Discover Brazil, Argentina, & Chile
16 days from Santiago to Rio de Janeiro
From $ 5999
Duration16 days

Experience the vibrant cultures and diverse wildlife of South America on a 16-day action-packed adventure to Chile, Argentina, and Brazil. Sip world-class wines in the sweeping vineyards of Mendoza, dance the tango on the streets of Buenos Aires, and stroll the golden sands of Rio de Janeiro. Then discover the continent’s wilder side amid the verdant wetlands of the Pantanal and the thundering cascades of Iguaçu Falls.

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  • Duration: 16 days
    Service level: Upgraded
  • Starts in: Santiago
    Physical Grading: Average
  • Ends in: Rio de Janeiro
    Ages: 12+
Discover Chile, Argentina, & Brazil - Tour Map

Itinerary

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Day 1: Santiago

Start place: Santiago

Santiago is Chile’s largest city and capital, with internationally recognized vineyards and Andean ski resorts very close by. Explore the many museums and parks, and visit the vibrant neighbourhood of Bellavista to see some handicrafts and trendy cafés.
Arrive at any time. Your arrival transfer is included. There is a lot to do and see, in and around Santiago, we highly recommend booking pre-nights if you want time to explore.

End place: Santiago

Day 2: Valparaíso/Santiago

Start place: Santiago

The historical port of Valparaíso, a UNESCO World Heritage site draws poets, painters, and artists to call it home. A well-preserved example of late 19th-century Latin American architecture, with its unique amphitheater-like layout spreading up into the hills above the port.
Travel south to the colorful seaside town of Valparaíso, where bright houses perch on the hills overlooking the South Pacific. During the city’s golden age in the late 19th century, it served as an important stopover for ships sailing the Strait of Magellan between the Atlantic and the Pacific, and attracted waves of immigrants from across Europe and the world. Accompany a local expert on a tour of the city’s elegant historic quarter, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Visit the home of Pablo Neruda, the famed Chilean poet, and wander narrow lanes to view spectacular street art. Enjoy free time to explore on your own before returning to Santiago.

End place: Santiago

Meals: B
Day 3: Santiago/Mendoza

Start place: Santiago

Head towards Argentina's wine capital, Mendoza. Wind through Andean scenery passing lakes, mountainscapes, and enjoy the iconic crossing between the two countries through the Tunel Cristo Redentor, built in 1980 to connect the two countries.
This morning, drive into the Andes and cross the border into Argentina. Wind past verdant meadows and clear lakes, and spot the distant, snowcapped summit of Mount Aconcagua—the highest mountain in both the Western and Southern Hemispheres. This afternoon, arrive in Mendoza, the heart of Argentina’s world-renowned wine country, a landscape of sun-drenched vineyards surrounded by striking grey peaks.

End place: Mendoza

Meals: B
Day 4: Mendoza

Start place: Mendoza

Home to over 1000 wineries producing nearly a billion litres of wine yearly, the majority of all the vineyards in Argentina are found in the Mendoza region. The renowned Malbec varietal is sustained by the crystalline waters of the Rio Mendoza fed by the melting snows of the Andes. Visit wineries in the region with a local wine expert to explain the unique elements of the region, the distinct flavour notes found here, and the history of wine production in this area. Later, enjoy a 5-course meal of local and international delicacies paired with some of the finest wines in the world.
Spend the morning exploring Mendoza’s wineries with a local expert who will illuminate the local history of wine production and the distinctive flavor notes of various varietals. The region’s vintners are known for successfully experimenting with the cultivation of Malbec grapes at high altitudes. Enjoy a sumptuous lunch paired with some of the finest wines in the country, followed by time to relax on your own and sample other elements of Argentine cuisine.

End place: Mendoza

Meals: B, L
Day 5: Mendoza

Start place: Mendoza

The impressive snow-capped Aconcagua looms in the background of this laid-back city, drawing adventure seekers and wine enthusiasts alike. Enjoy the slow pace of this desert town with large parks, charming plazas, and lively evenings where locals mill about outside the many cafés, bars, and restaurants. Enjoy a free day to explore the city, opt to go on a hike, or visit wineries in the region.
Enjoy a free day to explore the city of Mendoza, the regional capital perched in the Andean foothills. Stroll along the city’s historic streets—wider than any other city in Argentina due to innovative reconstruction following a devastating 19th-century earthquake. Choose to visit more nearby wineries, take a cooking class, or set out on a hike in the surrounding hills. Or opt to relax with a glass of Malbec or chilled Torrontés at a park-side café and soak up the daily rhythms of Argentine life.

