Flight (6 only)
Bus / overland
4x4 / train
Major stop
Shorter stop
Splurge moment
Total trip
~143
days on the road
Countries
7
properly visited
Per-day budget
£140/day
for the two of you combined
Long-distance buses
14
vs. 6 internal flights
Action this week
- Inca Trail permits — book by mid-June. November 2026 still has availability.
- Sambadrome tickets — sales open in phases; camarotes already on sale. Special Group parades Feb 7, 8, 9.
- Uco Valley vineyard stay — Casa de Uco or The Vines books up months out for January NYE.
- Christmas Chile coast — peak season Airbnbs go in September.
- Rio Carnival accommodation — book by August. Prices 2–3× normal during Carnival week.
How to read this plan
Each tab is independent — open whichever you need. Timetable is the week-by-week shape. Transport details every leg including bus operators and times. Where to Stay is the booking shortlist. Machu Picchu is its own tab because it has its own anxieties. Add-ons & Carnival covers optional experiences and Sambadrome tickets. Essentials covers weather, culture notes, visas, health and insurance in one place. Open Questions is the list of things that need your input.
▸ What's changed since v1
- Mexico trimmed from 33 days to 21 — one week beach, 5+2 days Oaxaca for Día de los Muertos.
- Argentina rebuilt as a 28-day overland journey: vineyard splurge in Uco Valley, Córdoba, Rosario, Buenos Aires, Iberá wetlands, San Ignacio Jesuit ruins, Iguazu.
- Paraguay removed — originally planned for 4 days, cut to make the Carnival dates work. The Foz → Curitiba overnight bus now runs directly from Jan 28.
- Brazil fixed and dated correctly: Foz → Curitiba (Jan 29–30) → São Paulo (Jan 31–Feb 3) → Ouro Preto (Feb 4–5) → Rio arrives Feb 6, Carnival parades Feb 7–9 ✓ → Búzios (Feb 11–17) → fly home Feb 18 ✓.
- Carnival: one premium ticket (Frisa box Sector 7/9, Monday 8 Feb) + one grandstand (Sunday 7 Feb, Sector 11).
- Six flights total: Austin→CDMX (booked), CDMX→Bogotá (Darién Gap), Medellín→Lima (Darién Gap), Lima→Cusco, Calama→Santiago, Rio→London.
The shape, week by week. Roughly: 3 weeks Mexico, 2 weeks Colombia, 3 weeks Peru, 4 days Bolivia, 12 days Chile, 4 weeks Argentina, 3 weeks Brazil. Paraguay has been removed to fix the Carnival dates. Bus journeys deliberately built into the rhythm — most overnight, on cama seats.
Bus-friendly pace: Overnight buses save a hotel night and a daytime. The trip is built around them. You'll do ~8 overnight buses in cama (lie-flat) class across the 5 months — comfortable, common, perfectly normal in Argentina and Brazil.
Sept23 → 27
London → Austin (already booked)
BA191 · LHR T5 11:10 → AUS 15:25 · 23 Sept
Recover from long-haul, sort kit. Use this for any last UK-bought pharmacy items (DEET, Imodium, electrolyte tabs, sunscreen).
Sept28
Austin → Mexico City (already booked)
AM1685 · AUS 14:00 → MEX 15:30 · 28 Sept · Conf. KVCZRW
Roma Norte or Condesa for the stay. CDMX is at 2,240m — soft altitude prep.
Sept–Oct29 → 4
Mexico City
CDMX · 6 nights · 2,240m
Roma Norte / Condesa for stay. Teotihuacán pyramids (sunrise balloon if it tempts), Frida's Casa Azul, Anthropology Museum, Pujol or Contramar splurge, El Califa for late tacos.
Oct5 → 11
Puerto Escondido — beach week
Pacific coast · 7 nights · La Punta / Zicatela
Trimmed from 14 → 7. Decompress. Surf if you want. Eat fish tacos. Flight from CDMX (1h 15m, ~£60). End of week, flight or van to Oaxaca.
Oct12 → 16
Oaxaca City
Oaxaca · 5 nights · 1,550m
Trimmed from 8 → 5. Cooking class (Casa Crespo), mezcal route day, Monte Albán half-day, Hierve el Agua full day. Eat tlayudas at Pitiona, breakfast at Mercado 20 de Noviembre.
Oct–Nov17 → Nov 1
Oaxaca — Día de los Muertos splurge
Oaxaca · 3 extra splurge nights for Muertos (29–31 Oct)
Day of the Dead is 1 November. Stay 3 nights of the proper Muertos build-up. Cemetery vigils at Xoxocotlán and San Felipe del Agua, comparsa parades, marigolds everywhere. Book a colonial casa with patio (search Centro or Jalatlaco) by July at the latest.
Nov2
Oaxaca → CDMX → Bogotá
Flight · only way · Darién Gap blocks overland
Fly OAX→CDMX morning (1h, ~£60), connect to Bogotá afternoon (5h direct on Aeroméxico/Avianca, ~£170). Or overnight ADO bus OAX→CDMX then fly. There is literally no road between Central and South America.
Nov3 → 5
Bogotá
Bogotá · 3 nights · 2,640m
La Candelaria historic centre, Monserrate cable car, Gold Museum. Sunday Ciclovía (the avenues close to cars). Chapinero for evenings.
Nov6 → 9
Salento / Coffee triangle
Salento · 4 nights · 1,900m
Flight BOG → Pereira/Armenia 50min, then 1h bus. Cocora Valley hike (5h, 2,800m — Inca Trail warm-up). Coffee farm tour. Slow afternoon coffees. This replaces Cali — FCDO advisory on the surrounding department.
Nov10 → 14
Medellín
Medellín · 4 nights · El Poblado / Laureles
Bus from Pereira/Armenia ~5h. The transformed city. Real City Tours free walking tour (book ahead). Comuna 13 graffiti tour with a community guide (not a "favela tour" operator). Cable cars up to the Metrocable system.
Nov15 → 16
Guatapé
Guatapé · 2 nights · day trip from Medellín or stay
Bus 2h from Medellín. Rainbow town, El Peñol rock (700+ steps), kayak the lake. Easy decompression before the flight to Peru.
Nov17
Medellín → Lima
Flight · 4h direct on Avianca/LATAM · ~£200pp
Darién Gap again — overland from Colombia to Peru would require Ecuador (5-7 days) and isn't on this plan. Direct flight.
Nov18 → 20
Lima
Lima · 3 nights · Miraflores / Barranco
Ceviche pilgrimage. Isolina or La Mar for traditional; Central, Maido or Kjolle if splurging (book months ahead). Barranco bridge of sighs in the evening.
