TRAVEL PLANNING GUIDE
Discover South America: Chile, Argentina & Uruguay 2020
Grand Circle Travel ® Worldwide Discovery at an Extraordinary Value 1 Dear Traveler,
Timeless cultures ... unforgettable landscapes ... legendary landmarks. We invite you to discover centuries-old traditions and cosmopolitan gems with Grand Circle Travel on one of our enriching vacations around the globe.
No matter what your dream destination, Grand Circle offers an unrivaled combination of value and experience—all in the company of like-minded fellow American travelers and a local Program Director. Assigned to no more than 42 travelers, these experts are ready and eager to share their homeland and insights as only a local can. Whether it's recommending their favorite restaurant, connecting travelers with people and culture, or providing the best regional maps to enhance your leisure time, our Program Directors are here to take care of all the details and ensure that you have a fun and carefree travel experience.
You'll also enjoy the best value in the travel industry. Each of our trips includes all accommodations, most meals, exclusive Discovery Series events, guided tours, and most gratuities, all at a value that no other company can match. Plus, solo travelers can enjoy FREE Single Supplements on all Grand Circle Tours and extensions for even more value. In addition to our wealth of included features, each itinerary is balanced with ample free time to ensure you're able to make your vacation truly your own.
Plus, with Grand Circle, you have the freedom to personalize your trip. For example, you can customize your air experience, and start your trip early or stay longer with our optional pre- and post-trip extensions. You can even choose to "break away" on your own to arrive early and refreshed before your trip begins, or explore independently.
We hope you enjoy the information inside. Our Travel Counselors are available at 1-800-221-2610 to answer any questions you may have. Thank you for your interest, and we look forward to welcoming you.
Warm regards,
Alan E. Lewis Harriet R. Lewis Chairman Vice Chairman Grand Circle Travel
P.S. Visit us online to find our ever-growing collection of videos and films about our vacations—from independent films featuring the destinations you'll visit to itinerary highlights, interviews with our Program Directors, trip extensions, and more. Go to www.gct.com and find your travel inspiration.
1073 POD PMA-LET.indd 1 2 5/31/12 4:11 PM WHAT’S INSIDE
TRIP SUMMARY
It’s Included...... 4
Departure Dates and Prices ...... 5
Freedom to Personalize Your Experience ...... 6
DETAILED DAY-TO-DAY ITINERARY ...... 7
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT THIS TRIP...... 28
Travel Documents & Entry Requirements ...... 30
Health ...... 32
Money Matters ...... 36
Preparing for Your Trip ...... 41 Packing ...... 45 Climate ...... 52
About Your Destinations ...... 57
Demographics & History ...... 69
Resources ...... 87
MAP ...... 95
3 Discover South America: Chile, Argentina & Uruguay Chile: Santiago, Puerto Varas, Patagonian Lakes | Argentina: Bariloche, Buenos Aires | Uruguay: Montevideo, Colonia del Sacramento
Countries: 3 | Cities: 6
Nahuel Huapi Lake, Bariloche, Argentina
IT’S INCLUDED 16 days from $3995 • Choose to purchase Grand Circle’s airfare, and your airport transfers, Including international airfare government taxes, fees, and airline fuel surcharges are included. Or, make from Miami your own air arrangements Travel from only $250 per day • All flights within South America • Accommodations for 14 nights in comfortable rooms with private baths $ • 28 meals: 14 breakfasts, 8 lunches, and 6 dinners (including 1 Home- 15 days from 2795 Hosted Dinner) Tour only • 11 guided tours and 11 exclusive Discovery Series events: Chilean Travel from only $187 per day history discussion • Graffiti Art of Valparaiso • Lunch in a local home • Mapuche discussion • Chilean rodeo demonstration • Nazis in Patagonia Single Supplement: FREE discussion • Patagonian ranch visit • Argentina Today discussion • Home- Hosted Dinner • Tango demonstration & lesson • Estancia visit • Personal headset for all included and optional tours on your main trip MAXIMIZE YOUR DISCOVERIES & VALUE • Gratuities on your main trip for local guides and motorcoach drivers • Exclusive services of a local Grand Circle Program Director (assigned to no OPTIONAL EXTENSION S more than 38 travelers) • 5% Frequent Traveler Credit toward your next trip P eru: Machu Picchu, Cuzco & Lima • Private motorcoach land travel 8 nights pre-trip from $1795 • Baggage handling for 1 piece of luggage per person, including tips B razil's Iguassu Falls & Rio de Janeiro To get a richer view of the Included Features on this trip, 6 nights post-trip from $2295 watch our Trip Itinerary video at www.gct.com/rsa2020
Discover South America: Chile, Argentina & Uruguay 4 Discover South America: FREEDOM TO PERSONALIZE YOUR EXPERIENCE Chile, Argentina & Uruguay Create your unique travel experience with optional pre- and post-trip extensions, a custom air itinerary, seat upgrades on 2020 Dates & Prices your flights, and more. See details at www.gct.com/personalize-rsa2020
JAN 9; OCT 22; FEB 27; DEPART FROM: NOVEMBER S E P T E M B E R M A R 1 2 A P R I L M A Y D E C E M B E R M i a m i $ 4695 $ 4495 $ 4395 $ 4295 $ 3995 $ 4595
Baltimore, New York, Orlando $4795 $4595 $4495 $4395 $4095 $4695
Tampa, Washington, DC $ 4895 $ 4695 $ 4595 $ 4495 $ 4195 $ 4795 Chicago, Detroit, Los Angeles, Newark, $4995 $4795 $4695 $4595 $4295 $4895 San Diego, San Francisco Atlanta, Boston, Dallas, Denver, $ 5095 $ 4895 $ 4795 $ 4695 $ 4395 $ 4995 Houston, Minneapolis, Seattle Philadelphia, Phoenix, Portland $5195 $4995 $4895 $4795 $4495 $5095
JAN 9; FEB 27; OCT 22; S E P T E M B E R M A R 1 2 A P R I L M A Y NOVEMBER DECEMBER
T o u r o n l y $ 3295 $ 3195 $ 3095 $ 2795 $ 3495 $ 3395
Find departure dates, up-to-the-minute availability, and detailed pricing online at RSA2020 www.gct.com/rsa2020 pricing
Airfare prices shown include government taxes, fees, and airline fuel Prices are per person for 16 days with airfare (15 days Tour only), based on surcharges totaling $740 per person, all subject to change up until receipt double occupancy, and include meals and sightseeing as specified in the of final payment. It’s Included section. Our Tour only vacation package begins at the first hotel listed on our itinerary All prices are effective as of the date of this publication, and are subject to and ends at the last hotel; includes all internal flights and transfers; and does change without notice. Standard Terms & Conditions apply, please visit not include airport transfers at the beginning and end of the main trip, or on our website: www.gct.com/tc. Every effort has been made to produce this the pre- and post-trip extensions. Dates shown above are departure dates information accurately. We reserve the right to correct errors. from the U.S. (rather than start dates of the tour).
Find up-to-the-minute availability, additional departure dates, detailed pricing, and more online at www. gct.com/rsa2020pri cing
ATTENTION BEST PRICE GUARANTEE FREE SINGLE Your travel time will be 11-18 hours and will SUPPLEMENTS most likely have one connection (depending We promise you won’t find a on your main trip and extensions. on your gateway city). Connecting times lower price on a comparable in each city will be between 2-3 hours. We don't charge you more for vacation—if you do, we’ll match it. Non-stop flights are not available from west your own room. coast departure cities. For more information See details at www.gct.com/bpg on average flight times and number of connections, visit www.gct.com/rsa2020
Publication Date 6/26/19 1-800-221-2610 • www.gct.com/rsa2020 5 Freedom to Personalize Your Experience Your Choice, Your Trip, Your Way
Extending the length of your stay in a destination can improve your overall travel experience—and allow you to seek out even more eye-opening cultural interactions. Your local Program Director will serve as your trip experience leader—helping to ensure you’re getting the personalized experiences you’re looking for. In fact, 85% of our travelers are personalizing their experience in more than 90 countries.
Call us at 1-800-221-2610 to discuss personalizing your vacation today or visit us online at www.gct.com/personalize-rsa2020.
Maximize Your Time & Value: 55% of our travelers Back-to-Back Trips: 90% of our travelers who choose to take a pre- or post-trip extension combined two vacations rated it excellent See more of the world and maximize your value by taking Discover even more of the world and save $250 per person advantage of your already-included airfare. On this when you reserve two trips right after one another. vacation, you can choose between Peru: Machu Picchu, Cuzco & Lima and Brazil’s Iguassu Falls & Rio de Janeiro. Air Options: More than 50% of our travelers customize their flights “Break Away” Options: 30% of our travelers choose We make every effort to provide you with non-stop to arrive early or stay late in their destination flights and acceptable connection times to and from Before or after your main tour or trip extension, “break your destination. You also have several other ways you can away” anywhere you'd like to go to do more exploring personalize your air itinerary, including choosing your entirely on your own. departure city and airline, upgrading your seat, and more.
Please note: Our Travel Counselors can help you plan your airfare if you'd like to “break away,” however since this option is completely on your own, you will need to plan your own accommodations, meals, tours, and transfers.
Machu Picchu, Peru
Discover South America: Chile, Argentina & Uruguay
6
Discover South America: Chile, Argentina & Uruguay 2020 16-Day Grand Circle Tour
EXTEND YOUR TRIP PRE-TRIP Peru: Machu Picchu, Cuzco & Lima POST-TRIP Brazil’s Iguassu Falls & Rio de Janeiro
Your Day-to-Day Itinerary
7 GRAND CIRCLE TRAVEL
Grand Circle Travel, founded in 1958 to serve the American Association for Retired Persons (AARP), is the leader in international travel and discovery for Americans over age 50. Grand Circle vacations have been recommended by The New York Times, Conde Nast Traveler, The Los Angeles Times, Travel + Leisure, The Wall Street Journal, Arthur Frommer’s Budget Travel, and others. But our most impressive reviews come from our travelers. More than two million people have traveled with us, and the overwhelming majority say they’d gladly do so again.
YOUR GRAND CIRCLE PROGRAM DIRECTOR
During your Grand Circle vacation, you’ll have reliable assistance available at all times from an on-site ORFDO*UDQG&LUFOH7UDYHO3URJUDP'LUHFWRUWKURXJKRXW\RXUWULS+HRUVKHLVͬXHQWLQ(QJOLVKDQGFDQ give you an inside perspective on your destinations. You will also be supported along the way by local tour guides, who lead you expertly through particular sites and cities.
Many Program Directors are graduates of professional education programs for travel guides. In addition, they receive specialized training directly from Grand Circle, based on what we’ve learned from past travelers about how to make the trip most enjoyable. Your Program Director offers both a deep knowledge of the region and a commitment to make this a very pleasant, informative, and rewarding travel experience for you.
He or she will provide sightseeing trips, handle all travel details, reserve optional tours you choose to take, oversee your Discovery Series events, and provide any other assistance you may need.
Itinerary Subject to Change. For Information or reservations, call 1-800-221-2610
8 INCLUDED IN YOUR PRICE
» Choose to purchase Grand Circle’s airfare, • Argentina Today discussion • Home-Hosted and your airport transfers, government Dinner • Tango demonstration & lesson • taxes, fees, and airline fuel surcharges Estancia visit are included. Or, make your own air » Personal headset for all included and arrangements optional tours on your main trip » $OOͬLJKWVZLWKLQ6RXWK$PHULFD » Gratuities on your main trip for local guides » Accommodations for 14 nights in and motorcoach drivers comfortable rooms with private baths » ([FOXVLYHVHUYLFHVRIDORFDOGrand » 28 meals: 14 breakfasts, 8 lunches, and 6 Circle Program Director (assigned to no dinners (including 1 Home-Hosted Dinner) more than 38 travelers) » 11 guided tours and 11 exclusive Discovery » 5% Frequent Traveler Credit toward Series events: Chilean history discussion your next trip • *UDIͫWL$UWRI9DOSDUDLVR • Lunch in a local » Private motorcoach land travel home • Mapuche discussion • Chilean » Baggage handling for 1 piece of luggage per rodeo demonstration • Nazis in Patagonia person, including tips discussion • Patagonian ranch visit
WHAT THIS TRIP IS LIKE
GROUP SIZE PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS »A maximum of 38 travelers, led by a local » Walk 2 miles unassisted and participate in 2 Grand Circle Program Director hours of physical activities daily, including stairs, steep hills, and cobblestones PACING »N ot accessible for travelers using »6 locations in 15 days wheelchairs, scooters, walkers, crutches, or » LQWHUQDOͬLJKWVRIKRXUVHDFK other mobility aids »1 ferry ride over 2 hours in length, and 1 » We reserve the right for Program Directors ferry ride 45 minutes in length to restrict participation, or in some circumstances send travelers home, if their »1 day features a total of 12 hours of travel, limitations impact the group’s experience beginning with an 8am hotel departure, through the Andes from Chile to Argentina, TERRAIN & TRANSPORTATION utilizing 3 boats and 4 motorcoaches »U neven walking surfaces, including »A ir travel time will be 11-17 hours and will unpaved paths, hills, stairs, and most likely have one connection cobblestones »T ravel by 45-seat motorcoach, cable car, chair lift, 50-seat boat, and ferry
Itinerary Subject to Change. For Information or reservations, call 1-800-221-2610
9 CLIMATE » Daytime temperatures range from 51-85°F during touring season » December-February are the warmest months » Weather in Patagonia tends to be cooler and more unpredictable. Temperatures drop dramatically from day to night and you should be prepared for wind and rain.
Itinerary Subject to Change. For Information or reservations, call 1-800-221-2610
10 Discover South America: Chile, Argentina & Uruguay 2020
7DNHWKLV6RXWK$PHULFDQWRXUDQGGLVFRYHUDVSHOOELQGLQJEOHQGRIQDWLYHFXOWXUHVDQGLQWHUQDWLRQDO LQͬXHQFHVDV\RXFURVVWKHFRQWLQHQWIURP6DQWLDJRWR%XHQRV$LUHVDQG0RQWHYLGHR EXTEND YOUR TRIP Peru: Machu Picchu, Cuzco & Lima 8 NIGHTS PRE-TRIP /LPDWKH̡FDSLWDORIWKH1HZ:RUOG̢HQFRPSDVVHVWKHODVWͫYHFHQWXULHVRI3HUXYLDQKLVWRU\&X]FRLV\RXU ZLQGRZLQWRWKHOLIHDQGFXOWXUHRIWKH,QFDSHRSOH$QGWKHQWKHUH̞V0DFKX3LFFKXWKH,QFDQFLW\LQWKHVN\ WKDWKDVRQO\EHJXQWRUHYHDOLWVP\VWHULHV Brazil’s Iguassu Falls & Rio de Janeiro 6 NIGHTS POST-TRIP 'LVFRYHUWKHGXDOQDWXUHRI%UD]LODFRXQWU\RIERWKLPSRVVLEO\SULVWLQHODQGVFDSHVDQGFRVPRSROLWDQFLWLHV )O\WR,JXDVVX)DOOVDVSHFWDFXODUVHULHVRIFDWDUDFWVRQWKH%UD]LO$UJHQWLQDERUGHU7KHQH[SORUH5LRGH -DQHLURZKHUH\RX̞OOVFDOH&RUFRYDGR0RXQWDLQWRYLVLWWKHFLW\̞VLFRQLFVWDWXHRIChrist the Redeemer Itinerary Subject to Change. For Information or reservations, call 1-800-221-2610 11 DETAILED ITINERARY Day 1 Depart U.S. Morning: Learn more about a controversial chapter in Chile’s history during a candid 7UDYHOWR6RXWK$PHULFDDV\RXͬ\RYHUQLJKW exclusive Discovery Series discussion on from the U.S. today. Allende and Pinochet. Day 2 Arrive Santiago, Chile Then, begin a city tour of Santiago. Home to a third of Chile’s 17 million people, Santiago • Destination: Santiago UHVWVDWWKHFRQͬXHQFHRIWKH0DSRFKRDQG • Included Meals: Dinner Maipo rivers, surrounded on all sides by Andean • Accommodations: Crowne Plaza Santiago peaks. To be sure, it’s a breathtaking setting or similar for a capital that has witnessed a remarkable Morning: A Grand Circle representative history—from settlement by conquistadores will meet you and assist with the transfer to LQWRWKH0DU[LVWPLOLWDU\DQGͫQDOO\ your hotel. Upon arrival, you’ll receive room democratic governments of the 20th century. assignment and check into your room. On your included city tour, you’ll see several Lunch: On your own—ask your Program historic monuments and buildings, including Director for local restaurant recommendations. the Palacio de la Moneda, the current seat of the government. Stop for a stroll at the city’s most Afternoon: Meet your travel companions, important plaza, the Plaza de Armas, which including those who took our optional pre-trip has been the heart of Santiago since its origin extension to 3HUX 0DFKX3LFFKX&X]FR /LPD, in 1541. Ringing the plaza are many important and your Program Director at a Welcome buildings that are considered national %ULHͫQJGXULQJZKLFK\RX̞OOOHDUQVRPHPRUH monuments. Here you see the Correo Central details of what to expect from your upcoming PDLQSRVWRIͫFH ,JOHVLD&DWHGUDO &DWKHGUDO discoveries in South America. Church), the Municipalidad de Santiago (City Hall), and the National Historic Museum. Dinner: (QMR\D:HOFRPH'LQQHUDWDORFDO restaurant. Lunch: On your own today—ask your Program Director for local restaurant recommendations. Evening: You have the freedom to spend the Perhaps you’ll venture to the nearby rest of your evening as you wish—ask your Mercado Central (Central Market), an elegant Program Director for recommendations. wrought-iron structure inaugurated in 1872 as WKHVLWHRID1DWLRQDO([KLELWLRQ1RZLWLVWKH Day 3 Santiago • Chilean history FLW\̞VFHQWUDOPDUNHWͫOOHGZLWKFRORUIXOVWDOOV discussion • City tour • Chilean and seafood eateries (called marisquerias). family winery Afternoon: Depart for Cousino Macul • Destination: Santiago Winery—a nearby family-owned winery, • Included Meals: Breakfast, Dinner considered among the most important wineries • Accommodations: Crowne Plaza Santiago in Santiago. During an included tour, you’ll get or similar Breakfast: At the hotel. Itinerary Subject to Change. For Information or reservations, call 1-800-221-2610 12 an in-depth look at one of Chile’s most famous Afternoon: Return to Santiago, arriving at your exports and enjoy a tasting of its renowned hotel later today, and spend the rest of the day vintages. at leisure. Dinner: Included at a local restaurant. Dinner/Evening: Continue making independent discoveries this evening, with dinner on your Evening: On your own—ask your Program own. Ask your Program Director for restaurant Director for recommendations. Perhaps you’ll recommendations. top off the day with a nightcap at the hotel bar. Day 5 Santiago • Puerto Varas • Angelmo Day 4 Santiago • Valparaiso tour • Graffiti Market visit Art of Valparaiso activity • Lunch in a local home • Destination: Santiago • Included Meals: Breakfast, Dinner • Destination: Santiago • Accommodations: Hotel Bellavista or similar • Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch • Accommodations: Crowne Plaza Santiago Breakfast: At the hotel. or similar Morning: Transfer to the Santiago airport for Breakfast: At the hotel. \RXUJURXS̞VͬLJKWWR3XHUWR0RQWW Morning: Set off to the Chilean northwest Lunch: On your own—ask your Program on a full-day tour to Valparaiso. Valparaiso Director for local restaurant recommendations. is an important Chilean port city (and a Perhaps sample a local specialty at a 81(6&2GHVLJQDWHG:RUOG+HULWDJH6LWH family-owned cocineria (small restaurant). where 17 hills tower over the “basin” Afternoon: You’ll arrive in the early afternoon, district. You’ll discover the city today on a then enjoy an included tour of Angelmo Fish tour that involves more than two miles of Market with your Program Director. Walk walking, sometimes over steep hills and amidst the bustling stalls and browse some cobblestone paths. of the local seafood found in the nearby The city’s distinctive features include Chilean lakes. meandering streets and ancient Following your market visit, you’ll transfer to ascensores—electric cable cars that climb into Puerto Varas to check into your hotel, where the hillside neighborhoods and afford splendid sea rest of the day is yours to spend as you please. views. You’ll ride one of these ascensores up the hill for one of the many views of Valparaiso, Dinner: At a local restaurant. then walk through the colorful streets, known for the colorful public art on the walls. Learn Evening: You have the freedom to spend the more about this cultural heritage, and make rest of your evening as you wish—ask your your own contribution to a work in progress, Program Director for recommendations. during an exclusive *UDIͫWL$UWRI9DOSDUDLVR Discovery Series event. Lunch:(QMR\DQH[FOXVLYH'LVFRYHU\6HULHV event as you sit down for a meal with a local family. Itinerary Subject to Change. For Information or reservations, call 1-800-221-2610 13 Day 6 Puerto Varas • Mapuche discussion Day 7 Puerto Varas • Petrohue • Chilean rodeo demonstration & lunch Falls • Andean lake crossing • • Destination: Puerto Varas Bariloche, Argentina • Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch • Destination: Bariloche • Accommodations: Hotel Bellavista or similar • Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Breakfast: At the hotel. • Accommodations: Cacique Inacayal Hotel or similar Morning: (QMR\DQH[FOXVLYH'LVFRYHU\6HULHV Breakfast: At the hotel. discussion on the Mapuche people native to this area. While the Mapuche only make up about Morning: Be prepared for an early start and four percent of Chile’s total population, their a long—but very rewarding—day of travel traditions surrounding the extended family and today. Depart for a morning tour of Petrohue their agricultural customs have had widespread Falls, where you can explore the lush setting LQͬXHQFHV$IWHUZH̞OOYLVLWWKH)DPLO\0XVHXP surrounding the rapids. Petrohue Falls is Felmer and view a collection of artifacts located just a short distance downstream from brought by German pioneers who immigrated Lake Todos los Santos, and the chute-like to the area. waterfall is supported by basaltic lava. On a clear day, you can enjoy views of Osorno Next, enjoy a taste of everyday, Volcano in the distance. Board a boat to the port family-centered Chilean life as a guest at a local of Peulla. horse-breeding ranch. During this exclusive Discovery Series event, you’ll see how a farm Lunch: At a local restaurant. family lives and works—and witness a Chilean rodeo demonstration as well. Afternoon: You’ll start your journey across the border and through the Andes from Chile Lunch: At the ranch you’ll enjoy a tasty into Argentina. Traveling in turn by bus, boat, homemade meal in the company of these and bus again, you’ll travel overland through welcoming people. picturesque mountain roads and also sail across the shimmering waters of the vast lakes of the Afternoon: You’ll have a presentation to Andes, taking your time to admire the scenery prepare you for tomorrow’s travel through as you go. the Andes. Four buses, three boats, and a camera’s worth Dinner/Evening: Continue making independent of memorable photos later, you’ll arrive in discoveries this evening, with dinner on your Bariloche in the evening. own. Ask your Program Director for restaurant recommendations. Dinner: At the hotel. Evening: You have the freedom to spend the rest of your evening as you wish—ask your Program Director for recommendations. Itinerary Subject to Change. For Information or reservations, call 1-800-221-2610 14 Day 8 Bariloche • Local brewery Day 9 Bariloche • Nazis in Patagonia visit • Panoramic tour & visit to discussion • Patagonian ranch visit • Campanario Hill Optional Floating in the Limay River tour • Destination: Bariloche • Destination: Bariloche • Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch • Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch • Accommodations: Cacique Inacayal Hotel • Accommodations: Cacique Inacayal Hotel or similar or similar Breakfast: At the hotel. Breakfast: At the hotel. Morning: Today Patagonia bids you ELHQYHQLGRV Morning: Participate in an exclusive Discovery DV\RXDZDNHQLQ%DULORFKH2IͫFLDOO\FDOOHG Series discussion on the Nazi presence in San Carlos de Bariloche, this city is a curious Patagonia during World War II. Later, you’ll DPDOJDPRIFXOWXUDOLQͬXHQFHV,WVEXLOGLQJV depart for the Patagonian steppe for an recall the Austrian Tyrol in their design. Many exclusive Discovery Series event, where you’ll of the ranches dotting the outlying Patagonian be the guests on a Patagonian working