Itinerary

Day 1 Buenos Aires

Buenos Aires is the capital and largest city of Argentina, located on the southern shore of the Río de la Plata. The city has a spectacular legacy of architecture and parks, and its citizens consider themselves European. It is famous for the tango, superb restaurants, and the best shopping on the continent. The city has numerous museums related to history, and art in its many forms; fine, modern, decorative, popular, sacred and arts and crafts, as well as theatre and popular music. It is also known for its preserved homes of noted art collectors, writers, composers and artists.

Upon arrival you will be met by our local representative who will help you locating your vehicle.

Enjoy a private airport (International) transfer with professional driver and English speaking Guide.

Upon arrival by air in to Buenos Aires' International Airport (Ezeiza/EZE), Americans and Canadians are required to pay a reciprocity fee of $131 USD for Americans and $70 USD for Canadians. Other nationalities will vary. Upon payment for Americans, cash (Argentine Pesos or American Dollars), credit card or travelers checks, a receipt will be stapled at the back of your passport and is valid for the duration of the passport. Subject to change without notice. For Canadians, the reciprocity tax will be valid for one entry only. Please consult with the Argentine consulate for full details.

The recently discovered ancient tunnels of Buenos Aires are one of the city’s best kept secrets. Enjoy a private half day city tour including a visit of these ancient passages and get to know Buenos Aires from the ground up! After being met at your hotel by your private vehicle, driver and English speaking guide, you’ll be brought to Plaza de Mayo, the city’s founding site and genuine starting point of Buenos Aires’ urban development. Next is San Telmo, a former enclave for local aristocracy. This charming colonial district, with its cobbled streets, has many artists' studios and is one of the trendiest neighborhoods of the city. Also in San Telmo lies a recently unearthed treasure: the ancient subterranean tunnels. The construction of tunnels started in the colonial era, and continued well into the 19th century. From ancient times, many myths have been created around the tunnels: people said they witnessed secret encounters, disappearances, murders or even political conspiracies.

Enjoy visiting one of these tunnels, a part of a 3,000 square meter labyrinth below the streets of San Telmo, made up of a long corridor with a vaulted ceiling and display cabinets exhibiting many items and utensils recovered during the excavation. Other areas that are included in your tour include La Boca, (which was strongly shaped by the working class Italian immigrants, with its make shift houses made from scrap materials found in local shipyards), Puerto Madero - Buenos Aires’ latest and most sophisticated neighborhood, and La Recoleta, where a short stop is made at the gorgeous Plaza San Martín, the Basílica de Nuestra Señora del Pilar, (the city’s second oldest church), and the celebrated Recoleta Cemetery, an imposing labyrinth of ornate graves and mausoleums where some of the most important characters of Argentina’s political and cultural life (including Eva Peron) are buried. The last stop on the tour is at the area known as Palermo Woods. Next to the woods lie the splendid palaces built by the wealthy classes in the early 20th century to rival with Paris. Having gained an insightful experience of the city, you will be brought back to your hotel.

Sofitel Buenos Aires is considered one of the finest hotels in the city, it is a testament to hospitality and style. The 144 rooms are decked in rich textiles, and carefully planned color schemes set the atmosphere of delicious Argentinean and international taste at their best. The hotel is located in Recoleta, an exclusive area of the city, with plenty of sights and eateries nearby. However, you may well opt to dine in the hotel restaurant and bask in the flavors and surprises that the chefs successfully explore. If you can tear yourself away from this haven, be sure to watch a tango show and visit the numerous art galleries nearby.

Overnight at Sofitel .

Day 2 Buenos Aires

Enjoy a half day private tour exploring the lower delta of the Paraná River with your own English speaking guide. The Coastal Train leaves the northern side of the city and passes into Buenos Aires, where we will see the city’s largest and most expensive homes, including the Presidential Major House. Mouth-dropping mansions, architecture, and wealth showcase the success of some of the country’s biggest movers and shakers, as we pass the shores of the Rio de la Plata where some homes have been constructed over the past century. We’ll visit the San Isidro station and its nearby shopping center. Only 30 km from the Federal Capital, the city of Tigre is the starting point to understanding the Lower Delta of the Paraná River, where a group of islands and streams open up like a fan. The complex river branches have formed attractive natural scenery and environmental landscape frequented by local creatures, and one is left speechless by the ruggedness. Approximately 4 hours are spent on this trip, which shares a few significant and breathtaking sides of Argentina.