Nov21 → 22
Paracas (bus from Lima)
Paracas · 2 nights · 3.5h bus south
Cruz del Sur or Peru Hop bus, ~£15pp. The Ballestas Islands boat trip is the famous activity — skipped per boat constraint. Instead: Paracas Reserve by buggy/4x4 (Red Beach, Cathedral). Optional Huacachina sandboarding day trip.
Nov23 → 29
Cusco & Sacred Valley — altitude week
Cusco 3n → Sacred Valley 4n
Bus Paracas → Lima, fly Lima → Cusco (1h 20m, ~£70 — bus is 22h, fly). 3 nights Cusco for arrival, then drop to Ollantaytambo at 2,800m (you sleep better lower). Do Maras salt pans, Moray, Pisac gently. Final night back in Cusco for Inca Trail briefing.
Nov–Dec30 → Dec 3
Inca Trail · 4 days, 3 nights
Km 82 → Machu Picchu · 43km · max 4,215m
See the Machu Picchu tab. Sun Gate sunrise into Machu Picchu morning of Dec 3, guided tour, train to Aguas Calientes / Ollantaytambo.
Dec4 → 6
Cusco recovery + Rainbow Mountain
Cusco · 3 nights
Day 1: do nothing. Day 2: optional Rainbow Mountain day (4am pickup, 5,200m, brutal but spectacular). Day 3: final Cusco evening — chocolate museum, pisco sour at Museo del Pisco.
Dec7
Cusco → Puno — Vistadome train
PeruRail Vistadome · 10h daytime · ~£220pp
This is the cool train. Daylight scenery the whole way — high-altitude pampa, llama herds, Andean towns. Includes lunch and onboard entertainment. Lower-key than Hiram Bingham, classier than coach. Doubles as transport to Lake Titicaca for onward Bolivia.
Dec8 → 10
Puno → La Paz
Puno 1n · Bolivia Hop bus → La Paz 2n · 3,640m
Bolivia Hop bus Puno → La Paz (8h, ~£35), crosses border at Yunguyo, photo stop at Lake Titicaca (no boat). La Paz: highest urban cable car system in the world (tour with all the lines), Witches' Market, Sopocachi for dinner.
Dec11 → 15
La Paz → Uyuni → Atacama crossing
Overnight bus + 3-day 4x4 jeep tour
Overnight cama bus La Paz → Uyuni (~10h, ~£25). Then 3-day Red Planet jeep tour Uyuni → Salar → Lagoons → San Pedro de Atacama. Dec = early wet season, so partial mirror effect possible but not guaranteed. ~£200pp.
Dec16 → 20
San Pedro de Atacama
Atacama Desert · 5 nights · 2,400m
Trimmed by one night to make room elsewhere. Valle de la Luna sunset, El Tatio geysers sunrise, stargazing tour (some of the world's clearest skies), Puritama hot springs.
Dec21
Atacama → Santiago → Pacific coast
Bus to Calama (1.5h) → flight Calama→Santiago (~2h, £70pp) → private transfer 2h to Maitencillo
The Calama→Santiago flight is the only realistic way south — 2,000km of desert. Then transfer up the coast to the Christmas Airbnb (per your "no driving" preference).
Dec22 → 28
Christmas — Maitencillo
Maitencillo or Zapallar · 7 nights · SPLURGE
Peak Chilean summer. Beachfront Airbnb. Self-cater Christmas with asados and seafood. Quiet, sea, sun, books. Book by September.
Dec29
Maitencillo → Mendoza (over the Andes)
Private transfer to Santiago, then Andesmar bus 7h over the Andes
Spectacular bus journey through Paso Los Libertadores. Aconcagua looming. Daylight only — depart Santiago morning, in Mendoza by evening.
Dec–Jan30 → Jan 1
Uco Valley vineyard splurge
Casa de Uco or The Vines · 3 nights · SPLURGE
NEW. Drive 1h south of Mendoza city to the high-altitude Uco Valley. Stay at a vineyard hotel with rooms overlooking vines and the Andes. NYE dinner on the property (most vineyard hotels run elaborate NYE menus). Day 1: bodega visits. Day 2: NYE dinner. Day 3: horse-riding or bike between bodegas.
Jan2 → 4
Mendoza city
Mendoza · 3 nights
Move into the city. Luján de Cuyo bodega visits, Maipú bike tour, classic Mendoza steak nights. Walk Parque San Martín, plaza-hop in the centre.
Jan5
Mendoza → Córdoba (overnight bus)
Andesmar / Chevallier · 9–10h overnight cama · ~£40pp
Save a night's accommodation. Depart Mendoza terminal ~10pm, arrive Córdoba ~7am. Comfortable lie-flat seats; bring eye mask and earplugs.
Jan6 → 8
Córdoba — Argentina's second city
Córdoba · 3 nights · NEW
University town, founded 1573, Jesuit Block UNESCO site (church, residencia, university — the oldest university in Argentina), young vibrant feel. Excellent fernet-and-Coke nights at Güemes. Day trip to the Sierras de Córdoba — Alta Gracia and Che Guevara's childhood home, or La Cumbrecita.
Jan9
Córdoba → Rosario (bus)
~6h daytime bus · ~£25pp
Easy daytime journey through the Pampas. Departures multiple times daily.
Jan10 → 11
Rosario — river city
Rosario · 2 nights · NEW
Argentina's third-biggest city, on the Paraná river. Che Guevara was born here, Lionel Messi grew up here. Monumental Flag Memorial, the river costanera (waterfront) for sunset, summer beach feel because of the river. Underrated.
Jan12
Rosario → Buenos Aires (bus)
~4h daytime · ~£20pp
Easy half-day. Multiple operators every hour. Arrive BA mid-afternoon.
Jan13 → 20
Buenos Aires
Palermo Airbnb · 8 nights
Reduced from 12 to 8 nights, freeing days for Iberá. Tango at La Catedral (local milonga), San Telmo Sunday market, Recoleta cemetery, MALBA, El Ateneo bookshop, parrilla pilgrimage (Don Julio book a month ahead). Boca Juniors or River Plate match if home (La Bombonera atmosphere unmatched).
Jan21
BA → Mercedes (Iberá gateway)
Overnight bus to Mercedes · ~10h · ~£40pp
Several operators (Crucero del Norte, Flecha Bus). Depart BA evening, arrive Mercedes early morning. Then 2.5h shuttle to Colonia Carlos Pellegrini, the village inside the Esteros del Iberá wildlife area.
