Tour Itinerary |
| Day
1. Board your overnight flight to South America. |
|
| Day 2. ARRIVAL IN RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL
: Rooms are ready for early check-in upon arrival. Some time for you to rest
and freshen up before meeting your tour director and fellow traveling companions at 3 p.m.
This afternoon, drive along the famous beaches of Ipanema and Copacabana to the base of
1,300-foot SUGAR LOAF MOUNTAIN. Ascend by cable car to its summit, from where you savor
spectacular vistas of the city. Enjoy a welcome drink while watching the sun set over this
fabulous city |
|
| Day 3. RIO DE JANEIRO : Sprawling
between majestic granite peaks and the blue South Atlantic, Rio de Janeiro is a
spectacular city of beauty, wonder, enthusiasm, and energy. This morning's city tour
features the STATUE OF CHRIST, which crowns Corcovado, a rounded peak rising 2,300 feet
above the bustling city. Ride to the top by cog railway, and enjoy an unsurpassed
360-degree panoramic view of this breathtakingly beautiful city and Guanabara Bay. The
afternoon is free. Perhaps you would like to join the jeep tour though the Botanical
Gardens and Tijuca National Park. Evening at leisure. (B) |
|
| Day 4. RIO DE JANEIRO : A
free day, so why not relax and take in some sun at the hotel pool? Your hotel is in an
ideal location for strolls along Rio's renowned beaches. Shoppers will want to browse the
many boutiques and outdoor markets specializing in jewelry, leather goods, and lacework.
You might also consider an optional excursion to the historic city of Petropolis. This
evening an optional outing to a churrascaria for a feast of marinated meats barbecued
Brazilian style. Then enjoy a samba show, where the animation and rhythm of this city
comes to life in a colorful extravaganza. (B) |
|
| Day 5. RIO DE JANEIRO-IGUASSU FALLS :
Today fly to Iguassu Falls, one of the greatest natural wonders of the world. Spend the
afternoon touring this mammoth series of 275 waterfalls cascading over a precipice almost
two miles wide and 250 feet deep. The clouds of spray, thundering roar, and 180-degree
rainbows are overpowering. (B) |
|
| Day 6. IGUASSU FALLS-BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA :
A morning tour of the Argentine side of the falls before transferring to Iguazu
International Airport for your flight to Buenos Aires, Argentina's capital and largest
city. After your hotel check-in, begin familiarizing yourself with the "Paris of
South America" and its wide boulevards, outdoor cafes, and charming shops. (B) |
|
| Day 7. BUENOS AIRES : Your included
sightseeing this morning starts in La Boca, the colorful district where the city was
founded. A short walking tour of this unique neighborhood at the mouth of the river and
then on to San Telmo - famous for its late colonial buildings and as a popular gathering
spot for artists. At the Plaza de Mayo you will see 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. End your
day with an optional dinner featuring Argentine steaks and regional specialties. Afterward
a nightclub revue starring Latin America's sensuous tango dancers. (B) |
|
| Day 8. BUENOS AIRES : The day is free for
independent activities. Perhaps join one of our optional tours. Visit the World Heritage
City of Colonia in nearby Uruguay or experience Argentine country life at an estancia
(cattle ranch). (B) |
|
| Day 9. BUENOS AIRES-SANTIAGO, CHILE : The
majority of the day is free to relax. Perhaps join an optional morning outing featuring a
drive through the fashionable riverside suburbs of Olivos, San Isidro, and San Fernando to
Tigre where you board your motor launch for a leisurely cruise along the waterways and
islands of the delta. Cruise past turn-of-the-century mansions, English cottages, and
Italian villas as well as beautiful yacht clubs. Late this afternoon head to the airport
for the flight to Santiago, Chile's largest city. (B) |
|
| Day 10. SANTIAGO : Located between the
Pacific and the Andes, Chile's provincial capital has a surprisingly European flavor.
