Backpacking South America

Today is all about island beaches. We'll make our way to Lopes Mendes — regularly rated one of the most beautiful beaches on the planet — with a stop at Praia do Pouso along the way. Swim, sunbathe, get a volleyball game going, or just do gloriously nothing.

Back to the mainland and on to Paraty, a gorgeous colonial town of whitewashed houses and cobblestone lanes. The afternoon is yours to explore before a stroll through the old town and a tasting of cachaça — Brazil's fiery sugarcane spirit and the soul of a good caipirinha.

Hop aboard for a day of island-hopping around Paraty's bay. We'll cruise between hidden coves and beaches — think Praia Vermelha, Praia da Lula and the impossibly blue water of Lagoa Azul — with plenty of stops to snorkel, swim and soak up the sun. A local dinner rounds off the day.

Today's a travel day as we make our way by bus to São Paulo, Brazil's buzzing mega-city. It's also our last night with the first half of the group, so we'll head out for a farewell dinner and a few well-earned cocktails.

A day to get under the skin of São Paulo — sprawling, cultured and packed with some of the best food in the country. It's also where new faces join the trip for the second leg, so say your hellos before we set our sights on the mighty Iguaçu Falls.

We catch a short flight to Foz do Iguaçu and head straight for the Brazilian side of Iguaçu Falls — hundreds of waterfalls thundering through the jungle. Walkways take you right up to the spray, so prepare to have your jaw on the floor and your clothes completely soaked. Later we cross the border into Argentina.

Today we take on the Argentine side of the falls, riding the little train out to the Devil's Throat — a jaw-dropping horseshoe where the river simply vanishes over the edge — and walking the Superior Circuit for views from above. Afterwards we visit the Jasy Porá indigenous community and walk forest trails where native trees are being replanted.

A slower day on the road as we travel south by overnight bus, trading the subtropics for the wide-open gaucho country near the Uruguayan border. Get comfy, put a playlist on and watch Argentina roll by.

We cross into rural Uruguay for a taste of estancia life on a working ranch. Saddle up for a horse ride across the fields, roll up your sleeves for an empanada-making class (and, yes, a go at milking the cows), then sit down to proper, hearty countryside cooking for lunch and dinner.

Today we reach Colonia del Sacramento, a UNESCO-listed old town on the banks of the Río de la Plata. Spend the day getting happily lost among its cobbled streets, leafy plazas and Portuguese-Spanish architecture — camera very much required.

We hop a ferry across the Río de la Plata and into Buenos Aires, the elegant, high-energy capital of Argentina. After settling in, a walking tour introduces us to the city, and tonight we sit down together for dinner in the home of steak, wine and tango.

A deeper dive into Buenos Aires today, from grand boulevards to the rainbow-coloured streets of La Boca, with plenty of history and culture along the way. The afternoon is free to shop, relax or hunt down the perfect steak, before we raise a glass together at our final group dinner.

And just like that, 17 days are up. After breakfast it's time for goodbyes and onward adventures — but with Rio, Iguaçu and Buenos Aires in the bag, you'll be leaving with a phone full of photos and a crew of new friends. ¡Hasta luego!