9 Day Enticing South America - A Platinum Small Group Journey
This tour is fully escorted by an expert English-speaking guide who will accompany you throughout the tour.
This tour is conducted at a medium-fast pace. Some long travel days may be required to complete this itinerary and you will typically spend two nights at each destination, with some one night stays required. This trip includes a mix of sightseeing and free time to explore at your own pace. You will be required to move about unassisted, including getting on and off vehicles, walking up and down stairs and some activities will be conducted on uneven or steep terrain. You will be required to handle your own luggage.
Platinum Vacations - Luxury at its finest
❖ Exclusivity - Ultra-Small group touring. No more than 12 people
❖ Adults Only - Travel with like-minded adults on all Platinum Vacations tours
❖ Airfares - Add international airfares to any Platinum Vacations tour for peace of mind
❖ Comfort - The best in-destination accommodation including our feature Inspiring Stay at Loi Suites Iguazu
❖ Culinary - Fine-dining daily with all breakfast, 3 lunches and 3 dinners including exclusive dining at Fogon Asado Closed-Door Restaurant
❖ Experiences - Fully inclusive and immersive sightseeing and our thoughtfully curated Inspiring Sights
❖ Experts - Join the highly qualified local team and be accompanied throughout your journey
❖ Essentials - Travel in luxury small coaches, enjoy porterage at all hotels, included gratuities for your guide and driver, plus laundry service
✈ Needing international airfares to accompany your Platinum Vacation? You will be able to access our flight portal after securing your package to add international airfares to your booking.
What we love about this tour
As one of our Platinum Vacations tours, 9 Day Luxury South America, sets the benchmark in ultimate comfort and style while travelling: intimate, ultra-small group touring, curated sightseeing, plush accommodation and exclusive culinary experiences, all backed by our industry-leading, 24/7 customer support.
Welcome to Buenos Aires! Argentina’s beautiful capital city, a perfect blend of old-world charm meets new world cool.
Once you arrive at the airport, your local guide will meet you and you'll be transferred to your hotel, Palladio Hotel Buenos Aires MGallery, your home for the next three nights.
Depending on when you arrive, you might wish to explore the area - the hotel is within walking distance to most major sites including La Recoleta Cemetery, National Museum, Museo Hispanoamericano, and Teatro Colon. Alternatively, rest and relax and make the most of the hotel amenities like the outdoor swimming pool or the spa and wellness centre.
Tonight, enjoy your first Inspiring Taste with a welcome dinner at Fogon Asado Closed-Door Restaurant. Prepare to discover the Asado tradition with a tasting menu, served with a twist.
After this experience, you’ll be transferred back to the hotel for the evening.
Inspiring Taste
Fogón’s closed-door dining experience includes feasting on Argentine Asado classics - this is no regular steakhouse. You’ll be seated at the bar where you’ll see, feel, and experience different grill cooking techniques, up close and personal. You’ll even select your own Gaucho knife, try your hand at making chimichurri sauce and take home the chef’s recipes. This special dinner includes paired traditional wine.
Today we set off on our first day of exploring Buenos Aires. Home to a proud and diverse community of porteños, or ‘people of the port’, this city is a sensuous fusion of faded European splendour and Latin American panache.
Our day will begin at Plaza de Mayo, where we’ll explore the iconic surrounding buildings including Buenos Aires Metropolitan Cathedral, final home of Argentina’s founding father, José de San Martin.
Visiting Palermo, Retiro and Recoleta, we will learn why Buenos Aires is called the ‘Paris
of South America.’ We’ll visit the impressive Plaza San Martín, the distinguished Alvear
Avenue, the Basílica de Nuestra Señora del Pilar, one of the city’s oldest churches, before continuing to La Recoleta Cemetery where we’ll visit Eva Peron’s grave, resting place of the country's most iconic woman.
We’ll visit Puerto Madero, the newest barrio (neighbourhood), to observe its development in becoming a district known for its residential, hotel, and gastronomic attributes.
