South America Discovery: Lima to Rio de Janeiro (Self-Launched)

Land at Jorge Chávez International and take an airport bus (Airport Express Lima, ~£6) or a registered taxi (~£12) to Miraflores. Check into a Miraflores or Barranco hostel, then walk the Malecón clifftop path at sunset and grab a ceviche and pisco sour dinner in Barranco. Take it easy — altitude comes later.

🚌Airport Express bus or taxi from LIM (~£6–12)

🛏Hostel dorm or private in Miraflores/Barranco (~£14)

• →Malecón sunset walk
• →Barranco street art and food crawl

Fly Lima to Cusco with Sky, LATAM or JetSmart (book ahead, ~£60–90 for the one-way). Land at 3,400m so keep the afternoon slow: coca tea, gentle wander around Plaza de Armas, early night. Buy your Machu Picchu and train tickets online today if you haven't already.

🚌Lima–Cusco flight (~£75)

🛏Hostel in Cusco historic centre (~£12)

• →Plaza de Armas and San Blas wander
• →Acclimatisation day

A full day in Cusco. Join a free walking tour of the centre, visit Qorikancha, or self-book a Cusco cooking class (~£25) or a city tour with local ruins entry via GetYourGuide. Optional evening: San Pedro Market for cheap eats and juice stalls.

🚌Walking

🛏Hostel in Cusco (~£12)

• →Free walking tour
• →Qorikancha
• →Optional cooking class

Take a local colectivo or shared van from Cusco to Pisac (~£3) for the market, then onward to Ollantaytambo (~£4). En route, visit the Ccaccaccollo women's weaving co-op and the Parwa community restaurant in Lamay (both open to independent travellers — book a table in advance or just turn up for lunch, ~£10). Afternoon: hike to the Pinkuylluna storehouses above town, free.

🚌Shared van/colectivo Cusco–Pisac–Ollantaytambo (~£7)

🛏Guesthouse in Ollantaytambo (~£13)

• →Pisac market
• →Ccaccaccollo weaving co-op
• →Parwa community lunch
• →Pinkuylluna storehouse hike

Ride the scenic PeruRail or Inca Rail train through the Urubamba gorge to Aguas Calientes (~£45–60 one-way, book weeks ahead). Drop your bag, visit the hot springs (~£4) or the butterfly house, and buy your bus ticket up to Machu Picchu for tomorrow morning. Early night ahead of sunrise.

🚌Train Ollantaytambo–Aguas Calientes (~£50)

🛏Guesthouse in Aguas Calientes (~£16)

• →Urubamba Valley train
• →Aguas Calientes hot springs

Bus up at first light (~£20 return). You must have a timed entry ticket booked in advance via the official Machu Picchu portal or a local operator (~£38) — circuits are assigned first come, first served. Hire a licensed guide at the gate (~£12 between 2–3 people) or pre-book one on GetYourGuide. Afternoon train and bus back to Cusco.

🚌Shuttle bus up/down (~£20) + train and bus back to Cusco (~£55)

🛏Hostel in Cusco (~£12)

• →Machu Picchu entry and guided circuit
• →Sun Gate viewpoint

Rest day or optional Rainbow Mountain day trip (~£30 with GetYourGuide, brutal 4am start) or the 1-day Inca Trail hike to the Sun Gate (book through a licensed operator, ~£130–200 including permits — do this weeks ahead). Otherwise: San Blas cafés and the Inka Museum (~£2).

🚌Walking / tour pickup

🛏Hostel in Cusco (~£12)

• →Optional Rainbow Mountain trek
• →Optional 1-day Inca Trail
• →San Blas exploring

Take the daytime Cruz del Sur or Transzela bus over the altiplano to Puno, ~6.5 hrs (~£15), or the tourist bus with stops at Andahuaylas-style ruins and Pukará for a bit more. Arrive late afternoon, walk to the lakefront and adjust to 3,800m with a hot soup dinner.

🚌Public bus Cusco–Puno (~£15)

🛏Hostel near Puno Plaza de Armas (~£11)

• →Altiplano bus crossing
• →Puno lakefront

Self-book a full-day boat tour to the Uros floating islands and Taquile (~£22–30 through GetYourGuide or any Puno tour office). Taquile's community-run restaurant lunch is included on most tours. Back in Puno by evening.

