Tour Itinerary |
| Day 1.
Board your overnight flight to South America. |
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| Day 2. Arrival In Rio de Janeiro, Brazil :
Welcome to South America's largest and most populous country. Rooms are ready so that you
can freshen up and rest before taking a first look at Rio. At 3 p.m. meet your tour
director and traveling companions for a drive along famous Ipanema and Copacabana beaches
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 at sunset. Then look forward to a welcome
dinner at a fine seafood restaurant on the waterfront. (D) |
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| Day 3. Rio de Janeiro : No activities are
scheduled until evening. This morning you may wish to join the optional jeep tour to visit
the Botanical Gardens, with its splendid orchid exhibit, and the bird sanctuary in Tijuca
National Park. This afternoon the sightseers may wish to join an optional excursion to
historic Petropolis, a mountain resort and the site of the former summer palace of Emperor
Dom Pedro II. The shoppers will want to check out Rio's Hippie Faire to find silver
jewelry, leather goods, and lacework, or explore the enticing street markets. Tonight a
fun outing to a churrascaria for a feast of barbecued meats marinated and roasted over
charcoal in true Brazilian style, followed by a samba show where the sheer vitality of
this country explodes in a colorful extravaganza. (B,D) |
|
| Day 4. Rio de Janeiro : The city's landmark, the
statue of Christ the Redeemer, crowns CORCOVADO MOUNTAIN, a rounded peak rising 2,300 feet
from the sea of houses below. A scenic ride by cog railway leads to the top, where a
breathtaking 360-degree panorama affords sweeping views. From here proceed to bustling
downtown Rio, where modern office towers stand next to relics of the Portuguese colonial
past. View the Sambodromo and visit the CATHEDRAL. Return to your hotel after a delightful
lunch at a popular Copacabana restaurant. The afternoon is at leisure for you to explore
this vibrant city on your own. (B,L) |
|
| Day 5. Rio de Janeiro-Iguassu Falls : A late
morning landing at Iguazu International Airport. The afternoon is dedicated to touring the
magnificent horseshoe of waterfalls. The spectacle of this two-mile-wide torrential
downpour--with some cataracts as high as 250 feet--is nothing short of hypnotic. The
clouds of spray, the incessant roar, and the surrounding luxuriant tropical growth make
this an unforgettable natural wonder. (B,D)) |
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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, proud capital of the vast country that occupies most of the southern part of
the continent. After your hotel check-in, begin familiarizing yourself with the
"Paris of South America" and its wide boulevards, outdoor cafes, and charming
shops on a walking orientation tour. Evening at leisure. (B)
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| 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. Savor the atmosphere of this cosmopolitan capital
on the included evening excursion. Dinner at a typical restaurant features succulent
Argentine steaks and other specialties. The evening is topped off by a thrilling folkloric
show, featuring a flawless performance of Latin America's most sensuous dance--the tango.
(B,D) |
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Day
8. Buenos Aires : A day at leisure for shopping or independent sightseeing.
Explore the city's downtown shopping gallerias; your tour director can help with
suggestions on where to find the best buys in leather goods and other local handicrafts.
Also available is an optional excursion to the pampas. Experience the atmosphere of
Argentine country life as you visit an estancia (cattle ranch). Get acquainted with the
lifestyle, folklore, and traditions of the gauchos. Enjoy a barbecue lunch and the warm
hospitality of your hosts before returning to the city. (B)
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Day
9. Buenos Aires. Excursion to Uruguay : Enjoy a full day excursion to the
nearby country of Uruguay. A high-speed catamaran brings you to Montevideo, the capital
city. Visit the Old Town, which has remained virtually unchanged since the last century,
and the Prado district with its famous Rose Garden. After lunch at a typical restaurant,
drive to the World Heritage City of Colonia de Sacramento. Spend time in this quaint town,
rich in history, before returning to Buenos Aires by hydrofoil. (B,L)
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| Day
10. Buenos Aires-Santiago, Chile : Morning is at leisure to savor your last
day in Buenos Aires. This afternoon enjoy a scenic flight over the Andes to arrive in
Santiago, the capital of a country that is more than ten times longer than wide, with
2,650 miles of Pacific coastline. (B,D) |
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| Day 11. Santiago : Located
in the center of the country and perched between the Pacific Ocean and the Andes, Santiago
has evolved as the country's political, commercial, and cultural capital. Step back into
the 16th century as your local guide traces the city's history and heritage. Start at La
Moneda, the official Government Palace, and nearby SAN CRISTOBAL HILL with its landmark
statue of the Virgin Mary. Your tour ends at Plaza de Armas, the main square, with a visit
to the 18th-century 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 Chilean wine, followed by a lively folkloric show. (B) |
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| Day
12. Santiago : The day is free for independent activities. You may want to
take advantage of our optional excursion to the beautiful coastal region west of Santiago.
