South America Landscapes with Easter Island Your Itinerary
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South America Landscapes with Easter Island Your itinerary Start Location Visited Location Plane End Location Cruise Train Over night Ferry Day 1 spend the rest of the day at leisure. Arrive Easter Island Included Meals - Breakfast Connect with the legend and lore of one of the world’s most remote and Day 9 remarkable islands, delving into the ancient culture of the Rapa Nui who once prospered on this land. Our first stop on this mystical adventure is Ahu Akivi, Venture to Buenos Aires, the Paris of where we’ll enjoy a private guided excursion with our Local Specialist to view its South America seven Moai statues, facing the ocean. Learn about their astronomically precise Leaving spectacular Patagonian landscapes behind, we fly to the passionate location and how they were placed there to use their mana to protect the Argentinian capital of Buenos Aires. This evening, we’ll Connect With Locals, joining inhabitants of the nearby village. Continue to ancient Ahu Hanga Poukura to see our Travel Director and fellow travellers for a Be My Guest experience dinner with the tumbled Moai statues that stand as a testament to ancient battles. Then, visit a local family in Palermo Soho. Savour traditional flavours and homemade family the Puna Pau quarry with its red scoria stone. dishes, then discover the secrets of kneading country bread. Our unforgettable Hotel - Taha Tai local encounter continues as we watch family members engage in an elegant Tango performance. Day 2 The Maoi of Easter Island Hotel - Alvear Art Embark on a privately guided excursion with our Local Specialist to the southern Included Meals - Breakfast, Be My Guest coast and witness the perfectly preserved ceremonial Ahu Vaihu in the bay of Day 10 Hanga Te'e. Set out with your boxed picnic lunch and proceed to Rano Raraku, a quarry of almost 900 stone statues - 397 of them still located at the slopes of the Explore Buenos Aires Rano Kau volcano. Visit Ahu Tongariki, the largest ahu on the island, then Immerse yourself in the seamless mix of European elegance meets Latin energy. continue to the eastern coast and visit Ahu Te Pito Kura with its Paro Maoi, the We’ll join a Local Specialist to see some of Buenos Aires’ most notable sites, largest maoi statue ever erected. Afterward, visit scenic Anakena beach, where the including the Plaza de Mayo and iconic pink Casa Rosada. View the fashionable king first set foot on the island. neighbourhood of La Boca, admire the opulent façade of Teatro Colon and drive along the stately Avenida 9 de Julio to the elegant Recoleta cemetery, where Included Meals - Breakfast, Lunch Argentina’s most famous sons and daughters have been laid to rest. We pay Day 3 homage to the beloved former first lady of Argentina, Eva Peron, before enjoying On the Slopes of Rano Kau an afternoon at leisure. This evening, we indulge in the delicious flavours of Argentine beef, the authentic tastes of world-renowned Argentinian beef. Dive Journey to the UNESCO-listed Rapa Nui National Park. Join a private excursion Into Culture later, watching the sensual, stirring moves of a traditional Tango with our Local Specialist up the extinct Rano Kau volcano. Admire views of the performance. island from its slopes, then drive to the village of Orongo, where you’ll view petroglyphs revealing the local culture. Later, catch a glimpse the three islets of Included Meals - Breakfast, Regional Dinner Motu Nui, Motu Iti and Motu Kao Kao on the opposite coast. Then it’s on to Ahu Day 11 Vinapu for further evidence of the pre-Incan architectural influence. Our final stop is at the Ana Kai Tangata to view the ornate cave paintings from its mouth. Return Buenos Aires Your Way to your hotel this afternoon before being transferred to the airport for your flight Get a taste of life as a porteño this morning, embracing the energy of this to Santiago (flight not included in holiday price). passionate South American hub on your terms. Perhaps, admire the works of Degas, El Greco and Van Gogh at the Museum of Bellas Artes or stroll around the Hotel - Intercontinental colourful stalls that line one of the local markets. Take to the countryside and Included Meals - Breakfast consider spending the day at a traditional estancia (ranch) for the Fiesta Gaucha (festival of the cowboy), where you’ll be entertained by a lively equestrian show Day 4 and enjoy a traditional parrillada (barbecue) lunch. Explore Vibrant Santiago Included Meals - Breakfast Connect with the cosmopolitan verve of the Chilean capital, Santiago. Spend the day on your terms discovering the unique personalities of each of the city’s Day 12 diverse barrios. This evening, join your Travel Director and fellow travel Discover