• 7 Dinner (D)
• 25 Breakfast (B)
• 4 Lunch (L)

• Paracas: Mother nature has her favourites, and the Paracas National Reserve is one of them. We’ll take a tour of this protected natural area guilded with deserts, islands and the beautiful blue ocean. 
• Nazca: Climbing up 43 ft in the sky, you’ll see the fascinating group of geoglyphs called the Nazca Lines from a (really) tall tower. Think: desert artwork of spiders, spirals and a mysterious astronaut-like human.
• Arequipa: Get to know the ‘white city’ better. Explore the highlights like Plaza de Armas and take some pics of the incredible backdrop of volcanoes.
• Cusco: Your chance to pick up some mementos at San Pedro Markets and then see Cusco Cathedral, San Blas and Coricancha.
• Sacred Valley: See llamas IRL and learn how Indigenous communities use weaving to share stories, identity, and culture — a tradition passed down without written language (and help keep ancient skills alive by providing sustainable income for local artisans!) Your visit here will help support the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 11: Sustainable Cities & Communities.
• Machu Picchu: It’s the moment you’ve been waiting for! Time to explore the Incan citadel with your new Contiki fam. #travelgoals
• Cusco: Travel from Cusco to Puno on a full-day journey that turns the transfer into part of the adventure. Along the way, you’ll stop at Andahuaylillas, Raqchi, La Raya and Pucará, (plus enjoy buffet lunch with Andes views). It’s a comfy ride with reclining seats, air conditioning and onboard restrooms.
• La Paz: Tuck into a 3-course set menu at Manq’a (“food” in Aymara), a seriously cool restaurant with a big heart. Your meal supports culinary training and better opportunities for vulnerable youth, while championing sustainable, fairly priced local produce and proud cultural food traditions.
• La Paz: See the city through the eyes of masked shoe shiners (these are the people who keep La Paz moving). Expect a walking tour that goes beyond the usual sights, with real stories about daily life, stigma, and informal work, all while supporting community projects that back shoe shiners and their families.
• La Paz: Leave La Paz after dark and roll into Sucre on a 13-hour overnight journey. Oh yeah, and there are comfy reclining seats on this ride!
• Sucre: Get your bearings in Bolivia’s “White City”. Wandering the colonial centre with its elegant plazas, architecture, and easy-going vibe. Then you can grab a proper local bite at Salteñería El Patio — Sucre’s go-to for juicy salteñas in a classic courtyard setting.
• Potosi: Walk the UNESCO-listed historic centre where grand churches and cobbled streets meet the shadow of Cerro Rico. Expect a loop through Plaza 10 de Noviembre, plus time to dive into the Casa Nacional de la Moneda — the former mint turned museum that tells the story behind Potosí’s wealth (and its cost).
• Potosi: Head to a local ex-miner’s home for a home-cooked meal and a no-filter chat about life in the mines. You’ll enjoy local dishes like quinoa soup and potatoes, plus get a deeper look at the challenges (and resilience) behind this tough line of work.
• Uyuni: Roll through Uyuni’s high-altitude outpost vibes — dusty streets, a lively plaza, and market stalls with llama wool and quinoa on repeat. It’s the rugged launchpad for what you came for… and your Trip Manager will help you get orientated before the big landscapes take over.
• Uyuni Salt Flat: Near the Uyuni Salt Flats, this special stay is made out of salt. Yep, actual salt. It’s an accommodation with a seriously unique twist, serving up a stay in one of South America’s most surreal landscapes. Geological icon meets human ingenuity. Not a bad combo for a night on the trip!
• Salta: Wander around Plaza 9 de Julio and the city’s leafy, pastel-lined streets, taking in the cathedral and the glow of San Francisco Church. As evening hits, you’ll have the chance to soak in the local peña scene (think folk music energy and regional flavours).
• Buenos Aires: Head out with your Trip Manager to get the lay of the land — key spots, neighbourhood vibes, and the best ways to spend your free time. 
• Montevideo: Get your bearings in Uruguay’s laid-back capital with a stroll through Montevideo’s streets, plazas, and waterfront vibes. Expect local colour, easy wandering, and plenty of spots to pause for a café stop or a snack as you explore at your own pace.
• Colonia Del Sacramento: Wander Colonia del Sacramento’s cobbled lanes and colonial streets at the perfect pace. Explore the Barrio Histórico, snap the lighthouse views, café-hop between bougainvillea-draped houses, then finish along the rambla as the Río de la Plata lights up at sunset.
• San Antonio de Areco: Just 500 metres from the historic centre of San Antonio de Areco, this special stay gives you the best of both worlds: a real Argentine ranch setting with the town just a short walk away. Think classic estancia energy and a countryside backdrop without straying too far from the action.
• Iguazú Falls: Take a walk through the lush rainforest trails, finishing up at the very edge of the Devil’s Throat. You’ll have time to wander the different walkways, basking in the views and watching out for rainbows and wildlife too. And if you’re feeling adventurous, how about the optional Gran Aventura speedboat ride?
• Puerto Iguazu: Visit a jungle rescue and rehab centre dedicated to helping native animals recover and return to the rainforest when possible. Riding in by trailer and walking guided forest trails, you’ll hear each animal’s rescue story and learn about the real threats they face (trafficking, habitat loss, and road accidents).
• Rio de Janeiro:
  Ever heard of Favelas? They’re growing neighbourhoods in Brazil. And on this tour, we’ll visit Favela Cantagalo near Rio. We’ll check out the Portal of Saint Roman, walk through alleyways, see the 10 paintings of the Houses-Screen, and even stop by a few viewpoints along the way. You’ll even visit the Museu de Favela-MUF, a historical museum about memories and cultural heritage of favelas in the world. It’s a collection about 20,000 residents and their ways of life, and how their stories are an unknown but important part of Rio de Janeiro’s history. Trust us, you don’t wanna miss this one.

