OzBus Tours - Full Circle (Quito to Quito)

29 Weeks - £4,790 plus a local payment $3,140
October 26, 2012-May 16, 2013

THE longest travel epic in the OzBus Tours selection, this is a truly extraordinary, ground-breaking adventure around the complete circuit of South America. Starting and finishing in Quito, the route will carry us through Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Chile, Argentina, Brazil - joining the world's most famous party at the Rio Carnival - Venezuela and Colombia.

Crammed with highlights and memorable moments all along the route all over this intriguing, vibrant continent, why not grab the ticket to adventure and hop on board...

› Detailed Full Circle Itinerary - Downloadable PDF

› Video Map - South America Full Circle

Days 1-18 - Ecuador/Peru

• Quito Cross the Equator as we leave the capital
• Otavalo Market town famous for its arts and crafts
• Tena Jungle town with white water rafting on Upper Napo
  River
• Rio Napo Gateway to the
  Amazon jungle - Motorised
  canoe to jungle camp
• Banos Relax in thermal baths,
  hike mountain trails by foot or horseback and the opportunity
  to go canyoning
• Cuenca UNESCO World Heritage site
• Puenta Sal/Pacific Ocean Into Peru, camp on deserted sandy beaches
• Chan Chan/Temple of Sun and Moon Built by pre-Inca Chimu Kings, the wprld's largest mud brick city
• Lima Peruvian capital - Plazas, museums and great local seafood
  (Ceviche)

Days 19-33 - Peru

• Ballestas Islands Boat trip to exotic, rare marine wildlife
• Ica Desert/Oasis of Huacachina Sample Pisco (national drink) at local winery; Dune buggies and sandboarding on giant desert dunes
• Nazca Lines Huge figures and shapes carved into stony desert - best viewed from the air
• Chachilla Cemetery Ancient eerie tombs
• Andes Drive past llama, alpaca and vicuna as we ascend the mountain range
• Arequipa Colonial city with authentic Peruvian nightlife
• Colca Canyon View majestic condors circling above the canyon
• Traverse mountainous passes of nearly 5,000m
• Cuzco Base for next week
• Sacred Valley of the Incas
• Inca Trail Four-day trek to Machu Picchu on Lares, Classic or Salkantay trail
• Machu Picchu Entrance and guide included as we reach the famous UNESCO World Heritage site

Days 34-45 - Peru/Bolivia/Argentina

• Puno/Lake Titicaca World's highest navigable lake (3,800m)
• Floating Reed Islands Spend a night with the Uros Indians as we explore Titicaca by boat
• La Paz Into Bolivia and the highest capital city in the world
• Altiplano Drive across wild and barren landscape
• Potosi Opportunity to enter centuries-old working silver and tin mine
• Uyuni Salt Lake One-day excursions onto vast salt flats
• Tupiza Follow in the steps of Butch Cassidy & The Sundance Kid
• Humahuaca Canyon/Purmamarca Into Argentina
• Salta More than 400 years old, great for live music mountain biking, trekking, horse riding and rafting

Days 46-61 - Argentina/Chile

• Cafayate/Mendoza Visit Andes wineries by bike
• Santiago Explore Chile's modern capital - Great food and nightlife
• Pucon Chile's Lake District - Rafting, skiing, horse riding, hiking
• Villarrica Volcano Option to climb active volcano as we return to the Andes
• Bariloche Popular Argentinean holiday destination and ski resort

Days 62-76 - Argentina

• Camino Austral Incredible drive past spiralling volcanoes, glaciers and fjords
• Los Glaciares National Park Take a guided hike on the world's largest glacier
• Moreno Glacier Take a boat up close - Almost 200ft high!
• Torres del Paine National Park Hugh granite cliffs dominate the beautiful landscape
• Tierra del Fuego Spectacular scenery and boat trips on southern tip of continent
• Ushuaia Most southerly city on earth
• Patagonia Vast, sparsely populated plateau
• Atlantic Marine Sanctuaries Spot penguins, sea lions, sea elephants, birds and whales
• Puerto Madryn Welsh settlement is gateway to Valdes Peninsula - Penguins, sea lions and whales can be seen

Days 77-105 - Argentina/Brazil

• Buenos Aires Smart, cosmopolitan capital city with the best steaks in the world
• San Ignacio 400-year-old Jesuit Missions
• Uruguay Optional ferry across the River Plate to Montevideo and Colonia
• Iguazu Falls Visit falls from Argentine and Brazilia sides - optional boat trips, helicopter flights and mountain biking
• Bonito Swim in crystal clear river and lakes, hike into lush forests to look for monkeys, alligators and anaconda
• Pantanal Trek into vast wetlands, home to hundreds of birds and fish - including Piranha!
• Parati Coastal village - Explore secluded islands on traditional schooner
• Rio de Janeiro Arrive on the eve of Carnival

Days 106-111 - Rio Carnival

• Six free days (seven nights) to enjoy the party atmosphere and visit the city's many attractions. We block book hotel for Rio Carnival.This part of your trip is not included in the trip price or Local Payment so as to allow for travellers with different budgets.