End place: Mendoza

Meals: B
Day 6: Mendoza/Buenos Aires

Start place: Mendoza

Visit a traditional estancia and immerse yourself in the culture of the Argentine countryside. Wander the grounds taking in the serenity of the area, learn about the gaucho culture and one of Argentina's top sport, polo. Enjoy lunch featuring seasonal fruit and vegetables grown at the estancia.
Catch a morning flight to Buenos Aires, and then transfer to a countryside estate, known as an estancia. Enjoy a farm-to-table lunch, then spend the afternoon exploring the working ranch, learning about the popularity of polo in Argentina, and chatting with gauchos, or local cowboys. Opt to head out on a horseback ride with an expert wrangler before returning to Buenos Aires for the evening.

End place: Buenos Aires

Meals: B, L
Day 7: Buenos Aires

Start place: Buenos Aires

Buenos Aires is the perfect mix of European architecture and Latin American flavour. With an incredible food culture, there is a never-ending supply of culinary options, famous for steak, ice cream, empanadas, and of course wine. Whatever you do, Buenos Aires is sure to leave lasting memories.
Spend a full day exploring the “Paris of South America,” Argentina’s elegant capital city. Visit historic sites such as the Plaza de Mayo; the colorful, Italian-influenced La Boca neighborhood; and the spectacular Recoleta Cemetery, where Eva Perón and several past Argentine presidents have been laid to rest. Enjoy a light dinner at one of many charming sidewalk cafés or restaurants before an evening tango lesson at a popular local venue known as a milonga. Choose to stay for the nightly gathering of neighborhood students and teachers who pair up to practice their steps.

End place: Buenos Aires

Meals: B, D
Day 8: Buenos Aires/Rio de Janeiro

Start place: Buenos Aires

Fly north to the oceanside jewel of Rio de Janeiro. One of the largest countries in the world, Brazil certainly has plenty to see – Iguaçu Falls springs immediately to mind – but more than anything it's the Brazilian passion for life, epitomized by Rio's annual Carnival celebrations, that will make you fall in love and want to return again.
Transfer to the airport and fly to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Enjoy free time to explore on your own then choose to join the CEO for an optional dinner.

End place: Rio de Janeiro

Meals: B
Day 9: Rio de Janeiro

Start place: Rio de Janeiro

This massive city gets as many as five million international tourists every year to sip caipirinhas on the beach, dance the samba in the city’s streets, and ascend Corcovado Mountain to see Christ the Redeemer for yourself. Later, learn about the iconic dance of samba, an icon of African heritage and afro-Brazilian resistance in the country. Get a taste of Carnaval magic, learn some steps and meet some of the people who create the colourful costumes.
Venture into the vibrant streets of Rio, founded by Portuguese settlers in the 16th century and now a thriving metropolis on Brazil’s southeast coast. Ride a cable car up Sugar Loaf Mountain to take in panoramic views of the city. Get a taste of the magic of Carnival at a samba school, where you’ll learn the history of the annual celebration, meet expert costumers, and pick up a few steps from performers.

End place: Rio de Janeiro

Meals: B
Day 10: Rio de Janeiro/Pantanal

Start place: Rio de Janeiro

The Pantanal, a largely flat, wetland area roughly half the size of France, covering over 70,000 sq mi (180,000 sq km) making it the world's largest tropical wetland. The area has the largest concentration of wildlife in South America; rich in bird life, including colourful macaws and jabiru storks. With a bit of luck and the appropriate weather, you may spot unique species such as capybara, howler monkeys, caiman, giant river otters, anacondas, and anteaters.
This morning, fly to Campo Grande, our gateway to Brazil’s Pantanal. This spectacular region of winding rivers and grasslands is the world’s largest area of tropical wetland, and hosts the highest concentration of wildlife in South America. Transfer to your lodge at the edge of the wetland, the ideal base for exploring the extraordinary ecosystems of the Pantanal.

End place: Pantanal

Meals: B, D
Day 11: Pantanal

Start place: Pantanal

Wildlife viewing in South America automatically makes you think of the Amazon rainforest, while biodiverse the dense jungle of the Amazon makes wildlife viewing a challenge. The wide open spaces of the Pantanal, on the other hand, offer easy viewing opportunities to spot a diverse set of species both in the wetlands and on land with the naked eye. At night, go caiman spotting and watch as a whole other set of species come to life under the cover of darkness.
Spend a full day deep inside the Pantanal alongside an expert naturalist guide. Hike across low-lying grasslands and into dense forests teeming with wildlife. Keep an eye out for an abundance of unique creatures, including the endangered hyacinth macaw, howler monkeys, giant anteaters, capybaras, and the southern crested caracara. In the evening, search for caiman along the riverbanks and encounter nocturnal creatures that emerge under the cover of darkness.