See La Paz through the eyes of local shoe shiners on a half-day walking tour. Take in viewpoints and busy streets while hearing firsthand perspectives on work and daily life in Bolivia’s high-altitude capital.

The guides’ stories go beyond conventional sightseeing, addressing the stigma surrounding shoe shining and the realities of informal employment. The experience also supports community initiatives for shoe shiners and their families, making local voices central to the visit.

Explore Colonia del Sacramento’s Barrio Histórico on an orientation through cobbled lanes and past the old city gate, Plaza Mayor and basilica. See bougainvillea-draped buildings and the waterfront rambla overlooking the Río de la Plata.

The UNESCO-listed quarter preserves traces of both Portuguese and Spanish colonial rule. Its intimate streets and riverside setting give this walk a different feel from the region’s larger cities, with historic details easy to appreciate on foot.

Visit Guira Oga near Puerto Iguazú to learn about the rescue and rehabilitation of native animals. Travel into the refuge and follow guided forest trails while hearing the stories behind animals in its care.

The visit examines threats such as trafficking, road accidents and habitat loss. It adds a conservation perspective to the Iguazú region, showing the work involved in helping wildlife recover and, where possible, return to the surrounding rainforest.

Explore Paracas National Reserve, where desert cliffs meet the blue Pacific on Peru’s southern coast. Tour this protected landscape and take in its rocky shoreline, open skies and striking contrast between sand and sea.

The reserve protects coastal habitats within one of the world’s driest regions. Its stark scenery makes this more than a seaside stop: it reveals how the desert and ocean shape life along the Peruvian coast.

• Mexico City: You’ll now book and pay for your Free Time Add-Ons through WeTravel — a simple website link where you can browse all the FTAs, pick what you’re keen on, and pay directly by card, in any currency. You’ll get the link in your Welcome Email, usually 3–5 days before your trip starts. Once you’re in, it’s easy: check out the pics, descriptions and prices, add your chosen experiences to your cart, then check out online. You can book before your trip starts or while you’re on the road, up until each activity’s booking deadline.Missed the link? No stress. Your Trip Manager can share it with you on trip too.

Share a home-cooked dinner with a local miner’s family in Potosí and hear firsthand accounts of life connected to Cerro Rico. Regional dishes may include quinoa soup and potatoes.

