Friday 5 and Saturday 6 October: Rio de Janeiro

Participant Registration and Vehicle Inspection.

DAY 1: Sunday 7 October: Rio de Janeiro - Ouro Prêto (481km)

Start from a famous Rio landmark; ‘steep scenic road’ to ‘lovely mountain retreat’ of Petrópolis. ‘Spectacular’ drive through Parque Naçional Serra dos Orgãos to Teresópolis, then minor roads through hills of Minas Gerais province to ‘the jewel in (its) crown’, the well preserved 18th century Ouro Prêto, once a wealthy mining city.

DAY 2: Monday 8 October: Ouro Prêto - Campos de Jordão (435km)

Through ‘hilly farming country with frequent wide views’ and attractive old mining towns like Tiradentes and São João del Rei, to the pretty, Alpine-looking mountain resort of Campos de Jordão.

DAY 3: Tuesday 9 October: Campos de Jordão - Londrina (740km)

An easy day mostly on main roads, skirting São Paulo and taking us westwards to the modern city of Londrina, named after London.

DAY 4: Wednesday 10 October: Londrina - Foz do Iguaçu (489km)

A shorter run to get to one of the world’s greatest waterfalls by lunchtime, in plenty of time to marvel. We may cross the International Bridge into Argentina this day.

DAY 5: Thursday 11 October: Puerto Iguazu (Argentina) - Corrientes (673km)

A longer day on asphalt roads through Argentina’s low-lying Misiones province, including a stop to see the ‘impressive Jesuit ruins’ at San Ignacio Miní. Overnight at the twin towns of Corrientes and Resistencia.

DAY 6: Friday 12 October: Resistencia - Salta (799km)

A long drive across the great Chaco, low lying cattle country covered by scrub, which in summer records South America’s highest temperatures. The road is good asphalt for several hundred km, deteriorating towards the Andes foothills, where we detour on to a scenic section en route to overnight in Salta, an old city ‘in a mountainous and strikingly beautiful district’.

DAY 7: Saturday 13 October: Salta - Potosí (Bolivia) (754km)

In the real Andes now, climbing up into the crystal clear air of the Altiplano during a long, tough day of 13 hours, much of it on gravel roads, including the border crossing into Bolivia. ‘Spectacular countryside’, attractive old villages. Potosí claims to be the world’s highest city (4,090m/13,420ft), and its silver mines made it once the world’s richest.

DAY 8: Sunday 14 October: Potosí - Sucre (164km)

A very short day, with less than three hours of asphalt road, giving time to recover and to see a little of Potosí before heading to Bolivia’s official capital, the colonial city of Sucre, founded in 1538. Free time in the afternoon to explore the wealth of historic buildings which have won it World Heritage Site status.

DAY 9: Monday 15 October: Sucre - La Paz (586km)

On through lovely Andean landscapes, home of colourful Indian llama herders, before the scenic descent into Bolivia’s business capital, La Paz.

DAY 10: Tuesday 16 October: REST DAY, La Paz

You have now travelled over 5,000km, so you deserve a day off to take it easy, acclimatise yourself to the altitude, and fix your vehicle.

DAY 11: Wednesday 17 October: La Paz - Puno (Peru) (307km)

A shorter day, mainly on asphalt, starts with a run across the Altiplano before crossing the brilliantly blue Lake Titicaca on the world’s highest car ferry. We then enter Peru and continue to the lakeside town of Puno.

DAY 12: Thursday 18 October: Puno - Cusco (409km)

More superb scenery in the clear mountain air on a relatively short day, but one with around 220km of rougher road over La Raya pass; the last 110km are paved.

DAY 13: Friday 19 October: REST DAY in Cusco

A day off to explore this ancient capital of the Incas, rich not only in their amazing buildings of irregular close-fitted stone blocks, but also in Spanish colonial architecture, including the superb cathedral with its lavish gold interior.

DAY 14: Saturday 20 October: day trip to Machu Picchu

An early start for the train ride to one of the true wonders of the planet: the lost Inca city of Machu Picchu, hidden until 1912, perched high above a bend of the Urubamba river.

