Brazil & Argentina The Wonders of Brazil and Argentina - Itinerary
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Day 1: Arrivals, Argentine Wine Appreciation, Welcome Dinner On your arrival in Buenos Aires Ezeiza International Airport, you will be met by our chauffeur for your private transfer to Urban Suites Recoleta Hotel, a modern boutique hotel in the very heart of Recoleta neighborhood, surrounded by museums, art galleries, restaurants, major shopping centers and of course, the famous Recoleta Cemetery, an icon of Argentine history. After some time to settle in and rest after your journey, we'll start our time in Buenos Aires with a class in Argentine wine appreciation at one of the city's prestigious wine cellars. We'll learn about wines from Argentina's different wine growing regions, and discuss the unique properties of each one. Afterwards, we'll share in the anticipation of our adventures with a welcome dinner at one of the city's most renowned restaurants. Day 2: Buenos Aires City Tour - Tango Show After breakfast, we'll meet in the hotel's lobby and join our private guide for the classic tour of Buenos Aires which will reveal the city's cultural identity and peculiar character. We'll experience the cosmopolitan side of Buenos Aires, influenced by the many nationalities that founded it, as we discover the history, the paradoxes, the contradictions, and the essence of this most European of all South American cities. We'll visit several iconic neighborhoods: from the illustrious Plaza de Mayo and the Government "Pink House" to the aristocratic San Thelmo, the traditional Plaza Dorrego with its antique fairs and the Paris-inspired Avenida de Mayo, the colorful La Boca with its famous Caminito Street, filled with architectural curiosities and customs which reflect European influences; the leafy, modern Palermo, and the top designer shopping area of Recoleta with its celebrated cemetery, which in itself provides a rich insight into the city's history. In the evening, we'll enjoy a tango show and dinner at an upscale theatre which magically recreates the golden days of tango with a perfect blend of a refined environment, creative stage productions, talented dancers and first class cuisine. This evening is very likely to be one of the highlights of the trip. Day 3: Estancia Santa Susana This morning, we'll travel back to the 19th century, the times when the vast pampas around Buenos Aires were the domain of the indigenous Mapuche people and the gauchos, wild and untamed, except for the picturesque colonial ranches called estancias, scattered in the pampas. In the morning, we'll travel to one such traditional estancia to get a close-up look at life in the Argentine countryside. This is the time to relax, ride the horses, go for a carriage ride, then enjoy lunch of traditional dishes: local empanadas, cheeses and a traditional asado barbeque accompanied by Argentine wines. The Argentine asado is as much a ritual as it is a meal, and it involves preparing the barbeque, lighting the fire, cooking the meat using traditional techniques and selecting the right Chimichurri sauce. After dessert, we'll watch a mesmerizing folklore show and a demonstration of gaucho skills, and we'll be back in Buenos Aires in the late afternoon. Day 4: Colonia del Sacramento - Wine Appreciation Class Today, we'll experience the quiet, understated elegance of Colonia del Sacramento in Uruguay. Founded in 1680, the town evokes old Lisbon with its Portuguese influenced architecture, mosaic inlaid winding streets, and the flood of flowering trees and hedges. After crossing the Rio de la Plata River by ferry, we'll find ourselves in a different world, as we tour this lovely historic town, visiting Port Santa Rita, the old city fortifications with drawbridges, St. Martiz Church and the 17th century lighthouse jutting out into the river. After lunch, inside an old bullring, we'll return to Buenos Aires. Day 5: Flight to Iguazu Falls - Argentine Side of the Iguazu Falls After breakfast, we'll transfer to the airport for our flight to Iguazu Falls. The series of cataracts forming Iguazu Falls is so stunning, that when Eleanor Roosevelt visited the falls for the first time, she reportedly sighed, "Poor Niagara!" On arrival at this tropical paradise, we'll first visit the Argentine side of the falls, inside the Iguazu National Park. We'll start with a short journey in an open train to the Cataratas Station, from where we'll follow the paths to lookouts of the Inferior and Superior Paths, admiring the exuberant ecosystem and the imposing waterfalls rushing down past lush, tropical vines, as they crash into the waters below. We'll see a variety of ferns, orchids, begonias, birds