ranch. SODLQVUHPDLQ(QJOLVKRZQHGDQGUXQZRUNHG You’ll have the opportunity to tour the ranch by Chilean SHRQV from over the border. (Film and its grounds and learn about life in the buffs: This is the territory where Butch Cassidy windy Patagonian steppes. and the Sundance Kid made their real-life Lunch:(QMR\DIHDVWRIWUDGLWLRQDOODPE last stand.) barbecue lunch at the ranch. Bookended by stark granite peaks and mirrored Afternoon: The rest of the day is yours to in 40-mile-long Lake Nahuel Huapi, Bariloche explore on your own. Perhaps you will visit the is, quite literally, a breath of fresh air. Discover Museo de la Patagonia, with its archaeological, this on a panoramic tour this morning, which historical and cultural displays, or take a walk begins with a walk in the tranquil woods that through the beautiful city center. Or, you can lend this lush region much of its natural beauty. join us for an optional Floating in the Limay Lunch:(QMR\VRPHUHIUHVKPHQWVGXULQJDYLVLW 5LYHU tour, to explore the steppe landscape to a traditional brewery, where you’ll have DQGEUHDWKHLQWKHIUHVKDLUZKLOH\RXͬRDW lunch and learn how the family that owns it along by raft. prepares local beer. Dinner/Evening: Continue making independent Afternoon: Travel to Campanario Hill. You’ll discoveries this evening, with dinner on your go on to take in breathtaking views of the lake. own. Ask your Program Director for restaurant Ride a chairlift to the top of Campanario Hill recommendations. for spectacular views of the mountains (if the weather is clear). The lake is studded with ͫUWUHHFRYHUHGLVODQGV Dinner/Evening: The evening is yours to make independent discoveries, with dinner on your own. Ask your Program Director for restaurant recommendations. Itinerary Subject to Change. For Information or reservations, call 1-800-221-2610 15 Day 10 Bariloche • Buenos Aires Mayo, where many buildings important to • Argentina Today discussion • Argentine history are centered. See the Casa Home-Hosted Dinner Rosada (Government House); the Metropolitan &DWKHGUDO DQGWKH&DELOGRWKHͫUVW&LW\+DOO • Destination: Bariloche built during Spanish rule. • Included Meals: Breakfast, Dinner • Accommodations: Panamericano Buenos 1H[W\RX̞OOYLVLW/D%RFD%XHQRV$LUHV̞ͫUVW Aires or similar PHUFKDQWDQGͫVKLQJSRUW Itinerary Subject to Change. For Information or reservations, call 1-800-221-2610 16 Interestingly though, the tango was not Day 13 Montevideo • Mercado del Puerto always the celebrated tradition it is now. • Destination: Montevideo Many Argentines viewed its humble origins • Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and sensual stylings as unsavory at best—and • Accommodations: Radisson Montevideo vulgar at worst. The tango had to cross the or similar $WODQWLFDQGEHFRPHWKHUHGKRWUDJHRI(XURSH before it found favor in its native land. And Breakfast: At the hotel. in recent years, it has undergone a revival, Morning: Nestled between Brazil and receiving an injection of modern energy from Argentina, Uruguay has long been overlooked artists like Astor Piazzola and receiving broader by travelers. But this tiny nation offers national (and international) exposure through ample history, culture, and rugged natural TV, radio, and touring tango troupes. beauty just waiting to be discovered. Your While your steps may not be as sure as the introduction to Uruguay is its modern capital: most seasoned tanguero, you’ll learn the basics Montevideo. Home to nearly half of the nation’s during this special lesson—certainly enough to population, Montevideo is a cosmopolitan city impress the folks back home. that impresses visitors with its waterfront skyscrapers and laidback feel. Day 12 Buenos Aires • During an included walking tour this morning, Montevideo, Uruguay you’ll witness not only its modern amenities, • Destination: Montevideo but also its historic charms in &LXGDG9LHMD • Included Meals: Breakfast, Dinner (Old City), a neighborhood of colonial-style DUFKLWHFWXUHͬDQNHGE\KLJKULVHVDQGERUGHUHG • Accommodations: Radisson Montevideo by the sea. Prior to your included lunch, or similar continue on to 0HUFDGRGHO3XHUWR, or Harbor Breakfast: At the hotel. Market. Here, artisans with craft stalls, street performers, and steak restaurants (called Morning: Yours to do as you please. Your SDUULOODV) all jostle for space under the elegant Program Director will be happy to recommend wrought-iron ceiling of the market. free time activities. You may choose to visit the city’s impressive Opera House on a guided tour, Lunch: At a local restaurant. or simply stroll along the city’s grand avenues, picking up an HPSDQDGD (savory pastry pocket) Afternoon: Free for your own discoveries—ask to enjoy on the go. your Program Director for recommendations. Lunch: On your own. Ask your Program Director Dinner/Evening: Continue making independent for restaurant recommendations. discoveries this afternoon and evening, with dinner on your own. Ask your Program Director Afternoon: Transfer to the pier and embark a for restaurant recommendations. ferry bound for Montevideo, Uruguay. Dinner: Included at a local restaurant. Evening: You have the freedom to spend the rest of your evening as you wish—ask your Program Director for recommendations. Itinerary Subject to Change. For Information or reservations, call 1-800-221-2610 17 Day 14 Montevideo • Colonia del Lunch: On your own—ask your Program Sacramento Director for local restaurant recommendations. • Destination: Colonia del Sacramento Afternoon: Free for your own discoveries—ask • Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch your Program Director for recommendations. • Accommodations: Radisson Colonia Perhaps you’ll take a leisurely stroll along or similar the port, or seek out Colonia’s famed steak sandwich, chivito. Breakfast: At the hotel. Dinner: Gather with your fellow travelers for an Morning: Begin your journey overland to included Farewell Dinner at a local restaurant. &RORQLDGHO6DFUDPHQWR(QURXWH\RX̞OO enjoy an exclusive Discovery Series visit to Evening: You have the freedom to spend the La Vigna, a charming estancia known for its rest of your evening as you wish—ask your organic produce and sheep’s milk cheese. Program Director for recommendations. Founded in 1680 by the Portuguese, Colonia is a spellbinding riverfront town that charms Day 16 Colonia del Sacramento • visitors with its cobbled lanes and colonial Buenos Aires architecture. • Included Meals: Breakfast Lunch:(QMR\DQLQFOXGHGEDUEHFXHOXQFK Breakfast: At the hotel. Afternoon: You’ll arrive around mid-afternoon. After checking in to your hotel you’ll enjoy an Morning:(PEDUNWKHIHUU\IRU\RXUWZRKRXU orientation walk. return trip to Buenos Aires. Dinner/Evening: Continue making independent Lunch: On your own in Buenos Aires. Your discoveries this evening, with dinner on your Program Director can suggest a restaurant. own. Ask your Program Director for restaurant Afternoon: Travelers continuing their recommendations. discoveries on our %UD]LO̞V,JXDVVX)DOOV 5LR de Janeiro post-trip extension will transfer to Day 15 Colonia del Sacramento WKHDLUSRUWIRUWKHLUͬLJKWWR%UD]LO2WKHUZLVH • Destination: Colonia del Sacramento transfer to the airport late this afternoon to begin the journey back to the U.S. • Included Meals: Breakfast, Dinner • Accommodations: Radisson Colonia or similar Breakfast: At the hotel. Morning: Set off on a walking tour of Colonia, which will reveal the enchanting colonial DUFKLWHFWXUHWKDWHDUQHGWKHFLW\D81(6&2 World Heritage Site designation. As you explore, be sure to keep an eye out for Colonia’s iconic lighthouse, which affords sweeping views of the Rio de la Plata below. Itinerary Subject to Change. For Information or reservations, call 1-800-221-2610 18 OPTIONAL TOURS During your trip you will be able to book optional tours directly with your Program Director. He or she ZLOODVN\RXWRFRQͫUPWKHSD\PHQWIRUWKHVHWRXUVE\ͫOOLQJRXWDSD\PHQWIRUP2SWLRQDOWRXUVFDQ only be purchased with a credit or debit card. We accept Visa, MasterCard, and Discover credit cards. We also accept Visa and MasterCard debit cards, but it must be a debit card that allows you to sign for purchases. In order to correctly process these charges, there can be a delay of 2-3 months from the date of your return for the charges to be posted to your account. Therefore we ask that you use a card that will not expire in the 2-3 months following your return. Please note: 2SWLRQDOWRXUSULFHVLQFOXGHJUDWXLWLHVIRUORFDOJXLGHVDQGPRWRUFRDFKGULYHUVDUHOLVWHGLQ86 GROODUHVWLPDWHVGHWHUPLQHGDWWKHWLPHRISXEOLFDWLRQDQGDUHVXEMHFWWRFKDQJH2SWLRQDOWRXUVPD\YDU\ Floating in the Limay River (Day 9 $75 per person) Join us for an up-close look at the vast Northern Patagonian steppe through the amphitheater of WKH/LPD\5LYHU$SRSXODUVLWHIRUͬ\ͫVKLQJ this river is home to an abundance of large UDLQERZDQGEURZQWURXW(QMR\WKHVWHSSH landscape and fresh air while you and your IHOORZWUDYHOHUVͬRDWOHLVXUHO\E\UDIW Itinerary Subject to Change. For Information or reservations, call 1-800-221-2610 19 PRE-TRIP 3HUX 0DFKX3LFFKX&X]FR /LPD INCLUDED IN YOUR PRICE » Air transportation from Lima to Cuzco, and » 2 exclusive Discovery Series events: from Cuzco to Santiago Healing ceremony, Home-Hosted Lunch » Accommodations for 8 nights » Gratuities for local guides and motorcoach » 15 meals: 7 breakfasts, 5 lunches, drivers on your extension and all and 3 dinners optional tours » 6 guided tours: Lima, Moray, » ([FOXVLYHVHUYLFHVRIDORFDO*UDQG&LUFOH Ollantaytambo village, Machu Program Director Picchu, Sacsayhuaman, Korikancha »A ll transfers PRE-TRIP EXTENSION ITINERARY /LPDWKH̡FDSLWDORIWKH1HZ:RUOG̢HQFRPSDVVHVWKHODVWͫYHFHQWXULHVRI3HUXYLDQKLVWRU\&X]FRLV\RXU ZLQGRZLQWRWKHOLIHDQGFXOWXUHRIWKH,QFDSHRSOH$QGWKHQWKHUH̞V0DFKX3LFFKXWKH,QFDQFLW\LQWKHVN\ WKDWKDVRQO\EHJXQWRUHYHDOLWVP\VWHULHV Day 1 Depart U.S. • Arrive Lima, Peru Morning: Join your Program Director and IHOORZWUDYHOHUVIRUD:HOFRPH%ULHͫQJ7KH • Accommodations: Casa Andina Select balance of the morning is free for your own 0LUDͬRUHVRUVLPLODU discoveries—ask your Program Director for Morning/Afternoon:%RDUG\RXUͬLJKWWR3HUX recommendations. and arrive in Lima later today. A Grand Circle representative will meet you at the airport and Lunch: On your own—ask your Program assist you with the transfer to your hotel. Director for local restaurant recommendations. Afternoon: Set off on a panoramic tour of Day 2 Lima • Panoramic city tour Lima. Begin at the Plaza de Armas, the seat of • Destination: Lima power for both secular and clerical authority, as • Included Meals: Breakfast evidenced by the Palacio Presidential, Palacio • Accommodations: Casa Andina Select Municipal, and Archbishop’s Palace. 0LUDͬRUHVRUVLPLODU Dinner/Evening: Continue making independent Breakfast: At the hotel. discoveries this evening, with dinner on your own. Ask your Program Director for restaurant recommendations. Itinerary Subject to Change. For Information or reservations, call 1-800-221-2610 20 Day 3 Lima • Sacred Valley Lunch: At a local restaurant. • Destination: Lima Afternoon: Free for your own discoveries—ask • Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner your Program Director for recommendations. • Accommodations: San Agustin Monasterio de la Recoleta Hotel or similar Dinner: At a local restaurant. Breakfast: At the hotel. Evening: You have the freedom to spend the rest of your evening as you wish—ask your Morning: 7UDQVIHUWRWKHDLUSRUWIRUDͬLJKW Program Director for recommendations. to the mountain-ringed city of Cuzco. Upon arrival, you’ll descend into the Sacred Valley of Day 5 Sacred Valley • Ollantaytambo the Urubamba River. The lower elevation of the Sacred Valley will help ease your transition to village visit • Machu Picchu the high altitudes of the Andes before your visit • Destination: Machu Picchu to Machu Picchu and return to Cuzco later on. • Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch • Accommodations: Casa Andina Standard Lunch: At a local restaurant en route. Machu Picchu or similar Afternoon: Check into your hotel in the Sacred Breakfast: At the hotel. Valley; you’ll have some free time to relax and acclimate yourself to the altitude before a short Morning: (QMR\DVKRUWYLVLWWRFKDUPLQJ orientation walk. Ollantaytambo village before catching the train to Machu Picchu. As your train chugs along, Dinner:(QMR\D:HOFRPH'LQQHU look to either side and view dramatic gorges Evening: You have the freedom to spend the swathed in greenery. rest of your evening as you wish—ask your You’ll arrive in Aguas Calientes, a town just Program Director for recommendations. a few miles away from Machu Picchu, where you’ll check into your hotel Day 4 Sacred Valley • Moray Lunch: At a local restaurant. • Destination: Sacred Valley • Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Afternoon: Free for your own discoveries—ask • Accommodations: San Agustin Monasterio your Program Director for recommendations. de la Recoleta Hotel or similar Dinner: On your own—ask your Program Breakfast: At the hotel. Director for local restaurant recommendations. Morning:(QMR\DPRUQLQJWRXURI0RUD\DQ Evening: You have the freedom to spend the ingenious agricultural laboratory constructed rest of your evening as you wish—ask your by the Inca consisting of terraced gardens Program Director for recommendations. arranged in a descending concentric circle pattern. Because each terrace represents a microclimate, experiencing a different temperature than its neighbors above and below, it is speculated that the Inca used the site to experiment with different conditions for growing crops. Itinerary Subject to Change. For Information or reservations, call 1-800-221-2610 21 Day 6 Machu Picchu • Cuzco Day 7 Cuzco • Sacsayhuaman • Healing • Destination: Cuzco ceremony • Home-Hosted Lunch • • Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch Korikancha • Accommodations: Casa Andina Standard • Destination: Cuzco Koricancha or similar • Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Breakfast: At the hotel. • Accommodations: Casa Andina Standard Koricancha or similar Morning:([SORUHWKHUXLQVRI0DFKX3LFFKX Breakfast: At the hotel. with your Program Director. As you take note of its scale, proportion and organic harmony with Morning: Stop at the Sacsayhuaman fortress the mountains on which it’s perched. overlooking Cuzco. As you walk through WKLVPDVVLYHVWUXFWXUHFRQVLGHUͫUVWWKDW Four sections—cemetery, jails, homes, and Inca workers built its walls entirely by hand, temples—comprise the city. At the Temple VHFXUHO\ͫWWLQJERXOGHUVZHLJKLQJDVPXFK of the Three Windows, the observatory and as 125 tons without a drop of mortar. Then a peculiar stone block called the Intiwatana, recall that on these ramparts in 1536, the Incan you’ll see the central role the sun played in the DUPLHVRI0DQFR,QFDPDGHWKHLUͫQDOIDLOHG life of the Inca, as well as the architecture of the attempt to recapture their city from the Spanish city. The precision of the stonework—like all LQWKHEORRGLHVWͫJKWLQJVHHQLQDQ\/DWLQ the stonework in the city—is practically beyond conquest. belief. And it again bears mentioning: This city in the sky was planned and erected entirely by Later, look forward to a glimpse into unique hand, its stones bound together only by their local traditions during a fascinating folk own weight. medicine healing ceremony. After your tour, take the bus back to town. Lunch: You’ll be the guest of a local family, who will share their mid-day meal and their insights Lunch: At a local restaurant. with you. Afternoon: Board the train to Ollantaytambo, Afternoon: Return to Cuzco to visit the site and then the bus to Cuzco. of the Korikancha Sun Temple, Cuzco’s most Dinner/Evening: Spend an evening making important ceremonial structure during the Inca independent discoveries, with dinner on your era. Historical records of the time note that its own. Ask your Program Director for restaurant walls were once covered with 700 sheets of gold recommendations. studded with emeralds and turquoise. When sunlight streamed through the windows, the UHͬHFWLRQRIOLJKWRIIWKHSUHFLRXVPHWDOVZDV blinding. Following your tour of the site’s grounds, you’ll return to your hotel. Dinner: At a local restaurant. Itinerary Subject to Change. For Information or reservations, call 1-800-221-2610 22 Evening: You have the freedom to spend the rest of your evening as you wish—ask your Program Director for recommendations. Day 8 Cuzco • Santiago • Destination: Santiago • Included Meals: Breakfast • Accommodations: Crowne Plaza Santiago or similar Breakfast: At the hotel. Morning: 7UDQVIHUWRWKHDLUSRUWIRU\RXUͬLJKW to Santiago. Lunch: On your own. Afternoon: Arrive and check into your hotel. Dinner/Evening: Continue making independent discoveries this evening, with dinner on your own. Day 9 Santiago • Begin main trip Breakfast: At the hotel. Morning: Depart for the airport early this PRUQLQJIRU\RXUͬLJKWWR6DQWLDJR&KLOH where you’ll begin your Discover South America: &KLOH$UJHQWLQD 8UXJXD\ vacation. Itinerary Subject to Change. For Information or reservations, call 1-800-221-2610 23 POST-TRIP %UD]LO̞V,JXDVVX)DOOV 5LRGH-DQHLUR INCLUDED IN YOUR PRICE » Air transportation from Buenos Aires to » Gratuities for local guides and motorcoach Iguassu Falls, and from Iguassu Falls to Rio drivers on your extension and all de Janeiro optional tours » Accommodations for 6 nights » ([FOXVLYHVHUYLFHVRIDORFDO*UDQG&LUFOH » 11 meals: 6 breakfasts, 1 lunch, Program Director and 4 dinners »A ll transfers » 5 guided tours: Iguassu Falls (from both Brazil and Argentina), Rio de Janeiro (over two days), Rio de Janeiro botanical gardens POST-TRIP EXTENSION ITINERARY 'LVFRYHUWKHGXDOQDWXUHRI%UD]LODFRXQWU\RIERWKLPSRVVLEO\SULVWLQHODQGVFDSHVDQGFRVPRSROLWDQFLWLHV )O\WR,JXDVVX)DOOVDVSHFWDFXODUVHULHVRIFDWDUDFWVRQWKH%UD]LO$UJHQWLQDERUGHU7KHQH[SORUH5LRGH -DQHLURZKHUH\RX̞OOVFDOH&RUFRYDGR0RXQWDLQWRYLVLWWKHFLW\̞VLFRQLFVWDWXHRIChrist the Redeemer Day 1 Colonia del Sacramento • Buenos Evening: You have the freedom to spend the Aires • Fly to Iguassu Falls rest of your evening as you wish—ask your Program Director for recommendations. • Destination: Buenos Aires • Included Meals: Dinner Day 2 Brazilian falls • Accommodations: Bourbon Cataratas Resort & Convention Center or similar • Destination: Brazilian falls • Included Meals: Breakfast, Dinner Breakfast: At the hotel, as part of your main trip. • Accommodations: Bourbon Cataratas Resort & Convention Center or similar Morning:5LGHWRWKHDLUSRUWIRU\RXUͬLJKWWR Breakfast: At the hotel. Iguassu after your Discover South America: Chile, $UJHQWLQD 8UXJXD\ vacation. Morning: Visit the Brazilian falls during an included tour. You’ll visit several platforms Lunch: On your own at the airport or during ZLWKͫQHYLHZVIURPGLIIHUHQWDQJOHV Dinner: Included at your hotel. Itinerary Subject to Change. For Information or reservations, call 1-800-221-2610 24 Later, join an optional tour to venture down Dinner: At a local restaurant. to the base of the Brazilian falls on a Macuco Evening: You have the freedom to spend the Safari. You’ll start with a 2-mile ride through rest of your evening as you wish—ask your the jungle, followed by a short hike on foot to Program Director for recommendations. stand beneath Salto do Macuco, a small but picturesque waterfall. Then, board a Zodiac raft for a 30-minute ride on the river, cruising over Day 4 Iguassu Falls • Fly to Rio de calm waters and rapids, to the bottom of a set of Janeiro, Brazil falls known locally as “The Three Musketeers” • Destination: Rio de Janeiro (watch your camera—you’re going to get wet). • Included Meals: Breakfast Lunch: On your own—ask your Program • Accommodations: Rio Othon Palace Director for local restaurant recommendations. or similar Breakfast: At the hotel. Afternoon: Free for your own discoveries—ask your Program Director for recommendations. Morning: Free for your own discoveries—ask your Program Director for recommendations. Dinner: At the hotel. Perhaps you’ll take a swim in the hotel’s pool, Evening: You have the freedom to spend the or relax and enjoy the garden areas. rest of your evening as you wish—ask your Lunch: On your own—ask your Program Program Director for recommendations. Director for local restaurant recommendations. Day 3 Argentine falls Afternoon:7UDQVIHUWRWKHDLUSRUWDQGͬ\WR5LR de Janeiro. • Destination: Argentine falls • Included Meals: Breakfast, Dinner Dinner/Evening: Make independent discoveries • Accommodations: Bourbon Cataratas Resort this evening, with dinner on your own. & Convention Center or similar Ask your Program Director for restaurant recommendations. Breakfast: At the hotel. Morning: Witness sweeping views from the Day 5 Rio de Janeiro • Christ Argentinean side of the falls, where a network the Redeemer of catwalks gives you the chance to take a closer look. Your most spectacular view may well be • Destination: Rio de Janeiro that of the *DUJDQWDGHO'LDEOR (Devil’s Throat), • Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch where the water plunges 240 feet into a roiling • Accommodations: Rio Othon Palace FDXOGURQ:LWKVSUD\ͬ\LQJXSWRIHHWDERYH or similar your head and rainbows dancing in it, the view Breakfast: At the hotel. here can only be described as breathtaking. Morning: Begin your tour of Rio de Janeiro with Lunch: On your own—ask your Program an ascent to the Christ the Redeemer statue Director for local restaurant recommendations. atop Corcovado Mountain for stunning views Afternoon: Free for your own discoveries of the city. Let Rio’s energy sweep you away as within Iguassu National Park—ask your you see the legendary beaches of Copacabana Program Director for recommendations. and Ipanema (where you’re certain to see more Itinerary Subject to Change. For Information or reservations, call 1-800-221-2610 25 than one “tall and tan and young and lovely” Dinner: Join your fellow travelers one last time girl). See the Sambadrome, where festive at a local churrascaria for a Farewell Dinner to Carnival takes place. reminisce about what you’ve discovered during your journey, and to sample the barbecue for Lunch: At a local restaurant. which the region is known. Afternoon: Free for your own discoveries—ask Evening: You have the freedom to spend the your Program Director for recommendations. rest of your evening as you wish—ask your Dinner/Evening: Continue making independent Program Director for recommendations. discoveries this evening, with dinner on your own. Ask your Program Director for restaurant Day 7 Rio de Janeiro • Botanical Gardens recommendations. tour • Return to U.S. • Included Meals: Breakfast Day 6 Rio de Janeiro • Sugarloaf Mountain Breakfast: At the hotel. • Destination: Rio de Janeiro Morning: Free for your own discoveries—ask • Included Meals: Breakfast, Dinner your Program Director for recommendations. You could stroll the beachfronts of Ipanema and • Accommodations: Rio Othon Palace Copacabana, taking in views of the beautiful or similar coast and people. Pretend you’re a carioca and Breakfast: At the hotel. sit at an outdoor cafe enjoying a FDLSLULQKD. Do some last-minute gift shopping: jewelry, Morning: Conclude your tour of Rio de Janeiro beachwear, coffee, and soccer items are the best with a cable car ride up Sugarloaf Mountain for buys here. Or just rest up by the hotel’s fabulous panoramic views. pool before your journey home. Lunch/Afternoon: Yours to do as you please. Lunch: On your own—ask your Program Your Program Director will be happy to Director for local restaurant recommendations. recommend a spot for lunch and free time activities. Afternoon: Tour the Botanical Gardens to view the beautiful blooms and greenery. Home to more than 130,000 plants and trees, it’s UHJDUGHGDVRQHRIWKHZRUOG̞VͫQHVWJDUGHQVRI its kind. You’ll then transfer to the airport for \RXUͬLJKWKRPH OPTIONAL TOUR Macuco Safari DORQJMXQJOHSDWKVIRUDORRNDWWKHOXVKͬRUD (Day 2 $60 per person) and fauna that thrives in this fertile location. Get a little closer to the Brazilian side of Iguassu Then, set off on a short hike to Salto do Macuco, on an optional excursion through the jungles a small, scenic waterfall set in a picturesque at the base of the falls. Begin with a 2-mile ride jungle clearing. Next, board a Zodiac raft for Itinerary Subject to Change. For Information or reservations, call 1-800-221-2610 26 a fun (and very wet) 30-minute ride through calm waters and rapids to the base of a set of falls known locally as “The Three Musketeers.” Itinerary Subject to Change. For Information or reservations, call 1-800-221-2610 27 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT THIS TRIP: With the planning of any vacation comes the need to research and L^V\`P^_TZY^BPɪ]PSP]P_ZSPW[4Y_SPQZWWZbTYR[LRP^dZ`ɪWWʭYO TYQZ]XL_TZY_SL_Z`]_]LaPWP]^SLaPQZ`YOXZ^_MPYPʭNTLWL^_SPdɪaP prepared for this vacation, on subjects ranging from passports to weather, and currency to recommended reading. BPɪaPTYNW`OPO_SPZʯNTLW?]LaPW3LYOMZZV_SL_dZ`ɪWW]PNPTaPbSPY you reserve your departure of this trip, which outlines everything you’ll YPPO_ZVYZbMPQZ]PLYOO`]TYRdZ`]aLNL_TZYBSL_ɪ^XZ]PZ`]?]LaPW Counselors will be ready and eager to address any additional questions you may have. With all of our resources available to you, enjoy peace of mind … and look forward to the incredible discoveries that await. 