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The Land of the Inca, Argentina and Iguazú Falls

The Land of the Inca, Argentina and Iguazú Falls

3 - 24 March 2019

Join John and Alex in South America, a land that will captivate us with its contrasts. From the beauty of the mighty Iguazú Falls to the history of the Inca to the vivacious energy of Buenos Aires, our tour will leave us enthralled and seduced by South America’s vibrancy and charm.

$17,985 NZD
per person
twin share
Single Room Supplement
- ADD $4,110 NZD
Initial Deposit On Booking
$2,000 NZD
Second Deposit Due 19 September 2018
$3,000 NZD
Final Balance Due 3 December 2018

The Land of the Inca, Argentina and Iguazú Falls

  • Experience the Exceptional

    Music and culture in this diverse land, including opera at the Teatro Colón Opera House, dance shows complete with the tango and cultural shows as well as a great mix of cities, natural scenery and small charming villages.

    Visit the majestic Iguazú Falls and Buenos Aires, the birthplace of the tango, famous for its architecture, excitement and seductive charm.

    Cusco, Peru, cradle of the magnificent Inca Empire - we discover the history, Machu Picchu’s secrets and the ancient ruins of the Inca Dynasty including famous train journey into the mountains.

    Amazing scenery and natural beauty with majestic mountains, natural rain forests, lush vegetation, parrots, toucans and the phenomenal Iguazú Falls.

    Escorted with love, care and a deep knowledge of this wonderful land by John Cameron and Alex Milligan.

  • The Brick Hotel Buenos Aires - MGallery by Sofitel

    Buenos Aires is undoubtedly the South American city that most closely resembles the cosmopolitan and aristocratic atmosphere of the big European capitals. But Buenos Aires is more than that, combining the multi-coloured houses of La Boca with the popular tango that thrives on the streets of San Telmo.

    HIGHLIGHTS include:

    •  City tour, including Plaza de Mayo, the Pink House (the presidential palace) the neoclassical cathedral plus San Telmo, one of the oldest districts in  Buenos Aires.

    •  Visit La Boca with its district full of art and colour and Puerto Madera, the port district.

    •  La Recoleta with its Parisienne aristocratic feel, including the impressive Plaza San Martin and the sumptuous Belle Époque Palace.

    •  Visit the celebrated Recoleta Cemetery, the resting place of Eva Peron.

    •  Welcome dinner including a tango show.

    •  Colonia day trip - by ferry - with its walled fortress and the Rio de la Plata. This city is a world UNESCO cultural heritage site.

    •  Backstage tour of the Teatro Colón Opera House, with its grand staircase, stained glass and sculptures.

    •  Opera or concert performance (dependent on availability).

    •  Wine bar with tapas and music, experiencing both the ambience and great Argentinian wine.

    •  Full day tour to Pampa, a colonial town founded 300 years ago on the banks of the peaceful Areco River. This town is famous for its silversmiths and jewellers, over 300 of them, plus see wonderful countryside and the old estancias. Hacienda lunch with equestrian show displaying famous Argentina’s horsemanship.

  • Loi Iguazú Suites, Iguazú Falls

    Iguazú Falls or Iguaçu Fall are waterfalls of the Iguazú River located on the border of the Brazilian state of Paraná and the Argentinian province of Misiones. The falls divide the river into the upper and lower Iguazu and are the biggest waterfalls in the world.

    HIGHLIGHTS include:

    •  Afternoon tour of the Brazilian part of the  Iguazú Falls.

    •  Visit to a famous bird park, refuge and sanctuary and see many bird species, including macaws, golden parakeets, harpy eagles and toucans.

    •  Tour to the Argentinian side of the falls and an adventurous boat ride up the river. 

    •  Triple Frontier day tour, where three countries meet: Paraguay, Brazil and Argentina.

    •  Free time to enjoy our lovely hotel.

    •  ‘Argentinian Experience’ dinner with local musicians and dancers and learn what being Argentinian is all about.

    Fly back to Buenos Aires for one-night stay

  • The Brick Hotel Buenos Aires - MGallery by Sofitel

    Flight to Cusco

  • J.W Marriott El Convento Hotel

    Cusco, a city in the Peruvian Andes, was once the capital of the Inca Empire and is now known for its archaeological remains and Spanish Colonial architecture.

    HIGHLIGHTS include:

    • Walking tour of ancient Cusco, including Santa Catalina Museum and La Compania de Jesus Church.

