Brazil Packages: World Wonders

• Upon arrival in Rio de Janeiro, you will be met at the airport by one of our representative and taken to your confirmed Rio de Janeiro hotel. Check out our selection of excellent Rio de Janeiro hotels.
• You will have the remainder of the day to rest at your hotel or start exploring this vibrant city on your own.
• See out our Rio de Janeiro Travel Guide for ideas on what to do and where to eat in Rio.

• Start off your Brazil adventure with a private half-day tour up Corcovado, the mountain in the middle of Rio de Janeiro famous for its massive Christ the Redeemer statue.
• You’ll ride through Laranjeiras, one of the city’s oldest residential districts, and into the traditional Cosme Velho neighborhood. Here, you will board a mountain train for a scenic trip through the Tijuca forest, the largest urban forest in the world.
• Upon reaching the top, 2,300 feet above sea level, you’ll be greeted by spectacular 360-degree city views. Soak up the scenery and feel dwarfed by the 130-foot tall religious statue, one of the New Seven Wonders of the World.
• You’ll then return to your Rio de Janeiro hotel to enjoy the evening at your leisure.

• In the morning, you’ll fly to Argentina’s Puerto Iguazú. A Brazil For Less representative will meet you at your hotel after breakfast and take you to the airport for your flight. Upon arrival in Puerto Iguazú, another one of our travel representatives will meet you and take you to your confirmed Puerto Iguazú hotel.
• Enjoy the rest of the day at your leisure relaxing at your hotel or exploring Puerto Iguazú on your own.
• Read our Puerto Iguazú Travel Guide for detailed destination information.

• Discover Argentina’s most spectacular natural phenomenon on a thrilling Iguazú Falls tour, including an ecological train ride to the impressive fall known as Devil's Throat.
• Meet your guide at your hotel and depart for the Puerto Iguazú National Park, where you will enjoy intimate views of the Iguazú River and the falls, as well as a hike through the park. Lower and upper walkways give you an up close and personal waterfall experience.
• In the afternoon, you will be taken back to your Puerto Iguazú hotel where you will have the remainder of the day to relax and enjoy Puerto Iguazú at your leisure.

• After breakfast at your Puerto Iguazú hotel, one of our representatives will pick you up from your hotel and take you to the airport for your flight to Buenos Aires. Upon arrival, another one of our representatives will meet you and take you to your confirmed Buenos Aires hotel.
• You will have the remainder of the day to spend at your leisure, resting at your hotel or exploring Buenos Aires on your own.
• Read our Buenos Aires Travel Guide for dining and sightseeing suggestions.

• Enjoy an exciting full-day Buenos Aires tour of the city’s highlights. You will start your tour in the city center to see the impressive National Congress (the Parliament), the beautiful Plaza de Mayo surrounded by the Casa Rosada (Government House), the Metropolitan Cathedral, and the splendid Cabildo, which served as City Hall under the Spanish colonial rule. You will then walk along the busy Avenida 9 de Julio and see the famous Colon Theatre, considered as one of the best Opera houses in the world.
• Then, you’ll travel to some of Buenos Aires’ various districts, including San Telmo, La Boca, Palermo, and several others.
• You’ll end your tour of Buenos Aires discovering tango at one of the most exclusive Buenos Aires tango houses, Tango Porteño. Enjoy a delicious gourmet dinner while musicians and professional tango dancers perform before you. Ask your travel advisor if you wish to visit another of our recommended tango houses.

• Prepare for your journey to Peru! Meet your transfer to the airport for your flight to Cusco via Lima. Upon arrival in Cusco, you will be met by one of our representatives and taken to your confirmed Cusco hotel.
• Enjoy the remainder of the day at your leisure, exploring beautiful Cusco and its many monuments, or sampling the delicious Peruvian cuisine in Cusco’s restaurants.

• Explore the best of Cusco with an exciting tour of the city’s ancient and colonial sites. You’ll meet your guide in the afternoon and set off on your Cusco tour, taking you to the impressive Cathedral and the temple of Koricancha.
• You’ll continue on to the hilltop fortress of Sacsayhuaman and the Inca sites of Q’enko, Puka Pukara, and Tambomachay.
• You’ll have the rest of the afternoon and evening to enjoy Cusco at your leisure.

