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       THE ESSENCE OF SOUTH AMERICA

THE ESSENCE OF SOUTH AMERICA ITINERARY:

Day 1: Spectacular Santiago
Welcome to Chile and your South America travel adventure, which begins at the Grand Hyatt Santiago at 2:00 p.m. Take our included transfer from Santiago Airport to the Grand Hyatt Santiago, then set off to see the sights of Santiago. Visit the Plaza de Armas, the fascinating Museum of Pre-Columbian Art and the Metropolitan Cathedral before taking in the breathtaking views of the city and the Andes Mountains beyond from the top of San Cristobal Hill. Join us for our welcome dinner tonight.
Meals: Dinner Lodging: Grand Hyatt Santiago, Chile

Day 2: The wines of Chile
Chile is world-renowned for the fine quality of its wines. Travel into the Chilean wine country to visit a vineyard and discover generations-old wine making traditions. In the Maipo Valley, sample some of Chile’s justly famous fruits of the vine over lunch; such discoveries are among the great pleasures of South America travel. Explore Santiago at your leisure the rest of the day, taking the opportunity to choose from one of the city’s many excellent restaurants for dinner on your own this evening.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch  Lodging: Grand Hyatt Santiago, Chile

Day 3: Patagonian panorama
Patagonia is said to be one of the most beautiful areas on earth. Fly from Santiago to the Patagonian port city of Puerto Montt, founded by German immigrants in 1853. Continue on through the rolling countryside of scenic Patagonia, with its views of lovely lakes and mountains, to Puerto Varas, the “city of roses,” where the influence of those German settlers is seen in both architecture and beautiful gardens. In Frutillar, visit the German Heritage Museum to discover what life was like in the early days.  Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner  Lodging: Cabañas del Lago, Puerto Varas, Chile

Day 4: A day on the water
Today, we begin our two-day crossing of the majestic Andes Mountains, one of the great adventures of South America travel. Board a catamaran to sail across Lago Todos Los Santos to Puella, a paradise for nature lovers situated in the midst of Vincent Perez Rosales National Park. Have your camera ready as you cruise across El Encanto Pond surrounded by natural beauty. Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Lodging: Hotel Natura, Puella, Chile

Day 5: Adios, Chile! Hola, Argentina!
Continue on through the Andes past mighty Mount Tronador, cross the border into Argentina and take a short cruise across Lago Frias. Enjoy lunch and great views of beautiful Nahuel Huapi Lake. Join a naturalist for a hike along the lakeshore before again cruising along Lago Todos Los Santos; keep an eye out for Andean Condors floating above the surrounding peaks. Arrive at the luxurious Llao Llao Hotel & Resort, located in a spectacular area known as the “Switzerland of South America,” for a two-night stay.  Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Lodging: Llao Llao Hotel & Resort, Bariloche, Argentina

Day 6: Natural treasures and ranch revelations
Enjoy the many amenities of your resort today, or join us for a tour of Nahuel Huapi National Park, Argentina’s oldest, which is known for both its inspiring scenery and biodiversity. Board the Campanario Chair Lift to see amazing 360-degree vistas of this stunning area; then visit an estancia, a working sheep ranch, to explore the business of ranching in Argentina before partaking in a traditional estancia-style barbeque featuring local cuisine and wines.  Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Lodging: Llao Llao Hotel & Resort, Bariloche, Argentina

Day 7: Buenos dias, Buenos Aires
Fly today to the “Paris of South America,” beautiful Buenos Aires. After lunch, explore the charming northern districts of Soho Palermo, Palermo and Recoleta. Pay your respects to Eva Peron as you visit her grave during a walking tour the beautiful Recoleta Cemetery. Dinner tonight is at your leisure at the grand Caesar Park Buenos Aires, your home for the next three nights. Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Lodging: Caesar Park Buenos Aires, Argentina

Day 8: Cosmopolitan delights
Our exploration of sprawling Buenos Aires focuses on the southern area of the city. Discover Boca, the colorful Bohemian neighborhood; explore the many antique stalls in San Telmo Moreno; and see the center of politics and national celebrations, Plaza de Mayo. Admire the Teatro Colon, renowned as one of the world’s great opera houses, whose stage has been graced by opera legends such as Maria Callas, Enrico Caruso and Luciano Pavarotti. After an afternoon at leisure, have dinner at a famous steakhouse and watch a show featuring the traditional tango, the beloved dance of Argentina. Meals: Breakfast, dinner.  Lodging: Caesar Park Buenos Aires, Argentina

Day 9: Greet the Gauchos
Head into the famous Argentinean pampas, vast plains that are home to ranches and fine horse farms. Spend the day at a gracious hacienda, with its imposing Colonial-Pampas-style manor house, historic gaucho quarters and beautiful grounds. Watch gauchos in action as they demonstrate their legendary riding skills and partake in a traditional “parrilla” lunch. This will be a memorable day on your South America travel adventure!  Meals: Breakfast, lunch  Lodging: Caesar Park Buenos Aires, Argentina

Day 10: In Argentina, it’s Iguazú
Today, experience one of nature’s greatest wonders as you fly from Buenos Aires to the Argentinean side of the mighty Iguazú Falls – deeper and twice as wide as Niagara Falls – for an overnight stay. Explore Iguazú National Park and see the Up-River cascades, the Inferior Circuit, the Down-River Falls and the compelling Devil’s Throat, through which the largest volume of water of the falls passes. The views everywhere are breathtaking.  Meals: Breakfast, dinner
Lodging: Sheraton Iguazú Resort & Spa, Iguazú, Argentina

Day 11: In Brazil, it’s Iguaçu... and you're flying up to Rio
Cross the Tancredo Neves Bridge from Argentina to Brazil to view the famous falls from a different perspective. Within Brazil’s Iguaçu National Park, you’ll find 275 cascades that form a waterfall a mile-and-a-half long. A walk through the rainforest at the base of the falls will be most memorable. Later, fly to amazing Rio de Janeiro and your oceanfront hotel on beautiful Copacabana Beach. Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Lodging: Sofitel Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Day 12: Romantic Rio
Romantic Rio whirls around you as you drive to the Jardim Botanico, a botanical garden that is home to over 7000 plant species, and visit the Carnaval Museum for insights into the history of Rio’s fabled Carnaval parades; see a demonstration of the dance born in Brazil, the samba. Later, take a two-stage cable car to the summit of Sugarloaf Mountain, one of Rio’s iconic landmarks. The afternoon is free to discover more of Rio de Janeiro as you wish. Join us this evening for a farewell reception and dinner at a local churrascos restaurant.  Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Lodging: Sofitel Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Day 13: Homeward Bound
Your morning is free to pursue what interests you in this marvelous city. After lunch, drive along Rio’s famous beaches and through the Tijuca, a hand-planted rainforest in the midst of the city. What better ending to our journey could there be than traveling up Corcovado Hill by train and gondola to see the world-famous statue of Christ the Redeemer. Your South America travel adventure ends in Rio de Janeiro at 5:00 p.m. Transfers are provided from the Sofitel Rio de Janeiro to Rio de Janeiro International Airport.  Meals: Breakfast, lunch

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