    • Afternoon at leisure.

    • Drive to Sacred Valley, via Pisac ruins and market.

  • Belmond Hotel Rio Sacrado

    The Sacred Valley is a region in Peru’s Andean Highlands. Along with the nearby town of Cusco and the ancient city of Machu Picchu, it formed the heart of the Inca Empire. Stretching roughly 60 kilometres, it’s an area of fertile farmland and Spanish Colonial villages like Pisac and Ollantaytambo.

    HIGHLIGHTS include:

    • Visit Awana Kancha, ancient Inca ruins, including a gourmet lunch in a stunning natural location overlooking the valley.

    • Dinner at Hacienda Huayoccari, with local musicians and a demonstration of their traditional instruments.

    • Full day tour to Maras and Moray, including lunch at a charming country house. These two places contain Inca ruins, which are off the beaten track a little away from the tourists.

  • El MaPi Hotel by Inkaterra

    The breathtaking Inca city of Machu Picchu was built atop the Andes Mountains in Peru. Historians believe Machu Picchu was built at the height of the Inca Empire, which dominated Western South America in the 15th  and 16th centuries.

    HIGHLIGHTS include:

    • Tour of the famous Inca ruins.

    • Guided bird walk and watching in Machu Picchu where 1804 species of birds can be found. In fact more bird species are found here than in all of North America and Europe combined.

    • Scenic famous train journey climbing into the mountains towards Machu Picchu.

  • J. W Marriott El Convento Hotel

    HIGHLIGHTS include:

    •  Afternoon tour of Cusco, including Temple of the Sun and Inca Fortress.

  • Casa Republica Hotel Barranco

    Lima, the capital of Peru, lies on the country’s arid Pacific Coast. Though its colonial centre is preserved, it’s a bustling metropolis and one of South America’s largest cities. It’s home to the Museo Larco collection of pre-Columbian art and the Museo de la Nación, tracing the history of Peru’s ancient world.

    HIGHLIGHT include:

    • Lima city tour including Museo Larco.

    • Visit to Museo Oro del Peru, the gold museum. This is a must-see as it holds rooms with amazing gold pieces from several pre-Inca and Inca cultures.

    • We fly home via Buenos Aires, then direct to Auckland, with a brimful of memories and best of all, the capacity to tango!

This trip includes

  • Return airfares Auckland - Buenos Aires on Air New Zealand including all taxes.

  • Regional airfares - Buenos Aires - Iguazú return // Buenos Aires - Lima - Cusco // Cusco - Lima // Lima - Buenos Aires including all taxes.

  • Accommodation as follows in 4 and 5 star hotels: Buenos Aires (6 nights total), Iguazú Falls (3 nights), Cusco (3 nights), Sacred Valley (2 nights), Machu Picchu (2 nights) and Lima (3 nights).

  • Amazing musical events include: opera performance and backstage tour to the incredible Teatro Colón Opera House, tango show and dinner, Argentinian dinner experience, dinner and entertainment in Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu, Hacienda Huayoccari with local musicians and a demonstration of their traditional instruments. 

  • Amazing cultural tours and entrances include: Santa Catalina Museum, Temple of the Sun, Inca Fortress, Awana Kancha, ancient Inca ruins at Machu Picchu, gold museum, Peru, Museum Larco, Plaza de Mayo and the Pink House.

  • City tours include: Buenos Aires, Lima and Cusco.

  • Day tours to incredible towns and sights include Colonia, Pampa, Iguazú Falls, Triple Frontier as well as Maras and Mornay. 

  • Natural tours include bird walk, bird park, Iguazú Falls and boat ride, rain forests and train to Machu Picchu plus tours in Machu Picchu. 

  • All tours, tips and transfers as included in itinerary. 

  • All breakfasts, 8 lunches and 9 dinners included.

  • Escorted by John Cameron and Alex Milligan.

  • EXPLORING TOUR

    This is still a moderately paced tour, but you will be required to walk longer distances, walk on cobblestones and stand in museums. To really get the best out of this tour you need to be able to stand or walk for a couple of hours comfortably, be it at a leisurely pace. 

  • IMPORTANT INFORMATION

    • All trips are subject to change but any changes will be of equal or greater value.

    • Deposits refundable until final payment date minus any costs incurred, or an administration fee of up to $150.

    • Travellers need to be independently mobile and fit to travel.

    • Travellers are required to obtain comprehensive travel insurance for all international trips.

    Please refer to terms & conditions on our booking form.