DAY 15: Sunday 21 October: Cusco - Ayacucho (597km)

DAY 16: Monday 22 October: Ayacucho - Lima (661km)

These two days are the longest and toughest of the event, taking you on amazing gravel mountain roads through some truly stunning landscapes.

These roads were at the heart of the original London - Mexico World Cup Rally of 1970, when John Brown set a time allowance of just 25 hours for the whole stretch from La Paz to Lima - and it was cleaned by most of the works cars! The section from Cusco to Huancayo was run as a Prime, or special stage, with a set time of 11 hours - see adjacent box.

Even at our very much lower speeds, these roads are challenging, and those who prefer will be able to take an easier route to Lima.

The road between Cusco and Huancayo (in the opposite direction) is well described in SAH pp1415-1426, and that from Ayacucho to Huancavelica on p1421 & p1419. At one point, it passes 3km from what is claimed to be the world’s highest driveable pass (5,059m/ 16,600ft). Ayacucho and Huancavelica are fine old colonial towns, with superb 16th century cathedrals.

The road to Lima starts by crossing what is believed to be the world’s highest main road pass, at Ticlio (4,843m/15,890ft), before the long final tortuous asphalt descent back to sea level .

DAY 17: Tuesday 23 October: REST DAY, Lima

A chance to explore this great city, or to work on your car; as elsewhere, we will arrange workshop facilities and set up contact with the main 4x4 dealers.

DAY 18: Wednesday 24 October: Lima - Nasca (523km)

Most of the day is a run down the Pacific coast on the asphalt Panamerican Highway, ending at the famous Nasca Lines in mid-afternoon, giving time to see this famous earth mystery and come to your own conclusions: were the lines made by Indians or by aliens?

DAY 19: Thursday 25 October: Nasca - Arequipa (564km)

The Panamerican Highway takes us painlessly through ‘impressive desert scenery’ to Arequipa, a ‘beautiful city surrounded by spectacular mountains’.

DAY 20: Friday 26 October: Arequipa - Cañon de Colca - Arequipa (398km)

A day’s loop run on mainly gravel roads past great volcanoes to run along the rim of the majestic Colca Canyon, claimed to be the world’s deepest.

DAY 21: Saturday 27 October: Arequipa - Arica (Chile) (471km)

The first half of the day’s run is on back roads through super mountains, before rejoining the Panamericana for a fast drive across the Chilean border to Arica.

DAY 22: Sunday 28 October: Arica - Calama (709km)

A long day’s run, mainly on good roads, through the stunning Atacama Desert - the driest place on earth - running down the coast road ‘with fantastic views of the rugged coastline and tiny fishing villages’, before heading inland to Calama.

DAY 23: Monday 29 October: Calama - Salta (Argentina) (766km)

A very early start to a long, tough but varied and scenic day. First, we pass the 1611 church of Toconce, roofed with cactus beams, then travel across the desert to the geysers of Tatio, before calling at the characterful adobe village of San Pedro de Atacama. Skirting vast salt flats, we the cross the Andes divide back into Argentina by the Paso de la Laguna Sico (4,092m/13,430ft), before a long drive on spectacular gravel roads to Salta.

Those who prefer to avoid this and the next three arduous days can continue down the Chilean coast to Viña del Mar.

DAY 24: Tuesday 30 October: Salta - Termas Santa Teresita (586km)

Through the ‘wild and fascinating... semi-arid landscapes’ of the Quebrada de Cafayete, and into some of Argentina’s (and the world’s) finest wine growing country, on a mix of good gravel and asphalt (an all-asphalt alternative is available). Overnight at a hot springs resort in the Andes foothills.

DAY 25: Wednesday 31 October: Termas Santa Teresita - Termas de Pismanta (622km)

Scenic route mainly on asphalt through the rich and beautiful Andean foothills, to another hot springs resort.

