18 or 24 Days Rio de Janeiro, Iguassu Falls, Buenos Aires, Bariloche, Peulla, Puerto Varas, Puerto Montt, Santiago, Valparaiso, Vina del Mar

Day 1 Sat: Depart North America
Your South American odyssey begins as you board your flight to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Day 2 Sun: Arrive Rio de Janeiro
Arrive in Rio de Janeiro. Transfer to the hotel. The rest of your day is at leisure. SHERATON RIO HOTEL & TOWERS

Day 3 Mon: Rio de Janeiro City Tour
Tour Rio by 4WD vehicle, driving along beaches, the Rodrigo de Freitas lagoon and the Cosme Velho neighborhood. Take a cogwheel train ride up Corcovado and see the Christ the Redeemer statue. Continue on through the Tijuca rainforest. Enjoy an afternoon cable-car excursion up the cone of Sugar Loaf. Dinner at the Pompano Oceano. (BLD)
Day 4 Tue: Rio de Janeiro
The entire day is at leisure for independent pursuits. You may want to take an optional excursion to Petropolis. (B)

Day 5 Wed: Rio de Janeiro / Iguassu Falls
Fly to Iguassu. Enjoy a guided walking tour along the Brazilian side of these amazing waterfalls. Later check in at SHERATON INTERNACIONAL IGUAZU RESORT. (B)

Day 6 Thu: Iguassu Falls – Iguassu National Park Excursion
Visit the Argentinean side of the Iguassu Falls National Park to take a guided walking tour of this natural wonderland. The afternoon is at leisure. (B)

Day 7 Fri: Iguassu Falls / Buenos Aires
Fly to Buenos Aires, Argentina, and transfer to the SHERATON BUENOS AIRES HOTEL. The balance of the day is at leisure to settle in and get acquainted with the area. (B)

Day 8 Sat: Buenos Aires City Tour
Your guided tour includes a stop at the Plaza de Mayo, where you will find Casa Rosada, where Eva Peron and her husband addressed crowds. Next, see the Cabildo (town hall) and Metropolitan Cathedral before heading toSan Telmo and La Boca. Also visit Recoleta cemetary, the burial site of Eva Peron. Continue along Avenida 9 de Julio, the widest avenue in the world. Finally, stop at Palermo before returning to your hotel. This evening, enjoy dinner at an excellent restaurant. Experience Argentina’s sensual music, dance and culture during a full tango show. (BD)

Day 9 Sun: Buenos Aires (Montevideo)
The day is at leisure to pursue independent activity. You may take a full-day optional trip to Montevideo, or a full-day tour to Colonia del Sacramento. (B)

Day 10 Mon: Buenos Aires / Bariloche
Fly to Bariloche, the heart of the Argentine Lakes District. Transfer to the lakeside LLAO LLAO HOTEL & RESORT (Deluxe Mountain View), where sailboards, canoes and mountain bikes are provided free for guests’ use. (B)

Day 11 Tue: Bariloche
This morning, enjoy a tour of the spectacular scenic surroundings, including a visit to the Campaneiro viewpoint. The afternoon is at leisure. This evening, enjoy dinner at a local restaurant. (BD)

Day 12 Wed: Bariloche / Andean Lakes Crossing / Peulla
Navigate the full length of the Blest arm of the Nahuel Huapi Lake on a catamaran. Depart from Puerto Pañuelo, sailing west past the Patagonian rain forest. Continue to Puerto Alegre on Frías Lake. From there sail again, getting a first glimpse of Mount Tronador. Disembark at Port Frías and pass through Argentine customs. Continue by bus through the Andes Range, crossing the Argentinean-Chilean border at Vicente Pérez Rosales Pass. Then drive to Peulla and cross Chilean customs. The afternoon is free to explore the surrounding area on your own. HOTEL PEULLA (BLD)

Note: Chilean visa fees of $100 are payable upon arrival at crossing point. They accept US currency and travelers checks only. Credit Cards are not accepted.

