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Day 1 to Day 2
DEPART GATEWAY - ARRIVE RIO DE JANEIRO (4 NIGHTS)
Board your overnight flight to South America (not included in vacation price). Bemvindo ao Rio de Janeiro! You will arrive in Rio de Janeiro early morning on Day 2 and will be met on arrival at the airport by a local representative and taken to your luxurious oceanfront hotel where your room is available for immediate occupancy. The rest of the morning is at leisure. Enjoy your hotel’s superb location overlooking Copacabana Beach, minutes from downtown Rio. Spend the afternoon with your Travel Director exploring the cidade maravilhosa (marvelous city) and its many contrasts, from the 18th century aqueduct and colonial Candelaria Church to the 20th century Opera House, Sambodromo, and city Cathedral. Stretch your legs in lovely Flamengo Park before ascending Sugarloaf Mountain via cable car for astounding views over the city and the bay. This evening, enjoy a festive Welcome Reception at the hotel with your Travel Director and fellow travelers.
M: Moderate, D: Deluxe, SF: Superior First Class, F: First Class. For further details please see the notes section below.
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Day 3
RIO DE JANEIRO SIGHTSEEING & AT LEISURE
Board a classic cogwheel train for the journey to the summit of majestic Corcovado, site of the iconic Christ the Redeemer statue, one of the New Seven Wonders of the World. After admiring the panoramic views, head back down the mountain and see the song-inspiring Copacabana and Ipanema beaches on your way back to your hotel. Spend the afternoon as you please. This evening, learn how to mix the perfect Caipirinha, Brazil’s national cocktail made with cachaça, and indulge in a traditional barbeque Highlight Dinner at a local churrascaria. Feel the spirit of Rio’s world-famous Carnival as you’re treated to a lively extravaganza of Samba song-and-dance.
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Day 4
RIO DE JANEIRO AT LEISURE
Enjoy a full day to explore the wonders of Rio on your own. Or you can choose from an exciting selection of optional outings: perhaps embark on a half-day journey by jeep and foot into the lush Tijuca National Park, the world’s largest urban rainforest; explore Petropolis, the Imperial City of Brazil; or cruise the emerald waters of Sepetiba Bay with a stop at an idyllic island for a tropical lunch and swimming. Your Travel Director will be happy to help you plan your day.
Day 5
RIO DE JANEIRO - IGUASSU FALLS (2 NIGHTS)
Brazil is world renowned for its vast array of gemstones. This morning, you’ll learn and watch the fascinating creative process as precious metals and rough gemstones are transformed into works of art, design and luxury. Then take a flight to magnificent Iguassu Falls, straddling the border of Brazil, Argentina and Paraguay. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, Iguassu National Park boasts one of the world’s largest and most impressive waterfalls and is home to many rare and endangered species of flora and fauna. This evening, enjoy a convivial dinner with your travel companions at the hotel.
M: Moderate, D: Deluxe, SF: Superior First Class, F: First Class. For further details please see the notes section below.
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Day 6
IGUASSU FALLS SIGHTSEEING & AT LEISURE
Enter Iguassu National Park and spend the morning exploring the Brazilian side of the cascades with a local guide, including a scenic walk through the rainforest at the base of the falls. After enjoying a Highlight Lunch at a local restaurant with a view of the falls, return to your hotel for an afternoon at leisure. Perhaps enjoy the hotel’s thermal pools fed by the planet's biggest thermal water spring; visit the Parque das Aves - a tropical bird preserve that’s home to more than 500 species of Brazilian birds; or if you prefer, embark upon an optional excursion into the lush Macuco rainforest where you get acquainted with the flora and fauna of the jungle and then cruise the river to see the falls from below.
Day 7
IGUASSU FALLS - BUENOS AIRES (3 NIGHTS)
Cross the border into Argentina and spend some time getting to know the geography of the area at the Visitors Center. Take a walk along a scenic catwalk and board the open-air Ecological Jungle Train for a different perspective on the mighty falls and view the thunderous Devil’s Throat Falls. Then fly to Buenos Aires and arrive at your stylish hotel. From your hotel’s vantage point in the heart of Argentina’s sizzling capital, you are in the centre of all the action: renowned international designer boutiques, fine dining venues, museums, cultural pursuits, modern theatres and the famous Teatro Colon. Late afternoon, enjoy a light buffet dinner with drinks followed by a presentation by a Local Expert on the essence being an Argentinean – learn all about the country’s culture, traditions and passions such as tango, Malbec wines, asado and empanada dishes, soccer, polo, just to name a few.
M: Moderate, D: Deluxe, SF: Superior First Class, F: First Class. For further details please see the notes section below.