28 CONTENTS TRAVEL DOCUMENTS & ENTRY REQUIREMENTS...... 30 HEALTH ...... 32 MONEY MATTERS ...... 36 Top Tips Local Currency Tipping Guidelines PREPARING FOR YOUR TRIP...... 41 PACKING ...... 45 CLIMATE...... 52 ABOUT YOUR DESTINATION ...... 57 Culture & Points to Know Shopping DEMOGRAPHICS & HISTORY...... 69 RESOURCES ...... 87 29 PASSPORT, VISAS & TRAVEL DOCUMENTS Your Passport • Must be in good condition • Must be valid for at least 6 months after your scheduled return to the U.S. • Must have the required number of blank pages (details below) • The blank pages must be labeled “Visas” at the top. Pages labeled “Amendments and Endorsements” are not acceptable Need to Renew Your Passport? Contact the National Passport Information Center (NPIC) at 1-877-487-2778, or visit their website at www.travel.state.gov for information on obtaining a new passport or renewing your existing passport. You may also contact our recommended visa service company, PVS International, at 1-800-556-9990 for help with your passport. Recommended Blank Pages 3OHDVHFRQͫUPWKDW\RXUSDVVSRUWKDVHQRXJKEODQNSDJHVIRUWKLVYDFDWLRQ • Main trip only: You will need 5 blank passport pages. • Pre-trip extension to Peru: You will need 1 more page for a total of 6 blank passport pages. • Post-trip to Iguassu Falls: You will need 3 more pages for a total of 8 blank passport pages. • Both the pre- and post-trip extensions: You will need a total of 9 blank passport pages. No Visas Required Travelers with a U.S. passport do not need any visas for this vacation, including the optional trip extensions. Traveling Without a U.S. Passport? If you are not a U.S. citizen, or if your passport is from any country other than the U.S., it is your responsibility to check with your local consulate, embassy, or a visa services company about visa requirements. We recommend the services of PVS International, a national visa service located in Washington D.C.; they can be reached at 1-800-556-9990 or www.pvsinternational.org. Traveling With a Minor? Traveling with a minor may require certain documentation for border crossings. For further detail on the required documentation, please contact the local embassy or state government. 30 Migration Forms When entering a new country, you might be given a Migration form. Keep it with you until the end of your trip, as the Migrations Authority might require it. Emergency Photocopies of Key Documents We recommend you carry color photocopies of key documents including the photo page of your passport plus any applicable visas, air itinerary, credit cards (front and back), and an alternative form of ID. Add emergency phone numbers like your credit card company and the number for your travel protection plan. Store copies separate from the originals. If you plan to email this information to yourself, please keep in mind that email is not always secure; consider using password protection or encryption. Also email is not always available ZRUOGZLGH$VDQDOWHUQDWLYH\RXFRXOGORDGWKHVHGRFXPHQWVRQWRDͬDVKGULYHLQVWHDGZKLFK can do double-duty as a place to backup photos during your trip. Overseas Taxes & Fees This tour may have taxes and fees that cannot be included in your airline ticket price because you are required to pay them in person onsite. All taxes are subject to change without notice and can be paid in cash (either U.S. or local currency). If applicable, you will receive a list of these fees with your Final Documents. 31 HEALTH Keep Your Abilities In Mind Please review the information below prior to departing on this trip. We reserve the right for our Program Directors to modify participation, or in some circumstances send travelers home if their limitations are impacting the group’s experience. GROUP SIZE • A maximum of 38 travelers, led by a local Grand Circle Program Director PACING • 6 locations in 15 days • LQWHUQDOͬLJKWVRIKRXUVHDFK • 1 ferry ride over 2 hours in length, and 1 ferry ride 45 minutes in length • 1 day features a total of 12 hours of travel, beginning with an 8am hotel departure, through the Andes from Chile to Argentina, utilizing 3 boats and 4 motorcoaches • Air travel time will be 11-17 hours and will most likely have one connection PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS • Walk 2 miles unassisted and participate in 2 hours of physical activities daily, including stairs, steep hills, and cobblestones • Not accessible for travelers using wheelchairs, scooters, walkers, crutches, or other mobility aids • We reserve the right for Program Directors to restrict participation, or in some circumstances send travelers home, if their limitations impact the group’s experience TERRAIN & TRANSPORTATION • Uneven walking surfaces, including unpaved paths, hills, stairs, and cobblestones • Travel by 45-seat motorcoach, cable car, chair lift, 50-seat boat, and ferry CLIMATE • Daytime temperatures range from 51-85°F during touring season • December-February are the warmest months • Weather in Patagonia tends to be cooler and more unpredictable. Temperatures drop dramatically from day to night and you should be prepared for wind and rain. 32 Health Check )HHOLQJKHDOWK\DQGFRQͫGHQWRI\RXUPRELOLW\LVHVVHQWLDOWRIXOO\HQMR\\RXUWULS,I\RX have ongoing medical conditions or concerns about your health, we highly recommend that you schedule a checkup with your personal physician at least six weeks in advance of your departure date. • Discuss with your doctor any aspects of your itinerary that may affect your health and be guided by his or her advice. (You can use the “Keep Your Abilities in Mind” on the previous page as a guideline to discuss with him or her.) • • If you have a condition that requires special equipment or treatment, you must bring and be responsible for all necessary items related to your condition. Vaccinations At time of writing, there were no required vaccinations for Chile, Argentina, Uruguay, Peru, or Brazil. 7KDWLVQRQHRIWKRVHFRXQWULHVUHTXLUHSURRIDVSHFLͫFYDFFLQDWLRQLQRUGHUWRHQWHU However, your doctor might feel that there are some basic vaccinations that you should have updated before you travel. Or there may be vaccinations that he or she recommends for you because of your personal medical history. We suggest you consult with your own physician at least 6 weeks prior to departure, and ask about vaccinations at that time. If you’d like to know more about possible vaccinations for this trip—or just about health in general while traveling—the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is a great resource. You can contact them online or by phone. • Online: We suggest you visit the CDC’s website at http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel, where you ZLOOͫQGFRPSUHKHQVLYHLQIRUPDWLRQDERXWSUHYHQWLQJLOOQHVVZKLOHWUDYHOLQJ • By phone: At the CDC’s Hotline toll-free at 1-800-232-4636 24 hours a day. But please keep in mind that the CDC’s suggestions may not apply to you! For example, you might already have some of the vaccinations they routinely recommend. So be sure to ask your own doctor. Yellow Fever Vaccination—Suggested for Brazil ONLY Your main trip does not travel to any areas for which the CDC recommends inoculation for yellow fever. But if you are taking the Brazil’s Iguassu Falls & Rio de Janeiro post-trip extension, that changes the overall suggestions. The CDC does recommend yellow fever inoculation to travelers visiting Brazil. This is not a requirement—only a suggestion. A good insect repellant with DEET is also helpful, as Dengue fever can be an issue in Rio and Iguassu during the optional extension. 33 Traveling with Medications • Pack medications in your carry-on bag to avoid loss and to have them handy. • Keep medicines in their original, labeled containers for a quicker security screen at the airport and a better experience if you get stopped by customs while overseas. • Bring copies of your prescriptions, written using the generic drug name rather than a brand name to be prepared for any unforeseen loss of your medications. We recommend checking with the State Department for medication restrictions by country: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel/International-Travel- Country-Information-Pages.html. (Pick the country and then follow the links to “Local Laws & 6SHFLDO&LUFXPVWDQFHV̢ LI\RXGRQ̞WVHHDQ\PHGLFDWLRQVVSHFLͫFDOO\PHQWLRQHGWKHQ\RXFDQ presume major U.S. brands should be OK). IMPORTANT TIP: At time of writing, the State Department did not have any special warnings about American over-the-counter medications for Peru, but did have the following warning about bringing medicines back to the U.S.: “Travelers should be aware that some drugs and other products readily available over the counter or by prescription in Peru are illegal in the United States. The prescription VHGDWLYHͬXQLWUD]HSDP 5RK\SQRO LVRQHVXFKGUXJ RWKHUVPD\FRPHRQWKHPDUNHWDWDQ\WLPH Although coca-leaf tea is a popular beverage and folk remedy for altitude sickness in Peru, possession of these tea bags, which are sold in most Peruvian supermarkets, is illegal in the United States.” Staying Healthy on Your Trip Jet Lag Tips • Start your trip well-rested. • Begin a gradual transition to your new time zone before you leave or switch to your destination time zone when you get on the plane. • Attempt to sleep and eat according to the new schedule. • Avoid heavy eating and drinking caffeine or alcoholic beverages right before–and during– \RXUͬLJKW • 'ULQNSOHQW\RIZDWHUDQGRUIUXLWMXLFHZKLOHͬ\LQJ • Stretch your legs, neck, and back periodically while seated on the plane. • After arrival, avoid the temptation to nap. • 'RQ̞WSXVK\RXUVHOIWRVHHDORWRQ\RXUͫUVWGD\ • 7U\WRVWD\DZDNH\RXUͫUVWGD\XQWLODIWHUGLQQHU 34 Allergies If you have any serious allergies or dietary restrictions, we advise you to notify us at least 30 days prior to your departure. Please call our Traveler Support team at 1-800-321-2835, and we will FRPPXQLFDWHWKHPWRRXUUHJLRQDORIͫFH(YHU\HIIRUWZLOOEHPDGHWRDFFRPPRGDWH\RX Water Tap water is generally safe to drink in Argentina, Chile, Uruguay and Brazil but it is processed differently than in the U.S., so it may feel “heavy” and could upset your system. Fortunately, if you prefer bottled water, it is readily available for you to buy and is inexpensive compared to the U.S. Tap water is not safe to drink in Peru. When buying bottled water, inspect each bottle before \RXEX\LWWRPDNHVXUHWKHFDSLVVHDOHGSURSHUO\7RͫJKWGHK\GUDWLRQFDUU\DERWWOHLQ\RXU daypack at all times. Food If you are taking the Peru: Machu Picchu, Cuzco & Lima optional extension, we’ve carefully chosen the restaurants for your group meals, and fresh fruits and salads at our group meals are generally as safe as in restaurants in the U.S. Your Program Director can suggest restaurants for the meals you take on your own. When dining out independently, watch what you eat and drink. Avoid uncooked food, any food sold by street vendors, and non-pasteurized milk and milk products. Fruit that you peel yourself is usually safe. High Altitude —Peru Extension If you travel with us on our optional Peru: Machu Picchu, Cuzco & Lima extension, we reach a relatively high elevation at Cuzco, situated approximately 10,909 feet above sea level. Medication to alleviate altitude sickness is recommended for this extension. At these altitudes, almost everyone feels some of the symptoms of Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS). These symptoms include headache, nausea, loss of appetite, trouble with sleep, and lack of energy. For most people, these symptoms are mild and pass fairly quickly. It helps if you moderate your alcohol intake (or don’t drink at all), drink water, and reduce/eliminate drinking carbonated drinks. If you want to take this trip extension, we recommend that you discuss with your doctor whether the extension is advisable for you and if you should obtain a prescription for a medication for the prevention and treatment of altitude sickness. 35 MONEY MATTERS Top Three Tips • Carry a mix of different types of payments, such as local currency, an ATM card, and a credit card. • Traveler’s checks and Discover cards are not accepted in the countries visited on this trip. • You will not be able to pay with U.S. dollars on the majority of this trip; you will need local currency instead. U.S. dollars may be accepted in larger cities, such as Buenos Aires, but you should always ask about exchange rates before making a purchase. Local Currency For current exchange rates, please refer to an online converter tool like www.xe.com/ currencyconverter\RXUEDQNRUWKHͫQDQFLDOVHFWLRQRI\RXUQHZVSDSHU Chile The basic unit of currency in Chile is the peso. Banknote and coin denominations are as follows: • Banknotes: 1,000, 2,000, 5,000, 10,000, and 20,000 pesos • Coins: 10, 50, 100, and 500 pesos In Chile, U.S. dollars are accepted at tourist-related businesses or for large-ticket purchases, but ORFDOFXUUHQF\LVXVXDOO\SUHIHUUHG,WFDQEHGLIͫFXOWWRFKDQJHDELOOODUJHUWKDQSHVRVLQ rural areas or in a small business. Argentina 7KHRIͫFLDO$UJHQWLQHDQFXUUHQF\LVWKHSHVR%DQNQRWHDQGFRLQGHQRPLQDWLRQVDUHDVIROORZV • Banknotes: 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200, 500, and 1000 pesos • Coins: 1, 2, 5 and 10 pesos In Argentina, U.S. dollars are generally preferred due to the strong exchange rates, but always be VXUHWRDVNͫUVW$WWLPHRIZULWLQJWLSVWRRXUVWDIILQ86GROODUVDUHJHQHUDOO\PRUHDSSUHFLDWHG than tips in pesos. Previous travelers have suggested bringing a mix of different denomination U.S. bills—some small ones for tipping, and some larger ones for exchanging. Uruguay 7KHRIͫFLDO8UXJXD\DQFXUUHQF\LVWKH8UXJXD\DQ3HVR%DQNQRWHDQGFRLQGHQRPLQDWLRQVDUH as follows: • Banknotes: 20, 50, 100, 200, 500, 1000, and 2000 pesos 36 • Coins: 1, 2, 5, and 10 pesos Peru 7KHRIͫFLDOFXUUHQF\RI3HUXLVWKH6RO 6 ZKLFKLVGLYLGHGLQWRFHQWLPRV%DQNQRWHDQGFRLQ denominations are as follows: • Banknotes: 10, 20, 50, 100, and 200 • Coins: 5, 10, 20, 50 céntimos and 1, 2, 5 soles U.S. dollars are commonly accepted in Peru, especially for large transactions or at businesses that cater to visitors. However, not every business will want U.S. dollars, and the ones that do accept them will want crisp bills in very good condition—bills that are worn, torn, or even folded might be rejected. Large U.S. bills (such as $50 or $100) command a better exchange rate, but small bills are more readily accepted for payment. For this reason, we recommend that you bring a mix of denominations in U.S. dollars. Previous travelers have recommended bringing a lot of $1 bills for WLSSLQJ EXWQRWIRUH[FKDQJLQJ :KHQSD\LQJLQVROVNQRZWKDWLWFDQEHGLIͫFXOWIRUDVKRSWR make change for a 100-sol bill on small purchases. Brazil The monetary unit of Brazil is the Real (R$). The R$ is divided into 100 centavos. Banknote and coin denominations are as follows: • Bills: 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50, and 100 • Coins: 1, 5, 10, 25, and 50 centavos; 1 Real You may not need Brazilian reals as some shops are willing to take U.S. dollars. Plus, they can be KDUGWRͫQGLQWKH86GHSHQGLQJRQZKHUH\RXOLYH+RZHYHU\RXFDQDOZD\VEULQJGROODUVDQG exchange them once in Brazil. How to Exchange Money On your trip, the easiest way is to withdraw funds from a local ATM. The ATM will give you local money and your bank at home will convert that into U.S. dollars. If you want to exchange money before your trip, you can usually do so through your bank or at an H[FKDQJHRIͫFHEXWZHUHFRPPHQGWKDW\RXZDLWDQGFKDQJHPRQH\RQWKHWULSLQVWHDG 37 ATMs When using the ATM, keep in mind that it may only accept cards from local banks, and may not allow cash advances on credit cards; you might need to try more than one ATM or more than one card. Many banks charge a fee of $1-$5 each time you use an out-of-network ATM. Others may charge you a percentage of the amount you withdraw. We recommend that you check with your bank before you depart. Lastly, don’t forget to memorize the actual digits of your card’s PIN number (many keypads do not include letters on their keys—they only display numbers.) Chile: ATMs are available in larger cities, such as Santiago, but will not be available in remote locations. Argentina: ATMs are available in larger cities like Buenos Aires, Ushuaia, and Bariloche, but will not be available in remote locations. Uruguay:$70VDUHZLGHO\DYDLODEOHLQODUJHUFLWLHVOLNH0RQWHYLGHREXWPD\EHPRUHGLIͫFXOWWR ͫQGLQVPDOOWRZQV Peru: ATMs are available in large cities and towns like Lima and Cuzco but are less likely to be found in more rural locations. For example, in the Amazon you may only see an ATM at the regional airport. We suggest that you bring cash for expected expenses while traveling in the rural areas. Brazil: ATMs are fairly common in larger cities and towns, but may not be readily available in undeveloped areas. Not all ATMs are open 24/7—many are only open from 7 am until 10 pm, and then they shut down overnight. (It can be confusing because they may still be lit, even when closed.) Also, keep in mind that not every ATM will accept foreign cards. You may need to try more than one machine. Credit & Debit Cards Even if you don’t plan on using a credit card during your trip, we still suggest that you bring one or two as a backup, especially if you are planning a large purchase (artwork, jewelry). We also suggest that you bring more than one brand of card (i.e. Visa, MasterCard, American Express) if possible, because not every shop will take every card. For example, although the Discover card is accepted in some countries outside the U.S., it is not widely adopted, so other brands will work at a much larger range of stores, restaurants, etc. Chile: Credit and debit cards are widely accepted in large cities for major purchases and in shops associated with the tourist trade (souvenirs, museum gift shops, etc.), but may not be accepted by smaller shops or restaurants. Some businesses add a surcharge of 2-4% to use a credit card. Credit cards are generally not accepted in more remote locations, such as Easter Island. 38 Argentina: Credit and debit cards are widely accepted in Buenos Aires for major purchases and in shops associated with the tourist trade (souvenirs, museum gift shops, etc.), but may not be accepted by smaller shops or restaurants. Some businesses add a surcharge of 5-10% to use a credit card; look for the word “recargo”. Some restaurants will accept credit cards—but not all— and you usually cannot leave a tip on a credit card. Visa is commonly accepted, but MasterCard and American Express are not. Uruguay: Credit cards are accepted at most hotels, restaurants, and shops. Some smaller Mom- and-Pop type establishments may not accept credit cards, so it’s always a good idea to have some cash. Peru: Credit cards are more likely to be accepted large cities like Lima than in the countryside. Stores in Peru may charge you up to 8% for the use of a credit card. Brazil: Credit and debit cards are widely accepted in Brazil, especially for major purchases or in businesses that cater to visitors (hotels, souvenirs shops, etc.). Nonetheless, there are some businesses—street vendors, small “Mom and Pop” stores, some restaurants—that are still “cash only”. If you don’t see a credit card logo on the door or the cash register, then check with the cashier or server. In undeveloped areas, cash is usually the preferred form of payment. TIP: Credit card fraud can occasionally be an issue in restaurants in Brazil, especially if the waiter takes your card away to process the payment. You can easily block this scam by not letting your credit card out of your sight. That is why you will see portable credit card machines in many upscale restaurants in Brazil—they bring the machine to you instead of taking your card away. And in restaurants that don’t have a portable machine, it is completely OK to walk your card to the register and watch as the transaction is processed. Notify Card Providers of Upcoming Travel Many credit card companies and banks have fraud alert departments that will freeze your card if they see suspicious charges—such as charges or withdrawals from another country. To avoid an accidental security block, it is a good idea to notify your credit card company and/or bank you will be using your cards abroad. You can do this by calling their customer service number a week or two before your departure. Some banks or credit card companies will also let you do this online. You should also double-check what phone number you could call if you have a problem with a card while you are abroad. Don’t assume you can use the 1-800 number printed on the back of your card—most 1 800 numbers don’t work outside of the U.S.! Tipping Guidelines Of course, whether you tip, and how much, is always at your own discretion. But for those of you who have asked for tipping suggestions, we offer these guidelines. To make it easy for you to budget, we have quoted the amounts in U.S. dollars; tips can be converted and paid in local currency or in U.S. dollars. 