South American Discovery

Welcome to Rio de Janeiro!

At 3:30 pm, meet your Tour Director for a drive to the base of 1,300-foot-high Sugarloaf Mountain. Ascend by cable car to its summit, where you can take in spectacular vistas of the city. Next, toast the start of a memorable vacation with caipirinhas, a traditional Brazilian cocktail, from atop Sugarloaf Mountain during a cocktail party.

LOCAL FAVORITE - LOCAL TASTES: A once-in-a-lifetime experience awaits atop Sugarloaf Mountain overlooking Guanabara Bay and the Atlantic Ocean. Take in the breathtaking panoramic views as you join a private cocktail party with your fellow travel companions. Toast with a traditional caipirinha, Brazil's national cocktail, made with fresh lime, cachaça (a distilled sugarcane spirit), and sugar. Deliciosa!

Heavenly Views

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 is at leisure for you to experience this vibrant city on your own. Tonight, it's a fun outing to a churrascaria for a feast of barbecued meats marinated and roasted over charcoal in true Brazilian style. (B/D)

TOUR HIGHLIGHT - EPIC RIDE: Soar to the summit of Corcovado Mountain by cog railway to reach the site of the iconic statue of Christ the Redeemer. This crowning jewel of Rio and Brazil was constructed between 1922 and 1933. The statue of Jesus Christ stands 98 feet high (124 feet including the pedestal) with an arm span of 92 feet wide. Towering over the city, this piece of art is truly an engineering marvel and was voted a New7Wonders of the World.

Beaches, Boutiques & Bites

A full day at leisure to enjoy Rio. Relax on one of the world-famous beaches or take advantage of the world-class shopping or fine dining. (B)

FREE TIME TIPS - EXPLORE MORE: Spend free time in Rio de Janeiro with an optional excursion to Petropolis, (mountain resort and former summer palace of Emperor Dom Pedro II). Get local maps and tips for free time on your GlobusGO app.

What a Rush!

A flight from Rio takes you to Iguassu Falls. Experience the clouds of spray, the incessant roar, and the surrounding luxuriant tropical growth that make this an unforgettable natural wonder. Head into Brazil's Iguassu National Park to enjoy the magnificent panorama of waterfalls from the Brazilian side. Your Local Guide introduces the spectacle of this 2-mile-wide rushing torrent. With some cataracts as high as 250 feet, Iguassu Falls is nothing short of hypnotic! (B/D)

TOUR HIGHLIGHT - PICTURE PERFECT: Explore incredible Iguassu National Park (Brazilian side) and walk the pathways skirting Iguassu Falls. Watch for amazing wildlife in this protected area, including toucans, agoutis, giant otters, anteaters, tapir, and even jaguars!

Taking the Plunge

Today, journey across the Brazilian border by motorcoach to the Argentine side of Iguassu Falls, where you will enjoy a closer perspective on a walking tour of the falls. Meander along the walkways from atop the falls and enjoy an exhilarating view looking over the precipice of the falls as the water plunges to the rocks below. You will also have the chance to walk through the rainforest on the lower falls trails that will bring you up close to some of the smaller cataracts. Return to the hotel, where the remainder of the day is at your leisure. (B)

TOUR HIGHLIGHT - NATURAL WONDERS: Visit Iguassu National Park (Argentinian side) where, from this side of the falls, you get a bird's-eye view from the catwalks perched over part of the Devil's Throat, where 14 waterfalls drop more than 300 feet into the Devil's Gorge below. From this completely different perspective compared to Brazil's side, you'll understand why you must see both sides of the falls!

The Boulevards of Buenos Aires

This morning, cross the Brazilian border into Argentina by motorcoach to transfer to the Cataratas del Iguazu International Airport for your flight to Buenos Aires. After arriving, acquaint yourself with the “Paris of South America” and its wide boulevards and outdoor cafés. (B)

TOUR HIGHLIGHT - CITY SIGHTS: Elegant European architecture, epicurean cuisine, and a café culture to rival any rue de Paris, Buenos Aires is a city of leisurely afternoons sipping café con leche or the choicest Argentinian wines.

