On this South America vacation, explore the Amazon Jungle and two of the great cities in Brazil and Argentina—Rio de Janeiro and Buenos Aires—at a relaxed pace. For a once-in-a-lifetime thrill, you’ll visit the Amazon Jungle and cruise along the chocolate-colored Rio Negro to its confluence with the yellow-gray Rio Solimões, where the two rivers form the Amazon. Watch for the captivating native flora and fauna. Also, visit a rehabilitation center for primates and see spider monkeys, squirrel monkeys, wooly monkeys, and capuchin monkeys. In addition to the beauty of the Amazon, this tour also offers you a chance to experience Rio de Janeiro and Buenos Aires. Dance the Tango in Buenos Aires; sip caipirinhas, a popular Brazilian cocktail, in Rio; listen to the sounds of Rio; and watch people play soccer and volleyball on famous Copacabana Beach. Sightseeing in both cities shows you the famous sites, including the Cemetery of the Recoleta, where Eva Peron is buried in Buenos Aires. A trip highlight is Iguassu Falls, one of the most spectacular sights on earth. Meaning “Big Water” in the local dialect, there are 275 falls that cover a distance of over a mile and a half. A photograph cannot accurately portray this breathtaking sight—you must experience it for yourself! Hear the deafening roar and admire the brilliant rainbows created by the clouds of spray. From the vibrant cities to the scenic beauty, this vacation to the Amazon, Rio de Janeiro, Iguassu Falls, and Buenos Aires will leave you with vacation memories you’ll cherish forever.No one brings the world’s stories to life like we do. What story will you discover next?
Itinerary:
Day #1 Arrive in Manaus, Brazil. After arriving at your hotel, meet up for guided city sightseeing of Manaus to view the vestiges of its glory days during the rubber boom. Your first stop will be the famous OPERA HOUSE, built in 1896 with materials imported from Europe. Next, visit the MUSEUM OF NATURAL SCIENCES before a stroll through a bustling LOCAL MARKET abundant with local foods and wares. (D)
Day #2 Manaus–Amazon Jungle. Today your “Meeting of the Waters” tour passes by the impressive British-built Custom House and the floating port. CRUISE along the chocolate-colored Rio Negro to its confluence with the yellow-gray Rio Solimões, where the two rivers form the mighty Amazon. For four miles the differently colored bodies of water flow side by side and never mix! After lunch on the river, explore a JUNGLE ISLAND (if the water level is not too low) with fascinating native flora and fauna. Later this afternoon, arrive at the Ecopark Jungle Lodge situated on the banks of the Rio Negro inside the Amazonian rainforest. (B,L,D)
Day #3 Amazon Jungle. Accompanied by a Naturalist, enjoy a guided JUNGLE WALK introducing you to the flora and fauna that thrives in the Amazon. After lunch, depart the lodge and sail up the river to visit a Caboclo’s NATIVE AMAZON VILLAGE to learn about their traditions, costumes, and culture. Also try your hand at piranha fishing! Later, visit the MONKEY JUNGLE RESERVE, where researchers work to rehabilitate captive primates and reintroduce them to the jungle. Here, you have the opportunity to see a feeding of spider monkeys, squirrel monkeys, woolly monkeys, and capuchin monkeys. This evening you may wish to venture back out on canoe with your Naturalist into the flooded forest to appreciate the sounds of the jungle at night, with the possibility to spot small alligators (or other night creatures). (B,L,D)
Day #4 Amazon Jungle–Rio de Janeiro. This morning, depart the Ecopark for a flight to fabulous Rio for an overnight stay. (B)
Day #5 Rio de Janeiro. Today is a free day in Rio to explore as you please. This evening, meet your fellow traveling companions for caipirinhas at SUGAR LOAF MOUNTAIN followed by a welcome dinner. (B,D)
Day #6 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. The afternoon and evening are at leisure for you to experience this vibrant city on your own. Tonight, you may opt to join in 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)
Day #7 Rio de Janeiro. Enjoy a full day at leisure to fill as you wish. This morning, you may choose to join the optional Jeep tour to visit the Botanical Garden with its splendid orchid exhibit, and the dazzling green world of Tijuca National Park. This afternoon, sightseers might elect to discover historic Petropolis, a mountain resort and the site of the former summer palace of Emperor Dom Pedro II. (B)
Day #8 Rio de Janeiro–Iguassu Falls. Fly to Iguassu Falls. The afternoon is dedicated to enjoying the magnificent panorama of waterfalls. The spectacle of this 2-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 #9 Iguassu Falls–Buenos Aires, Argentina. This morning, take the ECOLOGICAL JUNGLE TRAIN and tour 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. After arriving at your central hotel, an orientation walk acquaints you with the “Paris of South America” and its wide boulevards and outdoor cafés. Enjoy an evening at leisure. (B)
Day #10 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 a popular gathering spot for artists. At the Plaza de Mayo, see La Casa Rosada (the President’s Pink House) and the METROPOLITAN CATHEDRAL, which houses San Martin’s Mausoleum. Drive past the ornate Colon Opera House before reaching the CEMETERY OF THE RECOLETA, the burial site of Eva Peron. Spend the afternoon at leisure. This evening, savor the atmosphere of this cosmopolitan capital on your farewell evening excursion with dinner followed by a flawless performance of Latin America’s most sensuous dance—the Tango! (B,D)
Day #11 Buenos Aires. Today is at leisure, or consider an optional 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)
Day #12 Buenos Aires–Homebound Flight. Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning. (B)
Hotels:
Manaus Tropical Manaus Resort & Convention Center (MD),
Amazon Reserve Ecopark Jungle Lodge (BA),
Rio de Janeiro Excelsior Copacabana (F),
Iguassu Falls Hotel Mabu Thermas (F),
Buenos Aires Sheraton Libertador (SF)
Meals:
American breakfast daily (B), 2 lunches (L) and 6 three-course dinners (D), including a welcome dinner in Rio and a special farewell dinner excursion in Buenos Aires.