South American Highlights

Today's walking tour begins at the "Plaza de Armas" where we'll see the impressive Renaissance-style Cathedral. We'll make our way through small alleys edged with Incan walls until we reach Koricancha, dedicated to the sun, "Inti," and believed to be one of the most important temples to the Incas. The Spanish conquistadors destroyed the temple in the 16th century and used its foundations to build Santo Domingo, a Catholic church, epitomizing the clash of cultures. Our afternoon is free to explore Cusco independently, or consider an optional tour visiting different ruins around Cusco including Sacsayhuamán! This evening, we'll enjoy a special welcome dinner with the group at a local restaurant.

This morning we'll fly to Lima, Peru's capital city! Our exploration begins in the historical center where we'll admire the colorful colonial architecture around the "Plaza San Martin" and the main square (Plaza de Armas) where we'll find the Government Palace, the Cathedral, and the Municipality. We'll continue to the San Francisco Monastery and discover its underground maze of tunnels and catacombs. Finally, we'll head to Lima's contemporary districts, Miraflores and San Isidro, which combine beautiful parks like "El Olivar" and "Parque del Amor" with shopping centers and modern architecture. The remainder of the day is free to explore independently or consider an optional visit to the Larco Museum!

Today we'll board our flight bound for Buenos Aires, the capital of Argentina. The city is often referred to as "the Paris of South America" and has a strong European influence which is reflected in its refined taste in cooking, luxury boutiques, and the elegance of its inhabitants. Upon arrival, we'll check into our hotel and enjoy the rest of the day at leisure.

Today's highlights include a drive along "9 de Julio," the widest avenue in the world, the Plaza de Mayo, and the Metropolitan Cathedral with its striking stained glass. We'll stroll along the colorful "Caminito" in La Boca district, pass by the Boca Juniors soccer stadium, and drive to Puerto Madera, a dockside area filled with some of the city's best restaurants. Our tour ends in Recoleta, a glamorous neighborhood, where we'll visit the famous Recoleta Cemetery. We'll pass ornate mausoleums, sculptures, and vaults on our way to visit Eva Perón’s grave. Before dinner this evening, we'll tango! We'll learn the basic steps and have fun during our dance lesson with professional tango dancers. Afterward, we'll learn more about the Tango tradition with a visit to one of the city's famous Tango houses where we'll enjoy dinner and a show with music, singing, and dancing.

Today we'll travel outside the city for a full-day excursion to the Argentine Pampas, where the native gauchos raise cattle and other livestock that graze on the long grasses of the flatlands. We'll be welcomed with Argentinian empanadas and drinks and then we'll appreciate the charm of the countryside by either a sulky (cart) or horse ride. Later, we'll enjoy a barbeque lunch with Argentinian wines followed by a show of folk music and traditional dances. Today's excursion ends with some typical estancia activities: regional Gaucho games such as the "carrera de sortijas."

After breakfast, we'll board a short flight to the Argentinian side of Iguassu Falls, where we'll discover why this is considered to be one of the greatest natural wonders of the world! Set at the border of Argentina and Brazil, the falls consist of 275 inlets and cataracts with 250-foot, roaring cascades. We'll enjoy a ride on the ecological train through the rainforest for a spectacular close-up view of the falls, including the Devil's Throat, one of the most prominent and highest falls. Then, we'll have the chance to walk along the Iguassu River Canyon. This afternoon, we'll travel to the Brazilian side of the falls where we'll check into our hotel.

Iguassu is too spectacular to leave behind just yet! Today, we'll be afforded a view of the dramatic Brazilian side of the falls and surrounding lush, sub-tropical vegetation during our morning tour. This afternoon is free to explore independently or relax beside our hotel's hot-spring-fed pool.

Today we'll catch a flight to Rio de Janeiro, often described as one of the world's most beautiful cities. Sprawling between lush tropical mountains and the exquisite beaches of the Atlantic, Rio's natural beauty and the warmth of its people are sure to win our hearts. We'll drive alongside the white-sand beaches of Copacabana and Ipanema before we arrive at our luxurious hotel where we can toast our arrival in Rio with a special welcome cocktail.

Our day starts with a drive along Rio Branco Avenue, one of the city's main thoroughfares. We'll see the Candelária Church whose century-long construction began in 1775, and the Opera House (Theatro Municipal), one of the most magnificent buildings from the turn of the 20th century. We'll also see Carioca Square, 17th-century Santo Antonio Church, the modern Cathedral of St. Sebastian of Rio de Janeiro, and Rio's landmark aqueduct, Arcos de Lapa, which was built in the 18th century and is now used as a bridge for streetcars connecting the downtown area with the Santa Teresa residential district. Next, we'll drive through Flamengo Park to one of our day's highlights—the 1,200 ft Sugar Loaf mountain. We'll reach Sugar Loaf's summit by cable car where we can take in one of the most spectacular views of Rio de Janeiro.

Today we'll enjoy a full day at leisure! Jewelry fans will love shopping for authentic gemstones, culture hounds can explore the city's museums and historic monuments, and sunbathers can spend the day basking in the rays on the beach. Consider getting out of the city on our full-day optional excursion to the picturesque mountain resort of Petropolis, an area so lovely that the last emperor of Brazil had a summer palace built there. Tonight, we'll enjoy a festive dinner together with our own caipirinha demonstration and tasting.

On our last morning tour, we'll take a cog railway through the rainforest and up Corcovado Mountain, a 2,300 ft peak crowned by the landmark statue of Christ the Redeemer. The views from the top are dazzling! The balance of the day is free to relax by the hotel pool or enjoy some last-minute sightseeing. Consider an optional Carnival experience where we'll learn the Samba.