GRAND SOUTH AMERICA CROSSING

Founded in 1535 by the Spanish conqueror, Francisco Pizarro, Lima was the capital and most important city of the Spanish Viceroyalty, known as the City of the Kings. Flying into Lima, you’ll have one night in the city’s most fashionable district, staying in the luxurious Belmond Miraflores Park. With a superb rooftop infinity pool, a wonderful spa and an innovative Peruvian restaurant, you might find it difficult to leave the stylish bolthole, but with splendid colonial architecture, grand churches and fascinating museums right on your doorstep, you are in the best location to step out into Lima’s colourful streets and explore its beautiful historic centre, deservingly declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

With star attractions of traditional markets, brightly dressed locals and the tiered Incan citadels of Pisac and Ollantaytambo, the Sacred Valley has become a destination in its own right. Another Belmond property, you’ll stay in the Hotel Rio Sagrado for two nights, which it positioned alongside the forging Urubamba River. Hike along the riverbanks with a romantic picnic, grab a paddle and glide over the waters on a raft, learn how to make the perfect ceviche or go horse riding, one of the best ways to explore the region. At the end of the day, find some well-earned relaxation in the Spa Mayu Wilka, housed in a wooden and stone complex, with an Altitude Acclimatizer massage – a soothing neck and scalp treatment combined with a foot reflexology session, specifically designed to help you adjust to the area’s high altitude.

All aboard the Belmond express- from the Sacred Valley, you’ll take the scenic Hiram Bingham to Machu Picchu, watching the Andean landscape change from the comfort of the train’s bar carriage, dining room or observation car with its panoramic open deck. When you arrive, you’ll be catapulted to the Belmond Sanctuary Lodge, the only hotel located adjacent to the famous ancient citadel. With one of the best views in the world, take full advantage of your night here by going on a private tour of the ruins, dining on dishes prepared using ingredients grown on the lodge’s own plot and unwinding on the terrace or in the magnificent gardens with divine views towards the peak of Huayna Picchu.

A former convent tucked between the Plaza de Armas and the San Blas neighbourhoods in Cusco, the Belmond Palacio Nazarenas exudes old-world charm and contemporary simplicity, from its ancient foundations and cloistered courtyard to its cutting-edge local cuisine and fabulous outdoor pool and spa. The ideal retreat for popping out to explore Cusco’s main square and quaint cafes, split your time between walking along the extraordinary streets, the site of the Inca Empire’s historic capital, before diving into the heated swimming pool, sunning yourself on the flower-strewn terraces and learning how to mix a tradition Pisco Sour from your personal butler.

Watching the waters throw themselves over the cliffs between Brazil and Argentina is a fantastic show, especially when at its peak. With the spray and roar reaching its pitch, you’ll have no doubt that Iguazu Falls is one of the largest waterfalls in the world. From Cusco, you’ll be transferred to the Brazilian side of the falls, where you’ll stay in the Belmond Das Cataratas, a stone’s throw from the thundering cascades, of which there are over 200. With a panoply of activities available, take a helicopter trip over the gorge, go on a jungle trek to spot colourful toucans and giant butterflies or take a boat to the bottom of the falls, to be drenched by the world’s largest open-air shower.

Watched over by the 38-metre tall statue, Christ the Redeemer, and sandwiched between Corcovado and Sugarloaf Mountains and the famous beaches, Copacabana and Ipanema, Rio de Janeiro is without a doubt one of the coolest cities in the world. With samba beats and gorgeous people flowing through the streets, immerse yourself immediately in this hypnotic city by strolling along the white beaches at the weekends, people watching from the bohemian bars in Santa Teresa and by staying up all night in Lapa, famous for its historical monuments and epic nightlife. Staying in the iconic Belmond Copacabana Palace for three nights, you’ll have everything at your fingertips, from one of Rio’s largest swimming pools to a rooftop tennis court.

Closed to motor vehicles, Paraty is wonderfully free of traffic, making the centuries-old, irregular cobblestone streets a delightful place to spend your days, wandering past elegant white buildings with lattice windows, trekking through nearby forests and sprawling along the island-studded bay. For the last three nights of your holiday, you’ll be taken to Pousada Literaria, where you can unwind after all the adventure of Peru’s cultural and Brazil’s pulsing cities – resting your feet by the pool, in the massage room or in the bar with a South American wine in hand. At the end of your holiday, you’ll be transferred to the airport for your return flight home.