A visit to Buenos Aires would be incomplete without a tango show. Watch as professional tango dancers take the room by storm, whipping feet, hair, dresses and heels along the floor and enchanting the audience with the romance and heat of this dance. The Argentine Tango has drawn its influences from all regions and settings, and is famous for its intermingling of styles and fusions of world dance techniques. Embrace this authentic dance in the place where it originated, as you enjoy dinner and drinks.

Enjoy the unique sexual magnetism of the Tango performed by some of the best tango dancers and singers. Its origins are traced back to the 1880’s, and its birthplace is the suburbs: which accounts for its deep malevolent, sexual, passionate and troublemaker contents. Tango is – since its origins – a vital expression mixed up with a particular form of breathing, dressing, talking, and loving of the “porteños” that creates a new type of style: the Tango Style. Taste the most delightful typical Argentine and international dishes, the specialty are prime beef, with the best local wines in a charming atmosphere with excellent service. A superb orchestra will help you discover the secret of the music of Buenos Aires while you watch. At the end of the evening, you will be returned to your hotel.

Overnight at Sofitel .

Day 3 Buenos Aires

Enjoy a private transfer to Estancia Villa Maria.

Enjoy time at leisure in the property of Estancia Villa Maria. Relax by the outdoor swimming pool, play a game of tennis, take a walk or a bike ride in the extensive grounds or play a game of pool, curl up with a good book in the library or watch one of the many DVD’s available. Alternatively, you can avail of a private polo class with the Manager of the Estancia.

Estancia Villa Maria is located in the outskirts of Buenos Aires (Ezeiza). Villa María is one of the most distinguished country hotels in Argentina and provides a true Argentine estancia experience. The Manor House features 11 guestrooms, a restaurant and a cellar and the property is on an expansive 74 hectares of parkland. Enjoy any number of activities on site such as horseback riding, polo, tennis or relax poolside with a book in hand.

Overnight at Estancia Villa Maria.

Day 4 Buenos Aires

Enjoy the natural surroundings of the beautiful Villa Maria ranch. Spend the day exploring the estate by horseback and by foot in the company of a Guide. After a great lunch, continue the day by taking a walk through the grounds and enjoy late afternoon tea overlooking the beautiful surroundings.

Overnight at Estancia Villa Maria.

Day 5 Iguazu Falls

Iguazu Falls are located on the border of the Brazilian state of Paraná and the Argentine province of Misiones. The waterfall system consists of 275 falls along 2.7 kilometres (1.67 miles) of the Iguazu River. Some of the individual falls are up to 82 metres (269 ft) in height, though the majority are about 64 metres (210 ft). The Garganta del Diablo (Devil's Throat), a U-shaped 150-metre-wide and 700-metre-long (490 by 2300 feet) cliff, is the most impressive of all, and marks the border between Argentina and Brazil.

Enjoy a private transfer to Estancia Villa Maria.

Fly from Buenos Aires to Iguazu Falls. The direct flight is approximately 1 hour and 45 minutes. (Please note that flights are subject to changes based on availability).

Enjoy a private airport transfer in Iguazu in the company of an English speaking Guide, and a private vehicle with a professional driver.

Experience the Argentine side of the Iguazu Falls from Misiones, the area which borders Brazil. After being picked up by your private vehicle, professional driver and English speaking Guide, you will be transferred to Iguassu Park to take a train to the walkways. Marvel at the Iguassu Falls as you make your way along the walkway system. Stop by "Devil's Throat" and get up close to the Falls. On the way home, you may like to visit the Argentine shopping district and the 3-borders point where Brazil, Argentina, and Paraguay meet before you are dropped back at your hotel.

The Sheraton Iguazu enjoys the enviable location of being by the incomparable sight of the Iguazu Falls which can be seen torrential downwards and is in plain view from the hotel rooms and lounging areas. The 180 rooms are attractive, with attentive staff ensuring a great stay. When dining at the hotel, you may well find yourself spellbound by the sheer grandeur of the natural forces surrounding you, as the gardens and water in this region are in such abundance. The international buffet and Argentinean barbeque offered at the hotel are enjoyable and should not be missed. Be sure to also try the hotel's spa treatments and facilities, such as the tennis court and fully-equipped gym.

Overnight at Sheraton Iguazú.

