Itinerary
- Day 1
Rio de Janeiro
You'll arrive in Rio de Janeiro and check into your hotel, then spend the day on your own getting familiar with the city. It's a chance to explore at whatever pace works for you.
- Day 2
Rio de Janeiro
After taking the morning free, your tour director meets you at 3:30pm for a drive along Ipanema and Copacabana beaches heading toward Sugarloaf Mountain. You'll take a cable car up to the top for views across the city, and then settle in for a cocktail party with caipirinhas while you're up there.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Cable car ascent to Sugarloaf Mountain summit
- Cocktail party with traditional Brazilian caipirinhas atop Sugarloaf Mountain
Landmarks Sugarloaf Mountain Ipanema Beach Copacabana Beach - Day 3
Rio de Janeiro
This morning you'll ride a scenic cog railway up Corcovado Mountain to see the Christ the Redeemer statue. Later you walk through downtown Rio checking out modern office towers and Portuguese colonial buildings, including the Sambodromo and Cathedral. The afternoon is yours to explore however you want, and tonight you'll have Brazilian churrascaria at a local restaurant.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner (Churrascaria - barbecued meats marinated and roasted over charcoal in true Brazilian style)
Included Activities
- Cog railway ascent to Corcovado Mountain
- Visit to Christ the Redeemer statue
- Downtown Rio orientation including Sambodromo and Cathedral views
- Churrascaria dinner featuring barbecued meats
Landmarks Christ the Redeemer Corcovado Mountain Sambodromo - Day 4
Rio de Janeiro
You have the full day to yourself in Rio. Relax on the beaches, shop around the city, or try some of the restaurants and dining spots that interest you.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Optional excursion to Petropolis (mountain resort and former summer palace of Emperor Dom Pedro II)
- Day 5
Rio de Janeiro to Iguassu Falls
You'll fly from Rio to Iguassu Falls and enter the Brazilian National Park from the Brazilian side. Walking through the pathways, you see the 2-mile-wide waterfall system with cataracts up to 250 feet high surrounded by tropical vegetation. Your local guide talks about the wildlife in the area.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Flight from Rio to Iguassu Falls
- Guided tour of Iguassu National Park (Brazilian side)
- Guided walkways along Iguassu Falls with wildlife viewing
Landmarks Iguassu Falls Iguassu National Park - Day 6
Iguassu Falls (Argentine Side)
Today you cross the border into Argentina by motorcoach to see the falls from the Argentine side. After riding the Ecological Jungle Train, you walk on catwalks overlooking Devil's Throat and then explore rainforest trails for closer looks at smaller cataracts. The rest of your day is free once you're back at your hotel.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Motorcoach transfer across Brazilian border to Argentine side
- Ecological Jungle Train experience
- Walking tour of Iguassu Falls from catwalks overlooking Devil's Throat
- Lower falls trails hike through rainforest
Landmarks Iguassu National Park Devil's Throat - Day 7
Iguassu Falls to Buenos Aires
You cross into Argentina by motorcoach and head to Cataratas del Iguazu International Airport for your flight to Buenos Aires. When you arrive, your tour director takes you on an orientation walk through the city, pointing out its wide boulevards and outdoor cafés.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Flight from Iguassu to Buenos Aires
- Orientation walk through Buenos Aires
Landmarks Buenos Aires 
- Day 8
Buenos Aires
Walking through La Boca's colorful district and historic port, then into San Telmo with its colonial buildings and artist community. You'll see La Casa Rosada and the Metropolitan Cathedral at Plaza de Mayo, plus the ornate Teatro Colón and Recoleta Cemetery. During the day you learn to make empanadas in a cooking class, and you'll have some free time in the afternoon. Tonight includes a private tango lesson at a local milonga, then a farewell dinner with Argentine steaks followed by a professional tango show.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner (Farewell dinner featuring Argentine steaks and other local specialties with professional tango show)
Included Activities
- Walking tour of La Boca district
- Visit to San Telmo neighborhood
- Plaza de Mayo with La Casa Rosada and Metropolitan Cathedral
- Drive past Teatro Colón opera house
- Recoleta Cemetery visit
- Empanada cooking class with glass of Malbec
- Private tango lesson at local milonga
- Farewell dinner with Argentine steaks and local specialties
- Professional tango show
