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Travelling from Buenos Aires to Rio, you'll be amazed at the sights you'll visit in between on this 16 day adventure!
Itinerary
Day 1 to 1
Arrive Buenos Aires
Day 1 is simply an arrival day with no pre-organised activities, so you will have free time to relax and see some of the sights. The beautiful city of Buenos Aires is known as the "Paris of South America" due to its lovely green parks, plazas and wide boulevards. The reputation of the city's nightlife is not exaggerated, as there are many nightclubs, bars, restaurants and cinemas open until all hours. For a great evening, you could see a tango show in the city where the dance originated and you shouldn't leave Buenos Aires before trying one of the best beef steaks in the world! You may want to arrive a couple of days early to get the most out of your stay here.
Day 2 to 5
Colonia de Sacrimento - Montevideo - Salto -Concordia
Leaving Buenos Aires we head across the River Plate to charming riverside Colonia de Sacrimento in southwestern Uruguay. Founded in 1680 by the Portuguese, the city was later taken by the Spanish and used as part of a smuggling route. The barrio histórico or old city has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is well worth exploring. Around the plaza mayor (the main square) you'll find plenty of museums and churches to explore. After a night here we head for Montevideo, the capital of Uruguay. Montevideo is a blend of many cities and architectural styles with an international port and seaside at either end of the interesting old city. You might get the feeling that time has turned back to the 1930s as much of the architecture is from that era, as are many of the vehicles. Many buildings in the centre have fine stone and iron work and there are many museums and historic houses to visit. There are also plenty of outdoor markets and indoor malls if you want to shop. Near the port, the old railway station is now remodelled and overflowing with steak and seafood restaurants. But if steak and seafood is not your thing, Montevideo has a thriving café culture to keep you busy while you listen to the strains of tango music. We continue on to the well presented town of Salto, a centre for growing and processing citrus fruits. The town centre is beautifully kept and there are several delightful parks you can stroll through. A popular excursion is to the nearby Salto Grande dam and hydroelectric plant. We have time to soak in the nearby hot springs or visit the aqua park before crossing the river and the border to the prosperous city of Concordia in Argentina. We take an overnight bus to the port city of Posadas.
Day 6 to 10
San Ignacio Mini - Puerto Iguazu -Foz do Iguacu - Iguazu Falls - Curitiba
From Posadas we travel by bus to the Jesuit ruins at San Ignacio Mini, which were featured in the film "The Mission". Built in 1696, these are some of the best kept Jesuit ruins in the region and show how the Jesuits lived when they came here to convert the Guarani Indians to Catholicism. The location, together with the nearby missions of Santa Ana and Loreto, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Continuing on we reach Puerto Iguazú, a small frontier town positioned on the confluence of the Paraná and Iguazú rivers, just 18 kms from the renowned Iguazú Falls. We will spend the afternoon at Estancia Las Mercedes, an authentic working ranch. We will be welcomed with light snacks while our hosts tell tales of the history of the ranch. We will then be treated to an included lunch prepared on a traditional Argentine barbeque, including beef, chicken and local sausages. Delicious salads and local produce will also be served, along with delicious desserts. Argentine wines and beers will be available at additional cost. You will have free time to explore the ranch, relax by the pool, wander around the gardens or take a horseride or canoe excursion with a local guide (excursions not included). Crossing into Brazil we reach Foz do Iguaçu, our base for visiting the famous Iguazú Falls the most magnificent waterfalls in the world. Unlike most other waterfalls that have just one or two cataracts, at Iguazú there are 275 cataracts in a 3 kilometre-long U shape that we will visit from both the Brazil and Argentina sides. On the Brazil side you can see the falls by walking through the rainforest and along catwalks above and below the rushing water or, for a bird's eye view a helicopter flight is on offer (optional). You can also visit the world's largest hydroelectric dam at Itaipu (optional) where you can learn more about the ecological issues faced during the dam's construction. There is also a very interesting bird park nearby – perfect for that must-have photo with a toucan! Visiting the Argentinean side of the falls will give you a completely different perspective from the Brazilian side. Here you may board a speed boat which will take you under the falls soaking you from head to toe - an adventure you'll never forget! On the Argentine side you'll also find the famous "Devil's Throat" where fourteen falls drop with such force that there is always a massive cloud of spray overhead. An overnight bus takes us to the attractive university city of Curitiba. An exceptionally planned city, there are many pleasant squares and parks to wander and quite a lively nightlife. We spend the night here and there is a good hop- on, hop- off tourist bus which visits all the main attractions in the city, which you might like to join (optional).
Day 11 to 12
Sao Paulo
We then visit the world's fastest growing city, Sâo Paulo, which has a metropolitan population of 19 million and skyscrapers sprawling upwards and avenues spreading outwards. We can visit a snake farm and the Latin American Exhibition Centre designed by famous architect Oscar Niemeyer, who also designed Brasília, the country's capital (optional tours). After a hard day of sightseeing we can relax and perhaps have a meal in the Japanese quarter. Interestingly, São Paulo has the most Japanese residents outside of Japan so this is a great place to enjoy sushi. We stay in a pleasant area full of life and activity with easy access to the city by underground metro trains.
Day 13 to 15
Parati -Rio de Janeiro
Following the stunning coastline north we come to colonial Parati, an old pirate town with streets made of stone slabs designed to let the tide wash over and clean them. You have an option to go on a full day boat cruise around the bay with plenty of time for swimming in the turquoise waters, sun- baking on the decks and eating a fresh seafood lunch washed down by a few cold beers. Other popular past- times here are exploring the nearby beaches and shopping in the hippy markets. We arrive at our last stop on this tour around lunchtime. Fantastic Rio de Janeiro has many things to see and do so you may want to add a couple of extra days on to the end of your tour to ensure you get the most out of your time here. There are trips up Sugar Loaf Mountain by cable car and Corcovado, with its famous Statue of Christ, for great city views. Another interesting journey is on the old tram system across the viaduct into the cobblestone neighbourhood of Santa Teresa. A walking tour of Rio's historic buildings is also a lovely way to pass an afternoon, or you may like to visit the Botanical Gardens or one of the famous beaches, such as Copacabana, Ipanema or Leblon. If you are in Rio de Janeiro around February, get ready for the world's biggest party – the Rio Carnival!
Day 16 to 16
Depart Rio de Janeiro
Our tour concludes on day 16 in Rio de Janeiro.
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