San Telmo, one of the oldest neighbourhoods, is our next stop. We’ll learn about its rich history and walk its cobbled streets. Continuing southwards to La Boca, one of the city’s most authentic neighbourhoods, we’ll learn about its strong Italian immigrant influence. Here, we’ll visit the mythical Caminito Street, the heart of this barrio and everything that gives La Boca its distinctive spirit: a passion for soccer, art and colour, and the Tango-esque atmosphere.
During the day, we’ll make a stop in a park to join a professional Tango couple who will give a private demonstration of this beautiful dance as we sip a glass of champagne and enjoy some snacks.
This afternoon, we will visit the Evita Museum. This museum was opened on July 26, 2002 to commemorate the 50th anniversary of María Eva Duarte de Perón's death.
Housed in a beautiful early 20th century house, the building itself is a national historic monument. The collection includes dresses, objects and mementos that belonged to Evita, Argentina's most famous first lady.
After this insightful visit, we will enjoy a wine tasting experience at Criolla Cooking & Wine, which is made up of a wonderful group of foodies, chefs and entrepreneurs that aim to create great memories and unforgettable food experiences.
Note:
On Dec 9 Evita Museum will be closed, and will visit MALBA Museum instead
Inspiring Sight
In 1948, the Foundation of Social Help María Eva Duarte de Perón acquired “Casa Carabassa” and established Transit Home N°2 to temporarily house vulnerable women until they could find employment and permanent housing. Today, the building hosts a permanent exhibition tracing Evita's life from her childhood in Los Toldos to her role as First Lady, including her advocacy for women's suffrage and social policies. The tour culminates in a room showcasing Evita's enduring legacy and ideals.
Inspiring Taste
Argentina has produced an outstanding array of grape varieties. Take a private journey through a sample of national wines led by a local expert.
Today we will enjoy an adventure of a lifetime: a gaucho experience at The Pampas - El Ombu de Areco Ranch. A great opportunity to get out of the city and experience the vast flatlands of Argentina. Driving time is approximately 90 minutes.
Located in the heart of the Pampa, Estancia El Ombu de Areco, is surrounded by beautiful gardens of the park where the estancia's namesake, the ombú plant, welcomes visitors and where gauchos have hitched their horses for over a hundred years.
You can spend the day as you wish: enjoy horseback riding or go for a ride in a sulky carriage, while enjoying empanadas and drinks. At lunchtime, we’ll have a typical asado prepared using only the finest quality meats. Dessert is accompanied by a folk music performance, followed by a
demonstration of gaucho skills: equestrian demonstrations, and troops (or tropillas).
The estancia also has an inviting swimming pool in which to cool off in the warmer months.
We’ll drive back to the hotel after our exciting day where you can spend the evening at leisure.
Inspiring Sight
No trip to Argentina would be complete without experiencing life on a ranch. Witness the traditions of an estancia including horsemanship and a traditional BBQ.
This morning you will be transferred to the airport for your flight to Puerto Iguazú.
You will be met on arrival and transferred to your hotel, Loi Suites Iguazú. Your two night stay here is nothing short of magical - immersed in the subtropical Iryapú jungle, Loi Suites Iguazú allows you to switch off and connect to your surroundings. Every room has a view of the jungle so this should be relatively easy!
This evening you’ll be immersed in the ‘Argentine Experience’, an interactive dining experience where you’ll feast on steak, empanadas, wine and sweets, while learning about what being an Argentine is all about. Learn how to close your own empanada using the ‘repulgue’ technique, to order steak your way in Spanish, to prepare your own maté drink, learn common phrases, words, and useful gestures.
Please note that your internal flight has a checked 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.
Inspiring Stay
Harmoniously immersed in the subtropical Iryapú jungle, Loi Suites Iguazú invites you to surround yourself with nature. Each of the spacious rooms has a view of the jungle. The stunning grounds include beautiful swimming pools including a zone exclusively for adults that offers a relaxation space with a warm pool, solarium and bar on the banks of the river.
Inspiring Taste
Sample grilled provoleta cheese and sliced chorizo sausage with chimichurri. Afterwards, a delicious main course of Argentine steak will be served. While enjoying your meal, you’ll also learn about the fundamentals of Malbec wine by a sommelier. For dessert, you will learn how to make an alfajor with dulce de leche, Argentina’s national sweet. Of course, sweets in Argentina are not complete without maté! You will learn how to prepare it yourself, and of course, make a round, the same way as Argentinians do every time they gather.