Day 6 Iguazu Falls

Enjoy a half day private guided tour to explore the Brazilian side of Iguazú Falls. After being picked up at your hotel, you will pass over the border and into the Brazilian National Park side of the falls. You will get the chance to see some handmade products from Brazil before a short drive through a subtropical jungle, with fantastic palm trees and lianas. When you arrive at the beginning of the path, the enormous Iguazú Falls emerge in front of you, with a unique panoramic view that conveys their spectacular magnificence. Walk along the 1,200 meters of the footbridge to a different side of the fallsm, which is an even more incredible view than the first. You will discover that these new falls, although they belong to Argentina, can only be seen from the Brazilian side. Take a panoramic elevator to get a more impressive sight of the Iguazú Falls. At the end of the tour you will be brought back to your hotel. NOTE: A Brazilian Visa is required for all travelers wishing to enjoy the Brazilian side of the falls tour - this visa is the traveler's responsibility.

Consider doing an hour and a half boat safari combining river navigation and jungle safari. After a 12km drive in a 4x4 vehicle into the jungle, learn about the wildlife of the area, before reaching "Port Macuco". From there, you can continue by powerful zodiac speedboats, 12km up river passing through the white waters of the lower Iguazu River and into the Devil's Throat canyon. You will also visit the "San Martin" and the "Tres Mosqueteros" falls to experience the force of nature. Stop for a quick and refreshing "shower" underneath it. Alternatively, enjoy a 2 hour tour encompassing a short ride in a 4x4, a short walk in the forest, and a ride on inflatable boats which will take you out to bask in the grandeur of the Iguazu Falls, at an unbelievable proximity to its base. Experienced pilots' maneuver in the midst of the misty Falls. Please speak to your Sales Advisor if either of these activities is of interest.

Overnight at Sheraton Iguazú.

Day 7 Rio de Janeiro

Rio de Janeiro is the second major city of Brazil, behind São Paulo. The city delights people with its scenery, hospitality and infectious cheerfulness. The "Wonderful City" famous all over the world for its beautiful beaches, curvaceous geography and the way of life of its people - welcomes visitors with open arms and offers an infinite number of attractions throughout the year. Known for its natural settings, carnival celebrations, samba, beaches, Rio de Janeiro is a perfect destination for relaxation and entertainment.

Enjoy a private airport transfer with private vehicle and professional driver.

Fly from Foz do Iguacu directly to Rio de Janeiro. Flights are subject to availability. Total travel time is approximately 1.5 hours.

Meet your personal driver and guide for an airport transfer.

Considered one of the top hotels in Rio de Janeiro, the Sofitel has a prime seat on Copacabana Beach. The 388 rooms are immaculately kept, each possessing a contemporary allure and sharp decor. Take advantage of the extensive room facilities, including plasma cable TV, DVD players, and high speed Internet. Feast on an endless choice of cuisine and dining styles, from bar settings to French gourmet cuisine. Fusions of flavors will keep you coming back for more. Later, stop by any of the bars and mingle with other guests, or make use of the 2 pools, gym, and 2 saunas on site.

Overnight at Sofitel Copacabana.

Day 8 Rio de Janeiro

Enjoy a full day private excursion with your own vehicle, professional driver and English speaking guide visiting Corcovado and Sugarloaf. After being picked up from your hotel, you can enjoy a Panoramic city tour by car, passing by the main monuments such as Sambódromo, the Metropolitan Cathedral, Cinelandia Square with its Municipal Theatre, National Library and the Fine Art Museum, to name but a few. Arriving at the Sugar Loaf, you can take a cable car to get to the summit where you will have one of the most fantastic panoramic views of Rio de Janeiro. From here, the stop on the tour is Cosme Velho district, a traditional neighborhood in the Southern part of Rio de Janeiro which houses the picturesque Largo do Boticário - a small square enclosed by several neo-colonial style houses, built in the 1920s. (The houses were constructed using materials from much older buildings in the city's Centro district which had been demolished). Here, you can take a train up to the Corcovado Mountain, through the Atlantic rainforests of Tijuca to see the famous Christ The Redeemer statue and admire the fantastic panoramic views of Rio de Janeiro below. Before returning to the hotel, you will be taken for a visit to São Conrado beach to observe the famous hang gliders flying over the beach. You will no doubt enjoy the hosted lunch during the day and at day's end, having seen all of the sights; you will be brought back to your hotel.

Overnight at Sofitel Copacabana.

Day 9 Rio de Janeiro

Meet your personal driver and guide for an airport transfer.

Depart from International Airport. End of itinerary.

Overnight at Depart (Int`l Airport) (standard).

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