Magnificent scenery, vibrant dances, cosmopolitan cuisine, friendly people, and awe-inspiring sights—all this and more await you on this wonderful vacation to South America! Discover three of the great cities—Rio de Janeiro, Buenos Aires, and Santiago—at a relaxed pace. In Rio, sip caipirinhas, a popular Brazilian cocktail; visit the Christ the Redeemer statue; experience a Samba show; and walk on famous Copacabana and Ipanema Beaches. In Buenos Aires, dance the Tango; see the Cemetery of the Recoleta, where Eva Peron is buried; and hear more about her life. In Santiago, step back into the 16th century as you trace the city’s colonial history and heritage. Santiago sits with the snowcapped Andes Mountains as a backdrop, and it offers lovely cafés, shops, and attractions. On this tour, you’ll have plenty of free time in each city to explore and experience the varied restaurants, shops, and optional excursions. A trip highlight is Iguassu Falls, one of the most spectacular sights on earth. Meaning “Big Water” in the local dialect, there are 275 falls that cover a distance of over a mile and a half. A photograph cannot accurately portray this breathtaking sight—you must experience it for yourself! Hear the deafening roar and admire the brilliant rainbows created by the clouds of spray. These are just some of the many highlights from this amazing tour. From the vibrant cities to the scenic beauty, this vacation to South America is an opportunity of a lifetime.
Itinerary:
Day #1 Arrive in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Welcome to South America’s largest and most populous country. This afternoon, meet your Tour Director and fellow traveling companions for a drive along famous Ipanema and Copacabana Beaches to the base of 1,300-foot-high SUGAR LOAF MOUNTAIN. Ascend by cable car to its summit, where you can savor spectacular vistas of the city. Next, toast the start of a memorable vacation at a local restaurant with caipirinhas, a favorite Brazilian cocktail. Cap off the evening with a welcome dinner. (D)
Day #2 Rio de Janeiro. Today, visit the statue of Christ the Redeemer crowning CORCOVADO MOUNTAIN, a rounded peak rising 2,300 feet from the bay below. Take the scenic cog railway ride to its top, where a 360-degree panorama affords sweeping views. Proceed to bustling downtown Rio. View the Sambodromo and visit the CATHEDRAL. This evening, it’s off to a CHURRASCARIA for a feast of barbecued meats marinated and roasted over charcoal in true Brazilian style. Later, experience a SAMBA SHOW, where the sheer vitality of this country explodes in a colorful extravaganza. (B,D)
Day #3 Rio de Janeiro. A day of leisure or you may wish to enjoy a Guanabara Bay cruise, offering spectacular views of Rio and its beaches. This afternoon, consider an optional trip to historic Petropolis, once the former summer palace of Emperor Dom Pedro II and now a mountain resort. (B)
Day #4 Rio de Janeiro–Iguassu Falls. A flight from Rio takes you to IGUASSU FALLS. Experience the clouds of spray, the incessant roar, and the surrounding luxuriant tropical growth that make this an unforgettable natural wonder. Spend the afternoon enjoying the magnificent panorama of waterfalls from the Brazilian side. Your Local Guide introduces the spectacle of this 2-mile-wide torrential downpour, with some cataracts as high as 250 feet, which is nothing short of hypnotic. (B,D)
Day #5 Iguassu Falls. Today, journey to the Argentine side of IGUASSU FALLS, where you will take the ECOLOGICAL JUNGLE TRAIN and enjoy a closer perspective on a walking tour of the falls. Meander along the walkways from atop the falls, and enjoy an exhilarating perspective looking over the precipice of the falls as the water plunges to the rocks below. You will also have the chance to walk through the rainforest on the lower falls trails that will bring you up close to some of the smaller falls. Return to the hotel, where the remainder of the day is at your leisure. (B)
Day #6 Iguassu Falls–Buenos Aires, Argentina. Today, fly to Buenos Aires. After arriving, an orientation walk acquaints you with the “Paris of South America” and its wide boulevards and outdoor cafés. (B)
Day #7 Buenos Aires. Your sightseeing starts in La Boca, a colorful district and site of the city’s first port. Take a short walking tour of this unique neighborhood and then on to San Telmo, famous for its late-colonial buildings and a popular gathering spot for artists. At Plaza de Mayo, see La Casa Rosada (the President’s Pink House) and the METROPOLITAN CATHEDRAL, housing San Martin’s Mausoleum. Drive past the ornate Colon Opera House before reaching the CEMETERY OF THE RECOLETA, burial site of Eva Peron. After an afternoon at leisure, top off the evening at a famous TANGO CLUB. Start with a [LF] DANCE LESSON followed by dinner featuring Argentine steaks and other local specialties and end with a show featuring flawless performances of Latin America’s most sensuous dance—the Tango! (B,D)
Day #8 Buenos Aires. Enjoy a full day at leisure, with an optional excursion to visit another South American country—Uruguay. Travel by catamaran to the World Heritage City of Colonia del Sacramento. Founded by Portuguese settlers from Brazil in 1680, this town held a strategic position as a smuggling outpost for transporting British goods across the Rio de la Plata into the Spanish colonies throughout the 17th century. Today, its charm lies in its narrow streets and colonial buildings. (B)
Day #9 Buenos Aires–Santiago, Chile. Depart this morning on a scenic flight over the Andes before arriving in Santiago, Chile’s capital. This country is more than 10-times longer than wide, with 2,650 miles of beautiful Pacific coastline. (B,D)
Day #10 Santiago. Located in the center of the country and perched between the Pacific Ocean and the Andes, Santiago has evolved as the country’s political, commercial, and cultural capital. Step back into the 16th century as your Local Guide traces the city’s history and heritage. Start at La Moneda, the official Government Palace, before visiting the Plaza de Armas, the main square, with a visit to the 18th-century CATHEDRAL. The afternoon and evening are at your leisure. This evening, consider the optional Chilean Folkloric Dinner Show. (B)
Day #11 Santiago. The day is free for independent activities. You may want to take advantage of an optional excursion to the beautiful coastal region west of Santiago. Drive through the undulating hills of Chile’s wine country to the historic port of Valparaiso, then continue along the coast to nearby Viña del Mar. This chic seaside resort with palm tree-lined avenues and lovely villas truly deserves the sobriquet “Pearl of the Pacific.” (B)
Day #12 Santiago. Your tour ends with breakfast this morning. (B)
Hotels:
RIO DE JANEIRO Sheraton Rio (D)
IGUASSU FALLS Hotel Mabu Thermas (F)
BUENOS AIRES Sheraton Buenos Aires (MD)
SANTIAGO Sheraton Santiago (D)