Dining, Dancing, Dazzling

Your included sightseeing this morning starts in La Boca, a vibrant district and site of the city's first port. Take a short walking tour of this unique enclave at the mouth of the river and then on to San Telmo, famous for its late-colonial buildings and as 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 Teatro Colón opera house before reaching Recoleta Cemetery, burial site of Eva Perón.

After an afternoon at leisure, top off the evening at a famous Tango club. Start with a dance lesson, followed by dinner of Argentine steaks and other local specialties, and end with a show featuring flawless performances of Latin America's most sensuous dance—the Tango! (B/D)

LOCAL FAVORITE - CULTURAL GEMS: Like two dancers entwined in perfect sync, the Tango and Argentina go hand in hand. Tonight, feel the passion of this iconic dance at a local milonga (Tango house), where professional tango dancers teach you the traditional techniques of the Argentine Tango. After learning some of the key dance moves, the professionals will delight you in Tango Show featuring the dance as it has evolved through the ages. Plus, dine on Argentine specialties and wine too!

Ranch Life

Today, head into the heart of the pampas (grasslands) and immerse yourself in the atmosphere of rural, country life at a working Argentina estancia (ranch). After a traditional welcome with empanadas and local beverages, get acquainted with the lifestyle of real gauchos (cowboys) on a carriage ride through the pampas.

Later, at lunch, enjoy an authentic feast, complete with world-renowned Argentine beef, salad, desserts, and live music and dance by the gauchos themselves. Top off the day with an equestrian demonstration by the gauchos before saying adios to the countryside and heading back to the city. (B/L)

LOCAL FAVORITE - CULTURE & TRADITION: Argentinean Estancias date back to the 16th Century during Spanish colonization when conquistadors where gifted land to raise and breed cattle. Today, these lands and traditions that go along with them have been passed down from generation to generation. Today, you step into the traditional, local life of a gaucho and embrace Argentinian heritage.

Adiós, Argentina. Hola, Peru!

After a morning at leisure to enjoy Buenos Aires on your own, fly to Lima, the capital of Peru located on the country's arid Pacific Coast. (B)

ENHANCED FREE TIME - CULTURAL TREASURE: Founded in 1535 by Spanish conquistador Francisco Pizarro, Lima is a modern melting pot of food fusion, fashion, and fascinating finds in art, culture, and architecture. From the central square of Plaza Mayor to the ceviche and pisco sours to tempt the palate, you'll find feasts for the eyes and the appetite in this capital city of Peru.

Legendary Lima

Your city sightseeing tour focuses on Lima's rich colonial history as well as the modern city. See the 18th-century San Francisco Monastery with its unique cloisters, Government Palace, and the cathedral situated around the vast Plaza de Armas. Tonight, visit the Larco Herrera Museum, which houses the largest private collection of Pre-Columbian Peruvian art in the world. Enjoy dinner at the museum's restaurant. (B/D)

LOCAL FAVORITE - ART & ARCHITECTURE: This evening, an exclusive guided tour of Lima's Larco Herrera Museum, on the site of a 7th-century pre-Columbian pyramid, introduces you to the world's largest private collection of pre-Columbian Peruvian art. See 5,000 years of art, artifacts, and archaeological treasures followed by a special dinner in the beautiful Peruvian café here.

Empire of the Andes

Fly to Cusco, the impressive Andean city that was once the capital of the Inca Empire. Head into the Sacred Valley of the Incas and visit the semi-circular Kenko Amphitheater with its stone altars and labyrinth of passages, and see the ancient site of Puca Pucara. Also, in the Sacred Valley, experience an El Pago a la Tierra, or Mother Earth Ceremony, performed by a local shaman.