• Step back in time and learn about ancient Peruvian traditions during a fascinating Sacred Valley tour. Meet your guide at your hotel and start the day with a scenic drive to the lovely village of Pisac, where you will visit the lively market.
• Your next stop is Urubamba, where you will be able to explore the streets on your own and have lunch before continuing on to the ancient town of Ollantaytambo with its impressive hillside fortress ruins.
• You’ll travel back to Cusco to enjoy the rest of the day relaxing in the city.

• Start your exciting visit to Machu Picchu, the pride of Peru, with a train ride through beautiful Andean landscapes up to Aguas Calientes, the town at the foot of Machu Picchu.
• Upon arrival in Aguas Calientes, you will take the 20-minute bus ride up to the citadel itself, where you will enjoy a guided tour of the ruins, followed by some free time to explore the site on your own.
• Once you’ve have your fill of this spectacular archeological site, you will head back to Aguas Calientes to catch your train back to Cusco, where you can enjoy a relaxing last night in Peru.
• Read our Machu Picchu Travel Guide and learn about this site’s fascinating history.

• Check out our exciting additional Cusco tours to keep exploring this amazing area, or meet your transfer to the airport for your flight home or on to your next destination.
• Browse our full range of Peru travel destinations for additional Peru vacation ideas.

Note: Hotel prices during Reveillon (Brazil’s New Year’s Eve festivities) and Carnival increase. Please ask your travel advisor how prices for your Brazil vacation may differ during these periods.

• 2 nights in Rio de Janeiro, 2 nights in Puerto Iguazú, 2 nights in Buenos Aires & 4 nights in Cusco in hotels based on US standards
• All tours stated in the itinerary with expert English-speaking guides
• All transfers and entrance fees
• All breakfasts

PLEASE NOTE:

As of 1 January 2010, an entrance fee (Reciprocity Fee) is chargeable for citizens of the United States, Canada, and Australia visiting Argentina. Also, a visa is necessary to enter Brazil for USA, Canada, and Australia passport-holders. Contact the Brazilian embassy/consulate in your home country to apply for a 90-day tourist visa. For further details, please read this article on the Latin America For Less Travel Blog.

Begin your tour with a stroll along the most beautiful beaches of Rio de Janeiro before heading for dinner and a traditional Brazilian samba show. You’ll experience the rhythm that pulses through the veins of Brazilians. Samba, like the country where it originated, has its roots in African and European rhythms. The music and dance are now synonymous with Brazil’s world famous Carnival celebrations.

You will start this half-day tour with a drive through the beautiful city of Rio during which you’ll be able to spot the Sambadrome, where the Carnival parades take place, and the Metropolitan Cathedral. You will also see the Cinelandia Square surrounded by interesting historic buildings, including the Municipal Theater, National Library and National Museum of Fine Arts. You will continue on to the Sugar Loaf Mountain, one of the symbols of the city, located in the Urca neighborhood. You will ride the cable car up to 705 feet (215 meters) to a viewpoint from where you can see the entire Guanabara Bay, the Rio Niteroi Bridge and Corcovado Hill, on top of which stands the famous statue of Christ the Redeemer. From there, you ride a second cable car up to 1,295 feet (395 meters). From here, you’ll enjoy fantastic views of Copacabana beach, the Santa Cruz fortress and the entire city below you.

Take a fascinating journey to Petropolis, located 37 miles (60 km) away from Rio. Known as the Imperial City, Petropolis was founded by Germans and its rich history is still reflected today in its lovely architecture and charming streets. You tour will begin with a visit to the Imperial Museum, the former Palace of Emperor Dom Pedro II. The museum displays antique furniture, pearls, diamonds, and a crown of gold used by Pedro I and Pedro II. After this visit, you will continue to the Gothic Cathedral, also known as Sao Pedro de Alcantara, built in honor of the Emperor of Brazil. Here you will see the tombs of the Imperial family, where Princess Isabel was buried along with Pedro II and his wife. From here, you will tour the Crystal Palace, originally built in Saint-Saveur-les-Arras, France in 1879 and later re-constructed in Brazil.

Rio’s tropical islands are some of the most beautiful places to visit near the city. You’ll drive for approximately one hour and 30 minutes through numerous lush fields, banana plantations, and villages along the way to the small fishing village of Itacurussa. There, you will embark on a saveiro (typical schooner from the northeast of Brazil) for a leisure cruise in the calm waters of the Sepetiba Bay.