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Day 8
BUENOS AIRES SIGHTSEEING & AT LEISURE
Embark on an in-depth tour of the passionate city where the tango was born. See the Casa Rosada, Metropolitan Cathedral and other government buildings; world-renowned Teatro Colon; the colourful neighbourhood of La Boca; San Telmo with its famed outdoor market and lovely Palermo, home to fashionable cafes and verdant parks. Stop at the workshop of a master leather artisan and learn how Argentine leathers are turned into fine leather goods. Lastly, visit the elegant Recoleta, the museum dedicated to Argentina’s former first lady Eva Peron (Evita) as well as the impressive cemetery where she is buried. Enjoy some time at leisure before joining your Travel Director and fellow travellers for an exclusive Be My Guest experience, as you are welcomed by a local family into their elegant mansion. Learn about your hosts’ passion for art and paintings; then head for the kitchen where the family cook will teach you how to make delicious empanadas - rolled pies which can be stuffed with meat, corn, jam and cheese, among other ingredients. Savour these tasty creations and other hors d’oeuvres while learning about Argentina’s wonderful wines and sample some of the best vintages and varietals from Cafayate and Mendoza, the regions where the country's most prestigious wineries are found.
Day 9
BUENOS AIRES AT LEISURE
Relish a morning and afternoon at leisure to pursue your own interests in the “Paris of South America." The possibilities are endless. Take advantage of your included “hop-on, hop-off” sightseeing ticket to further explore on your own. Delve into one of the country’s finest museums at the Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes, set in a lovely park in the Recoleta neighbourhood. Follow in the footsteps of Argentina’s most revered writer, Jorge Luis Borges, as you browse the many bookstores of Buenos Aires and sip a coffee at the famed Cafe Tortoni. As an option, you can visit the UNESCO World Heritage city of Colonia del Sacramento across the Rio de la Plata in Uruguay. And if you’d like to experience a different side of Argentina, choose an optional trip into the countryside to a traditional estancia (ranch); share a drink with the local gauchos (cowboys), learn about their lives and marvel at their consummate horsemanship during a lively equestrian show before tucking into a sumptuous traditional parrillada (barbeque) lunch. This evening, do as the locals do and linger over a Highlight Dinner and a chance for an authentic taste of world-renowned Argentinean beef! Cap off the evening watching the best tango dancers in Buenos Aires perform, and experience the passion and power of the traditional tango - the most representative and beloved music in Argentina.
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Day 10
BUENOS AIRES - SANTIAGO (3 NIGHTS)
Bid “Adios” to Buenos Aires and say “Hola” to Santiago as you fly west across the Andes to the Chilean capital. Settle into your hotel, situated in the heart of one of Santiago’s most beautiful neighbourhoods, and a prime location close to charming boutiques, bars and restaurants. This evening is at leisure.
M: Moderate, D: Deluxe, SF: Superior First Class, F: First Class. For further details please see the notes section below.
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Day 11
SANTIAGO SIGHTSEEING
Meet your local guide and embark on a tour of this vibrant city, travelling past the Club Hipico - the regal racetrack - and sprawling Parque O’Higgins. Cruise along Alameda Avenue, past the church of San Francisco and the University of Chile, on your way to the vibrant Plaza de Armas with its fountains and sculptures. View the Palacio de la Moneda and stop at the bustling Central Market. Visit San Francisco Church and Monastery, reputed to be one of the oldest in Chile. Continue your tour with a drive up San Cristobal Hill for panoramic views of the city and the snow-capped Andes. Then head for the Maipo Valley, the most traditional wine-producing valley in Chile with the best conditions for premium wines. Enjoy a private visit at an exclusive winery where you meet the Winemaker who escorts you on a personal winery experience, from the vineyards to the bottling process. Enjoy a wine tasting celebrating Chile’s proud wine-making traditions, followed by a gourmet Highlight Lunch served on the beautiful grounds of the winery. Return to Santiago later this afternoon and enjoy the rest of the day at leisure.
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Day 12
SANTIAGO AT LEISURE
Enjoy a day of leisure in Santiago. Perhaps join an optional trip to Valparaiso, once known as “Little San Francisco” by the sailors who made it a frequent stopover on the long voyage between the Pacific and Atlantic oceans; then take the coastal road to see the graceful mansions, white-sand beaches and historic casino of the seaside resort of Vina del Mar. This evening, gather for a festive Farewell Dinner with folklore show of charismatic and agile dancers in colourful ethnic costumes from northern, central and southern Chile, as well as Easter Island.
Day 13
DEPART SANTIAGO
Say hasta luego to Chile and transfer to the airport for your onward flight arrangements (flight not included in vacation price). For your comfort, your rooms are reserved until 6 p.m. depending on your next destination and flight schedule, you may arrive back home on Day 13 or Day 14.