and butterflies. We'll then walk to Devil's Throat balcony, to share in one of the greatest shows on earth: the most impressive view of the very heart of the falls, veiled in mist and adorned by rainbows. Afterwards, we'll cross the border to Brazil and transfer to the Belmond Hotel Das Cataratas, our home for the next two nigts, the only hotel located within the Iguazu Falls National Park. After settling in our beautiful surroundings, we'll end the day with a romantic dinner at the hotel's elegant restaurant. Day 6: The Iguazu Falls - Macuco Safari Boat Tour Today, we'll spend the day getting to appreciate the power and beauty of the Iguazu Falls. Accompanied by a knowledgeable guide, we'll follow the path snaking its way along the water's edge, through the tropical rainforest of the magical borderlands, as we stop to view the falls from different viewpoints and watch a series of more than 275 waterfalls cascade through the tropical vegetation, adorned by several rainbows at once. Then, there will be some free time to relax or to enjoy one of the optional activities, such as a helicopter tour over the falls or a short hike along the Banana Trail close to the hotel. In the afternoon, we'll experience the exciting Macuco Safari, first in an electric car, then on foot along the trail leading to the Salto Macuco Waterfall, watching out for orchids and native animals, then by boats going up the river through the canyon facing the rapids, as the captain brings the vessel up close to the falls, where we will be able to witness their true power. After all this excitement, we'll return to the hotel to enjoy a sumptuous dinner at the hotel's restaurant. Day 7: Bird Park - Rio de Janeiro This morning, we'll check out from our hotel, and before reaching the airport, we'll top to visit the Iguazu Bird Park. This vibrant wildlife sanctuary, surrounded by lush rainforest is home to many exotic species of birds living around the falls: toucans, macaws, and flamingos, and we'll be able to view them up close. Afterwards, we'll check in for our flight to Rio de Janeiro, with its dramatic blend of mountains, golden beaches, and samba rhythm, a city where nature and celebration meet beneath the watchful gaze of Christ the Redeemer. We'll be staying at the beachfront Copacabana Hilton Hotel, ideally located right across the blue waters of Copacabana Beach, and close to Ipanema Beach. There will be some free time to relax or to take a walk on the beach, before meeting for dinner. Day 8: Rio de Janeiro City Tour - Samba Show After a leisurely breakfast while enjoying the stunning views over the Copacabana Beach, we'll set out for a guided tour of the city. Rio de Janeiro is a melting pot of cultures, home to over six million people with no predominant race, religion or creed, making it a unique gem in the heart of South America, where everyone is welcome. Today, we'll get close and personal with Rio, as we tour the 16th and 17th century Portuguese-era monuments and landmarks, the Mayan pyramid-inspired Saint Sebastian Metropolitan Cathedral, Sao Bento Monastery, and Carioca Square, where we'll stop for coffee at the traditional Colombo Coffee Shop. Then, for spectacular views of the sun setting over the "Cidade Maravilhosa", we'll take cable cars and ascend to the most magical Rio de Janeiro viewing spot on Sugar Loaf Mountain. From 1,300 feet above Guanabara Bay, we'll admire the majestic metropolis, the Atlantic Ocean beyond the confines of Rio Harbor and all the way up to the climbing peaks, capped by Mount Corcovado. In the evening, to enhance our appreciation of the city, we'll experience one of Rio's brightly colored performances, an exotic samba show in the tradition of Brazilian Carnival, where singers and dancers present dazzling songs and stories inspired by Brazilian folklore. Day 9: Rio de Janeiro - Christ the Redeemer - Sunset Cruise In the morning, we'll set out to enjoy a series of amazing views of the city, as we wind our way up along Rodrigo de Freitas Lagoon until we reach the foot of the majestic Corcovado (Hunchback) Mountain. We'll travel by cog train through the lush Tijuca Rainforest to the top, where we'll come face to face with the largest Art Deco statue in the world: Christ the Redeemer, the symbol of Rio de Janeiro, soaring nearly 100 feet above its pedestal and casting its benevolent gaze upon the massive city below. After this iconic Rio experience, we'll take a guided walk through Santa Teresa neighborhood, stopping to enjoy a barbecue lunch at one of the famous Brazilian churrascarias, where the open flame meets the fine cuts of meat for a meal that cannot be duplicated anywhere else on the planet. We'll top the day with a romantic Guanabara