A fourteen-day journey through five South American cities, travelling in a small group on a Seat-in-Bus basis.
It begins in Rio de Janeiro, with its green hills, bays and the beaches of Copacabana, Ipanema and Leblon, and the excursions to Corcovado and Sugarloaf. From there it reaches the Amazon near Manaus, with a full-board stay at an ecolodge and outings by canoe, jungle walks and a village visit. In Salvador, the African soul of Brazil, the tour explores the colonial Pelourinho and the beaches of Praia do Forte. At Foz do Iguaçu it takes in the Brazilian side of the falls, some 275 cascades within a national park. The journey ends in Buenos Aires, with a city tour of Plaza de Mayo, La Boca, Caminito and Recoleta, and an evening of dinner and tango.
Highlights
Corcovado and Christ the Redeemer, reached by the cog train through the Tijuca forest
Sugarloaf Mountain and a tour of old central Rio
Full-board Amazon ecolodge near Manaus with canoe outings, piranha fishing and a jungle walk
Salvador's Pelourinho and the church of São Francisco, and the beaches of Praia do Forte
The Brazilian side of the Iguaçu Falls
Buenos Aires city tour with dinner and a tango show
Day-by-day itinerary
Day1
Day 1: Arrival in Rio de Janeiro
Arrival in Rio de Janeiro and transfer to the hotel. Rio is a city of green hills, blue sky, bays, islands and beaches; its best-known beaches — Copacabana, Ipanema and Leblon — are known for their black-and-white tiled promenades. The rest of the day is free.
Day2
Day 2: Corcovado & Christ the Redeemer
After breakfast, half-day excursion (about 4 hours) in a small group (Seat-in-Bus) to Corcovado. A cog train climbs through the Tijuca forest, home to monkeys and other wildlife, to the summit at 700 m, where the 38 m statue of Christ the Redeemer, built in 1931, stands above a panorama of the city, the Niterói bridge, Guanabara Bay, the Botanical Garden, the Maracanã stadium and Sugarloaf.
Day3
Day 3: Sugarloaf & city tour
After breakfast, half-day excursion (about 4 hours) in a small group (Seat-in-Bus) to Sugarloaf. A first stop on Urca Mountain has a wide viewing area; from the top of Sugarloaf there are views over Rio, Copacabana beach, the bay, the surrounding mountains, islands, the Niterói bridge and Christ the Redeemer on Corcovado. The tour continues by road through old central Rio, passing old churches, monasteries, the main cathedral and colonial-style buildings.
Day4
Day 4: Rio de Janeiro – Manaus / Amazon ecolodge
After breakfast, transfer to the airport for the flight to Manaus, where you are met and transferred to the lodge on a full-board basis. Departure from the Manaus hotel at 08:00 to the THM pier for 09:00 boarding on a speedboat (about 1h20) to the Evolução Ecolodge, with a welcome drink and check-in. Lunch at 12:00. From 15:00, excursions by canoe through the igapó (flooded forest) and piranha fishing. Dinner at 19:00 and evening free.
Day5
Day 5: Manaus — Amazon excursions
07:00 breakfast. At 08:00, jungle walk and visit to a caboclo house, learning how manioc flour is made. Lunch at 12:00. At 15:00, visit to the Acajatuba village, whose people live from manioc plantations, fishing and forest fruits such as tucumã, cupuaçu and açaí, as well as rubber and Brazil-nut trees, and learn how they make crafts from natural jungle seeds. Farewell dinner at 19:00. At 20:00, a boat outing along the river's edge with searchlights to spot Tinga and Açu caimans, and sometimes night-hawks, snakes and frogs.
Day6
Day 6: Manaus – Salvador
Transfer to the airport and flight to Salvador de Bahia. On arrival you are met by our driver and transferred to the hotel. Salvador, the African soul of Brazil, preserves deep cultural roots — drumming, capoeira, spices and Candomblé — and hosts one of Brazil's most vibrant Carnivals.
