South America for Seniors – Grand Odyssey Tour (21 Days)

21 Day Grand Odyssey Through Peru, Argentina, & Brazil

 

 

The Grand Odyssey tour of South America is for seniors like you who may not be as active as you used to be but still have a fire in you for travel, adventure, and discovery. From cities to jungles, the tour effortlessly navigates eight extraordinary destinations across three countries including Peru, Argentina, and Brazil. Moreover, all three of South America’s Seven Wonders of the World are included on the way. As a senior traveler, comfort is key and luxury is well-deserved, so the Grand Odyssey tour of South America puts them at the forefront of every plan with five-star hotels, private transfers, and personal guided tours to suit your interests and pace. Between the exciting destinations and finely tuned details of this itinerary, the Grand Odyssey tour is guaranteed to be that once-in-a-lifetime trip you’re looking for. 

Grand Odyssey Tour Highlights:

•  Stay in Miraflores Park Hotel in Lima

• Spend four nights in the Peruvian Amazon

• Find respite in the Sacred Valley

• Take the Vistadome train to Machu Picchu

• Stay in a historic monastery in Cusco

• Watch a tango show in Buenos Aires

• Fly over the Iguazu Falls in a helicopter

• Stand at the feet of Christ the Redeemer in Rio

 

Grand Odyssey Tour Itinerary (21 Days)

Day 1: Arrive in Lima

Your 21-day grand odyssey tour of South America will begin as it means to go on with a swift private transfer from the airport to the best hotel in Lima’s most vibrant neighborhood, Miraflores Park, A Belmond Hotel. After your journey, this renowned 5-star hotel, restaurant, and spa will ensure that you are well-rested and full of oomph as you begin exploring this incredible continent. Upon arrival, we suggest a casual swim in the rooftop infinity pool to get your first glimpse of the city skyline before treating yourself to a massage in the spa, dinner at Tagaluz, and cocktails at Belo Bar.

Day 2: Tour of Lima

With a full day to become acquainted with Lima, you’ll be picked up by your private guide who will chauffeur you to all of the city’s must-see spots including Lima Cathedral and the historic center, Huaca Pucllana, and the Museum of Art. This style of city tour is perfect for senior travelers, allowing you to take the day at your own pace. Your guide will impress you with their deeply passionate knowledge about Lima’s sights and eagerness to answer your questions. Best of all, the tour can be completely catered to your requests, ensuring you see everything you hoped to.

Day 3: Fly from Lima to Puerto Maldonado

Saying goodbye to Lima, you’ll catch the easy 1.5-hour flight to Puerto Maldonado in the Peruvian Amazon where you’ll spend the next few days discovering the delights of the jungle. Once arrived, settle into your very own luxurious indoor-outdoor lodge at Refugio Amazonas in the Tambopata Research Center, located within 200 hectares of conserved Brazil nut forest. As a leading ecotourism and research center, it provides the opportunity for you to explore the Amazon through a scientific lens starting with the 8 Primates activity where you get to spend one hour logging the monkeys’ activities with an experienced researcher.

Day 4: Spot wildlife in the Amazon Jungle

Waking up to the most soulful birdsong you’ve ever heard, you’ll be ready for another exciting day of Amazonian adventure, this time to one of the jungle’s most unique habitats, the Oxbow Lakes. The half-day excursion begins with a short hike through the forest to reach the lake and then you’ll board a boat with your guide who will navigate you around the lake in search of its unusual wildlife including giant otter, squirrel monkeys, caiman, macaws, and the dinosaur-like hoatzin birds. Satisfied with today’s rare sightings, head back to the lodge for a calm afternoon beneath the canopies before joining the jungle night walk in search of its most elusive animals such as the poison dart frog, tarantulas, and night monkeys.

Day 5: Visit Amazon Jungle farmers

Having spent the last two days getting to know the local wildlife, you will spend this morning getting to know the local people instead on a three-hour jungle farm visit. This is your chance to gain a rare and curious insight into the local way of life in the Amazon. You’ll have everything from belly laughs to deep conversations as the farmers teach you about their age-old traditions and cultivation practices. Complete the day with another activity of your choice before cruising down the Tambopata River at sunset and listening to the sounds of the jungle as you fall asleep. 

Day 6: Fly from Puerto Maldonado to the Sacred Valley

Stay in bed a little longer today and soak up the wild and wonderful rainforest scenery for one last time before flying to Cusco for the next leg of your Grand Odyssey of South America. However, we will be saving the ancient Inca city for another time because Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu await. After a short and beautiful drive from Cusco, you’ll arrive at the renowned Explora Lodge, one of the Sacred Valley’s most enviable spa resorts. Take time to settle in and relax by reading a good book in the lodge’s outdoor oasis before tucking into an Andes-inspired dinner created by Virgilio Martínez, owner of The World’s Best Restaurant 2023.

