South America is blessed with incredible landscapes, towering mountains, active volcanoes, beautiful beaches, pristine, turquoise waters, verdant jungles, incredible history, diverse cultures, delicious food, and the most friendly, hospitable people on Earth!
Argentina is a region of large rivers, humid tropics, red earth, magnificent, virgin forests and extraordinary flora and fauna. Uruguay is a cosmopolitan society as a result of many successive European migrations. As such it is an open society, promoting tolerance, nondiscrimination, be them of different race, religion or political ideologies.
And Paraguay, an inland Republic, where the Paraguay River divides the country into two sharply contrasting regions, namely, in the west, the Gran Chaco, or Paraguay Occidental, and in the east, Paraguay Proper, or Paraguay Oriental. All culminating with the awe-inspiring Iguassu Falls.
Your Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive Buenos Aires - Argentina
Upon arrival to the International Airport of Ezeiza we are met by our hosts and transferred to the hotel in Buenos Aires. Rest of the day is free for rest and acclimatization. Overnight: Hotel Argenta Tower, Buenos Aires (4 nights)
Day 2: Buenos Aires
This complex, energetic, and seductive port city, which stretches south-to-north along the Rio de la Plata, has been the gateway to Argentina for centuries. Portenos, as the multinational people of Buenos Aires are known, possess an elaborate and rich cultural identity.
They value their European heritage highly, and the lifestyle and architecture are markedly more European than any other in South America. One of the world's finest opera houses, the Teatro Colon, flourishes here on the plains alongside the river. Portenos are intensely involved in the life and culture of their city, and they will gladly share the secrets of Buenos Aires if we lend an ear and relate your own stories in return.
After a leisurely breakfast we’ll go for a city tour, starting with “Plaza de Mayo” where the Government Hose (Pink House) is located, the Cathedral, the City Hall, San Telmo, where the city was born 425 years ago, Puerto Madero, the neighborhood recovered from the 19th Century and which became the most exclusive and upper class residential area today, La Boca, where Tango was born, a colorful area from where the poor immigrants, mostly from Italy, build the Nation.
We’ll also see Recoleta, the high-class residential area, plenty of very good and elegant hotels and restaurants and finally Palermo, with wonderful parks and avenues. In the evening we’ll have Dinner and a ‘Tango Show’. Included: B, D.
Day 3: Buenos Aires
We start our day by visiting the Delta of The Paraná River at Tigre, from where a short drive gets us to Olivos Town. Here we leave our car at the Maipu Terminal Station - next to the Presidential Residence, from where we take a train journey aboard the famous Coastline train, an ultimate generation train, which connects the most elegant residential areas facing the River Plate.
At San Isidro station, where we get off, we can enjoy the shopping and bargaining at a famous Shopping Center with its pleasant surroundings. Arriving later at Delta Station, we board a modern panoramic catamaran boat to discover the wonders of the Delta of the Parana River and thousands of islands and islets crisscrossed by rivers and brooks. Late in the afternoon we return to Buenos Aires and have the evening at leisure. Included: B.
Day 4: Buenos Aires
Another full day tour ahead, this time to Gaucho Party. We’ll spend a wonderful day at the countryside, just outside the Capital. After we leave the great Buenos Aires, we’ll be getting into the famous ‘La Pampas’ (flat green lands) and will later arrive at an “Estancia” (Ranch) for a “Gaucho” (cowboy) show and experience.
A barbecue lunch with wine, popular singing and dancing show will be performed during lunch, giving us an idea about the Gauchos’ daily life, spiced with horse races and lively atmosphere. We return in the afternoon to Buenos Aires. Included: B, L.
Day 5: Buenos Aires / Colonia del Sacramento (Uruguay)
This morning we are transferred to the Port and take the hydrofoil to Colonia del Sacramento, across the Bay to Uruguay. Upon our arrival and after immigration formalities, we are going to take a walking tour of the city. Colonia del Sacramento is a real Spanish colonial city stopped at the 18th Century, just across the river.
Due to its colonial beginnings, the city's layout is different from the majority of Uruguayan cities. Its cobbled streets and houses alternate with small bars, excellent restaurants, art and craft shops, museums and a large yacht harbor. A visit to the historic center of Colonia del Sacramento is like a walk back in time.
We’ll walk trough the Old Fortress used to stop the intruders from attacking Buenos Aires, which is recognized today as a World Heritage Site. Overnight: Hotel Plaza Mayor, Colonia del Sacramento (1 night). Included: B.
Day 6: Colonia del Sacramento / Montevideo (drive)
We’ll take today an Executive Class Bus ride to Montevideo, the capital city of Uruguay. After our arrival we’ll have a half-day City tour for visiting Montevideo, considered to be the younger sister of Buenos Aires. Home to almost 50% of the nation's population, Montevideo is a modern metropolis with an historical old town, dating back to colonial times.
Highlights include Ciudad Vieja (Old Town) with its 18th Century buildings, the vibrant Mercado del Puerto and the bustling commercial activity of Avenida 18 de Julio and its cultural offerings (theatres, museums and art galleries).
Surrounding the whole city lie an uninterrupted stretch of white sandy beach. The dinner will be offered in a typical local Restaurant, ‘spiced’ with effervescent atmosphere. Overnight: Hotel NH Columbia, Montevideo (1 night). Included: B, D.
