Best of Argentina & Brazil: A Dream Break

Day 1 BUENOS AIRES

Upon arrival in Buenos Aires transfer from the airport to the hotel.

In the afternoon you will visit the most important sites on a city tour. You will drive to the Plaza de Mayo, with the Casa Rosada, the pink house, seat of the government, the Cabildo (town hall) and the Metropolitan Cathedral, home of the Archbishop of Buenos Aires. The tour goes onto the district of San Telmo. Until 1888 this part of the city was a river port, today San Telmo is one of the most modern and desired places to live in Buenos Aires.

The worker district La Boca is famous for its colourful tin-houses and its history as the living district of the Italian seamen and dock workers in the 19th century. The Barrio Norte called Recoleta is the quarter of the rich of Buenos Aires. In the cemetery of Recoleta one will find the grave of Eva Duarte who became famous as Evita Perón. Continue along the widest avenue in the world, the Avenida 9 de Julio, to the Plaza Lavalle with the Federal Court of Justice and the Teatro Colón, to Palermo with its parks and gardens. Return to the hotel.

In the evening the following optional tour can be booked:

Optional: see a Tango Show incl. dinner at the Restaurant Viejo Almacen.

Day 2 BUENOS AIRES (B)

Day at leisure – the following optional tour can be booked with our office:

Optional: Full day visit of a typical Estancia incl. lunch and short visit of San Telmo. Enjoy a complete day out in the pampas! First we visit the famous Sunday flea market in San Telmo for a short walk around the main plaza. Then we leave the city and after a 2 hour drive to Los Cordales we will reach the Estancia Santa Susana, where the guests will be welcomed by Gauchos along with a drink. There is time to visit the Estancia and the daily life of the Gauchos will be explained. Sulky and horse rides will show you the charm of Argentine countryside, its scenarios, and the incomparable wild aroma.

Then follows a rustic Barbecue (Asado) lunch with fine meat and sausages. After lunch, a folklore show will present regional music and dances. During the Fiesta Gaucha guests will experience these men’s agility with their horses on the Estancia. After the afternoon coffee and tea time you will return to Buenos Aires.

Optional: Visit to the San Telmo market. San Telmo is no doubt the best kept historical neighbourhood and oldest district of Buenos Aires. Here one has time to stroll around Plaza Dorrego, where each Sunday an antique market takes place. Tango couples are dancing on the street. Cafes invite you to sit on their terrace and relax by enjoying the lovely scenery. Another attraction are the numerous antique shops, where one might find the right souvenir.

Day 3 BUENOS AIRES (B)

Today you will enjoy a half day Tigre Tour. Drive along the Northern residential districts of the city, until arriving at San Isidro, a colonial and aristocratic area. You will see the mansions and houses in front of the River Plate. You will continue driving to Tigre, a charming area near Buenos Aires city where a great number of summer residences, yacht clubs and rowing clubs attract the weekend activity of many “porteños”.

The Tigre Delta with its rivers, streams and numerous green islands is one of the most attractive areas for visitors. The continuous sediment of the Paraná River, which gives the river and estuary their particular brownish-red color, forms the Delta islands.

Enjoy a boat excursion (1 hour) along the innumerable channels of the Paraná-Delta to see some of the hundreds of islands covered with luxuriant vegetation. Drive back to the city via the Panamericana Highway.

Day 4 BUENOS AIRES- IGUASSU (B)

Transfer to the domestic airport for the flight to Iguazu (not included).

Upon arrival in Iguazu pick-up at the airport and transfer to the Argentinean National Park towards the Argentinean Falls. You will make a short stop at the Visitor’s Center and proceed from there along the Inferior Circuit, the down-river falls, to the Superior Circuit, the up-river cascades. The Ecological Jungle Train leads you to the most impressive observation point of the falls – The Devil´s Throat. After the visit transfer to the hotel on the Brazilian side of the falls.

DAY Day 5 IGUASSU

In the morning visit the Brazilian side of the falls. Walking along the paths following cascades and then along the catwalk that leads very close to the bottom of the Devil’s Throat to enjoy magnificent views. Take an elevator to go up to the road in order to board the coach which will bring you back to the hotel.

Afternoon at leisure.

Day 6 IGUASSU – RIO DE JANEIRO (B)

You will be transferred to the airport to board your flights to Rio de Janeiro (not included).

Afternoon at leisure. Enjoy a first stroll on the beach in Rio.

Day 7 RIO DE JANEIRO (B)

Leaving the hotel and proceeding as far as Cosme Velho Station to board a cog-train(*) for the ride through Tijuca Forest up Corcovado Mountain at 748 m (2.454 ft) high. The train ride takes 20 minutes and is a wonderful opportunity for a closer look at the forest’s lush tropical vegetation and to enjoy scenic landscapes of the beaches and city. Disembarking at the top of Corcovado and then proceeding up the steps that lead to the top lookout where the towering statue of Christ the Redeemer stands. After appreciating the breathtaking view unfolding below, passengers will descend by train. The tour proceeds passing by Rio’s world-famous beaches as far as Urca District to board a cable car for a two-stage ascent up Sugar Loaf Mountain at 390 m (1,280 ft.) high. Then descending and proceeding along Guanabara Bay and Flamengo Park as far as downtown. Visit downtown area, passing by the financial and business centre and by other attractions such as the Candelaria Church, Saint Sebastian Cathedral, Lapa Arches, Municipal Theatre, National Library, Fine Arts Museum, and by the Sambadrome, site of Rio’s famous Carnival parade.