39 • Grand Circle Program Director: It is customary to express a personal “thank you” to your GCT Program Director at the end of your trip. As a guideline, many travelers give $4-$6 per traveler for each day their Program Director is with them. Please note that tips for your Program Director can only be in the form of cash. If you are taking any of the optional extensions, \RXU3URJUDP'LUHFWRUGXULQJWKHH[WHQVLRQ V PD\QRWEHWKHVDPHDVWKHRQHRQ\RXUPDLQWULS • Hotel Housekeeping: Many travelers will leave the equivalent of $1-$2 per day, per room for the hotel housekeeping staff. • Included in Your Trip Price: Gratuities are included for local guides and motorcoach drivers on your main trip, extensions, and all optional tours. Time at Leisure: When you are exploring on your own, it’s useful to know when to tip and how much, because local customs often differ from the U.S. Here are a few helpful guidelines for the most common services a traveler might use: • Taxis: Tipping is not customary, but many locals will round up the fare and let the driver keep the change. For long-distance drives, or for a long period of hire, a tip may be given according to the service received. • Restaurants, cafes, and bars: In Chile, Argentina, Uruguay and Peru, waiters expect a 10% cash tip when service is good. In Brazil, a 10% service charge is added by law to all restaurant bills, so there’s no need to leave an additional amount unless service is especially good. 40 PREPARING FOR YOUR TRIP Land Only Travelers & Personalized Air ŽĢóĴ'āƩłĢŶĢŋłŭ • Land Only: • Air-Inclusive: You booked international air with us. Airport transfers are included as long as you didn’t customize your trip’s dates (see next bullet). • Personalized Air: You booked international air with us, and have customized it in some way. If you have customized your trip’s dates to arrive early, stay longer, or stop on your own in a connecting city, airport transfers will NOT be included. You must also arrange your own accommodations for any additional nights. For your convenience, a preliminary list of your included hotels is available on your My Account at www.gct.com/myaccount under “My Reservations”. Airport Transfers Can Be Purchased )RUHOLJLEOHͬLJKWVDLUSRUWWUDQVIHUVPD\EHSXUFKDVHGVHSDUDWHO\DVDQRSWLRQDODGGRQVXEMHFW WRDYDLODELOLW\7REHHOLJLEOH\RXUͬLJKW V PXVWPHHWWKHIROORZLQJUHTXLUHPHQWV • • Airport transfers can be purchased up to 45 days prior to your departure; they are not available for purchase onsite. To learn more, or purchase airport transfers, please call our Traveler Support team at 1-800-321-2835. If you don’t meet the requirements above, you’ll need to make your own transfer arrangements. We suggest the Rome to Rio website as a handy resource: www.rome2rio.com. :KHQERRNLQJ\RXULQWHUQDWLRQDOͬLJKWVSOHDVHDOVRQRWHWKDWWKHWRXUZLOOHQGLQ%XHQRV$LUHVRQ 'D\RIWKHEDVHWRXUIRU\RXURYHUQLJKWͬLJKWEDFNWRWKH8QLWHG6WDWHV If you are taking the Peru: Machu Picchu, Cuzco & Lima pre-trip extension, then it may be helpful IRU\RXWRNQRZWKDW\RXUͫUVWLQFOXGHGKRWHOURRPLQ/LPDZLOOEHDYDLODEOHIRUFKHFNLQVWDUWLQJ on Day 1 of the extension after 2 pm. If you are NOT taking the pre-trip extension,WKHQ\RXUͫUVWLQFOXGHGKRWHOURRPZLOOEHLQ Santiago, Chile; it will be available for check-in starting on Day 2 of the main trip after 4 pm. 41 Air Inclusive Travelers If you have purchased international air with Grand Circle Travel, there are some points that may be helpful for you to know. • U.S. Departure: If you are among a group of ten or more Grand Circle travelers who depart the U.S. from your international gateway city, it is our goal to have a Grand Circle 5HSUHVHQWDWLYHDVVLVW\RXDWWKH86DLUSRUWZLWKWKHFKHFNLQRI\RXUͬLJKW8QOHVVWKHUH are extenuating circumstances beyond our control, the Representative will be at the check- LQFRXQWHUWKUHHKRXUVEHIRUH\RXUGHSDUWXUHWLPH,I\RXDUHͬ\LQJGRPHVWLFDOO\EHIRUH\RXU LQWHUQDWLRQDOͬLJKWWKHUHSUHVHQWDWLYHZLOOEHVWDWLRQHGDWWKHFKHFNLQFRXQWHUIRU\RXU GHSDUWLQJLQWHUQDWLRQDOͬLJKWQRWDWWKHGRPHVWLFDUULYDOJDWH • Overseas Arrival: Once you arrive overseas, you’ll need to collect your luggage and clear customs. A Grand Circle Representative will meet you outside of customs and assist you with your transfer to the hotel or ship. Important note on porters: Airport porters are NOT allowed in the baggage claim area. On arrival, you must take your luggage off the baggage carousel and load it onto a cart, which you will then move through customs. When you exit customs, you’ll handle your cart until reaching your transfer vehicle. Your driver will load your luggage into the transfer vehicle. • Flight Delays:*UDQG&LUFOH7UDYHOLVQRWUHVSRQVLEOHIRUͬLJKWGHOD\VRUFDQFHOODWLRQV,Q WKHXQIRUWXQDWHFLUFXPVWDQFHWKDW\RXUͬLJKWLVGHOD\HGRUFKDQJHGSOHDVHWU\WRUHDFKWKH UHJLRQDO*UDQG&LUFOHRIͫFH WKHLUQXPEHUZLOOEHLQ\RXU)LQDO'RFXPHQWV LQRUGHUWRPDNH QHZDUUDQJHPHQWVIRU\RXUWUDQVIHU'XHWRDLUOLQHUHJXODWLRQVRXUVWDIILVQRWQRWLͫHGRI ͬLJKWUHURXWLQJDQGRXUORFDOUHSUHVHQWDWLYHZRQ̞WQHFHVVDULO\EHDZDUHRI\RXUQHZDUULYDO time. In these cases you will need to arrange your transfer by taxi to your hotel. • Regional Flights in Peru (optional extension):,Q3HUXLWLVVLPSO\DIDFWRIOLIHWKDWͬLJKW schedules often change on short notice. When this happens, our expert staff strives to get \RXRQQHZͬLJKWVDVFORVHWRWKHRULJLQDOVFKHGXOHDVSRVVLEOHEXWOLPLWHGDYDLODELOLW\RI VHDWVPD\UHTXLUHXVWRXVHHDUO\PRUQLQJͬLJKWVRUFKDQJHWKHGD\RIWKHͬLJKW,IVFKHGXOH changes make it necessary, we may have to rise before dawn on some days where early- morning wake-ups are not mentioned in your printed itinerary. Though travel in South America can be unpredictable, we have considerable experience at responding to changing circumstances on the spot. We appreciate your understanding that we cannot always exactly follow your published itinerary. • U.S. Return: If you are among a group of ten or more Grand Circle travelers who return to the same U.S. gateway city, a Grand Circle Representative will meet you as you exit Customs DQGKHOS\RXͫQGWD[LVEXVHVKRWHODFFRPPRGDWLRQVRUFRQQHFWLQJͬLJKWV$JDLQLWLVRXU goal to have our Grand Circle Representative waiting to assist your group. In rare instances, unforeseen circumstances may prevent this service. • Flying with a Travel Companion: If you’re traveling with a companion from a different household, and both of you are beginning and ending your trip at the same airport on the same dates, let us know you’d like to travel together and we’ll make every effort to arrange 42 this (please note, however, that this is not always possible). If you request any changes to \RXUͬLJKWVSOHDVHEHVXUHWKDWERWK\RXDQG\RXUFRPSDQLRQWHOOXVWKDW\RXVWLOOZDQWWR ͬ\WRJHWKHU Optional Tours Optional tours are additional add-on tours that allow you to personalize your vacation by tailoring it to your tastes and needs. And if you decide not to join an optional tour? Then you’ll have free time to relax or explore on your own—it’s about options, not obligations. What You Need to Know • All optional tours are subject to change and availability. • Optional tours that are reserved with your Program Director can be paid for using credit/ debit cards only. We accept MasterCard, Visa, and Discover credit cards; we can also take MasterCard or Visa debit cards as long as the card allows you to sign for purchases. (You won’t be able to enter a PIN.) • To ensure that you are charged in U.S. dollars, your payment will be processed by our U.S. headquarters in Boston. This process can take up to three months, so we ask that you only use a card that will still be valid three months after your trip is over. The charge may appear on your credit card statement as being from Boston, MA or may be labeled as “OPT Boston”. • Your Program Director will give you details on the optional tours while you’re on the trip. But if you’d like to look over descriptions of them earlier, you can do so at any time by referring to your Day-to-Day Itinerary (available online by signing into My Account at www.gct.com/myaccount). Communications Cell Phones If you want to use your cell phone on the trip, check with your phone provider to see if your phone and service will work outside of the U.S. It may turn out to be cheaper to rent an international phone or buy a SIM card onsite. If you want to use a local SIM, just make certain your phone can accept one. Calling Apps Another option is to use a smartphone app like Skype or FaceTime. These services are usually less expensive than making a traditional call, but you’ll need a Wi-Fi connection and the calls may count towards your phone plan’s data allowance. Many smartphones—and some tablets or laptops—come with one of these apps pre-installed or you can download them for free from the appropriate apps store. 43 Calling Cards and 1-800 Numbers When calling the U.S. from a foreign country, a prepaid calling card can be useful because it circumvents unexpected charges from the hotel. Calling cards purchased locally are typically the best (less expensive, more likely to work with the local phones, etc.). One reminder: Do not call U.S. 1-800 numbers outside the continental United States. This can result in costly long distance fees, since 1-800 numbers do not work outside the country. Internet Most hotels in Chile, Argentina, and Uruguay offer Wi-Fi, but connection may be limited in remote areas. How to Call Overseas When calling overseas from the U.S., dial 011 for international exchange, then the country code (indicated by a plus sign: +), and then the number. Note that foreign phone numbers may not have the same number of digits as U.S. numbers; even within a country the number of digits can vary depending on the city and if the phone is a land line or cell phone. Chile: +56 Peru: +51 Argentina: +54 Brazil: +55 Uruguay: +598 44 PACKING Luggage Limits MAIN TRIP LIMITS Pieces per person One checked bag and one carry-on per person. Weight restrictions Varies by airline. The current standard is 50lbs for checked bags and 17 lbs for carry-on bags. Size Restrictions Varies by airline. Measured in linear inches (length+width+depth). Generally, 62 linear inches is the checked bag limit; carry-on limit is 45 linear inches. Luggage Type A sturdy, fabric-sided suitcase with built-in wheels and lockable zippers is recommended. TRIP EXTENSION(S) LIMITS Same as the main trip. For travelers on the extension to Peru, a small additional bag (like a weekend bag) is a necessity. REMARKS/SUGGESTIONS One suitcase and one carry-on bag per person: Due to the space limitations on bus transfers, you’ll be restricted to one suitcase and one carry-on bag per person. This is to ensure that we have room for everyone’s luggage. We ask that you abide by this limit to avoid inconveniencing your fellow travelers and prevent additional airlines luggage fees (which are your responsibility). Most airlines now charge to check more than one suitcase per person for flights to Europe and other international flights. A small additional bag is a necessity for the extension in Peru: If you are taking the Peru: Machu Picchu, Cuzco & Lima extension, please bring a small additional bag, such as a weekend bag or backpack. You will need it for the train trip to and from Machu Picchu because there is no space for your suitcase on the train (You’ll leave your suitcase or large duffle bag at the hotel in Cusco, travel to Machu Picchu, stay overnight, and then return to Cusco the next day.) For more details, see the “Your Luggage” section. Luggage rules: Luggage rules and limits are set by governmental and airline policy. Enforcement of the rules may include spot checks or may be inconsistent. However one thing is the same across the board: If you are found to have oversized or overweight luggage, you will be subject to additional fees, to be assessed by—and paid to—the airline in question. 45 Don’t Forget: • These luggage limits may change. If the airline(s) notify us of any changes, we will include an update in your Final Documents booklet. • ,W̞VDJRRGLGHDWRUHFRQͫUPEDJJDJHUHVWULFWLRQVDQGIHHVGLUHFWO\ZLWKWKHDLUOLQHDZHHNRU so prior to departure. For your convenience, we maintain a list of the toll-free numbers for the most common airlines on our website in the FAQ section. • Baggage fees are not included in your trip price; they are payable directly to the airlines. • 7KHOXJJDJHOLPLWVDERYHDUHEDVHGRQ\RXUUHJLRQDOͬLJKWVZKLFKPD\EHOHVVWKDQ\RXU LQWHUQDWLRQDOͬLJKWV(YHQLI\RXULQWHUQDWLRQDODLUOLQHRIIHUVDODUJHUZHLJKWOLPLW\RXZLOO need to pack according to the lower restrictions. Your Luggage Checked Luggage Consider a duffel bag or soft-sided suitcase. Look for one with heavy nylon fabric, wrap-around handles, built-in wheels, and a heavy duty lockable zipper. Due to space limitations on our motorcoaches, you are allowed one piece of checked luggage per person. Porterage at airports and hotels is provided for one bag per person. All bags should have luggage tags. Carry-on Bag You are allowed one carry-on bag per person. We suggest a tote or small backpack that can be XVHGDVERWKDFDUU\RQEDJIRU\RXUͬLJKWDQGWRFDUU\\RXUGDLO\QHFHVVLWLHV̜ZDWHUERWWOH camera, etc—during your daily activities. Locks )RUͬLJKWVWKDWRULJLQDWHLQWKH86\RXFDQHLWKHUXVHD76$DSSURYHGORFNRUOHDYH\RXU luggage unlocked. Outside of the U.S. we strongly recommend locking your luggage as a theft- prevention measure. Clothing Suggestions Functional Tips • Travel light: A good rule of thumb is to gather together everything you want to bring; then take half of that. Eliminate all but the essentials and start packing a few days before you leave. That way, you’ll have time to think—not fret—about what you might be forgetting. To have a varied travel wardrobe, yet keep your luggage light, we recommend you select a color scheme and pack color-coordinated clothing items that can be mixed to create GLIIHUHQWRXWͫWV 46 • Consider clothing designed for travel, sports, or camping: With modern fabrics, lightweight packing for comfort and protection through a wide range of weather is easy. A visit to any online or local sporting goods/outdoor stores (L.L. Bean, REI, EMS, etc.) will yield a treasure trove of lightweight, specialized, and fashionable clothing and gear that is readily adaptable to your itinerary. • Pack casual clothes: In today’s age of informality, comfortable and informal apparel is perfectly acceptable at each of your destinations. Basic pants, shirts, walking shorts, sportswear, everyday dresses/skirts, supportive shoes, and functional outdoor clothes that are relatively easy to care for are recommended. Men do not need jackets or ties and women do not need fancy dresses. • Warm clothing: We suggest a warm sweater, a windproof jacket, gloves, and a hat for your time in Bariloche and Puerto Varas. These mountainous areas are cool year-round and it has been known to snow at the higher elevations even in summer. • Good walking shoes are essential: The countries’ wonderful markets, cathedrals, and town plazas truly invite exploration by foot. But negotiating the pathways and rather uneven sidewalks can be a challenge—even for the most surefooted traveler. For your comfort and safety, you’ll need supportive walking shoes that offer good traction. Light hiking boots might be useful on some days. • Rain gear: You’ll want good, light rain gear all year round, especially in Puerto Varas, which is one of the rainiest places in South America (rain is almost guaranteed). And even outside of Puerto Varas, it will rain almost every afternoon from April to November. So you’ll want rain gear you are comfortable in, and dry footwear, such as light hiking boots with a built-in Gore-Tex liner. What to Bring We have included suggestions from Program Directors and former travelers to help you pack. These lists are only jumping-off points—they offer recommendations based on experience, but not requirements. You may also want to consult the “Climate” chapter of this handbook. What not to pack: Do not pack aerosol cans, as they tend to leak during air travel. Leave behind any credit cards that are not essential for your trip, valuable jewelry, and anything that you would hate to lose. Your accommodations will supply soap, body wash, and shampoo/conditioner. If you prefer a certain brand you may want to bring your own, but otherwise you can rely on what they provide. Recommended Items T 'DLO\HVVHQWLDOV WRRWKEUXVKWRRWKSDVWHͬRVVKDLUEUXVKRUFRPEVKDYLQJLWHPV deodorant, etc. T Spare eyeglasses/contact lenses and your prescription 47 T Sunglasses and a neck strap T Sunscreen, SPF 45 or stronger (essential for Antarctica) T Insect repellent with 30-35% DEET (for optional Iguassu extension) T Washcloth (not always supplied) T Pocket-size tissues T Moist towelettes and/or anti-bacterial “waterless” hand cleanser T Flashlight, extra batteries/bulb T Photocopies of passport, air ticket, credit cards T Travel money purse, worn under your shirt or jacket; money belt T Compact umbrella T Camera, spare batteries, and memory cards Clothing T Shirts: A mixture of short and long-sleeved shirts to layer T Light rain jacket/windbreaker with hood T Shoes and socks: comfortable walking, running shoes, or light hikers T Consider casual good-traction shoes, or sport sandals T Underwear and sleepwear T 7URXVHUVMHDQV &RPIRUWDEOHDQGORRVHͫWWLQJLVEHVWIRUFRPIRUWDQGPRYHPHQW T Cotton sweater or sweatshirt for the air-conditioned bus T Wide-brim sun hat or visor T Swimsuit, for hotel pools and for Deception Island (weather permitting) Medicines T Your own prescription medicines T Vitamins 48 T Cold remedies: Sudafed/Dristan T Pain relievers: Ibuprofen/naproxen/aspirin T Laxatives: Senokot/Ex-Lax T Stomach upset: Pepto-Bismol/Mylanta T Anti-diarrheal: Imodium T Band-Aids, moleskin foot pads T Antibiotic: Neosporin/Bacitracin Optional Gear T Travel alarm T Compact binoculars T Hanging toiletry bag with pockets T Basic sewing kit T Hand-wash laundry soap, and maybe clothespins/travel clothesline/stopper T Electrical transformer & plug adapters—see “Regional Electricity” section T Travel journal/note pad/reading material T Home address book T Photos, small gift for Home-Hosted visit T Phrase book T Pocket calculator for exchange rates Home-Hosted Visits It is customary, though not necessary, to return your hosts’ generosity with a small gift. If you do bring a gift, we recommend that you bring something the whole family can enjoy, or something that represents your region, state, or hometown. Get creative and keep it small—peach jelly from Georgia, maple sugar candy from New England, orange blossom soap from California; something that can be used or used up is best. When choosing a gift, be certain to consider the local culture 49 as well. For example, we do not recommend alcohol in Muslim countries because it is forbidden in Islam, and your hosts may be religious. Not all Grand Circle vacations include a home-hosted YLVLW SOHDVHFKHFN\RXUͫQDOLWLQHUDU\EHIRUH\RXGHSDUW Electricity When traveling overseas, the voltage is usually different and the plugs might not be the same shape. Voltage Electricity in Chile, Argentina, Peru, and Brazil is 220-240 volts. In the U.S. it is 110 volts. Most of the things a traveler will want to plug in—battery chargers, MP3 players, tablets or computers— FDQUXQRIIERWKDQG%XW\RXVKRXOGFKHFNWKHLWHPRUWKHRZQHU̞VJXLGHͫUVWWR FRQͫUPWKLVEHIRUH\RXSOXJLWLQ,I\RXKDYHVRPHWKLQJWKDWQHHGVYROWV̜OLNHDVKDYHURUD hairdryer—you can bring a transformer to change the current. (But transformers tend to burn out, so it might be better to leave whatever it is at home.) Plugs The shape of plugs will vary from country to country, and sometimes even within a country depending on when that building was built. To plug something from the U.S. into a local socket \RX̞OOQHHGDQDGDSWHUWKDWͫWVEHWZHHQWKHSOXJDQGWKHVRFNHW%HFDXVHWKHUHDUHPDQ\GLIIHUHQW types of plugs in this region, it may be easier to purchase an all-in-one, universal adapter/ converter combo. Versatile and lightweight, these can usually be found at your local electronics goods or hardware stores. Sometimes you can buy them at large retailers too, like Target or :DOPDUW,I\RXIRUJHWWREULQJDQDGDSWHU\RXPLJKWDOVRͫQGWKHPIRUVDOHDWWKHDLUSRUWZKHQ you arrive at your destination. Different plug shapes are named by letters of the alphabet. Standard U.S. plugs are Type A and Type B. Here is the list of plugs for the countries on this trip: Chile: C and/or L Argentina: C and I Uruguay: C, F, I, and L Peru: A, B, or C 50 Brazil: A and/or C/N. Sockets in Brazil are not uniform. The same hotel might have A sockets in one room and C sockets in another room. Some hotels even have a special socket that can take both A and C plugs. Brazil has also introduced a new plug type (N). Type C Type I Type L Type N Availability A constant electricity supply cannot be guaranteed during overnight stays. In some places, a generator may supply electricity, and lighting may not be as bright as you are used to. Travelers dependent on electricity supply (as in the case of those with sleep apnea) should consider a different Grand Circle Travel vacation or ensure their apparatus has back-up battery power. 51 CLIMATE Santiago, Chile: Santiago has such delightful year-round temperatures that its climate is often compared to that of southern California. During your travel season, daytime highs are typically LQWKHVDQGORZV1LJKWVDUHVLJQLͫFDQWO\FRROHU)URP6DQWLDJRWRWKHVRXWKWKHFOLPDWH evolves much like that of the coastline from San Francisco north to Alaska. Puerto Varas, Chile: Puerto Varas is almost the same latitude south as Portland, Oregon, is north. This is the gateway to the Chilean Lake District, and the whole area has a climate similar to that of Washington and Oregon. The landscape is renowned for its pristine lakes and still-breathing, snow-capped volcanoes. The region’s climate is changeable, cool, and wet. Rain is almost guaranteed. Buenos Aires, Argentina::KLOHWKHRIͫFLDOKLJKWHPSHUDWXUHVLQVXPPHU 'HFHPEHUWKURXJK February) are usually in the 80s, with the humidity it often feels much hotter. It is common to think it is actually in the 90s, so be prepared. The changeable spring and mild fall of Buenos Aires are similar to those seasons in New York City, but the proximity of the South Atlantic makes winter temperatures milder than New York’s comparable months and the possibility of snow almost nonexistent. You might experience some rain at almost any time of the year, as there is no true rainy season. The almost-constant breezes during all seasons except summer refresh this city’s air and renew its skies. Bariloche, Argentina: Technically, the city is named San Carlos de Bariloche, but is known locally as Bariloche. Located in the foothills of the Andes Mountains, the local climate is generally windy, sunny, and cool. In the summer (December to late February/early March) highs are pleasant—in the 60s and 70s—but lows are usually in the 40s. Fall and winter are progressively colder, with snowfall arriving in May and running through September. Spring is mixed—mostly in the 50s, but with an occasional late dusting of snow. It rains variably all year, especially between March-October. Uruguay: Uruguay enjoys a temperate sub-tropical climate without many differences between regions. Summers bring warmer weather with average temperatures in the mid- to high-70s, but possibly reaching the mid-90s during a heat wave, while the winter months may be cooler with averages in the high-40s to low-60s. Uruguay does not experience snowfall, but does enjoy four seasons throughout the year. Cuzco, Peru: Cuzco’s high altitude, approximately 10,909 feet above sea level, results in a somewhat large range of daily temperatures. Considered a moderate climate, it is typically sunny and pleasant during the day but with evening temperatures that can be refreshingly chilly. During the winter months of June through August, nights can even bring frost at these heights. ,QWHUHVWLQJO\DYHUDJHGD\WLPHWHPSHUDWXUHVGRQRWͬXFWXDWHJUHDWO\RYHUWKHHQWLUH\HDUZLWK the high thermometer readings staying in the 60s throughout all seasons. The summer months of December through March bring most of the rains, while May through September offer usually sunny, comfortably cool days with only occasional sudden showers. 52 Lima, Peru: Lima is situated in one of the world’s great deserts, and has a dry desert climate. The city has virtually no rainy days, with the very small annual precipitation coming in the form of the sea mist and occasional drizzle of the winter season, June to September. Only during the summer months of January through March is it warm and humid on the coast, with temperatures the rest of the year falling in the 60s and 70s. Iguassu Falls, Argentina & Brazil: Iguassu Falls experiences a humid subtropical climate. Temperatures are hot year-round – around 90° (and sometimes feel hotter than they really are because of the humidity). Rainfall is distributed fairly evenly throughout the year. The average humidity most mornings is more than 90%, but it lessens in the afternoon. Rio de Janeiro, Brazil: Rio is known as a city of sun, considered to have a climate that is a blend of summer and springtime. There are many more sunny days than rainy ones, although being in a tropical climate the weather can be somewhat unpredictable. Being at sea level near the Tropic of Capricorn, it is warm and often humid year-round. Spring and fall are the more temperate seasons and are very pleasant. The sunny spring days are especially bright and clear, with less humidity than other seasons, contributing to the beauty of long-distance views. Summer, considered to be December into March, can have days that get quite hot, with most of the area’s rain falling during this season, although the occasional storms are usually brief. During winter in Rio, June through August, temperatures stay comfortably warm during the day, but residents consider some winter nights to be quite “chilly” when the thermometer reading drops into the 60s. Climate Averages & Online Forecast 7KHIROORZLQJFKDUWVUHͬHFWWKHaverage climate as opposed to exact weather conditions. This means they serve only as general indicators of what can reasonably be expected. An extreme heat wave or cold snap could fall outside these ranges. As your departure approaches, we encourage you to go online to www.gct.com/myaccount for your 10-day forecast. 