Day 7: Montevideo / Asunción ( Paraguay) (flight)
After breakfast we are transferred to the airport and take the flight to Asunción, Capital of Paraguay. Upon arrival we meet our local host and we’re transferred to the hotel. The rest of the day at leisure. Overnight: Hotel Sabe Center, Asuncion (1 night). Included: B.
Day 8: Asunción / Paraguay River Cruise (cruise)
Once bigger than Buenos Aires, Asunción is over 450 years old and known as the Mother of Cities or city of huge contrasts. With a population of just over one million citizens today, the city is peaceful and offers some interesting historical spots like the Palacio del Gobierno (Government Palace), which is in the style of the Louvre in Paris.
The Plaza de los Heroes features the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier as well offers a huge variety of shopping opportunities and a lovely water garden. In the morning we’ll visit Asunción, to see and witness the contrast between a modern city and relicts from the colonial past.
After the visit of the commercial and historic center, we will visit the exorbitant & beautiful residential quarters and later also have a look on the modest settlements of this city. Like the small but massive markets, which contrast with the large and modern malls.
In the afternoon we are transferred to the Port to board the ‘Crucero Paraguay’ (Paraguay Cruise) ship, which will be our home for the coming two days. The ship will depart at 20:00 hrs to navigate along the Paraguay River. Dinner and a folkloric show will be offered aboard. Overnight: Aboard “Crucero Paraguay” Ship (2 nights). Included: B, D.
Day 9: Paraguay River Cruise
Early in the morning, and after our arrival to Confuso River, we take a unique tour in special boats to see the great variety of birds and the typical fauna of this place, an excellent photographic opportunity. Later we’ll have breakfast aboard and cruise further till we arrive to Villa Hayes.
Our City tour here consists a visit to the local museum and to the handicraft market. Our Dinner aboard will be 'spiced' with 'The night of the Capitan' show. Included: B, D.
Day 10:Paraguay Cruise / Asunción
This morning, and after Breakfast, we’ll visit a typical chaqueña farm, to witness and to enjoy the Nature’s beauty and the rural way of life along the River. Optional tours for photographic safari, horse riding, fishing and canoeing are also offered here.
After Lunch aboard and an afternoon at leisure, we arrive to Asuncion and are transferred back to the hotel. Overnight: Hotel Sabe Center, Asuncion (1 night). Included: B, L.
Day 11: Asunción / Ciudad del Este / Iguassu (Brazil) (flight)
In the morning we fly to Ciudad del Este, an interesting city situated at the border with Brazil. Commercially speaking, the main attraction in Paraguay is Ciudad Del Este. To give an idea of its importance it may be enough to say that it is the largest shopping center in South America.
The stores in Ciudad del Este sell an endless variety of products imported from the biggest and most advanced industrial centers in the world. Here one can find anything from simple utensils to state-of-the-art computers.
We can find quality products made with the most advanced technology, at very attractive prices, as well as many counterfeit items. After our visit in Ciudad del Este we cross the Parana River via the Friendship Bridge and enter Iguassu – Brazil. Overnight: Hotel Continental Inn, Iguassu (2 night). Included: B.
Day 12: Iguassu Falls
The Iguassu (Iguaçú) Falls are located in the Iguaçú National Park, at the border of Brazil and Argentina. In a horseshoe form, 2,700 meters wide between the two countries, the Iguassu Falls fill the visitor's view with the spray of 72 meter-high falls - the number of them varies between 150 and 300, depending on the flow of the Iguassu River.
The panorama overwhelms the onlooker with a sensation of fright, fascination and respect for the perfection of nature. A visit to the Falls and the contact with wildlife and the spectacle of the waters awake an emotion that many hope to experience once in a lifetime.
After breakfast we’ll enjoy a tour to the Brazilian and Argentinean sides of the magnificent falls, also have a view of the Falls from the platform overlooking Devil’s Throat; the main falls, from where the Iguassu River precipitates. Included: B, D.
Day 13: Iguassu / Homebound
After what was an outstanding Cultural and Natural exploratory tour of 'best of South America', we leave with our hearts and minds filled with long-lasting memories, as we are taken to the airport for our flight back home. Included: B.
Notes:
Airfare is not included in the tour price.
USD: 2,610.00 / CAD: 2,740.00 - per person in double occupancy
Single supplement USD: 1,100.00 / CAD: 1,150.00
Price includes:
- Hotel accommodation as mentioned or similar
- Meals as per itinerary (B=breakfast, L=lunch, D=dinner)
- All transfers, tours and sightseeing by car, minivan and bus (some on SIC basis)
- All the boat rides and cruises as mentioned in the itinerary
- Entrance fees to all Sites, Museums and performances as mentioned
- Services of local English speaking guides
- Road taxes, parking fees, drivers’ wages
Price does not include:
- International flight tickets and airport taxes
- Excursion not included in the itinerary or noted as optional
- Visa fees and any kind of insurance
- Domestic / Regional flights: Montevideo / Asunción / Cidad del Este (with additional & local airport taxes)
- Personal expenses, such as bar, laundry or phone bills
- Any drinks or beverages with meals
- Tips or other such costs
- All other services not mentioned
Also see tour packages in:
South America
Argentina
Uruguay
Paraguay
Boating and Sailing
Cultural Journey
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