2023 International Rail South America

On arrival in Buenos Aires you’ll be met by your driver and transferred to our hotel. For the rest of the day and night you’ll have free time to explore the city and settle in.

Overnight: Hotel Anselmo, Buenos Aires

Discover the most important neighbourhoods and landmarks in Buenos Aires during a half-day city tour. Admire the Obelisk, the symbol of Buenos Aires, and the many open squares of colonial Spanish descent. Enjoy a drive on the widest street in the world, containing 22 lanes. The visit to La Boca neighbourhood and a walk on the “Caminito Street” is another highlight of the tour. In the evening, we celebrate our welcome dinner at the Tango show of “El Querandi”.

Overnight: Hotel Anselmo, Buenos Aires (B, D)

Board our boat at Puerto Madero and head to Tigre. The cruise goes along the Costanera Navigation Canal, parallel to the Buenos Aires shoreline, passing the River Plate Stadium and the University of Buenos Aires. Then, we cruise through the canals of the delta, one of the largest in the world. We have lunch before heading to the Tigre train station, where we will take a train back to the city of Buenos Aires and enjoy the rest of the evening at leisure.

Overnight: Hotel Anselmo, Buenos Aires (B, L)

Transfer to the airport in Buenos Aires this morning for our flight to Tucuman in North Western Argentina. After a short panoramic city tour in Tucuman we continue our journey through the Calaqui Valley to Colalao del Valle before we reach Cafayate, famous for its exquisite wines. Near Cafayate, check into our hotel for an evening at leisure.

Overnight: Hotel Asturias, Cafayate (B, L)

We do a walk inside a vinyard under the guidance of a local wine specialist. Discover the famous Malbec and Tannat grapes. We have a wine degustation in one of the best-known wineries of the valley followed by lunch in a magnificent country house, within walking distance of our hotel. The rest of the afternoon you have free time.

Overnight: Hotel Asturias, Cafayate (B, L)

Depart Cafayate this morning, following the breathtaking natural reserve of Rio Las Conchas. Travel through striking reddish rock formations and past the impressive Conchas River towards the city of Salta. We arrive in this northwest provincial capital later in the day and check in to our hotel. We’ll then embark on a city tour, beginning with the Plaza 9 de Julio and continuing to visit the glorious Cathedral, the Cabildo, the Casa de Uriburu, the Convent of San Francisco, the Convent and the Cerro San Bernardo, the monument to Guemes and February 20, the Quebrada de San Lorenzo and the handicraft market. Relax with a free evening after this full day of exploring.

Overnight: Hotel Alejandro I, Salta (B, L)

Depart Salta this morning, heading to the small village of Alfarcito. The journey continues through the Quebrada de las Cuevas to San Antonio de Cobres. Here, we embark on the iconic Train to the Clouds and travel to the impressive Polvorilla Viaduct. The journey takes an hour in total to reach the viaduct, and, at 4,200 meters above sea level, showcases unforgettable views. The train stops for 30 minutes at the viaduct, giving you ample time for pictures and do some souvenir shopping. We have lunch in San Antonio de Cobres, before our last stop in Santa Rosa de Tastil. We’ll return to Salta in the evening.

Overnight: Hotel Alejandro I, Salta (B, L)

North of Salta lies the Quebrada de Humahuaca, a UNESCO listed valley. The valley is characterized by stunning, steep rock faces that literally change colours depending on the hour of the day and from where you view them, their distinct stripes constantly morphing from one breathtaking colour to another. Authentic, dusty indigenous villages are spread along the route north and we’ll travel past on our way to our hotel. 

Overnight: Hotel Manantial del Silencio, Purmamarca (B, L)

In the early morning we continue the Route No 9 to the north, reaching the Bolivian border before midday and enjoy lunch at Villazon. If time permits, we’ll do a short tour of Villazon before we board the “Wara Wara Express” train to Uyuni. The train travels through the scenic highlands of Bolivia and reaches Uyuni in the early evening. A local guide welcomes us at the railway station and brings us to our hotel. We’ll enjoy dinner with the group.

Overnight: Hotel Palacio de Sal, Uyuni (B, L, D)

We begin our day with a tour of an artisanal salt processing plant and witness traditional salt extraction methods. At the Incahuasi Island (known as Fisher Island) in the middle of the world’s largest salt flat, you see amazing giant cactus, and if you wish you may hike to the highest point of the island for fantastic views out over the salt flats.  A picnic lunch will be served in the middle of the salt flat, before heading back to our hotel and enjoy dinner.