53 Average Daily High/Low Temperatures (°F), Humidity & Monthly Rainfall MONTH SANTIAGO, CHILE PUERTO VARAS, CHILE Temp. High-Low % Relative Monthly Rainfall Temp. High-Low % Relative Average # of days Humidity (am-pm) (inches) Humidity (am-pm) with rain JAN 85 to 54 84 to 37 -- 69 to 49 -- 16 FEB 84 to 53 86 to 38 0.1 69 to 48-- 11 MAR 80 to 49 89 to 40 0.2 66 to 46 -- 16 APR 72 to 45 91 to 48 0.5 60 to 43--20 MAY 64 to 41 94 to 62 2.3 56 to 42--22 JUN 58 to 38 94 to 683.1 52 to 40--23 JUL 57 to 37 95 to 68 3.0 52 to 38 -- 23 AUG 61 to 3995 to 64 2.1 53 to 38 -- 22 SEP 65 to 42 93 to 591.1 56 to 39 -- 21 OCT 71 to 45 92 to 50 0.5 59 to 42--21 NOV 77 to 4889 to 44 0.2 63 to 44 -- 20 DEC 82 to 51 86 to 39 0.2 67 to 47-- 19 MONTH BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA BARILOCHE, ARGENTINA Temp. High-Low % Relative Monthly Rainfall Temp. High-Low % Relative Monthly Rainfall Humidity (am-pm) (inches) Humidity (am-pm) (inches) JAN 87 to 69 86 to 47 4.2 71 to 44 76 to 41 1.0 FEB 84 to 6789 to 52 4.0 71 to 42 77 to 40 1.0 MAR 80 to 63 90 to 544.0 66 to 39 81 to 47 1.6 APR 73 to 57 91 to 59 3.3 58 to 35 83 to 56 2.4 MAY 66 to 51 89 to 603.1 50 to 33 85 to 675.9 JUN 60 to 46 89 to 622.1 44 to 30 87 to 73 6.1 JUL 59 to 4589 to 62 2.3 44 to 30 86 to 73 5.7 AUG 63 to 48 88 to 57 2.3 46 to 30 84 to 64 4.5 SEP 66 to 50 87 to 53 2.4 51 to 31 83 to 53 2.5 OCT 73 to 55 88 to 564.0 57 to 34 81 to 46 1.6 NOV 78 to 61 86 to 53 3.6 63 to 38 80 to 42 1.1 DEC 83 to 6586 to 48 3.3 68 to 42 78 to 42 1.3 54 MONTH MONTEVIDEO, URUGUAY COLONIA DEL SACRAMENTO, URUGUAY Temp. High-Low % Relative Monthly Rainfall Temp. High-Low % Relative Monthly Rainfall Humidity (avg) (inches) Humidity (am-pm) (inches) JAN 83 to 62 682.9 81 to 67 80 to 61 3.9 FEB 82 to 61 69 2.6 81 to 66 84 to 64 4.1 MAR 78 to 59 73 3.9 78 to 63 83 to 65 4.9 APR 71 to 53 75 3.9 71 to 58 84 to 69 4.0 MAY 64 to 48 78 3.3 65 to 53 83 to 69 3.5 JUN 59 to 43 82 3.2 59 to 48 85 to 72 2.6 JUL 58 to 43802.9 58 to 47 85 to 71 2.7 AUG 59 to 43773.1 61 to 4884 to 68 3.2 SEP 63 to 46 74 3.0 64 to 51 82 to 64 2.9 OCT 68 to 49 71 2.6 70 to 55 82 to 64 4.5 NOV 74 to 54 71 2.9 75 to 59 83 to 62 4.6 DEC 79 to 59673.1 80 to 64 81 to 61 3.0 MONTH CUZCO, PERU LIMA, PERU Temp. High-Low % Relative Monthly Rainfall Temp. High-Low % Relative Monthly Rainfall Humidity (am-pm) (inches) Humidity (am-pm) (inches) JAN 64 to 4579 to 53 5.9 79 to 6889 to 70 -- FEB 64 to 46 80 to 53 5.9 80 to 69 91 to 69 -- MAR 64 to 46 80 to 51 3.8 80 to 69 91 to 70 -- APR 66 to 43 80 to 48 1.5 76 to 66 92 to 72 -- MAY 67 to 39 81 to 42 0.3 72 to 63 92 to 75 -- JUN 66 to 35 82 to 400.1 69 to 61 89 to 76 0.1 JUL 66 to 34 81 to 38 0.1 67 to 6089 to 76 0.2 AUG 66 to 37 79 to 39 0.3 66 to 60 90 to 77 0.1 SEP 67 to 41 77 to 430.9 67 to 5990 to 76 0.1 OCT 68 to 44 74 to 44 1.9 69 to 61 89 to 74 0.1 NOV 67 to 4574 to 47 2.7 72 to 63 87 to 72 -- DEC 66 to 4576 to 49 4.3 76 to 66 88 to 70 -- 55 MONTH IGUASSU FALLS, ARGENTINA & BRAZIL RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL Temp. High-Low % Relative Monthly Rainfall Temp. High-Low % Relative Monthly Rainfall Humidity (avg) (inches) Humidity (am-pm) (inches) JAN 88 to 68 80 7.5 89 to 69 92 to 58 6.8 FEB 88 to 6880 6.3 88 to 68 94 to 596.8 MAR 90 to 66 80 6.3 87 to 66 94 to 594.5 APR 84 to 61 85 6.7 81 to 62 94 to 61 7.9 MAY 75 to 54907.1 75 to 5696 to 63 7.3 JUN 73 to 50 905.9 69 to 5196 to 66 6.1 JUL 73 to 50 85 3.9 72 to 5193 to 61 5.2 AUG 79 to 52 80 5.5 75 to 5493 to 60 4.9 SEP 81 to 54 80 7.1 78 to 5691 to 57 5.4 OCT 86 to 59 80 7.5 83 to 61 91 to 57 7.2 NOV 88 to 63 75 8.3 86 to 64 92 to 57 8.2 DEC 90 to 66 75 7.5 89 to 67 92 to 55 5.3 56 ABOUT YOUR DESTINATIONS Your Program Director During your exclusive Grand Circle vacation, you’ll have reliable assistance available at all times IURPDQRQVLWH*UDQG&LUFOH7UDYHO3URJUDP'LUHFWRU Many Grand Circle Program Directors are graduates of professional education programs for travel guides. In addition, they receive specialized training directly from Grand Circle, training that is based on what we’ve learned from thousands of past travelers about how to make the trip most enjoyable. Your Program Director offers both a deep knowledge of the region and a commitment to make this a very pleasant, informative, and rewarding travel experience for you. Your Program Director will provide sightseeing trips, handle all travel details, reserve optional tours you choose to take, oversee your Discovery Series events, and provide any other assistance you may need. You will be in the company of a Program Director throughout your vacation. During Your Trip Laundry Service Laundry service is available at all the hotels during this trip. However, please inquire about the fee, as this service is sometimes expensive. Cuisine in Chile &KLOHLVDFRVPRSROLWDQFRXQWU\DQGWKLVLVVWURQJO\UHͬHFWHGLQLWVIRRGDQGGULQN6DQWLDJR IRULQVWDQFHLVͫOOHGZLWK)UHQFK&KLQHVH,WDOLDQDQG6SDQLVKUHVWDXUDQWV%XWWKHEHVWZD\ to dine in the capital is to sample from the great quantity of foods and beverages that are typically Chilean. $WWKHKHDGRIWKHOLVWFRPHVWKHHPSDQDGDDͬRXUEDVHGSDVWU\VKDSHGOLNHDVPDOOWXUQRYHUWKDW is stuffed with a combination of meat and onions cut into small pieces, hard-boiled egg, raisins, DQGROLYHV,WFDQDOVREHPDGHXVLQJFKLFNHQRUͫVK+XPLWDVDUHPDGHIURPFRUQDQGDUHUDWKHU like the Mexican tamales but seldom so seasoned. The cazuela de ave is a kind of “souped-up soup.” It contains rice, corn, green beans, chicken, carrots, pumpkin, salt, and a number of herbs. Curanto is not so much a dish as a complete dinner. In Santiago, it is made in pots and served in some restaurants. The dish is a hearty combination of peas, pork, seafood, potatoes, and any number of other savory ingredients. Chile’s world-famous grapes are the foundation of its three most popular drinks. First, of course, is wine itself. Grapes are also used to make chicha, a brownish beverage somewhat reminiscent of apple cider with added punch. The last, and most powerful, is aguardiente, which translates OLWHUDOO\LQWR̡ͫUHZDWHU̢DOWKRXJKLWLVPRUHFRPPRQO\FDOOHG̡SLVFR̢DQGLVFRQVLGHUHG3HUX̞V national drink (although it is also made and consumed in Chile.) 57 Cuisine in Argentina Beef or bife (beef-eh), as they say in Spanish, is the tale of Argentina, the golden El Dorado of her economy. Somewhere around 50 million Aberdeen Angus and Hereford cattle graze on nutritious SDPSDVͫHOGVDQGWKDQNVWRWKHJDXFKRVSURYLGHORFDOVZLWKDEXQGDQWWDVW\IDUH5HVWDXUDQW menus everywhere in the country feature some type of beef selection. At-home diners, too, often have beef as the main staple of their diet. Gauchos themselves have spent lifetimes eating native beef—and sometimes nothing else. That’s why they know how to prepare it so deliciously! 7KHUHVLPSO\LVQRWKLQJTXLWHOLNHWKHͬDYRURIELIHVJULOOHGRYHUWKHFRDOVRUURDVWHGRQDQ RSHQͫUH DVDGR 7KHWUXWKRIWKHPDWWHULV\RX̞YHQHYHUUHDOO\WDVWHGFKDUFRDOEURLOHGVWHDN until you dine with the gauchos of Argentina. Their cooking techniques are apparent in Buenos Aires’s many steakhouses, from deluxe establishments to fast-food types, as well as at estancias (ranches). Argentinean wines of excellent quality are currently available. You will want to try a Malbec, the local grape. And if you celebrate with the “bubbly” in South America, why not do it with Argentina’s superb, inexpensive champagne? Just a note of precaution: Argentines thoroughly salt almost everything, particularly meats and salads. If you dine out, you may want to request unsalted food. When you order, simply tell the waiter no use (oo-say) sal, por favor. You may also want to try dulce de leche (“sweet milk”), a caramel topping that Argentines eat with everything. Cuisine in Uruguay 8UXJXD\DQFXLVLQHLVKHDYLO\LQͬXHQFHGE\(XURSHDQVW\OHV VXFKDV,WDOLDQ6SDQLVKDQG German), but relies more heavily on beef due to its large agriculture industry. Look for a chivito, WKHKHDUW\QDWLRQDOVDQGZLFKRI8UXJXD\ͫOOHGZLWKWKLQO\VOLFHGJULOOHGEHHIKDPEDFRQOHWWXFH tomato, melted mozzarella and a fried egg. Try some traditional Uruguayan barbecue, asado, ZKLFKLVW\SLFDOO\SUHSDUHGRYHUDQRSHQͫUHDQGFRQVLVWVRIYDULRXVFXWVRIEHHIDQGRWKHUPHDWV VXFKDVODPEDQGJRDW )RUGHVVHUWORRNIRUWUHDWVVXFKDVͬDQarroz con leche (rice pudding), churros ( Spanish-style pastry that is fried and dipped in sugar), or chajá (sponge cake with whipped cream and meringue). Don’t forget to order a café con leche (coffee with milk) with your pastries! Cuisine in Peru CevicheLVDORFDOVSHFLDOW\ XQFRRNHGͫVKPDULQDWHGLQOHPRQMXLFHDQGKRWSHSSHUVHUYHGZLWK corn-on-the-cob, sweet potatoes, and onions). All varieties of seafood are excellent here. Among the popular liquors is pisco (which takes its name from a town south of Lima), a powerful liquor distilled from grapes and most often seen in the pisco sour Cocktail. This spirit is a favorite and is considered the national drink. It can also be found at some supermarkets or grocery stores. 58 Cuisine in Brazil Brazil offers its own style of barbecue: churrascaria, where a server comes to your table with skewers of many varieties of meat and cuts it off directly onto your plate. Treat your taste buds to exotic fresh fruits, from papaya and mango to pineapple and bananas. Palmito (heart of palm) is another specialty. Wet your whistle with caipirinhas, made from sugar cane alcohol, lime, and sugar. But be careful—they are addictive—and it is said, “with two you speak Portuguese!” Other inexpensive Brazilian-style restaurants are the “comida por kilo,” self-service buffets where you pay by weight. Santiago in Brief City Layout and Details The main boulevard in Santiago is the two-mile-long Avenida Bernardo O’Higgins, referred to as the Alameda. It is a lovely tree-lined thoroughfare that slices across the city center; at its mid- point are pedestrian walks. Stretched along it are such notable sites as The National Library, the University of Chile, and the Catholic University. The downtown area is shaped somewhat like a rectangle. The four avenues and landmarks that IRUPWKH̡VLGHV̢DUHWKH3OD]DGH$UPDVRQWKHQRUWKQHDUZKLFK\RX̞OOͫQGPDQ\UHVWDXUDQWV Bernardo O’Higgins (the Alameda), the popular promenade on the south; the Cerro Santa Lucia on the east, a spacious park with a 230-foot-high summit overlooking the city; and the Plaza de la &RQVWLWXFLRQRQWKHZHVWVLWHRIWKH3DODFLRGHOD0RQHGDWKHSUHVLGHQW̞VZRUNLQJRIͫFH The Alameda extends to the Plaza Italia and then turns into Avenida Providencia. Avenida Providencia continues for miles away from the city center and is lined with many good restaurants. At the 2000 block, Avenida Providencia is intersected by the main street of Avenida Pedro de Valdivia. Avenida Vitacura is an area that features many nightspots. ŋŭŶzƧóā 7KHPDLQSRVWRIͫFHLQ6DQWLDJRLVRQWKH3OD]DGH$UPDV/RRNIRUWKH&RUUHR&HQWUDO,WLVRSHQ am to 4:30 pm Monday through Friday, and closed on Saturday and Sunday. Buenos Aires in Brief City Layout and Details The real heart of downtown Buenos Aires is only about a 16- by 10-block rectangular area. Outside of that hub, the city sprawls for mile after mile in all directions. Within this central zone you’ll ͫQGWKHFLW\̞VPDMRUFRPPHUFHVKRSSLQJDQGQLJKWOLIHVSRWV7KHVWUHHWV\RX̞OOQHHGWRNQRZWR get around on your own are Avenida de Mayo, Avenida 9 de Julio, Avenida Corrientes, and Calle Lavalle—plus Calle Florida, a lively shopping thoroughfare that runs from Plaza San Martin to Avenida de Mayo, near Plaza de Mayo. Florida and Lavalle streets are closed to vehicles. 59 Avenida 9 de Julio is so wide that each side has its own name—Carlos Pellegrini on the near (east) side and Cerrito on the far (west) side. The central portion is called 9 de Julio. The Plaza de la Republica, marked by a 220-foot-high obelisk, is on 9 de Julio. It fringes the entertainment and theater district that thrives particularly on two parallel streets—Calle Lavalle and Avenida Corrientes. These two streets represent the “Broadway” of Buenos Aires. The area bustles day and night. Buenos Aires’s “in” area is Recoleta, home of many posh restaurants and clubs and a popular meeting place, as well as Puerto Madero, located near the dock area. San Telmo is the oldest part of town and Caminito is the colorful main street of La Boca, an old picturesque Italian section. Newspapers and Magazines English-language newspapers and magazines are available in Argentina, including the locally- published Buenos Aires Herald, some U.S. newspapers, and some British publications. But keep in mind that English-language materials will usually be available only in large cities like Buenos Aires. ŋŭŶzƧóā 7KHPDLQSRVWRIͫFHLVDW6DUPLHQWR,WLVRSHQIURPDPWRSPDQGFORVHG6DWXUGD\V and Sundays. Things to Do If you prefer to do some advance research, here are a few popular neighborhoods for exploring during free time that you can look up in a guidebook or online. • City Center: Wander through the city’s main square, the Plaza de Mayo, and take in views of the Casa Rosada (literally “the Pink House”; Argentina’s version of the White House). Nearby sights include the Museo Bicentennario, which covers Argentina’s history from a political viewpoint, and the Cathedral. There are also several shops and cafes in the area. • San Telmo: A historic neighborhood with cobblestone streets that was once the home of bohemian artists and still retains an artsy-chic vibe. This is a good destination for a Sunday YLVLWZKHQDEXV\DQWLTXHVPDUNHWͫOOVWKHQHLJKERUKRRG̞VPDLQVTXDUH3OD]D'RUUHJR There are also several museums nearby, such as the Museum of Modern Art (nicknamed “Mamba”) and the National History Museum; plus an archeological site called El Zanjon de Grandos, which features underground tunnels dating back to 1730. • Recoleta: This upscale area offers more than just the famed cemetery. It is also the home of the city’s most prestigious art collection at the Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes. (Amongst RWKHUWKLQJVWKLVͫQHDUWVPXVHXPLVNQRZQIRULWVFROOHFWLRQRI,PSUHVVLRQLVWZRUNV 2Q weekends it hosts the Feria Artesanal street market. • Puerto Madero: This dockside area is a popular destination for tourists and business travelers alike. Visit museums and art galleries, such as the De la Carcova Museum, try a local steakhouse, or marvel at the impressive new skyscrapers. 60 • Palermo: Shoppers, caffeine junkies, and nature lovers will all want to check out this area, which is known for hip boutiques, abundant cafes, and open-air parks—including a Japanese garden. But if you’d like to explore in Palermo, there’s one important thing to note: Palermo is a large area that encompasses several smaller neighborhoods like Palermo Hollywood and Palermo Soho. Ask our local staff which of these sub-neighborhoods he or she recommends for your interests. Montevideo in Brief City Layout and Details Montevideo is situated on the southern coast of Uruguay along the Rio de La Plata, the inlet of the Atlantic Ocean which separates Uruguay and Argentina. Most of the city is laid out in a grid, except for La Rambla, a 10-mile road which follows the coast OLQHDURXQGWKH0RQWHYLGHR%D\DQGWKH5LRGH/D3ODWD:LWKDEHDXWLIXOFRDVWOLQH\RX̞OODOVRͫQG several beaches along La Rambla and near Ciudad Vieja, the “Old City.” Ciudad Vieja, one of many barrios (districts) of Montevideo, is the oldest part of Montevideo and IHDWXUHV8UXJXD\̞VPDLQSRUW Travel in South America 3DUWRIWKHDGYHQWXUHRIWKLVWULSLVWKHSRVVLELOLW\WKDWWKLQJVPD\FKDQJH/RFDOLQͬXHQFHVPD\ make it impossible for us to follow the planned itinerary exactly and the sequence of sites visited may change. Rest assured that we have considerable experience at responding to changing circumstances on the spot. Our goal is always to offer you the best travel experience and the most memorable explorations of this intriguing land. Complex, multi-layered cultural traditions and stunning natural geography make South America a fascinating destination. To get the most enjoyment out of your trip, remember that many South American countries are still considered developing nations, and be aware that you may be approached to buy crafts or solicited by children to take photographs. In restaurants, hotels, and at cultural sites, everything works according to a slower sense of time than what you are used to. It’s best to wind down and adjust to the local pace and philosophy. Language Barrier You can have some great “conversations” with local people who do not speak English, even if you don’t speak a word of the local language. Indeed, this non-verbal communication can be a highly rewarding part of travel. To break the ice, bring along some family photographs, or a few postcards of your hometown. 61 Your attire is a key part of your non-verbal presentation. Your clothing should show a respect for local tradition. In South America, this means you should dress in a relatively modest style. Taking Photographs The etiquette of photographing most people in the countries on your itinerary is about the same as it would be on the streets of your hometown. You need permission to take a close-up, but not for a crowd scene. Be especially polite if you want to photograph an older woman. If you want to VKRRWDJUHDWSRUWUDLWVKRZLQWHUHVWLQ\RXUVXEMHFWWU\WRKDYHDELWRIVRFLDOLQWHUDFWLRQͫUVW Then use sign language to inquire if a picture is OK. Safety & Security Common Sense and Awareness As you travel, exercise the same caution and awareness that you would in a large American city. Don’t be overly nervous or suspicious, but keep your eyes open. If you are venturing out after dark, go with one or two other people, and always by taxi. Pickpockets Like any other big city or tourist destination, pickpockets will sometimes target travelers. )RUWXQDWHO\WKHUHDUHDIHZHDV\VWHSV\RXFDQWDNHWRPLQLPL]H\RXUH[SRVXUH7KHͫUVWVWHSLV to avoid attracting attention. Don’t wear fancy jewelry or expensive watches in the street (or even cheaper items that look expensive). The next step is to limit what you have on you. Instead of carrying all your money, all your credit cards, and your passport in your pocket or purse, stick to what you’ll need for that day—a one- GD\VXSSO\RIPRQH\DQGRQHRUWZRFDUGV TIP 2XUUHJLRQDORIͫFHUHFRPPHQGVWKDW\RXOHDYH\RXUSDVVSRUWLQWKHURRPVDIHRUKRWHOVDIHDQG that you carry a photocopy instead when you are out and about. Lastly, know that pickpockets may create a sudden distraction. In any sort of puzzling street situation, try to keep one hand on your valuables. If an encounter with a local turns out to be long and complicated and involves money or your valuables, it might be a scam. Regional Flights in South America ,Q6RXWK$PHULFDLWLVVLPSO\DIDFWRIOLIHWKDWVFKHGXOHVIRULQWHUQDOͬLJKWVRIWHQFKDQJH RQVKRUWQRWLFH:KHQWKLVKDSSHQVRXUDLUWUDYHOH[SHUWVVWULYHWRJHW\RXRQQHZͬLJKWVDV close to the original schedule as possible, but limited availability of seats may require us to use 62 HDUO\PRUQLQJͬLJKWVRUFKDQJHWKHGD\RIWKHͬLJKWIf schedule changes make it necessary, we may have to rise before dawn on some days where early-morning wake-ups are not mentioned in your printed itinerary. Lima in Brief City Layout and Details Lima, the capital of Peru, is an old Spanish city founded by Francisco Pizarro in 1535 and known as the City of Kings. The city is justly famous for its museums, galleries, and monuments all juxtaposed within a modern city. /LPDLVVLWXDWHGKDOIZD\GRZQ3HUX̞VGHVHUWFRDVWOLQH7KHFLW\ORRNVRXWRYHUWKH3DFLͫF2FHDQ with the foothills of the Andes at its back. The main square of its historic center, with Spanish colonial mansions still intact, was recently declared a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site. :LWKLQ/LPD/LPD&HQWURLVWKHKLVWRULFKHDUWRIWKHFLW\7KH6SDQLVKLQͬXHQFHLVVWLOOVHHQKHUH LQWKHPDQ\ͫQHROGEXLOGLQJVEXLOWLQFRORQLDOVW\OH7KRXJKLWKDVVHHQHDUWKTXDNHVͫUHVDQG neglect, there are still some wonderful sections in this old section of Lima, though it can also be crowded and chaotic. The heart of the Lima Centro is the Plaza de Armas, site of La Catedral (the Cathedral). Nearly all the colonial mansions and churches are within walking distance of the square. The city’s best museums, such as Pueblo Libre and San Borja, are close to Lima Centro. 7KH6DQ,VLGURDQG0LUDͬRUHVVXEXUEVDUHH[FOXVLYHUHVLGHQWLDODQGFRPPHUFLDOQHLJKERUKRRGV near the coast. San Isidro has many of the city’s best hotels, as well as its best shopping malls. 0LUDͬRUHVRIIHUVDJUDQGYDULHW\RIKRWHOVEDUVDQGUHVWDXUDQWVDVZHOODVVKRSSLQJRXWOHWV$ QXPEHURIWKHFLW\̞VͫQHVWKRWHOVDUHDORQJWKHmalecón ERXOHYDUG LQ0LUDͬRUHVDQGFORVHWRLWV central park. Barranco is a quiet former seaside village now known as Lima’s nightlife district. Here you will discover some of Lima’s best restaurants, bars, and live-music spots, frequented by locals and visitors alike. Perhaps because it is such an old city with many narrow twisting streets, Lima can be a bit challenging to get around in. Beyond the city center, Lima meanders off into a dizzying array RIQHLJKERUKRRGV6DQ,VLGUR0LUDͬRUHVDQG%DUUDQFRDUHDPRQJWKHEHVWNQRZQDQGPRVW welcoming of these suburban neighborhoods—all are along the coast and the circuit of urban beaches leading to what is called Costa Verde. The main roads from the city center to the suburbs and back are Avenida Benavides (to Callao); Avenida Brasil (to Pueblo Libre); Avenida Arequipa, Avenida Tacna, and Avenida Garcilaso de OD9HJD WR6DQ,VLGURDQG0LUDͬRUHV 3DVHRGHOD5HS¼EOLFD DOVRNQRZQDV9¯D([SUHVD DQG $YHQLGD5HSXEOLFDGH3DQDP£ WR0LUDͬRUHVDQG%DUUDQFR DQG3DQDPHULFDQD6XUKLJKZD\ south of Lima. 63 ŋŭŶzƧóā /LPD̞VPDLQSRVWRIͫFH Central de Correos) is located on the Plaza de Armas at Camaná 195 in FHQWUDO/LPD7KH0LUDͬRUHVEUDQFKLVDW3HWLW7KRXDUV WKH6DQ,VLGUREUDQFKLVDW&DOOH/DV Palmeras 205. Local Transportation Buses: There are two types of buses within Lima: micros (large buses) and combis or colectivos (minibuses or vans). Both types of buses are usually crowded and sometimes have pickpockets aboard. They can be hailed at any place along the street without regard to bus stops, and are inexpensive. Routes and stops can be confusing unless you are familiar with Lima. If you choose to travel on these and you want to get off, shout “baja” (getting off) or “esquina” (at the corner). However, due to their tendency to be crowded and the prevalence of pickpockets aboard, we advise against traveling by bus if you can avoid it. Taxis: Taxis hailed on the street are a quick way to get around in Lima. However, taxis are unregulated, which means anyone can become a taxi driver. This means no meters in the taxi, with the driver charging whatever he thinks he can get. So be aware of fares and prices to and from your destination and set a price before getting into the taxi. To avoid the less reliable taxis, call a registered company from your hotel or restaurant—especially at night. The fare may be higher but it is worth it. Driving in the city: Lima can be a confusing, congested city with aggressive drivers. Unless you know your way around, driving yourself is not a good idea. Rio de Janeiro in Brief City Layout and Details Rio de Janeiro is a city of contrasts. Nestled between steep mountains and the Atlantic Ocean, Rio is justly famous for its glorious beaches and emerald islands. The city itself offers colonial buildings side by side with modern glass skyscrapers, set against the backdrop of lush forests close by on the green hillsides. Rio is known as a fun city, and its residents like to say it is high on life. It is a city of golden beaches, the samba, and its festive Carnival. And high above all this stands Rio’s iconic landmark, the statue of Christ the Redeemer. The city’s other well-known landmark, the Sugar Loaf Mountain, is also a sight unique to Rio. The famous beaches of Copacabana and Ipanema are nearby, close to some of the main attractions of the city. Rio is divided into four zones—the Centro, Zona Norte (north), Zona Sul (south), and Zona Oeste (west). Rio’s historic buildings and its museums and galleries are located in and around the Centro zone. The city’s biggest attractions, including its beaches, are found in Zona Sul. Because Rio’s districts are spread out, public transport is recommended to get to an area, and then you can explore on foot. 64 ŋŭŶzƧóā 7KHUHDUHSRVWRIͫFHVDOORYHUWRZQ̜ORRNIRUWKH\HOORZDQGEOXHVLJQVD\LQJcorreios. The LQWHUQDWLRQDODLUSRUWDOVRKDVDSRVWRIͫFHEUDQFK Local Transportation Subway: The subway in Rio (Metrô Rio) is quite good. It is safe, clean, air-conditioned, and HIͫFLHQW7KHUHDUHWZROLQHVLQRSHUDWLRQIURP0RQGD\WR6DWXUGD\IURPDPWRSP/LQH runs from Siqueira Campos (Copacabana) to Sãens Pena (Tijuca), while Line 2 runs from Estacio (Centro) to Pavuna, in the north of the city. Metrô tickets are only available for purchase at the station. Buses: Buses are also good—they are inexpensive and run regular routes to all parts of the city. Tickets are available for purchase from the cashier, who sits next to the turnstile at either the back or the front of the bus. An integrated Metrô and bus pass, called Metrô/Ônibus, is available. Taxis: Limousines: Most hotels can provide a private car service. Check prices beforehand. We recommend that you ask your Program Director to assist you with these transportation arrangements. Driving in the City: Rio has such a good public transport system that there is little need to drive on your own. If you do attempt it, you will need a good sense of direction to cope with the hectic WUDIͫFDQGFRQIXVLQJRQHZD\VWUHHWV Shopping There may be scheduled visits to local shops during your vacation. There is no requirement to make a purchase during these stops, and any purchase made is a direct transaction with the shop in question, subject to the vendor’s terms of purchase. Grand Circle is not responsible for purchases you make on your trip or for the shipment of your purchases. Returns If you discover an issue with an item, you should contact the vendor directly. If the shop is outside the country, you should expect that any resolution will take longer than it would in the U.S. We recommend that you keep a copy of all your receipts, invoices, or contracts, along with the shop’s contact information. Keep in mind, local practice may vary from the standards you are used to, so don’t assume that you have a certain number of days after the purchase to speak up or that you are guaranteed a refund. 