Latin America Peru, Ecuador, Galapagos, Colombia , Brazil, Uruguay, Bolivia, Argentina, Chile, Mexico, Guatemala, Belize, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama, Cuba, Antarctica & The Arctic Travel with the Latin America and Polar Specialists 1 Latin AmericaWelcome to They say travel is the secret to true happiness. It’s joy, it’s excitement, it’s love, it’s surprise, it’s everything. Now imagine a destination that can give you all of this and more. Welcome to Latin America. Colourful cities, ancient cultures, prolific wildlife. Delicious cuisine and heart-warmingly welcoming locals. Lands blessed with the most scenic of landscapes, decorated with the brightest of colours and permeated by the scents of Latin American aromas and spices. Latin America is a land that simply has it all. Just imagine cruising down the spectacular glaciers of Patagonia, dancing the tango in a traditional Argentinian ‘milonga’, marvelling at the splendour of Machu Picchu and the Iguazu Falls, exploring the European heritage of Santiago de Chile, getting up close to Costa Rica’s exotic wildlife species, or hitting Mexico’s picture-perfect beaches and this is just a snapshot of all there is to see, do and feel in Latin America. And we’re here to make sure you get to experience this perfect destination in the most perfect way. We understand, travel is a big decision. With so much choice and so many travel options available, we know how overwhelming it can be to plan your holiday and make it as ideal as you want it to be. That’s where Chimu Adventures comes in. Our Destination Specialists live and breathe Latin America every day and have travelled extensively to all our destinations. What’s more, they know what travellers really want. They will help you create your very own customised holiday perfectly tailored to your needs, desires, styles and budget. From Mexico to Antarctica and everywhere in between, staying at eco lodges or five-star hotels, explore the continent in depth or visit multiple destinations for two weeks or on a six-month adventure. Do it your way, it’s that simple. We’re here to do all the hard work for you (after all it’s your holiday, right?) and make sure you’re looked after not only throughout the entire booking process but also on the ground and even after your trip. Don’t know where to start? The following pages showcase some of our favourite itineraries, explain our ways and styles of travel and the unique experiences you get along the way. Pick and choose what you like, swap and change destinations and add your own personal touches. Then give us a ring or contact us via our website to make your dream holiday a reality. Consider this brochure your bible for all things Latin America and consider us your go-to experts. *AUD prices are correct at time of print, 01 November 2018, but are subject to change. Please contact your booking agent for the current price of all itineraries listed in this brochure. V02.201810 All prices advertised are based on twin-share unless specified and subject to availability. To obtain full terms and conditions please contact your booking agent. 2 CONTENTS ABOUT CHIMU ADVENTURES ARGENTINA 61 Welcome to Latin America 2 Highlights of Argentina 62 Why Travel with Chimu Adventures 4 Argentina in Depth 63 Travelling the Chimu Way 6 Buenos Aires to the End of the World 64 Latin America Travel Options 8 Argentina Add-ons 65 Make a Difference Project 10 Discover Buenos Aires & Unique Experiences 66 Frequently Asked Questions 12 BRAZIL 67 Latin America, Antarctica & Arctic Maps 57 Highlights of Brazil 68 What to see & do in South America 13 Wild Brazil 69 MULTI COUNTRY ITINERARIES Brazil Add-ons 70 South America Circle 14 Discover Rio de Janeiro & Unique Experiences 71 Big Five Explorer 15 Experience Carnival 72 South America Express 16 COLOMBIA 73 Buenos Aires to Rio de Janeiro 17 Colombia in Depth 74 Gringo Trail 18 Classic Colombia 75 The Highlands of South America 19 Lost City Trek 76 South America Discovery 20 CENTRAL AMERICA 77 Highlights of Bolivia & Peru 21 Central America Adventure 78 Machu Picchu & The Galapagos Islands 22 Best of Central America & Cuba 79 Ancient Cultures of Peru & Mexico 23 MEXICO 80 PERU 24 Highlights of Mexico 81 Highlights of Peru 25 Mexico in Depth 82 Peru in Depth 26 Copper Canyon 83 Cusco & Machu Picchu Discovery 27 Discover Mexico City & Unique Experiences 84 Discover Lima & Unique Experiences 28 GUATEMALA 85 Discover Cusco & Unique Experiences 29 Highlights of Guatemala 86 Peru Treks: Inca, Lares & Salkantay Treks 30 COSTA RICA 87 Luxury Trekking Experience 32 Highlights of Costa Rica 88 THE AMAZON 33 BELIZE 89 Amazon Cruises 34 Belize Experience 90 