South American Odyssey

16 days
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4.9/5 Excellent
100+ reviews  
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USTOA

Cancellation Policy
Group Tour
Enjoy your South American trip by visiting Brazil, Chile and Argentina. Have a chance to learn South America’s passionate dance. Discover nature and culture of Buenos Aires, Bariloche and Santiago.

Overview

Trip type
Group Tour
Lodging level
Standard - 3 star
Physical level
Easy
Trip pace
Balanced schedule

Highlights

    • San Cristobal Hill (Santiago)
    • Picturesque Bariloche
    • Buenos Aires City Tour
    • Tango Show (Buenos Aires)
    • Iguassu Falls
    • Sugar Loaf Mountain (Rio)
    • Copacabana (Rio)

What's this trip about?

    Enjoy your South American trip by visiting Brazil, Chile and Argentina. Have a chance to learn South America’s passionate dance. Discover nature and culture of Buenos Aires, Bariloche and Santiago.

Compare to similar trips

Details

Itinerary focusClassic Highlights
Group sizeStandard Group - 25 + people
Age rangeNo age restrictions
Flights and transportN/A
Start CitySantiago
End CityRio

Travel Themes

  • Cultural
  • National Parks
  • Nature & Wildlife

Destinations

  • South America
  • Argentina
  • Brazil
  • Chile

Attractions

  • Andes Mountains
  • Bariloche
  • Buenos Aires
  • Iguazu Falls
  • Puerto Varas
  • Rio de Janeiro
  • San Cristobal
  • Santiago
  • Valparaiso

Activities

  • Culture
  • Historic sightseeing
  • History
  • Horseback riding & Equestrian
  • Nature
  • Short Cruise

Trip includes

    • Round-trip airfare from Miami via LAN and TAM Airlines (NYC departure add $100)
    • Airfare taxes, fees & fuel surcharges
    • All intra-South America flights & ground transportation
    • Accommodations at Deluxe & Superior First Class hotels
    • 19 meals: 13 buffet breakfasts (B), 1 lunch (L), 5 dinners (D)
    • Comprehensive sightseeing tours and admission fees
    • English-speaking Tour Director and local guides

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Itinerary

Travel Map
 

Day 1: Depart USA.
Your fascinating journey to your glorious South America tours begin as you depart this evening on your overnight flight bound for Chile.

Day 2: Arrive Santiago (Chile).
Meals: Dinner Morning arrival in Santiago, the bustling capital of Chile, located between the Pacific Ocean and the majestic Andes. On arrival, ride up to the top of San Cristobal Hill for a bird’s eye view of the city and the Andean mountain range. Later, learn more a...
Day 3
Meals: Breakfast Full day at leisure to explore independently. We recommend an optional excursion to discover the enchanting towns of Vina del Mar and Valparaiso on the Pacific Coast as well as Chile’s thriving wine making industry.

Day 4: Santiago/Puerto Montt/Puerto Varas.
Meals: Breakfast and Dinner Today board a short flight to the southern port city of Puerto Montt, gateway to the Chilean Lake District. Upon arrival, enjoy a magnificent lookout over the city and bay before driving to the nearby charming village of Puerto Varas. Arrive...
Day 5: Lake Region/Bariloche (Argentina).
Meals: Breakfast Today’s unforgettable excursion is reputed to be one of the most scenic in the world. Traverse the Andean Mountains through the Lake District from Chile to Argentina. Enjoy dramatic landscapes, spectacular emerald green lakes, gushing waterfalls, snow-...
Day 6
Meals: Breakfast Set in idyllic scenery reminiscent of the Swiss Alps, Bariloche is a splendid lake-side town, easily explored from your centrally located hotel. An included walking tour features a visit to the engaging Patagonia Museum. Later, explore on your own, rel...
Day 7: Bariloche/Buenos Aires.
Meals: Breakfast Fly to Buenos Aires, Argentina’s capital, often called “Paris of the South”. The city is a great mix of European heritage and Latin spirit, evident in architecture, culture and lifestyle. Drive through the Avenida 9 de Julio, the world’s widest avenue, to your downtown hotel. MGallery Brick Hotel (formerly Caesar Park)

Day 8
Meals: Breakfast and Dinner On this morning’s guided tour see the Plaza de Mayor, the famous Opera House and the historic La Boca district. Proceed to the elegant Recoleta district and the cemetery where Evita Peron is buried. Afternoon at leisure. Tonight, you are our guest for a delicious dinner and an exhilarating tango show, South America’s passionate dance.

Day 9
Meals: Breakfast and Lunch Travel outside the city on a full day excursion to the Argentine Pampas. Visit an estancia (ranch) and enjoy a sumptuous barbecue lunch followed by a Gaucho Fiesta, complete with gaucho riding and folklore show.

Day 10
Meals: Breakfast A full day at leisure. Why not take a “behind the scenes” tour of the ornate Colon Opera House, visit the shops lining the renowned Florida Street, or relax in one of the many outdoor cafes and parks. You may also enjoy the optional half day Tigre Delta tour on the outskirts of Buenos Aires and enjoy the beautiful rivers, streams, and numerous green islands.