Jan22 → 24
Esteros del Iberá — wetlands
Colonia Carlos Pellegrini · 3 nights · NEW
South America's second-largest wetlands. Capybaras dozens at a time, caimans, marsh deer, 350+ bird species. Dawn and dusk lagoon boat trips (small motorboats, freshwater, wildlife-focused). Horseback rides through the marshes. Rangers from a former Argentine Tompkins-funded rewilding project (jaguars reintroduced 2021). One of the great wildlife experiences in Argentina that nobody talks about.
Jan25
Iberá → Posadas → San Ignacio
Shuttle + bus · half-day · stop at San Ignacio Miní
Shuttle back to Mercedes, then 5h bus to Posadas, then 1h to San Ignacio. Visit the San Ignacio Miní Jesuit ruins (UNESCO) — overgrown by jungle, sunset light is the famous photograph. Sleep nearby.
Jan26 → 27
San Ignacio → Puerto Iguazú
Bus 4h · Puerto Iguazú · 2 nights
Half-day to Iguazu Falls. Stay on the Argentine side. Argentine side trails next day — Devil's Throat walkway, more immersive than Brazilian.
Jan28
Argentine → Brazilian side of Iguazu
Local bus border crossing · 30min
Cross to Foz do Iguaçu for the panoramic Brazilian views. Walk the falls in the afternoon. That evening, board the overnight cama bus south to Curitiba.
Jan29 → 30
Curitiba
Curitiba · 2 nights
Arrive morning after overnight bus from Foz. Brazil's best-planned city — botanical garden (the famous glass dome), Oscar Niemeyer Museum (the "Eye" building), the Wire Opera House. Compact and walkable. Good pit-stop before São Paulo.
Jan31
Curitiba → São Paulo (bus)
~6h daytime bus · ~£30pp · Cometa or Catarinense
Easy daytime journey. Multiple daily departures. Arrive São Paulo mid-afternoon.
Jan–Feb31 → Feb 3
São Paulo
São Paulo · 3 nights · Vila Madalena or Jardins
Brazil's mega-city. Pinacoteca and MASP for art, Liberdade for Japanese-Brazilian food, Vila Madalena bohemian streets and graffiti, the Beco do Batman alley. Eat: D.O.M. or A Casa do Porco if splurging; pão de queijo every morning. Underrated, sprawling, alive.
Feb3
São Paulo → Ouro Preto (overnight bus)
Util · 9h overnight cama · ~£40pp
Depart late evening. Sleep on the bus. Arrive Ouro Preto morning of Feb 4.
Feb4 → 5
Ouro Preto — colonial gold-mining baroque
Ouro Preto · 2 nights · UNESCO
18th-century gold rush town, set in mountains, cobblestone-everything, 13 baroque churches by Aleijadinho, Brazil's most famous colonial sculptor. Day trip to Mariana or Congonhas (Aleijadinho's twelve prophets). Cultural depth immediately before Carnival.
Feb6
Ouro Preto → Rio de Janeiro (bus)
~7h daytime bus · Util · ~£40pp
Daytime journey through the Minas Gerais countryside. Arrive Rio early evening on Friday — Carnival street blocos begin this weekend. Check into Ipanema Airbnb, get your bearings, eat well, sleep early.
Feb6 → 11
Rio de Janeiro — Carnival 2027
Rio · 6 nights · Ipanema Airbnb · SPLURGE
Carnival Special Group parades: Sun 7, Mon 8, Tue 9 Feb. Plan: Frisa box Sector 7 or 9 for Monday 8 (the prestige night) + grandstand Sector 11 for Sunday 7. Free street blocos Sat 6, Wed 10 and Thur 11. Pace yourself — drink water, sleep, go again.
Feb11 → 17
Búzios — post-Carnival beach
Búzios · 6 nights · SPLURGE
2.5h transfer from Rio (no boat needed). Brazilian St-Tropez. Pousada Pedra da Laguna or Casas Brancas Boutique Hotel. Books, beaches (Geribá, Ferradura, Azedinha), seafood. Final week to fully decompress.
Feb18
Búzios → Rio (GIG) → London
Transfer to GIG · Overnight flight to LHR · ~12h direct on BA
Allow 4h buffer for the airport transfer. Welcome home.
A complete rebuild from v1. Only 6 flights now, all justified by geography (the Darién Gap or 2,000km desert with no road). Everything else by bus, including 8 overnight cama buses that save you a night's accommodation.
The six flights — and why each one
| Flight | Why no bus alternative | Duration · cost |
|---|---|---|
| LHR → AUS | Booked | 9h · BA191 (done) |
| AUS → CDMX | Booked | 2.5h · AM1685 (done) |
| CDMX → Bogotá | Darién Gap. No road between Panama and Colombia. Impassable jungle, controlled by armed groups. There is literally no overland option. | 5h direct · ~£170pp |
| Medellín → Lima | Ecuador not on plan. Overland MDE→Lima requires Quito and 5–7 days. Adds a country and a week. | 4h direct · ~£200pp |
| Lima → Cusco | Overland is 22h on a bus through Andean switchbacks. The flight is 80min and £70. Some battles aren't worth fighting. | 1h 20m · ~£70pp |
| Calama → Santiago | 2,000km of desert with one road. Buses exist but take 24h, cost similar to flight. | 2h · ~£70pp |
| Rio → London | Going home | 11–13h direct · ~£800pp |
The bus journeys, in order
Within Mexico
CDMX → Puerto Escondido (flight; bus is 14h on winding roads through Sierra Madre)
1h 15m flight£60pp · Aeroméxico or Viva
Puerto Escondido → Oaxaca
7h van£20pp · Villa del Mar
Oaxaca → CDMX (overnight bus for Bogotá flight connection)
6.5h overnight£25pp · ADO GL
Within Colombia
Bogotá → Pereira (flight to reach coffee country)
50min flight£50pp
Pereira → Salento
1h bus£3pp
Salento → Medellín
5h bus£18pp · Flota Occidental
Medellín → Guatapé
2h bus£6pp · from Terminal Norte
Guatapé → Medellín → MDE airport
2.5h bus£8pp + 30min taxi
Within Peru
Lima → Paracas
3.5h bus£15pp · Cruz del Sur or Peru Hop
Paracas → Lima → fly to Cusco
3.5h bus + 1h 20m flight£15 + £70pp
Cusco → Sacred Valley (Ollantaytambo)
1h collectivo£3pp
Cusco → Puno · PeruRail Vistadome train
10h daytime train£220pp · lunch included · the cool train
Peru → Bolivia → Chile
Puno → La Paz · Bolivia Hop
8h bus£35pp · crosses border at Yunguyo
La Paz → Uyuni · overnight cama bus
10h overnight£25pp · Todo Turismo / Trans Omar
Uyuni → San Pedro de Atacama · 3-day 4x4 tour
3 days · 2 nights£200pp · Red Planet · salt flats, lagoons, geysers
