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Discover the full diversity of Brazil, Uruguay, Argentina and Chile whilst travelling from the tropics to the end of the earth, the last stop before Antarctica. Enjoy views of the Christ statue, one of the 7 Wonders of the World, and go in search of wildlife in the Brazilian Pantanal. Marvel at the thundering Iguazu Falls and soak up the culture in Buenos Aires and Santiago. Be amazed at Patagonia’s breathtaking landscapes and fascinating wildlife: the haunting plains and snow capped volcanoes, not forgetting turquoise lagoons set against a dramatic backdrop of jagged, granite peaks, on this amazing 51 day adventure to some of the remotest and unspoilt parts of our planet.

Week 1: Rio and Parati.
There can’t be many more beautiful and exciting cities in the world to start this tour. Rio is one of the worlds’ most famous cities, and with good reason. There is so much to do and see in Rio that we recommend you arrive a couple of days early to take as much in as you can.

No visit to Rio is complete without a trip to the world famous statue of Jesus Christ on the Corcovado mountain, which can be viewed from almost anywhere in the city. Standing 100 feet high on the mountain, the statue commands the best view in town. We advise getting there early in order to beat not only the crowds but also the haze, which covers the city about, mid-morning. Keep an afternoon free to spend at the golden beaches of Copacabana and Ipanema, sunbathing and watching the locals in their element. Visit the many market stalls along the waterfront areas at both beaches. From the beach, head up to Sugarloaf mountain to enjoy a fantastic sunset and a few drinks. Another recommendation is to take a Favela Tour to some of the poorer districts of Rio. It is a very unique and interesting insight into how the local people live.

From Rio we head south along the coast to the lovely town of Parati. Parati is an old port town with cobblestone streets and quaint little shops. Here we can treat you to a fantastic day out on an old schooner sailing around the nearby islands. Spend the day relaxing on board or swimming in the warm waters and soaking up some sunshine.

Week 2: Pantanal, Bonito and Iguazu Falls.
We proceed West across Brazil towards the Pantanal Wetlands where we spend 2 fantastic days exploring this region. The Pantanal Wetlands is an area of 230,000 square kms and houses an abundance of wildlife. From our base camp where we stay in hammocks, we will make various trips into the region, including hikes, horse riding, jeep safaris, and piranha fishing. The wildlife you can see includes caimans, anacondas, giant anteaters and various species of monkeys as well as many different species of birds including macaws and toucans.

From the Pantanal we continue south to the town of Bonito. Here we spend two full days with many optional activities available. The most popular of these is a trip to what the locals refer to as one of the clearest rivers in the world. The river, fed by natural springs, is kept incredibly clear because of the limestone at the bottom of the river. Here you will have the opportunity to drift down this crystal clear river with a wetsuit, snorkel and mask and gaze at the abundance of different species of fish living there. It is a truly amazing and unique opportunity. Other trips available from Bonito include a trip to the Blue Cave with its amazing colour and formations. There is the possibility to abseil down into other caves and then scuba dive or snorkel through them.

We continue South to the town of Foz do Iguazu and our base for exploring the spectacular Iguazu Falls. We spend two full days here taking in the fantastic views from both the Brazilian and Argentinean side of the falls. These are some of the most spectacular waterfalls in the world, with 275 separate falls over a frontage of 2.7 kilometres. Our day trip to the Brazilian side of the Falls will begin with an optional trip to a bird park which houses a fantastic array of not just native birds like Toucans and Macaws, but also other birds from around the world. From here we continue on for our initial breathtaking views of the falls. There are many trails and walkways to explore, revealing more great views. Helicopter rides over the falls are possible in order to shoot the most spectacular photos of all. For our day on the Argentinean side, we are treated to more fantastic views. One of which is the breathtaking Garganta del Diablo, or Devils Throat, where much of the river converges into one section to create an amazing sight. A walkway takes you right out to the edge of this area and you will hear the thundering noise and feel the spray well before you reach the edge. There are many other walkways to explore on the Argentinean side as well, where you can easily occupy your day. Another option on the Argentinean side is to take a boat trip right up close to some of the falls where you can really get an idea of the power and volume of the water.