Today's adventure takes you to the breathtaking Argentinian side of Iguazu Falls where you’ll
experience one of the Seven Wonders of the World as closely as possible: from a boat. There are three distinct sets of trails and walkways await, each offering a unique perspective.
Lower Circuit: Immerse yourself in the grandeur of the falls from below. Feel the spray on your face and hear the thunderous roar as you wander through the lush rainforest. This vantage point grants an intimate understanding of the Falls' immense power and scale.
Upper Circuit: Ascend to a higher perspective, offering breathtaking panoramas of the cascading waters. From here, you can appreciate the full extent of the Iguazu Falls system, witnessing the interconnectedness of each individual cascade.
The Devil's Throat: No visit to Iguazu would be complete without experiencing the awe-inspiring Devil's Throat. Feel the tremor of the earth beneath your feet as you stand just metres away from the plunging water, enveloped by the mist and rainbows painting the air.
A buffet lunch will be served at El Fortin, inside the national park.
If you want to explore the falls beyond the walking tour why not add an optional tour.
This evening we will gather in the grounds of our beautiful hotel to enjoy an evening drink and canapes as we reflect on our incredible day.
The best way to experience the falls is to get right in the action. You’ll travel through lush landscape by specially designed tracks. This five-kilometre long ride ends at Puerto Macuco.
Board a small boat and explore Lower Iguazu River for as long as six kilometres, heading towards the waterfalls area to enjoy the sight of plenty of small cascades. From the Tres Mosqueteros Falls, see the falls on both the Argentinian and Brazilian sides crowned by the view of the Garganta del Diablo (Devil’s Throat).
Afterwards, it’s surely a highlight when you face the incomparable San Martín waterfall. After that we’ll navigate downriver to Puerto Macuco. You’ll walk up the hill, about 150 metres, and ride a truck back to the starting point. This tour goes for 2 hours, 15 minutes.
Please note: This tour is unsuitable for pregnant women, people with back injuries, heart conditions or those with hearing aids.
This morning prepare yourself with your luggage and your passport at hand, because we
are crossing the border to our next destination - Brazil!
After crossing the border we will go straight to the Iguaçu National Park. Adjacent to Iguazú National Park, it preserves the largest remnant of the Atlantic forest in southern Brazil.
Get a close-up view of the Devil's Throat and observe how 14 cascades of 350 feet (107
metres) precipitate with such force that a cloud of fog 100 feet (30 metres) high remains
suspended above.
We will walk through the subtropical forest of the Park to the base of Salto Floriano, then take the elevator to the top of the Falls and bask in the views.
You will then be transferred to the airport to catch your next flight to Rio de Janeiro. Upon arrival, the local guide will meet you and you will be transferred to your hotel, Fairmont Rio de Janeiro Copacabana.
Your evening will be at leisure.
Inspiring Stay
Located on famous Copacabana Beach, Fairmont Rio de Janeiro offers luxury wrapped in timeless elegance. Enjoy stunning views from your ocean view room or the panoramic pool. What better place to relax after a day enjoying this vibrant city.
Get a spectacular aerial view of Iguazu Falls during a 10-minute helicopter ride. Board a state-of-the-art helicopter flown by an experienced pilot in Foz do Iguaçu. You’ll soar above the magnificent falls to get a bird's-eye view of the rushing water and the surrounding rainforest while enjoying commentary from your pilot. Be sure to bring your camera for amazing photo opportunities and your passport for the border crossing.
After breakfast, we will set off for the day exploring Rio’s most iconic landmarks and see the
natural beauty of the city above.
After a scenic drive along Rodrigo de Freitas Lagoon, we will arrive at Corcovado Hill and embark on a train that ascends the mountain where Christ the Redeemer overlooks the city. The statue, known as the ‘Wonder of Rio,’ is one of the New Seven Wonders of the World. When we reach the top, we can use the panoramic elevators or escalators to arrive at the foot of the statute.
