December trip to Brazil and Peru
 

Hi there-

I am looking to go on a trip to S America in December. Have locked international tickets from SF to Rio on 21st Dec and return from Lima on 6th Jan. Here is the current plan -

21st Dec - 1 day trip via Houston to Rio De Janeiro
22nd Dec - 4 nts with Corcovado, Sugar Loaf Heights, Tijuca Forest etc. Considering a day trip to Buzios. Any options to do on Christmas given no shops/sights will be open?
26th Dec - 2 nts in Iguassu Falls with stay on Brazilian side. Will not have visa to visit Argentinean side (I do need one, since I dont have an American passport).
28th Dec - Flight to Lima with overnight there
29th Dec - Flight to Cusco, tour of Sacred Valley and stay in Urubamba.
30th Dec - 2 day hiking trip to Machu Pichu from km 104, 1 nt in Aguas Calientes and second night in Cusco. This option leaves me in Cusco for New Year, not ideal ! Rio seems incredibly expensive at this time.. will any of the other stops work okay for New Years?
1st Jan - bus or day train to Puno, overnight in Lake Titicaca
2nd Jan - Lake Titicaca
3rd Jan - Flight to Arequipa, get to Colca Canyon (overnight in Colca)
4th Jan - Tour of Colca, back to Arequipa
5th Jan - Flight to Lima and tour of Lima, evening in Mira Flores.
6th Jan (1 am) - Flight back to SF via HOU.

Am hoping to get some advice on a few things -

1. Does the itinerary look do-able or too compressed?
2. Would have liked to do a rain forest tour. I could potentially drop the latter half of Peru and include either a 2-3 day Manaus or Pantanal or Tambopata tour. I had originally considered Iberostar Grand Amazon and dropped it coz the weather in late Dec could be iffy. Is it possible to do any of the rain forest in Dec or am I out of luck? I am looking for a moderate jungle tour (and hopefully not see any snakes!!), does anything in the vicinity work?
3. Considering I am visiting in Summer, should I reconsider Colca Canyon?
4. I have been working with Brazilnuts, Brazil Nature Tour and Class Adventure travel (Cat) for Brazil and Pachamama Explorers for Peru. Considering Kuoda based on reviews.. any feedback on any of these?
5. Any feedback on stay options in Arequipa and Lake Titicaca (have rest of them figured out.. more or less). Looking for stay options around ~$150 per night. Here is what I am considering for the rest -

Rio - something in Ipanema. Was hoping to use Starwood pts and stay in Sheraton Rio, but review does not look very favorable.
Iguassu Falls - Das Cataratas, looks expensive, but am hoping its worth it
Lima - Starwood pts to stay overnight in Sheraton Lima; not great reviews but using it just to stay for the night.
Sacred Valley Urubamba - Libertador Palacio Del Inka Hotel Cusco (starwood)
Machu Pichu - Hatuchay Tower
Cusco - Casa Andina Private Collection

www.travel.state.gov Brazil Peru

Looks like a lot of cramming to me for a couple of weeks

Most would pick one or the other in that time to relax...

Brazil probably for me...

might pare back for better experience

But if you must

www.kuodatours.com

www.latinamericaforless.com

2 good multicountry providers based on budget...

www.spg.com points work well for me

Sheraton Falls view room best at Iguazu SO worth it

www.inkaterra.com or Sumaq best at AC/MP

Your other hotels are fine

Happy Journey,

forgot www.insuremytrip.com a must for me cheap wise

Lots of varibles on a rushed journey like this

cover is a must

Amex Global Travel Shield my fav from $17/wk or so

Far too busy, miss one connection and you are f#@ed. horses for courses but personally I'd say it's of the 'if it's Tuesday we must be in Belgium' class of itineraries. Less is more.

Too crammed.

After looking at the itinerary, I realized the Peru part is definitely too much driving. So wondering if I change it to -

21st Dec - Flight to Rio De Janeiro
22nd Dec - 4 nts in Rio.
26th Dec - 2 nts in Iguassu Falls.
28th Dec - Flight back to Rio - day trip to Buzios
29th Dec - Flight to Lima. Drive to Huacachina with dune buggy riding. Overnight in Paracas.
30th Dec - Ballestas boat ride. Back to Lima. 5 pm flight to Juliaca
31st Dec - Uros and island tour.
1st Jan - Bus to Cusco
2nd Jan - Sacred Valley tour
3rd/4th Jan - Machu Pichu short trek
5th Jan - Flight to Lima, city tour.
6th Jan - Flight back to the US.

Thoughts?