Continue to Pisaq, a historic mountain village and famous market. Here, taste an empanada and enjoy free time to shop for local wares, such as alpaca sweaters and blankets, jewelry, or hand-painted ornamental dishes and vases at its famous market. Stay in the Sacred Valley tonight, with dinner at the hotel. (B/D)

LOCAL FAVORITE - CULTURE & TRADITION: Feel the earth, smell the coca leaves, and taste the chicha today as you make payment to Mother Earth. Participate in an El Pago a la Tierra, an ancient ceremony led by a shaman thanking Mother Earth and asking for good health, wealth, and safe travels. These mystical ceremonies have been practiced in Peru since before the arrival of the Incas.

Mystery on the Mountain

This morning, visit the Inca Fortress of Ollantaytambo, followed by a visit to a local home, meet some of the area's families, and experience their way of life in the Sacred Valley. Then, board the Vistadome train for a scenic journey through the lush Urubamba Valley.

Upon arrival, ascend the mountainside to legendary Machu Picchu, the “Lost City of the Incas.” Your Local Guide will introduce this intact fortress with its temple remains, holy houses, and mile-long aqueduct, and will bring you closer to the mysteries still hidden in these amazing structures. Tonight, learn how to make the perfect Pisco Sour at a Peruvian cooking demonstration before your included dinner. (B/D)

LOCAL FAVORITE - TIMELESS TRADITIONS: Today, you are invited into a local family's home in the Sacred Valley. Learn about their traditions like weaving that has been passed down for centuries from ancestors. See how they cook, live, sleep, work, and maybe ask about the cuy (guinea pigs), they keep in their house.

Offering regional gastronomy experiences, the Sumaq uses local ingredients in partnership with communities located high in the Andes, such as Quishuarcancha, Parcaraqui, and Huatata in Chinchero, as well as the small community of Ccorca that is home to fewer than 200 people.

Here Comes the Sun

A morning at leisure in Machu Picchu allows you to wake up early to see the sunrise over Machu Picchu with your second included entrance to the ruins. After lunch, return to the Sacred Valley by train and continue to Cusco. (B/L)

TOUR HIGHLIGHT - HISTORY & MYSTERY: Staying overnight in Machu Picchu allows you to rise early and experience the ruins at their most pristine before the crowds arrive. Watch as the mist slowly burns off and the sun rays illuminate the ruins. While you are there, you may even want to try and get a selfie with one of the local llamas or alpacas!

Sun Worship & Spanish Conquests

On your guided sightseeing tour of Cusco today, learn more about the Inca and Spanish influence. Begin at the heart of Cusco in the Plaza de Armas (main square), with a visit to the imposing Cathedral, where construction began in 1550 and was finally completed 100 years later.

Continue to Koricancha and the Santo Domingo Monastery and see how the two sites have become one. The Temple of the Sun at Koricancha was once the most important Inca site, dedicated to the worship of the Sun. The walls, altars, and decorations were all said to be covered in gold—until the Spaniards looted the temple and then built the contrasting Baroque Santo Domingo Monastery on top of the temple's foundations.

Also, visit the Temple of Sacsayhuaman, perched on a hillside overlooking Cusco. Enjoy an afternoon at leisure to explore on your own. This evening, your Tour Director hosts a festive farewell dinner at a local restaurant. (B/D)

TOUR HIGHLIGHT - LEGENDARY LIVES: Built in the 15th Century by the Incas, the Temple of Sacsayhuaman complex is considered to be one of the Inca's greatest architectural creations. It is believed the site was originally constructed as a ceremonial site and later a fortress when the Spanish invaded. It remains unfathomable how and when this fortress of gigantic stones—with some blocks weighing more than 350 tons—was built. During your guided tour, learn some of the theories on how the massive stones used were carved, carried, and placed.

Hasta Luego, Cusco

A short morning flight returns you to Lima. For a special treat, make a stop at a local Peruvian food market to get a real taste of the life of the local people. The remainder of the day is at leisure to explore on your own. (B)

LOCAL FAVORITE - LOCAL TASTES: Stop for a real taste of Peru at a local market. Sample some of the local fruits and vegetable that aren't found in other parts of the world. You can also find spices, meats, seafood, and even a souvenir or two. And you'll definitely want to take some photos of the beautiful, brightly hued displays.

Safe travels until we meet again!

Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning. (B)