Day 7: Visit the Ollantaytambo and Pisac Ruins

As one of the Inca’s most important cultural hubs, the Sacred Valley is home to several must-see archeological sights including Ollantaytambo and Pisac. Although lesser-known than the mighty Machu Picchu, their historical, agricultural, and architectural value is just as significant, making them a great place to begin your exploration of this mysterious culture. After brain-nourishing private tours of both ruins, you’ll now get a taste of modern agricultural practices in the Sacred Valley with a delicious family-style lunch at Hacienda Sarampampa, a working farm specializing in the production of white corn, a Peruvian speciality.

Day 8: Partake in the Manuel Choqque Experience

Take the morning to enjoy the sweet offerings of the Sacred Valley at your own pace whether that means admiring the local market’s handicrafts or soaking up every second of relaxation at Explora’s tranquil hacienda with some yoga, spa treatments, and nourishing food. But save some stomach space for the Manuel Choqque Experience. Considered among the top foodie experiences in Peru, it involves a visit to the farm of renowned potato and tuber cultivator Manuel Choqque who supplies the world’s best restaurants. After tasting some of his 370 varieties of potato, you’ll be invited to sample his sophisticated Andean tuber wines and potato vodkas. 

Day 9: Take the Vistadome Train to Machu Picchu

Today begins your journey to South America’s most revered historical site, the ancient Inca citadel known as Machu Picchu. From the Sacred Valley, you’ll board the Vistadome train where you can spend the next couple of hours bedazzled by the window views as you’re whisked through the Andean cloud forest. Before you know it, you’ll be greeted by your private Machu Picchu guide, specially chosen for their thorough knowledge of the citadel and their exceptional hospitality. With them by your side throughout your Machu Picchu visit, you’ll get an unparalleled insight into the Inca’s history, culture, and tradition. Feeling elated by your visit to this Wonder of the World, you’ll descend Machu Picchu to the small but buzzing mountain town of Aguas Calientes where you’ll spend a silent and well-rested night. 

(This visit to Machu Picchu has been made accessible to all ability levels. From start to finish, each stage of the journey includes transport, meaning there is minimal walking required.)

Day 10: Check into the Monastario Hotel in Cusco

This morning you’ll board the return Vistadome train to Ollantaytambo before being transferred to Cusco where you will get to spend the next two nights. Upon arrival, settle into your suite at the Monastario, a centuries-old monastery-turned-luxury-hotel with the finest of fine dining options. With no planned activities for today, take the opportunity to rest, relax, and explore at your own pace. In the evening, saunter down from your suite in suave attire and join El Tupay’s operatic dinner party. Held under the candlelit arches of the monastery, the moving sounds of live opera resonate across the room, raising the hairs on your arms as you indulge in the delicious international fare. 

Day 11: Private Tour of Cusco

With a private guide and private transport to hand, you will have the entire day to explore Cusco at your leisure. Begin with the exceptional Spanish Colonial architecture of Plaza Mayor including the Cusco Cathedral and Church of the Society of Jesus. Then wander through the historic cobbled Cusco streets which are famously lined with original Inca stone walls as your guide shares stories of this ancient capital city at the height of the Inca Empire. Continue to the Inka Museum which will add valuable context to Cusco’s ancient history through its mesmerizing collection of Inca and pre-Inca objects. Finish your tour at the San Pedro market where your guide will introduce you to local delicacies, flavors, and give you time to shop for traditional Andean crafts. 

Day 12: See the Gala Tango Show in Buenos Aires

New day, new country! Today you’ll fly to Argentina’s enigmatic capital of Buenos Aires via Lima. After a day of traveling, settle into your suite at the iconic Alvear Palace Hotel where you’ll be staying for the next four nights. Feeling refreshed, it’s time to get dressed up for the best tango show in town, Gala Tango. Between the exquisite wine, dinner, and atmosphere of the Gala Tango Show, not to mention the entertainment, there is nowhere better to witness the brilliance and beauty of this passionate dance style which originated in the city’s streets decades ago. 

Day 13: Tour Northern Buenos Aires

As Buenos Aires is such a big and bountiful city, you’ll have two full days to explore and become well-acquainted with it. Today, a private guide will show you all that northern Buenos Aires has to offer beginning with the upmarket neighborhood of Recoletta where the manicured streets are lined with high-end shops and restaurants amongst the Parisian mansions of the city’s elite. Afterward, head to the National Museum of Fine Art to see Latin America’s biggest and best art collection. Spend the rest of the afternoon spotting the impressive street art that adorns every spare wall in the Palermo neighborhood, home to the city’s coolest and most creative residents before heading back to Recoletta for dinner at a top BA restaurant. 