Potosí’s mining history is often told through its grand buildings and former mint; this visit centres the people behind that history. Conversation over a family meal offers a more personal understanding of the challenges, resilience and everyday realities of the mining community.

Contiki

Meet your fellow travellers over dinner at a local restaurant in Lima. It is a chance to get acquainted with the group while tasting the flavours of Peru’s capital.

Lima’s food culture draws on coastal ingredients and Indigenous, Spanish, African and Asian influences. The shared meal offers a warm introduction to the city and the people you will explore South America with.

Ride a dune buggy across the sands of Huacachina, a small oasis surrounded by immense desert slopes. Crest the dunes for wide views over rippling sand, with the chance to try sandboarding down them.

Huacachina’s lagoon and palm-fringed settlement sit in a landscape that feels far removed from Peru’s coastal cities. The buggy ride brings the scale of the dunes into focus, while sandboarding offers a more hands-on way to experience them.

View the Nazca Lines from a desert observation tower and look out across ancient figures etched into the ground. The elevated perspective makes it possible to pick out forms that are difficult to recognise at ground level.

Created by the Nazca culture over many centuries, these geoglyphs have endured in the region’s exceptionally dry climate. Their precise shapes and uncertain purposes remain a compelling part of Peru’s archaeological heritage.

Discover Arequipa on a guided city tour, taking in the Plaza de Armas, pale-stone streets and views towards the volcanoes that frame the city. Get your bearings among the grand facades of Peru’s ‘White City’.

Much of Arequipa’s historic architecture uses sillar, a light-coloured volcanic stone that gives the centre its distinctive appearance. Its colonial streets and dramatic setting make the city’s history visible in both its buildings and surrounding landscape.

Explore Cusco’s historic centre on a city tour featuring the Cathedral, the San Blas neighbourhood, Coricancha and the lively San Pedro Market area. Walk streets where Inca stonework and Spanish colonial buildings stand side by side.

Once the capital of the Inca Empire, Cusco remains a centre of Andean culture. The tour helps reveal how its layered architecture, churches, artisan traditions and everyday market life tell the story of a city shaped by both continuity and change.

Meet llamas, alpacas and vicuñas during an Andean cultural visit in Peru’s Sacred Valley. Watch local artisans demonstrate traditional weaving, learn how patterns carry stories and identity, and try the customary game of Sapo.

Textile skills have been passed between generations in Andean communities for centuries. Meeting the makers offers insight into a living tradition while supporting sustainable income for local artisans, against a backdrop of terraced hillsides and valley villages.

Travel by Inca Rail from Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes, watching the Sacred Valley’s mountain scenery unfold through the train windows. The roughly two-hour journey follows a dramatic route towards the town below Machu Picchu.

Look for steep green slopes and the changing landscape around the Urubamba River. This is a purposeful scenic experience as well as the rail connection to the citadel, offering a close view of the Andean setting that surrounds it.

Explore Machu Picchu with a private guide, spending a half-day among its stone structures, agricultural terraces and mountain viewpoints. Your guide brings context to the citadel’s layout and the craftsmanship visible in its carefully fitted masonry.

Built during the Inca period high above the Urubamba Valley, Machu Picchu is one of the Andes’ most significant archaeological sites. Seeing its architecture within the surrounding peaks helps explain why this remarkable place continues to capture the imagination.

Explore Peru’s Route of the Sun between Cusco and Puno, with cultural stops at Andahuaylillas, Raqchi and the Temple of Wiracocha, and the Pucará Museum. Pause at La Raya for views across the high Andes.

Andahuaylillas is known for its richly decorated church, while Raqchi preserves an important Inca ceremonial complex. Together, these visits turn the crossing of the altiplano into a look at the region’s religious art, pre-Columbian history and mountain landscapes.

Cruise Lake Titicaca and step onto a floating island constructed from totora reeds. See reed houses up close, then explore a quieter part of Taquile Island on a short walk towards a community market.

On Taquile, encounter local dances, textiles and traditions before following a pre-Inca path towards the shore. The visit connects the lake’s striking high-altitude setting with the skills and community practices that remain central to island life.