Amazon Lodges 35 NICARAGUA 91 BOLIVIA 36 Highlights of Nicaragua 92 Highlights of Bolivia 37 PANAMA 93 Bolivia Add-ons 38 The Best of Panama 94 ECUADOR 39 CUBA 95 Highlights of Ecuador 40 Staying in Cuba 96 Ecuador Add-Ons 41 Highlights of Cuba 97 Ecuadorian Amazon Cruises & Lodges 42 Cuba in Depth 98 THE GALAPAGOS ISLANDS 43 Beautiful Cuba 99 Galapagos Islands Map 44 Sailing and Cycling around Cuba 100 Galapagos Lodges 45 Cuba by Motorcycle 101 Galapagos Cruises 46 Essential Cuba 102 CHILE 48 Discover Havana & Unique Experiences 103 Highlights of Chile 49 ESCORTED SMALL GROUP TOURS 104 Spirit of Chile 50 ANTARCTICA 107 Discover Santiago & Unique Experiences 51 Classic Antarctica 108 Chile Add-Ons 52 South Georgia, Falkland Islands & Antarctica 109 Atacama Desert Lodges 53 Polar Ships 110 PATAGONIA 54 Fly Cruise 112 Patagonia Lodges 56 THE ARCTIC 113 Patagonia Cruises 59 Popular Arctic Itineraries 114 OTHER BROCHURES 115 3 WHY TRAVEL WITH CHIMU ADVENTURES? We all love a good story. And every good story has a hero, And although we’ve grown quite a bit since our humble right? Well in our case, it has two… beginnings, our mission hasn’t changed: bringing travellers the best in flexible travel to Latin America, at the very best It all started in the early 2000s when good friends Chad value. Carey and Greg Carter shared a passion for everything Latin If we could offer one piece of advice to anyone, anywhere, American and a frustration over the inflexibility and lack of anytime, it would be ‘Live For Today’, life is more interesting if value in the travel models available to visitors to Latin America you do. at the time. Over a few beers at a boat race, whilst in London, they decided it was time to do something about it. WHAT CLIENTS OF CHIMU HAVE SAID “Peru is wonderful and was our favourite place on the tour. “We wanted to bring a product to the travel industry that didn’t Every place we went to Chimu Adventures staff were very pigeonhole the traveller into a set itinerary. Instead offer them knowledgable, always on time and waiting to greet us at options based on real first-hand knowledge, combined with every destination. Would recommend this company for a very the flexibility to suit their needs, without costing a fortune. organised adventure .” - Jan Having spent so much time in Latin America we knew this was possible, we just didn’t understand why this option wasn’t “The Chimu staff were extremely organised with all transfers, readily available to travellers.” hotels and daily activities running smoothly. We did a three week tour of South America, with 8 internal flights. The And so, back home in Australia in 2004, with a third-hand highlights were mostly in Peru including the Amazon and laptop, a big idea and a business plan riddled with the word Machu Picchu. The Iguazu Falls were also very beautiful.” “cumbersome”, Chimu Adventures was born. - Laura What ensued was a lot of blood, sweat and tears, working day All Chimu Adventures’ clients are given the opportunity to jobs whilst, by night, setting up an operation whereby Chimu review their trip once they return home. These reviews are Adventures would have full control over quality and value. It administered by a third party and as such are unfiltered by paid off. Today, Chimu employs over 70 staff in Australia, New Chimu Adventures. Zealand, the UK, Canada, Germany and on the ground in Latin America. 4 CHAD CAREY, CO-FOUNDER GREG CARTER, CO-FOUNDER Working as an engineer in my twenties, I spent most of my Adventure Travel has been part of my DNA. I grew up running disposable income on travel. Eventually it dawned on me around suburban bushland in Sydney's south and I believe that working in travel would be a much better fit for both my it gave me a taste for adventure. When I was 21, I packed my passion and wallet and after brainstorming a few crazy ideas bags to work a ski season in the United States where I met with Greg, we came up with the concept of what is now Chimu Chad. Both of us travelled the world extensively after meeting Adventures. It may not seem that unusual now, but at the and ended up like all Aussies do, in London. In 2003 we decided time the idea of fast bespoke itineraries from three to five star to form our own travel company. It took 3-4 years before Chad wasn’t really in the market. Neither was the idea of providing and I actually paid ourselves. We gave more to charity in those a wide range of Antarctica Itineraries to give customers as first few years than we put in our pockets. As the years went much choice as possible (almost all other companies only on we recruited some of the best brains in the business and sold a handful of options).