🚌Boat tour included in activity price

🛏Hostel in Puno (~£11)

• →Uros floating islands
• →Taquile Island walk and lunch

Cross by bus via Yunguyo/Kasani or Copacabana (~£12–15, 6–7 hrs with border formalities). Keep your Peru and Bolivia entry documents handy. Arrive La Paz in the afternoon — take the Mi Teleférico cable car (~£0.40) for the best city view in South America, and eat at a mercado for under £3.

🚌International bus Puno–La Paz (~£14)

🛏Hostel in central La Paz (~£11)

• →Border crossing
• →Mi Teleférico cable car

Free day. Browse the Witches' Market, take a city tour (~£25 via GetYourGuide), or book the Death Road mountain bike descent for tomorrow (~£40 with local operators like Gravity). Valley of the Moon is nearby (~£10 tour). Ride up to El Alto for the Sunday market if it's the right day.

🚌Walking / local minibus (~£2)

🛏Hostel in La Paz (~£11)

• →Witches' Market
• →Optional La Paz city tour
• →Valley of the Moon

Fly La Paz to Sucre with Boliviana de Aviación (~£55) or take a long overnight bus (~£16) if you're saving cash. Sucre is low, sunny and relaxed — whitewashed colonial streets, a lively plaza, and the best chocolate in Bolivia.

🚌Flight La Paz–Sucre (~£55)

🛏Guesthouse in Sucre (~£10)

• →Colonial Sucre wander
• →Plaza 25 de Mayo evening

Hike to the dinosaur tracks at Cal Orcko (~£4 entry + £3 taxi), visit Casa de la Libertad (~£3), or self-book a mountain bike or hiking day out. Afternoon: café-hopping and a rooftop beer while you sort your Uyuni tour for tomorrow.

🚌Local taxi (~£3)

🛏Guesthouse in Sucre (~£10)

• →Cal Orcko dinosaur tracks
• →Casa de la Libertad
• →Optional hiking

Bus Sucre to Uyuni (~7 hrs, ~£12) or fly if available. Get to town in the late afternoon, choose a reputable 3-day Salar tour operator (Hodaka, Red Planet, or similar, ~£130–160 for the full 3-day trip including food, 4x4, driver and accommodation), and stock up on water and snacks.

🚌Public bus Sucre–Uyuni (~£12)

🛏Hostel in Uyuni town (~£9)

• →Bus to Uyuni
• →Salar tour operator booking

4x4 out onto the world's largest salt flat. Train cemetery, Colchani salt mounds, and endless white with the classic perspective photos. Overnight in a basic salt hotel or multi-share lodge in the village of Agencha, home of the Jukil community project — a good one to support directly with a small purchase or tip.

🚌4x4 tour vehicle (included)

🛏Multi-share basic lodge on the salt flat (~included in tour price)

• →Train cemetery
• →Salt flat drive and photo stops
• →Jukil community lodge stay

Day 2 of the tour: cactus island (Isla Incahuasi), the red Laguna Colorada with flamingos, and the geysers and hot spring of Sol de Mañana. Yaks, vicuñas and dust. Night in a basic refuge near the lagoons at around 4,500m — wrap up warm.

🚌4x4 tour vehicle (included)

🛏Basic refuge, multi-share (~included in tour price)

• →Isla Incahuasi
• →Laguna Colorada
• →Geysers and hot springs

Day 3 of the tour: the green Laguna Verde, the Dali Desert, then drop off at the Chilean border at Hito Cajón and shuttle down to San Pedro de Atacama (~£10). San Pedro is expensive by South American standards — book a hostel dorm and cook in the communal kitchen.

🚌4x4 + border shuttle (~£10)

🛏Hostel dorm in San Pedro (~£16)

• →Laguna Verde
• →Dali Desert
• →Border crossing into Chile

Self-book the Valle de la Luna tour (~£18 via GetYourGuide or a local agency) for sunset over the salt caves and dunes, or ride a bike out there yourself for the entry fee only. Optional extras at night: an astronomy tour (~£30) — Atacama has some of the darkest skies on earth.