You can stop for swim on a deserted island, before continuing on to a private island where you’ll enjoy a tantalizing buffet luncheon served in a tranquil and rustic atmosphere. After the meal, you are free to explore the island's charms on your own by strolling along the beach, swimming, or just working on your tan. Special features can be arranged to enhance the day even more, including treasure hunts, snorkeling, water skiing, and more. In the afternoon, you’ll take the boat back to Itacurussa and be transferred to your Rio hotel.

This unique tour of one of the famed favelas in Rio de Janeiro offers travelers a glimpse into a side of Rio that visitors rarely get to experience. Santa Marta is one of the first communities in a program designed to welcome tourists to the favelas; poor but culturally vibrant neighborhoods where a strong sense of community has inspired a long tradition of music and art.

Santa Marta is located on Dona Marta Hill, officially part of Botafogo, in Rio de Janeiro. The residents refer to the district as Santa Marta because of the image of the saint which has adorned the inside of the chapel at the top of the hill since the beginning of the twentieth century.

Believe it or not, you may have already had a quick view of this neighborhood if you saw Michael Jackson’s music video for They Don’t Care About Us, meant to draw international attention to the residents of these communities. There are plans to build a statue of the famous pop star in one of the places he used for filming, Beco do Curió, beside the church of Assembly of God on the terrace of the district’s Culture House.

On this three hour tour, you will be picked up from your hotel by jeep, and driven to the neighborhood. From here you will stop at the elevator turret and see the place where Michael Jackson filmed, before walking through the streets to the residents’ association. On your way back to your hotel, the driver will take a picturesque route near the Lagoon.

The Itapúa Dam is one of the biggest building sites in the world. Since 1975 the dam has provided a model of green energy, providing most of the power to the nation of Paraguay. Only the new construction of a dam in China will beat this mighty feat of human engineering. On the tour you will learn about the dam’s construction and see beautiful areas of the lake. The dam is open to visitors every day except Sundays and Brazilian public holidays. Note: This trip can be combined with a trip to the Brazilian side of Iguazú Falls to make it a full day trip to Brazil.

On this tour you are able to travel in an electric jeep that allows you to explore the jungle area around the falls. You will visit the roaring Macuco waterfall and then go by boat up the canyon to see the waterfalls canyon. On the way, you’ll be able to stop to look for various wild animals, particularly in the early hours of the morning or late afternoon.

Just north of the Argentine capital lies the tranquil town of Tigre nestled on the banks of the Tigre River Delta. The summer home for Buenos Aires’s porteño elite in the 19th century, Tigre retains its posh flair. You will take a tour from the heart of Buenos Aires to the northern outskirts of the city, and then follow the Tigre River to the delta. The town of Tigre sits here among tranquil waters and graceful canals. On this tour, you will visit the Rio Plata stadium, the Presidential Residence Olivos, and the San Isidro Cathedral. You will also take a boat cruise during which you will be able to catch a glimpse of the impressive mansions and estates along the delta.

The tour leaves every day at 9:00 a.m. Length varies between four to six hours depending on time spent for lunch.

On this excursion you will visit the town of San Antonio de Areco where you will take a tour of the main plaza and other historic sites. Your guide will give you an introduction to life and culture in Argentina outside of Buenos Aires and you will be able to see the work of outstanding silversmiths and artisans in the Rio de la Plata area.
The Estancia is located less than half a mile from the center of the town. On arrival you will be treated to some locally made empanadas (meat-stuffed pastries) and drinks then have time to explore the estate on horseback or by carriage before returning to the lodge for a traditional Argentine asado (BBQ) accompanied by folk music and dancing..  

Available on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. Tours depart from your hotel between 9:00 a.m. and 9:30 a.m.

La Estancia Alameda, 75 miles (120 km) outside of Buenos Aires, is a two-century old ranch nestled on the banks of the Chascomús Lagoon. Enjoy a drink in the saloon, listen in on tales of the first gauchos, indulge in a traditional Argentine asado (barbeque) along with coffee and Argentine dulces (sweets), and enjoy an authentic folklore show complete with colorfully costumed dancers.

Available on Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays. Tours depart from your hotel between 9:30 a.m. and 10:00 a.m.

