Tour Duration: 16 days Tour Code: SG2012 Tour Type: Panorama Prices From: A$5139 [Tour Dates]
Tour Itinerary
Day
Description
1
RIO DE JANEIRO. Welcome to South America's largest and most populous country. Rooms are ready for immediate check-in so you can refresh. The balance of your day is free. Tonight, meet your Tour Director and fellow traveling companions for a drive along famous Ipanema and Copacabana Beaches. Here, you will enjoy a special COCKTAIL PARTY on the beach, toasting the start of a memorable vacation with caipirinhas, a favorite Brazilian cocktail. Next, make your way to the base of 1,300-foot-high SUGAR LOAF MOUNTAIN and ascend by cable car to its summit, where you can savor spectacular vistas of the city. Cap off the day with a welcome dinner this evening. (D)
2
RIO DE JANEIRO. Today, visit the statue of Christ the Redeemer crowning CORCOVADO MOUNTAIN, a rounded peak rising 701 metres (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 colourful extravaganza. (B,D)
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)
4
RIO DE JANEIRO. This morning, try an optional Jeep tour to the Botanical Gardens with its splendid orchid exhibit, and Tijuca National Park to view native flora and fauna. Spend an evening at leisure. (B)
5
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 3.2 kilometres (2 mile) wide torrential downpour, with some cataracts as high as 76.2 metres (250 feet), which is nothing short of hypnotic. (B,D)
6
IGUASSU FALLS - BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA. Take the ECOLOGICAL JUNGLE TRAIN and enjoy a closer perspective on a walking tour of the Argentine side of the Falls. Then, on to Iguazu International Airport for your flight to Buenos Aires. After arriving, an orientation walk acquaints you with the "Paris of South America" and its wide boulevards and outdoor cafes. (B)
7
BUENOS AIRES. Your sightseeing starts in La Boca, a colourful district and site of the city's first port. Take a short walking tour of this unique neighbourhood and then on to San Telmo, famous for its late-colonial buildings and a popular gathering spot for artists. At the 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, the burial site of Eva Peron. Savour the atmosphere of this cosmopolitan capital on the included evening excursion: dinner featuring Argentine steaks and other specialties topped off by a flawless PERFORMANCE of Latin America's most sensuous dance - the Tango! (B,D)
8
BUENOS AIRES - URUGUAY - BUENOS AIRES. Today, visit another South American country - Uruguay. Travel by CATAMARAN to the World Heritage City of Colonia de 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. Enjoy a guided TOUR and lunch. (B,L)
9
BUENOS AIRES. Enjoy a full day at leisure, with an optional excursion to the Pampas. Experience the atmosphere of Argentine country life as you visit an estancia (ranch). Get acquainted with the lifestyle of the gauchos and enjoy a barbecue lunch and the warm hospitality of your hosts before returning to the city. (B)
10
BUENOS AIRES - BARILOCHE. Fly south to Bariloche in Patagonia on the shores of fjord-like Lago Nahuel Huapi in the heart of Argentina's Lake District. Arrive in the early evening, with time to enjoy a leisurely stroll through the picturesque town centre. See the city hall, the clock tower in Municipality Square, and the famous chocolate factories. (B,D)
11
BARILOCHE. This chic alpine resort boasts some of the most glorious scenery in the country. Cameras should be ready for today's chairlift ride to a lookout point at CERRO CAMPANARIO. You'll want to capture the vistas of surrounding lakes and Andes mountain peaks. The tour continues with a leisurely drive around the Llao Llao Peninsula, Lago Moreno, and Lopez Bay. (B,L)
12
BARILOCHE - PUERTO VARAS, CHILE. Set out today for your ANDES LAKE CROSSING! Board a boat for the CRUISE across Lago Nahuel Huapi to Puerto Blest. Proceed by motorcoach and see emerald lakes, thick pine forests, and snow-capped peaks of the Andes Mountains. Look out for soaring Osorno Volcano as you cross Lago Todos los Santos by CATAMARAN. Skirt the southern shore of Lago Llanquihue on the way to Puerto Varas. Drive to your hotel along the rosebush-lined streets of this lakeside resort. (B,L,D)
13
PUERTO VARAS - PUERTO MONTT - SANTIAGO. Your morning tour of the nearby seaport of Puerto Montt in Chilean Patagonia takes you to the harbour brimming with fishing vessels and along a busy waterfront lined with seafood stalls. Transfer to the airport for your flight north to Santiago. Perched between the Pacific Ocean and the Andes, Santiago has evolved as the country's political, commercial, and cultural capital. Tonight, dinner is at the hotel. (B,D)
14
SANTIAGO. Today your Local Guide traces the city's history and heritage. Start at La Moneda, the official Government Palace, before heading to the Plaza de Armas, the main square, with a visit to the 18th-century CATHEDRAL. This afternoon offers an optional excursion to the Undurraga Winery, where you will learn how some of South America's wines are produced. This evening, you may opt to join a Chilean Folkloric Dinner Show. (B)
15
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, and continue along the coast to nearby Vina del Mar. This chic seaside resort with palm tree-lined avenues and lovely villas truly deserves the sobriquet "Pearl of the Pacific". Tonight, your Tour Director hosts a special farewell dinner to celebrate a great touring adventure. (B,D)
16
SANTIAGO. Enjoy a full free day to catch up on last-minute souvenir shopping. Your holiday ends today. (B)
RIO DE JANEIRO: Cocktail party on the beach; cable car to Sugar Loaf; sightseeing with a Local Guide; visit Corcovado Mountain and the Cathedral; enjoy a Samba show and a churrascaria dinner
IGUASSU FALLS: Sightseeing with a Local Guide on both sides of the Falls; Ecological Jungle Train
BUENOS AIRES: Walking tour; visit the Metropolitan Cathedral and the Cemetery of the Recoleta; Tango show
URUGUAY: Sightseeing of Colonia del Sacramento with a Local Guide
BARILOCHE: Sightseeing with a Local Guide; chairlift to Cerro Campanario; Andes lake crossing
PUERTO: Montt Sightseeing tour
SANTIAGO: Sightseeing with a Local Guide; visit the Cathedral; farewell dinner
MEALS: American breakfast daily (B), 3 lunches (L), and 8 threecourse dinners (D) including a welcome dinner and a churrascaria dinner with Samba show in Rio, a Tango and dinner show in Buenos Aires, and a farewell dinner in Santiago.
