From
The Amazon To The Andes - South America
Brazil,
Argentina, Chile
Tour SG -- 20 days & Tour SGE -- 24 days with Peru
extension
Tour - SG
A panoramic view of
Latin America with visits to Brazil, Argentina, and
Chile
Manaus, Iguassu Falls, Buenos Aries, and Santiago
Day 1
(Sat.) Board your flight to
South America.
Day 2 Arrival In Manaus, Brazil.
(Sun.) Welcome to South America’s
largest and most populous country. Rooms are ready so
you can rest before the day’s activities. Meet your
tour director and traveling companions for your
"Meeting of the Waters" tour that starts near your
hotel, passing by the impressive British-built Custom
House and the floating port. Cruise along the
yellow-gray Rio Solimoes to its confluence with the
chocolate-colored Rio Negro, where the two rivers form
the mighty Amazon. For four miles the differently
colored bodies of water flow side by side and never
mix! After lunch on the river, explore a JUNGLE ISLAND
(if water level is not too low) with fascinating
native flora and fauna. Return to the hotel in the
late afternoon. (B,L,D)
Day 3
Manaus.
(Mon.) While Manaus is located in the densest part of
the Amazon Jungle, it retains vestiges of its glory
days during the rubber boom. This is evident during
today’s stop at the famous OPERA HOUSE, built in 1896
with materials imported from Europe. You’ll also visit
two museums documenting a way of life from a bygone
era to the present time: the MUSEUM OF NATURAL
SCIENCES and the INDIAN MUSEUM. (B,D)
Day 4
Manaus-Rio de Janeiro. (Tue.) Some free time in the
morning before the midday flight to fabulous Rio, the
playground of South America. (B)
Day 5
Rio de Janeiro. (Wed.) A full day dedicated to touring
the sights. Drive along famous Ipanema and Copacabana
beaches to the base of 1,300-foot SUGAR LOAF MOUNTAIN.
Ascend by cable car to its summit for a bird’s-eye
view of the sprawling city. From here proceed to
bustling downtown Rio. View the Sambodromo and visit
the CATHEDRAL. The rest of the afternoon is free for
shopping and independent sightseeing. Tonight you
might want to sample local cuisine in one of the
excellent restaurants in nearby Leblon or Ipanema. (B)
Day 6
Rio de Janeiro. (Thu.) This morning visit the statue
of Christ the Redeemer crowning CORCOVADO MOUNTAIN, a
rounded peak rising 2,300 feet from the bay below.
Take the scenic cog railway ride to its top, where a
360-degree panorama affords sweeping views. This
afternoon you may wish to enjoy an optional jeep tour
to visit the Botanical Gardens, with its splendid
orchid exhibit, and Tijuca National Park to view
native flora and fauna. Tonight a fun outing to a
churrascaria for a feast of
barbecued meats marinated and roasted over charcoal in
true Brazilian style. Then on to a samba show, where
the sheer vitality of this country explodes in a
colorful extravaganza. (B,D)
Day 7 Rio de Janeiro.
(Fri.) A full day for you to live it up in one of the
world’s most exciting cities. Perhaps a trip to
historic Petropolis,
once the site of the former summer palace of Emperor
Dom Pedro II and now a mountain resort. Your tour
director will help you plan your day. (B)
Day 8
Rio de Janeiro-Iguassu Falls. (Sat.) A morning flight
from Rio takes you to Iguassu Falls. Spend the
afternoon enjoying the magnificent panorama of
waterfalls from the Brazilian side. 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)
Day 9
Iguassu Falls-Buenos Aires, Argentina. (Sun.) Enjoy a
closer perspective of this natural phenomenon this
morning with a walking tour of the Argentine side.
