Scenic South America
Fixed Departures
12 Days
In addition to our tailor-made itineraries, BFirst Travel is pleased to offer the Scenic South America tour.
Our group tour aims to show you “our
The highlights on this tour are: Santiago, Mendoza, Buenos Aires, Iguassu Falls and Rio de Janeiro.
Guaranteed departure on fixed dates, minimum 2 participants with local English speaking guide.
Hotels quoted are tourist, superior and first class categories (similar to 3*, 4* and 5* categories). The hotels we use are clean, safe, with private facilities and are centrally located.
Day 1
Santiago - TUE
Arrival in Santiago and transfer to the hotel.
In the afternoon city tour of Santiago de Chile.
Santiago de Chile is a city of contrasts. With remains of its Colonial past to the ultramodern, high-rise buildings of the financial center, Chile’s capital city will surprise us. There is a predominantly European influence in the cities culture. More than 5 million of habitants live here.
The city tour starts passing the San Francisco Church built between 1572 and 1618 to head west towards the area of the Club Hípico, one of the most beautiful horseracing tracks in South America. Proceed towards downtown passing by the Cousiño Palace, several monuments and public buildings and the quarters of the government at the Constitution Plaza (The Constitution Square) visiting the Presidential palace known as “La Moneda”. At the Plaza de Armas the Cathedral Church, the Main Post Office Building and the National History Museum can be seen. Proceed to Cerro Santa Lucía (Santa Lucía hill) from where one can appreciate the scenic view of Santiago’s downtown. Passing Mapocho River and the residential areas with beautiful houses, parks and malls on your way back to the hotel.
Day 2
Santiago - WED
Day at leisure – the following optional tour can be booked with BFirst Travel:
Optional (not included in the rate): Full day excursion to Valparaiso and Viña del Mar.
The tour leaves Santiago in western direction. Arriving in Valparaiso, you pass by the main square where you can view the monument honouring the Naval Battle fought in 1879. Driving towards the southern side of the city and seeing the old funiculars you will drive up a hillside for a most spectacular view of the bay seeing Valparaiso’s downtown district and its adjoining hills. Then proceed to the lower level of the city through the commercial heart of the port, where you’ll take the coastal highway that links Valparaiso with the resort city of Viña del Mar. Reaching the Concón beach, you can admire various fish stands displaying a great variety of seafood. Summer homes and restaurants are spread out along the coast. Afterwards, visit the main square Plaza Vergara and the shopping avenue before returning to Santiago.
Day 3
Santiago/Mendoza - THU
Transfer hotel/bus terminal (on private basis) - public bus from Santiago to Mendoza without guide (6-7 hours)
Transfer bus terminal/hotel (on private basis)
Today you are going on a full day panoramic bus journey crossing the majestic Andes and the border to Argentina. After breakfast, you will be picked up at the hotel and transferred to the bus terminal in Santiago downtown. Board the comfortable public bus to Mendoza. Enjoy an impressive drive offering spectacular mountain views. Passing the city of Los Andes, your bus continues upwards on “Ruta 60” along the hillside of the Andean Mountains, offering you panoramic views on the way. You drive past Portillo, Chile’s most important centre of winter sports. It is located at the foot of the Aconcagua, the highest mountain of South America. You are going to leave Chile crossing the Argentinean Border through a tunnel which was built in 1980. Now, the road starts to lead downhill. You see the “Puente del Inca” (“Inca Bridge”), a strange rock formation resembling a bridge crossing the Mendoza River. Your bus passes Los Penitentes, Argentina’s best-known ski resort, before reaching Mendoza, your final destination for today.
Arrival at the bus terminal in Mendoza and transfer to your hotel.
Remark: It might occur that the transfer by bus must be cancelled due to bad weather conditions (spring/autumn). In this case passengers will need to take a flight from Santiago to Mendoza, which must be paid on the spot by themselves.
Day 4
Mendoza - FRI
Today you will visit the city sharing the culture and history of its foundation by the Spanish colonizers four centuries ago. It includes a visit to the Independence Plaza, the main avenues and the Civic Centre, The Founding area, The Aquarium (as optional), the General Martin Park and the Hill of Glory, a popular spot for a panoramic view.
As an optional tour (at an additional cost) you will be able to visit the most important wineries, the bodegas, around the city including wine tasting.
Day 5
Mendoza/Buenos Aires - SAT
Transfer from the hotel in Mendoza to the airport for your flight to Buenos Aires.
Upon arrival in Buenos Aires transfer from the airport to the hotel.
Afternoon at leisure – in the evening the following optional tour can be booked with BFirst Travel (at an addtional cost):
Optional: Tango Show with dinner at a typical Tango House.