*Note: or Vans certificated by the city´s administration depart from Largo do Machado where the van stop is located and go to top of Corcovado.

If you wish we can organise a recommended optional evening activity:

Optional:Rio by night – Show – Visit a folklore and Carnival show featuring skilled dancers, entertainers, samba bands and wonderful costumes in a wonderful display of Brazilian folklore and Carnival. (This excursion can be booked including dinner).

Day 8 RIO DE JANEIRO (B)

Transfer to the airport and return flight home.

End of our services

Food Code = (B) – Breakfast, (L) – Lunch, (D) – Dinner

LHSTBUE004 *Please note, prices based on twin share, per person, low season, 3 star rates. Optional tours not included and are at extra cost. The itinerary & pricing can change at any time due to availability & of activities. Please check our website for full terms and conditions*

More information on the visited countries

Argentina – the second biggest state of South America, has a surface of 2.8 million square kilometres. The country has 33 million inhabitants and nearly half of them live in the surroundings of Buenos Aires, one of the most cosmopolitan cities of the world. Argentina is a fascinating land of contrasts where the exceptional is almost commonplace. It’s home to an abundant wildlife, enjoys a unique culture, and delights in an astonishing variety of landscapes from tropical rainforest in the north to the remote vastness of the Antarctic in the south. Three big landscapes form the country: the Andes in the west, the northern and western flatland as well as the wide plains of Patagonia in the douth. The country that is stretched in length has three climatic zones: tropic in the north, moderate in the centre and polar in the extreme South. The native Indian people live in the north-western Andean region and in the north-east province of Misiones. The rest of the population is mainly composed of European immigrants. The official language is Spanish, but in larger towns English is also quite common.

Brazil –with this term one associates endless Amazon jungle, wonderful beaches, Rio de Janeiro, carnival and samba. This is all correct but in reality, Brazil is much more, a huge country of the superlatives. Brazil, a country of immense proportions and contrasts, has a mysterious attraction for many people. With a surface of 8,5 million km², Brazil is approximately as big as Europe and covers half of the South American continent. The climate changes from the permanent warm, tropic north over all sub tropic variants to the moderate South. Since the 16th century – when the Portuguese began to settle in the country – Brazil has always had a magic attraction for foreigners. First there was the gold and then rubber and coffee and today it is above all the rhythm and the exotic that attracts tourists. The Brazilian people show a lot of happiness, kindness and spontaneity. The largest country in South America is a mirror of fascinating pictures.

More information on the visited cities

Buenos Aires – is not only the capital of Argentina; it is also one of the 10 most important metropolises in the world and the centre of the political, economic and intellectual life of the country. This cosmopolitan city – with great European cultural influence – displays a refined taste in its cooking, in its ”boutiques” and in the elegance of its inhabitants. Almost 12 million people live there and can enjoy the plentiful night life visiting ”tango” bars, cabarets, discotheques, restaurants or eternally open bars. During the day, a wide variety of attractions is offered: museums, art galleries, tasteful shops, fascinating antiques, large green areas, parks, wide tree lined boulevards, clubs and sporting events. The Italian-Spanish descent of the inhabitants has formed this modern metropolis. Feel the flair, above all in the Italian old quarter La Boca and in the wide streets with cafes from the turn of the century. At the Plaza de Mayo, in the political centre of town, is the starting point of this tour through this exciting capital. The widest street of the world, the very famous opera house and also the shopping street Florida make Buenos Aires unforgettable.

Iguassu – the area’s major landmark is undoubtedly the magnificent IGUASSU FALLS, the world’s largest, formed by the Iguassu River which rises in Curitiba in the east and winds westward along 1,320 km through Parana State. Fifteen kilometres before joining the Parana River, the Iguassu overcomes abrupt uneven ground and then, amidst an exuberant forest, hurls itself into 275 falls that cascade over a u-shaped precipice 2,700 metres wide, from an average height of 60 metres.

On the Brazilian side it displays 800 metre long falls. From both sides the view is superb, at any time of the year. The Falls have been declared by UNESCO a World Heritage Site.

Rio de Janeiro – founded in 1556, the city of St. Sebastian of Rio de Janeiro became the capital of the Colony of Brazil in 1776. In 1808 the Portuguese royal family fled Napoleon and settled in Rio. This brought a surge of progress and the city became the main cultural, political and economic centre of the Portuguese empire. In 1889, when the republic was proclaimed, Rio was confirmed as the country’s capital, which it remained until 1960, when the construction of the new capital, Brasilia, was founded.

Rio is situated in a 15-mile-strip of land, wedged between mountains and sea. There are some thirty miles separating downtown Flamengo, from far-flung Recreio, bordered on one side by the blue sea, on the other by verdant hills. Between them lies a colourful state of mind called CARIOCA, with almost 8 million locals who samba their way through life, relaxed and high-spirited.

That is just the way it should be in Rio, surrounded by natural beauty on all sides, with Christ the Redeemer perched on top of Corcovado blessing the city and Sugar Loaf, one of the most famous postcards of our country.

More information on visa requirements

Argentina: Australians are required to pay a reciprocity fee of about USD 100.00 when travelling to Argentina. The reciprocity fee must be paid online before the start of the travel.

To read more. enter the website: www.migraciones.gov.ar / www.provinciapagos.com.ar

Brazil: Australians are required to pre-arrange a visa. Visa normally will give you the right to spend 90 days in the country.

For more information: http://camberra.itamaraty.gov.br/en-us/tourist_visa.xml