Drive through the undulating hills of Chile's wine country to the historical 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, a festive
finale to a great touring adventure. (B,D) |
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| Day
13. Santiago-Lima, Peru : A morning flight to Lima. 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. (B) |
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| Day
14. Lima-Cuzco-Yucay : A morning flight to Cuzco, the grandiose Andean city
that was once the capital of the Inca empire. Spend the day in the Sacred Valley of the
Incas. First visit the fortress village of OLLANTAYTAMBO with its almost intact canchas or
corral enclosures. After lunch, drive to Pisac, an old mountain village whose buildings
reflect the brilliant precision of Inca stonemasonry. Free time in the town center to
browse the many colorful stalls where vendors sell their myriad handicrafts ranging from
fine alpaca sweaters and blankets to hand-painted ornamental dishes and vases. Tonight
stay in a charming colonial-style posada (inn) in Yucay. Dinner is at the hotel. (B,L,D) |
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| Day
15. Yucay-Machu Picchu-Cuzco : This morning board your train for a
zigzagging journey through the lush Urubamba Valley. Then transfer to a motorcoach for the
ascent to legendary MACHU PICCHU, "The Lost City of the Incas," high above the
steep valley overlaid with dense tropical jungle. While touring the impressive ruins,
listen to your local guide talk about the accomplishments of the pre-Columbian masters of
this land. After a buffet lunch, return to Cuzco in the late afternoon. (B,L) |
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| Day
16. Cuzco : This morning a local guide tells you about the Incas and their
futile struggle with the invading Spaniards. Visit the imposing CATHEDRAL, the SANTO
DOMINGO MONASTERY, the nearby Inca baths of TAMBOMACHAY, and the semi-circular Kenko
Amphitheater. See the ancient site of Puca Pucara before reaching the FORTRESS OF
SACSAYHUAMAN, perched on a hillside overlooking Cuzco. It still remains unfathomable how
and when this fortress of gigantic stones--with some blocks weighing more than 350
tons--was built. The balance of the day is free for you to explore on your own. (B) |
|
| Day 17. Cuzco-Lima : Cuzco-Lima. Late morning a short flight returns you
to Lima. Later tour the GOLD MUSEUM, with its dazzling collection of pre-Columbian gold
jewelry and fascinating artifacts. View a child's poncho made entirely of yellow feathers
and a skull with a full set of pink quartz teeth! This evening, a farewell dinner to
celebrate the success of this exciting Latin American vacation. (B,D) |
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| Day
18. Your homebound flight arrives the same day. |
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Note |
| Maximum elevation on tour 11800 ft |
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Globus
Hotels |
| RIO DE JANEIRO Sheraton Rio Hotel and
Towers (D), IGUASSU FALLS Hotel das Cataratas (F), BUENOS AIRES Sheraton Buenos Aires
Hotel and Convention Center (D), SANTIAGO Sheraton Santiago Hotel and Convention Center
(D), LIMA Swissotel Lima (D), YUCAY Posada del Inca (F), CUZCO Golden Tulip Libertador
Cusco (F) |
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Departure
Dates & Prices Tour Highlights Tour Itinerary |
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