Bay sunset cruise, and enjoy the dramatic, gold-tinged views of the city, accompanied by drinks and snacks. The evening will be free to enjoy the easygoing atmosphere of the world famous beaches: Copacabana and Ipanema. Day 10: Rio de Janeiro to Manaus Today, we'll travel into the heart of the Brazilian Amazon, flying from Rio de Janeiro to Manaus. We'll arrive in Manaus, a city that still bears traces of its lavish past from the rubber boom era, when its wealth built grand theaters, ornate mansions, and made it one of the most prosperous cities in South America. We'll transfer to our beautiful boutique hotel, Villa Amazonia Hotel, next to the famous Teatro Amazonas and after some time to explore our new surroundings, we'll meet to an intimate dinner at the hotel's restaurant. Day 11: Deep into the Amazon Rainforest After a full Brazilian breakfast, we'll transfer to the amazing Anavilhanas Jungle Lodge, our home for the next three nights. This small, luxury hotel is set on a private stretch of the Rio Negro and it blends refined comfort with the wild beauty of the Amazon rainforest, offering us the chance to explore winding blackwater channels by canoe, encounter pink river dolphins, and return each evening to the serenity of stilted bungalows and candlelit dinners surrounded by the sounds of the jungle. After getting settled, we’ll enjoy a delicious lunch before heading out on our first adventure. We'll board traditional wooden canoes to navigate through flooded forests and towering trees, enjoying incredible scenery, dense vegetation, vibrant flowers, and watching frolicking monkeys darting through the treetops. We'll keep an eye out for iguanas, caimans, monkeys, night hawks, and even sloths. We’ll finish the day with a peaceful and relaxing dinner at the lodge. Day 12: Hiking in the Rainforest - Amazon Native Community On our first morning in the Amazon rainforest, we'll wake up early and start the day with a hike through the Amazon rainforest. There is nothing more exciting than unveiling the secrets of the rainforest with those who know it deeply and intimately. Accompanied by a knowledgeable guide, we'll learn about the Amazon's secrets, its animals, trees and fruits, the benefits of medical herbs, as well as about the survival skills in this wilderness. We'll return to our jungle lodge for lunch, and in the afternoon, we'll visit a native Amazon community and meet the locals involved in preserving the Amazonian arts and lifestyle in the changing world. At sunset, we'll explore the rainforest in our canoes and as the day turns into the evening, we'll observe the diversity of the nocturnal wildlife and admire the millions of stars and constellations of the Southern hemisphere. Day 13: Piranha Fishing - Archery Practice Today, we'll start the day with an exciting adventure sailing through the winding river canals of the Amazon. As the forest comes to life in the early morning light, we’ll board a traditional Amazonian boat and try our hand at piranha fishing, a fun and engaging activity that offers a glimpse into one of the many ways local communities interact with the river and its resources. Surrounded by the sights and sounds of the jungle, this unique experience will combine adventure with a deeper appreciation of the Amazon ecosystem. After lunch, we’ll set out to learn and practice our archery skills which are part of the heritage of the Amazon indigenous communities. We'll practice the techniques and the ways to concentrate, as we enjoy the archery practice led by members of the Waimiri-Atroari ethnic group, using authentic skills passed down through generations. It will be an opportunity to engage directly with the cultural heritage of the region, as we gain insight into the values, creativity, and resilience of the Amazon’s indigenous communities through storytelling, practical demonstrations, and active participation. We'll end the day with another amazing candlelit dinner at our jungle lodge. Day 14: Anavilhanas Archipelago - Departure transfers We’ll begin the final day of our adventure with an exploration of the breathtaking Anavilhanas Archipelago, a maze of winding canals, serene lakes, and countless islands that form one of the largest river archipelagos in the world. We'll explore this remarkable landscape by boat, keeping our eyes open, as we might be surprised by a magical encounter with some of the Amazon’s famous pink river dolphins gliding through the water. After returning to the lodge, we’ll have time to pack our bags and prepare for departure. Then, we’ll transfer to Manaus International Airport (MAO) for your onward flight, bringing this unforgettable Amazon journey to an end.
Itinerary specifics subject to change. |