Within Chile · Chile → Argentina
San Pedro → Calama → fly Santiago
1.5h transfer + 2h flight£20 + £70pp
Santiago → Maitencillo (private transfer, you preferred no driving)
2h£70 total
Maitencillo → Santiago transfer + bus over Andes to Mendoza
2h + 7h£70 + £35pp · Andesmar daytime · spectacular pass
Within Argentina (this is where buses really hit their stride)
Mendoza → Uco Valley (transfer or vineyard pickup)
1h£40 vineyard car pickup
Uco Valley → Mendoza city
1h£40
Mendoza → Córdoba · overnight cama bus
9–10h overnight£40pp · Andesmar / Chevallier
Córdoba → Rosario · daytime
6h£25pp
Rosario → Buenos Aires · daytime
4h£20pp · multiple operators hourly
Buenos Aires → Mercedes (Iberá gateway) · overnight
10h overnight£40pp
Mercedes → Colonia Carlos Pellegrini (Iberá lodge)
2.5h 4x4 shuttle£25pp
Iberá → Mercedes → Posadas → San Ignacio
~7h total£35pp
San Ignacio → Puerto Iguazú
4h daytime£20pp
Argentina → Brazil (direct overland, no Paraguay)
Puerto Iguazú → Foz do Iguaçu (border, local bus)
30min£3pp
Foz do Iguaçu → Curitiba · overnight cama
10h overnight£40pp · Catarinense, leito class
Curitiba → São Paulo · daytime
6h£25pp · Cometa
São Paulo → Ouro Preto · overnight
9h overnight£40pp · Util
Ouro Preto → Rio de Janeiro · daytime
7h£35pp · Util
Rio → Búzios (private transfer post-Carnival)
2.5h£90 total
Búzios → Rio GIG (for international flight home)
3h private transfer£100 total · allow buffer
Bus class explained
| Class | What it is | Recommendation |
|---|---|---|
| Semi-cama (semi-leito) | 140° recline. Wider than economy plane seats. Decent for daytime up to 6h. | Daytime journeys ≤6h |
| Cama (leito) | 160° recline, more legroom, sometimes individual screens. Comfortable for overnight. | Most overnight journeys |
| Cama suite / cama executivo | 180° fully flat. Limited to ~8 seats on lower deck. The best option. | Booking these for the longest overnights (BA→Mercedes, FOZ→Curitiba, SP→Ouro Preto) |
Booking tools
- Busbud (busbud.com) — accepts UK cards, English interface, books most operators across Latin America.
- Plataforma 10 (Argentina) — direct booking with Argentine operators.
- ClickBus.com.br — Brazilian aggregator; tourists can book without CPF.
- Rome2Rio (rome2rio.com) — for route discovery, then book direct.
- Tip: Book overnight buses 1–2 weeks ahead (cama seats sell out first). Daytime buses can often be bought day of travel.
The cool train — three options kept for reference
| Train | Route | Price | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| PeruRail Vistadome ✓ chosen | Cusco → Puno · 10h daytime | ~£220pp | Your choice. Beautiful daylight Andean scenery, lunch included, doubles as transport to Lake Titicaca for onward Bolivia. |
| Belmond Hiram Bingham | Cusco → Aguas Calientes · 3h | ~£400 one-way | Glorious but redundant — you're already walking to Machu Picchu via Inca Trail. |
| Belmond Andean Explorer | Cusco → Puno → Arequipa · 2 nights sleeper | £1,200–1,800pp | South America's only luxury sleeper. The ultimate splurge. Would require re-routing (fly Arequipa→La Paz instead of overland Bolivia Hop). |
Booking shortlist for the rebuilt route. Hostels with private rooms as default; Airbnb splurges at the moments you'll remember; the new stops added in.
Booking lead times: Oaxaca Día de los Muertos — by July. Christmas Chile coast — by September. Uco Valley NYE — by August (vineyard NYE menus fill early). Rio Carnival accommodation — by August (2–3× normal prices). Everything else 4–8 weeks out.
🇲🇽 Mexico (trimmed)
Mexico City — 6 nights · Roma Norte / Condesa
Casa Pancha (boutique hostel)~£70/night
Roma Norte
Beautiful interiors, calm, central.
Casa Decu (hotel)~£90/night
Condesa, on Parque México
Mid-century building, quieter than Roma.
Puerto Escondido — 7 nights · La Punta or Zicatela
Airbnb apartment La Punta~£50–80/night
7-night stay
For 7 nights an Airbnb is right. Casitas with pools, walk to beach. Search "La Punta Zicatela".
Oaxaca — 5 nights + 3 night Muertos splurge
Casa Angel Youth Hostel (regular nights)~£70 private
Centro
Colonial Airbnb with patio (Muertos splurge)~£100–180/night
Splurge moment · Centro / Jalatlaco
Patio is everything. Book by July at the latest.
🇨🇴 Colombia
Bogotá — 3 nights
Selina Bogotá Chapinero~£50 private
Chapinero (safer than Candelaria)
Salento — 4 nights
La Serrana Eco Farm~£40/night
15min from Salento centre
Cocora Valley views at sunrise. Working farm.
Medellín — 4 nights
The Wandering Paisa~£35 private
Laureles
Guatapé — 2 nights
Lake View Hostel Guatapé~£30 private
Lake views
🇵🇪 Peru
Lima — 3 nights · Miraflores / Barranco
3B Barranco~£60
Boutique B&B Barranco
Paracas — 2 nights
Kokopelli Paracas~£40 private
Hostel with pool
Cusco — 3 nights pre + 3 post Inca Trail
Pariwana Cusco (pre)~£40 private
San Blas
Tierra Viva Cusco Centro (post-trail upgrade)~£80
Boutique on Plaza de Armas
Hot shower and comfortable bed after camping.
Sacred Valley — 4 nights
El Albergue Ollantaytambo~£70
Heritage guesthouse at the train station
Lower altitude — sleep better. Organic farm restaurant on site.
🇧🇴 Bolivia
La Paz — 2 nights
Selina La Paz~£45 private
Sopocachi
Uyuni — 0 nights (overnight bus from La Paz arrives in time for tour)
🇨🇱 Chile
San Pedro de Atacama — 5 nights
Hostal La Ruca~£50 private
Central
Maitencillo — 7 nights Christmas · SPLURGE
Maitencillo oceanfront Airbnb~£140–250/night for the week
Splurge moment · Beachfront
Direct beach access, terraces, BBQ. Book by September.
🇦🇷 Argentina (rebuilt)
Uco Valley — 3 nights vineyard · SPLURGE · NYE
Casa de Uco~£250/night
Splurge moment · Vineyard hotel
Lake on property, rooms overlook vines and the Andes. Restaurant on site. Mid-luxury, less corporate than The Vines. NYE menu confirmed-only by August.