Day7
Day 7: Salvador city tour
Half-day city tour in a small group (Seat-in-Bus) covering the essential sights of Salvador. After hotel pick-up, the route runs via tree-lined avenues and city streets to the Pelourinho, a UNESCO World Heritage site and the largest complex of colonial architecture in South America. From the Municipal Square by the Lacerda Elevator there are views over the bay and the lower city; the walk takes in the church of São Francisco, with its gold-leafed Baroque interior, and the Pelourinho square at the heart of the old town.
Day8
Day 8: Salvador – Praia do Forte
After breakfast, full-day excursion in a small group (Seat-in-Bus) to the beaches of Praia do Forte.
Day9
Day 9: Salvador – Foz do Iguaçu
After breakfast, transfer to the airport for the flight to Foz do Iguaçu, where you are met and transferred to the hotel. The rest of the day is free.
Day10
Day 10: Brazilian side of the Iguaçu Falls
After breakfast, excursion in a small group (Seat-in-Bus) with an English-speaking guide to the Brazilian side of the Iguaçu Falls. Set on the borders of Brazil, Argentina and Paraguay within a national park, the falls comprise some 275 cascades — the highest dropping about 72 m — culminating in the Devil's Throat canyon.
Day11
Day 11: Foz do Iguaçu – Buenos Aires
At the appropriate time, transfer to the airport for the flight to Buenos Aires. On arrival, transfer to the hotel.
Day12
Day 12: Buenos Aires city tour & tango show
After breakfast, city tour in a small group with an English-speaking guide. The historic centre keeps its colonial character: Plaza de Mayo, the Casa Rosada, the Cathedral, the Teatro Colón, the Obelisco and the National Congress. The tour also visits La Boca, the pedestrian Caminito, Plaza San Martín and Recoleta. In the evening, dinner and a tango show, with grilled dishes, homemade pasta, desserts and Argentine wines.
Day13
Day 13: Free Day in Buenos Aires
After breakfast, free day to explore the city on your own or to add optional tours.
Day14
Day 14: Departure
After breakfast, transfer to Buenos Aires airport for your international flight home.
Suggested hotels
Arena Leme
Superior
Rio de Janeiro
4-star hotel in Rio de Janeiro (3 nights).
Evolução Ecolodge
Superior
Manaus
Amazon ecolodge package near Manaus (2 nights) on a full-board basis.
Vila Galé
Superior
Salvador
4-star hotel in Salvador (3 nights).
Viale Cataratas
Superior
Foz do Iguaçu
4-star hotel in Foz do Iguaçu (2 nights).
474 Buenos Aires Hotel
Superior
San Nicolás
4-star hotel in Buenos Aires (3 nights).
Rooftop terrace
Resto bar
Garden
Conference room
Laundry service
Free WiFi
Galerías Pacífico (~0.4 km)
Av. Corrientes (~0.3 km)
Puerto Madero (~0.8 km)
Galerías Pacífico
Essential, Premium and Luxury categories available. Final accommodation is confirmed by date and availability.
What's included
Included: Accommodation in the mentioned hotels or similar, with breakfast (13 nights)
Included: Full board at the Amazon ecolodge (2 nights)
Included: Transfers
Included: Amazon ecolodge excursions: canoe outing through the igapó, piranha fishing, jungle walk, visit to the Acajatuba village and a night boat outing to spot caimans
Included: Corcovado and Christ the Redeemer excursion in a small group (Seat-in-Bus)
Included: Sugarloaf and old-Rio city tour in a small group (Seat-in-Bus)
Included: Salvador half-day city tour in a small group (Seat-in-Bus)
Included: Praia do Forte full-day excursion in a small group (Seat-in-Bus)
Included: Brazilian side of the Iguaçu Falls excursion in a small group (Seat-in-Bus) with an English-speaking guide, entrance fee included
Included: Buenos Aires city tour in a small group with an English-speaking guide
Included: Dinner and tango show in Buenos Aires
What's not included
Not included: International and domestic airfare
Not included: The Rio de Janeiro–Manaus–Salvador–Foz do Iguaçu–Buenos Aires flight sequence
Not included: Airport and tourism taxes and visa fees
Not included: Meals not mentioned in the programme
Not included: Drinks unless explicitly stated
Not included: Tips and gratuities
Not included: Personal expenses and optional services
Not included: Travel insurance
Not included: Anything not expressly mentioned as included