Independent Brazil & Argentina

Welcome to South America’s capital of glamour—Rio de Janeiro, where your hotel is available for mid-afternoon check-in.

• Today, your private tour takes you to the Cosme Velho district, where you board a cog-wheel train that will take you through the lush tropical vegetation of Tijuca Forest to the top of Corcovado Mountain. This rounded peak rising 2,300 feet from the bay is one of the New7Wonders of the World and home to the iconic statue of Christ the Redeemer. Enjoy a breathtaking 360-degree panorama, which affords sweeping views of the city and beaches below. • The afternoon and evening are at leisure. • Tonight, you may opt to join an outing to a fun churrascaria for a feast of barbecued meats that are marinated and roasted over charcoal in true Brazilian style. (B)

• Enjoy a full day at leisure. Your Local Host will suggest some options for your free time. (B) INSIDER PICKS This afternoon, you may elect to discover historic Petropolis, a mountain resort and site of the former summer palace of Emperor Dom Pedro II or take an optional excursion to visit iconic Sugar Loaf Mountain.

• Transfer to the airport and fly to Iguassu Falls. This masterpiece of nature encompasses 275 separate falls and spans almost two miles. • Upon arrival, you will be met by your Local Guide who will take you on a private tour dedicated to enjoying the spectacle of this 2-mile-wide torrent from the Brazilian side. See the mammoth series of waterfalls cascading over a precipice almost two miles wide and 250 feet deep. Walk into Devil’s Throat Canyon, where the clouds of mist, thunderous roar, and 180-degree rainbows surround you—an unforgettable experience! (B)

• Your Local Guide will take you across the Brazilian border for a private tour of the Argentine side of the Iguassu Falls. Begin with a short ride on the open-air Ecological Jungle Train through the rainforest. • From atop the falls, a series of boardwalks takes you above the falls to see the water crashing down more than 300 feet below into the Devil’s Throat. • Return across the border to Brazil for a free afternoon and evening. (B) INSIDER PICKS Your afternoon is free to explore, or you may opt to visit the Bird Park, home to many species of indigenous birds as well as flora from the area.

• Transfer to the airport and fly to Buenos Aires, proud capital of the vast country that occupies most of the southern part of the continent. • After transferring to your central hotel, you will have time to become acquainted with the “Paris of South America” and its wide boulevards and outdoor cafés. (B)

• After breakfast, your private tour takes you along the widest avenue in the world to see the Teatro Colón Opera House, the pride of Buenos Aires. You’ll also visit the Avenida de Mayo and Plaza de Mayo, surrounded by La Casa Rosada (the President’s Pink House), and the Cabildo, which was the first City Hall. Visit the Metropolitan Cathedral, which houses San Martin’s Mausoleum. Continue to the oldest district in Buenos Aires, San Telmo, then stop by vibrant La Boca and Palermo. Finish your city tour with a visit to Recoleta Cemetery, burial site of Eva Perón and a highlight of the city. • This evening, you may opt to enjoy dinner and a traditional Tango show—Argentina’s famed passionate dance. (B) INSIDER PICKS The Tango and Argentina go hand in hand. Tonight, perhaps opt to visit a local tango house, where professional tango dancers will delight you with a Tango Show featuring the dance as it has evolved through the ages. Plus, dine on Argentine specialties and wine too!

• Today is free to explore this extraordinary city. Consider an optional excursion to visit a traditional estancia (ranch) to experience the lifestyle of the gauchos, or cruise down the Tigre River surrounded by beautiful landscapes and impressive homes. (B) INSIDER PICKS Estancias date back to the 16th century during Spanish colonization when conquistadors where gifted land to raise and breed cattle. Today, these lands and traditions that go along with them have been passed down from generation to generation. Today, you have the chance to step into the traditional, local life of a gaucho and embrace Argentinean heritage during an optional trip to a traditional estancia.

Your vacation ends after breakfast this morning. (B)