The Vines Resort & Spa~£300/night
Alternative · purpose-built wine resort
Francis Mallmann's restaurant Siete Fuegos on-site (book a meal separately). Pricier, more polished.
Cavas Wine Lodge (Luján de Cuyo)~£200/night
Closer to Mendoza city
Older, iconic, private plunge pools. Sub-Uco, but cheaper.
Mendoza city — 3 nights
Hostel Lao Suites~£55 private
Centro · studio-rooms with kitchenettes
Córdoba — 3 nights · NEW
Aldea Hostel Córdoba~£35 private
Nueva Córdoba (student quarter)
Azur Real Hotel Boutique~£75
Centro · in a historic building
Rosario — 2 nights · NEW
La Casona de Don Jaime 2~£40
Hostel · central
Esplendor Savoy Rosario~£100
Boutique hotel · iconic 1910 building
Buenos Aires — 8 nights
Palermo Soho or Hollywood Airbnb~£60–95/night
8-night Airbnb stay
For 8 nights, Airbnb is much better value than hotel. Palermo Soho for nightlife, Hollywood for restaurants.
Iberá / Colonia Carlos Pellegrini — 3 nights · NEW
Posada de la Laguna~£100/night full board
Pioneer wildlife lodge
Originally a working ranch. Wildlife-spotting boat trips included. Owner family generations on the wetlands.
Rincón del Socorro (Tompkins-funded conservation property)~£300/night full board
Luxury option
Doug & Kris Tompkins' restored estancia. Conservation-focused. Pricier; world-class.
San Ignacio — 1 night
Hotel San Ignacio Country~£50
Walking distance to ruins
Puerto Iguazú — 2 nights
Selina Iguazú~£50 private
Argentine side
🇧🇷 Brazil (overland)
Foz do Iguaçu — 1 night transit
Tetris Container Hostel~£40 private
Shipping container hostel
Curitiba — 2 nights
Slaviero Hotels Curitiba Centro~£60
Centro · walking distance to Botanical Garden
São Paulo — 3 nights
Local Hostel Vila Madalena~£40 private
Vila Madalena
Bohemian neighbourhood, walking distance to graffiti alleys and bars.
Hotel Jardim Paulista~£70
Jardins · upmarket area
Ouro Preto — 2 nights · UNESCO
Pouso Chico Rey~£50
Pousada in historic centre
In an 18th-century house, traditional, central. Steep streets — pack light.
Solar do Rosário~£100
Boutique · pool, history
Rio de Janeiro — 6 nights · CARNIVAL · SPLURGE
Ipanema Airbnb~£180–350/night during Carnival
Splurge moment · Ipanema preferred over Copacabana
Book by August 2026. 4-night minimums common for Carnival week.
Búzios — 6 nights · SPLURGE
Pousada Pedra da Laguna~£100–160/night
Splurge moment · Ferradura Beach
Casas Brancas Boutique Hotel~£250+/night
Cliffside · the romantic option
Unchanged from v1 — this tab is the core Inca Trail planning. Book the right operator now, do the Cocora warm-up in Salento, give yourself a proper acclimatisation week, then walk for four days and earn the view.
The headline answer
- Trail: Classic 4-day Inca Trail, 43km, max 4,215m at Dead Woman's Pass.
- Dates: Mon 30 Nov 2026 → Thu 3 Dec 2026.
- Operator: Alpaca Expeditions or Llama Path. Both Peruvian-owned, both pay porter fair wages.
- Cost: ~£550–700pp for group tour with reputable operator.
- Book by: mid-June 2026. November 2026 still has availability as of May 2026.
- Warm-up hike: Cocora Valley loop, Salento, Colombia (6 Nov in timetable).
- Acclimatisation: 7 nights at altitude before the trail (3 Cusco, 4 Sacred Valley).
Booking timeline
1This week
Pick operator, put down deposit
Email or web form. $200 deposit. Permits are linked to passport number — renew passport first if needed.
2Within 7 days
Operator buys your permit
Non-refundable. Date and operator now locked.
3By Sept 2026
Pay the balance
4Nov 28 in Cusco
Briefing
Meet your guide, get duffel for porters (7kg limit), tip pool (~£40pp).
5Nov 30 – Dec 3
You walk
The trail — day by day
D1
Km 82 → Wayllabamba · 11km · "Training day"
5h walking, mostly flat. First Inca ruins at Llactapata. Camp 3,000m.
D2
Wayllabamba → Pacaymayo · 12km · "The hard day"
7h walking, 1,200m climb to Dead Woman's Pass (4,215m), 600m descent. Camp 3,600m. Tonight you sleep deeply.
D3
Pacaymayo → Wiñay Wayna · 16km · "The beautiful day"
8h, mostly downhill, two smaller passes, multiple ruin sites (Sayacmarca, Phuyupatamarca). Cloud forest. Camp 2,700m.
D4
→ Sun Gate → Machu Picchu · 6km · "The reveal"
3:30am wake-up, 4am checkpoint, 2h walk pre-dawn to Inti Punku. First view of Machu Picchu as the sun rises. Descend into the citadel, guided tour, bus to Aguas Calientes, train to Ollantaytambo.
Acclimatisation — taking altitude seriously
| Phase | Dates | Location | Altitude | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Soft prep | 29 Sept – 4 Oct | Mexico City | 2,240m | Mild exposure |
| Soft prep | 3–5 Nov | Bogotá | 2,640m | More mild exposure |
| Warm-up hike | 6 Nov | Cocora Valley | 2,800m | 5h hike — tests fitness |
| Direct prep | 23–25 Nov | Cusco | 3,400m | Easy days only |
| Direct prep | 26–29 Nov | Ollantaytambo | 2,800m | Sleep lower |
| The trek | 30 Nov – 3 Dec | Inca Trail | up to 4,215m | Body ready |
Diamox
Acetazolamide 250mg twice daily, started 24h before ascent. UK private prescription, ~£15. Discuss with your travel doc. Coca tea/leaves available everywhere in Cusco and La Paz, work mildly.
Inca Trail packing sublist
In the porter duffel (7kg limit)
- Sleeping bag (rent from operator, ~£15)
- Camp clothes
- Thermal base layer for night 2
- Down jacket
- Spare socks × 3
- Headtorch
- Travel towel
In your daypack
- 3L water bladder
- Snacks
- Rain shell
- Sunhat + sunglasses
- Sunscreen + lip balm SPF
- Coca leaves (Cusco)
- Passport (checkpoints check)
- Trekking poles (rent £15)
- Blister plasters
Optional experiences and the Carnival ticketing guide. Per your request: one premium night Sambadrome + one budget night on a different parade evening.