Then on to Iguazu International Airport for your
flight to Buenos Aires. En route to your central
hotel, an orientation drive acquaints you with the
"Paris of South America" and its wide boulevards and
outdoor cafes. Evening at leisure. (B)
Day 10
Buenos Aires. (Mon.) Your included sightseeing this
morning starts in La Boca, a colorful district and
site of the city’s first port. 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 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. 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
flawless performance of Latin America’s most sensuous
dance–the tango! (B,D)
Day 11
Buenos Aires. (Tue.) Today enjoy an included 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. Time left
today to explore the city’s downtown shopping
gallerias for the best buys in leather goods and other
local handicrafts. (B,L)
Day 12
Buenos Aires. (Wed.) Full day at leisure. For those
who wish to visit another South American country, we
recommend a half-day excursion to nearby 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 before
returning to Buenos Aires in the afternoon. (B)
Day 13
Buenos Aires-Bariloche. (Thu.) Today fly south to
Bariloche 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 center.
See the city hall and the clock tower in Municipality
Square, and admire the famous chocolate factories–each
built like a Swiss chalet. (B,D)
Day 14
Bariloche. (Fri.) This chic alpine resort boasts some
of the most glorious scenery in the country. Cameras
ready for today’s chairlift ride to a lookout point at
Cerro Campanario. You’ll want to capture the vistas of
surrounding lakes and mountain peaks. The tour
continues with a leisurely drive around the
Llao Llao Peninsula, Lago Moreno, and
Lopez Bay. (B,L)
Day 15
Bariloche-Puerto Varas, Chile. (Sat.) Board a boat for
the cruise across Lago Nahuel Huapi to Puerto Blest,
the first leg of a memorable journey to Chile. Then
proceed by motorcoach through pristine wilderness
adorned by emerald lakes, thick pine forests, and
snow-capped peaks. Look out for soaring Osorno Volcano
as you cross Lago Todos los Santos by ferry. Then take
pictures of the thundering PETROHUE RAPIDS and skirt
the southern shore of Lago Llanquihue on the way to
Puerto Varas. Drive to your hotel along the festive
rosebush-lined streets of this lakeside resort. (B,L,D)
Day 16
Puerto Varas-Puerto Montt-Santiago. (Sun.) Your
morning tour of the nearby seaport of Puerto Montt
takes you to the harbor 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 at the hotel. (B,D)
Day 17
Santiago. (Mon.) 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. At the
ARCHEOLOGICAL MUSEUM study a great collection of
pre-Columbian art. Your tour ends at the Plaza de
Armas, the main square, with a visit to the
18th-century CATHEDRAL. The afternoon and evening are
at leisure. (B)
Day 18
Santiago. (Tue.) 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 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, a festive finale to a great touring adventure.
(B,D)
Day 19
Santiago-Homebound Flight. (Wed.) A full free day to
catch up on last-minute souvenir shopping. Late this
evening your homebound flight departs. (B)
Day 20
(Thu.) An early morning arrival is ideal for making
homebound connections.
Tour SGE - Add Peru to Your Tour
Days 1 to 18
(Sat. to Tue.) Like tour SG.
Day 19
Santiago-Lima, Peru. (Wed.) This afternoon, fly to
Lima for an overnight in preparation for your
discovery of the Sacred Valley. (B)
Day 20
Lima-Cuzco-Yucay. (Thu.)
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. 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. (B,L,D)
Day 21
Yucay-Machu Picchu-Cuzco.
(Fri.) This morning board your 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," high above
the steep valley overlaid with dense tropical jungle.
Your local guide will bring you closer to the lives
and mysteries still hidden in these amazing structures
built by the pre-Columbian masters of this sacred
land. After lunch, return to Cuzco in the late
afternoon. (B,L)
Day 22
Cuzco.
(Sat.) This morning learn more 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 23
Cuzco-Lima. (Sun.) A short morning flight returns you
to Lima. Today’s sightseeing focuses on Lima’s
colonial heritage. Founded in 1535, the "City of
Kings" was once the capital of the Spanish South
American Empire. See the 18th-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. 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! Dinner is at
your hotel. (B,D)
Day 24
(Mon.) Your homebound flight arrives the same day. |