Stay with a local family on Lake Titicaca’s Capachica Peninsula and share a lunch prepared from local produce. Experience a small celebration of traditional music and dancing, with dinner and an overnight stay in simple, comfortable accommodation.

Time with your hosts offers a personal introduction to daily life beside the lake. Food, hospitality and performance bring local traditions into focus in a setting shaped by high-altitude farming and the waters of Titicaca.

Enjoy a three-course meal at Manq’a in La Paz, where Bolivian ingredients and culinary traditions take centre stage. The restaurant’s name means ‘food’ in Aymara, reflecting its connection to local culture.

Manq’a supports culinary training and opportunities for vulnerable young people while promoting sustainably sourced, fairly priced produce. Dining here offers a taste of contemporary Bolivian cooking and a direct connection to the social purpose behind the kitchen.

Walk through Sucre’s colonial centre to get to know its whitewashed streets, pedestrian-friendly plazas and Spanish-era architecture. This hosted exploration introduces the character of Bolivia’s ‘White City’ on foot.

Sucre’s historic centre is recognised for its well-preserved colonial streetscape. The unhurried walk lets you notice tiled roofs, ornate facades and the civic spaces that give this highland city its distinctive atmosphere.

Explore Potosí’s historic centre and Casa Nacional de la Moneda. Walk through Plaza 10 de Noviembre, take in the cathedral and colonial facades, and visit the former mint to examine the city’s silver-boom history.

Cerro Rico rises above Potosí, a constant reminder of the mining that once made the city enormously wealthy. The mint’s story also confronts the human cost of extracting and processing silver, adding depth to the UNESCO-listed streets outside.

Cross Salar de Uyuni by private 4×4 with a Local Guide. Visit the Train Cemetery, see salt processing in Colchani, walk among cacti on Incahuasi Island and stop on the flat white expanse for perspective photographs.

The world’s largest salt flat creates an extraordinary horizon, especially as the light changes towards sunset. Rusting locomotives, working salt traditions and Incahuasi’s towering cacti reveal different sides of this stark Andean landscape.

Spend a night in a hotel made with salt near Bolivia’s Uyuni Salt Flat. Its unusual construction brings the material of the surrounding landscape into the accommodation itself.

Set in a remote, high-altitude region, the stay offers a distinctive pause within the salt-flat expedition. It pairs the vastness of the salar with a practical example of how people have used one of the area’s most abundant natural resources.

Explore the high-altitude landscapes of Eduardo Avaroa Reserve, taking in the Ollague Volcano viewpoint and the lagoons of Cañapa, Chiarcota and Turquiri. Watch for flamingos feeding in the water and see Laguna Colorada’s red tones and pale borax deposits.

The journey also reaches a geothermal field of hissing fumaroles and bubbling mud at nearly 5,000 metres. Volcanoes, mineral-rich lakes and wildlife make this a close look at the forces shaping the Bolivian Altiplano.

Discover the Salvador Dalí Desert and its isolated, wind-shaped rock formations in Bolivia’s southwestern highlands. Take in Laguna Verde and Laguna Blanca, whose differently coloured waters sit beneath a backdrop of volcanoes.

Minerals, light and weather give these lakes their changing appearance. The open terrain and scattered rocks create a spare, almost painterly scene, while the neighbouring lagoons show how varied the Altiplano can be within a short stretch of desert.

Get to know central Salta on an orientation around Plaza 9 de Julio. Take in the cathedral, the distinctive facade of San Francisco Church and the leafy streets lined with pastel-coloured buildings and arcaded cafés.

Salta’s historic centre reflects the colonial heritage of northwest Argentina while remaining a lively gathering place. The walk offers an introduction to its architecture and public spaces, helping you recognise the character of the city beyond its plaza.

Discover Buenos Aires with your Trip Manager on an orientation that introduces key areas, neighbourhood character and practical ways to explore the Argentine capital. Get a feel for the city’s streets and café culture.

Buenos Aires is shaped by distinct neighbourhoods and a strong tradition of public life, from busy avenues to places where residents linger over coffee. This hosted introduction helps you make sense of its scale and decide what interests you most.

