Cusco to Rio (Bus Tours)

Cusco to Rio (Contiki)
Duration
34 Days
Countries
6
Next Departure
17-Jan-2027
Starting at
USD 4,995
USD 4,545
Price per day
USD 134
Tour Type
Group Tours Group Tours

Overview

Travel Style
Bus Tours
Participants
Tours for Young Adults
Age Group
18 - 35 Years
Activities
tour category: Fishingtour category: Boattour category: Some bicycling is possibletour category: Walkingtour category: Traintour category: Safari

Summary

Start in the clouds, finish on the coast? Yup. On this trip, you'll cruise Lake Titicaca, get seriously wowed by the Uyuni Salt Flats, desert-hop into Chile, then roll through Argentina and Uruguay before hitting Iguazu Falls and finishing strong in Rio. This is the full overland epic — 34 days of local hostels, public transport, overnight buses from the Andes to the Atlantic.

Map: Cusco to Rio (Contiki)

Short Itinerary / Route

Day 1
Cusco
Day 2
Cusco To Puno
Day 3
Puno To Lake Titicaca
Day 4
Lake Titicaca To Puno
Day 5
Puno To La Paz
Day 6
La Paz
Day 7
La Paz To Overnight Bus
Day 8
Overnight Bus To Sucre
Day 9
Sucre
Day 10
Sucre To Potosi
Day 11
Potosi
Day 12
Potosi To Uyuni
Day 13
Uyuni To Uyuni Salt Flat
Day 14
Uyuni Salt Flat To Reserva Nacional De Fauna ...
Day 15
Reserva Nacional De Fauna Andina Eduardo Avar...
...
..................
Day 19
Salta To Buenos Aires
Day 20
Buenos Aires
Day 21
Buenos Aires
Day 22
Buenos Aires To Montevideo
Day 23
Montevideo
Day 24
Montevideo To Colonia
Day 25
Colonia To San Antonio De Areco Via Buenos Ai...
Day 26
San Antonio De Areco To Puerto Iguazu
Day 27
Puerto Iguazu To Foz Do Iguaçu
Day 28
Foz Do Iguaçu
Day 29
Foz Do Iguaçu To Ilha Grande Via Rio De Janie...
Day 30
Ilha Grande
Day 31
Ilha Grande
Day 32
Ilha Grande To Rio De Janiero Via Porto Real
Day 33
Rio De Janiero
Day 34
Rio De Janiero

Countries (6): Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Peru, Uruguay

Travel Cities (18): Avaroa National Reserve, Buenos Aires, Cusco, Iguazu Falls, Jaen, La Paz, La Plata, Montevideo, Potosi, Puerto Iguazu, Puno, Rio de Janeiro, Salar de Uyuni, Salta, Salvador de Bahia, San Antonio, San Pedro De Atacama, Sucre

Highlights

Dining Summary

  • 4 Lunch (L)
  • 21 Breakfast (B)
  • 6 Dinner (D)

FAQs

  • Mexico City: You’ll now book and pay for your Free Time Add-Ons through WeTravel — a simple website link where you can browse all the FTAs, pick what you’re keen on, and pay directly by card, in any currency. You’ll get the link in your Welcome Email, usually 3–5 days before your trip starts. Once you’re in, it’s easy: check out the pics, descriptions and prices, add your chosen experiences to your cart, then check out online. You can book before your trip starts or while you’re on the road, up until each activity’s booking deadline.Missed the link? No stress. Your Trip Manager can share it with you on trip too.

