4* & 5* Argentina, Uruguay & Brazil Tour

Day 1 Arrive in Buenos Aires & City Tour
Once you arrive in Buenos Aires, a guide will greet you and help you check in to the 4* Hotel Broadway All Suites, located on the 9 de Julio Avenue, the widest street in the world. Then, be treated to a 4 hour Buenos Aires City Tour, hitting all the must-see spots in Buenos Aires. Start with the Obelisk, which is in the center of 9 de Julio Ave, and then move on to the Plaza de Mayo, the Plaza San Martín, the barrios of La Boca, San Telmo, Montserrat, Palermo, Recoleta and Puerto Madero. Buenos Aires is a huge city, and has so many distinctive neighborhoods -- find out which one is your favorite, so that you can come back on your own and spend more time exploring. Spend the rest of the day at your leisure.

Day 2 Fiesta Gaucha Excursion to Estancia Don Silvano
Once you've had your fill of Buenos Aires, get away from the city and experience the life of a gaucho, one of Argentina's icons. Gauchos, or cowboys, were the pioneers who helped settle the vast pampas of Argentina and raise cattle for beefsteak. Today, colonial-style estancias (or cattle ranches) are still in operation, and some provide tours, demonstrations, and home-cooked meals. Escape to the Estancia Don Silvano for an authentic Fiesta Guacha, including demonstrations of cow milking, horseback riding, folklore dances, carriage rids, tractor rides, and a delicious lunch. In the afternoon, return to your hotel in Buenos Aires.

Day 3 Free Day in Buenos Aires & Tango Dinner Show
After a day of exploring the city on your own, enjoy an elegant night out on the town, complete with a tango dance show and dinner at the famous Tango Porteño house. A 3 course meal, wine, and transfers to and from your hotel are included - not to mention the incredible tango dancing show and live music!

Day 4 Transfer to Montevideo, Uruguay
Get away from the big city and head across the Rio de la Plata to Montevideo, Uruguay. Take the ferry to this city on the other side of the river, much quieter than Buenos Aires. Learn about Uruguayan culture with a dinner and dance show that includes tango as well as the distinctive Candombe dance. Transfers to and from the hotel, the 4* Hotel Four Points Sheraton, are included.

Day 5 Montevideo City Tour & Transfer to Colonia
Today's itinerary includes a 3 hour city tour of Montevideo, which includes the historic landmarks of the city and the places that show off the best of Uruguayuan culture. Start in the Old City, admiring the European architecture, and also see the Gaucho Museum. Walk through the colorful and lively street markets (usually Saturdays and Sundays) as well as the Port Market, where Candombe dancers and artists make a regular appearance. Also visit the neighborhoods of Carrasco, Punta Gorda, Pocitos, and Rambla, which rambles along the coastline. In the afternoon, transfer to Colonia, a smaller town on the coast of Uruguay, and check into the 3* Hotel Posada Don Antonio.

Day 6 Walking Tour of Colonia, Return to Buenos Aires, & Transfer to Puerto Iguazu
Get an early start this morning with a 2.5 hour walking tour of Colonia, a city in Uruguay that oozes Old World Portuguese charm. Stroll along the cobblestone streets, past brightly painted homes and gardens, as you learn about this UNESCO World Heritage Site. Visit the port, the downtown, the Ferrando Beach, and Rambla, which stretches along the coast to the Plaza de Toros, Hippodrome, and historic harbor. Have lunch in Colonia, and then transfer to the port for the ferry back to Buenos Aires.
Once in Buenos Aires, your guide will transfer you to the airport for the flight to Puerto Iguazu.
This city is the closest to the Iguazu Falls, the huge waterfalls in the Misiones Forest of northeastern Argentina. Check in to the 4* Hotel la Aldea de la Selva Lodge in Puerto Iguazu and relax for the night.

Day 7 Explore the Iguazu Falls National Park
After breakfast, spend the day exploring the Argentine side of the Iguazu Falls. The waterfalls are not only a UNESCO World Heritage site, they are simply a marvel to see. There are over 275 waterfalls that plunge 72 meters down, and the spectacular spray that rises above it all is visible from the town. On the Argentine side of the falls is a national park, which has many hiking trails through subtropical vegetation, and is home to wildlife such as toucans, butterflies, and capybaras. There is an Ecological Train that you can take from the entrance to the park to the shores of the falls, where you can see the Devil's Throat - the largest of the waterfalls at Iguazu. Return to the hotel in the late afternoon.

Day 8 Explore the Foz do Iguassu National Park
This morning, after breakfast, head back to the falls for another day of exploring - but first cross over the border into Brazil, and enter the Foz do Iguassu National Park. Brazil's national park surrounding the falls is not quite as extensive as Argentina's park, but it does offer more views of the falls -- and you can walk out over the water on a series of catwalks. You also might want to take a boat ride to get up close (and wet!) to the falls. Return to the hotel when you are finished exploring.

Day 9 Transfer to Rio de Janiero
After breakfast in the hotel, transfer back over the border into Brazil, and take off from the Foz do Iguassu Airport (IGU) for the flight to Rio de Janeiro (GIG). A guide will pick you up at the airport and transfer you to the 4* Hotel Copacabana Mar. This hotel is located just 2 blocks from Copacabana Beach, arguably the world's most famous beach. Spend the day sinking your toes in the golden sands, or go swimming in the hotel's rooftop swimming pool.

Day 10 Rio de Janeiro City Tour - Corcovado
No visit to Rio de Janeiro would be complete without a trip to Corcovado Mountain, which soars 710 m (2340 ft) above Guanabara Bay. Take the trenzinho cogwheel railway to the summit, and enjoy panoramic views of the city. Make sure to take a photo next to the 38 meter tall statue of Christ the Redeemer, whose open arms welcome all to the city. The city tour continues with a guided tour of Rio's most famous beaches, and entrance to the Maracana Stadium. Spend the rest of the day at your leisure, shopping or hitting the beach.

Day 11 Rio de Janeiro
Get another glimpse of Rio de Janeiro, called the "Marvelous City," from atop Sugarloaf Mountain on this day's city tour of Rio de Janeiro. Sugarloaf is 395 m (1296 ft), and is accessible by cable car. The views from this summit are equally impressive: you can see islands, curving coastlines, golden beaches, the city, and the Tijuca forest.

Day 12 Rio de Janeiro
After breakfast at the hotel, conclude your tour and transfer to the airport for the flight home or to your next destination in South America.