DAY 26: Thursday 1 November: Termas de Pismanta - Viña del Mar (Chile) (604km)

A further stunning drive on remote roads down the eastern edge of the Andes, before joining the main road into Chile through the old railway tunnel under the now-closed Cristo Redentor pass - you can still make a detour to the famous statue - and on to the fashionable Pacific beach resort of Viña del Mar.

DAY 27: Friday 2 November: REST DAY, Viña del Mar

A day to relax by the pool or on the beach, or to get the car fixed in nearby Valparaíso. The capital Santiago is about two hours’ drive away. This is the finish or starting point for those crews who wish to do just half the event. Newcomers’ Registration and Vehicle Inspection will take place this day, and there will be a mid-way prizegiving this evening.

DAY 28: Saturday 3 November: Viña del Mar - Temuco (801km)

A short run on minor roads through the hills to spend most of the day driving down the excellent Panamericana as it heads south through Chile’s Central Valley, ‘one of the world’s most fruitful and beautiful landscapes’, stopping at ‘one of Chile’s best-known vineyards’ and at a dramatic waterfall.

DAY 29: Sunday 4 November: Temuco - San Martín de los Andes (Argentina) - Puyehue (Chile) (455km)

A wonderful day’s drive, much of it on good gravel roads, through the superb Lake Districts of Chile and Argentina. We go along Lago Calafquén, over the steep Cuesta Los Añiques, and cross into Argentina at the Paso Carririñe (1,100m/3,610ft), before a lovely run through the Parque Nacional Lanín to the mountain resort of San Martín de los Andes.

We then go via the ‘very beautiful’ Lago Hermoso and Lago Nahuel Huapi before crossing back into Chile at the Puyehue pass (1,314m/ 4,300ft), in time for a refreshing dip in the vast naturally heated pool before dinner and bed at Chile’s most luxurious hot springs resort.

DAY 30: Monday 5 November: Puyehue - Puerto Montt (211km)

A short day past volcanoes and beautiful lakes (including a detour to the Lago de Todos los Santos, ‘the jewel of Chile’s lakes’), before arriving at Puerto Montt, like an old European town in a spectacular setting, where we embark on the Navimag ferry Puerto Edén, ready to sail in the late afternoon.

DAYS 31-32: Tuesday 6 & Wednesday 7 November: REST DAYS at sea

Like Norway’s Hurtigruten ships, the Puerto Edén is a working ferry, not a luxury liner, but it will carry us in modest comfort along one of the world’s great inshore voyages, through the narrow straits and fjords of this spectacular uninhabited wilderness.

DAY 33: Thursday 8 November: Puerto Natales - Parque Nacional Torres del Paine - Puerto Natales (308km)

Our voyage ends at Puerto Natales, set ‘amid spectacular scenery’ far up the narrow fjord of Ultima Esperanza (‘last hope’). If we disembark early enough, you will be able to take an optional side trip to the amazing peaks and pinnacles of Torres del Paine.

DAY 34: Friday 9 November: Puerto Natales - Río Grande (Argentina) (552km)

Across wild Chilean Patagonia to the Straits of Magellan, and a chartered ferry to the island of Tierra de Fuego, ‘land of fire’. The island is half in Argentina; we cross the border to overnight on the Atlantic coast in the wool and oil township of Río Grande.

DAY 35: Saturday 10 November: Río Grande - Ushuaia (242km)

A morning run, including a loop on back roads, to arrive at lunchtime in the ‘dramatic setting’ of the world’s southernmost town, with time to relax, shop and explore. One possible option may be an air charter trip out over Cape Horn, which is the tip of a small island in the wild ocean 165km to the south.

DAY 36: Sunday 11 November: Ushuaia - Río Grande (242km)

A further morning free in Ushuaia, before the return trip back over the same route to Río Grande.

DAY 37: Monday 12 November: Río Grande - Río Gallegos (353km)

Back into Chile for the ferry across the Straits of Magellan, then cross into Argentina again for a night at the oil, fishery and wool port of Río Gallegos.