65 Crafts & Souvenirs Chile Among Chilean goods, the excellent textiles are worth perusing. For “typical” items, colorful hand-woven ponchos are a good buy, as well as vicuna rugs, and—although perhaps a little heavy for air travel—there is excellent artisan copper work. Chilean stones have achieved much popularity abroad, and there are many “rock shops” in the city and suburbs selling quality work in lapis lazuli, Chilean jade, amethyst, agate, onyx, and others. Salmon, canned and smoked, is also a good buy. Bargaining: ,Q&KLOHVKRSVJHQHUDOO\KDYHͫ[HGSULFHV,QSODFHVRWKHUWKDQVKRSV OLNHPDUNHWV you may be able to bargain. The only rule is that if you make an offer, you should be prepared to buy at that price. Bring a mix of small bills so that you can pay in exact change. Argentina $UJHQWLQDLVZRUOGIDPRXVIRULWVOHDWKHUJRRGVDQG\RX̞OOͫQGWKHPUHDGLO\DYDLODEOHLQ%XHQRV Aires. Popular buys include belts, jackets, boots, shoes, skirts, pants, briefcases, and purses. These come in a rainbow of pastels and vivid colors, and a variety of textures from rough suedes to soft leathers. Other items worth considering include wool sweaters, clothing made of the Argentine equivalent of cashmere, ponchos, wine, and antique silver gaucho accessories. Top- quality jewelry is also sold, with the best buys being items made with Inca Rose or rhodochrosite. Argentina is one of the few places in the world where this is found and it is used in everything IURPMHZHOU\WRFDUYHGͫJXUHV In the much smaller and more remote city of Ushuaia, there is excellent souvenir shopping—you ZLOOͫQGHYHU\WKLQJIURP7VKLUWVWROHDWKHUJRRGVWRGLYLQHFKRFRODWHVDQGHYHQDORFDO craft market. Bargaining:$UJHQWLQDGRHVQRWKDYHDEDUJDLQLQJFXOWXUH SULFHVLQVKRSVDUHͫ[HG7KHRQO\ place you may be able to bargain is in the open-air markets. If you try to bargain at a market, keep in mind that if you make an offer, you should be prepared to buy at that price. Bring a mix of small bills so that you can pay in exact change. Uruguay In Uruguay, look for an abundance of well-made and inexpensive leather products. You’ll ͫQGEHOWVZDOOHWVEDJVDQGVKRHVLQPDQ\PDUNHWV2WKHUSRSXODULWHPVLQZRROHQSURGXFWV seashells, and high-quality wood items, such as cutting boards or sculptures. Don’t forget to look for dulce de leche or alfajoresDVPDOOFDNH W\SLFDOO\WKHVL]HRIDFRRNLH WKDWLVͫOOHGZLWKGXOFH de leche and covered in chocolate, coconut, or powdered sugar. Bargaining:8UXJXD\GRHVQRWKDYHDEDUJDLQLQJFXOWXUH SULFHVLQVKRSVDUHͫ[HG7KHRQO\SODFH you may be able to bargain is in the open-air markets. If you try to bargain at a market, keep in mind that if you make an offer, you should be prepared to buy at that price. Bring a mix of small bills so that you can pay in exact change. 66 Peru Traditional souvenirs available in Lima and Cuzco include gold and silver jewelry, old and new weavings, ceramics, woolen clothing, hand-knitted alpaca sweaters, woven ponchos, rugs, coats, and blankets. A much more limited selection is available in Iquitos. Brazil Brazil is a shopping bonanza. Traditional handicrafts like wooden carvings, masks, ceremonial ͫJXUHVLQZRRGRUFOD\DQGKDQGPDGHODFHRUWH[WLOHVFRPSOHWHIRU\RXUDWWHQWLRQZLWKPRGHUQ EUDQGVOLNH+DYDLDQDVͬLSͬRSVDQG*UDQDGREHDXW\SURGXFWV7RPDNH\RXURZQFDLSLULQKD cocktails at home, bring back a bottle of the local sugarcane liquor called cachaca. Or for a non- alcoholic option, chose a bag of Brazilian coffee. Other items for sale include soccer memorabilia and props for the yearly carnival festival. U.S. Customs Regulations & Shipping Charges For all things related to U.S. Customs, the ultimate authority is the U.S. Bureau of Customs & Border Protection. Their website, www.cbp.gov has the answers to the most frequently asked questions. Or you can call them at 1-877-227-5511. The top three points to know are: • At time of writing, your personal duty-free allowance is $800 for items brought with you. Items totaling more than $800 are subject to duty fees. • Items shipped home are always subject to duty when received in the U.S. Even when the shop has offered to include shipping and duties in the price, this typically means shipping to the nearest customs facility and payment of the export duties—not door-to-door shipping or payment of the import duties. All additional duties or shipping charges would be your responsibility. Unless an item is small enough to send by parcel service (like FedEx), chances are you will need to arrange shipping or pick-up once the item is in the U.S. and will need to pay customs duties. • It is illegal to import products made from endangered animal species. U.S. Customs & Border Protection will seize these items, as well as most furs, coral, tortoise shell, reptile skins, feathers, plants, and items made from animal skins. Agricultural Statement for Chile Like some parts of the U.S. such as California and Hawaii, Chile severely restricts the entry of agricultural products to protect against the accidental transport of pests. Chile’s requirements DUHYHU\VWULFWO\HQIRUFHGDQGLQFXUODUJHͫQHVIRUYLRODWLRQ,I\RXDUHDUULYLQJLQ&KLOHE\DLUZH DGYLVH\RXWRGLVFDUGDQ\IUXLWQXWVYHJHWDEOHVVHHGVGDLU\SURGXFWVLQFOXGLQJFKHHVHͬRZHUV LQFOXGLQJGULHGͬRZHUV RUXQSURFHVVHGPHDWVEHIRUHODQGLQJ 67 ,I\RXDUHDUULYLQJE\DLUWKHͬLJKWDWWHQGDQWVZLOOGLVWULEXWHDQ$JULFXOWXUDO3URGXFWVIRUPWKDW you must complete. On this form you’ll be asked to declare whether or not you are bringing any fruits, nuts, or other organic products into Chile. If you are carrying any items of this nature, you PXVWGHFODUHWKHPRQWKLVIRUP)LQHVRIXSWRFRXOGUHVXOWLIFXVWRPVRIͫFHUVͫQGHYHQD simple pack of peanuts or an apple. 68 DEMOGRAPHICS & BACKGROUND Chile Facts & Figures • Area: 291,933 square miles • Capital: Santiago • Languages: Spanish • Location: Chile is bordered by Bolivia, Peru, and Argentina • Geography: One third of Chile is covered by the Andes. Five distinct geographical regions make up the country: the Northern Desert, the Central Valley, the Lake District, Patagonia in WKHVRXWKDQGUHPRWH(DVWHU,VODQGPLOHVRIIVKRUHLQWKH3DFLͫF • Government Type: Republic • Population: 17,508,260 • Religions: Roman Catholic 66.7%, Evangelical or Protestant 16.4%, Jehovah’s Witness 1%, RWKHUQRQHXQVSHFLͫHG • Time Zone: From roughly mid-September to mid-April, though it can vary year to year, Chile is on Chile Summer Time (CLST), two hours ahead of U.S. Eastern Standard Time (EST). When it is 6am in Washington D.C., it is 8am in Santiago. The rest of the year, Chile is on Chile Standard Time (CLT), 1 hour ahead of EST, and the exact same time as Eastern Daylight Time (EDT). Chile’s seasons are opposite to those in the U.S., so just as we are VWDUWLQJGD\OLJKWVDYLQJWLPH&KLOHLVͫQLVKLQJLW National Holidays: Chile In addition to the holidays listed below, Chile 07/16 Our Lady of Mount Carmel celebrates a number of national holidays that 08/15 Assumption of Mary follow a lunar calendar, such as Easter and 5HIRUPDWLRQ'D\7RͫQGRXWLI\RXZLOOEH 09/18 National Day traveling during these holidays, please visit www.timeanddate.com/holidays. 09/19 Army Day 01/01 New Year’s Day 11/01 All Saints’ Day 05/01 Labor Day / May Day 12/08 Immaculate Conception Day 05/21 Navy Day 12/25 Christmas Day 69 Historical Overview of Chile Evidence shows that Native Americans moved into Chile’s fertile valleys between the Andes and WKH3DFLͫF\HDUVDJR7KH,QFDVEULHͬ\VHWWOHGLQWKHQRUWKEXWIRXQGWKHGHVHUWFOLPDWH too harsh. Ferdinand Magellan arrived on southern Chilean shores in 1520 by way of the strait that was later named for him. In 1535, Spanish conquistadores moved in from Peru in search of gold, led by Diego de Almagro. But hundreds of thousands of indigenous people kept them at bay. -XVWͫYH\HDUVODWHUZLWKVXSSRUWRIPRUH6SDQLVKWURRSVWKHFRQTXHVWRI&KLOHEHJDQ)UDQFLVFR Pizarro’s lieutenant, Pedro de Valdivia, made his capital at Santiago and claimed the region under the Viceroyalty of Peru. &RQTXHVWFRQWLQXHGLQͫWVDQGVWDUWV)RUPRUHWKDQ\HDUVQDWLYH0DSXFKHSHRSOHIURP the central valleys resisted the colonial front coming from the north, successfully pushing the Spanish border back several times. With the Mapuche to the south, the Andes to the east, the GHVHUWWRWKHQRUWKDQGWKH3DFLͫFWRWKHZHVWWKH6SDQLVKFRORQ\EHFDPHDQLVRODWHGIURQWLHU self-sustaining and homogenized. Soon, the Mapuche were not their only concern; the Dutch and English moved in from the ocean, including Sir Francis Drake, who raided Valparaiso in 1578. But the invaders were up against the most militarized Spanish colony on the new continent. In 1808, when Napoleon took Spain and placed his brother on the throne, colonists began talking of independence from Spain. Diplomatic and military struggles followed for the next ten years until Bernard O’Higgins and Jose de San Martin crossed the Andes with their troops and defeated the royalists. Chile declared its independence in 1818 under the leadership of O’Higgins. Through the rest of the century, Chile launched an aggressive campaign against the Mapuche WRSXVKLWVERUGHUVRXWK7RWKHQRUWKWKH:DURIWKH3DFLͫFHDUQHG&KLOHWKH$WDFDPD'HVHUW DQGEH\RQGVWULSSLQJ%ROLYLDRILWVDFFHVVWRWKHRFHDQDQGHQULFKLQJWKHHFRQRP\ZLWKSURͫWV from newly won nitrate and copper mines. The Chilean Civil War of 1891 drove a wedge between industrialists and bankers and Chile’s government evolved into an oligarchy. By the 1920s, the growing working class was large enough to elect a reformist president, but a conservative Congress frustrated his efforts to achieve real change. By 1970, after decades marked by exchanges of power between liberals and conservatives, Chile was looking at many social and economic reforms. And with the election of Salvador Allende, a member of Chile’s Socialist Party and uncle to famed Chilean-American novelist Isabel Allende, many of them began to take shape. But it wasn’t enough to raise the country out of a depression, RUWRTXHOOPRXQWLQJLQͬDWLRQ,QWHUQDWLRQDOVXSSRUWZDVDOVRKDUGWRFRPHE\VLQFH$OOHQGHZDV moving to nationalize all foreign-owned companies that operated in Chile, including those owned by the U.S. A military coup overthrew him—and Augusto Pinochet stepped in. Allende took his own life. So began 17 years of darkness for Chile. Pinochet’s dictatorship was one of the bloodiest of the 20th century, marked by killing, torture, and other human rights violations. More than 3,000 people died or went missing. Chile eventually rid itself of the Pinochet regime by electing a new SUHVLGHQWLQ ,Q0LFKHOOH%DFKHOHW-HULDZDVHOHFWHG3UHVLGHQWEHFRPLQJWKHͫUVW ZRPDQWRKROG&KLOH̞VKLJKHVWRIͫFH+HUSROLFLHVZKLFKLQFOXGHGSXUVXLQJIUHHWUDGHDJUHHPHQWV ZLWKRWKHUFRXQWULHVKHOSHG&KLOHUHDFKDQRWKHUͫUVW̜LQ&KLOHEHFDPHWKHͫUVW6RXWK 70 American member of the OECD (Organization of Economic Co-operation and Development). Despite record high approval ratings President Jeria stepped down at the end of her term in March 2010 because the Chilean constitution forbids the immediate re-election of a president. She was VXFFHHGHGLQRIͫFHE\6HEDVWLDQ3LQHUD 7KHͫUVWRUGHURI3UHVLGHQW3LQHUD̞VDGPLQLVWUDWLRQZDVWKHUHFXSHUDWLRQIURPDODUJHHDUWKTXDNH that occurred of the coast on February 27, 2010. Fortunately, Chile has used knowledge gained from previous events towards earthquake preparedness. In stark contrast with Haiti, which was also hit with an earthquake in the beginning of 2010, the preparation paid off with a very low casualty rate and a very high rate of economic recovery. Yet just as Chile was getting back on its feet, a mining accident in August of 2010 brought international attention back to the normally quiet country. A cave-in at the San Jose mine in the Atacama Desert left 33 miners trapped underground for a record 69 days. It is estimated that nearly one billion people worldwide tuned in for the daring and successful rescue operation, which was televised live around the globe. Recent events in Chile have centered on the economy, education, and equal rights. In 2011, two large demonstrations (trade unions in May, students in July) caught the public attention, as did the passing of a landmark anti-discrimination law in 2012. Argentina Facts & Figures • Area: 1,073,518 square miles • Capital: Buenos Aires • Languages:6SDQLVKLVWKHRIͫFLDOODQJXDJH(QJOLVKLVZLGHO\VSRNHQLQPDMRUFLWLHVDQG tourist centers. • Location: Argentina is bordered by Bolivia, Paraguay, Brazil, Uruguay, and Chile • Geography: Located in the South and West Hemisphere, Argentina features a diverse ODQGVFDSHUDQJLQJIURPWKHLFHͫHOGVRI3DWDJRQLDWRWKHIHUWLOHSDPSDVWRWKH$QGHV Mountains. • Government Type: Republic • Population: 43,024,374 • Religions: Roman Catholic 92%, Protestant 2%, Jewish 2%, other 4%. • Time Zone: Argentina time (ART) is 3 hours behind Coordinated Universal Time. Generally Argentina is 1 hour ahead of Eastern Time in the U.S. So usually, when it is 6am in Washington D.C. it is 7am in Buenos Aries. But Argentina doesn’t use daylight saving time like the U.S. does, so from November to March there is a 2 hour difference—6am in D.C. is 8am in Buenos Aires. 71 National Holidays: Argentina In addition to the holidays listed below, 05/01 L abor Day / May Day Argentina celebrates a number of national 05/25 National Day/May 1810 holidays that follow a lunar calendar, such as Revolution &DUQLYDODQG(DVWHU7RͫQGRXWLI\RXZLOOEH traveling during these holidays, please visit 06/20 F lag Day www.timeanddate.com/holidays. 07/09 Independence Day 01/01 New Year’s Day 12/08 Feast of the Immaculate 03/24 M emorial Day Conception 04/02 Day of the Veterans 12/25 Christmas Day 04/03 Good Friday Historical Overview of Argentina Little is known about societies that occupied prehistoric Argentina, though fossil records LQGLFDWHDSUHVHQFHKHUHDVHDUO\DV%&LQWRGD\̞V3DWDJRQLD0LOOHQQLDODWHUDVWKHͫUVW settled cultures formed in South America, the Inca took an interest in Argentina, conquering the northwestern region and incorporating it into their empire. Central and southern Argentina remained nomadic. European explorers arrived in the early 1500s, and Spain established Buenos Aires as a colony in 1580. Spanish immigrants and their descendants, indigenous people, and descendants of slaves developed the area over the next 200 years. Many colonists settled in Buenos Aires while others took to the surrounding pampas to live as gauchos. The Viceroyalty of the Rio de la Plata, consisting of today’s Argentina and several surrounding countries, was created in 1776. After two failed attempts by the British to overtake Buenos Aires in the early 1800s, word arrived that Napoleon had overthrown the Spanish king. This prompted a push for independence and the FRXQWU\̞VͫUVWDVVHPEO\ZDVIRUPHG$IRUPDOGHFODUDWLRQRILQGHSHQGHQFHZDVVLJQHGLQ Four years later, the viceroy and his armies were defeated. Bolivia and Uruguay broke off from Argentina during this period (Paraguay had seceded in 1811). Investment and immigration after 1870 bolstered Argentina’s economic strength, industry, and agriculture. Through 1929, both its population and its economy grew at an alarming rate, but often to the detriment of the working class. Juan Perón, who was elected president in 1946, recognized this and sought to empower workers, increase union membership, and expand social DQGHGXFDWLRQDOSURJUDPV+LVͫUVWODG\(YD3HUµQEHFDPHDVWDXQFKVXSSRUWHURIWKHZRUNLQJ class. Her Eva Perón Foundation provided basic needs to the poor and built schools, orphanages, and hospitals throughout Argentina. She died at the young age of 33, a national heroine. President Perón, having been pressured to increase industry more than support its workers, was overthrown in a violent coup in 1955. 72 3HUµQUHWXUQHGWRRIͫFHLQ DIWHUKHZLHOGHGKLVLQͬXHQFHIURPDIDUWRHQFRXUDJHVWXGHQWDQG labor protests against an increasingly oppressive regime. But his next term was short-lived; he died in 1974, leaving his third wife, Isabel (also his vice president), to take his place. However, she ZDVOR\DOWR3HUµQ̞VPRUHIDVFLVWDGYLVRUVZKLFKOHGWRVRFLDOXQUHVWDQGͫQDQFLDOFKDRV6KHZDV deposed by a military coup. But what followed was far from an improvement. From 1976 to 1983, a series of military leaders UXOHGWKHFRXQWU\XQGHUDSURJUDPRIͫFLDOO\NQRZQDVWKH̡1DWLRQDO5HRUJDQL]DWLRQ3URFHVV̢ 8QRIͫFLDOO\WKLVWLPHLVRIWHQUHIHUUHGWRDVWKH̡'LUW\:DU̢ $OWKRXJKIRUVRPHKLVWRULDQV that term also covers the human rights violations started under Perón). Opposition and left- leaning groups were oppressed. Many dissidents disappeared, as did ordinary citizens who were suspected of having ties to dissidents. A policy of wage-freezing was frequently put in place. Living standards plummeted, foreign debt soared, and the peso collapsed. Finally, when Argentina lost the Falklands War (in Spanish, the Guerra de las Malvinas) to the British in 1982, the military’s credibility languished, leading to the next free elections. It took Argentina 20 years and seven presidents to dig out of this dire economic and social instability. Administrations through the ‘80s and ‘90s were marred by corruption, the freezing RIEDQNDFFRXQWVYLROHQWSURWHVWVDQGSROLWLFDOLQͫJKWLQJ,QODWHWKHFRXQWU\VDZWKUHH different presidents over a two-week period. Trust in the government was low. Things turned around in late 2002, and the economy has been growing since, largely under the SUHVLGHQF\RI1«VWRU.LUFKQHUD3HURQLVW,QKHIRUIHLWHGWKHRIͫFHWRKLVZLIH&ULVWLQD )HUQ£QGH]GH.LUFKQHU+HUVWDWHGREMHFWLYHVLQFOXGHGWKHUHGXFWLRQRILQͬDWLRQDQGWRWKDWHQG new tariffs on agricultural exports were introduced in March of 2008. But the tariffs proved to be widely unpopular, and provoked a 129-day strike by farmers and agricultural unions. Eventually the tariffs were defeated in the legislature. With Néstor Kirchner’s passing in October 2010, public opinion increasingly supported his widow, Cristina, and her efforts to reduce the national debt. Other recent controversies in Argentine politics have included the mounting tension over the possible oil reserves under the Falkland Islands, which have rekindled the debate on whether the islands should belong to Argentina or Great Britain. There have also been a number of recent KLJKSURͫOHWULDOVDQGFRQYLFWLRQVRIOHDGHUVIURPWKH PLOLWDU\JRYHUQPHQWIRUFULPHV against humanity. Uruguay Facts & Figures • Area: 68,037 square miles • Capital: Montevideo • Languages:6SDQLVKWKHRIͫFLDOODQJXDJHRI8UXJXD\ • Location: Uruguay is bordered by Argentina and Brazil 73 • Geography: Uruguay features plains to the east, south, and west, along with sandy beaches along the coastline. Rolling hills and mountains can be found in northern Uruguay along the %UD]LOLDQERUGHUDQGFHQWUDO8UXJXD\IHDWXUHVDODUJHDUWLͫFLDOODNH • Government Type: Presidential Republic • Population: 3,360,148 (estimate) • Religions: Roman Catholic 47.1%, non-Catholic Christians 11.1%, non-denominational 23.2%, Jewish 0.3%, atheist or agnostic 17.2%, other 1.1% • Time Zone: Uruguay time (UYT) is 3 hours behind Coordinated Universal Time. Generally Uruguay is 1 hour ahead of Eastern Time in the U.S. So usually, when it is 6am in Washington D.C. it is 7am in Uruguay. National Holidays: Uruguay In addition to the holidays listed below, &DUQLYDODQG(DVWHU7RͫQGRXWLI\RXZLOOEH Uruguay celebrates a number of national traveling during these holidays, please visit holidays that follow a lunar calendar, such as Historical Overview of Uruguay Early History and Colonization Prior to European colonization, Uruguay was home to many small nomadic peoples such as the &KDUUXD&KDQD$UDFKDQDQG*XDUDQLWULEHVZKRVXUYLYHGE\KXQWLQJDQGͫVKLQJ In the early 1500s, present-day Uruguay, known as the Banda Oriental, became a buffer between the competing Portuguese and Spanish colonizers in South America. In 1516, Juan Diaz de Solis EHFDPHWKHͫUVW(XURSHDQH[SORUHUWRODQGKHUHEXWKHZDVNLOOHGE\QDWLYHV0RUHH[SORUHUV came to Uruguay in the 1520s, however settlements were very limited due to the lack of gold and silver in the region. 7KH6SDQLVK-HVXLWVFUHDWHGWKHͫUVWSHUPDQHQWVHWWOHPHQWLQDW9LOOD6RULDQRRQWKH5LR Negro. In 1680, the Portuguese established Colonia del Sacramento across the coast from Buenos Aires. Due to the competition between the Spanish and the Portuguese, the Spanish tried to limit Portuguese colonization extending past the borders of Brazil. The Spanish settled Montevideo in 1726 and sought to capture Colonia del Sacramento. In 1750, Spain and Portugal signed the Treaty of Madrid which gave control to Spain, though a local government was established and land was given to the settlers. By the end of the 18th century, the land was divided amongst cattle ranchers and used to raise FDWWOH7KHSRSXODWLRQKDGJURZQVLJQLͫFDQWO\ZLWKDSSUR[LPDWHO\SHRSOHOLYLQJLQ Montevideo and the surrounding areas, of which approximately 30% were African slaves. 74 During the early 19th century, there were ongoing battles for colonial rule between the British, 6SDQLVKDQG3RUWXJXHVHLQFOXGLQJ%ULWLVKLQYDVLRQVLQWR%XHQRV$LUHV7KHͫUVWLQYDVLRQLQ 1806 was successful but the city was quickly liberated by the Spanish and the second attempt was unsuccessful. Independence In 1810, following the abdication of the Spanish throne to Napoleon, the May Revolution took place which resulted in the end of the Spanish Viceroyalty and the creation of the United Provinces of Rio de la Plata, though the people remained divided between those who sought independence and those who remained loyal to the Spanish crown. In 1811, Jose Gervasio Artigas Arnal, sometimes called “the father of Uruguayan nationhood,” called for a war against Spanish rule and, with the help of Buenos Aires, defeated the Spaniards on May 18, 1811 at the Battle of Las Piedras. They began the Siege of Montevideo, at which point the Spanish viceroy sought help from the Portuguese by asking them to invade the Banda Oriental from Brazil. Buenos Aires feared they would lose the territory to the Portuguese and made peace with the Spanish. When the Portuguese withdrew, Montevideo was left under the control of the Royalists, which Artigas and his followers saw as a betrayal by Buenos Aires. Artigas successfully led the second Siege of Montevideo in 1813 and took part in the formation of the League of the Free People, a group of several provinces which sought freedom from Buenos Aires dominance. Artigas was named the Protector of the League of the Free People and proceeded to conduct land reforms which divided the land between small farmers. Fearful that these revolutionary ideas would spread to Brazil, the Portuguese invaded the Banda Oriental in 1816 and occupied Montevideo on January 20, 1817. Artigas and his troops were defeated in 1820 at the Battle of Tacuarembo and the Banda Oriental was incorporated into Brazil as the Cisplatina province. In 1825, the Thirty-Three Orientals, a militant revolutionary group led by Juan Antonio Lavalleja, landed in Cisplatina with the support of Buenoes Aires and reached Montevideo on May 20. By June, a new provisional government was formed and on August 25, the newly elected assembly declared secession of the Cisplatina province from Brazil. Brazil declared the Cisplatine War which ended on August 27, 1828 with the Treaty of Montevideo. The treaty stipulated that Brazil and Argentina would recognize Uruguay as an independent buffer state, though not guaranteed. During the Paraguayan War, Uruguayan independence was secured and the Constitution of 1830 was approved. The Guerra Grande Soon after achieving independence, political scene in Uruguay became split between two parties, both led by the former Thirty-Three, the conservative Blancos (“Whites”) and the OLEHUDO&RORUDGRV ̡5HGV̢ 7KH&RORUDGRVZHUHOHGE\WKHͫUVW3UHVLGHQW)UXFWXRVR5LYHUD and represented the business interests of Montevideo; the Blancos were headed by the second President Manuel Oribe, who looked after the agricultural interests of the countryside and promoted protectionism. 