Included Experience

  • Cusco: Travel from Cusco to Puno on a full-day journey that turns the transfer into part of the adventure. Along the way, you'll stop at Andahuaylillas, Raqchi, La Raya and Pucará, (plus enjoy buffet lunch with Andes views). It's a comfy ride with reclining seats, air conditioning and onboard restrooms.
  • La Paz: Tuck into a 3-course set menu at Manq’a (“food” in Aymara), a seriously cool restaurant with a big heart. Your meal supports culinary training and better opportunities for vulnerable youth, while championing sustainable, fairly priced local produce and proud cultural food traditions.
  • La Paz: See the city through the eyes of masked shoe shiners (these are the people who keep La Paz moving). Expect a walking tour that goes beyond the usual sights, with real stories about daily life, stigma, and informal work, all while supporting community projects that back shoe shiners and their families.
  • La Paz: Leave La Paz after dark and roll into Sucre on a 13-hour overnight journey. Oh yeah, and there are comfy reclining seats on this ride!
  • Sucre: Get your bearings in Bolivia’s “White City”. Wandering the colonial centre with its elegant plazas, architecture, and easy-going vibe. Then you can grab a proper local bite at Salteñería El Patio — Sucre’s go-to for juicy salteñas in a classic courtyard setting.
  • Potosi: Walk the UNESCO-listed historic centre where grand churches and cobbled streets meet the shadow of Cerro Rico. Expect a loop through Plaza 10 de Noviembre, plus time to dive into the Casa Nacional de la Moneda — the former mint turned museum that tells the story behind Potosí’s wealth (and its cost).
  • Potosi: Head to a local ex-miner’s home for a home-cooked meal and a no-filter chat about life in the mines. You'll enjoy local dishes like quinoa soup and potatoes, plus get a deeper look at the challenges (and resilience) behind this tough line of work.
  • Uyuni: Roll through Uyuni’s high-altitude outpost vibes — dusty streets, a lively plaza, and market stalls with llama wool and quinoa on repeat. It’s the rugged launchpad for what you came for… and your Trip Manager will help you get orientated before the big landscapes take over.
  • Uyuni Salt Flat: Near the Uyuni Salt Flats, this special stay is made out of salt. Yep, actual salt. It’s an accommodation with a seriously unique twist, serving up a stay in one of South America’s most surreal landscapes. Geological icon meets human ingenuity. Not a bad combo for a night on the trip!
  • Salta: Wander around Plaza 9 de Julio and the city’s leafy, pastel-lined streets, taking in the cathedral and the glow of San Francisco Church. As evening hits, you’ll have the chance to soak in the local peña scene (think folk music energy and regional flavours).
  • Buenos Aires: Head out with your Trip Manager to get the lay of the land — key spots, neighbourhood vibes, and the best ways to spend your free time. 
  • Montevideo: Get your bearings in Uruguay’s laid-back capital with a stroll through Montevideo’s streets, plazas, and waterfront vibes. Expect local colour, easy wandering, and plenty of spots to pause for a cafe stop or a snack as you explore at your own pace.
  • Colonia Del Sacramento: Wander Colonia del Sacramento’s cobbled lanes and colonial streets at the perfect pace. Explore the Barrio Histórico, snap the lighthouse views, cafe-hop between bougainvillea-draped houses, then finish along the rambla as the Río de la Plata lights up at sunset.
  • San Antonio de Areco: Just 500 metres from the historic centre of San Antonio de Areco, this special stay gives you the best of both worlds: a real Argentine ranch setting with the town just a short walk away. Think classic estancia energy and a countryside backdrop without straying too far from the action.
  • Iguazú Falls: Take a walk through the lush rainforest trails, finishing up at the very edge of the Devil’s Throat. You’ll have time to wander the different walkways, basking in the views and watching out for rainbows and wildlife too. And if you’re feeling adventurous, how about the optional Gran Aventura speedboat ride?
  • Puerto Iguazu: Visit a jungle rescue and rehab centre dedicated to helping native animals recover and return to the rainforest when possible. Riding in by trailer and walking guided forest trails, you’ll hear each animal’s rescue story and learn about the real threats they face (trafficking, habitat loss, and road accidents).
  • Rio de Janeiro: Ever heard of Favelas? They're growing neighbourhoods in Brazil. And on this tour, we'll visit Favela Cantagalo near Rio. We'll check out the Portal of Saint Roman, walk through alleyways, see the 10 paintings of the Houses-Screen, and even stop by a few viewpoints along the way. You'll even visit the Museu de Favela-MUF, a historical museum about memories and cultural heritage of favelas in the world. It's a collection about 20,000 residents and their ways of life, and how their stories are an unknown but important part of Rio de Janeiro's history. Trust us, you don't wanna miss this one.

Travel Package

 

Coming from

 

Going to

Tour...

Cusco

Arrow Going To

Iguazu Falls

Group Tours

This is an Organised Group Tour: the itinerary has been predefined by the tour operator. The tour destinations, duration, accommodations, departure dates and the price are fix. You can join, enjoy and meet other people.

Memberships and Financial Protection

Membership: IATA Membership: The Travel Corporation Membership: ABTA Membership: TreadRight Membership: WYSE Travel


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