PLACES WE STAY

The Brick Hotel Buenos Aires - MGallery by Sofitel offers a luxurious, authentic and exclusive experience in the heart of the Recoleta neighbourhood. The hotel offers easy access to the city’s main tourist attractions. 

Loi Suites Iguazú Hotel, Iguazú Falls is an exclusive five-star hotel, immersed in the Iryapú Jungle. Built with maximum respect for nature, preserving native vegetation, Loi Suites Hotel is surrounded by magnificent trees and impressive wild life.

J.W Marriott El Convento, Cusco, is an elegant hotel in a restored 16th-century stone convent on the site of ancient Inca ruins. It is a 5-minute walk from the colonial arcades of Plaza de Armas or Cusco Cathedral.

Belmond Hotel, Rio Sagrado is a hotel in the Sacred Valley of the Incas, 46 kilometres from Cusco, Peru. It is built on the banks of the Urubamba River by Urubamba, near the town of Ollantaytambo, which is known for its Inca archaeological site.

El MaPi by Inkaterra Hotel, Machu Picchu is conveniently located in the village of Machu Picchu (formerly Aguas Calientes) some steps from the town centre and the museum. The Machu Picchu Historical Reserve is just a few minutes away located in a cloud forest.

Casa Republica Hotel Barranco, Lima is a boutique hotel modeled in the style of the glory days of Peru’s Republican Era. Its unique 1920’s mansion has been impeccably maintained and offers a beautiful stay close to shops, but in a quiet location.

Travel Insurance

Every customer is required to take out insurance for all international travel when taking a trip with Operatunity Ltd. 

DOMESTIC INSURANCE
Insurance for Domestic travel is currently available from many companies. Insurance for New Zealand trips is entirely at your discretion. Please email our office for our current recommendation if you wish our advice.


INTERNATIONAL INSURANCE
Insurance for International travel is currently available from many companies. For our trips overseas it is a requirement that proof of cover be sent to our office some time before departure from NZ. We can not accept travellers who hold no cover for international travel as per our term and conditions.
Please email our office for our current recommendation if you wish our advice. Email travelbookings@operatunity.co.nz Phone 0508 886 489

 

MOBILITY

Operatunity provides group senior travel and with this in mind we plan trips to suit our target market. But not every trip is created equal in terms of mobility. We want to give you the best possible experience but that will only be achieved if you are able to enjoy everything that our trips have to offer.
Most of our long haul trips require a better level of mobility. We will look after everyone as well as we possibly can, but we cannot look after one at the expense of the rest of the group. We also cannot have one person slowing the rest of group to the point where the group is not able to enjoy every experience we are able to provide.
With this in mind we have put a mobility clause into every trip. Under each explanation here I have popped a statement. Ask yourself if this is ‘you’, when booking on a trip.

None of the following mobility clauses preclude you from ordering a wheelchair at the airport if required.

1. GENTLE TOUR This tour will suit most people, even with a stick or a walker, but sorry not someone in a wheelchair. The activity level is gently paced, but you still need to be able to get on and off buses easily. There will be walking, but not a lot. “I love travelling, but at a gentle pace. I like to avoid stairs or too much activity, but I am able to get on and off buses easily.” 

2. EASY TOUR This tour will suit people with a stick, but not a walker. You will be required to walk to get from place to place and stand in museums, but it is designed to be an easy tour with lots of times to rest, travel on a coach and walk easy leisurely distances.  ”Walking is fine. I can get on and off a coach. I am happy to stand for an hour or two in museums and galleries and gently stroll through places of interest. I am happy to climb the odd set of stairs.” 

3. MODERATE WALKING TOUR This tour requires a better level of fitness with no wheelchairs or walkers. Generally, there may be times when we can’t get the coach close. In some of our Pacific Island tours we will need you to transfer onto a tender and walk on soft sand. We also will have much longer flights and long walks through airports. “I like walking at a moderate pace. I love to keep my days full and experience everything the tour has to  offer. Stairs, tender transfers and cobblestones don’t bother me.” 

4.  EXPLORING TOUR This is still a moderately paced tour, but you will be required to walk longer distances, walk on cobblestones and stand in museums. To really get the best out of this tour you need to be able to stand or walk for a couple  of hours comfortably, be it at a leisurely pace.  “I like to spend most of the day exploring. Whether walking historic neighbourhoods on cobblestones at a moderate pace or out and about on a coach, I want my days full. Stairs don’t bother me and I am keen to see and do as much as I can with the odd day off to recuperate.” 

