Impressions of South America

Visit South America

Day 1

Arrive Rio de Janeiro

Launch your leisurely exploration of South America to the sultry beats of the Bossa Nova and Samba.

A local host will take you to your hotel where you’ll enjoy superb ocean views of Copacabana beach and its beautiful people, just minutes from downtown Rio. This evening, we enjoy a festive dinner with our Travel Director and fellow travellers.

Day 2

Rio de Janeiro Sightseeing and At Leisure

The rhythm of Rio is yours to explore this morning.

Join your Local Specialist to delve into the captivating contrasts of Brazil’s cidade maravilhosa (marvellous city). See the 18th-century Carioca Aqueduct, colonial Candelaria Church, and the home of the Rio Carnival, the Sambodromo. Journey high above Guanabara Bay and summit Sugarloaf Mountain via cable car for a 'pinch me moment' of inspiring bay and city views. Spend the evening at leisure.

Day 3

Rio de Janeiro Sightseeing and At Leisure

Hands outstretched, the iconic Christ the Redeemer welcomes you to the hunched outcrop of Corcovado, sharing his impressive panoramic view of a city that loves to celebrate.

This afternoon, soak in the shores of Copacabana and Ipanema. Kick back and watch tanned sun-worshippers playing volleyball and sip a caipirinha or two, which you’ll learn to mix this evening, followed by a sizzling barbecue at a local churrascaria Regional Dinner. Bom proveito!

Day 4

Rio de Janeiro – Iguassu Falls Connect with Locals

Journey into some of South America’s most beautiful natural landscapes taking a flight from Rio to Iguassu Falls, the UNESCO-listed magnificent falls that straddle the borders of Brazil, Argentina and Paraguay.

Explore the Brazilian side of Iguassu Falls, 'Big Waters', in Iguassu National Park with a Local Specialist. Hike to the cascading falls through giant clouds and sprays of water feeling refreshed in the humidity. You’ll learn that while hot and humid, this lush micro-climate supports diverse fauna in its subtropical rainforest of over 2,000 species of vascular plants. Conclude your day crossing the border to Argentina to your hotel.

Day 5

Iguassu National Park Argentinian side with local specialist

Get a different perspective of grandeur on the Argentinian side of the falls at the Devil's throat.

Your MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience finds you paying a visit to the Guarani community of Fortín M'bororé who open their doors to reveal the secrets of the jungle, their natural medicine, culture, songs, dances, crafts, philosophy and beliefs. Discover with the Guarani the "Spirit of the Trees", a walk where you learn to walk through the interior of the Jungle guided by aboriginal experts. This afternoon, join an optional experience on Gran Aventura boat tour or an Argentinean experience learning about Argentine culture, tasting local dishes in a five-course dinner, sampling four Argentinean wines and mingling with travellers from around the world.

Day 6

Iguassu Falls – Buenos Aires Dive Into Culture

Take a flight from Iguassu Falls to Buenos Aires, the capital of Argentina.

Check into your hotel located in the heart of the cultural centre at the historic Plaza San Martin and, with the rest of the day free, perhaps take a stroll around this upscale part of the city. This evening dive into culture watching the passionate fiery and precise steps of some of Buenos Aires most talented tango dancers. Here at El Viejo Almacen in the neighbourhood of San Telmo, you’re in the most classic house of tango putting on shows since 1969 and preserving the architecture and atmosphere of Tango culture.

Day 7

Buenos Aires Sightseeing and at Leisure

Take in the sights of Buenos Aires on a City Tour to the pink palace, cathedral and La Boca neighbourhood.

The rest of the day is free for you to relax and explore this exciting city on your own or join one of our tempting optionals. Head to the northern outskirts of Buenos Aires to the lush countryside of the Tigre Delta, a popular weekend getaway of scenery, summer residences, yachting and a chance to see another way of Argentine life. Or venture on a wine tasting trip to “El Querandi,” a big house located in the historical district and considered a living testimony of the city originally founded as a bar in 1920.

Day 8

Buenos Aires at Leisure Connect with Locals

Leave Buenos Aires to San Antonio de Areco, the heart of the gaucho traditions in the pampas region, for a tour along its quaint streets lined with silversmiths.

Take part in a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience visiting a local project of the Local Association for disabled people who are keeping up the tradition of making the alpargatas shoes. Appreciate more artisans paying a visit to a local artist's studio observing how masterpieces are created. Cap off your day with a Be My Guest Experience, complete with sizzling asado steak, at a family-owned gaucho ranch where your watch cowboys show off the horsemanship accompanied by music and dance.

Day 9

Depart Buenos Aires

Our South America adventure comes to an end this morning.

Say a fond hasta luego to Buenos Aires and newfound friends, transferring to the airport for your flight home or choose to extend your stay.

Dining Summary

1 Dinner (D)

8 Breakfast (B)

2 Regional Dinner (RD)

1 Lunch (L)

Be My Guest

Buenos Aires: Visit a family-run gaucho ranch for an energizing event of food, drink, music, dance and horseback riding demonstrations. Kick off with a lunch of empanadas, salads, asado meat of sausages, chicken and beef and drinks followed by flan with dulce de leche for dessert. You’ll even learn how to grill the asado. Discoveries continue over a demonstration of gaucho´s skill with horses and a lively show. Take time to wander among the historic, 150-year-old building past the cows and horses before taking home your keepsake leather accessory gift typical of this region.