Week 3: Jesuit Missions, Salto, Colonia and Buenos Aires.
Onto the Jesuit Ruins of northern Argentina. Once settlements of the Guarani Indians, we take a trip to one of the best-preserved ruins. The Jesuits established many communities in this area of Paraguay and also Northern Argentina, with great success in the 17th and 18th centuries. However, it was their success, which brought about their downfall, as jealous landowners nearby could not compete with their production methods, forcing the Spanish government to expel them in 1767. However, many ruins of these communities remain, and Trinidad is one, which has been very well preserved. While visiting this area we camp at a nearby farm where you can explore by horse or jeep, or just relax by the pool.

We travel through the rolling hills and citrus groves of western Uruguay to Salto where we can enjoy a couple of days at the thermal springs and spas – this is overlanding at its most luxurious.

We head south and cross into Uruguay to visit the town of Colonia – now a World Heritage Site. Stroll the colonial streets, maybe snack on a Uruguayan chivito, or perhaps kick back and relax on one of the sandy beaches that line the Rio de la Plata.

We continue south into Argentina and onto the cosmopolitan city of Buenos Aires known as ‘the Paris of South America’. A lively city with many attractions it offers fantastic restaurants, shopping and nightlife. Our hotel is centrally located and close to a lot of the major attractions and main shopping streets of Florida and Santa Fe. At Plaza De Mayo you may see the Mothers of the Disappeared and nearby you can find the obelisk and bustling Recoleta. We recommend you take a city tour, which the hotel can organise, for you. This will take you to all the major sights, which are centrally located, and also to the area of La Boca, the home of Buenos Aires most notorious football team, Boca Juniors. Another must in Buenos Aires is a Tango show. Buenos Aires is the home of tango and our hotel can organise for you to see one of these fantastic shows, an opportunity not to be missed.

Week 4: Valdez Peninsula, Ushuaia and Terra del Fuego.
From Buenos Aires we begin our long journey south across the Pampa region. When we cross the Colorado River, this is considered to be the point at which the Patagonia region begins. From here we proceed to our first main stop of Puerto Madryn, gateway to the Valdes Peninsula. Reaching the Valdez Peninsula we spend a day visiting various sites renowned for sea lions, sea elephants and a variety of bird life. At certain times of the year (July to December) it is also possible to see Southern Right Whales, which gather in great numbers for the breeding season in the waters around the peninsula.

We proceed south again, driving across the Patagonian plains, along the Atlantic coast, and across the Straits of Magellan towards the Southernmost town in the world, Ushuaia. This journey will take 2 to 3 long days driving, requiring a lot of patience until we reach our destination.

As we continue south, we enter the region of Tierra del Fuego (Land of Fire), and the scenery changes once more into rugged mountain wilderness. Situated in this beautiful setting is the lovely town of Ushuaia. It is perfectly located overlooking the Beagle Channel and with a backdrop of snow-capped peaks behind.

From Ushuaia it is possible to take an optional boat excursion onto the Beagle Channel. The boat trip offers the opportunity of not only spectacular views of Ushuaia and surrounding area, but also to see the local wildlife such as sea lions, albatross and many other species of sea birds. You can also make a visit to the nearby Tierra del Fuego National Park where the Pan-American highway ends. Here there are some wonderful hiking trails through the beautiful beech forests.

Week 5: Punta Arenas and Torres del Paine N.P.
We head back north and re-enter Chile, with the destination of the coastal city of Punta Arenas. The city was declared a duty free zone in 1868, and was once a major port before the opening of the Panama canal early in the 20th century. Here you can shop and get bargains at the duty free area, and stock up on all necessities for the next 4 days to be spent in the spectacular Torres (towers) del Paine National Park, named after its enormous granite towers. It is a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve and occupies an area of 2400 square kilometres. We camp at a beautiful site overlooking Lake Pehoe, with the backdrop of the nearby Cuernos (horns) del Paine. As well as the stunning scenery, the park is home to a variety of fauna and flora, including condors, guanacos and rheas (the South American ostrich).

The park is one of the trekking capitals of the world, and with good reason as it has plenty of opportunities for trekking on the many trails. We spend three full days in the park to enable you to fully enjoy all the park has to offer. A couple of the more popular trails are those going up to the base of the towers themselves, and also the trip to GrayGlacier. The trip to Gray Glacier begins with a boat ride across Lake Pehoe, and then trekking up to a vantage point where you can enjoy fantastic views of this huge glacier. The trek to the base of the towers is a fantastic walk. Not only does it provide beautiful views of the mountains and valleys around, but also offers breathtaking views of the towers at the end.