DAY 38: Tuesday 13 November: Río Gallegos - Glaciar Moreno - El Calafate (474km)

Fast asphalt road across empty southern Patagonia to the Parco Nacional de los Glaciares, and a boat trip on a lake to get a close-up view of the most spectacular, Glaciar Moreno, as it breaks off into the water. Return for the night to the modern resort township of El Calafate.

DAY 39: Wednesday 14 November: El Calafate - Comodoro Rivadavia (918km)

A long day mainly up the very fast asphalt Atlantic coast road, but starting with 240km of gravel ‘along the edge of a plateau with panoramic views’.

DAY 40: Thursday 15 November: Comodoro Rivadavia - Trelew (581km)

280 km of good asphalt to the ‘small, dilapidated but somehow charming fishing port’ of Camarones. Make a 35km detour to the Cabo Dos Bahías nature reserve (‘penguins, sea lions, fur seals, guanacos, rheas, foxes’), then up the gravel coast road to the Punta Tombo nature reserve, where you will witness the amazing spectacle of half a million penguins.

Overnight in Trelew, now a ‘prosperous town which has lost its Welsh look’.

DAY 41: Friday 16 November: Gaiman - Puerto Madryn (523km)

Restart 18km away at ‘one of the few demonstrably Welsh towns remaining in Patagonia’, before spending the day touring one of the world’s great nature reserves, the Valdés Peninsula, most famous for its whales and elephant seals. Overnight in Puerto Madryn, another town founded by Welsh immigrants.

DAY 42: Saturday 17 November: Puerto Madryn - Bahía Blanca (646km)

A long run on good main roads up the Atlantic seaboard, looping far inland across the Pampas before rejoining the coast at the port and resort of Bahía Blanca.

DAY 43: Sunday 18 November: Bahía Blanca - Buenos Aires (834km)

Another long drive mainly on paved roads across the Pampas cattle grasslands, stopping on the way at the small town of Balcarce, famous as the birthplace and home of Juan Manuel Fangio; we visit the museum set up to commemorate him, where many of his famous cars are displayed. Having earlier driven some of the dirt roads in the Andes foothills which were used on the long distance events on which he first made his name, you’ll now better appreciate his skills!

DAY 44: Monday 19 November: REST DAY, Buenos Aires

A chance to shop in this sophisticated cosmopolitan city, and to try the wonderful beef in one of its typical restaurants.

DAY 45: Tuesday 20 November: Buenos Aires - Punta del Este (Uruguay) (332km)

Ferry across the River Plate to the charming Uruguayan town of Colonia del Sacramento, then an easy run on paved roads to the smart seaside resort of Punta del Este.

DAY 46: Wednesday 21 November: Punta del Este - Porto Alegre (Brazil) (742km)

Good paved main roads all day, up the Atlantic seaboard and into Brazil, passing through two or three attractive little towns.

DAY 47: Thursday 22 November: Porto Alegre - Blumenau (608km)

The road out of Port Alegre ‘is beautiful, as are the mountain towns of Gramado and Canela’. We take back roads across remote rolling hills to the German-speaking town of Blumenau: ‘clean, orderly... almost caricatured German architecture’. Enjoy lager, sausage and sauerkraut tonight.

DAY 48: Friday 23 November: Blumenau - Guarujá (715km)

Another long run on good roads to the major city of Curitiba, then on scenic gravel through the Paraná mountains, before returning to the coast to bypass the port of Santos en route to São Paulo’s busy seaside resort of Guarujá.

DAY 49: Saturday 17 November: Guarujá - Rio de Janeiro (532km)

‘The BR101 (from Santos to Rio) is one of the world’s most beautiful highways, hugging the forested and hilly Costa Verde’, passing through small. pretty resorts. We stop at Paratí, ‘one of Brazil’s most enchanting towns’, then continue to Rio’s Ipanema and Copacabana beaches, where the rally finishes - and the celebrations begin!

Sunday 18 November: Grand Prizegiving Party To round off the proceedings, we plan a wonderful evening out for you.