South America Explore some of South America's most magical sights 1
Santiago/Chile DAY 1 ACCOMODATION IN SANTIAGO Cumbres Lastarria (Superior Rooms) Tuesday 22 January 2019 Arrive in Santiago Airport, meet for transfer to your hotel located in Lastarria area. Day of leisure. DAY 2 Wednesday 23 January 2019 Half Day Santiago City Tour with San Cristobal Hill This morning, depart your hotel on a half-day tour around historical Santiago. Start at the Alameda Bernardo O Higgins, the main avenue, visiting the President s Palace (Casa de La Moneda). From here walk through the pedestrian streets of Huerfanos and Ahumada, where the main commercial activity of the city is concentrated. Continue to the Plaza de Armas, the main square, which is surrounded by the Metropolitan Cathedral and other historical buildings. Afterwards visit Santa Lucia, the hill upon which the Spanish founded Santiago in 1541. It is a lone steep rock rising above the city with stairways, gardens, fountains and a fortress. Continue on to the Lastarria neighbourhood and the Pedro de Valdivia area, where you can take the cable-car to the top of San Cristobal Hill topped with an amphitheatre, church and statue of Virgin Mary, this is the highest hill in town. From the top (if the weather is clear) there are great views of the city and the Andes mountains to the east. After a visit to Pablo Neruda's Museum, La Chascona, return to your hotel. DAY 3 Thursday 24 January 2019 Half Day Santiago City Tour with Los Dominicos This morning, depart your hotel on a half-day tour of modern Santiago. Visit Los Dominicos craft market, which began as an artists commune supported by the Dominican monastery. With more than 150 workshops, you will find the most complete and representative sample of Chilean handcrafts. Afterwards, drive back to the Lastarria neighbourhood and stop on Emporio La Rosa to enjoy an ice-cream in one of 50 best ice-cream parlors in the world. After the tour, return to your hotel. 2
Rio de Janeiro/Brazil DAY 4 Friday 25 January 2019 Travel from Santiago to Rio de Janeiro Meet at your hotel for transfer to Santiago Airport for your international flight to Rio de Janeiro. FLIGHT: Airline: LATAM Airlines Flight Number: LA 721 Departing: Santiago 10:21 Arriving: Rio de Janeiro 15:30 ACCOMODATION IN RIO DE JANEIRO Windsor California (Superior Executive Ocean View Rooms) Nestled between towering mountains and the sea is the vibrant and beautiful city of Rio de Janeiro with its magnificent shoreline and beaches. On arrival at Rio de Janeiro Airport, meet for transfer to your hotel located in the Copacabana area. DAY 5 Saturday 26 January 2019 Full Day Corcovado and Sugar Loaf Tour /Lunch Evening at leisure. This morning, depart your hotel on a full day tour, visiting the most famous landmarks of the city and see the natural beauty of Rio de Janeiro. After a scenic drive along Rodrigo de Freitas Lagoon, arrive at the bottom of the Corcovado Hill. Embark on a comfortable train that ascends the mountain towards the awe-inspiring statue of Christ the Redeemer (located 700m above sea level). From the foot of the statue, you can enjoy a panoramic view of Rio de Janeiro and discover why it is called the "Marvellous City". Afterwards, descend the mountain and stop for a delicious Brazilian barbecue lunch. Continue on to the world-famous Pão de Açúcar (Sugar Loaf Mountain), which has become an iconic symbol of the city of Rio de Janeiro. Rising up a small peninsula at the entrance of Guanabara Bay, its name is said to refer to its resemblance to the traditional shape of a refined sugar loaf. Travel to the Sugar Loaf cable car station for a ride to the top of the mountain from where you will enjoy superb 360 degree views over the city and bay. After the tour, return to your hotel. DAY 6 Sunday 27 January 2019 Day at leisure. Suggestions: Visit the Hippie Market near Ipanema beach (Sundays only). At the market you can buy all kinds of artwork, clothing, musical instruments, leather goods, woodwork, Indian paintings and jewellery. It s an interesting place to wander around, even if you don t buy anything. Visit the Roberto Burle Marx Centre - once the home of Brazil s famous landscape architect, Roberto Burle Marx. On the estate there are beautiful gardens containing plants from Brazil and also sourced from other countries. Walk through the grounds and admire the studio which houses a display of different art works. 3
Igaussu Falls/Brazil DAY 7 Monday 28 January 2019 Travel from Rio de Janeiro to Igussu Falls Meet at your hotel for transfer to Rio de Janeiro Airport for your domestic flight to Iguassu. FLIGHT: Airline: LATAM Airlines Flight Number: LA 3188 Departing: Rio de Janeiro 09:25 Arriving: Iguassu 11:40 ACCOMODATION AT IGUASSU FALLS Belmond Das Cataratas (Deluxe Rooms) Situated in the southwest of Brazil, the Iguazu River joins the Parana River creating a natural border with Argentina and Paraguay. It is here you will find the most spectacular waterfalls in the world, the Cataratas del Iguazu, that plunge into a massive gorge. There are 275 falls along a 3km front, with an average height of 70m. Completely surrounded by a dense tropical forest, this is home to many small native mammals and over 400 different species of birds and butterflies. On arrival at Iguassu (Brazil side) Airport, meet for transfer to your hotel located in the Iguassu National Park right at the falls. DAY 8 Tuesday 29 January 2019 Brazil National Park Fee Half Day Brazil Side of Falls Tour /Lunch This morning, depart your hotel for a half-day tour of the Brazil side of the falls. Here you will have a breathtaking panoramic view across the river to the Argentine side of the falls. Walking along the kilometre-long path will provide you with spectacular close-up views of the main falls. After the tour, return to your hotel. If you wish to book any additional tours (and if time permits), it is easy to make arrangements with your guide. Suggested Tours - Brazil side: Macuco Jungle Safari Parque de Aves (Bird Park) Helicopter ride over the falls (available only from the Brazilian side; subject to weather conditions): Maximum capacity 4 persons in the helicopter, minimum 3 persons required to operate (not possible to pre-book). *Note: Payment by cash or VISA credit card only. 4
