South American Sampler
14 Day Tour

Price Per person double occupancy

Dates
Request a quote or call 800-322-0788 for more information.

Price Includes: Services of a professional tour director from Rio de Janeiro to Santiago, Hotels listed or equivalent. Twin-bedded rooms with private bath or shower, hotel taxes, service charges, and tips for baggage handling, 11 American breakfasts (B); 1 lunch (L); 6 dinners (D), including a welcome dinner in Rio, a steak dinner with tango show in Buenos Aires, and a farewell dinner in Santiago, Inside visits as shown in UPPERCASE in the tour description, including admission charges where applicable, Travel bag and travel documents.

Not Included: air travel to and from Rio and Santiago, air taxes

Hotels: Rio De Janeiro - Sheraton Rio Hotel and Towers (D), Iguassu Falls - Hotel Das Cataratas (F), Buenos Aires - Sheraton Buenos Aires Hotel (SF), Santiago - Sheraton Santiago Hotel (D).

D: Deluxe; SF: Superior First-Class; F: First-Class

Deposit Required: $300 per person will reserve your place. A $100 service fee will be charged for cancellation at any time in addition to our normal payment and cancellation policy.

Day 1: Depart USA for Rio de Janeiro

Board your overnight flight to South America.

Day 2: Arrival In Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Welcome to South America's largest and most populous country. Rooms are ready so that you can freshen up and rest before taking a first look at Rio. This afternoon meet your tour director and traveling companions for a drive along famous Ipanema and Copacabana beaches to the base of 1,300-foot SUGAR LOAF MOUNTAIN. Ascend by cable car to its summit, from where you savor spectacular vistas of the city while toasting the start of a memorable vacation with caiparhinas, a favorite Brazilian cocktail. Then look forward to a welcome dinner at a popular local restaurant. (D)

Day 3: Rio de Janeiro

Enjoy a full day at leisure to fill as you wish. This morning you may choose to join the optional 4 X 4 tour to visit the Botanical Gardens, with its splendid orchid exhibit, and the bird sanctuary in Tijuca National Park. This afternoon the sightseers might elect to discover historic Petropolis, a mountain resort and the site of the former summer palace of Emperor Dom Pedro II. The shoppers will want to seek out silver jewelry, leather goods, and lacework. Tonight is as your leisure. (B)

Day 4: Rio de Janeiro

The city's landmark, the statue of Christ the Redeemer, crowns CORCOVADO MOUNTAIN, a rounded peak rising 2,300 feet from the bay below. A scenic ride by cog railway leads to the top, where a breathtaking 360-degree panorama affords sweeping views. From here proceed to bustling downtown Rio, where modern office towers stand next to relics of the Portuguese colonial past. View the Sambodromo and visit the CATHEDRAL. This afternoon is at leisure for you to experience this vibrant city on your own. Tonight a fun outing to a churrascaria for a feast of barbecued meats marinated and roasted over charcoal in true Brazilian style, followed by a samba show where the sheer vitality of this country explodes in a colorful extravaganza. (B,D)

Day 5: Rio de Janeiro, Iguassu Falls

A full day to leisure to savor Rio. Relax on one of the world's most famous beaches or participate in world class shopping or fine dining. Your tour director will be available throughout the day to advise you on any special activities or available optional tours. (B)

Day 6: Rio de Janeiro, Iguassu Falls

A late morning flight to Iguassu. The afternoon is dedicated to enjoying the magnificent panorama of waterfalls. The spectacle of this two-mile-wide torrential downpour–with some cataracts as high as 250 feet–is nothing short of hypnotic. The clouds of spray, the incessant roar, and the surrounding luxuriant tropical growth make this an unforgettable natural wonder. (B,D)

Day 7: Iguassu Falls, Buenos Aires

A morning tour of the Argentine side of the falls before your flight to Buenos Aires, proud capital of the vast country that occupies most of the southern part of the continent. En route to your central hotel, an orientation drive acquaints you with the "Paris of South America" and its wide boulevards and outdoor cafes. Evening at leisure. (B)

Day 8: Buenos Aires

Your included sightseeing this morning starts in La Boca, a colorful district and site of the city's first port. Take a short walking tour of this unique neighborhood at the mouth of the river and then on to San Telmo–famous for its late colonial buildings and as a popular gathering spot for artists. At the Plaza de Mayo see La Casa Rosada (the President's Pink House) and the METROPOLITAN CATHEDRAL, housing San Martin's Mausoleum. Drive past the ornate Colon Opera House before reaching THE CEMETERY OF THE RECOLETA, the burial site of Eva Peron. After an afternoon at leisure, savor the atmosphere of this cosmopolitan capital on the included evening excursion: dinner at a typical restaurant featuring succulent Argentine steaks and other specialties, followed by a flawless performance of Latin America's most sensuous dance–the tango! (B,D)

Day 9: Buenos Aires

Today enjoy an included excursion to the pampas. Experience the atmosphere of Argentine country life as you visit an estancia (ranch). Get acquainted with the lifestyle of the gauchos and enjoy a barbecue lunch and the warm hospitality of your hosts before returning to the city. (B,L)

Day 10: Buenos Aires, Santiago

Morning is at leisure to savor your last day in Argentina. Relax this afternoon during a scenic flight over the Andes before arriving in Santiago, Chile's capital. This country is more than ten times longer than wide, with 2,650 miles of beautiful Pacific coastline. (B,D)

Day 11: Santiago

Located in the center of the country and perched between the Pacific Ocean and the Andes, Santiago has evolved as the country's political, commercial, and cultural capital. Step back into the 16th century as your local guide traces the city's history and heritage. Start at La Moneda, the official Government Palace, and nearby SAN CRISTOBAL HILL with its landmark statue of the Virgin Mary. Your tour ends at the Plaza de Armas, the main square, with a visit to the 18th-century CATHEDRAL. The afternoon and evening are at your leisure. (B)

Day 12: Santiago

The day is free for independent activities. You may want to take advantage of our optional excursion to the beautiful coastal region west of Santiago. Drive through the undulating hills of Chile's wine country to the historic port of Valparaiso, and continue along the coast to nearby Vina del Mar. This chic seaside resort with palm tree-lined avenues and lovely villas truly deserves the sobriquet "Pearl of the Pacific." This evening, your tour director hosts a farewell dinner to celebrate the success of this exciting Latin American vacation. (B,D)

Day 13: Santiago, Homebound Flight

A full day at leisure. Late this evening your homebound flight departs. (B)

Day 14: Arrival in USA

An early morning arrival is ideal for making homebound connections.