Cooking, food & drink
Oaxaca cooking class
Casa Crespo, half-day with market shop. ~£60pp. Best food experience of the trip probably.
Coffee farm tour, Salento
Don Eduardo or Finca El Ocaso. ~£15pp.
Mezcal route, Oaxaca
Matatlán day visiting palenques. ~£40pp.
Uco Valley winery lunches
Several Uco bodegas have outstanding restaurants. The Vines/Siete Fuegos. Bodega Salentein. Andeluna. Book ahead.
Buenos Aires closed-door asado
"The Argentine Experience" gives the steak masterclass. ~£60pp.
São Paulo pastel-and-caipirinha tour
Mercado Municipal pastel de bacalhau is legend.
Wildlife
Iberá wetlands · NEW addition
Three nights in Colonia Carlos Pellegrini at a wildlife lodge. Dawn and dusk lagoon boat trips (small flat-bottomed motor boats on freshwater lagoons — wildlife-focused, not transit boats). Capybaras dozens at a time, caimans, yacaré, marsh deer, 350+ bird species (jabiru storks, hyacinth macaws). Horseback rides through marsh causeways. The Tompkins-funded rewilding programme reintroduced jaguars in 2021 — chance to see one is small but real.
This is South America's wildlife answer to the Brazilian Pantanal (which you're skipping) at a fraction of the price.
Adventure
Huacachina sandboarding
From Paracas, half-day buggy + boarding. ~£30pp.
Rainbow Mountain (Vinicunca)
Day trip Cusco, 5,000m. ~£25pp. Do post-Inca Trail when acclimatised.
Atacama stargazing
Telescope sessions in the desert. ~£40pp.
Tango lesson + show, Buenos Aires
El Querandí for tourist classic or La Catedral milonga for bohemian. ~£60pp.
Iguazu helicopter (Brazilian side only)
10min, ~£80pp. Banned on Argentine side. Note: technically not a boat but a flight.
Death Road, La Paz
Gravity Bolivia downhill biking 4,700→1,200m. £80pp. Some risk. Optional.
Rio Carnival 2027 — your ticket plan
Per your request: one premium night + one budget night on different evenings.
Recommended plan
| Night | Date | Plan | Cost pp |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sunday parade | 7 Feb | Grandstand (Arquibancada) Sector 11 — cheap, near drummers, full energy | £60–120 |
| Monday parade ★ | 8 Feb | Frisa box Sector 7 or 9 — your one premium night. The prestige night for top schools. Row B or C for the perfect height/distance balance. | £250–400 |
| Tuesday parade | 9 Feb | Skip Sambadrome, do street blocos and rest | Free |
Total per person: ~£310–520 for both tickets. Plus accommodation premium for Carnival week. Buy from Ticketmaster Brasil direct, or Going to Rio as a reseller (both accept UK cards).
Sector picks — where to sit
2-3
Beginning of route. Cheaper. Schools starting, energy building.5
Solid mid-route. Good value lively.7
The sweet spot. Mid-parade, best performances trying to impress judges.9
Tourist sector. Numbered seats, multi-language guides, allocated spots.11
Near drummers. Energy peaks. Your budget night here.12-13
End of route. Cheapest. Sector 12 has numbered plastic seats.The street blocos (free)
The other half of Carnival. Hundreds of street parties across the city, free. Bloco da Preta, Cordão da Bola Preta (the biggest, Saturday morning in Centro), Sargento Pimenta (Beatles-themed!), Bangalafumenga, Fogo & Paixão. Follow Instagram for daily schedules. Wear cheap costume, drink water, eyes on drinks.
Recalculated for the rebuilt route. Buses save flight money; more Argentina/Brazil days add up; the Uco vineyard splurge is new; net result roughly within the same envelope as v1.
Low estimate
£18,900
with discipline
Realistic
£22,100
comfortable mid-range
If everything slips
£24,800
top of envelope
Countries
7
Paraguay removed
By country, for 2 people
| Country | Days | Daily (£/day for 2) | Subtotal | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 🇲🇽 Mexico | 21 | £135 | £2,835 | Beach Airbnb brings average down |
| 🇨🇴 Colombia | 14 | £105 | £1,470 | Cheapest country; eat menu del día |
| 🇵🇪 Peru | 20 | £155 | £3,100 | Inca Trail (£1,200 pair) + Vistadome train (£440) drive this |
| 🇧🇴 Bolivia | 4 | £100 | £400 | Including 4x4 tour |
| 🇨🇱 Chile | 12 | £220 | £2,640 | Atacama + Christmas coast Airbnb drive this |
| 🇦🇷 Argentina | 28 | £155 | £4,340 | Uco vineyard splurge £600/3n. Iberá lodge £100/n full board. Use blue dollar. |
| 🇧🇷 Brazil | 26 | £195 | £5,070 | Carnival accommodation 2–3× normal. Foz→Curitiba→SP→Ouro Preto→Rio→Búzios overland. |
| Daily living subtotal | £19,855 | |||
Big-ticket items breakdown (most already in country subtotals)
| Item | For 2 |
|---|---|
| Inca Trail (4-day, Alpaca Expeditions) | £1,200 |
| PeruRail Vistadome train (Cusco→Puno) | £440 |
| Uyuni→Atacama 3-day 4x4 | £400 |
| Atacama tours (stargazing, geysers, valle) | £240 |
| Uco Valley vineyard (Casa de Uco 3n) | £750 |
| Iberá lodge (3n full board) | £600 |
| Carnival tickets (1 Frisa + 1 grandstand pp) | £700 |
| 6 flights (incl. Rio→London £1,600 + 5 internal) | £2,800 |
| ~14 long-distance buses | £500 |
| Travel insurance (long-stay, trekking) | £500 |
| Vaccinations + meds | £500 |
| Contingency 10% | £1,800 |
Where you'll feel the pinch
- Chile most expensive country. Atacama £15 sandwiches, £6 coffees.
- Brazil Carnival week 2–3× normal. Book by August.
- Argentina cash — bring USD for blue rate, makes a real difference.
- Inca Trail non-negotiable for reputable operator. Don't skimp.
Where you'll save
- Overnight buses save 6–8 nights' accommodation across the trip. £200+ saved.
- Colombia, Bolivia, Paraguay genuinely cheap.
- Self-catering Airbnb weeks (Mexico beach, Christmas coast, BA, Búzios).
- Menus del día at lunch — set meals half evening prices.
- Free walking tours every major city, tip £5–10.
Budget visualised
Money mechanics
- Wise or Revolut card — hold multiple currencies, low ATM fees.
