4* & 5* South America Tours & South America Travel Holidys

Day 1: Welcome to Buenos Aires: Check in to the Hotel Abasto Plaza**** .Sightseeing in this elegant city includes the Casa Rosada, the well-known stage for Evita Perón's plea, "Don't cry for me Argentina", as well as the history-laden Plaza de Mayo. The newly-rebuilt port area Puerto Madera with its restaurants and bars is a nice place to relax. The afternoon is free - Tonight enjoy the included steak (vegetarian option available) dinner and Tango Show!

Day 2: Enjoy a free day in the City of Tango. Visit to San Telmo Antique market! opt to visit an Estancia with Lunch and Gaucho Show.

Day 3: Depart today for Iguazu/Iguassu. Upon your approach to Iguazu International Airport, your pilot might tip his wings to give you your first view of the magnificent Iguassu Falls and the surrounding natural park of Argentina, Brazil and Paraguay. Your bilingual SouthAmerica.travel Tour guide or representative escorts you to the fabulous Hotel Mercure Internacional*****. Feast on a Brazilian dinner tonight after a relaxing swim in the pool.

Day 4: Today's full day excursion shows you the Falls from both sides. First, cross into Argentina for a walk above the falls, wider and more powerful than Niagara. A boat guides you to an island to get a close-up view of the Falls from below.

The mist of the Falls engulfs you on the Brazilian side, as you walk out onto a platform and into the garganta do diabo, the 'devil's throat'. Opt for the Macuco Safari - a boat ride under the Falls on the Brazilian side.

Day 5: The rolling landscape on today's journey is interrupted only by mountain chains, rich farmland and patches of original subtropical forest, with the unique Araucária trees. Arrive in Curitiba, named best-organized city in South America, now a model for many Western industrialized nations! The city has grown 10-fold in the past 20 years, using innovative ideas to manage its substantial growth.

The capital of the state of Paraná is a melting pot of such diverse cultures as Dutch, Polish, Arabian, German, Ukrainian, Italian and Japanese cultures, amongst many others! Check in to the Hotel Mercure Curitiba****. Tonight's included dinner will give you a taste of the region's mix of cultures.

Day 6: Morning sightseeing gives you a view of the capital, including the glass Opera House, before heading down to the coast for a stroll along the historic promenade of the Port of Antonina After lunch, board the scenic historic railway as it winds its way from sea level up 1200m (3/4 of a mile high!) over the Serra do Mar chain back to Curitiba.

Day 7: Head for São Paulo, the world's second largest city & South America's industrial powerhouse! 4000 deadly poisonous snakes welcome you on our sightseeing including the Butantã Institute, the world-famous research lab specializing in anti-venom research. Continue downtown to see the Paulistanos as they work and live in this surprisingly well-organized metropolis. Sightseeing includes the Contemporary Art Museum, Basilica and the Teatro Municipal. São Paulo's Hotel Mercure Paulista**** is located in the heart of the city.

Tonight's dinner is included.

The city of São Paulo is full of surprises. It is the largest German manufacturing city in the world, and contains great architecture, such as this masterpiece by Oscar Niemeyer, architect of the capital, Brasilia.

Day 8: Arrive in the cidade maravilhosa, Rio de Janeiro. Welcoming you to the 'marvelous city' is your bilingual SouthAmerica.travel Tour guide or representative who will escort you to your hotel on the Copacabana - The Luxor Continental****. (Get a free upgrade to the sea view apartment at the Luxor Continental**** now! See Specials!) The afternoon is free for a stroll, some shopping or relaxing on the beach or at your rooftop pool! Meet your fellow travelers for a complementary Rodizio, an All-You-Can-Eat Brazilian Barbecue (included).

Day 9: The panoramic view from the top of the Sugar Loaf Mountain is the highlight of today's sightseeing tour. Board a funicular to reach the summit with its 360º spectrum of golden beaches, green forests and a thriving metropolis that has earned Rio de Janeiro the title of the world's most beautiful city. Sightseeing continues with a tour of Rio's historical past. Learn how Portugal's prince scandalously broke all family ties and declared himself Emperor of Brazil. In the afternoon heat, everything slows down, and the Cariocas (as the people of Rio call themselves) head for the beach!

Day 10: Christ the Redeemer keeps an eye on Rio from an elevation of 710m (2340ft). Board the trenzinho (cogwheel railway) up to the top of Corcovado Mountain for a bird's eye view of the center of the city! This evening, depart for Salvador.

Day 11: The diverse face of Brazil is no where more prevalent than in Brazil's first capital, Salvador. The present capital of Bahia is a mix of rich colonial houses, picturesque churches and a lively mix of African and Indio rhythms.

At the airport, your SouthAmerica.travel Tour guide or representative is waiting beyond customs to transfer you to your hotel Blue Tree Towers**** overlooking the bay. The afternoon is free for exploring on your own or relaxing at the beach or pool. Enjoy dinner tonight spiced by the local culture.

Day 12: After a hearty Brazilian breakfast, depart for a lively tour of Salvador. Visit the Pelourinho, the recently restored historical center of Salvador, which the UNESCO declared a World Heritage Cultural Site. This evening, opt for a Bahia by Night excursion including dinner and show.

Day 13: Continue your explorations of the city, or opt to visit Praia do Forte Eco Resort, including a visit to the Turtle Station Tamar and lunch.

Day 14: Depart this morning for a journey inland to the historic diamond mining village of Lencois. Early settlers strung sheets (LenÁois in Portuguese) from tree to tree to protect themselves from the elements, thus giving the town its name. Check in to your Pousada (Brazilian-style B&B). A short hike with your guide brings you to a natural waterslide, where you can test your courage with the local youth! Your guide takes you on a walk through the old town before heading for dinner.

Day 15: Today, take a full-day excursion to Mucugezinho, a beautiful ecological sanctuary with some waterfalls and natural swimming pools surrounded by exuberant Flora. Continue to PoÁo do Diabo (Devil's Well), a big black lagoon. Next, explore the Cave Lapa Doce (a 1 km-long (1/2 mile) beautiful rock formation), the Cave Partinha, an amazing flooded cave, and Lake Paratinha, with crystal clear waters, with an opportunity for bathing, relaxing and lunch (included). As the day winds down, hike up the Morro Pai In·cio, a beautiful tabletop mountain, where you will appreciate a wide variety of wild orchids and other exotic plants. From the top, experience the magnificent setting sun over the panoramic view of mountains and canyons. Return to LenÁois for dinner (included)

Day 16: Early breakfast and departure for another full day tour to explore the diamond mining ghost town Igatu. Continue to Po'o Encantado, a mountain cave with a spectacular lake of crystal clear water, 60m (200ft) deep. From April to August, a shaft of sunlight penetrates the cave through the mountainside, with the waters reacting like a prism, dispersing the colors in a rainbow spectrum. Lunch at PoÁo Encantado and dinner in LenÁois are included

Day 17: Return to the Bahian coast this morning to the four-star Catussaba Resort. Relax on your balcony, at the pool or at what's considered one of Brazil's most beautiful beaches. Enjoy dinner tonight with a view of the beach.

Day 18: Last day at leisure and return flight home