Day 11: Buenos Aires/Iguassu Falls (Argentina/Brazil).
Meals: Breakfast and Dinner (Argentina/Brazil). After breakfast board a short flight to the Argentinean side of Iguassu Falls. You’ll soon discover why this is considered one of the greatest natural wonders of the world! Set at the border of Argentina and Brazil, the f...
Day 12
Meals: Breakfast Today view the dramatic Brazilian side of Iguassu Falls and lush sub-tropical vegetation on an included morning tour. The afternoon is free for independent activities, shopping or relaxing at your hotel’s poolside.

Day 13: Iguassu/Rio de Janeiro.
Meals: Breakfast Today fly 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 will win your heart. This a...
Day 14
Meals: Breakfast and Dinner A day at leisure to explore on your own, shop for authentic gemstones and souvenirs, or head to the beach. You may also join a full day excursion to the picturesque mountain resort of Petropolis. Tonight, celebrate with your fellow travelers at a festive dinner.

Day 15: Depart Rio
Meals: Breakfast On this morning’s tour, a cog railway takes you through the rainforest up Corcovado Mountain, a 2300-foot peak crowned by the landmark statue of Christ the Redeemer. The views from the top of the mountain are dazzling! The balance of the day is at leisure for independent pursuits or relaxing by your hotel’s pool before transferring to the airport for your overnight return flight.

Day 16: Arrive USA.
Your exciting South American vacations end as you arrive in the USA this morning in either Miami or New York.

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Dates & Availability

Price From $4,199
Price per day$262
Single supplement (single occupancy)$799
Last Updated: 4/4/2019

Check Current Availability, prices, specials with SmarTours.

The total tour cost includes the tour price (regular or promotional) and the compulsory local payment. The promotional price is subject to change. Check directly with the operator for the latest price offer. The tour operator requires you to pay only the tour price to purchase your travel. The compulsory local payment will be paid when you join the trip. All prices are based on double, twin or triple share occupancy. Solo passengers will be accommodated in a double, twin or triple room according to availability with a passenger(s) of the same gender. Single supplement only needs to be paid if the passenger does not want to share and requests their own room. Discounts can only be applied at the time of booking and cannot be added at a later date, regardless of any changes made to the original booking.

Prices may vary due to local taxes and trip seasonality. Click "Request Info" to inquire directly with the tour operator for the final trip price.

SmarTours Reviews & Ratings

4.9/5  Excellent
Excellent
996
Great
111
Average
1
Disappointing
2
Terrible
5
L

Leslie

Aug 2018

Written on

Trip of a lifetime

Trip of a lifetime and excellent guide; loved Fernando. Guides all had so muc...

B

Betty

May 2018

Written on

Fantastic trip

Fantastic trip What did I like best? All of it. Memories for a lifetime.

G

Great Destinations

Apr 2017

Written on

This is a combination review of SmarTours South American Odyssey 16 Day Escorted Tour and the South American destinations themselves

The actual tour was 14 days because of overnight flights. We visited Chile, Argentina and Brazil. We were a cohesive group of 17 travelers in our 50’s-70’s from Can...

H

Helena Alshan

Aug 2016

Written on

Exelent

Excellent Tourhttp://webgraphic.us/photography/buenos-aires/index.html...

r

robert robuck

May 2016

Written on

south american odyssey

Another excellent tour with Betty Levin and the professional staff at smarTours. I was amazed at all the sites we visited, the very nice hotels, the wonderful meals....

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Tour Guide Spoke Unintelligible English

Jun 2024

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Company Failed to provide value and service

traveled with Smartours to Japan on a 12 day trip in May 2 024. This was the tour guide’s first trip working for Smartours. She spoke unintelligible English. Smartou...

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BUYER BEWARE

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SmarTours

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smarTours was founded in 1996 with one goal in mind: to provide high quality, exciting group tour packages to some of the most fascinating countries in the world at the lowest possible price.  The team at smarTours believes deeply that high quality international travel should be affordable, and we work tirelessly to deliver affordability.

At smarTours, most of our travelers in any given year are repeat customers – they had such great experiences with us before that they decided to travel with us again.  And many of our customers are so happy with smarTours that they have made traveling with us an annual tradition, reaching 5, 10, even 15 trips with smarTours!  In other words, we must be doing at least a few things right.

Unbeatable Value: We provide exceptional value for your money, and it does not take that much time visiting our website to figure that out.  However, it can be difficult to compare the value provided by different tour operators because the tours are so intricate and multifaceted.  If you take the time to really peel back onion and evaluate the tours offered by smarTours, we are confident that you would come to the conclusion that our loyal customers have – that smarTours provides unbeatable value.

