Impressions of South America

Day 1 ARRIVE RIO DE JANEIRO (4 NIGHTS)

Bemvindo ao Rio de Janeiro. You will arrive and be met at the airport by a local host and taken to your lovely hotel (check in time is 3 p.m.). Enjoy your hotel's superb location overlooking Copacabana Beach and minutes from downtown Rio.  Hotel Windsor Atlantica

Day 2 RIO DE JANEIRO SIGHTSEEING AND AT LEISURE

Enjoy a leisurely morning before joining your Travel Director for an exploration of the cidade maravilhosa (marvellous city) and its many contrasts, from the 18th century aqueduct and colonial Candelaria Church to the 20th century opera house, Sambodromo, and city cathedral. Ascend Sugarloaf Mountain via cable car for astounding bay and city views followed by a festive Welcome Reception with your Travel Director and fellow travellers. Full Breakfast Welcome Reception

Day 3 RIO DE JANEIRO SIGHTSEEING AND AT LEISURE

Board a classic cogwheel train for the journey to the summit of majestic Corcovado, site of the iconic Christ the Redeemer statue, one of the Seven Wonders of the World. After admiring the panoramic views, head back down the mountain and see the song-inspiring Copacabana and Ipanema beaches. Spend the rest of the day at leisure. This evening, learn how to mix the perfect caipirinha, Brazil's national cocktail, with a Local Specialist and then indulge in a traditional barbecue Regional Meal at a local churrascaria. Full Breakfast Regional Meal

Day 4 RIO DE JANEIRO AT LEISURE

Enjoy a full day to explore the wonders of Rio on your own. Your Travel Director will be happy to help you plan your day. Take a sailboat cruise along the coast, a helicopter ride over Copacabana or visit a nearby favella. Full Breakfast

Day 5 RIO DE JANEIRO – IGUASSU FALLS (2 NIGHTS)

Enjoy a morning at leisure to explore on your own. Perhaps a swim in the Atlantic sounds refreshing. This afternoon, visit a Samba school, with a Local Specialist, to see how the school operates and prepares for Carnival week. See Carnival props and if you desire, join a Samba dance lesson. Then take a flight to magnificent Iguassu Falls, straddling the border of Brazil, Argentina and Paraguay. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, Iguassu National Park boasts one of the world's largest and most impressive waterfalls and is home to many rare and endangered species of flora and fauna. This evening, enjoy a convivial dinner with your travel companions at the hotel. Full Breakfast Hotel Wish Resort Golf Foz do Iguassu

Day 6 IGUASSU FALLS SIGHTSEEING AND AT LEISURE

Enter Iguassu National Park and spend the morning exploring the Brazilian side of the cascades with a Local Specialist, including a scenic walk through the rainforest to the base of the falls. After enjoying lunch at a local restaurant with a view of the falls, return to your resort hotel for an afternoon at leisure. Take advantage of your resort's amenities or choose from a variety of optional experiences, including a jetboat ride to the base of the falls, helicopter flightseeing or a visit to a tropical bird reserve home to more than 500 species of birds. Full Breakfast

Day 7 IGUASSU FALLS – BUENOS AIRES (3 NIGHTS)

Cross the border into Argentina and spend some time getting to know the geography of the area at the Visitors Centre. Take a walk along a scenic catwalk to view the thunderous Devil's Throat Falls and ride the open-air ecological jungle train for a different perspective of the mighty cascades. Then fly to Buenos Aires and arrive at your stylish hotel. Argentina's sizzling capital is renowned for its international designer boutiques, fine dining venues, museums, cultural pursuits and modern theatres. Full Breakfast Hotel InterContinental Buenos Aires

Day 8 BUENOS AIRES SIGHTSEEING AND AT LEISURE

Embark with a Local Specialist on a guided tour of the passionate city where the tango was born. See the Casa Rosada, Metropolitan Cathedral and other government buildings; the colourful neighbourhood of La Boca; San Telmo and lovely Palermo, home to fashionable cafés and verdant parks.  See the Teatro Colon, a landmark in Buenos Aires and Cultural Insight. Take a  tour of the opera house, including the main function rooms and the main stage. Lastly, visit the Recoleta Cemetery, where Argentina's former first lady, Eva Peron (Evita), is buried. This evening, do as the locals do and linger over a Regional Meal and a chance for an authentic taste of world-renowned Argentinian beef. Cap off the evening watching the best tango dancers in Buenos Aires perform, and experience the passion and power of the traditional tango – the most representative and beloved music in Argentina. Full Breakfast Regional Meal

Day 9 BUENOS AIRES AT LEISURE

Relish a morning and afternoon at leisure to pursue your own interests in the “Paris of South America.” The possibilities are endless. Delve into one of the country's finest museums at the Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes, set in a lovely park in the Recoleta neighbourhood. Follow in the footsteps of Argentina's most revered writer, Jorge Luis Borges, as you browse the many bookstores of Buenos Aires and sip a coffee at the famed Cafe Tortoni. If you'd like to experience a different side of Argentina, choose an optional trip into the countryside to a traditional estancia (ranch); share a drink with the local gauchos (cowboys), learn about their lives and marvel at their consummate horsemanship during a lively equestrian show before sitting down to a sumptuous traditional parrillada (barbecue) lunch. Tonight, join your Travel Director and fellow travellers for an exclusive Be My Guest Farewell experience in Palermo Soho. You will be welcomed by a local family and long-time residents of this now-trendy neighbourhood. Be delighted, as they wine and dine you with homemade family recipes in the kitchen. Discover the secrets of kneading country bread. Watch as your hosts demonstrate the art of typical Argentinian crafts. Spending time with this family will be an experience you won't soon forget. Full Breakfast Be My Guest Dining

Day 10 DEPART BUENOS AIRES

Say hasta luego to Argentina today and transfer to the airport for your flight home. For your convenience, your rooms are reserved until 5 p.m. Or you may choose to extend your stay in Buenos Aires. Full Breakfast