Tour Details - SOUTH AMERICAN ODYSSEY WITH AMAZON PRE EXTENSION AND PERU POST EXTENSION
SOUTH AMERICAN ODYSSEY WITH AMAZON PRE EXTENSION AND PERU POST EXTENSION
DISCOUNTS ON EVERY TOUR, UP TO 23% !!!
Tour Duration: 25 days Tour Code: SGY2012 Tour Type: Panorama Prices From: A$8506 [Tour Dates]
Tour Itinerary
Day
Description
1
ARRIVE IN MANAUS, BRAZIL. After arriving at your hotel, meet up for guided city sightseeing of Manaus to view the vestiges of its glory days during the rubber boom. Your first stop will be the famous OPERA HOUSE, built in 1896 with materials imported from Europe. Next, visit a bustling LOCAL MARKET abundant with local foods and wares.(D)
2
MANAUS - AMAZON JUNGLE. Today your "Meeting of the Waters" tour passes by the impressive British-built Custom House and the floating port. CRUISE along the chocolate coloured Rio Negro to its confluence with the yellow-grey Rio Solimoes, where the two rivers form the mighty Amazon. For four miles the differently coloured bodies of water flow side by side and never mix! After lunch on the river, explore a JUNGLE ISLAND (if the water level is not too low) with fascinating native flora and fauna. Later this afternoon, arrive at the Ecopark Jungle Lodge, situated on the banks of the Rio Negro inside the Amazonian rainforest. (B,L,D)
3
AMAZON JUNGLE. Accompanied by a Naturalist, enjoy a guided jungle walk introducing you to the flora and fauna that thrives in the Amazon. After lunch, depart the lodge and sail up the river to visit a Caboclo's NATIVE AMAZON VILLAGE to learn about their traditions, costumes, and culture. Also try your hand at piranha fishing! Later, visit the MONKEY JUNGLE RESERVE, where researchers work to rehabilitate captive primates and reintroduce them to the jungle. Here, you have the opportunity to see a feeding of spider monkeys, squirrel monkeys, woolly monkeys, and capuchin monkeys. This evening you may wish to venture back out on canoe with your Naturalist into the flooded forest to appreciate the sounds of the jungle at night, with the possibility to spot small alligators (or other night creatures). (B,L,D)
4
AMAZON JUNGLE - RIO DE JANEIRO. This morning, depart the Ecopark for a flight to fabulous Rio and an overnight in Rio. (B)
5
RIO DE JANEIRO. Today is a free day in Rio to explore as you please. 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 PAR TY 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)
6
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)
7
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)
8
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)
9
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)
10
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)
11
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)
12
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)
13
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)
14
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)
15
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)
16
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)
17
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)
18
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)
19
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)
20
SANTIAGO-LIMA, PERU. Fly to Lima this morning, where sightseeing focuses on its colonial heritage. See the 18th-century SAN FRANCISCO MONASTERY with its unique cloisters, the Government Palace, and Cathedral situated around the vast Plaza de Armas. Then, take a short drive to the seaside suburb of Miraflores. Later, tour the LARCO HERRERA MUSEUM with its dazzling collection of Peruvian artifacts. (B)
21
LIMA-CUSCO-SACRED VALLEY. Fly to Cusco, the impressive Andean city that was once the capital of the Inca Empire. Spend the day in the Sacred Valley of the Incas with a visit to the semi-circular KENKO Amphitheater with its stone altars and labyrinth of passages. Stop at the ancient site of PUCA PUCARA before reaching the TEMPLE OF SACSAYHUAMAN, perched on a hillside overlooking Cusco. It remains unfathomable how and when this fortress of gigantic stones- with some blocks weighing more than 350 tons-was built. Continue to PISAC, an old mountain village where you will have free time to shop for local wares such as alpaca sweaters and blankets, jewelry, or handpainted ornamental dishes and vases. Stay in the Sacred Valley tonight, with dinner at the hotel. (B,L,D)
22
SACRED VALLEY-MACHU PICCHU-SACRED VALLEY. Board a TRAIN for a short journey through the lush Urubamba Valley. Then transfer to a motorcoach for the ascent to legendary MACHU PICCHU, "The Lost City of the Incas." Your Local Guide will bring you closer to the mysteries still hidden in these amazing structures. Later this afternoon, return to the Sacred Valley. (B,L,D)
23
SACRED VALLEY-CUSCO. Visit the Inca Fortress of OLLANTAYTAMBO followed by the opportunity to visit a local home, meet some of the locals, and experience their way of life. Return to Cusco where you will learn more about the Incas on your guided tour, with visits to the imposing CATHEDRAL and the SANTO DOMINGO MONASTERY . Tonight, enjoy dinner at a local restaurant accompanied by ANDEAN FOLKLORIC MUSIC.(B,D)
24
CUSCO-LIMA. A short morning flight returns you to Lima, where the remainder of your day is at leisure to explore on your own. (B)
25
LIMA. Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning. (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
AMAZON EXTENSION: Guided city sightseeing; "Meeting of the Waters" cruise; visit the opera house, a jungle island, monkey jungle reserve, and native Amazon village; guided canoe rides and jungle walks
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; Amazon Extension: 9 additional meals as per itinerary;Peru Extension: 10 additional meals as per itinerary
Inside visits and special features are shown in UPPERCASE in the tour description, including admission charges where applicable.
Meals Breakfast - 23 Lunch - 7 Dinner - 14
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
