12 Day Taste Of South America Premium Small Group Tour

Welcome to Santiago! Upon your arrival at Santiago airport, make your way to your 4-star hotel  located in the cultural and artistic heart of the city where the rest of the day is at leisure. 

Alternatively, you can pre book a private arrival transfer where a representative will meet you on arrival and transfer you to the hotel. Further details can be found under the ‘Upgrade Options’. 

After breakfast, meet your local tour leader who will brief you about the upcoming activities. Following this, enjoy a full day walking tour of this incredible city. We’ll walk to the hill Santa Lucia: Conquistador Pedro de Valdivia founded Santiago here on February 12, 1541. Then continue to “Paseo Ahumada”, the city’s main shopping and commercial centre to see “La Moneda” government palace and the Stock Exchange. Following this we head to the Plaza de Armas square and see Santiago’s Cathedral and then take a transfer to the other side of the city to explore the Parque Bicentenario. This beautiful park is on the slopes of Cerro San Cristobal and has a total area of 27 hectares and showcases around 4,000 trees of which more than 1,300 are native species and protected by the Chilean Ministry of the Environment.

Enjoy time at the North Lagoon home to black-necked swans, flamingos, coots and herons before returning to your hotel this afternoon where the rest of your day is at leisure.

This evening, enjoy an Inspiring Taste with a welcome dinner at a local restaurant paired with some of the finest Chilean wines found in the local area. 

Today you are transferred to the airport to board your flight to Mendoza, one of the most picturesque cities in Argentina and one of the largest wine producing areas in Latin America. As such, Mendoza is one of the nine Great Wine Capitals, and the city is an emerging enotourism destination and base for exploring the region's hundreds of wineries located along the Argentina Wine Route.

Upon your arrival at Mendoza airport, you will be met by your local driver and transferred to your hotel. After check-in,  meet your tour leader for an orientation walk around the city.

Note: In the event your flight to Mendoza is later in the day, your orientation tour will take place tomorrow morning.  Flight times are subject to change.

Today is free for you to explore the beautiful wine country on your own. 

Alternatively, you may wish to join the optional tour below.

This evening enjoy an included dinner at a unique location, where regional cuisine is still valued, accompanied by the best wines.

Today, you are transferred to the airport for your included flight to Buenos Aires where, at the airport, you will be met  and transferred to your hotel located in the heart of the downtown district.

Born on the banks of Río de la Plata, Buenos Aires is a city of contrasts. Avenues which display sensational European buildings and architectural pieces of work and neighbourhoods oozing with intense cultural, artistic and gastronomic surprises around each corner. 

Tonight, enjoy an Inspiring Site with a special Tango-show and dinner at one of the city’s premier theatres - “La Ventana”. You will be transferred from your hotel to the heart of San Telmo to La Ventana Barrio de Tango where you will step into a fully restored venue showcasing the historic representation of the Buenos Aires culture through the ages. With over 30 artists on stage you will experience two tango orchestras, a collection of folk music, dancers and singers all while feasting on international and local Argentinian dishes and a large selection of Argentine wine. Following the show, you will be transferred back to your hotel for the evening.

Please note that your internal flights within Argentina have a luggage limit of 15kg per person (33lbs). Unfortunately, Inspiring Vacations cannot increase this limit and is limited by the airlines luggage policy.  Any fees for excess baggage incurred at the airport will be the responsibility of the traveller and payable directly to the airline during check in.

Accompanied by your local guide, we will discover Buenos Aires through the eyes of a local on a half day city tour covering all the main sites.  Start off by visiting Plaza de Mayo, the heart of Buenos Aires and the place where the city was founded. Then, head to Puerto Madero, known as the gateway of the founders of Argentina. There you will appreciate the transformation of one of the most modern neighbourhoods in the city. Continue to La Boca and Caminito, where you will feel Argentinians’ passion for football. Pass by the Bombonera Stadium and the Riachuelo River, populated by Italian immigrants.

Next, a visit to San Telmo, the place where the elegant and sensual dance, Tango, originated. Finally visit Palermo and Recoleta to learn more about Porteños’ customs, habits and behaviours, also pass by the Recoleta Cemetery (entrance ticket is not included) and the beautiful Floralis Generica. 