Day 13 Thu: Peulla / Andean Lakes Crossing / Puerto Varas
Continue by catamaran along Todos los Santos Lake, catching glimpses of Puntiagudo Mountain and the impressive Osorno volcano. In Petrohue, you will get on the bus again, making a stop at Petrohue Falls. Then, going around Lake Llanquihue, you will arrive at Puerto Varas. HOTEL CABANAS DEL LAGO (B)


Day 14 Fri: Puerto Varas / Puerto Montt / Santiago
This morning, tour Puerto Varas, visiting Philippi Hill for a view of the city. En route to Puerto Montt, stop at Calvario Hill for another panoramic view. Visit picturesque Angelmó Cove. Fly this afternoon to Santiago, Chile. On arrival, you are met and transferred to the SHERATON SANTIAGO HOTEL. (B)

Day 15 Sat: Santiago – City Tour
Santiago, in its beautiful setting in the Andes, is a delight of sidewalk cafes, flower-filled parks and a well-preserved historic quarter. Your city tour includes such highlights as the city’s colonial cathedrals and historic Plaza de Armas, the wrought iron Mercado Central and hillside neighborhoods. Continue to the park at the top of San Cristobal Hill. (B)

Day 16 Sun: Valparaiso & Viña Del Mar
This morning, enjoy a visit to the William Cole Winery in Casablanca Valley. A guide will provide you with a technical explanation of wine production, followed by a look at the vineyards and a visit to the tasting room for some wine sampling. Continue on to the port city of Valparaiso and the chic resort town of Viña del Mar. Enjoy lunch at Portofino Restaurant. (BL)

Day 17 Mon: Depart Santiago
The day is at leisure. In the evening, transfer to the airport for your overnight flight home. (B)

Day 18 Tue: Arrive North America

EXTEND YOUR STAY: PERU

Day 17 Mon: Santiago / Lima
Depart Santiago today and arrive in Lima, Peru. You are welcomed and transferred to the hotel. EL PARDO DOUBLE TREE HOTEL

Day 18 Tue: Lima City Tour & Larco Herrera Museum
After a leisurely morning, embark on a guided walking tour of Lima. Start at the Plaza de Armas to see the Government Palace and visit the Cathedral, where the skeleton of Francisco Pizarro is sealed in a wooden coffin. From there, stroll to the venerable San Francisco Monastery. Next, stop at Lima’s famous Herrera Museum. This evening, enjoy a welcome dinner at La Rosa Nautica Restaurant. (BD)

Day 19 Wed: Lima / Cuzco / Sacsayhuaman
Fly to the oldest inhabited city in the Western Hemisphere: Cuzco. Today, visit several ruins, including Kenko and Tambomachay. Journey to the “Valley of the Incas” to the Sacsayhuaman Fortress. Later, see the hillside fort and Puca Pucara, which most likely served as a lookout post and stopping point between Cuzco and the Sacred Valley. CASA ANDINA PRIVATE COLLECTION(BL)

Day 20 Thu: Sacred Valley / Machu Picchu
Travel aboard the Vistadome train from Cuzco to Machu Picchu. Machu Picchu was obviously a well-planned and carefully built city, made up of two clearly different sectors, one agricultural and the other urban. With mountains to one side and a river roaring far below, this solemn fortress is a fascinating remnant of a once-bustling city that was mysteriously abandoned after the middle of the 16th century. Secreted amidst dense jungle vegetation and steep hills, Machu Picchu remained undiscovered by the modern world until 1911. Learn about the many legends and strange truths of these ancient ruins from your local guide. HATUCHAY HOTEL(BLD)

Day 21 Fri: Machu Picchu / Cuzco
As the sun rises over the mountains, watch the morning mist disappear once again to reveal the awe-inspiring city of Machu Picchu. Return to Cuzco aboard the “Inca Train.” Sip a cup of tea and enjoy panoramic views as the beautiful greenery of the Urubamba Valley rolls by. NOVOTEL CUZCO (BL)

Day 22 Sat: Cuzco – Pisac
Travel to Pisac to see the ruins of an ancient citadel that once controlled a route that connected the Incan Empire with the Paucartambo River. The panoramas from Pisac are magnificent, offering views of the impressive patchwork effect in the countryside below, which was accomplished by patterned fields rimmed by vast terracing cut out of solid rock. In the upper section lies the main Sun Temple and above the temple are still more unexcavated ruins and hidden burial sites. Later, visit the market for a taste of colorful local life before you return to Cuzco. (BL)

Day 23 Sun: Cuzco / Lima
Fly back to Lima this morning. You have free time before driving to an excellent restaurant for a farewell lunch. The remainder of your afternoon and evening is free before you pack for your late-night departure. (BL)

Day 24 Mon: Arrive North America
Return home today, filled with memories of the Ancient Civilizations of South America.