Our next stop, Pão de Açúcar (or Sugar Loaf named because of its shape), attracts over one million tourists each year and has become an iconic symbol of Rio de Janeiro. Rising up from a small peninsula at the entrance of Guanabara Bay, the journey to the top is made via glass cable cars. The first cable car takes passengers to the top of Urca Hill, 215 metres above sea level, and offers spectacular views of the entire bay and its surrounding islands. From Urca Hill, passengers continue in a second cable car to the top of SugarLoaf, 395 metres above sea level, and offers 360-degree views of the entire city, including Botafogo and Copacabana Beaches, Corcovado Mountain and downtown Rio de Janeiro. Why not add the exhilarating experience of an optional helicopter ride (see below)
Lunch will be served at Classico restaurant where we’ll enjoy amazing food alongside breathtaking views.
The remainder of the day is free to relax or explore the many bars and restaurants on offer in this vibrant city.
A helicopter tour is the best and most exciting way to admire the natural beauty of the city of Rio de Janeiro from a different angle. Your flight will depart from Sugar Loaf taking in stunning views of Guanabara Bay including Copacabana, Ipanema, and Leblon Beach. Flight duration is approximately 6-7 minutes.
This morning after breakfast we’ll see a different side of Rio de Janeiro. Accompanied by a specialist guide, venture to the southern zone of the city to visit a market and go fruit tasting. This is a great opportunity to meet the local people and get a feel for life as a Carioca. Brazil is known worldwide for its exotic fruit: açaí, star fruit, guava, cashew, just to name a few. Our fruit tasting session features more than a dozen fruit to try in different forms including juice, jelly, ice cream.
The afternoon can be spent at leisure - feel free to ask your Tour Leader for some pointers.
Later this evening we will enjoy dinner together at Baleias Rios. Expect a Mediterranean-inspired menu with a breathtaking panoramic view of Sugar Loaf and Guanabara Bay. Included with your meal is the famous Caipririnha cocktail, beer, wine and soft drinks.
Inspiring Sight
Indulge all of your senses as you are safely immersed in a local market. From the spectacular colourful displays, tropical romas and the buzz of people going about their day, you will walk away with knowledge of fruits you never knew existed.
Your journey across Argentina and Brazil ends after breakfast today. Your guide will pick you up for your private transfer to the airport for your flight.
We trust that you enjoyed this inspiring tour - we can’t wait to see you on your next tour.
Comfort - Staying at a Luxury Tour hotel is an experience in itself. Our experts select the best in-destination hotels, lodges and villas in the perfect location. To ensure your holiday is truly memorable, we include our favourite Inspiring Stays. Each Inspiring Stay provides an authentic, experiential, and cultural experience unique to the destination.
Culinary - Culinary exploration is a highlight of any destination. Our Luxury Tours provide the perfect balance between self-adventure and curated culinary inclusions. Our experts have sourced a range of special experiences, from private dining to chef table dinners to allow your taste buds to embark on a sojourn through the destination.
Experiences - Luxury Tours ensure you'll experience a full immersion of the destination. Experience the must-haves expected on a well-rounded itinerary, plus the extras that make it really special: incredible, all-inclusive sightseeing, enriching activities and one-in-a-lifetime experiences.
Inspiring Stays
Handpicked feature accommodation selections.
Iguazu Falls - Loi Suites. Harmoniously immersed in the subtropical Iryapú jungle, Loi Suites Iguazú invites you to surround yourself with nature. Each of the spacious rooms has a view of the jungle. The stunning grounds include beautiful swimming pools including a zone exclusively for adults that offers a relaxation space with a warm pool, solarium and bar on the banks of the river.
Rio de Janeiro - Fairmont Rio de Janeiro Copacabana. Located on famous Copacabana Beach, Fairmont Rio de Janeiro offers luxury wrapped in timeless elegance. Enjoy stunning views from your ocean view room or the panoramic pool. What better place to relax after a day enjoying this vibrant city.
Inspiring Tastes
Exclusive or unique culinary experiences designed to inspire your senses.
Inspiring Sights
Enjoy an included selection of experiences designed to give you a richer travel experience.
Secure your trip with a $99.00 deposit per person.