Return to the hotel where the rest of the afternoon is at leisure. Take time to relax or perhaps seek out one of the many local “Parrilla'' or steakhouses where open-fire hearth and grates prepare flavoursome Argentinian steak - a true sensory experience! From fine dining to street carts, these steakhouses can be found all over the city.

Today is free for you to explore Buenos Aires on your own. 

Alternatively, you may wish to join one of the optional tours below:

Transfer to the airport today for your included flight to Puerto Iguazu where on arrival you will be met by your local guide and transferred to your hotel.

Welcome  to Iguazu Falls - one of the most famous world-wide attractions! Made up of 275 individual waterfalls, they are divided between Argentina and Brazil and provide vastly different views and experiences depending on which side they are viewed from. In the "Land of the Falls,"  you can revel in the splendour of the natural forests, rivers and lakes. 

After checking into your hotel, the rest of the day is at leisure.

These spectacular falls can be viewed from both sides; the Brazilian side offers a broader, panoramic view, and the Argentinian side offers a series of catwalks that allow you to experience the Falls up close.

This morning you’ll explore Iguazu Falls from the Argentinian side. Beginning at the visitor’s centre, you’ll take a ride on the Rainforest Ecological Train before exploring the upper and lower circuit footbridges. These footbridges, raised off the jungle floor, provide panoramic views from above and below the falls.

A visit to monumental, roaring Devil’s Throat – arguably the most spectacular of the falls – is one of the day’s highlights. It’s the heart of the falls and the highest, at about 80 metres. The noise as these mighty falls plunge to the bottom of the narrow canyon is almost deafening. There’s the chance of getting under the falls, with an optional ride on the Gran Aventura.

You’ll return to the hotel in the afternoon.

Today, you’ll tour the relatively dry Brazilian side of the falls, with breathtaking panoramic views at every turn. Uninterrupted vistas of the Floriana Falls, the Devil’s Gorge canyon and the Iguazu River are spectacular and guaranteed to impress.

Following your tour, you may wish to see the falls from another perspective with an optional Helicopter ride:

This morning, you’ll meet your local guide and embark on a full day tour of Rio de Janeiro to see the city’s famous landmarks, Christ the Redeemer and Sugarloaf Mountain.

We’ll take a scenic drive from Copacabana Beach, continuing along Botafogo Beach and passing the imposing Guanabara Palace on the way to Corcovado Hill. At the top we’ll find the greatest national icon, Christ the Redeemer, standing tall over the city with arms outstretched. This giant Art Deco statue was recently named as one of the New Seven Wonders of the World. The panoramic views of the city are lovely from up here, 709 metres at the summit.

We’ll then continue on to the district of Urca and the world-famous rocky peak of Sugarloaf Mountain, where you’ll board the first cable car to the top of Urca Hill, enjoying spectacular views of Guanabara Bay.

A second cable car takes you on to Sugarloaf, with 360-degree views of the city and surrounds. Sugarloaf Mountain towers over the harbour, 400 metres above the mouth of Guanabara Bay.

Afterwards, we’ll pass through the famous beaches of Copacabana and Ipanema en route to a traditional Brazilian lunch at a local churrascaria, an all-you-can-eat barbeque.

After lunch, we’ll visit the Maracanã Stadium, home of Bellini’s statue and the Hall of Fame. Brazilians also love their football (soccer) and this is their biggest stadium. Entrance to the stadium is not included. And there will be a stop at the Sambadrome, the stadium for the city’s main Carnival parade.

As we pass through the city’s historic centre, you’ll have a chance to see the Lapa Arches. Built in the middle of the 18th century, this aqueduct is an impressive example of colonial architecture and engineering. We’ll also make a quick stop to see the colourful Selaron Stairs, an amazing urban work of art by the late Jorge Selaron. These steps are decorated with more than 2,000 brightly coloured tiles and mirrors.

We’ll return to the hotel along Aterro de Flamengo (Flamengo Park), passing by the Monument to the Dead of World War II and the beaches of Flamengo and Botafogo.

Your tour concludes at the hotel after breakfast. 

A private departure transfer to the airport can be booked at an additional charge.  Further details can be found under the ‘Upgrade Options’.