DAY 9 Wednesday 30 January 2019 Puerto Iguazu Municipal Tourist Tax Argentina National Park Fee Half Day Argentine Side of Falls Tour This morning, depart your hotel on the Brazil side and transfer across the border (via the International Bridge Tancredo Neves ) for a half-day tour to the Argentine side of the falls. Remember to have your passport handy when crossing the Brazil/Argentina border. Visit the Lower and Upper trails of the Iguazu National Park that allows close views of the many falls that drop from the Iguazu River. The thundering noise and the falling water is incredibly impressive. Then visit the Devil s Gorge right in the heart of the Iguazu waterfalls. To get there, catch the tourist train that meanders through the park and drops you right at the walkway that leads to the magnificent Devil s Throat cascade. If you wish to book any additional tours (and if time permits), it is easy to make arrangements with your guide. Suggested Tours - Argentine side: Gran Aventura: Open-air truck ride, followed by a boat ride on the river below the falls. For the more adventurous, contact Iguazu Forest Tours. The following is an example of what they can offer: trekking through the jungle, abseiling down a waterfall; flying fox - sitting in a harness that slides along a cable through ravines and the lower parts of the jungle. After the Argentine side tour, return to your hotel on the Brazil side. Remember to have your passport handy when crossing the Argentina/Brazil border. BUENOS AIRES/ARGENTINA DAY 10 Thursday 31 January 2019 Transfer from Hotel to Iguazu Airport Transfer from Buenos Aires Airport to Hotel Meet at your hotel on the Brazil side for transfer across the border (via the International Bridge Tancredo Neves ) to Iguazu (Argentine side) Airport. Remember to have your passport handy when crossing the Brazil/Argentina border. At Iguazu (Argentine side) Airport, join your domestic flight to Buenos Aires. FLIGHT: Airline: LATAM Airlines Flight Number: LA 7509 Departing: Igauzu 14:15 Arriving: Buenos Aires 16:10 ACCOMODATION IN BUENOS AIRES The Brick Buenos Aires MGallery by Sofitel (Deluxe Rooms) Buenos Aires is a charming, sophisticated city with a strong European influence and culture. With its blend of Spanish, French and Italian architectural styles, its great variety of nightspots, and its cultural life, it is often referred to as the South American Paris. On arrival at Buenos Aires (AEP Aero Parque) Airport, meet for transfer to your hotel located in the Recoleta area. 5
DAY 11 Friday 1 February 2019 Half Day Jewish Tour This morning, depart your hotel on a half-day of Buenos Aires, home to the largest Jewish community in South America and the second largest in the Americas after New York. To appreciate the impact of this active social group on Argentine culture throughout history, visit the central Synagogue and the Jewish Museum, located in front of the Palace of Justice in Lavalle Square. After the tour, return to your hotel. DAY 12 Saturday 2 February 2019 Half Day Buenos Aires City Tour Tango Show at Esquina Carlos Gardel - VIP (Private Transfers to/ from Venue) DAY 13 Sunday 3 February 2019 This morning, depart your hotel on a half-day city sightseeing tour visiting Plaza de Mayo (May Square) around which are El Cabildo (City Hall), the Cathedral and Casa Rosada (Government House). Also visit the colourful district of La Boca, Recoleta Cemetery, Plaza San Martin, Avenida Santa Fe and the Colon Opera House. After the tour, return to your hotel. *Note: The city tour does not include a visit inside the Colon Opera House. The theatre is closed during January and February. This evening, depart your hotel to enjoy dinner and a night of music and tango at Esquina Carlos Gardel, one of the excellent venues where typical songs and dances are performed. After the show, return to your hotel. Tour comes to an end. Either transfer to the airport or extend your stay in South America. TOUR INCLUSIONS AND EXCLUSIONS TOUR INCLUDES: Accommodation with private facilities at first and deluxe class hotels Daily breakfast as shown in the itinerary Other meals as shown in the itinerary Transfers airport/hotel/airport (or port) as shown in the itinerary Sightseeing tours with English-speaking guides as shown in the itinerary All land transport as shown in the itinerary TOUR DOES NOT INCLUDE: International and domestic airfares Airport departure taxes Passport and visa costs: Australian passport-holders are required: - to pay an entry fee for Chile which is obtained on arrival (USD117.00 per person) - to obtain a visa for Brazil Australian passport-holders DO NOT require a visa for Argentina (some exceptions apply). Travel insurance Medical and vaccination costs Meals not mentioned in the itinerary Expenses of a personal nature such as telephone calls, laundry, tips, room service, drinks, etc If you would like to see more of South America, why not join our cruise on board the Crystal Symphony with Jo Gostin OAM? To BOOK or ENQUIRE about the land tour or cruise please call Jo or your dedicated Travel Advisor on +61 3 8573 0900 or email enquiries@fbitravel.com.au 6