Week 6: El Calafate, El Chalten and the Argentine Lake District.
From Torres del Paine we re-enter Argentina and drive along the shores of Lago Argentino, the third largest lake in South America, and onto the town of El Calafate. From here you can take an amazing optional excursion to the spectacular Moreno Glacier, a massive field of ice towering up to 60 metres and reaching four kilometres across. It is an awesome sight to behold, and even more so when massive chunks of ice break off and plunge into the icy water below. Two optional excursions are available here, and both include transport and English-speaking guides. The first is a trip, which includes a hike in the forested area in front of the glacier with a boat trip taking you up close, both of which ensure that you get spectacular views from the best vantage points. After firstly spending some time at the best viewing points, you will be fitted with crampons and can then walk around on the glacier for up to 2 hours.

Leaving El Calafate, we continue North to the next destination of El Chalten. As we approach El Chalten, we drive along Lake Viedma, a spectacular lake with a backdrop of snow-capped peaks and the Glacier Viedma. El Chalten is a small town dwarfed by the magnificent, surrounding mountains, and now considered to be the trekking capital of Argentina. This is the northernmost section of the Parque Nacional Los Glaciares, and there are countless hiking opportunities branching out in every direction from this little haven. One of the most popular is the trek to the base of Mount Fitzroy. The views of this mountain are breathtaking as its jagged peak punctures the Patagonian sky. There are also many options for horse riding in the surrounding area. Another fantastic day out here is an optional hike on a glacier and ice climbing. After the initial hike to Laguna Torre, which has a glacier running into it, you will then hike onto the glacier after being issued with crampons. You spend a couple of hours hiking around the glacier past many crevasses and ice formations, and all against the spectacular backdrop of Cerro Torre. And to conclude the time on the glacier you receive some instruction on ice climbing and you are then able to have a go for yourself.

From El Chalten we begin our long journey across the dry, windswept expanse of Patagonia. As we follow the road North, we are treated to many beautiful views of the Andes, and opportunities to see condors, flamingos and the odd armadillo scuttling across the road. Before arriving in Bariloche we spend a night in the lovely Los Alerces National Park, which has many beautiful lakes and mountain views.

The area to the north of here is also famed as once being the home of Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. They spent time here in the early 20th century attempting to avoid the detectives looking for them from the United States. We finish our journey through this area in the spectacular Argentinean lakes district and the lovely town of Bariloche.

Week 7: Bariloche, Pucon and Santiago.
Bariloche has a beautiful setting on the shores of Lake Nahuel Huapi. It is a Swiss-like resort town famous for its chocolate fondue and winter skiing, but also home to many other outdoor activities in the surrounding area particularly in Summer. There are many hiking and mountain biking options around, and some great horse-riding adventures.

From Bariloche we travel through the spectacular Nahuel Huapi National Park and back into Chile, to the equally beautiful Chilean Lakes district. We base ourselves at the picturesque town of Pucon, a small resort on Lake Villarica, nestled below the perfect cone-shaped Volcano Villarica. The area is surrounded by lakes, mountains, forests, rivers and waterfalls and offers many exciting activities. A fabulous optional activity offered here is a trek to the top of the Volcano. It is a tough climb but the views at the top are spectacular, and to be able to look into the crater of this active volcano as it roars softly and belches steam, is an amazing experience. Other activities available in Pucon are white water rafting, horse riding, mountain biking and water sports on the Lake.

From Pucon we travel North through the lakes district, vineyards and fertile farmland, and onto the finishing point for this tour, Santiago, the capital of Chile. Pedro de Valdivia founded Santiago in 1541 whilst exploring new territories for the Spanish colonies in South America. It has become a beautiful city with a pleasant climate all year round. The main focal point of the city is the main square, Plaza de Armas. Our hotel is just 3 blocks from the plaza. It is a very attractive tree-lined plaza, dominated on one side by the magnificent cathedral. From here you can easily explore central Santiago on foot. The streets around the plaza are the main shopping streets of the city where you can purchase any last minute items and souvenirs before we finish the journey. Other sites near the centre are the Government Palace, and Cerro Santa Lucia – a small mountain a few blocks from the plaza, which affords great views over the city, or a chance to relax in the parks around it.