima National Park. Easily one of Venezuela’s most beautiful regions the park is characterized by hundreds of tiny Caribbean islands, plentiful beaches and coves and excellent coral reef. There are options for snorkelling, fishing and swimming. Leaving Mochima, we stop for the night in San Fernando, the capital of the state of Apure and a fast growing trade and transport hub.

DAYS 95-97: Llanos
We head into the flatlands of Llanos, one of the best places in the world to see birds and other wildlife such as caipivara, caiman, anacondas, pumas, monkeys and freshwater dolphins. Stretching from the Andes to the Orinoco River, this sparsely populated wilderness covers 300,000 sq km – a third of Venezuela’s total area! It is also in this area where most of the country’s cattle graze, they are mostly the Zebu variety, which comes from Brazil and India.

DAYS 98-101: Merida
The city of Mérida is surrounded by the beautiful mountains of Venezuela’s High Andes. It was founded in 1558 and still retains many interesting colonial buildings. Mérida is our base for exploring the Sierra Nevada National Park – Venezuela’s only range where snow lies permanently on the higher peaks. There is the chance to take a 2 or 3 day hike through breathtaking scenery culminating in an exciting cable car ride back to the city. This cable car was built by the French in 1958 and is the longest and highest aerial cableway in the world. With a few days to explore Merida, you will have plenty of time to get to know this beautiful city.

DAYS 102-103: Morrocoy National Park
Heading east, our first stop is the islands, beaches and reefs of the Morrocoy National Park. The islands are dotted with palms and secluded beaches and the reefs and calm waters make for good snorkelling and diving for beginners. There are several good islands to choose from but Cayo Sombrero and Playuela are recommended. It is also possible to walk between some of the islands with appropriate footwear. To the north of the park, Cuare Wildlife Sanctuary is a large nesting area for scarlet ibis, flamingos and herons.

DAYS 104-105: Caracas
Finally we come to Venezuela’s capital city, Caracas, where this trip ends. Caracas is 960 metres above sea level and has one of South America's most pleasant climates. Venezuela is one of the largest oil producers in the world and this very modern city has an efficient metro system, which goes from our hotel area into the city centre in minutes. Caracas has many lovely plazas, parks, museums and impressive buildings, it was the birthplace of the Liberator, Simón Bolívar, whose presence is still seen everywhere. Because of the climate, there are many outdoor cafés and restaurants where you can sit and watch the world go by. If you want to have time to explore Caracas properly you may want to stay on for a few more days after the end of the trip.