75 Parties became associated with warring political factions in neighboring Argentina. The Colorados favored the exiled Argentinian liberal Unitarios, many of whom had taken refuge in Montevideo, while the Blanco president Manuel Oribe was a close friend of the Argentine strongman Juan Manuel de Rosas. Oribe took Rosas’s side when the French navy blockaded Buenos Aires in 1838. This led the Colorados and the exiled Unitarios to seek French backing against Oribe and on June 15, DQDUP\OHGE\WKH&RORUDGROHDGHU5LYHUDRYHUWKUHZ2ULEHZKRͬHGWR$UJHQWLQD7KH Argentinian Unitarios then formed a government-in-exile in Montevideo and, with secret French HQFRXUDJHPHQW5LYHUDGHFODUHGZDURQ5RVDVLQ 7KHFRQͬLFWZRXOGODVWWKLUWHHQ\HDUVDQG become known as the Guerra Grande (the Great War). In 1840, an army of exiled Unitarios attempted to invade northern Argentina from Uruguay but had little success. In 1842 Argentinian army overran Uruguay on Oribe’s behalf. They seized most of the country but failed to take the capital. The Great Siege of Montevideo, which began in February 1843, lasted nine years. The besieged Uruguayans called on resident foreigners for help and a French and an Italian legions were formed. The latter was led by the exiled Giuseppe Garibaldi, who was working as a mathematics teacher in Montevideo when the war broke out. Garibaldi was also made head of the Uruguayan navy. The Argentinian blockade of Montevideo was ineffective as Rosas generally tried not to interfere with international shipping on the River Plate, but in 1845, when access to Paraguay was blocked, %ULWDLQDQG)UDQFHDOOLHGDJDLQVW5RVDVVHL]HGKLVͬHHWDQGEHJDQDEORFNDGHRI%XHQRV$LUHV while Brazil joined in war against Argentina. Rosas reached peace deals with Great Britain and France in 1849 and 1850 respectively. The French agreed to withdraw their legion if Rosas evacuated Argentinian troops from Uruguay. Oribe still maintained a loose siege of the capital. In 1851, the Argentinian provincial strongman Justo José de Urquiza turned against Rosas and signed a pact with the exiled Unitarios, the Uruguayan Colorados and Brazil against him. Urquiza crossed into Uruguay, defeated Oribe and lifted the siege of Montevideo. He then overthrew Rosas at the %DWWOHRI&DVHURVRQ)HEUXDU\:LWK5RVDV̞VGHIHDWDQGH[LOHWKH*XHUUD*UDQGHͫQDOO\ FDPHWRDQHQG6ODYHU\ZDVRIͫFLDOO\DEROLVKHGLQ A ruling triumvirate consisting of Rivera, Lavalleja and Venancio Flores was established, but Lavalleja died in 1853, Rivera in 1854 and Flores was overthrown in 1855. 7KHJRYHUQPHQWRI0RQWHYLGHRUHZDUGHG%UD]LO̞VͫQDQFLDODQGPLOLWDU\VXSSRUWE\VLJQLQJ ͫYHWUHDWLHVLQWKDWSURYLGHGIRUSHUSHWXDODOOLDQFHEHWZHHQWKHWZRFRXQWULHV0RQWHYLGHR FRQͫUPHG%UD]LO̞VULJKWWRLQWHUYHQHLQ8UXJXD\̞VLQWHUQDODIIDLUV8UXJXD\DOVRUHQRXQFHGLWV WHUULWRULDOFODLPVQRUWKRIWKH5¯R&XDUHLPWKHUHE\UHGXFLQJLWVDUHDWRDERXWVTXDUH kilometers, and recognized Brazil’s exclusive right of navigation in the Laguna Merin and the Rio Yaguaron, the natural border between the countries. In accordance with the 1851 treaties, Brazil intervened militarily in Uruguay as often as it deemed necessary. In 1865, the Treaty of the Triple Alliance was signed by the emperor of Brazil, the president of Argentina, and the Colorado general Venancio Flores, the Uruguayan head of government whom they both had helped to gain power. The Triple Alliance was created to wage a war against the Paraguayan leader Francisco Solano López. The resulting Paraguayan War ended 76 with the invasion of Paraguay and its defeat by the armies of the three countries. Montevideo, which was used as a supply station by the Brazilian navy, experienced a period of prosperity and relative calm during the war. The Uruguayan War The Uruguayan War was fought between governing Blancos and alliance of Empire of Brazil, Colorados who were supported by Argentina. In 1863 the Colorado leader Venancio Flores launched the Liberating Crusade aimed at toppling President Bernardo Berro and his Colorado– Blanco coalition (Fusionist) government. Flores was aided by Argentina’s President Bartolomé Mitre. The Fusionist coalition collapsed as Colorados joined Flores’ ranks. The Uruguayan civil developed into a crisis of international scope that destabilized the entire region. Even before the Colorado rebellion, the Blancos had sought an alliance with Paraguayan dictator Francisco Solano López. Berro’s now purely Blanco government also received support from Argentine Federalists, who opposed Mitre and his Unitarians. The situation deteriorated DVWKH(PSLUHRI%UD]LOZDVGUDZQLQWRWKHFRQͬLFW%UD]LOGHFLGHGWRLQWHUYHQHWRUHHVWDEOLVK WKHVHFXULW\RILWVVRXWKHUQIURQWLHUVDQGLWVLQͬXHQFHUHJLRQDODIIDLUV,QDFRPELQHGRIIHQVLYH against Blanco strongholds, the Brazilian–Colorado troops advanced through Uruguayan territory, eventually surrounding Montevideo. Faced with certain defeat, the Blanco government capitulated on February 20, 1865. The short-lived war would have been regarded as an outstanding success for Brazilian and Argentine interests, had Paraguayan intervention in support of the Blancos (with attacks upon Brazilian and Argentine provinces) not led to the long and costly Paraguayan War. In February 1868 former Presidents Bernardo Berro and Venancio Flores were assassinated. The Batlle Era José Batlle y Ordóñez, President from 1903 to 1907 and again from 1911 to 1915, set the pattern for Uruguay’s modern political development and dominated the political scene until his death in 1929. Batlle was opposed to the co-participation agreement, because he considered division of departments among the parties to be undemocratic. Blancos feared loss of their power if proportional election system was introduced and started their last revolt in 1904, which ended with Colorado victory at the Battle of Masoller. After the victory over Blancos, Batlle introduced widespread political, social, and economic reforms such as a welfare program, government participation in many facets of the economy and a new constitution. Batlle introduced universal male suffrage, nationalized foreign owned companies and created a modern social welfare system. Under Batlle electorate was increased from 46 000 to 188 000. Income tax for lower incomes was abolished in 1905, secondary schools established in every city (1906), right of divorce given to women (1907), telephone network QDWLRQDOL]HG 8QHPSOR\PHQWEHQHͫWVZHUHLQWURGXFHG HLJKWKRXUZRUNLQJGD\ introduced (1915), Uruguay proclaimed a secular republic (1917). 77 To prevent Presidential dictatorships, in 1913 Batlle proposed to introduce a collective Presidency (colegiado), based on the Swiss Federal Council model. His idea was defeated in a referendum of 1916, but he managed to get support from Blancos and the Second Constitution was approved in referendum of November 25, 1917. Under the new Constitution a split executive was created - President continued to control ministries of Foreign affairs, Interior and Defense. And the new nine-man National Council of Administration, which consisted of six Colorados and three Blancos, controlled ministries of Education, Finances, Economy and Health. The Great Depression & World War II Batlle’s split executive model lasted until 1933, when during the economic crisis of the Great Depression, President Gabriel Terra assumed dictatorial powers. The new welfare state was hit hard by the Great Depression, which also caused a growing political crisis. Terra blamed the ineffective collective leadership model and after securing agreement from the Blanco leader Luis Alberto de Herrera in March 1933 suspended the Congress, abolished the collective executive, established a dictatorial regime and introduced a new Constitution in 1934. The former President Brum committed suicide in protest against the coup. In 1938 Terra was succeeded by his close political follower and brother-in-law General Alfredo Baldomir. During this time state retained large control over nation’s economy and commerce, while pursuing free-market policies. After the new Constitution of 1942 was introduced, political freedoms were restored. On January 25, 1942 Uruguay broke diplomatic relations with Nazi Germany, as 21 American QDWLRQVGLGWKHVDPH H[FHSWIRU$UJHQWLQD EXWGLGQRWSDUWLFLSDWHLQDQ\DFWXDOͫJKWLQJ,Q it formally joined the Declaration by United Nations. Post-War In 1946 a Batlle loyalist, Tomás Berreta was elected to Presidency, and after his sudden death, Batlle’s nephew Luis Batlle Berres became the President. To cover the British debt for the beef deliveries during WWII, in 1949 British owned railroads and water companies were nationalized. %DWOOH̞VIROORZHUVZLWKLQWKH&RORUDGR3DUW\JDLQHGVXIͫFLHQWVWUHQJWKWRSXVKIRUDFRQVWLWXWLRQDO referendum that adapted the new Constitution of 1952 which returned to the collective executive model - the National Council of Government was created. This was the high point of Batllismo. 7KHHQGRIWKHODUJHJOREDOPLOLWDU\FRQͬLFWVE\PLG VFDXVHGWURXEOHVIRUWKHFRXQWU\ Because of a decrease in demand in the world market for agricultural products, Uruguay began KDYLQJHFRQRPLFSUREOHPVZKLFKLQFOXGHGLQͬDWLRQPDVVXQHPSOR\PHQWDQGDVWHHSGURSLQ the standard of living for Uruguayan workers. This led to student militancy and labor unrest. The collective ruling council was unable to agree on harsh measures that were required to stabilize the economy. As the demand for Uruguay’s export products plummeted, the collective leadership tried to avoid budget cuts by spending Uruguay’s currency reserves and then began taking foreign ORDQV8UXJXD\DQSHVRZDVGHYDOXDWHGLQͬDWLRQUHDFKHGDQGHFRQRP\ZDVLQGHHSFULVLV,Q WKLVVLWXDWLRQ%ODQFRVͫQDOO\ZRQWKH HOHFWLRQVDQGEHFDPHWKHUXOLQJSDUW\LQWKH&RXQFLO As Blancos struggled to improve the economy they advocated the return to a strong Presidency. 78 Once again, after a constitutional referendum the Council was replaced by a single Presidency by the new Constitution of 1967. Elections of 1967 returned Colorados to power, who became increasingly repressive in the face of growing popular protests and Tupamaros insurgency. Military Dictatorship $QXUEDQJXHUULOODPRYHPHQWNQRZQDVWKH7XSDPDURVIRUPHGLQWKHHDUO\ VͫUVWUREELQJ banks and distributing food and money in poor neighborhoods, then undertaking political NLGQDSSLQJVDQGDWWDFNVRQVHFXULW\IRUFHV7KHLUHIIRUWVVXFFHHGHGLQͫUVWHPEDUUDVVLQJDQG then destabilizing, the government. 7KH862IͫFHRI3XEOLF6DIHW\ 236 EHJDQRSHUDWLQJLQ8UXJXD\LQ 7KH86236WUDLQHG Uruguayan police and intelligence in policing and interrogration techniques. The Uruguayan Chief of Police Intelligence, Alejandro Otero, told a Brazilian newspaper in 1970 that the OPS, especially the head of the OPS in Uruguay, Dan Mitrione, had instructed the Uruguayan police how to torture suspects, especially with electrical implements. President Jorge Pacheco declared a state of emergency in 1968, and this was followed by a further VXVSHQVLRQRIFLYLOOLEHUWLHVLQ E\KLVVXFFHVVRU3UHVLGHQW-XDQ0DU¯D%RUGDEHUU\3UHVLGHQW Bordaberry brought the Army in to combat the guerrillas of the Movement of National Liberation 0/1 ZKLFKZDVOHGE\5D¼O6HQGLF$IWHUGHIHDWLQJWKH7XSDPDURVWKHPLOLWDU\VHL]HGSRZHU in 1973. Torture was effectively used to gather information needed to break up the MLN and DOVRDJDLQVWWUDGHXQLRQRIͫFHUVPHPEHUVRIWKH&RPPXQLVW3DUW\DQGHYHQUHJXODUFLWL]HQV Torture practices extended until the end of Uruguayan dictatorship in 1985. Uruguay soon had the highest per capita percentage of political prisoners in the world. The MLN heads were isolated in improvised prisons and subjected to repeated acts of torture. Emigration from Uruguay rose drastically, as large numbers of Uruguayans looked for political asylum throughout the world. %RUGDEHUU\ZDVͫQDOO\UHPRYHGIURPKLV̡SUHVLGHQWFKDUJH̢LQ +HZDVͫUVWVXFFHHGHGE\ Alberto Demicheli. Subsequently a national council chosen by the military government elected Aparicio Méndez. In 1980, in order to legitimize their position, the armed forces proposed a change in the constitution, to be subjected to a popular vote by a referendum. The “No” votes— against the constitutional changes totalled 57.2% of the votes, showing the unpopularity of the de facto government, that was later accelerated by an economic crisis. In 1981, General Gregorio Álvarez assumed the presidency. Massive protests against the dictatorship broke out in 1984. After a 24-hour general strike, talks began and the armed forces announced a plan for return to civilian rule. National elections were held later in 1984. &RORUDGR3DUW\OHDGHU-XOLR0DU¯D6DQJXLQHWWLZRQWKHSUHVLGHQF\DQGIROORZLQJWKHEULHI LQWHULP3UHVLGHQF\RI5DIDHO$GGLHJR%UXQRVHUYHGIURP WR 7KHͫUVW6DQJXLQHWWL administration implemented economic reforms and consolidated democratization following the country’s years under military rule. Nonetheless, Sanguinetti never supported the human rights YLRODWLRQVDFFXVDWLRQVDQGKLVJRYHUQPHQWGLGQRWSURVHFXWHWKHPLOLWDU\RIͫFLDOVZKRHQJDJHG in repression and torture against either the Tupamaros or the MLN. Instead, he opted for signing an amnesty treaty called in Spanish “Ley de Amnistia.” 79 Around 180 Uruguayans are known to have been killed during the 12-year military rule from 1973-1985. Most were killed in Argentina and other neighbouring countries, with only 36 of them having been killed in Uruguay. A large number of those killed, were never found and the missing people have been referred to as the “disappeared”, or “desaparecidos” in Spanish. Modern History Sanguinetti’s economic reforms, focusing on the attraction of foreign trade and capital, achieved some success and stabilized the economy. In order to promote national reconciliation and facilitate the return of democratic civilian rule, Sanguinetti secured public approval by plebiscite of a controversial general amnesty for military leaders accused of committing human rights violations under the military regime and sped the release of former guerrillas. The National Party’s Luis Alberto Lacalle won the 1989 presidential election and served from 1990 to 1995. President Lacalle executed major economic structural reforms and pursued further liberalization of trade regimes, including Uruguay’s inclusion in the Southern Common Market (MERCOSUR) in 1991. Despite economic growth during Lacalle’s term, adjustment and privatization efforts provoked political opposition, and some reforms were overturned by referendum. In the 1994 elections, former President Sanguinetti won a new term, which ran from 1995 until March 2000. As no single party had a majority in the General Assembly, the National Party joined with Sanguinetti’s Colorado Party in a coalition government. The Sanguinetti government continued Uruguay’s economic reforms and integration into MERCOSUR. Other important reforms were aimed at improving the electoral system, social security, education, and public safety. The economy grew steadily for most of Sanguinetti’s term until low commodity prices DQGHFRQRPLFGLIͫFXOWLHVLQLWVPDLQH[SRUWPDUNHWVFDXVHGDUHFHVVLRQLQ ZKLFKFRQWLQXHG into 2002. The 1999 national elections were held under a new electoral system established by a 1996 constitutional amendment. Primaries in April decided single presidential candidates for each party, and national elections on October 31 determined representation in the legislature. As no presidential candidate received a majority in the October election, a runoff was held in November. In the runoff, Colorado Party candidate Jorge Batlle, aided by the support of the National Party, defeated Broad Front candidate Tabaré Vázquez. The Colorado and National Parties continued their legislative coalition, as neither party by itself won as many seats as the 40% of each house won by the Broad Front coalition. The formal coalition ended in November 2002, when the Blancos withdrew their ministers from the cabinet, although the Blancos continued to support the Colorados on most issues. %DWOOH̞VͫYH\HDUWHUPZDVPDUNHGE\HFRQRPLFUHFHVVLRQDQGXQFHUWDLQW\ͫUVWZLWKWKH devaluation of the Brazilian real, then with the outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease (aftosa) LQ8UXJXD\̞VNH\EHHIVHFWRULQDQGͫQDOO\ZLWKWKHSROLWLFDODQGHFRQRPLFFROODSVHRI Argentina. Unemployment rose to close to twenty percent, real wages fell, the peso was devalued and the percentage of Uruguayans in poverty reached almost forty percent. 80 These worsening economic conditions played a part in turning public opinion against the free market economic policies adopted by the Batlle administration and its predecessors, leading to popular rejection through plebiscites of proposals for privatization of the state petroleum company in 2003 and of the state water company in 2004. In 2004 Uruguayans elected Tabaré Vázquez as president, while giving the Broad Front coalition a majority in both houses of parliament. The newly elected government, while pledging to continue payments on Uruguay’s external debt, has also promised to undertake a crash jobs programs to attack the widespread problems of poverty and unemployment. In 2009, former Tupamaro and agriculture minister José Mujica, was elected president, subsequently succeeding Vázquez on March 1, 2010. Peru Facts & Figures • Area: 496,225 square miles • Capital: Lima • Languages:6SDQLVKDQG4XHFKXDDUHWKHRIͫFLDOODQJXDJHV $\PDUDDQGDODUJHQXPEHURI minor Amazonian languages are also spoken. • Location: Peru is bordered by Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, and Ecuador. • Geography: Peru is the third-largest country in South America. Topped by towering Andean peaks, its landscape also includes a portion of the Amazon River Basin and an extension of Chile’s Atacama Desert along the coast. Three of Peru’s largest cities—Lima, Trujillo, and Chiclayo—are in the coastal desert region. The city of Iquitos (population 400,000) is the capital of Peru’s Amazon region on the eastern slope of the Andes. It is accessible only by airplane and Amazon riverboat. • Population: 31,331,228 (2018 estimate) • Religions:5RPDQ&DWKROLF(YDQJHOLFDORWKHUXQVSHFLͫHGRUQRQH • Time zone: Peru is on Peru Time, which is the same time zone as U.S. EST. When it is 6am in Washington D.C., it is 6am in Lima. Peru does not observe Daylight Savings, so during Daylight Savings, Peru Time is 1 hour behind EST. 81 National Holidays: Peru In addition to the holidays listed below, Peru 07/28 Independence Day celebrates a number of national holidays that 07/29 Independence Day (Day 2) follow a lunar calendar, such as Easter . To ͫQGRXWLI\RXZLOOEHWUDYHOLQJGXULQJWKHVH 08/30 Santa Rosa De Lima holidays, please visit www.timeanddate.com/ holidays. 10/08 Battle of Angamos 01/01 New Year’s Day 11/01 All Saints Day 05/01 Labor Day / May Day 12/08 Feast of the Immaculate Conception 06/29 St. Peter & St. Paul 12/25 Christmas Day Historical Overview of Peru Early History Although Peru is well known as the land of the Incas, its rich ancient history pre-dates the Inca Empire by thousands of years. The earliest evidence of indigenous societies goes back to the eighth millennium BC. There are indications that organized village life was present as long ago as 2500 BC. By 1200 BC, several groups had begun moving from the north into what is now Peru. These LQFOXGHGWKH&KDY¯Q&KLP¼6HFK®Q1D]FDDQG7LDKXDQDFR7KHUXLQVRIWKH&KLP¼FLW\RI Chanchan, which was built around 1000 AD, still exist today. Another legacy of these early peoples LVWKHVWULNLQJUHOLJLRXVLFRQRJUDSK\RIWKH&KDY¯QZKRKDGJUHDWLQͬXHQFHLQWKHFRDVWDODUHDLQ their time. They portrayed animals, particularly the jaguar, in a distinctive and impressive style. 1HZUHJLRQDOFXOWXUHVDURVHIROORZLQJWKHGHFOLQHRIWKH&KDY¯QDQG6HFK®QDURXQGWKHWK century BC. The Saliner and the Paracas made artistic and technological advances including kiln- ͫUHGFHUDPLFVDQGVRSKLVWLFDWHGZHDYLQJWHFKQLTXHV7KH1D]FDFUHDWRUVRIWKHKXJHFU\SWLF Nazca Lines, were successors to the Paracas culture. The Incas The Inca Empire had a surprisingly brief reign at the end of this long pre-colonial history. In less than a century, the Incas expanded their domain from the river valley around Cuzco to the whole region from northern Argentina to southern Colombia, including much of present-day Peru and Ecuador. In addition to their military skill, the Incas had a knack for assimilating the best features of the peoples they conquered. They built their entire empire between the early 1400s and 1532, when the Spanish conquistadors arrived. In its prime, the Incan capital at Cuzco was the richest city in all of the Americas, dominated by gold-plated temples. Though only fragments of Cuzco’s Incan architecture remain, the renowned ruins at Machu Picchu, an Incan ceremonial center, have survived to astonish the world. 82 At the very moment when Francisco Pizarro landed with his band of Spanish conquistadors, the Inca Empire had been divided and weakened by a dispute over succession to the throne. Pizarro’s possession of horses and cannons gave him a military advantage, and he also used deception to exploit the situation. Concealing his true intentions, he arranged a personal meeting with the Inca ruler Atahualpa, then proceeded to assassinate him. The conquistadors sacked the city of Cuzco and took control. Though Inca resistance continued for several years, Atahualpa’s death ended the Inca Empire. Francisco Pizarro established a new capital city at Ciudad de los Reyes, now Lima, in 1535. It was there that a rival conquistador killed Pizarro during a factional dispute six years later. Colonial Period and Independence )RU\HDUV6SDQLVKRIͫFLDOVUXOHG3HUXXVLQJQDWLYHLQWHUPHGLDULHVDVJREHWZHHQVWRGHDO with the indigenous population. In 1780, some 60,000 native people rose up in revolt against Spanish rule, led by a Peruvian patriot who used the Inca name of Tupac Amaru. The Spanish ultimately put down this revolt and another in 1814. 3HUXͫQDOO\EURNHIUHHIURP6SDLQLQWKHVDVZDUVRILQGHSHQGHQFHVZHSWDFURVV6RXWK America. Jose de San Martin of Argentina and Simon Bolivar of Venezuela played key roles in driving the Spanish military out of Peru, which declared independence in 1821. A series of Bolivar’s lieutenants known as the “marshals of Ayacucho” governed Peru in the following decades. One of the most able of these, Ramon Castilla, presided over the adoption of a liberal constitution in 1860. The Modern Era Since then, Peru’s history has been a dramatic alternation between democratic and dictatorial governments, each of which has faced pressing social and economic issues. Opposition to GLFWDWRUVKLSKDVSOD\HGDSURPLQHQWUROHLQ3HUXYLDQSROLWLFVVLQFHWKH VZKHQ9¯FWRU5D¼O Haya de la Torre founded the American Popular Revolutionary Alliance (APRA). Peruvian democratic reformers have long advocated guaranteed civil liberties and improved living conditions for the nation’s Native Americans. There have also been radical and violent opposition movements, including the Sendero Luminoso (Shining Path), whose leaders were captured in 3HUX̞VQH[WIRXUKHDGVRIVWDWHZHUHGHPRFUDWLFDOO\HOHFWHGSUHVLGHQWV )HUQDQGR%HOD¼QGH 7HUU\LQ $ODQ*DUF¯D3«UH] DQ$35$FDQGLGDWH LQ $OEHUWR)XMLPRULLQ DQG Alejandro Toledo in 2001. In 2006, Alan Garcia Perez was elected President again and—in contrast to his earlier term—he presided over a period of economic growth until 2011 when Peru’s current president, Ollanta Humala was elected. Brazil Facts & Figures • Area: 3,286,470 square miles • Capital: Brasilia 83 • Languages:3RUWXJXHVHLVWKHRIͫFLDOODQJXDJH (QJOLVKLVDOVRVSRNHQ • Ethnicity: White 47.7%, biracial 43.1%, black 7.6%, Asian 1.1%, indigenous 0.4% • Location: Brazil is bordered by Argentina, Bolivia, Colombia, French Guiana, Guyana 1, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, Uruguay, and Venezuela. • Geography: Brazil is geographically divided into highlands and plateaus in the south and the Amazon River Basin in the north. • Population: 202,656,788 (2014 estimate) • Religions: Roman Catholic 64.6%, other Catholic 0.4%, Protestant 22.2% (includes Adventist 6.5%, Assembly of God 2.0%, Christian Congregation of Brazil 1.2%, Universal Kingdom of God 1.0%, other Protestant 11.5%), other Christian 0.7%, Spiritist 2.2%, other QRQHXQVSHFLͫHG • Time Zone: Brazil has four time zones. When it is 6am in Washington D.C., it is 7am in Rio de Janeiro. National Holidays: Brazil In addition to the holidays listed below, Brazil 05/01 Labor Day / May Day celebrates a number of national holidays that 09/07 Independence Day follow a lunar calendar, such as Easter. To ͫQGRXWLI\RXZLOOEHWUDYHOLQJGXULQJWKHVH 10/12 Our Lady Aparecida / Children’s Day holidays, please visit www.timeanddate.com/ holidays. 