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2018 Best of South America 17 Days

with Iguassu Falls and Machu Picchu

Day by Day Itinerary

Day 1 Honolulu Departure.

Our exploration of South America's amazing culture and natural phenomena begins tonight with an overnight departure for the mainland. The preliminary flight schedule is displayed online doldworldjourneys.com under the journey's page.

Day 2 Via Houston to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

After a comfortable flight, we arrive in Houston in the early morning and transfer to a nearby hotel. Here we can freshen up, lay horizontal for a while, and hopefully rejuvenate. In the evening we transfer back to the airport for our overnight flight to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Day 3 Arrival in Rio.

Welcome to South America’s largest and most populous country. Upon arrival, we clear customs formalities, are met by our specially chosen South America Tour Director, and transfer to the Hilton Rio De Janeiro Copacabana, our home for the next three nights.

This afternoon, drive along famous Ipanema and Copacabana Beaches to the base of 1,300-foot-high Sugar Loaf Mountain. Ascend by cable car to its summit and savor spectacular vistas of the city. For a special treat, toast the start of a memorable vacation with caipirinhas, a favorite Brazilian cocktail, from atop Sugar Loaf Mountain. Cap off the evening with a Welcome Dinner at a local restaurant. (D)

Day 4 Exploring Rio de Janeiro.

Today, visit the statue of Christ the Redeemer crowning Corcovado Mountain, a rounded peak rising 2,300 feet from the bay below. Take the scenic cog railway ride to its top, where a 360-degree panorama affords sweeping views. Proceed to bustling downtown Rio and view the Sambodromo and visit the Cathedral. This evening, it’s off to a Churrascaria for a feast of barbecued meats marinated and roasted over charcoal in true Brazilian style. Later, experience a Samba Show, where the sheer vitality of this country explodes in a colorful extravaganza. (B), (D)

Day 5 Experience two local Favelas.

After breakfast, experience two local Favelas which reveal the way of life for around 20% of Rio's population. It changes the general idea that favelas are simply no-go areas dominated by criminals only, and opens a new perspective of Rio society. Our guide takes us into the community of Vila Canoas, with around 2.500 people, and Rocinha, the largest favela in Brazil, having around 85,000 people. Both are placed within the rich neighborhood of Sao Conrado.

In Vila Canoas, walk through the narrow alleyways and get a good idea of its social initiatives that are also part of many Rio favelas. Once in Rocinha, the contrasts are more evident as we go higher and deeper inside. Visits include the community school, commercial center, and handicraft center. Its huge dimensions, wide variety of commerce, and breathtaking views from the top are certainly impressive for any visitor. This afternoon is at our leisure. Alex and our Director will have some suggestions. (B)

Day 6 To Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Fly to Buenos Aires, proud capital of the vast country that occupies most of the southern part of the continent. After arriving at the Brick House Hotel located in the center of the city, an orientation walk acquaints us with the “Paris of South America” and its wide boulevards and outdoor cafés.

Our sightseeing starts in La Boca, a colorful district and site of the city’s first port. The take a short stroll in this unique neighborhood before heading on to San Telmo, famous for its late-colonial buildings and a popular gathering spot for artists. At Plaza de Mayo, see La Casa Rosada (the President’s Pink House) and the Metropolitan Cathedral, housing San Martin’s Mausoleum. Drive past the ornate Colon Opera House before reaching Recoleta Cemetery, burial site of Eva Peron. Next, learn how to make a traditional Argentinean dish during your Empanada Cooking Class.

Take a break before toping, off our evening at a famous Tango Club. Start with a Dance Lesson, followed by an Argentine steak dinner with other local specialties. We end with a show featuring flawless performances of Latin America’s most sensuous dance—the Tango! (B), (D)

Day 7 Excursion to the Pampas.

This morning we head into the heart of the pampas (grasslands) and immerse ourselves in the atmosphere of rural, country life at a working Argentine Estancia (ranch). After a traditional welcome with empanadas and local beverages, get acquainted with the lifestyle of real gauchos (cowboys) on a horseback or carriage ride through the pampas. Later, at lunch, enjoy a colorful feast, complete with world-renowned Argentine beef, salad, desserts, local wine, and live music and dance by the gauchos themselves. Top off the day with a horsemanship show by the gauchos before saying adios to the countryside and heading back to the city. (B), (L)

Day 8 To Iguassu Falls.

Say “Aloha” to Buenos Aires and fly to Iguassu Falls. The spectacle of this 2-mile-wide torrential downpour—with some cataracts as high as 250 feet—is nothing short of hypnotic. The clouds of spray, the incessant roar, and the surrounding luxuriant tropical growth make this an unforgettable natural wonder. Continue to the Belmond Hotel Das Cataratas, located inside the park, for our two night stay. (B), (D)

Day 9 Discovering the Falls.