Overnight: Hotel Palacio de Sal, Uyuni (B, L, D)

In the morning, we drive to a place where you can watch the intriguing process of salt excavation before visiting a viewpoint above Coquesa Village. From here, you have awe-inspiring views over the salt flat. Lunch today is a Picnic on the central square in Coquesa. After lunch, we visit the train cemetery in Uyuni, where we explore various oxidized steam engines and wagons on this spectacular site surrounded by amazingly unique scenery. After an early dinner in town we’ll take an evening flight to La Paz. On arrival, settle into our hotel and enjoy dinner. 

Overnight: Hotel Europa, La Paz (B, L, D)

Embark on a tour of this fascinating city today. Discover the indigenous Cosmo-vision and their mystical rituals at the Witches Market. The San Francisco Church, the historical district around the main square and the “Plaza Murillo” with the Legislative and the Government Palace are other sights of interest that we’ll visit. Enjoy breathtaking views of La Paz from the Killi Killi viewpoint. We’ll return to the hotel in the afternoon and the rest of the evening is at leisure.

Overnight: Hotel Europa, La Paz (B, L)

Enjoy a free day to explore and relax in La Paz today.

Overnight: Hotel Europa, La Paz (B)

Farewell La Paz today and travel to Copacabana, a small town on the Bolivian side of the Lake Titicaca. Stroll through Copacabana’s handicraft stalls and food markets. From Copacabana, we cruise to the Sun Island where we have an Aptapi, a typical lunch. In the afternoon, we cruise along the Sun Island to visit the ruins of the Pilkokaina Inca temple before we return to Copacabana.

Overnight: Hotel Rosario del Lago, Copacabana (B, L)

In the morning you have free time in Copacabana. For those who want can participate in a tour with our guide where we visit the Sanctuary of the Virgin of Copacabana. We have lunch at the hotel. In the afternoon, we cross the nearby border to Peru and after a 2 hour drive, where we reach the city of Puno. The rest of the day is at your leisure. We stay overnight at the Hotel Jose Antonio in the outskirts of Puno.

Overnight: Hotel Jose Antonio, Puno/Lake Titicaca (B, L)

In the early morning, we head to Puno railway station where we board the “Perurail Titicaca Train” to Cusco. This fascinating journey travels through the scenic high Andean countryside, its highest point reaching over 4000 metres above sea level, in La Raya. The downhill train ride to Cusco plunges through endless pastures and calls at remote villages, reaching the city in the evening. Our driver awaits us at the railway station and brings us to our hotel for the next few nights.

Overnight: Novotel, Cusco (B, L)

We visit the picturesque small town of Pisaq. Walk on cobblestoned streets and buy souvenirs for your family and friends at home. On the way to Ollantaytambo, we stop at the rural Inca sites of Moray and Salinas. We have lunch at a local restaurant. Characterized by narrow streets and street canals, Ollantaytambo is the oldest continuously occupied settlement in the Americas.

Overnight: Novotel, Cusco (B, L)

We travel on the Incarail First Class Train from Cusco San Pedro Station to Machu Picchu; the train journey takes about 4 hours. We have lunch on the train. We explore Machu Picchu, the Lost City of the Incas with an expert guide. In the evening, we have to be at the railway station in Aguas Calientes to board the “Belmond Hiram Bingham Train” to Porroy. We have a gala dinner on the train. From Porroy, we return to Cusco with our private vehicle.

Overnight: Novotel, Cusco (B, L, D)

Enjoy a tour of this incredible city this morning, a highlight being the Santo Domingo Convent, which is built over an ancient Inca Palace. Outside of Cusco, visit the Inca military fortress Sacsayhuaman. Later, we’ll have a look at the Inca ruins of Qenko, Puca-Pucara and Tambomachay. The evening is at leisure tonight.

Overnight: Novotel, Cusco (B)

We transfer to the airport in Cusco this morning, boarding our flight to Lima. On arrival, transfer to the hotel to check-in before enjoying an interesting city tour of Lima’s colonial past. Discover the Plaza San Martin and the Plaza Mayor with the Government Palace, the Archbishop’s Palace and the Cathedral. We’ll drive through the modern district of San Isidro and Miraflores on our way back to the hotel. During the city tour we invite you to our celebratory farewell lunch at the beautiful Larco Museum.

Overnight: Hotel Doubletree Pardo, Lima (B, L)

After a morning at leisure, farewell Lima and transfer to the airport for your flight home or onwards for other travels!