Day 1:
Arrive in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Welcome to South America’s largest and most populous country. This afternoon, meet your Tour Director and fellow traveling companions for a drive along famous Ipanema and Copacabana Beaches to the base of 1,300-foot-high SUGAR LOAF MOUNTAIN. Ascend by cable car to its summit, where you can savor spectacular vistas of the city. Next, enjoy a special COCKTAIL PARTY on the beach, toasting the start of a memorable vacation with caipirinhas, a favorite Brazilian cocktail. Enjoy a welcome dinner at the hotel. (D)

Day 2:
Rio de Janeiro. 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 and evening are at leisure for you to experience this vibrant city on your own. Tonight, you may opt to join in a fun outing to a churrascaria for a feast of barbecued meats marinated and roasted over charcoal in true Brazilian style, followed by a Samba show, where the sheer vitality of this country explodes in a colorful extravaganza. (B)

Day 3:
Rio de Janeiro. Enjoy a full day at leisure to fill as you wish. This morning, you may choose to join the optional Jeep tour to visit the Botanical Garden with its splendid orchid exhibit, and the dazzling green world of Tijuca National Park. This afternoon, sightseers might elect to discover historic Petropolis, a mountain resort and site of the former summer palace of Emperor Dom Pedro II. (B)

Day 4:
Rio de Janeiro–Iguassu Falls. Fly to IGUASSU FALLS. The afternoon is dedicated to enjoying the magnificent panorama of waterfalls. The spectacle of this 2-mile-wide torrential downpour—with some cataracts as high as 250 feet—is nothing short of hypnotic. The clouds of spray, the incessant roar, and the surrounding luxuriant tropical growth make this an unforgettable natural wonder. (B,D)

Day 5:
Iguassu Falls–Buenos Aires, Argentina. This morning, take the ECOLOGICAL JUNGLE TRAIN and tour the Argentine side of the FALLS before your flight to Buenos Aires, proud capital of the vast country that occupies most of the southern part of the continent. After arriving at your central hotel, an orientation walk acquaints you with the “Paris of South America” and its wide boulevards and outdoor cafés. Enjoy an evening at leisure. (B)

Day 6:
Buenos Aires. Your included sightseeing this morning starts in La Boca, a colorful district and site of the city’s first port. Take a short walking tour of this unique neighborhood at the mouth of the river and then on to San Telmo—famous for its late-colonial buildings and a popular gathering spot for artists. At the Plaza de Mayo, see La Casa Rosada (the President’s Pink House) and METROPOLITAN CATHEDRAL, which houses San Martin’s Mausoleum. Drive past the ornate Colon Opera House before reaching the CEMETERY OF THE RECOLETA, burial site of Eva Peron. Spend the afternoon at leisure. This evening, savor the atmosphere of this cosmopolitan capital on your farewell evening excursion with dinner followed by a SHOW featuring flawless performances of Latin America’s most sensuous dance—the Tango! (B,D)

Day 7:
Buenos Aires. Today is at leisure, or consider an optional excursion to the Pampas. Experience the atmosphere of Argentine country life as you visit an estancia (ranch). Get acquainted with the lifestyle of the gauchos and enjoy a barbecue lunch and the warm hospitality of your hosts before returning to the city. (B)

Day 8:
Buenos Aires–Homebound Flight. Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning. (B)