During your city tour this morning, view La Moneda, the official government palace, and
nearby San Cristobal Hill with its landmark statue of the Virgin Mary. Your tour ends at
the city's main square, Plaza de Armas, with a visit to the relic-filled CATHEDRAL.
Tonight an optional dinner outing: drive through floodlit downtown Santiago to the popular
Los Adobes de Argomedo restaurant for a sumptuous four-course dinner with world-famous
Chilean wine, followed by a lively folkloric show. (B) |
|
| Day 11. SANTIAGO :
The day is free for you to rest or sightsee on your own. Highly recommended is the
optional trip to Valparaiso and Vina del Mar. Enjoy a leisurely drive through rolling
countryside and vineyards to the seaport of Valparaiso, a city of 42 hills and the
inspiration for many artists and poets. On to Vina del Mar, a chic, seaside resort with
tree-lined avenues, unusual architecture, and beautiful gardens. Tonight your tour
director will host a farewell dinner to celebrate the success of this exciting Latin
American vacation. (B,D) |
|
| Day 12. SANTIAGO-LIMA, PERU : A morning
flight to Lima, Peru. Today's sightseeing focuses on Lima's colonial heritage. Founded in
1535, the "City of Kings" was once the capital of Spain's South American empire.
See the 11th-century SAN FRANCISCO MONASTERY with its unique cloisters, the elegant CASA
ALIAGA mansion, and the Government Palace and CATHEDRAL situated around the vast Plaza de
Armas. Then a short drive south to visit the upscale seaside residential suburb of
Miraflores. This evening's dinner is at the hotel. (B,D) |
|
| Day 13. LIMA-CUZCO : Enjoy a short
morning flight to Cuzco. Time to rest at the hotel to acclimate to the 11,400-foot
altitude. This afternoon discover the mysteries surrounding the Incas. Visit the
CATHEDRAL, the SANTO DOMINGO MONASTERY, the baths of TAMBOMACHAY, and the semi-circular
Kenko Amphitheater with its stone altars and labyrinth of passageways. See the ancient
site of Puca Pucara and the FORTRESS OF SACSAYHUAMAN, towering high above Cuzco. With many
of the stone blocks weighing over 350 tons, it remains a mystery how and when this
fortress was constructed. (B) |
|
| Day 14. CUZCO : VISIT TO MACHU PICCHU.
Early this morning board your train for the scenic zigzagging journey into the lush
Urubamba Valley. Then transfer to a motorcoach for the ascent to the sacred refuge of
Machu Picchu, "The Lost City of the Incas." Listen as your guide recounts the
many accomplishments of the Incas as you tour the RUINS of towers, temples, and ceremonial
baths. After your visit, enjoy a buffet lunch before returning to Cuzco. (B,L) |
|
| Day 15.CUZCO. OLLANTAYTAMBO AND PISAC :
Start the day with a visit to the fortress village of OLANTAYTAMBO with its almost intact
Inca canchas or corral enclosures. After lunch drive to Pisac, a charming village whose
buildings reflect the brilliant precision of Inca stonemasonry. Plenty of free time here
to stroll by the many colorful stalls where vendors sell their handicrafts ranging from
fine alpaca sweaters and blankets to hand-painted ornamental dishes and vases. (B,L) |
|
| Day 16. CUZCO-LIMA : This morning a short
flight brings you back to Lima. Some free time before a visit to the famed GOLD MUSEUM
followed by a farewell dinner at a local restaurant to celebrate the success of this
exciting Latin American vacation. (B,D) |
|
| Day 17.
LIMA-HOMEBOUND FLIGHT : Your homebound flight arrives the same day. |
|
Cosmos Hotels |
| RIO DE JANEIRO
Hotel Luxor Regente (F), IGUASSU FALLS San Martin Hotel (T), BUENOS AIRES Hotel Presidente
(F), SANTIAGO Leonardo da Vinci (F), LIMA Hotel Jose Antonio (F), CUZCO Hotel Picoaga. |
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Departure Dates
& Prices Tour
Itinerary |
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