End place: Pantanal

Meals: B, L, D
Day 12: Pantanal

Start place: Pantanal

The Pantanal is home to the third-largest cat in the world, the majestic jaguar. Although notoriously tough to spot in the wild, the ongoing efforts of the Jaguar Conservation Fund, Onçafari, and other conservation projects in the region are decreasing habitat loss for the big cats and increasing chances of spotting them in the Pantanal.
Continue exploring this extraordinary ecosystem as you learn about efforts underway to protect big cats such as the rare Pantanal jaguar. Head out on hikes along the slow-moving tributaries of the Paraguay River. With luck, spot slithering anaconda, rare marsh deer, and the Brazilian tapir, and learn how the unremarkable apple snail acts as a keystone species in this complex and diverse environment.

End place: Pantanal

Meals: B, L, D
Day 13: Pantanal/Iguaçu Falls

Start place: Pantanal

Fly north to the Iguazú Falls area, near the borders of Brazil, Paraguay, and Argentina. Cross the border from Argentina to Brazil to experience the panoramic view of the falls.

As if imposing Iguazú Falls – with its 275 waterfalls – couldn’t get more impressive, the area surrounding this natural wonder is home to jaguars, ocelots, anteaters, and large toucans, among others. The falls and the national park by the same name were named UNESCO World Heritage sites in 1984.
This morning, return to Campo Grande and fly to Iguaçu; then check into our hotel located close to Iguaçu Falls, one of the largest waterfall systems in the world. Here, water crashes over a nearly two-mile span of cliffs, formed by a basaltic rift on the border between Argentina and Brazil. Clouds of mist from the falls soak the surrounding landscape, creating a lush tropical environment harboring several rare species, including tapirs and jaguars.
Meals: B
Day 14: Iguaçu Falls
Explore trails directly over the falls of the Devil's Throat — the highest and deepest of the falls. Other trails allow access to the stretch of falls across the forest on the Argentine side. Later, learn about the flora and fauna surrounding the falls from Wilson Fernandes, a local biologist specializing in the Atlantic Rainforest.
Visit the Argentina side of Iguazú Falls, standing amid the spray from the falls’ spectacular cascades, and set out on a hike along forest trails that wind directly over the cataracts known as the Devil’s Throat. Choose to explore by boat, gaining a unique perspective on the falls from below. In the evening, gather for a talk with a local naturalist to learn about the flora and fauna living around the falls, and the uses of local plants in traditional healing remedies.
Meals: B
Day 15: Iguaçu Falls/Rio de Janeiro
Get a different perspective of the falls from the Brazilian side. Take in the panoramic view of the falls before walking along the scenic walkways out into the falls. After, leave the falls behind and head back to Rio.
Today, see the falls from a different angle during a trip to the Brazilian side. Take in panoramic views of the roaring cascades and stroll along scenic walkways winding in and out of lush tropical forest. Later, transfer to the airport and fly to Rio de Janeiro.

End place: Rio de Janeiro

Meals: B
Day 16: Rio de Janeiro

Start place: Rio de Janeiro

Depart at any time.

End place: Rio de Janeiro

Meals: B

Inclusions

Included

  • Your Journeys Highlight Moment: Pablo Neruda Experience and Talk, Valparaíso Your Journeys Highlight Moment: Mendoza Wine Tour and Tasting Lunch, Mendoza Your Journeys Highlight Moment: Local Tango Lesson, Buenos Aires Your Journeys Highlight Moment: Rio Tour: Cable Car Ride and Samba School Visit, Rio de Janeiro Your Journeys Highlight Moment: Iguaçu Falls, Flora and Fauna Lecture, Iguaçu Falls
  • Arrival transfer
  • Estancia visit and farm fresh lunch
  • Buenos Aires city tour
  • Rio de Janeiro city tour
  • Pantanal guided wildlife excursions
  • Tour the Argentine and Brazilian sides of Iguaçu Falls
  • All transport between destinations and to/from included activities
  • Transport

    Private van, Plane, 4x4, Walking
  • Accommodation

    Hotels (15 nts)

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