Phenomenal Tour Guides: If you ask anyone who has been on an escorted tour, they will tell you that the tour guides are an essential ingredient to making the trip a success.  The importance of tour guides is not lost on us at smarTours, which is why we are relentless in our pursuit and retention of the very best tour guides.  We are proud to say with confidence that our tour guides are phenomenal, and many of them have become celebrity-like figures within the smarTours community.

smarTours Price Protection: We have had a price protection policy since we started in 1996, and we thought it was time to share it with you.  If you reserve a spot on a tour and we later lower the price, we will make up the difference for you!  We do not penalize you for booking early, so you can reserve your spot with confidence that the price will not get any better (lower) for that particular date.  Also, to be clear, if you reserve a spot on a tour and we later increase the price, we will not raise your price to match the new price!

Focus: Unlike most of our competitors, we focus exclusively on providing affordable group tours to foreign, largely exotic destinations.  In the travel business, it is particularly easy to get distracted by new trends and themes, but we have chosen to focus on what we do best.  We are extremely deliberate in introducing new tours because we have set a standard that our loyal customers have come to rely on, and we are committed to meeting and exceeding your expectations.

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Logistics

Accommodation

Rio de Janeiro: Windsor Atlantica Hotel Iguassu Falls: Mabu Thermas Grand Resort Buenos Aires: MGallery Brick Hotel (formerly Caesar Park) Bariloche: Hotel NH Bariloche Edelweiss Puerto Varas: Radisson Hotel Puerto Varas Santiago: Atton Vitacura

Transportation & Flights

Round-trip airfare from Miami via LAN and TAM Airlines (NYC departure add $100),

Transportation & flights

Round-trip airfare from Miami via LAN and TAM Airlines (NYC departure add $100)
Cancellation policy
Full Payment due 90 days before departure. Failure to make final payment on time may result in automatic cancellation of reservation and loss of deposit.   Changes to the original reservation will result in a $150 change fee per person per change. No changes allowed within 90 days of departure.   Cancellation charges per person are: Up to 90 days before departure: $300 89-60 days before departure: $1000 59-45 days before departure: $1500 44-30 days before departure: $2000 29 days or less before departure: No refund. All cancellations must be received in writing.   We recommend the purchase of Travel Insurance. Insurance premium is non-refundable and cannot be transferred from one departure to another in the event of a reservation change.
Travel Insurance
We strongly recommend purchasing travel insurance alongside your travel package to safeguard against unforeseen circumstances such as medical expenses, trip cancellations, and other contingencies. It offers you peace of mind and ensures you are prepared for unexpected events that may occur before or during your journey
Visa requirements
Visa requirements vary depending on your country of origin and your country of destination. It is your responsibility to familiarize yourself with the relevant requirements. For a handy tool that can help you quickly find the requirements, please visit this link .
Meals Included
13 Breakfasts, 1 Lunch and 5 Dinners
Age Requirements
No age restrictions
Optional Activities
Santiago Full Day Vina del Mar, Valparaiso, and Winery Tour ($85 per person) Enjoy a lovely full-day excursion exploring Chile’s enchanting Pacific Coast and the thriving wine making industry. Travel through lush countryside to Viña del Mar, Chile’s oceanfront sophisticated summer resort. Continue to Valparaiso, Chile’s second largest city where 17 steep hills tower over the port, abuzz with activity. This picturesque city has twisted cobblestone alleys and ancient ascensores, electric cable cars that climb into hillside neighborhoods and afford splendid sea views. Walk through the colorful streets and stop at one of the charming seaside restaurants where you may have lunch at your own expense. This afternoon visit William Cole Vineyard in Chile’s famous wine growing region. Here, enjoy a guided tour of the winery and a wine tasting before departing back to Santiago. (A minimum of 5 participants required) Buenos Aires Tigre Delta Morning Excursion ($72 per person) The Tigre Delta, located on the outskirts of Buenos Aires, with its rivers, streams and numerous green islands is one of the most attractive areas for visitors. The continuous sediment of the Parana River, which gives the river and estuary their particular brownish-red color, forms the Delta Islands. After arrival, enjoy a delightful one-hour ride on a comfortable boat along the water passageways. En route to the Delta, you will cross the Northern suburbs of the city, where you’ll see some of the most exclusive mansions facing the river. (A minimum of 5 participants required) Rio de Janeiro Petropolis plus Hippie Fair Full Day Tour ($70 per person) Enjoy a perfect excursion to the picturesque mountain resort of Petropolis, old summer home to the Brazilian Imperial Family. You’ll enjoy a scenic drive on private Macro Bus from busy Rio through the mountains and the valleys surrounding the city to quaint Petropolis that enjoys a breezy mountain climate and commands magnificent views from its unique position high atop the hills at 2500 feet above sea level. En route, you’ll enjoy a delightful stop for tasty Brazilian bananas before visiting a chocolate factory. Then, visit the Imperial Museum, once the Summer Palace of Brazil Emperors, whose collections feature jewels and works of art once owned by the Imperial Family as well as the Crown and Scepter of Brazils last Emperor.  You’ll also visit the Old Cathedral and have some time to enjoy the charming village square and elegant mansions. To cap off your full-day excursion, you’ll visit the lively Hippie Market in Ipanema, where you’ll have some time to explore, before returning to the hotel. (A minimum of 8 participants required)
Additional Information
Trip ID
smartours-smartours-SAM

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