🚌Shared tour van (~included)

🛏Hostel dorm in San Pedro (~£16)

• →Valley of the Moon
• →Optional stargazing tour

Bus San Pedro to Calama (~£5, 1.5 hrs) then an overnight or daytime bus to Santiago (~£22, 20 hrs) — or fly Calama–Santiago (~£50) to save a day. Arrive Santiago, check into a hostel in Barrio Bellavista and find a cheap set lunch (almuerzo) for £5.

🚌Bus Calama–Santiago (~£27) or flight (~£50)

🛏Hostel in Barrio Bellavista (~£15)

• →Travel day
• →Bellavista evening walk

Free walking tour of the centre, Cerro San Cristóbal cable car (~£3), and Mercado Central for seafood. Or day-trip to Valparaíso — bus ~£5 each way (~1.5 hrs), ride the historic funiculars (~£1), and wander the painted hills of Cerro Alegre and Cerro Concepción.

🚌Metro (~£1) or bus to Valparaíso (~£10 return)

🛏Hostel in Santiago (~£15)

• →Free walking tour
• →Optional Valparaíso day trip
• →Mercado Central

Morning: self-book a half-day winery tour in the Maipo or Casablanca Valley (~£35 via GetYourGuide, includes tastings). Then an overnight bus south to Pucón (~£22, 10 hrs, Tur Bus or Pullman).

🚌Winery tour (~£35) + overnight bus Santiago–Pucón (~£22)

🛏Overnight bus

• →Maipo/Casablanca winery tour

The adventure capital of Chile at the foot of Volcán Villarrica. Self-book a guided volcano hike (~£75, full day, crampons provided) or whitewater rafting (~£25), or soak in natural hot springs at Huife (~£32 with transport). Hostel dorms are cheap here and the lake beach is free.

🚌Local transport (~£4)

🛏Hostel in Pucón (~£13)

• →Optional Volcán Villarrica hike
• →Optional rafting
• →Optional hot springs

Take the scenic route over the Andes via the Cruce Andino lake crossing (~£130, worth it once) or the much cheaper bus from Osorno/~Temuco through the Cardenal Samoré pass (~£25–35, 8–10 hrs). Bariloche is Swiss-chocolate-and-lakes territory; a lakeside hostel is the move.

🚌Bus Pucón–Bariloche (~£30)

🛏Hostel in Bariloche (~£14)

• →Andean lake crossing or bus over the pass

Rent a bike or take a local bus out for the Circuito Chico loop (~£8 bus/£12 bike) — Llao Llao, Hotel Llao Llao viewpoints, Cerro Campanario chairlift (~£8). Or self-book a Seven Lakes day van (~£25) for the classic Ruta 40 scenery.

🚌Local bus/bike hire (~£12)

🛏Hostel in Bariloche (~£14)

• →Circuito Chico
• →Cerro Campanario viewpoint
• →Optional Seven Lakes tour

Fly Bariloche–Buenos Aires with JetSmart or Flybondi (~£55, 2 hrs) rather than the 20-hour bus. Land, head to Palermo or San Telmo, and do your first of what will be many steak dinners (~£12 for a good bife de chorizo).

🚌Flight Bariloche–Buenos Aires (~£55)

🛏Hostel in Palermo (~£16)

• →Flight to Buenos Aires
• →Palermo evening

Free walking tour of the centre and Plaza de Mayo, then San Telmo on a Sunday for the antiques market and street tango. Self-book a bike tour of the city (~£30) or a La Boca neighbourhood walk. Evening: a tango class (~£12) or just watch it for free in Plaza Dorrego.

🚌Subte and walking (~£3)

🛏Hostel in Palermo (~£16)

• →Free walking tour
• →San Telmo market
• →Optional bike tour
• →Tango class

Recoleta Cemetery (free), MALBA museum (~£5), the bookshop in El Ateneo Grand Splendid, and a Parrilla lunch. Optional tango dinner show tonight (~£60–80 via GetYourGuide) — book ahead for a good table.

🚌Subte and walking (~£3)

🛏Hostel in Palermo (~£16)

• →Recoleta Cemetery
• →MALBA
• →Optional tango dinner show

Fly Buenos Aires to Puerto Iguazú (~£60, 1 hr 50). Settle into a hostel in town, use the cheap public bus (~£1) to the falls area tomorrow, and eat cheap at the market.