After breakfast journey to the Argentine side of Iguassu Falls and take a ride on the Ecological Jungle Train. Then gain a closer perspective on a guided stroll around the falls. Meander along the walkways from atop the falls, and enjoy an exhilarating perspective looking over the precipice of the falls as the water plunges to the rocks below. We will also have the opportunity to walk through the rainforest on the lower falls trails that will bring us up close to some of the smaller cataracts.

This afternoon, we experience the Bird Park near Iguassu Falls which offers visitors the opportunity to spot indigenous birds up close is their native rainforest environment. Huge aviaries are home to over 900 tropical birds of 150 species. On a walking tour, learn about the various birds found here and the ongoing effort to protect and conserve these native birds. Among other attractions, there is a butterfly aviary, hummingbird aviaries, and a reptile sector with caimans and snakes. Return to the hotel, where the remainder of the day is at our leisure. (B)

Day 10 To Lima, Peru.

Our morning is dedicated to exploring the Brazilian side of the Falls from a completely different vantage point than in Argentina. A walk along the pathway at the base of the falls takes you into the Devil’s Throat Canyon, with spectacular panoramic views of many of the 275 cataracts that make up Iguassu Falls. Have a late lunch before flying to Lima, Peru. Casa Andina Premium Miraflores Hotel. (B), (L)

Day 11 Exploring Lima.

Our city sightseeing focuses on Lima’s rich colonial history as well as the modern city. See the 18th-century San Francisco Monastery with its unique cloisters, Government Palace, and the cathedral situated around the vast Plaza de Armas. Tonight, visit the Larco Herrera Museum, which houses the largest private collection of Pre-Columbian Peruvian art in the world. Enjoy dinner at the museum’s restaurant. (B), (D)

Day 12 Via Cusco to the Sacred Valley.

A short flight takes us to Cusco, an impressive Andean city that was once the capital of the Inca Empire. Head into the Sacred Valley of the Incas and explore the semi-circular Kenko Amphitheater with its stone altars and labyrinth of passages and see the ancient site of Puca Pucara. Then experience in the Sacred Valley an El Pago a la Tierra (Mother Earth Ceremony) performed by a local shaman. These ceremonies thanking Mother Earth and asking for good health and safe travels have been practiced in Peru since before the arrival of the Incas. Continue to Pisac, an old mountain village where we have free time to shop for local wares such as alpaca sweaters and blankets, jewelry, or hand-painted ornamental dishes and vases. Overnight and dinner at the Casa Andina Premium Valle Hotel tonight located in the Scared Valley. (B), (L), (D)

Day 13 To Machu Picchu.

This morning, visit the Inca Fortress of Ollantaytambo, followed by the opportunity to experience a family home, meet some of the locals, and learn about their way of life in the Sacred Valley. Then, board the Vistadome Train for a scenic journey through the lush Urubamba Valley. Upon arrival, ascend the mountainside to legendary Machu Picchu, the “Lost City of the Incas.” Our Local Guide will introduce this intact fortress with its temple remains, holy houses, and mile-long aqueduct, and will bring us closer to the mysteries still hidden in these amazing structures. Tonight, learn how to make the perfect Pisco Sour at a Peruvian Cooking Demonstration before our included dinner. Hotel Sumaq. (B), (D)

Day 14 To Cusco.

A morning at leisure allows us the opportunity to wake up early and see the sunrise over Machu Picchu, when it looks most peaceful. Then savor some time exploring the ruins of one of the world's most ancient cities a second time. After lunch, return to the Sacred Valley by train and continue to Cusco. Casa Andina Premium Cusco Hotel. (B), (L)

Day 15 Discovering Cusco.

Start our day with guided sightseeing of Cusco and learn more about the Inca and Spanish influence. We begin at the heart of Cusco in the Plaza de Armas (main square), with a visit to the imposing Cathedral, where construction began in 1550 and was finally completed 100 years later. Continue to Koricancha and the Santo Domingo Monastery to see how the two sites have become one.

The Temple of the Sun at Koricancha was once the most important Inca site, dedicated to the worship of the Sun. The walls, altars, and decorations were all said to be covered in gold—until the Spaniards looted the temple and then built the contrasting Baroque Santo Domingo Monastery on top of the temple’s foundations. Also explore the Temple of Sacsayhuaman, perched on a hillside overlooking Cusco. It remains unfathomable how and when this fortress of gigantic stones—with some blocks weighing more than 350 tons—was built. Enjoy an afternoon at leisure to explore, Alex and our director will have ideas. This evening, enjoy dinner at a local restaurant. (B), (D)

Day 16 Via Lima Home.

A comfortable morning flight brings us back to Lima. For a special treat, we experience a Local Peruvian Food Market for a real taste of the life of the local people. The remainder of the day is at leisure to explore on our own. This evening, our direct hosts a festive Farewell Dinner at a local restaurant prior to our transfer to the International Airport for after midnight flight home. Casa Andina Premium Miraflores. (B), (D)

Day 17 Via Houston to Honolulu.

We arrive in the United States in the morning. After clearing customs, we continue home with smiles on our faces and the indelible memories of all the amazing culture and natural phenomena of South America. Our flight arrives home the same day.