Day 14: Tour Southern Buenos Aires

After another sensational night spent at the Alvear Palace, you’ll be ready to explore southern BA, starting with a drive down Avenida de Mayo passing the National Congress and Palacio Barolo to reach the presidential palace, Casa Rosada. The charming streets of the bohemian San Telmo neighborhood are up next where you’ll find the city’s favorite flea market and steakhouses for a spot of shopping followed by a long, juicy lunch. The rest of the afternoon will be well-spent in La Boca, a historically poor port neighborhood where brightly painted buildings and tango street dancers now counter its somber beginnings. 

Day 15: Visit El Ombú de Areco Ranch

Wake up bright and early for today you are swapping the fast-paced city for a taste of life in the Argentinian countryside at Estancia El Ombu located one hour outside BA. You’ll be warmly welcomed to this historic family farm with Argentinian empanadas and wine — something to give you a boost of energy for the relaxed two-hour horseback or carriage ride through the scenic ranch. Meanwhile, your hosts will prepare a traditional Creole feast for your return to the house. After lunch, your hosts will share some of Argentina’s most adored cultural traditions including guitar playing, folk dancing, and Indian dressage. Make the most of your last few hours in the serene countryside with a swim in the pool, sunbathe, or bike ride before returning for your final night in BA.

Day 16: Fly to Iguazu Falls and check into the Gran Melia Hotel

No doubt you’ll wake up with a smile today knowing you’re about to see your second Wonder of the World on your Grand Odyssey of South America, the mighty Iguazu Falls. From BA, you’ll fly directly to Puerto Iguazú where a private transfer will take you to the luxurious Gran Melia Hotel, the only hotel located inside the Iguazu National Park. Get your first glimpse of the waterfalls from the hotel’s tranquil infinity pool upon arrival. Tonight you’ll enjoy a traditional Argentinian asado (barbeque) complemented by a live tango music and dance show. 

Day 17: Take a helicopter over the falls

Today you’ll see the Iguazu Falls, one of the Seven Wonders of the Natural World in its full glory with tours that take you above and below the waterfalls. Firstly, you’ll board a boat and sail down the Lower Iguazu River, passing the thundering cascades closely along the way to see, hear, and feel their extraordinary power. Next, you’ll be led to the best viewpoints to get that moneyshot of the Iguazu Falls to proudly display in your home for years to come. Finally, a helicopter will whisk you up, up, and away to get a rare birds-eye view of the waterfalls and gain a whole new level of appreciation for its magnitude. 

Day 18: Fly to Rio de Janeiro

Spend some quality time pampering yourself at the Gran Melia’s Yasi Spa this morning before checking out. Since the Iguazu Falls is located on the Argentina-Brazil border, you will then cross over into Brazil on foot and see the falls from a new perspective. This afternoon, you will fly to Rio de Janeiro, the final leg of this whirlwind trip. To make every last second of it count, you’ll check into the Copacabana Palace, the city’s most iconic hotel. 

Day 19: Tour Corcovado and Sugarloaf Mountain

Prepare to be amazed today by your third and final Wonder of the World in South America, Rio de Janeiro’s Christ the Redeemer, a 38-meter-tall statue of Christ that overlooks the city from the peak of Mount Corcovado. To reach it, you’ll take the historic tram that inclines by an unnerving 30% to lead you 710 meters above sea level to the feet of Christ the Redeemer where you’ll be floored by the city views. Afterward, hop on the cablecars to Sugarloaf Mountain to see the city from a new perspective. Complete your day with dinner at your choice of top Rio restaurants.

Day 20: Take a Yacht Tour of Guanabara Bay

Your second morning in Rio will be free to spend as you please, whether that’s relaxing on Copacabana Beach, shopping in upscale Ipanema, or drinking coffee in Santa Teresa. In the afternoon, you’ll get to explore Rio’s beautiful coastline on a yacht tour of Guanabara Bay. As you soak up the world’s best coastal city views from the ocean, take a moment to think about how many different views you’ve had the pleasure of seeing during your grand Odyssey of South America. Commemorate your final evening of the trip with a special dinner at Cpacabana Palace’s Michelin restaurant, Cipriani.

Day 21: Enjoy a morning Tour of Old Rio

Making the most of every moment left of your last day, enjoy an easy-going morning tour of Rio’s historic centre. On this tour, you’ll get to dmire the elaborate buildings of Plaza XV, the Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church, the grand buildings of Rua Primeiro de Marco, and Plaza Cinelandia which is home to the Municipal Theater, the National Library and the National Museum of Fine Arts. Spend the rest of your day at your favorite spot in Rio before your transfer back to the airport for your journey home. 

Secure your Grand Odyssey Tour of South America for Seniors

If you’re ready for the trip of your lifetime, contact us today to book our Grand Odyssey Tour of South America for seniors. As bespoke South America luxury travel experts, we guarantee the best hotels, tours, and transport at the best prices, all of which can be adapted and changed to suit your travel needs and preferences. Talk to our travel experts to see how we can make this itinerary bespoke to you. For more information and booking inquiries, message us here or call on +1 855 217 9045 to enquire further.