THE COLORS AND CULTURES OF SOUTH AMERICA – Rio de Janeiro • Iguazu Falls • Buenos Aires

We’re off! Today we’ll depart Salt Lake City and begin our journey south to Brazil. Settle in for our overnight flight and get ready for nine days filled with incredible scenery, fascinating cultures and some of South America’s most iconic experiences.

Meals: In Flight

Bem-vindo ao Brasil! Welcome to Rio de Janeiro, known to Brazilians as the Cidade Maravilhosa—the Marvelous City! Upon arrival, we’ll transfer to our hotel located just minutes from famous Copacabana Beach and get settled into our tropical surroundings.

This afternoon, we’ll head out to discover some of Rio’s greatest landmarks. We’ll ride the train up Corcovado Mountain to stand beneath the iconic Christ the Redeemer, overlooking the city from high above. Then we’ll experience another unforgettable Rio perspective as a cable car carries us to the top of Sugarloaf Mountain. From the summit, we’ll take in spectacular 360-degree views of the city, beaches, mountains and Atlantic coastline. What a way to begin our South American adventure!

Overnight: Rio de Janeiro

After breakfast, we’ll experience Rio from an entirely different perspective as we board a traditional schooner for a cruise along beautiful Guanabara Bay. With Rio’s mountains, city skyline and Atlantic waters surrounding us, this is our chance to relax and simply enjoy the beauty of Brazil.

Tonight, come hungry! We’ll enjoy dinner at a well-known Brazilian churrascaria, where an incredible selection of grilled meats and traditional accompaniments gives us a delicious introduction to Brazil’s famous barbecue culture. Great scenery followed by great food—that sounds like a pretty good day to us!

Overnight: Rio de Janeiro
Featured Experiences: Schooner Cruise & Brazilian Churrascaria Dinner

After breakfast, we’ll transfer to the airport for our flight to Iguazu Falls, one of the great natural wonders of South America and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Nothing quite prepares you for seeing Iguassu for the first time. Stretching nearly 1.7 miles, approximately 275 individual waterfalls plunge into the Iguazu River, surrounded by lush subtropical vegetation. And we aren’t just going to look at them from a distance! Our experience includes an exhilarating boat adventure that takes us through the rapids and into the spray near the massive falls. Plan on getting wet—very wet! It’s exciting, refreshing and one of those South American experiences we’ll be talking about long after we return home.

Overnight: Iguazu Falls Area

This morning we’ll say tchau to Brazil and cross the international border into Argentina. From the Argentine airport, we’ll board our flight to Buenos Aires, often called the Paris of South America for its broad avenues, European-inspired architecture and sophisticated personality.

Our hotel is located along famous 9 de Julio Avenue, one of the city’s grandest thoroughfares. Tonight, we’ll dive straight into the culture of Argentina with dinner and an unforgettable tango show. Born in the neighborhoods of Buenos Aires, tango is far more than a dance—it is music, passion, drama and an important part of the soul of this city.

Overnight: Buenos Aires
Featured Experience: Dinner & Tango Show

This morning we’ll head out to discover Buenos Aires, a fascinating city where grand architecture and elegant boulevards mix with colorful neighborhoods and unmistakable Latin personality.

One of our highlights will be La Boca, the historic neighborhood settled by many European immigrants during the late 1800s. We’ll stroll along famous Caminito Street, known for its brightly colored buildings, cobblestone streets, restaurants, artists and tango heritage. It’s lively, colorful and wonderfully photogenic—a side of Buenos Aires you simply have to experience while you’re here.

Overnight: Buenos Aires

Today we’re leaving city life behind and heading into the Argentine countryside for one of the most fun and culturally immersive experiences of our tour.

We’ll spend the day at a traditional Argentine ranch, where we’ll be introduced to the culture and traditions of the gauchos—Argentina’s legendary cowboys. And, of course, no visit to an Argentine ranch would be complete without food! We’ll gather around for a traditional open-pit barbecue featuring Argentina’s famous grilled meats and enjoy an afternoon filled with folk music, dancing and local traditions. It’s a festive day and a wonderful opportunity to experience a very different side of Argentina.

After our day in the countryside, we’ll return to Buenos Aires for the evening.

Overnight: Buenos Aires
Featured Experience: Gaucho Ranch, Argentine Barbecue, Music & Dancing

This morning is ours to enjoy Buenos Aires at our own pace. Take a walk along the pedestrian streets of downtown, browse for those last-minute souvenirs, stop at a café, or simply find a comfortable spot and watch everyday Argentine life go by. An optional steak lunch will also be available for anyone who wants one last taste of Argentina before heading home.

Later today, we’ll collect our luggage and transfer to the international airport for our overnight flight home. As we leave South America behind, we’ll have plenty to talk about—from standing high above Rio and getting soaked at Iguassu Falls to tango in Buenos Aires and barbecue with the gauchos!

Welcome home! We’ll arrive back in Salt Lake City today after an incredible journey through two countries and three very different South American destinations.

We’ve experienced Brazil from the top of Sugarloaf Mountain to the waters of Rio’s bay, felt the incredible power of Iguassu Falls, walked the colorful streets of Buenos Aires, experienced tango and spent a day immersed in Argentina’s gaucho traditions.

We may be coming home—but the colors and cultures of South America will stay with us for a very long time!