Dive Into Culture

Rio de Janeiro: At dinner there will be a mixology demonstration where you will learn how to mix a caipirinha, the national cocktail of Brazil.

Buenos Aires: Experience the beauty of the Tango and learn about its traditions.

Buenos Aires: Uncover San Antonio de Areco, the heart of the “gaucho” traditions in the “pampas” region. Walk around the small village’s cobblestoned streets appreciating its quaint historical centre. See the main square, the church, and meet some of the locals along the way. Also known as the ‘Cradle of Tradition’ the colonial town was founded over 280 years ago and is filled with old bars (“pulperías”) and artisan shops with over 30 silversmiths. Known as “platería criolla”, the traditional Argentinean silverworks include knives, jewellery and other traditional items.

Buenos Aires: Visit a gaucho painter’s studio to view his works, appreciate the diverse subjects of his paintings, learn the history of the gaucho town followed by a fascinating drawing demonstration.

Iconic Experience

Rio de Janeiro: Journey high above Guanabara Bay first to Urca hill and then the top of Sugarloaf at 1,299 feet above sea level for views of Botafogo cove, Copacabana, and Guanabara Bay. Take in all the dramatic views with plenty of photos knowing you’re a part of history. This Cable Car linking Urca hill to Sugarloaf Mountain built in 1912 was the first Brazilian cable car and the third in the world. You’ll also learn the story of the name Sugarloaf, the most popular version saying that from the sixteenth to eighteenth centuries, at the peak of sugar cane production, the mounds of refined sugar resembled the shape of the mountain itself. A sweet story with a stunning view.

Corcovado: Climb into the clouds to the top of Corcovado Mountain to visit the iconic Christ the Redeemer. You’ll ride the Corcovado Railway, the first electrified railroad in Brazil, and an icon itself. The railway is actually older than the monument and even transported the pieces of the monument. The train has taken popes, kings, princes, presidents, artists, scientists - and now you - since its start in 1884. You’ll feel good about your travels too knowing that this electric train doesn’t pollute the surrounding Tijuca National Park. As you ascend 2,379 feet, consider the history of Christ the Redeemer built from 1926-1931, one of the Seven Wonders of the World, and one of the most famous Art Déco sculptures. Gaze out the window at the views of the Rio de Janeiro and, at the top, stand beneath the famous statue’s feet looking up to its top of 98 feet high.

Iguassu Falls: Join a Local Specialist who will guide your exploration of the Brazilian side of the falls in this massive park spanning the border between Argentina and Brazil. The region hosts a variety of wildlife including tapirs, giant anteaters, howler monkeys, ocelots, jaguars, caymans and 400 species of birds - so be on the lookout for that special photo-op. Given Iguassu’s support of extreme habitats and diverse species, it’s no wonder it is on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Iguassu Falls: Join a local specialist for a walk along the long catwalk suspended above the swirling waters of the Iguassu River. View the chaotic crush of water pouring down Devil's throat falls. Then board an open-air ecological jungle train for a different perspective of the mighty cascades.

Buenos Aires: Embark on a Buenos Aires City Tour with a Local Specialist. Walk through the wide boulevards of this beautiful capital admiring the spirit of a city whose European and Latin American influences can be seen around every turn. See the pink palace, the seat of the Argentine national government and president's office whose balcony Juan and “Evita” Perón addressed the people in the 1940s and 1950s. Visit the cathedral and wander through the lively and colourful La Boca neighbourhood lined with restaurants, street artists and local art around every corner.

MAKE TRAVEL MATTER®

Iguassu Falls: Visiting the ancestral Guarani community for an immersive MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience. Join the Guarani for a jungle walk, first greeted by an aboriginal "guide" who leads you through trails that surround and crisscross the village. Learn about the beliefs, myths, legends and the virtues of medicinal plants and their uses before visiting the temple in the heart of the jungle discovering the initiation and baptism rituals of the tribe. See the plantations, their homes and their hunting traps for different kinds of animals that they used in ancient times. Your visit ends with a display of handicrafts using resources such as wood, lianas, seeds, etc.

Buenos Aires: Visit a workshop where people with special abilities manufacture in an artisanal way the traditional shoe of the gauchos: "alpargatas", still used in the countryside and by many rural workers. Learn about the production process. This MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience helps the association to support youth and adults develop their abilities to make these traditional shoes and is the only factory offering disabled people job opportunities.

Must-see Highlights

Explore Rio de Janeiro, Buenos Aires and the Brazilian and Argentinean side of Iguassu Falls with a Local Specialist

Visit the Christ the Redeemer statue, Sugarloaf Mountain, Corcovado Mountain, Iguassu Falls and San Antonio de Areco, the heart of the “gaucho” traditions

See Copacabana Beach and enjoy a Tango and Dinner Show

View our great airfares, hotels and travel insurance.