Splendours of Chile, Argentina & Brazil

Upon arrival in Santiago, the vibrant capital of Chile, please proceed through customs and immigration formalities. You are then met by an A&K representative and transferred to your hotel located in the heart of the city. Your room has been pre-registered by A&K to allow for immediate check-in.

Gather at 12:30 p.m. for a tour briefing followed by lunch. This afternoon, take in the highlights of Santiago, including a visit to the Pre-Columbian Museum to view its superb collections of statues, pottery and decor, with some pieces dating back 14,000 years. Tonight, celebrate the beginning of your journey with a special welcome dinner at a local restaurant. Stay: Mandarin Oriental Santiago (L/D)

Set out on a full-day exploration of Valparaíso, starting with a guided walk along the hills of this storied port city. See how the hills are connected by an ingenious network of twisting streets, stairways, cable car lines, flower-filled balconies and lookout platforms. Visit the Plaza de la Victoria with its lovely Neptune Fountain, the famous Turri Clock, fisherman's wharf, the Naval Academy and “La Sebastiana," the one-time residence of Chilean Nobel Prize-winning poet Pablo Neruda.

After lunch at a local restaurant, continue your tour to Vina del Mar, Chile's premier coastal resort known as the Garden City thanks to its lavish gardens and subtropical atmosphere. Following your sightseeing, return to your hotel. Dinner this evening is your choice of room service or dining in at the hotel's Senso restaurant. Stay: Mandarin Oriental Santiago (B/L/D)

This morning, depart the city for a drive towards the foothills of the Andes Mountains and on to the Maipo Valley, a popular weekend spot for Santiaguinos awash with almond and cherry plantations, sleepy mountain villages, and roadside stands selling fresh-baked bread and empanadas. Located south of Santiago, the Maipo Valley has some 200 vineyards of different sizes and specialties, from family-run boutique properties to sophisticated, hi-tech plants exporting millions of bottles each year. The fertile soil and climate of this valley make a perfect match for growing red wines.

Continue to the Santa Rita Vineyard, an impressive estate boasting 800 hectares of land and facilities devoted to the production of high-quality, award-winning wines. The estate also features the historic family mansion, which is surrounded by nearly 100 acres of a beautiful parkland and ornamental gardens. Your visit includes a vineyard tour, an opportunity to stroll the grounds on your own (time-permitting) and a delicious lunch paired with superb Santa Rita wines.

Afterward, fly to Mendoza, Argentina's premier wine-making region, and settle into your hotel. Cap off your day with a delicious dinner at a local restaurant. Stay: Park Hyatt Mendoza (B/D)

Journey to Las Carreras, a high-elevation plain abounding in rustic beauty, its yellow grasses contrasting with the white snow on the surrounding Andes peaks. Explore it with a guide on your choice of horseback riding or trekking. Watch for the wild species inhabiting the rugged landscapes, such as herds of guanacos and wild rabbits, and perhaps sight a condor gliding on the horizon.

Afterward, proceed to Bellaviña, a private estate, for an exclusive, interactive Chef 's Table cooking class followed by lunch. Learn more about one of the newest appellations (protected wine-producing areas) in Argentina. Planted by a husband-and-wife team and located at almost 7,500 feet, this appellation pushes the limits of high-altitude mountain viticulture. With breathtaking views of the mighty Andes and an intimate vineyard setting, Las Carreras offers a unique experience in Argentine wine tasting. Stay: Park Hyatt Mendoza (B/L)

Today, begin at Lamadrid, a winery that dates from the 1930s and has been carefully restored, while maintaining its internal patios, red brick floors and wooded ceilings, to create a new winery in an old estate. With the help of the house sommelier, learn the subtle art of winemaking by blending your own wine. Start with three components — Merlot, Malbec and Cabernet — following instructions from a winemaker who explains what each of them brings to a blend.

When you're finished, enjoy a tasting and stay for a light lunch. Afterward, fly to Buenos Aires, Argentina, and settle into your elegant luxury hotel, where you enjoy dinner tonight. Stay: Four Seasons Hotel Buenos Aires (B/L/D)

Take in compelling highlights of Buenos Aires, such as the Plaza de Mayo, La Boca and San Telmo, as well as some of the vibrant, colourful graffiti art that adorns neighbourhoods throughout the city. Break for lunch, and then enjoy an afternoon at leisure. This evening, transfer to Rojo Tango for dinner, followed by a captivating tango show that celebrates Argentina's national dance. Stay: Four Seasons Hotel Buenos Aires (B/D)

This morning, board a flight to Iguazu, where you have lunch at the Melia Hotel, inside Iguazu National Park in Argentina. Then, set out to view the magnificent Iguazu Falls, traversing raised walkways and seeing the Devil's Throat with your expert guide.

Afterward, cross the border to Brazil on your way to the Hotel Das Cataratas, a Belmond Hotel and the only hotel located inside the Iguassu National Park in Brazil. This tropical rainforest is home to rare birds such as macaws, toucans and parrots, as well as monkeys, caimans, armadillos and even jaguars, so keep your eyes peeled. Check in to your hotel and enjoy the evening at your leisure. Stay: Hotel das Cataratas, A Belmond Hotel, Iguassu Falls (B/L)

Observe the mighty falls from two different vantage points, starting with a walking tour on the Brazilian side, taking in spectacular views and basking in a natural setting filled with orchids, colourful birds and endemic wildlife. Then, embark on a boat tour that takes you up close to the foot of the plummeting cascades for a visceral experience of the rainbow-making mists. Enjoy your afternoon at leisure. Tonight, gather for dinner at your hotel. Stay: Hotel das Cataratas, A Belmond Hotel, Iguassu Falls (B/D)

Fly to marvellous Rio de Janeiro and check in to your hotel. This afternoon, tour iconic Sugar Loaf, ascending to the mountain's upper reaches to take in panoramic vistas of the city and Guanabara Bay, and toasting the incredible view on a relaxing Scenic Sundowner experience. Tonight, enjoy a true Brazilian taste sensation with a dinner at Assador, a restaurant that takes barbecue to succulent new heights. Stay: Copacabana Place, A Belmond Hotel, Rio de Janeiro (B/D)

Explore downtown Rio de Janeiro on a tour of the historic city centre, viewing sites central to local history and culture. Ride Like a Local along the way, hopping on and off the Rio VLT electric train, which also carries you to the revitalized port area to view the massive Cobra murals, each a dazzling example of Brazilian graffiti art. Then, get a taste of the city's Carnival culture, enjoying insider access that takes you backstage to see the construction process of costumes and floats.

Later this afternoon, travel to the heights of Corcovado Mountain for a spectacular glimpse of Rio. Also behold Corcovado's crowning jewel, the majestic 120-foot-high statue of Christ the Redeemer — one of the Seven Wonders of the Modern World. Complete the evening with a special farewell dinner in the bohemian neighbourhood of Santa Teresa, where you share stories and raise a toast to your amazing journey across South America. Stay: Copacabana Place, A Belmond Hotel, Rio de Janeiro (B/D)

Today, enjoy the opportunity to experience Rio de Janeiro your way, with one of these Design your Day activities.

• Visit a Local NGO, supported by Abercrombie & Kent Philanthropy, that works to foster a favela-based ecosystem in the Vidigal favela.
• Bicycle Iconic Rio Neighbourhoods: Copacabana, Ipanema, Leblon and the Rodrigo de Freitas Lagoon
• Indulge in a Relaxing Massage with aromatic essential oils at your luxurious hotel's spa.

Afterward, transfer to the airport for your departing flight. (B)