Day 6
Buenos Aires - SUN
After breakfast you will visit the most important sites during a city tour. You will drive to the Plaza de Mayo, with the Casa Rosada, the pink house, seat of the government, the Cabildo (town hall) and the Metropolitan Cathedral, home of the Archbishop of Buenos Aires. The tour goes onto the district San Telmo. Until 1888 this part of the city was a river port, today San Telmo is one of the most modern and desired places to live in Buenos Aires. The worker district La Boca is famous for its colourful tin-houses and its history as living district of Italian seamen and dock workers in the 19th century. The Barrio Norte called Recoleta is the quarter of the rich of Buenos Aires. On the cemetery of Recoleta one will find the grave of Eva Duarte who became famous as Evita Perón. Continue along the widest avenue in the world, the Avenida 9 de Julio, to the Plaza Lavalle with the Federal Court of Justice and the Teatro Colón, to Palermo with its parks and gardens. Return to the hotel.
Day 7
Buenos Aires - MON
Day at leisure to discover Buenos Aires at your own pace.
Day 8
Buenos Aires/Iguazu Falls - TUE
Transfer to the domestic airport for the flight to Iguazu.
Upon arrival in Iguazu pick-up at the airport and transfer to the Argentinean National Park towards the Argentinean side of the Falls.
You will make a short stop at the Visitor’s Centre and proceed from there along the Inferior Circuit, the down-river falls, to the Superior Circuit, the up-river cascades. The Ecological Jungle Train leads you to the most impressive observation point of the falls – The Devil´s Throat. After visit transfer to the hotel on the Brazilian side of the Falls.
Day 9
Iguassu Falls - WED
In the morning visit of the Brazilian side of the falls. Walking along the paths following cascades and then along the path that leads very close to the bottom of the Devil’s Throat to enjoy magnificent views. Take an elevator to go up to the road in order to board the coach which will bring back to the hotel.
Day 10
Iguassu Falls/Rio de Janeiro - THU
Transfer from the hotel to the airport for the flight to Rio de Janeiro.
Arrival in Rio and transfer to the hotel, Check In and time for a first stroll along Copacabana Beach.
This afternoon starts a half day beach tour including a visit to the Corcovado statue. Leaving the hotel you proceed as far as Cosme Velho Station to board a cog-train for the ride through Tijuca Forest up to Corcovado Mountain.
The train ride takes 20 minutes and is a wonderful opportunity for a closer look at the forest’s lush tropical vegetation and to enjoy scenic landscapes of the beaches and the city. Disembarking at the top of Corcovado and then proceeding up the steps will lead to the top lookout where the towering statue of Christ the Redeemer stands. After appreciating the breathtaking view unfolding below descend by train and continue passing by some of Rio’s beaches.
Remark: From November 2009 on the Corcovado excursion will be replaced by the half day city tour including visit of the Sugarloaf.
Day 11
Rio de Janeiro - FRI
Day at leisure – the following optional tours can be booked with BFirst Travel:
Optional (at an extra cost): Half day city tour including visit of Sugarloaf
Downtown is the business heart of Rio. It is a part of the city where colonial Rio meets modern skyscrapers. Passing through Rio Branco Avenue, you will see the Candelaria Church, which was started being built in the late 18th century and was completed in 1898. The headquarter of major Brazilian banks and commercial enterprises is located on this avenue. You will also see the Opera House (Teatro Municipal) and the Carioca Square, the church of Santo Antonio built in the 17th century as well as the contrast of the modern buildings such as Petrobras and the Cathedral. Moreover you will get to know Rio's aqueduct built in the 18th century which is nowadays connecting downtown to Santa Teresa district, an old residential area. Afterwards you will drive through one of the highlights of this tour: the Flamengo Park from where you have the chance to see already the top highlight of this tour, the Sugar Loaf. This famous mountain reached by a cable car 1,200 feet high, will give you an experience you will never forget: looking down at Rio from top of the Sugar Loaf is one of the most spectacular views in the world.
Optional (at an extra cost): Full day tour to Petropolis
Going on a scenic drive up Serra dos Orgaos Range across the Atlantic Forest's lush vegetation through mountains and valleys as far as 850m high Petropolis. Visit of the Summer Palace and the Cathedral, and touring along that charming city's highlights, such as the Crystal Palace, Santos Dumont's House, old mansions and charming squares. (tour can also be booked including lunch).
Day 12
Rio de Janeiro - SAT
Transfer to the airport and return flight home or to your next destination.
Bye Bye Brazil!
Tourist Class Share Twin
Superior Class Share Twin
Lunch included
Dinner included