"El Viajero" Rio, Buenos Aires & Santiago with Chilean Lakes & Iguassu Falls 16 Days/14 Nights From $3595 Departures Daily Except Wednesdays & Thursdays Plus - Extend Your Trip with EcoAdventures' Special Patagonia Extension to Paine National Park, Chile Print/Download this page (161K PDF - opens in new window) Itinerary

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Local "butterfly" from one of Rio's colorful folklore shows

View of Rio from cable car

Day 3: Corcovado & Sugar Loaf Tour This full-day motorcoach tour begins at Corcovado, Rio's highest mountain, crowned by the famous statue of Christ the Redeemer. Enjoy the exceptional views and then continue via the scenic route through Tijuca rainforest. Stop for a barbecue lunch before continuing to Praia Vermelia, where you begin the two-stage ascent by cable car to the top of Sugar Loaf Mountain for breathtaking views of Guanabara Bay and Rio. (B, L)

Spectacular Iguassu Falls & the Devil's Throat

Day 4: Rio to Iguassu Falls Fly away from vibrant Rio to explore one of the world's greatest natural wonders, Iguassu Falls. You will hear the falls' mighty thunder from your hotel, located just footsteps away from the cascading water. (B)

Take a thrilling Zodiac ride up the Devil's Throat!

Day 5: Iguassu Falls A full day at leisure, where you will have an opportunity to visit the falls from the Brazilian vantage point. Here, you will have a magnificent overview of the entire horseshoe-shaped falls with over 250 separate cataracts. You may take a zodiac ride for a close up view of the Devil's Throat! (B)

Day 6: Iguassu Falls to Buenos Aires Morning departure for Argentina, where you will have a whole new view of the falls. You will cross into Argentina via the Friendship Bridge and clear Argentine customs. Then, walk along the river's edge where a myriad of flora and fauna inhabits this semi-tropical area. Cross small bridges over tiny waterfalls, climb up the embankment to lookout points, and finally arrive at the main part of the falls, the Devil's Throat. After the tour, transfer to the airport on the Argentine side of the falls for your flight to cosmopolitan Buenos Aires. Transfer to your selected hotel. (B)

The old port La Boca District with its pastel houses and shops

Days 7 & 8: Buenos Aires See why Buenos Aires is called the "Paris of South America" on a half-day motorcoach tour of this elegant city. Drive by the public squares and parks, including Plaza de Mayo, Plaza del Congreso and Palermo Park. See the Pink House (presidential palace), Colon Theater, 9th of July Avenue and visit Recoleta Cemetery, where Evita is buried. (B daily)

Day 9: Buenos Aires to Bariloche Begin an exciting journey to the lakes and mountains of Argentina and Chile, starting with a flight to Bariloche in the heart of the Andes. Transfer to your selected hotel. (B)

Hotel Llao Llao, Llao Llao Peninsula, Bariloche and Lake Nahuel Huapi as seen en route to Mount Lopez

Day 10: Bariloche Scenic Tour Today you will be transported into a world of craggy mountains, snowcapped peaks, brilliant blue lakes and unspoiled forests. Take a half-day motorcoach drive to Mount Lopez and the circuito chico, or small circle tour, for sweeping panoramic views of Lake Nahuel Huapi. En route, pass El Tronador (The Thunderer), peaking at 11,500 feet, Lake Moreno and Clover Lake. In Bariloche, you will think you have entered an alpine village complete with chocolate shops and European architecture in the main square. (B)

Day 11: Bariloche to Peulla (available all year) Begin with a half-hour drive along the southern shore of Lake Nahuel Huapi to Puerto Panuelo, where you will start a two-day lakes excursion to Chile. (Click here for more information about EcoAdventures' Lakes Crossing Excursions.) A two-hour boat trip will bring you to Puerto Blest. After two more busses and a brief lake crossing, you will enter Chile through Paso Perez Rosales. Clear customs and then continue by motorcoach to La Natura Hotel in the middle of this natural wonderland. (B, D)

Day 12: Peulla to Puerto Montt (Puerto Varas) Continue your Lake District excursion across Lake Todos Los Santos, where you have a dramatic view of Osorno Volcano (weather permitting!). You will make a brief stop in Petrohue to admire the falls and the view of two volcano peaks, Osorno and Puntiagudo. Continue by bus two more hours along Lake Llanquihue to Puerto Varas, scenically located on the shores of Lake Llanquihue. (B)

Quaint Fishing Village of Puerto Montt, Chile

Day 13: Puerto Montt to Santiago This morning tour Puerto Montt on the Relancavi Estuary, and the quaint fish market of Angelmo, with an open-air crafts market. Continue on to the airport for a one-hour flight to Santiago. Transfer to your selected hotel. Evening at leisure. (B)

Osorno Volcano

Day 14: Santiago City Tour Take a half-day tour of Santiago, including the Metropolitan Park and San Cristobal Hill for a panoramic view. Visit the city center, including the main square, the racetrack and O'Higgins Park along the Maipu River, where you can buy quality handcrafted jewelry, woolens and decorative items in the open-air shops. (B)

Day 15: Depart Santiago After a memorable journey to some of the most remarkable sights in South America, the day comes to return home. (B)

Day 16: Arrive Home City

Note: This itineary can be turned around to start in Santiago and end in Rio de Janeiro.

*Rates subject to change without notice. Note: Low Season = MAY 01-SEP 27, DEC 01-20 Rates apply to accommodation dates in Rio, Buenos Aires and Santiago, not to the departure dates from the USA. Rates do not apply for New Years or Carnival or Easter Week. IMPORTANT NOTE: The airfares RIO/IIGUASSU FALLS/BUENOS AIRES/BARLIOCHE/PUERTO MONTT/SANTIAGO are NOT included and may vary from $860 per person to $1200 per person depending on availability of space and the international airline used to travel to South America. Early booking is very important. Airfares quoted are subject to change without notice, and cannot be guaranteed unless they are purchased and the tickets are issued. Airfares from/to North America are not included.

Sugar Loaf Glowing Over Rio