Buenos Aires is an interesting blend of European and Latin cultures and boasts a proud colonial and local cultural history. On this tour your will gain an in-depth understanding of the history, architecture, culture, and secrets of Buenos Aires. The tour lasts three hours and will take you through the city center and the neighborhoods of Montserrat, San Telmo, La Boca, Palermo, Bosques de Palermo, and finally Recoleta, home to the cemetery and grave of Evita Peron.

This tour leaves daily at 2:00 p.m. from October 1st to May 31st.

Buenos Aires is home to the largest Jewish population in Latin America, with approximately a quarter million Jewish citizens in its metropolitan area. During the early and mid 20th century, many Russian and European Jewish immigrants made their way to Buenos Aires, since Argentina’s immigration policy was one of the most accepting at the time. The Buenos Aires Jewish community retains many of the cultural traditions of their people.
During your tour, a knowledgeable guide will take you to an Ashkenazi or Sephardic synagogue, where you can appreciate the remarkable architecture. You will also see the Jewish neighborhood Once one of the hubs of Jewish culture. You will also visit the IFT Theatre, founded in 1932 as a Yiddish theater but now a secular one, the newly-restored AMIA building, center of Jewish headquarters, and the Israeli Embassy Square, where the embassy used to stand prior to the 1992 bombing.

Tours lasts three hours and leave every morning Monday through Friday.

Note: For security reasons, it is necessary that we get passport numbers of each visitor in advance in order to book this tour.

On this biking tour you will explore the urban north of the city, which is the traditional home of the aristocracy of Argentina. The tour will start from the Retiro area and lead you through Barrio Parque, the embassies of Palermo Woods, past trendy Palermo Soho, and finish in Recoleta.

The historical tiny town of Colonia del Sacramento in Uruguay is only an hour ferry ride across the Rio de la Plata. Visiting this picturesque town, now an UNESCO World Heritage Site, offers you a chance to step into the 17th century as it has preserved most of the old buildings in its historic downtown. The charming cobblestone streets are now a chic hangout for wealthy porteños and make an ideal day trip for those wanting a break from the bustle of Buenos Aires. Colonia is also just a bus ride away from Montevideo, and tours to both can easily be combined.

Explore Buenos Aires by boat, sailing down numerous nearby rivers and streams. After breakfast at your hotel, you will be picked up and taken to the San Francisco marina. On the way, you will drive through the northern part of the city, past the United Nations Square, and take the Paseo de la Costa route past the Rio del Plata and the presidential residence in Olivos. Upon arrival at the Tigre mainland, you will have the opportunity to stop and look around the bustling Puerto de frutos, a busy market where you will find an array of wood and bamboo products for sale.
You will reach the San Francisco marina and board the boat. Enjoy the beautiful views as well as complimentary drinks and picada (cold meat and cheese platter) on board as you sail down the rivers, canals, and streams of the delta.

Learn about the history of Buenos Aires and its vibrant people, the porteños, on a tour to four of Buenos Aires’ highlights with a knowledgeable scholar as a guide. A university professor will first take you to and tell you about the Plaza de Mayo, the site where Buenos Aires was founded and that remains as the historical and political heart of the city. You will then head out to Parque Lemana and the neighborhood of La Boca.  One of the oldest districts of Buenos Aires, and a former settlement for Italian immigrants, La Boca is filled with artist workshops and colorful houses. Your next stop is Plaza San Martin and the Retiro district, which are modeled after European districts. The fourth and final destination on your tour will be the Recoleta neighborhood, known as the upscale and stylish district of Buenos Aires.

This half day tour will get you acquainted with Buenos Aires’ vibrant cultural life, taking you to some of the city’s best art galleries, museums, and colorful street fairs. In the afternoon, your guide will pick you up and you will head to San Telmo to visit Marcelo Toledo’s silver workshop. This young artisan is internationally acknowledged for his intricate and exquisite work. You will continue on to the Fernandez Blanco Museum, housed in a splendid colonial house. Here you will be able to admire stunning collections of eighteenth and nineteenth century silverware pieces. Your last destination is the Malba Museum, the first twenty-first century museum in Buenos Aires.

You have the option to organize a visit of the beautiful, private Helft Collection, comprising interesting Argentine paintings from the 1960s to early 1990s, displayed in a building in San Telmo.

The Arts & Crafts Tour operates daily except Mondays and Tuesdays, since the Fernandez Blanco Museum is closed on these days. 