Once we receive your deposit, we will send you an invoice with your remaining balance and payment options.
Instalment Schedule:
This is a land only package.
This package does not include international airfares. If you would like to add airfares to your booking our flight portal will be available via your Traveller Hub. The flight portal will allow you to search for all available airfares to your destination. The function works like most general flight search engines allowing you to select your preferred airline, book different cabin classes (eg. Business class) and view flight durations and transit times to your destination.
The flight portal will be available via your Traveller Hub once the following criteria has been met:
Visit our Flight Hub for more information on terms and conditions, amending your flights and information on luggage allowances.
It is the traveller's responsibility to ensure they have a valid passport. The passport must be valid for a minimum of six months from the intended date of return. Visas may be required for your destination. For further visa information, click here.
Fitness Requirements
While the tour itinerary should give you some guidance and overview to the expected requirements, to determine if this tour is right for you we categorise each of our tours in terms of their intensity. These guidelines are to ensure that each tour group is conducted as expected and to ensure the overall satisfaction of all Inspiring Vacations customers.
As a general rule, porterage is not included, therefore at all times you are expected to handle your own luggage where help may not be available.
This particular tour is categorised as a ‘3'
3 – Moderate Tour: A good level of fitness and mobility is required, as this tour includes a moderate level of physical activity and is considered a medium-fast paced tour. You should be able to walk up and down stairs, get on and off the coach and able to walk reasonable distances of approximately 2 kilometres per day or more with ease. Any physical ailments you may have must be disclosed at the time of booking to determine your suitability. If you have any form of walking aids, other than a walking stick or hiking poles, then this tour is not suitable.
Tipping
A friendly reminder that tipping is not included in your package. Tipping is not compulsory on your trip, but they can make a big difference to locals employed in the tourism industry. If you feel that your guide and driver have done an impeccable job, you can choose to give a gratuity, but this is entirely your decision.
Accommodation
The accommodation listed is subject to change. Any changes will be of an equal or higher standard. Bedding configurations (double or twin) are requests only. All efforts will be made to meet your preferences, however, any changes are beyond our control.
Single Supplement
Single supplement is $4,924.00 per person, in addition to the twin-share price.
Triple Share
Not available.
Travel Insurance
Travel insurance is recommended to protect yourself against the unexpected. In addition to the support that a policy may provide, you may be asked to present a copy of your travel insurance documentation while traveling.
Group Size
Minimum: 4
Maximum: 12
Children
Children must be 5 years old or above and share a room with parents at all times. Children are charged the same price as adults.
Tour Style
To meet the needs of various types of travelers, we choose to operate various types of tours, and depending on your selected package will mean different services are provided throughout your trip. The following descriptions of each tour style we hope will ensure that each traveller has appropriate expectations before they start their travels:
All participants must be in good physical condition to fully engage in this journey. For the safety and welfare of yourself and fellow travellers, if you are feeling unwell prior to departure, we advise staying home and contacting us to arrange alternate plans.
Prior to selecting your trip, carefully review the itinerary to assess your ability to comfortably manage our travel style. Please be aware that if, based on evaluation by our leader or local representative, a participant is deemed unable to safely complete the itinerary, we retain the right to exclude them from all or part of the trip without reimbursement.
It is advisable to consult your physician for current medical travel advisories and any required vaccinations before embarking. We recommend carrying a first aid kit and any necessary medications in their original packaging, as they may not be readily available during travel. For those carrying medication, it's essential to check your government's foreign travel guidelines for local restrictions or regulations.
To enhance your journey, we are offering guests a choice of the following optional activities (prices are per person):
Optional tours can be selected once you have finalised your tour purchase and paid your deposit. When completing your Passenger Booking Form, you will be asked if you would like to add Optional Tours, where any applicable cost will be added to your final balance. If you choose not to select them at this time, you can choose to add them later by logging in to your Account online.
Please note that you must select your Optional Tours no later than 70 days before departure, after which you will be required to purchase them on tour. Please keep in mind that anything purchased on-tour is subject to availability and prices may vary as you will be paying in local currency. We appreciate your understanding.
Click HERE for more information on weather in Argentina.
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