On the way, Lima’s coastal setting quickly becomes clear: dry air, dense urban development and the Pacific below the high cliffs. Once at the hotel, there is nothing else that has to be fitted into the day. A walk along the malecón or dinner nearby makes a good start after the long-haul flight. Lima has plenty to offer, but the first evening is best kept relaxed.

The cathedral, monastic complexes and public buildings show Lima’s role as an administrative centre during the colonial period. At the same time, the guide places the city in a much longer historical perspective, since pre-Columbian cultures had already shaped the area. Later, the route continues towards Miraflores and Barranco, where parks, older villas, restaurants and ocean views reveal a completely different Lima.

A lunch of local dishes fits naturally into the day and makes food culture part of the story rather than a separate activity.

If the flight leaves later, there may be time for a walk, museum visit or lunch before the airport transfer. The transfer then leaves for the airport with plenty of time, as traffic across Lima can be slow even outside rush hour.

The flight goes to Cusco, followed by a direct transfer down to the Sacred Valley.

From Cusco, the road descends towards the Sacred Valley and lower altitude. The change in temperature and vegetation becomes noticeable gradually, and views open across terraced slopes and the Urubamba River.

Pisac’s terraces climb the mountainside above the modern town and show how agriculture, defence and road networks were connected. The market offers a different perspective on life in the valley today.

Along the way, stops are made in smaller villages and at viewpoints over cultivated landscapes. The itinerary allows time for an unhurried lunch. With accommodation in the valley, the day does not need to be compressed into a long excursion from Cusco.

Moray’s circular terraces show how Inca architecture adapted to the landscape, while the salt pans at Maras have been used for generations and are still managed by local families. The excursion can also include a visit to a smaller village, a weaving demonstration or lunch in the countryside.

The pace is unhurried. The valley deserves more than a quick overnight on the way to Machu Picchu, and the lower altitude also makes it a good introduction to the Andes.

The journey continues towards Ollantaytambo. A guided visit covers both the major archaeological site and the living village below. Afterwards, the journey continues by train or road according to the next part of the itinerary.

From Ollantaytambo, the train follows the Urubamba River towards Aguas Calientes.

The train leaves the Sacred Valley and follows the Urubamba River towards Aguas Calientes. Along the way, the valley narrows and the colour and density of the vegetation change noticeably.

Early or later in the morning, depending on the booked entrance time, the bus climbs through the cloud forest to Machu Picchu. The guided visit follows the assigned circuit and focuses on how the Inca city was built into the mountain, how terraces stabilise the slopes and how water was channelled through the site.

After Machu Picchu, the train and onward transfer return to Cusco.

A transfer takes you to the hotel. Cusco’s altitude affects people differently, including travellers who are normally very fit, so the arrival day is deliberately quiet.

Qorikancha shows this juxtaposition particularly clearly, while Plaza de Armas and the surrounding churches tell the story of the order imposed after the conquest. San Blas and the smaller streets give a more everyday view of the city.

If altitude and energy feel manageable, the day continues to Sacsayhuamán and other sites above Cusco. Visits are spread across the day with regular breaks, which suits the city’s altitude much better.

The journey then continues towards the Sacred Valley, the airport or the next destination. If the morning is free, a short walk or coffee in the centre works better than adding another major visit.

Transfer to Cusco airport for the onward journey to Buenos Aires. The flight connection is planned according to the current timetable and may involve a change.

A private transfer awaits at the airport and takes you to the hotel. After check-in, the afternoon and evening are free. Buenos Aires is vast, but several central neighbourhoods are easy to begin exploring on foot.

From there, continue towards San Telmo with its older residential buildings, antique shops and clear traces of tango’s development. La Boca tells another part of the port city’s story, shaped by immigration, working life and football. The guide places the neighbourhoods in context rather than turning the day into a sequence of brief photo stops.

Recoleta and Palermo can be explored with a guide or independently, depending on your interests. Recoleta Cemetery offers a concentrated view of Argentina’s political and social history, while Palermo is well suited to a long lunch and a walk through the parks.

In the evening, choose between a tango show and a milonga. The first is a stage performance; the second is a living social tradition, and they offer very different perspectives on tango.

Nothing is scheduled for this day. A museum, a walk through Palermo and the parks around Bosques de Palermo, lunch in a neighbourhood not yet visited or an excursion to Tigre and the Paraná Delta are some of the possibilities.

For many travellers, this is also the day when Buenos Aires begins to feel less like a collection of sights and more like a city with its own everyday rhythm. The day is shaped by your interests and can just as easily consist of a long lunch and several hours on your own.

A later flight leaves time for one final walk or lunch in the city. The transfer departs with plenty of time because traffic to the airports varies considerably throughout the day.

The transfer goes to the airport for the flight to Iguazú Falls. After landing, a transfer continues to the accommodation.

Puerto Iguazú lies in a humid landscape of red earth and deep green vegetation, far from Buenos Aires. After the transfer to the hotel, the afternoon is free.

The upper circuits follow the edge of the falls and show the river system from above, while lower sections move closer to the gorge and smaller cascades. If Garganta del Diablo is accessible, the day either begins or ends there depending on park operations.

Water levels and maintenance can change the route at short notice. Even when one section is closed, several trails and viewpoints remain, providing different perspectives on the falls.

From Iguazú, transfer to the airport or continue across the border according to the itinerary. A later flight leaves time for a relaxed morning, but the longer waterfall excursions are not scheduled for departure day.

The transfer goes to the airport for the flight to Rio de Janeiro. After landing, a transfer continues to the accommodation.

A private transfer takes you to the hotel in Copacabana, Ipanema or Leme. As the mountains and sea begin to appear between the buildings, Rio’s geography quickly becomes tangible.

From the cable car above Urca, Guanabara Bay, the coastline and central districts open into view. At Corcovado, the city lies farther below and the way lagoons, beaches and mountains divide the urban landscape becomes clear. Visits are planned according to visibility and traffic, as the weather can change quickly around the peaks. With a guide, the day also becomes an introduction to the neighbourhoods passed between the viewpoints.

Copacabana and Ipanema are natural starting points, but Urca, Santa Teresa or the port area are close enough for a spontaneous excursion. Early morning works well for swimming or a walk, while the beachfront often becomes livelier later in the afternoon. This is a day to experience Rio as a living city rather than simply a list of sights to complete.

Continuing around Lagoa shows another side of everyday Rio, with cycle paths, parks and views towards Corcovado. Afterwards, there is plenty of time for the beach, a museum or a long lunch. In the evening, choose between restaurants near the hotel and live music in one of the city’s livelier districts.

If departure is later in the day, there is time for one final walk along the beach. Nothing further is scheduled before the transfer, leaving plenty of time for traffic and the next connection.

On the final day, transfer from Rio de Janeiro to the airport for the journey home. Departure time and connections are confirmed in the final flight booking.

Arrival in Scandinavia after the overnight flight.