We recommend that you book more time in Cusco. There is so much to see in and around the city that an extra day would amplify your Cusco experience. We would be pleased to book an additional day(s) for you. Otherwise enjoy your 4 days / 3 nights Cusco vacation and take in the sights and sounds of this magnificent city.

Have an extra day to visit the ruins on your own, relax at the local hot springs, and walk around the orchid gardens. The breathtaking beauty of Machu Picchu certainly deserves an extra day!

The sheer natural beauty of this area will revitalize any jaded soul. Learn why it is called the Sacred Valley by staying overnight in one of our recommended Sacred Valley hotels.

Heading east from Cusco you will discover with your guide the remarkable and extensive Inca ruins of Tipon, famous for its beautiful gardens set high within the Andes Mountains, where fresh, cool water runs through an intricate system of fountains. You will then continue on to Piquillajta, ‘the City of Fleas,’ an impressive and ancient Wari ruin established in the first century. You’ll explore this administrative capital of the southern portion of the Wari Empire which dates back to pre-Inca times. As your day continues, you will travel to the small village of Andahuaylillas, home to a dazzling 17th-century church, known as ‘the Andean Sistine Chapel’. Built upon the site of an old Inca temple, the church’s altar is gilded in 24-carat gold leaf and adorned with both Christian and Quechua symbols.

Please note that lunch is not included in this tour and ordering a box lunch from your hotel is advised.

Enjoy a horseback riding adventure across the Sacred Valley to Maras Moray Salt Mines. This is our most recommended additional service. Prices are per person for this private service (includes transfer to the Sacred Valley).

Located between Ollantaytambo and Machu Picchu, the campsite is situated at 2800 meters a.s.l. and is close to the Vilcanota River. From here you can see the archeological site of Ollantaytambo, just a 30 minute walk from your campsite. The following day, you can walk to the train station, only 15 minutes away, and take the train to Machu Picchu.

The campsite is accessible by road, by rafting on the river Vilcanota or by trekking.

Included:

• Stationary tents
• Dining area
• Bathrooms
• Hot showers
• Potable water
• Campfire
• Pachamanca lunch
• Hammocks
• Soccer field, badminton court, volleyball court, petanque (a game similar to bowls)

Get on a boat and have a wet and wild rafting experience through the Sacred Valley. Our tour guides are fully trained and bilingual. Transfers and lunch included.

Take a horse-back ride through the valley from the Inca Bridge to the Quarries of Cachicata and return to camp. This trip lasts about 4 hours.
Included: First aid kit, walkie-talkie, guide service and horses completely equipped.
Not included: Bottled water, food, tips.

Take a bike ride through the Sacred Valley where you will visit the Quarries of Cachicata and the villages on the banks of the river, such as Sillque, Chillca and others. We will return to our campsite during a pleasant 2 hour journey on the other side of the river, passing through the villages of Phiri Podra and enjoying the beautiful scenery.
Includes: bicycles, helmets, gloves, first-aid kit and guide service

Not included: bottled water, food, tips.

Raft on the River Urubamba with category 2 and 3 currents, suitable for everyone. No experience necessary. Trip lasts approximately 2 hours and provides an opportunity to see the beautiful Sacred Valley from a different perspective.
Included: First-aid kit, bilingual guide service, canoeing kit, life-jackets, oars, waterproof pants, and transportation from and to campsite.
Not included: Bottled water, food, tips.

This site, constructed by the Incas, is the oldest known horticultural experimental center in the world. Each terraced level gives a different micro-climate in which different crops can be grown. The terraces built into the natural surrounding landscape are fascinating. Prices are per person for this private service:

This horseback riding tour will take you to the beautiful country side around the city of Cusco (Minimum 2 people).

Watch professional Peruvian dancers and musicians perform to traditional Andean music during a delicious dinner.

During this ceramic class at Muña Restaurant in the lovely Sacred Valley you will learn the basics of Peruvian pottery and make your own piece to take home. A prestigious Peruvian ceramic artist will walk you through the entire process from preparing raw clay to learning traditional painting designs and methods.  You will then use the techniques you just learned to create a one of a kind piece of artwork. This two hour class is a great introduction to Peruvian pottery and an ideal way to learn about the current and traditional art scenes in Peru.
Note that each piece will need to be fired in the kiln and will be ready for delivery in Cusco after two days.
Included: Ceramic teacher and instruction, all materials, transportation.
Not included: Bottled water, food, tips.