Days 112-123 - Brazil

• Teresopolis Cool mountain retreat
• Parque Nacional Da Serra Dos Argaos Trails to waterfalls and stunning views
• Congonhas Sculptures outside the Basilica do Bom Jesus de Matosinhos
• Ouro Preto Beautiful colonial town with Minas de Passagem (Gold mine), opened in 1719
• Brazilian Coast Explore Brazil's best and least-known beaches
• Itaunas/Parque Estadual de Itaunas Sleepy fishing village - Sea turtles may still be hatching
• Caravelas Mangrove-lined Rio Caravelas - Optional day trip to reefs in Parque Nacional Marinho de Abrolhos

Days 124-140 - Brazil

• Parque Nacional Monte Pascoal Spot endangered spider monkey, sloths, porcupines, capybara, deer, elusive jaguar and numerous bird species
• Portu Seguro Colourful old buildings and sweeping views - Nightlife and beach action
• Baia de Todos os Santos Ferry across Brazil's largest bay
• Salvador Take in the music, cuisine and religion as you wander Cidade Alta (Upper City) and Baixa (Lower City)
• Praca da Se Watch locals practice Capoeira - dance fighting
• Lencois Old diamond mining towns
• Navidade Explore town and relax in small waterfalls/natural pools
• Taquarucu Cozy eco tourism mecca - guided trips to waterfalls, caves and pools
• Estadual do Jalapao/Ilha do Bananal Spot dolphins, caiman, giant river turtles and bird life - maybe even a glimpse of a tapir or jaguar

Days 141-153 - Brazil

• Amazon Camp in the wilds or small villages
• Belem Full of arty shops and eateries
• Amazon River 4-5 day boat trip to Manaus - relax in hammocks, get to know the locals and watch the rainforest and river drift by
• Meeting of the Waters Rio Negro and Amazon
• Manaus Restaurants, shops and sights - Teatro Amazonas (Opera House)
• Jungle trip Optional  excursion where we may see dolphins, macaws, sloth, caiman or the harder to spot manatee, anaconda or jaguar.

Days 154-170 - Brazil/Venezuela

• Waimiri Indian Reserve
• Boa Vista Spend a day in the vast grounds of Parque Anaua or hike on the Serra Grande
• Santa Elena Cross border into Venezuela
• Mt Roraima Optional 5-day climb - Shorter hikes, white water rafting or paragliding also options
• La Gran Sabana Endless sky over wide open grassland
• Ciudad Bolivar Wander historic centre and waterfront of Rio Orinoco
• Parque Nacional Canaima/Angel Falls Trips available to suit all budgets
• Orinoco River Cross river and continue north to Caribbean Coast
• Parque Nacional Henri Pittier Hang hammocks from palm trees and hike trails in search of Criollo (chocolate)

Days 171-187 - Venezuela/Colombia

• Merida Venezuela's mountainous 'adventure capital with the chance to hike mountain trails, plus paragliding, canopy tours, zip-lining, canyoning and white water rafting - great nightlife
• Los Llanos Optional trips into savanna wetlands to see caiman, capybara (the world's largest rodent), anaconda, anteaters, tapirs and jaguars
• San Cristobal Known as the Friendly City
• Colombia Optional paragliding in Bucaramanga
• Tayrona National Park Walks trails to beaches, snorkel or scuba dive
• Cartegena Wander cobbled alleys of the old city - a UNESCO World Heritage sit - and the trendy area of Bocagrande

Days 188-195 - Colombia

• Medellin Great nightlife and salsa or tango lessons - optional trip to sleepy colonial town of Santa Fe de Antioquia
• Manizales Mountainous regime with a cool climate - visit one of the many coffee plantations
• Parque Los Nevados Great place for trekking (optional) and hang out in some funky bars
• Bogota Trek up the Cerro de Monserrate, wander the historic centre of La Candelaria and take in a few cafes and picturesque buildings

Days 196-203 - Colombia/Ecuador

• Tatacoa Desert Arid area of striking, eroded cliffs - Excellent area for camping and star gazing
• Parque Purace The only place to see condors in Colombia - Climb Volcan Purace or hike to a sulphur mine and Termales de San Juan, a spectacular hot spring
• Ipiales Visit Santuario De Las Lajas, a neo-Gothic church buil on a stone bridge spanning a gorge
• Ecuador Overnight stop in Otavalo - great place to stock up on Andean handicrafts
• Quito The return to the capital marks the end of an epic adventure

› Full OzBus Tours Quito to Quito itinerary
Quito to Quito Full Circle - Optional Excursions
Quito to Quito Full Circle - Pre-Trip Information