Ultimate South America with Santiago Stopover & Galapagos Cruise

Discover some of South America's greatest cities - Santiago, Rio de Janeiro, Buenos Aires, Lima, and Quito - and some of its most spectacular ruins and scenic areas on this South America tour. You'll overnight in Santiago, Rio de Janeiro, Iguassu Falls, Buenos Aires, Lima, the Sacred Valley, Machu Picchu, Cusco, Lake Titicaca, Quito, and Guayaquil, along with four nights cruising the Galápagos Islands aboard the Santa Cruz II. First, break up your journey to Brazil with a 2-night stay in Santiago, scenic capital of Chile. Your adventure begins with an included guided sightseeing tour that introduces you to the city and its sites, and you’ll also have plenty of free time to explore on your own. Next, fly from South America’s west coast to its east coast and arrive in cosmopolitan Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Guided sightseeing in each of the cities features the must-see sites. In Rio, take the cog railway to the summit of Corcovado to view the famous Christ the Redeemer statue. Your time in Buenos Aires includes a visit to Recoleta Cemetery, burial place for Eva Peron. In Lima, your sightseeing focuses on the city's colonial heritage. Highlights of this South America tour include time at Iguassu Falls on both the Brazilian and Argentine sides. Experience the falls, hear the thundering roar, be amazed at the brilliant rainbows created by the clouds of spray, and stand in awe as you witness these 275 falls spanning nearly two miles! You’ll also be amazed at Machu Picchu, set in a majestic mountainside with ruins dating back to the 15th century. Glimpse the ancient history and culture as you enjoy this stunning and mystical place. Other tour highlights include a visit to the Inca ruins at Ollantaytambo and the Temple of Sacsayhuaman, with stones weighing up to 350 tons. Time in Peru's Lake Titicaca, a lake of floating islands maintained over centuries by the indigenous people, gives you a chance to experience the world's highest navigable lake and to learn about local practices. Guided sightseeing in each of the cities features the must-see sites, including Santiago’s Plaza de Armas, Rio’s famous Christ the Redeemer statue, the Recoleta Cemetery in Buenos Aires, Lima’s baroque 11th-century San Francisco Monastery, and Quito’s La Compania Church. But that’s not all…you’ll take a 4-night Galápagos Islands cruise. Explore the islands, snorkel, swim, and enjoy seeing rays, starfish, blue-footed boobies, sea lions, land iguanas, and much more. Learn about conservation efforts for the famous giant tortoises at the Highlands Tortoise Reserve. All of this-and more-are included on this South America tour designed for the value-minded travel lover who wants to experience it all!