Walk through Montevideo with your group for an introduction to Uruguay’s capital. Take in its streets and plazas and get a sense of the waterfront atmosphere that shapes everyday life here.

Montevideo’s pace feels distinct from larger South American capitals, with public squares, cafés and the Río de la Plata close at hand. The orientation offers useful bearings while showing how the city’s coastal setting informs its character.

Stay at an estancia near San Antonio de Areco and experience a traditional ranch setting in Argentina’s pampas. Walk the grounds, relax beneath the trees or spend time by the pool, with the historic gaucho town a short walk away.

The estancia offers a countryside perspective on a region closely associated with horses and ranching. Its location combines open-air calm with access to San Antonio de Areco’s low colonial buildings and gaucho heritage.

Walk the Argentine-side trails of Iguazú Falls, moving through subtropical rainforest to viewpoints close to the cascades. Experience the sound of rushing water and drifting mist, including views towards the immense Devil’s Throat.

The walkway network reveals the falls from different angles and offers chances to watch for rainforest wildlife and rainbows in the spray. It is an immersive way to appreciate both the scale of the waterfalls and their protected natural setting.

Visit Favela Cantagalo in Rio de Janeiro on a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® experience. Walk local alleyways, see the Portal of Saint Roman and the Houses-Screen paintings, and pause at viewpoints across the neighbourhood.

At the Museu de Favela, explore stories and memories connected to favela residents and their cultural heritage. The visit places community voices at the centre of Rio’s history, offering a fuller understanding of the city beyond its best-known landmarks.

Explore the scenery beyond Cusco by mountain bike on an optional riding experience. Leave the city streets for a more active look at the Andean landscape surrounding the former Inca capital.

Riding offers a different perspective on the region’s open terrain and mountain setting. This experience is at additional cost and bookable on tour; ask your Trip Manager about the route, difficulty and availability before joining.

Hike to Rainbow Mountain on an optional excursion from Cusco. The early start leads towards a high-Andean landscape known for bands of colour across its slopes.

Mineral-rich layers give the mountain its distinctive appearance, while the altitude makes reaching the viewpoint a physical undertaking. This hike is at additional cost and bookable on tour; check the expected walking conditions and altitude considerations before deciding if it suits you.

Prepare Peruvian classics yourself during an optional interactive dining experience in Cusco. Rather than simply ordering a meal, take part in making dishes and discover more about the ingredients and techniques behind them.

Peruvian cooking draws on diverse regional produce and long-standing food traditions. This hands-on experience offers a flavour-led way to engage with that heritage. It is at additional cost and bookable on tour.

Walk up a nearby hill on the Capachica Peninsula for a sunset view over Lake Titicaca. This optional late-afternoon hike offers a quieter perspective on the water and surrounding highland landscape.

The changing light draws out the lake’s scale and the contours of its shoreline. The walk is at additional cost and bookable on tour; ask your Trip Manager about conditions and arrangements at the homestay.

Watch the Fighting Cholitas perform in La Paz at an optional live wrestling show. See athletic moves, theatrical rivalry and a performance style with a distinctly Bolivian identity.

Cholita wrestlers have become known for competing in traditional pollera skirts, challenging assumptions about women’s roles while entertaining local crowds. The show is at additional cost and bookable on tour.

Visit the Maragua Crater area from Sucre on an optional excursion into Bolivia’s surrounding highlands. Explore the unusual folded landscape and seek out fossilised dinosaur footprints in the region.

The terrain records a geological history far older than Sucre’s colonial streets. Seeing ancient tracks within this rugged setting brings that deep past into focus. The excursion is at additional cost and bookable on tour; confirm the walking requirements before joining.

Explore a mine near Potosí on an optional tour offering a closer look at the work connected to Cerro Rico. Learn about mining conditions and the industry that has shaped the city for centuries.

The experience provides context for Potosí’s extraordinary silver wealth and its lasting human cost. Mine environments can be physically demanding, so consider the conditions carefully. This tour is at additional cost and bookable on tour.

Try sandboarding near San Pedro de Atacama on an optional desert activity. Ride down sandy slopes for an active encounter with the terrain surrounding Chile’s desert town.