Iguassu Falls companions for a Welcome Reception. Journey to the thundering cascade of Iguassu Falls, where we’ll meet our Local Specialist for a visit to the UNESCO-listed Iguassu National Park. Board an open-air Hotel - Intercontinental ecological jungle train delving deep into its subtropical rainforest. Walk along the Included Meals - Breakfast, Welcome Reception catwalk peering down into the swirling waters of Devil’s Throat Falls. We’ll cross the border into Brazil for an evening at leisure and dinner at our resort. Day 5 Journey to Santiago Hotel - Wish Iguacu This morning’s city tour with a Local Specialist includes a stop at the ornate Included Meals - Breakfast, Dinner wrought-iron Central Market where we’ll see the catch of the day and stroll past pop-up restaurants serving local favourites. We journey to wine country, visiting Day 13 an exclusive winery in Casablanca Valley for a gourmet lunch served alfresco in Soak in the Brazilian Side of Iguassu exquisite surrounds. Connect With Locals and meet the winemakers for a Falls personalised winery experience, followed by an opportunity to taste the fruit of his labours. Spend the rest of the evening at leisure. Rediscover the 'Big Waters' and return to Iguassu National Park, where you’ll join a Local Specialist who will guide your discovery of the Brazilian side of the falls. Included Meals - Breakfast, Lunch Walk through the rainforest at the base of the falls and peer at its majesty Day 6 through the powerful spray. We enjoy an evening at leisure. Onwards to Puerto Varas Included Meals - Breakfast We fly south to the coastal city of Puerto Montt, then continue to Puerto Varas Day 14 for a tour of the 'City of Roses' with our Local Specialist against the backdrop of Off to Rio de Janeiro snow-capped volcanoes. Later, we make our way to our hotel on the shores of Lake Llanquihue where we’ll enjoy the rest of the day at leisure and an included We bid farewell to the falls and fly to sultry Rio de Janeiro. You’ll be transferred to dinner. your hotel overlooking the colourful Copacabana Beach. Hotel - Cabana del Lago Hotel - Arena Copacabana Included Meals - Breakfast, Dinner Included Meals - Breakfast Day 7 Day 15 Cross the Andes and Continue to Enjoy Rio de Janeiro and Sugarloaf Bariloche Mountain Look forward to a day of pinch me moments as you cross the Andes via land and Begin your exploration of the cidade maravilhosa (marvellous city) with your Local water. Our first stop sees us watch the burbling waters of the Petrohue River Specialist, ascending Sugarloaf Mountain by cable car for astounding bay and city cascade over black volcanic rock. We’ll cross Todos Los Santos Lake, keeping a views. Then return to the city for a tour with our Local Specialist before spending keen eye out for giant Andean condors as the mighty Osorno Volcano with its the rest of the day at leisure. white cap looms in the background. Admire the soul-stirring landscapes en route Breakfast to Peulla where we’ll enjoy lunch. Then, cross the border into Argentina and cruise Included Meals - the glacial waters of Lake Nahuel Huapi. We’ll arrive in Bariloche this evening. Day 16 Hotel - NH Edelweiss Uncover the Sights and Sounds of Rio de Janeiro Included Meals - Breakfast, Lunch Board a classic cogwheel train for the journey to the summit of majestic Day 8 Corcovado, site of the iconic Christ the Redeemer statue, one of the Seven Admire Bariloche Wonders of the World. We join our Local Specialist to explore more of the city’s iconic sights. Later this afternoon, we’ll Connect With Locals during a visit to a local Soak up the sights and sounds of the 'Switzerland of South America' this morning, Samba school where we’ll gain insights into how the school prepares for the breathing in the fresh alpine air. We’ll meet our Local Specialist and travel along pageantry of Carnival week. View the colourful costumes and immerse yourself in the 'Circuito Chico' for spectacular views of forests, mountains and sparkling the rhythms of Samba as you participate in a dance lesson. This evening, Dive Into waters in Nahuel Huapi National Park. Visit the beach playground of Playa Bonita, Culture and experience the flavours of churrascaria linger at our Farewell Dinner. soak up the scenery from the hilltop of St. Edward's Chapel on the Llao Llao As our hosts demonstrate how to mix the perfect caipirinha, we toast to an epic Peninsula, and ride a chairlift to the top of Cerro Campanario for sweeping views South American journey. Saude! of the high peaks of Catedral and Tronador. Dive Into Culture and indulge in the rich flavours of chocolate during a visit to La Chocolaterie Van Wynsberghe, then Included Meals - Breakfast, Farewell Dinner All optional experiences for this trip Book with your travel director when you travel species.