Landmarks La Boca San Telmo Plaza de Mayo La Casa Rosada Metropolitan Cathedral Teatro Colón Recoleta Cemetery - Day 9
Buenos Aires to Pampas
You head out into the pampas grasslands to a working estancia for a taste of rural Argentine life. They welcome you with empanadas and local drinks, then you take a carriage through the countryside to meet gauchos and watch an equestrian demonstration. Lunch features Argentine beef, salad, and desserts with live gaucho music and dancing.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Authentic feast at estancia featuring world-renowned Argentine beef, salad, desserts, and live gaucho music and dance)
Included Activities
- Transfer to Argentine estancia (ranch)
- Traditional welcome with empanadas and local beverages
- Carriage ride through the pampas
- Gaucho meeting and interaction
- Lunch featuring Argentine beef, salad, and desserts with live gaucho music and dance
- Equestrian demonstration by gauchos
- Day 10
Buenos Aires to Bariloche
You'll fly south to Bariloche in Patagonia, arriving in the early evening on the shores of Lago Nahuel Huapi. Your tour director takes you on a leisurely walk through town to see the city hall, clock tower in Municipality Square, and the famous chocolate factories.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Flight from Buenos Aires to Bariloche
- Evening stroll through Bariloche
- Visit to city hall, clock tower, and chocolate factories
Landmarks Lago Nahuel Huapi Bariloche - Day 11
Bariloche
A guided tour shows you Bariloche's alpine landscape, starting with a 7-minute chairlift up Cerro Campanario for panoramic views of glacial lakes and snow-capped Andes peaks. Then you drive around the Llao Llao Peninsula, Lago Moreno, and Lopez Bay before lunch at a local restaurant.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
Included Activities
- Guided sightseeing tour of Bariloche
- Chairlift ride to Cerro Campanario summit
- Drive around Llao Llao Peninsula, Lago Moreno, and Lopez Bay
- Lunch at local restaurant
Landmarks Cerro Campanario Llao Llao Peninsula Lago Moreno Lopez Bay - Day 12
Bariloche to Puerto Varas
This is a full-day lake crossing from Argentina to Chile. You'll board a boat across Lago Nahuel Huapi to Puerto Blest, then travel by motorcoach through emerald lakes, pine forests, and Andes peaks. After crossing Lago Todos los Santos by catamaran with views of Osorno Volcano, you head to Puerto Varas arriving at your lakeside hotel with rose-lined streets.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Boat cruise across Lago Nahuel Huapi to Puerto Blest
- Motorcoach journey through Andes lakes and national parks
- Catamaran crossing of Lago Todos los Santos
- Scenic drive along Lago Llanquihue to Puerto Varas
Landmarks Lago Nahuel Huapi Puerto Blest Lago Todos los Santos Osorno Volcano Lago Llanquihue - Day 13
Puerto Varas to Santiago
You visit Puerto Montt, the nearby seaport in Chilean Patagonia, walking around the harbor full of fishing boats and waterfront seafood stalls. Then you transfer to the airport for your flight north to Santiago, Chile's capital between the Pacific and the Andes.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Morning tour of Puerto Montt seaport
- Harbor and fishing vessel viewing
- Waterfront seafood stalls visit
- Flight from Puerto Montt area to Santiago
Landmarks Puerto Montt Angelmo Market - Day 14
Santiago
Your local guide leads a city tour through Santiago's history, starting at La Moneda palace and moving to Plaza de Armas with the 18th-century cathedral. You pass by the ornate Teatro Colón and explore cultural landmarks before lunch at a local restaurant with regional wine. Your evening is free.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Lunch at local restaurant with glass of regional wine)
Included Activities
- Guided city tour of Santiago
- Visit to La Moneda (Government Palace)
- Plaza de Armas with 18th-century cathedral visit
- Drive past Teatro Colón
- Lunch at local restaurant with glass of regional wine
Landmarks La Moneda Plaza de Armas Santiago Cathedral Teatro Colón - Day 15
Santiago
You have the day free to explore Santiago and the surrounding area however you choose. Tonight your tour director hosts a special farewell dinner celebrating your South American trip.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner (Farewell dinner hosted by Tour Director)
Included Activities
- Tour Director hosted farewell dinner
Optional Activities
- Optional excursion to Valparaiso and Viña del Mar (drive through Chile's wine country to the historic port of Valparaiso and nearby coastal Viña del Mar)
- Day 16
Departure from Santiago
You'll have breakfast this morning and then head home with memories from your journey through South America.
- Meals
- Breakfast