All Intra-Tour Flights
Inside visits and special features are shown in UPPERCASE in the tour description, including admission charges where applicable.
Meals Breakfast - 15 Lunch - 3 Dinner - 8
Optional Excursions
To help plan your leisure time, as well as your pre-tour budgeting, here is a list of optional excursions that may be offered on this tour.
Availability is subject to sufficient participation, weather conditions, seasonal suitability, group interests, and general feasibility for your tour. Please note prices may be based on the previous year and are subject to change. Full terms and conditions are contained in the important travel documents.
Cost
Description
74
USD
Name:PETROPOLIS Location:RIO DE JANEIRO Details:A drive through the outskirts of Rio, up the Serra dos Orgaos on a winding, scenic road through the Atlantic Rain Forest will take you to the 'Imperial City of Petropolis', 810 metres (2,660 feet) above sea level. We will visit the museum at the summer palace of former Emperor Pedro II of Brazil and the Cathedral with the tomb of the Emperor and his wife. You will see the highlights of this charming city, such as the 'Crystal Palace', mansions and buildings from imperial and modern times.
92
USD
Name:RAINFOREST JEEP TOUR & BOTANICAL GARDENS Location:RIO DE JANEIRO Details:Board your jeep for an exciting, guided ride to the Botanical Gardens, founded in 1808. Here you have time to walk around and take a look at this garden of more than 5,000 different varieties of tropical trees and plants. Continue to Tijuca Rainforest, where it's possible to see the contrast between the "Stone jungle and a tropical forest in the middle of a big city". During your tour learn about the history of the reforestation process of the forest and the importance of the Atlantic Forrest. During this tour you will see different types of tropical fruits and trees as well as animals like monkeys, and various types of birds and butterflies. Finish the tour with unforgettable views of Rio.
78
USD
Name:GUANABARA BAY CRUISE Location:RIO DE JANEIRO Details:Guanabara Bay is the largest bay in the world based on volume of water, and has several islands such as the Governor's Island, Fundao and Snakes Island. While on this cruise, enjoy views of the beaches of Rio, the Museum of Contemporary Art, and the Fort of Santa Cruz. Light snacks included.
81
USD
Name:RAINFOREST JEEP TOUR Location:RIO DE JANEIRO Details:Board your open jeep for an exciting, guided ride through Tijuca Rainforest, where it's possible to see the contrast between the "Stone jungle and a tropical forest in the middle of a big city." During your tour learn about the history of the reforestation process of the forest and the importance of the Atlantic Forrest. During this tour you will see different types of tropical fruits and trees as well as animals like monkeys, and various types of bird's and butterflies.
115
USD
Name:FIESTA GAUCHA Location:BUENOS AIRES Details:In Argentina ranches dedicated to cattle breeding and to growing grains are called Estancias. Today, enjoy a complete day at and estancia in the pampas, where Buenos Aires ends and home to the gauchos! This full-day excursion is an ideal opportunity to absorb the atmosphere of rural life and a colourful feast in the heart of the pampas. Lunch includes world-renowned Argentine beef and live entertainment by gauchos in their native costumes. After lunch, the folklore show will began with its music and dances. The day will end with demonstration of typical activities at an estancia: regional games on horseback such as the "carrera de sortijas", where two teams gallop at full tilt under a wooden arch and try to pass a pin through a small ring hanging from the arch.
100
USD
Name:CHILEAN FOLKLORIC SHOW & DINNER Location:SANTIAGO Details:Enjoy a spectacular drive through illuminated downtown Santiago before reaching a restaurant popular among the locals. After a sumptuous four-course dinner, relax and enjoy a lively folklore show of Chilean music and dance.
64
USD
Name:UNDURRAGA WINERY Location:SANTIAGO Details:Crossing the suburbs of the southern area of Santiago, this half-day tour proceeds to the famous Undurraga Winery, where a local guide demonstrates how Chile's world-famous wine is produced.
72
USD
Name:VALPARAISO AND VINA DEL MAR Location:SANTIAGO Details:A short drive through the rolling hills of Chile's Curacavi Valley leads to Valparaiso, a picturesque seaport that has long been an inspiration for poets and artists. Then on to Vina del Mar, a modern resort renowned for its lovely gardens.
Optional Excursions