11/02 All Souls Day 01/01 New Year’s Day 11/15 Republic Proclamation Day 04/21 Tiradentes Day 12/25 Christmas Historical Overview of Brazil Modern day Brazil was inhabited as far back as 8,000 years ago by migrating hunters who traveled from Asia by land or coastal sea routes. The Portuguese, who eventually settled much of this land, did not arrive until the 15th century. Motivated by competition with Spain, and inspired E\DGYDQFHVLQQDYLJDWLRQ3RUWXJDOͫUVWVDLOHGWRZDUG%UD]LOLQVHDUFKRIDSDWKWRWKH)DU(DVW They were granted land rights below a north-south line through an agreement with Spain known as the Treaty of Tordesillas. An expedition commanded by Pedro Alvares Cabral then formally FODLPHGWKHODQGRQEHKDOIRIWKH.LQJRI3RUWXJDO%UD]LOZDVͫQDOO\VHWWOHGLQE\6¥R9LFHQWH Later, a system of twelve “captaincies” united it under Tome de Souza. As the new colony began to prosper, interest grew from other European countries. In 1630, the 'XWFKRFFXSLHGWKHQRUWKHDVWDQGWKHFLW\RI5HFLIHͬRXULVKHGXQGHU&RXQW0DXULWVEXWWKH Dutch were eventually driven out. Settlement in Brazil remained heavy on the east coast until 84 a boom beckoned people from all over the country to move inland in search of gold and, later, diamonds. A group of bandeirantes (colonial scouts) pushed west in search of riches and slaves; they established outposts where many of today’s Brazilian cities still exist. 7KURXJKRXWWKHQH[WWZRFHQWXULHV3RUWXJDOEHQHͫWHGIURP%UD]LO̞VSURVSHULW\WKURXJKDVHULHV of taxes and restrictions that were common for the time. In 1788, Jose da Silva Xavier led an unsuccessful movement for independence from these practices. That independence came years later, after Napoleon Bonaparte invaded Portugal and the 3RUWXJXHVHUR\DOIDPLO\ͬHGWR%UD]LO:KHQWKHZDUZDVRYHUDQGWKH\UHWXUQHGKRPHWKHLU son, Pedro, declared independence and later became Emperor of Brazil. He later abdicated to his ͫYH\HDUROGVRQ'RP3HGUR,,ZKRRIͫFLDOO\WRRNRYHUDWWKHDJHRIDQGOHG%UD]LOWKURXJK a period of progress and expansion. After freeing all slaves in Brazil in 1888, Dom Pedro II was overthrown in favor of a new republican government. The Republic saw Brazil through World War I and the Great Depression, but was overthrown by DPLOLWDU\MXQWD*HW¼OLR9DUJDVRXWODZHGWKHHOHFWHGJRYHUQPHQWDQGUHSODFHGLWZLWKWKH(VWDGR Novo. Vargas instituted nationalist policies, developing the countries vast resources and uniting Brazil with the Allies during World War II. He was later accused of corruption and asked to resign, but committed suicide in 1954. Military-appointed presidents followed until 1985, when a civilian was again elected to the presidency. Brazil then entered a period of economic prosperity and, in 1989, returned to a democratic government with the election of Fernando Collor de Mello (often simply referred to as “Collor”). Unfortunately, the election did not result in the political stability that Brazilians had hoped IRU,QLWLDOO\LWVWDUWHGZHOO̜&ROORULQWURGXFHGPHDVXUHVWRFRXQWHULQͬDWLRQZKLFKZDVRQHRI Brazil’s biggest challenges. And the measures seemed to work for roughly six months, but then LQͬDWLRQEHJDQWRFOLPEDJDLQ7KHQLQ &ROORUZDVDFFXVHGRIFRUUXSWLRQE\KLVRZQEURWKHU The resulting scandal led to wide-spread protests, a congressional inquiry, and impeachment hearings. (Technically Collor stepped down before he was impeached, but congress still banned him from politics for the next 8 years; his vice-president served the rest of his term.) Then in 1994, a former Minister of the Treasury, Fernando Henrique Cardoso was elected president. President Cardoso’s administration put a strong emphasis on improving Brazil’s economy and reaching out the international community at large. Despite some setbacks, he was UHHOHFWHGLQ DQGPDQDJHGWRVRPHZKDWFRQWUROWKHUDPSDQWLQͬDWLRQWKDWKDGEHHQDQ issue for Brazil in the past. However, with the 2002 election of Luiz Inacio Lula de Silva (Lula IRUVKRUW LQͬDWLRQEHJDQWRFUHHSXSDJDLQ/XODZKRZDVHOHFWHGDVDPHPEHURIWKH6RFLDOLVW Worker’s Party, decided to abandon some of his more radical ideas in favor of continuing the plans set forth by Cardoso; this split his party and may have led to some members to accuse each other of bribery and corruption. Nonetheless, Lula was re-elected for a second term, and in 2009 was faced with his biggest FKDOOHQJH WKHZRUOGͫQDQFLDOFULVLV$OWKRXJKWKH%UD]LOLDQHFRQRP\ZDVLPSDFWHGFHUWDLQWD[ measures and investments in industry and manufacturing helped the country bounce back. In 'LOPD5RXVVHIIZDVHOHFWHGDV%UD]LO̞VͫUVWIHPDOHSUHVLGHQW RQHRIKHUͫUVWFKDOOHQJHV 85 was preparing the country to be a host of both the World Cup Finals (in 2014) and the Summer Olympics (in 2016). She has also instituted new programs designed to reduce poverty, especially childhood poverty. 86 RESOURCES Suggested Readings Chile By Night in Chile: A Nostalgic Journey Through Chile by Roberto Bolano (Literature) A highly imaginative story that takes place over the course of a single night when a priest, believing himself to be dying, recalls some of the crucial events and personages of his life. Clandestine in Chile: The Adventures of Miguel Littin by Gabriel Garcia Marquez (Memoir) The WUXHVWRU\RIDQH[LOHGͫOPGLUHFWRUZKRVQXFNEDFNLQWR&KLOHLQ WRPDNHDQXQGHUFRYHU documentary. Deep Down DarkE\+HFWRU7REDU 1RQͫFWLRQ ,QWKHZRUOGZDVJULSSHGE\WKHQHZVUHSRUWV of 33 miners trapped for 69 days below the surface—this is their story. Easter Island by Jennifer Vanderbes (Fiction) This novel had two intertwined stories—one set in 1913 just before the outbreak of World War I and one in the 1970s—both featuring a heroine of her time. My Invented Country by Isabel Allende (Memoir/History) Written by an accomplished novelist who is related to Salvadore Allende (the Chilean President assassinated in 1973), this book mixes recent history (the assassination, the 9/11 attacks) with the author’s personal journey as a writer. The Dictator’s Shadow: Life Under Augusto Pinochet by Heraldo Munoz (Biography/History) Recounts the many terrifying acts of Chile’s former dictator, his rise to power, and what it took to be rid of him. The House of the Spirits, Daughter of Fortune, and Portrait in Sepia by Isabel Allende (Literature) Three books by one of Chile’s most famous authors. The House of the Spirits follows the passionate ups and downs of four generations; Portrait in Sepia is a novel about memory and secrets as a woman attempts to trace her family history; and Daughter of Fortune is about a young woman from Chile who follows her heart to the California gold rush. Miracle in the AndesE\1DQGR3DUUDGR 1RQͫFWLRQ $IUHVKDQGHQJURVVLQJORRNDWWKHSODQH crash disaster that inspired Alive, told from the point of view of one of the survivors who went for help. Travels in a Thin Country: A Journey Through Chile by Sara Wheeler (Travel Narrative) The author recounts her solo, 2,600-mile trip from the top of Chile to its southernmost tip. Hinchey Report published by the CIA (History/Politics) Although somewhat dry, this report does offer handy—and free—background reading on the role of the CIA in Chile’s politics during the 60s and 70s. The report is sometimes available online. For travelers interested in an opposing YLHZRXUUHJLRQDORIͫFHVXJJHVWVVHHNLQJRXW$OOHQGH̞V&KLOH$Q,QVLGHU9LHZE\HFRQRPLVW (GZDUG%RRUVWHLQ7KHERRNFDQEHKDUGWRͫQGDQGDELWGHQVHWRUHDGEXWLWGRHVRIIHUDXQLTXH viewpoint—Boorstein was an economic advisor to Allende. 87 The Essential Neruda by Pablo Neruda (Poetry) Chile’s famous poet printed several volumes during his lifetime—all worthwhile—but this edition is a good introduction to his best-known works. Argentina $QGWKH0RQH\.HSW5ROOLQJ,Q DQG2XW by Paul Blustein (Economics/History) An interesting and thought-provoking account of the 2001 collapse of Argentina’s economy. Argentina, 1516-1987: From Spanish Colonization to Alfonsin by David Rock (History) A thought- provoking history that does much to explain why a country with such potential regressed from a major world power to a developing nation. Evita: The Real Life of Eva Peron by Nicholas Fraser and Marysa Navarro (Biography) Although written in 1996, this book is still considered to be one of the best-researched and most balanced accounts of the woman behind the myth. In Patagonia by Bruce Chatwin (Travel Narrative) A masterpiece of travel, history and adventure. This engaging book captures the spirit of the land, history, wildlife, and people of Patagonia. Natural Patagonia: Natural Argentina & Chile by Marcelo D. Beccaceci. (Field Guide) A natural history guide to Patagonia’s incredible wildlife and plants. Night Flight by Antoine de Saint-Exupery (Literature) Follows a pilot alone in a storm over the Andes en route from Punta Arenas to Buenos Aires. In this wonderfully evocative novella by the author of The Little PrinceGH6DLQW([XSHU\FDSWXUHVWKHWKULOORIHDUO\ͬLJKWDQGWKHFRXUDJHRI the pilots. The Buenos Aires Quintet by Manuel Vazquez Montalban (Mystery) A Spanish detective travels to %XHQRV$LUHVWRKHOSDQXQFOHͫQGKLVPLVVLQJVRQ̜DP\VWHU\WKDWFRXOGEHSHUVRQDORUSROLWLFDO One of the popular Pepe Carvalho crime series. The Motorcycle Diaries: Notes on a Latin American Journey by Ernesto “Che” Guevara (Memoir/ Travel Narrative) The true-life story of Che Guevara’s attempt to see South America from the back of an old motorcycle at the age of 23. Later in life, he would claim that it was this journey that started to form his political beliefs. The Whispering Land by Gerald Durrell (Travel Narrative/Nature) An account of the author’s eight-month odyssey in pursuit of Patagonian wildlife from seals to parrots. Tierra del Fuego by Francisco Coloane (Short Stories) These nine stories of adventure, exploration, and voyage are peopled with ravenous explorers, fortune hunters, foreign revolutionaries, ill- fated seafarers, intrepid ships’ captains, and ruthless smugglers. Uruguay The Invisible Mountain by Carolina De Robertis (Historical Fiction) The story of three generations of women against the backdrop of Uruguay during the violent guerrilla movement of the late 1960s. 88 Lands of Memory by Felisberto Hernandez (Short Stories) A beautiful compilation of short stories and novellas by a well-known Uruguayan writer. The Book of Embraces by Eduardo Galeano (Memoir) A collage-like memoir by Uruguayan journalist and author Eduardo Galeano, including recollections of his exile during the military dictatorship in the 1970s and other observations and remembrances. Alive: The Story of the Andes Survivors by Piers Paul Read (Memoir) In October 1972, Uruguayan Air Force Flight 571 crashed into the Andes Mountains carrying an Uruguayan rugby team, along with their family and friends. Alive tells the story of the crash and how sixteen of the passengers managed to survive in sub-zero temperatures. Peru Ancient Kingdoms of Peru by Nigel Davies (Anthropology). An archaeologist (and Inca expert) DQDO\]HVUHFHQWͫQGLQJVDQGUHDVVHVVHVVFKRODUO\WKHRULHVVXUURXQGLQJWKHDQFLHQW,QFDNLQJGRP This book may not be in stock at your local bookstore, but it can still be found online. Conquest of the Incas by John Hemming (History). A masterful history of the Inca struggle against the Spanish invasion. An engaging work that brings together wide-ranging scholarly material in the interests of telling a good story. Conversation in the Cathedral by Mario Vargas Llosa (Literature). A novel about power, corruption, and identity, set in 1950s Peru under the dictatorship of Manuel Odria. Eight Feet in the Andes by Dervla Murphy (Travel Account). Murphy and her nine-year-old daughter traveled 1,300 miles by mule through the Andes, from Cajamarca to Cuzco. This account describes their three-month journey. Incas: People of the Sun by Carmen Bernand (History). The story of the rise and fall of the Inca civilization. It includes excerpts from the writings of conquistadors, travelers, and the Incas themselves. Lima: A Cultural History by James Higgins (History). An erudite guide to the cultural gems and literary history of Peru’s capital city. James Higgins, who specializes in Peruvian literature, covers the scope of the city’s history from its pre-Columbian museums, to its conquistador heritage, to its dynamic present. Lost City of the IncasE\+LUDP%LQJKDP ([SORUDWLRQ $ͫUVWUDWHWDOHRIDGYHQWXUHE\WKHPDQ who rediscovered Machu Picchu in 1911. This classic account is a gripping story of exploration, archaeology, and natural history—and still an outstanding overview of the site itself. The Bridge of San Luis Rey by Thornton Wilder (Literature). A 1928 novel by the Pulitzer 3UL]HZLQQLQJ:LOGHUVHWLQWKH3HUXRI\HDUVDJR7KHVWRU\DERXWͫYHWUDYHOHUVZKRDUH killed when a bridge built by the Incas collapses, is told from the point of view of a Franciscan missionary. 89 Turn Right at Machu Picchu by Mark Adams (History/Travel Narrative) The humorous and engaging tale of what happens when a modern-day adventurer tries to follow the steps of Hiram Bingham by re-creating the expedition that discovered Machu Picchu. 1491: New Revelations of the Americas Before Columbus by Charles C. Mann (History). Mann portrays the richness of culture and history that already existed before the arrival of European settlers. And contrary to popular belief, what he describes is not remote villages in a pristine wilderness, but a series of populous, sophisticated societies stretching from South America, through Mexico, and up the U.S. Mississippi Valley. At Play in the Fields of the Lord by Peter Matthiessen (Literature). A wild tale about the impact of outsiders on an indigenous tribe, set in the Peruvian Amazon. Life in the Treetops: Adventures of a Woman in Field Biology by Margaret Lowman (Memoir). The sprightly memoir of an ecologist who climbs, studies, and sleeps in trees for a living, balancing multiple roles of scientist, wife, and mom. She continues her story in a second memoir (written with her now-grown sons) entitled It’s a Jungle Up There, More Tales from the Treetops. Little Tiny Teeth by Aaron J. Elkins (Mystery). When a forensics professor joins an Amazon riverboat expedition, he expects a vacation. But in a jungle full of predators, he realizes the humans may be the deadliest of all. (We promise, this won’t happen to you.) Tales of a Shaman’s Apprentice by Mark Plotkin (Culture). An ethnobotanist recounts his work documenting the use of medicinal plants among remote Amazon tribes. The Enchanted Amazon Rain Forest: Stories from a Vanishing World by Nigel J.H. Smith (Culture). This is a fascinating introduction to the people, culture, and geography of the rainforest. The Lost City of Z: A tale of Deadly Obsessions in the Amazon by David Grann (Biography/Memoir). This riveting, real-life adventure tale bounces between a biography of Colonel Percy Harrison )DZFHWWDQGWKHDXWKRU̞VRZQTXHVWWRͫQGRXWZKDWKDSSHQHGWRWKHJUHDWH[SORUHUZKR disappeared in the Brazilian Amazon in 1925. (Although set in the Brazilian Amazon, we’ve included this book because it gives a good sense of exploration in the mysterious Amazon forest). The Mapmaker’s Wife: A True Tale of Love, Murder, and Survival in the Amazon by Robert Whitaker (History) Colonial politics, the travails of a cartographer, and a good old-fashioned murder all add intrigue to this absorbing tale of 18th-century European exploration of the Amazon and one ZRPDQ̞VTXHVWWRͫQGKHUKXVEDQGGHHSLQWKHMXQJOH The River of Doubt: Theodore Roosevelt’s Darkest Journey by Candice Millard (History/Biography). A must-read account of a journey to the Amazon by Teddy Roosevelt late in his life—and one that almost ended his life. The Three Halves of Ino Moxo: Teachings of the Wizard of the Upper Amazon by Cesar Calvo and Kenneth A. Symington, Translator (Culture). A Peruvian author’s portrayal of the world of Amazonian sorcerer Ino Moxo and the deep and complex folklore of the region. Explains how this “green magician” continues ancient traditions including the use of plant medicines and chanting. 90 Brazil Brazil by Michael Palin (Travel Narrative) What would it be like to travel Brazil with a cultured and funny travel enthusiast who happened to be a member of the famed British comedy group Monty Python? This book tells you. The Brazilians by Joseph Page (Culture) A useful review of how Brazil’s people, history, economy and politics have shaped its modern-day culture. Dona Flor and Her Two Husbands by Jorge Amado (Literature) After Dona Flor’s passionate VFRXQGUHORIDͫUVWKXVEDQGGURSVGHDGDW&DUQLYDOVKHUHPDUULHVDVWHDG\EXWGXOOSKDUPDFLVW How can she reconcile the two extremes? Brazilian writer Amado makes use of magic, recipes, ghosts, and bawdy humor in this, one of his best-known novels. Bossa Nova, The Story of the Brazilian Music That Seduced the World by Ruy Castro (Musical History) The story of the emergence of Bossa Nova is retold in gossipy detail by Brazilian journalist who ZDVOXFN\HQRXJKWRKDYHLQWHUYLHZHGPDQ\RIWKHJUHDWERVVDQRYDPXVLFLDQVͫUVWKDQG Brazil: Five Centuries of Change by Thomas E. Skidmore (History) It’s hard to condense 500 years of history into roughly 250 pages, but this useful volume on Brazil’s colonial history and post- independence era mostly succeeds. Unfortunately, the book hasn’t been updated since it was written, so it is missing more recent events. (But for more recent history, you could pick up The New Brazil by Riordan Roett or The Throes of Democracy: Brazil since 1989 by Bryan McCann.) Brazil by Errol Lincoln Uys (Literature) A massive and sweeping historical novel that follows the lives of two families across multiple generations, set against the backdrop of historical Brazil. Reminiscent of Alex Haley’s Roots or Shogun by James Clavell, but this time set in South America. Child of the Dark: The Diary of Carolina Maria de Jesus by Carolina Maria de Jesus (Memoir) The everyday life of a poor favela (shantytown) in the 1950s is captured in this diary, written by a woman with very little formal education but lots of determination. Look for the 50th anniversary edition. Suggested Movies Chile Missing (1982, Drama). When an expat writer living in Chile during the 1973 coup goes missing, his wife and father-in-law must navigate complex and dangerous political waters to search for him. The Battle of Chile (1975-1979, Documentary). A three-part documentary series about the 1973 coup d’etat that deposed President Salvador Allende and raised General Augusto Pinochet to SRZHU8QLTXHLQWKDWLWZDVͫOPHGRYHUIRXU\HDUVLQ&KLOHDVHYHQWVZHUHXQIROGLQJ No (2012, Drama). Set in the 1980’s and based on an unpublished play by Antonio Skarmeta, this Chilean drama explores the role of advertising tactics in General Augusto Pinochet’s campaign for re-election. 91 Argentina Blessed by Fire 'UDPD $ͫOPDERXWWKH)DONODQGV:DU 0DOYLQDV:DU DQGLWVDIWHUPDWKDV told from the point of view of an Argentinean soldier looking back at his experiences two decades later. In Spanish with subtitles. Down Argentine Way (1940, Musical) A light musical about a blossoming romance between an $PHULFDQKHLUHVVDQGDQ$UJHQWLQHKRUVHEUHHGHU)HDWXUHVWKHIHLVW\&DUPHQ0LUDQGDLQKHUͫUVW $PHULFDQͫOP Evita 0XVLFDO $OWKRXJKRQO\ORRVHO\EDVHGRQWKHUHDOOLIHRI$UJHQWLQD̞VͫUVWODG\WKH detailed sets, period costumes, and real-life Argentine locations convey the glamour of Buenos Aires in the 1930s. Travelers interested in documentaries should look for Evita: The Woman Behind the Myth from A&E or Evita (The Documentary) directed by Eduardo Montes-Bradley. Gilda &ODVVLF 6HWLQWKHVKDGRZ\XQGHUZRUOGRI V%XHQRV$LUHVWKLVͫOPIROORZV a strange love triangle: the casino kingpin, his lieutenant, and the sultry beauty that they can’t trust. The Motorcycle Diaries (2004, Biopic) Follows a 23-year-old Che Guevara and his friend Alberto Granado on a motorcycle journey across South America. 7KH2IͫFLDO6WRU\ (1985, Drama) As Alicia searches for more information about her adopted daughter’s birth mother, she begins to uncover the history and extent of “the Disappeared”— political prisoners held captive by Argentina’s ruling military government. In Spanish with subtitles. The Secret in Their Eyes (2009, Drama/Thriller) Part murder mystery, part love story, this Argentine thriller follows a retired cop who is revisiting a haunting case from the 1970s as source PDWHULDOIRUKLVͫUVWQRYHO,Q6SDQLVKZLWKVXEWLWOHV5HPDGHLQDVDQ$PHULFDQͫOPZLWK Julia Roberts. Tetro (2009, Drama) Two brothers reunite in Buenos Aires after one disappeared from his family for ten years. Uruguay Whisky &RPHG\ 2QHRIWKHPRVWZHOONQRZQ8UXJXD\DQͫOPV:KLVN\WHOOVWKHVWRU\RI German and his estranged brother Jacobo. Jacobo returns to his sock factory after a long absence LQKRSHVRIͫQGLQJDZLIHDQGVKRZLQJWKDWKHKDVPDGHVRPHWKLQJRIKLVOLIH Anina (2013, Animation) A Uruguayan children’s tale about a young girl who gets into an altercation on the playground. As a punishment, she is given a sealed envelope and instructed not to open it for a week. As Anina anxiously waits to discover the contents of the envelopes, she ends up on a journey of her own. 92 Peru Fitzcarraldo (1982, Adventure) The story of an obsessive rubber baron who is determined to build an opera house in Iquitos (the gateway to the Peruvian jungle) and will go to incredible lengths to achieve his goal. In Search of History: Lost City of the Incas produced by the History Channel (2005, Documentary) An informative overview of fabled Machu Picchu, including the story of its rediscovery in 1911. Jean-Michel Cousteau’s Ocean Adventures: Return to the Amazon produced by PBS (2008, 'RFXPHQWDU\ ,QWKH V-HDQ0LFKHODFFRPSDQLHGKLVIDPRXVXQGHUZDWHUͫOPPDNHUIDWKHU -DFTXHV&RXVWHDXRQDQH[SHGLWLRQGRZQWKH$PD]RQ5LYHU7ZHQW\ͫYH\HDUVODWHUKHUUHWXUQV with his children. Secret of the Incas (1956, Adventure) Heston stars as a fedora-wearing adventurer racing against a ULYDOWUHDVXUHKXQWHUWRWUDFNGRZQDIDEXORXV,QFDDUWLIDFWLQ3HUX7KLVͫOPLVQRWDEOHIRUEHLQJ WKHͫUVWWLPHD+ROO\ZRRGVWXGLRͫOPHGRQORFDWLRQLQ0DFKX3LFFKXDQGIRULWVLQͬXHQFHRQWKH Indiana Jones series. The Celestine Prophecy (2006, Drama) When an American history teacher joins a friend in Peru on a whim, the last thing he expects is to get caught up in an ancient prophecy and a religious controversy. The Naked Jungle (1954, Adventure) Deep in the South American jungle, a swath of ravenous ants are eating everything in sight, and Heston’s cocoa plantation is right in their path. Also in harm’s way is his new mail-order bride, played by Eleanor Parker. Not for serious cultural study; just a lot of fun. Brazil City of God )RUHLJQ 7KHͫOPIROORZVDJURXSRIIULHQGVIURPWKH VWKURXJKWKH VDVWKH\JURZXSLQD%UD]LOLDQVKDQW\WRZQ̜LURQLFDOO\QDPHG̡WKH&LW\RI*RG̢7KHͫOP deals frankly with violence, drugs, poverty, and other topics that can be hard to watch, but was considered an instant classic by critics. The original title is Cidade de Deus. Favela Rising (2005, Documentary) A documentary about the work of Anderson Sa, a reformed GUXJWUDIͫFNHUZKRIRUPHGDQRQSURͫWJURXSWKDWSURPRWHVPXVLFDQGHGXFDWLRQLQWKHfavelas (shantytowns) of Brazil. The Mission (1986, Historical Drama) This period drama is about a group of Jesuits trying to convert indigenous tribes by Iguassu Falls. But suddenly, everything they have worked for is thrown into disarray when the land their mission stands on goes from being Spanish territory to Portuguese. Notorious &ODVVLF 7KHSORWRIWKLVWHQVHDQGVXVSHQVHIXOWKULOOHUFHQWHUVRQͬXVKLQJRXW 1D]LVSLHVLQ%UD]LOEXWWKHPRYLHLVUHDOO\DERXWWKHFRQͬLFWRIOR\DOW\DQGORYH$OWKRXJKPRVW RIWKHDFWLRQLVVHWLQ5LRWKDW̞VQRWFHQWUDOWRWKHVWRU\ EXWHYHQWKRXJKWKHͫOPLVQ̞WW\SLFDOO\ Brazilian, we couldn’t resist the powerhouse stars (Cary Grant, Ingrid Bergman) or the director (Alfred Hitchcock). 93 Useful Websites Grand Circle Forum (tips from previous World Weather travelers) www.intellicast.com www.gct.com/forum www.weather.com www.wunderground.com Grand Circle Shop www.grandcircleshop.com Basic Travel Phrases (80 languages) www.travlang.com/languages Grand Circle Frequently Asked Questions www.gct.com/faq Packing Tips www.travelite.org International Health Information/CDC (Centers for Disease Control) U.S. Customs & Border Protection http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel www.cbp.gov/travel Electricity & Plugs Transportation Security www.worldstandards.eu/electricity/ Administration (TSA) plugs-and-sockets www.tsa.gov Foreign Exchange Rates National Passport Information Center www.xe.com/currencyconverter www.travel.state.gov www.oanda.com/converter/classic Holidays Worldwide ATM Locators www.timeanddate.com/holidays www.mastercard.com/atm www.visa.com/atmlocator 94 3 2 Ocean Atlantic Cuzco Machu Picchu 2 Santiago BRAZIL 1 1 CHILE Sacred Valley 3 Air Route 2 Buenos Aires Rio de Janeiro Included Tour Optional Tour 2 PERU Falls Estuary Crossing Arrival/Departure Motorcoach Route Motorcoach Iguassu Nights at destination PRE-TRIP EXTENSION PRE-TRIP Lima Ocean POST-TRIP EXTENSION POST-TRIP Pacific ARGENTINA 2 2 Montevideo 2 URUGUAY Colonia Ocean Atlantic Buenos Aires ARGENTINA Bariloche 3 Santiago 3 2 CHILE Ocean Puerto Varas Puerto Pacific Valparaiso 95 Visit www.gct.com or call us toll-free at 1-800-221-2610 0 Traveler 10/2019 96