The Atacama’s dry climate and open landscapes make its dunes a striking setting for the sport. This experience is at additional cost and bookable on tour; ask about the location, equipment and conditions before signing up.

Explore Vallecito at sunset on an optional excursion from San Pedro de Atacama. Watch the desert’s rock formations and open terrain shift in colour as the light softens.

Golden-hour shadows emphasise the shapes of this arid landscape, making the tour especially rewarding for scenic viewing and photography. It is at additional cost and bookable on tour.

Experience a Salta peña with an optional dinner and folk-music show. Settle in for regional food and live performance in a city known for the musical traditions of northwest Argentina.

Peñas are social spaces where musicians and audiences share folk songs and rhythms. The evening offers a more participatory feel than a conventional stage show. It is at additional cost and bookable on tour.

Join an Argentine Sherpa dinner in Buenos Aires for an optional hosted food experience. Share a meal that offers a closer introduction to local flavours and dining culture.

Food is an important part of the city’s social life, making a hosted dinner a way to connect conversation with cuisine. Specific dishes may vary. This experience is at additional cost and bookable on tour.

Visit Tigre from Buenos Aires on an optional excursion to the waterways of the Paraná Delta. Discover a riverside setting with a character distinct from the capital’s urban neighbourhoods.

The delta’s channels and waterside communities offer a glimpse of life organised around the river. The excursion is at additional cost and bookable on tour; ask your Trip Manager which activities are part of the available visit.

Enjoy dinner and a live tango show in Buenos Aires on an optional evening out. Watch dancers bring the music’s close embrace and intricate footwork to the stage.

Tango grew within the Río de la Plata region and remains closely tied to the city’s cultural identity. Pairing performance with dinner offers an accessible introduction to that tradition. The evening is at additional cost and bookable on tour.

See more of Montevideo by bike on an optional ride through Uruguay’s coastal capital. Cover more ground than you would on foot while enjoying the open-air feel of the city.

Montevideo’s streets and waterfront give the ride a relaxed urban setting. It is at additional cost and bookable on tour; check the route and riding arrangements with your Trip Manager before joining.

Ride a horse in Argentina’s pampas during an optional activity near San Antonio de Areco. Take in the ranch setting from the saddle in a region strongly associated with gaucho culture.

Horses have long played a central role in the work and traditions of the Argentine countryside. This ride is at additional cost and bookable on tour; ask about riding conditions and suitability before taking part.

See Iguazú Falls from above on an optional helicopter flight. The aerial viewpoint reveals the breadth of the waterfall system and the rainforest surrounding it.

From the air, the network of cascades becomes easier to grasp as a whole, offering a striking contrast with views from the walkways below. This flight is at additional cost and bookable on tour, subject to operating conditions.

Ride a jet boat near Iguazú Falls for an optional, close-range encounter with the river and cascades. Expect an energetic trip and plenty of spray as the boat approaches the falls.

Where the walkways emphasise viewpoints, this activity makes the force of the water the main event. It is at additional cost and bookable on tour; check the operating arrangements and any participation requirements before signing up.

Travel by speedboat to lagoons near Ilha Grande on an optional island excursion. See the forested coastline from the water and discover the sheltered blue-water settings that make this part of Brazil distinctive.

Ilha Grande’s beaches and jungle-covered slopes are best appreciated from more than one angle. The boat experience adds a coastal perspective to a stay on the island. It is at additional cost and bookable on tour.

Take the train up Corcovado to Christ the Redeemer on an optional Rio de Janeiro excursion. See the statue up close and look out across the city’s mountains, bays and urban coastline.

Completed in 1931, Christ the Redeemer has become one of Rio’s defining landmarks. Its hilltop position gives the visit both cultural significance and a sweeping geographical perspective. The experience is at additional cost and bookable on tour.

Gather for an optional farewell dinner in Rio de Janeiro with your travel companions. Share a final evening together and revisit the places, people and experiences that shaped the journey.

Rio provides a lively setting for a group celebration, with food and conversation at the centre of the occasion. This hosted dinner is at additional cost and bookable on tour.