- USD cash $1,500+ mixed denominations (crisp $20s/$50s) for Argentina blue rate, Bolivia, emergencies.
- Notify UK banks of travel dates.
- Two cards minimum, stored separately.
- eSIM — Airalo or Holafly. Avoid roaming.
Weather
🌤
What to expect, month by month
Culture
🌎
8 countries, customs that matter
Visas
🛂
UK passport, no visas needed
Health & Insurance
💉
Jabs, meds, cover
Weather
Southern Hemisphere summer Oct–Mar = Patagonia/Argentina/Brazil hot, Andes wet. The bus-heavy route keeps you at lower altitudes most of the time, which is easier.
October — Mexico
Mexico City
Mild dry days, cool evenings.
14–22°C
Puerto Escondido
Hot, humid. End of hurricane season.
23–32°C
Oaxaca
Warm. Muertos atmosphere late.
12–25°C
November — Colombia & Peru
Bogotá
Cool, often grey. London-spring layers.
8–19°C
Salento
Lush, afternoon showers.
14–24°C
Medellín
"Eternal spring."
17–28°C
Lima
Garúa ending, warming up.
17–23°C
Cusco / Inca Trail
Shoulder season. 50/50 dry/wet. Trail muddy possible. Bring waterproofs.
4–20°C (-5 at night on trail)
December — Bolivia, Chile
La Paz
Wet season. Afternoon showers.
4–17°C
Uyuni
Early wet season. Some mirror effect possible.
-2 to 16°C
Atacama
Hot days, cold nights. Clearest skies.
5–25°C
Chilean coast
Peak Chilean summer. Pacific brisk.
14–26°C
January — Argentina, Paraguay
Mendoza / Uco
Hot dry. Vineyards in leaf.
17–32°C
Córdoba
Hot. Locals on summer holiday.
17–32°C
Rosario / BA
Hot, humid, locals on holiday.
21–30°C
Iberá wetlands
Hot, humid. Mosquito-heavy. Wildlife active mornings/evenings.
22–34°C
Iguazu Falls
Peak rainy season = peak flow. Spectacular.
22–33°C
Asunción
The hottest weeks of the year. 35°C+ regularly. Siesta the middle of the day.
22–36°C
February — Brazil
Curitiba
Brazil's coolest big city. Mild.
17–28°C
São Paulo
Hot, humid. Afternoon storms.
19–28°C
Ouro Preto
Mountain town. Cooler than Rio. Rain showers.
16–26°C
Rio · Carnival
Carnival peak. 40°C real-feel. Hydrate aggressively.
24–33°C
Búzios
Slightly less humid than Rio (sea breeze).
22–31°C
What this means for packing
- Sun protection daily for 5 months. SPF 50+ for the Andes.
- Thermals at -5°C on Inca Trail; swimwear at 40°C in Rio. Wide layer range.
- Mosquitoes heavy in Iberá, Iguazu, Paraguay, Brazilian coast — DEET 30%+.
- Rain Andes Nov–Mar — proper waterproofs.
- Hand cream — high Andes air desert-dry; knuckles will crack.
Culture notes, by country
Eight countries, three languages, dozens of conventions. Here are the ones that matter day-to-day.
🇲🇽 Mexico
- Tipping: 10–15% restaurants; round up taxis; tour guides 50–100 MXN/day.
- Greetings: One cheek kiss women; men shake hands. "Buenos días" entering shops.
- Lunch is the big meal (2–4pm); dinner late and lighter.
- Día de los Muertos: Celebration, not sad. Ask before photographing graveside vigils.
🇨🇴 Colombia
- Tipping: 10% propina voluntaria often added; check.
- "No dar papaya" — don't make yourself a target. Don't flash phones/jewellery/watches.
- Coffee culture: Specialty cafés good in Bogotá and Medellín. Espresso, not filter.
- Escobar: Don't bring him up unsolicited. Many find narco-tourism offensive.
🇵🇪 Peru
- Tipping: 10% restaurants; ~£40pp tip pool for Inca Trail.
- Bargaining: Gentle in markets; aggressive bargaining = disrespectful.
- Coca leaves: Legal, traditional, mild altitude help. Don't bring home (illegal UK).
- Food highlights: Ceviche, lomo saltado, anticuchos. Globally significant gastronomy era.
🇧🇴 Bolivia
- Slower pace than Peru. Buses run on schedule eventually.
- Most indigenous country in S. America (~62% Quechua/Aymara). Respect for traditional dress; ask for photos.
- La Paz is highest capital in the world (3,640m). Take it slow.
- Cash everywhere; cards rarely outside La Paz. Bring USD.
🇨🇱 Chile
- 10% restaurant propina suggested; can decline.
- Chilean Spanish is famously fast and full of slang. "Cachai?" = "you get it?"
- Pisco sour — Chilean version without egg white. Don't take sides between Chile/Peru.
- Christmas: family lunch Dec 25 outdoors. Restaurants closed.
🇦🇷 Argentina
- Cash strategy: Bring USD. Blue rate often 1.5–2× official. Pay in USD where accepted.
- Greetings: One cheek kiss for almost everyone including men. Day one.
- Spanish: Argentine "ll/y" → "sh" sound. Vos not tú.
- Late nights: Dinner at 10pm; clubs from 2am. Mate = inclusion.
🇧🇷 Brazil
- Language: Portuguese, not Spanish. Duolingo before you go.
- Greetings: Two cheek kisses (start right). Demonstrative culture.
- Safety: No phones out walking. No watches. Ride-hailing apps. Drink spiking FCDO's headline Carnival warning — eyes on drinks always.
Visas & border crossings
Both of you, UK passports, no advance visa required for any country on this route: Mexico (180d), Colombia (90d), Peru (90d), Bolivia (90d), Chile (90d), Argentina (90d), Brazil (90d). Confirmed accurate May 2026.
| Country | Stay | Passport validity | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 🇲🇽 Mexico | Up to 180 days | Valid for stay | Digital stamp now |
| 🇨🇴 Colombia | 90 days | Valid for stay | — |
| 🇵🇪 Peru | 90 days | 6 months from entry | Get passport stamped at entry — required at exit |
| 🇧🇴 Bolivia | 90 days / 12 months | 6 months | Departure tax ~£20 cash possible |
| 🇨🇱 Chile | 90 days | Valid for stay | Keep tourist card |
| 🇦🇷 Argentina | 90 days | Valid for stay | No reciprocity fee for UK |
| 🇧🇷 Brazil | 90 days / 12 months | Valid for stay (no 6-month buffer) | UK passports visa-exempt under VIPER 2025 |
Pre-flight checks (do this week)
- Passport validity: Both valid past 18 August 2027 (6 months after return). Renew now if either is sooner.