  • Operatunity is a company specialising in music lovers tours to the senior market. Each trip has been especially planned to include music and arts experiences and has a level of friendliness and care which cannot be found anywhere else! Our trips are packed with features not found anywhere else

  • Yes we have lots of people who travel on their own. We endeavour to match you up with someone who lives close to you or is close in age to you. Often you will get a chance to meet with your matchup or ring them before you leave on your trip. You also may prefer to travel solo and pay the single supplement price. We travel as a happy band so there will be lots of chances to meet people. You will find fellow music lovers and those with other similar interests. In fact those like the nicer things of life so you will travel with like-minded people. It is also important to remember that our singers are our escorts so you will see at least a couple of familiar faces as you leave.

  • If you live outside of Auckland, we can arrange travel and accommodation on your way to meet up with our group. We have access and can book domestic airfares in conjunction with Air New Zealand international airfares. Plus we can book your pre and post tour accommodation if required.

  • It is compulsory for our international trips and highly recommended for our domestic tours. 

  • No as most airlines offer various special meals and any restaurants we visit are happy to accommodate special dietary requirements.

  • We seek to accommodate the needs of guests with disabilities whenever possible. However in most cases we are unable to take customers with walkers, wheelchairs or other mobility issues. Certain trips may be unsuitable due to walking or limited availability of accommodation with disabled facilities. We cannot be responsible for the care of customers suffering from significant cognitive illness (such as dementia). We ask such customers to consult with your doctor to obtain medical clearance. Guests needing assistance mustbe accompanied by an able companion who will be available to assist them and assume full responsibility for their wellbeing.

  • We ask that you can walk at least 100 metres unaided and be able to get on and off buses with little or no assistance. We cater for a senior market but it is important that you do not jeopardise the enjoyment of others by requiring more care and holding up the rest of the group. Talk to our office or staff at concerts and any advisory notes for individual trips to get a better idea of your suitability for each trip.

  • We stay at 4 and 5 star character hotels, avoiding package, tourist or big hotel chains. We choose  hotels with a more personal feel often with historic content or hotels of beauty and character, centrally located or in parks, by the water, or with beautiful gardens.

  • Breakfast is included daily, and many dinners and lunches are also included as per our itinerary.

  • There are no hidden costs. Included in the trip are tips, taxes, porterage, breakfast, meals where specified, inclusions listed in the itinerary, entry fees where listed in the itinerary, concert/show tickets where listed in the itinerary, tour escorts and local specialised guides. 

  • Some of our trips sell out very quickly and we recommend you make your booking as soon as you can to avoid disappointment. 

  • We will ask you to pay an initial deposit when making your booking. We will then follow up for a second deposit and then a final balance payment prior to travel.

  • All deposits up until final payment are refundable minus an administration fee of up to $500 plus any non-recoverable costs the company may incur.

    After final deposit refunds are unlikely and the refund becomes an insurance claim.

  • Our numbers vary from destination to destination, please contact our office for further information.  We have a minimum number required to operate a tour. Should minimum numbers not be met, a full refund will be made. 

  • For international trips, all guests must have a valid passport that does not expire earlier than at least 6 months beyond their intended stay. 

  • Music is a key element in making our experiences special. There are special experiences and events every day, such as themed dinners, impromptu concerts, music, art tours with art experts and garden tours with garden experts.

  • Most hotels now have internet connection and all hotels have telephones in the room or at reception. If using your mobile telephone check calling and text rates, and disable data roaming before leaving New Zealand. Consider purchasing a prepaid SIM card. And you can keep in touch using social media such as Facebook. We have a copy of your next of kin details in case of emergency and we are also happy to help out with texts, phone calls and emails if you can’t get in touch with your family and need to while away. We are also happy to help out with getting your phones, ipads and cameras to work if needed while away.

  • We spend less time travelling between regions, allowing more time to enjoy experiences when you arrive. We avoid one night stops and “conveyor belt” travel, so you really can capture the local colour and vitality of the region. Our trips are planned so that there is a balance of included activities and free time for you to relax or do some exploring on your own.

  • Contact Operatunity Travel 

    Phone toll free: 0508 886 489
    Mail your booking form to PO BOX 132 150, Sylvia Park, Auckland 1644
    Email: travel@operatunity.co.nz

  • Phone toll free: 0508 886 489
    Email: travelbookings@operatunity.co.nz

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