🚌Flight Buenos Aires–Iguazú (~£60)

🛏Hostel in Puerto Iguazú (~£13)

• →Flight north
• →Hostel check-in

Full day on the Argentine side (entry ~£22). Walk the upper and lower circuits, take the Garganta del Diablo train and catwalk, and consider the boat trip into the spray (~£18). Everything is self-guided and well-signed; the park is easy to do independently.

🚌Public bus to park (~£1) + park entry (~£22)

🛏Hostel in Puerto Iguazú (~£13)

• →Upper and Lower Circuits
• →Devil's Throat catwalk
• →Optional boat trip

Cross the border to Foz do Iguaçu (bus ~£2) and walk the Brazilian side of the falls for the panoramic view (entry ~£14). Optional helicopter flip (~£95) if you're feeling flush. Late afternoon flight Foz do Iguaçu to Rio (~£65) or overnight bus (~£28, 17 hrs).

🚌Border bus (~£2) + park entry (~£14) + flight (~£65)

🛏Hostel in Rio (Lapa or Copacabana, ~£16)

• →Brazilian side of the falls
• →Optional helicopter ride

Christ the Redeemer via the Corcovado train (book online ~£22) or the van, then Sugarloaf cable car at sunset (~£18). Free walking tour of Lapa and the Selarón Steps. Evening: live samba in Lapa and a caipirinha from a street cart (~£2).

🚌Metro (~£1)

🛏Hostel in Rio (~£16)

• →Optional Rio city tour
• →Lapa samba night
• →Selarón Steps

Bus Rio to Paraty (~£14, 4.5 hrs, Costa Verde line) — you can also break the journey at Angra dos Reis. Paraty's cobblestoned colonial centre is a UNESCO site; walk it, drink cachaça, and book a boat trip or kayak for tomorrow.

🚌Bus Rio–Paraty (~£14)

🛏Guesthouse/pousada in Paraty (~£16)

• →Costa Verde bus ride
• →Paraty colonial centre

Self-book a schooner boat trip around the bay's islands and beaches (~£20), kayak the mangroves (~£14), or take a 4x4 to the waterfalls. Evening: a walking tour with cachaça tasting (~£25) or a cheap street-food dinner by the river.

🚌Walking / boat

🛏Pousada in Paraty (~£16)

• →Schooner boat trip
• →Optional kayaking
• →Cachaça tasting

Bus to Angra dos Reis (~£4), pay the sustainable tourism tax (55 BRL, ~£8, online at Viva Angra or by QR code at the port), and take the ferry or fast boat to Vila do Abraão on Ilha Grande (~£6–10, 1.5 hrs). No cars on the island — just beaches, trails and monkeys.

🚌Bus (~£4) + tourism tax (~£8) + ferry (~£8)

🛏Pousada/hostel on Ilha Grande (~£18)

• →Ferry crossing
• →Vila do Abraão beach

Hike to Lopes Mendes beach (~2.5 hrs each way through the jungle, or take a water taxi ~£10) — one of Brazil's best beaches. Or self-book a boat excursion around the island's snorkelling spots and the Blue Lagoon (~£20).

🚌Walking / water taxi (~£10)

🛏Pousada on Ilha Grande (~£18)

• →Lopes Mendes hike
• →Optional boat excursion
• →Snorkelling

Ferry back to Angra dos Reis, then the Costa Verde bus or a shared van to Rio (~£14, 3 hrs). Check back into a Rio hostel and spend the afternoon on Ipanema or Copacabana beach with an açaí.

🚌Ferry (~£8) + bus (~£14)

🛏Hostel in Rio (~£16)

• →Return to Rio
• →Ipanema beach

Santa Teresa by tram, the Escadaria Selarón, an optional favela tour or hang gliding off Pedra Bonita (~£130), and a farewell churrasco dinner. Copacabana at sunrise is worth setting an alarm for.

🚌Metro and tram (~£2)

🛏Hostel in Rio (~£16)

• →Santa Teresa and Selarón Steps
• →Optional hang gliding
• →Farewell churrasco

Airport bus or Uber to Galeão for your flight home. If you've got a late flight, squeeze in one more beach morning and a last açaí bowl.

🚌Airport bus (~£3)

🛏None (departure day)

• →Departure