- Blank pages: ~14 stamps. Need at least 6 blank visa pages each.
- Onward ticket: Rio→London Feb 18 covers this.
- Copies: Printed photocopy + digital scan in cloud email.
Borders by land — what to expect
- Peru → Bolivia (Yunguyo): 2 small immigration posts. Bus stops at both. ~30min total.
- Bolivia → Chile (Hito Cajón): Remote, high altitude (4,400m), 1h+. Done with 4x4 group.
- Chile → Argentina (Paso Los Libertadores): Busy daytime crossings. Joint post. 1–2h.
- Argentina → Brazil (Puerto Iguazú/Foz): Bus crosses bridge, brief stops. 20–30min.
FCDO advisories (May 2026)
- Colombia: Cauca, Valle del Cauca (outside Cali), Norte de Santander = avoid. None on itinerary.
- Peru: VRAEM region, Putumayo. None on itinerary.
- Brazil: Favelas. Within 160km of borders (except Foz). Foz is fine.
Sign up for alerts: gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice
Jabs, health & insurance
This week: book UK travel clinic (Boots, Superdrug, MASTA, Nomad). Yellow fever requires a designated centre. Bring your existing vaccination record.
Recommended vaccinations
| Vaccine | Status | UK cost |
|---|---|---|
| Hep A | Strongly recommended | £50–70 |
| Hep B / Twinrix | Recommended | £50/dose × 3 |
| Typhoid | Recommended | NHS free |
| Td/IPV booster | If 10+ years | NHS free |
| Rabies pre-exposure | Consider (rural travel, Iberá) | £60 × 3 |
| MMR / COVID | Up-to-date check | NHS free |
Altitude
- Acetazolamide (Diamox) 250mg 2× daily — private prescription ~£15.
- Hydrate, no alcohol first 48h at altitude, slow movement.
- Red flags: severe headache, vomiting, breathlessness at rest = descend immediately.
Mosquitoes
- Dengue, Zika, Chikungunya risk in Iberá, Iguazu, Brazil coast, Asunción.
- DEET 30%+ (Jungle Formula Maximum). Long sleeves at dusk.
- Permethrin-treat clothing for Iberá/Paraguay/Iguazu specifically.
- Ask travel clinic about Malarone for the Iberá week specifically.
Stomach
- Loperamide (Imodium) + oral rehydration salts (Dioralyte).
- Azithromycin course from GP for severe bacterial.
- Avoid tap water Mexico/Peru/Bolivia/Paraguay.
Insurance — what you need
- Medical cover minimum £5m, ideally £10m with repatriation.
- Trekking to 5,500m (covers Rainbow Mountain + Inca Trail).
- FCDO compliance — stay within itinerary and you're covered.
| Cover needed | Level |
|---|---|
| Medical & repatriation | £10m |
| Trekking altitude | To 5,500m |
| Cancellation & curtailment | £5,000–10,000 |
| Baggage | £3,000+ |
| Money & passport | ~£500 |
| Personal liability | £2m |
Providers to compare
- Backpacker / long-stay: True Traveller, World Nomads, Battleface, SafetyWing. ~£200–300pp for 5 months.
- Annual multi-trip: Cap at 31–45 days — too short. Don't use.
- Pre-existing conditions: Staysure, AllClear, Free Spirit.
Medicine kit (bring from home)
- Ibuprofen + paracetamol
- Antihistamines (loratadine)
- Loperamide + oral rehydration salts
- Antiseptic cream + Compeed blisters
- DEET 30–50% + SPF 50+ × 2
- Diamox + Azithromycin (if prescribed)
Resources
Five months, eight countries, sea level to 5,200m. The bus-heavy plan means you'll lift this bag often — every kilo matters. Progress saved on this device.
The bag: 60–70L backpack with rain cover for hold luggage, 25–30L daypack with laptop sleeve for cabin. Weight target: 14kg hold + 7kg cabin per person.
Documents
Clothing — base wardrobe
Clothing — Andes / cold / Inca Trail
Footwear
Toiletries & meds
Electronics
Inca Trail specific
Overnight bus survival kit
Carnival
Miscellaneous
The date problem is solved. Paraguay is out, the Brazil chain is fixed, you arrive in Rio on 6 Feb in time for Carnival. Remaining questions below.
✅ Dates — resolved
- ✅ Paraguay removed — saves 4 days, fixes the Carnival timing.
- ✅ Foz → Curitiba (overnight bus Jan 28 night) → São Paulo Jan 31 → Ouro Preto Feb 4 → Rio Feb 6.
- ✅ Carnival Special Group parades Sun 7, Mon 8, Tue 9 Feb — you're there.
- ✅ Búzios Feb 11–17. Fly home Feb 18 ✓.
Confirmed — no decisions needed
- ✅ Salt flats — Uyuni → Atacama direction, as planned.
- ✅ Cool train: Vistadome Cusco→Puno. Other two kept in Transport tab.
- ✅ São Paulo: included. 3 nights, Jan 31–Feb 3.
- ✅ Carnival: 1 premium night (Monday 8 Feb, Frisa Sector 7/9) + 1 budget night (Sunday 7 Feb, Sector 11 grandstand).
- ✅ Mexico: 1 week Puerto Escondido + 5 days Oaxaca + 3 splurge Muertos.
- ✅ No driving — private transfers and buses only.
- ✅ Vineyard stay — Uco Valley, Casa de Uco recommended.
- ✅ Iberá lagoon boats — small motorboats, wildlife only — confirmed acceptable.
1. Uco Valley — which vineyard hotel?
Three good options for the NYE 3-night stay:
- Casa de Uco · £250/night · recommended. Mid-luxury, lake on property, vineyard immersion, restaurant on site, NYE menus run.
- The Vines Resort & Spa · £300/night. More polished, Francis Mallmann's Siete Fuegos open-fire restaurant on-site, bigger but less intimate.
- Cavas Wine Lodge · £200/night. Older iconic property in Luján de Cuyo (closer to Mendoza city, not Uco). Private plunge pools.
2. Iberá lodge — basic or splurge?
- Posada de la Laguna · £100/night full board. Pioneer wildlife lodge, family-run for generations, all wildlife trips included.
- Rincón del Socorro · £300/night full board. Restored estancia, Tompkins conservation property, world-class. ~3× the price.
Recommend Posada de la Laguna unless this is your big wildlife splurge.
3. Smaller things
- Are your UK vaccinations up to date (tetanus, MMR)?
- Passport expiry — both valid past 18 Aug 2027?
- Dietary restrictions to declare to Inca Trail operator?
- Birthdays or anniversaries in the trip window — built-in splurge opportunity.
- Death Road biking in La Paz — include or skip on safety grounds?