Intrepid Travel - Argentina & Brazil Adventure

Itinerary:

Day 1: Buenos Aires
Bienvenido! Welcome to Buenos Aires. Buenos Aires is the ultimate cosmopolitan city, with Latin passion, European elegance and its own distinctive style. Your adventure begins with an important welcome meeting at 6pm. Your leader will leave a note at the hotel reception telling you where this important meeting will take place. If you arrive early, why not visit San Telmo and its weekend antiques market and artists’ displays – it’s a great chance to acquaint yourself with some portenos (local residents). Alternatively, visit Recoleta (the grand cemetery) or perhaps Casa Rosada (the Pink House).

Accommodation: 1 x Hotel

Optional Activities:

• Buenos Aires - Coastal train - 10USD
• Buenos Aires - Tango show ticket prices from - 120USD
• Buenos Aires - Football game (subject to availability) from - 120USD

Day 2: Buenos Aires
Enjoy some breakfast, then embark on an orientation walk through this fantastic city. You’ll be introduced to some of Buenos Aires’ major sights – the likes of the Colon Theatre, the Obelisc and Plaza de Mayo. Along the way, learn a little more about Argentina’s independence from Spain. Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: 1 x Hotel

Optional Activities:

• Buenos Aires - Polo day - 185USD

Day 3: Ituizangó
This mroning catch a short flight to Posadas, followed by a drive to Ituzaingo (approximately 1 hour). Ituizangó will serve as your base to explore the beautiful Ibera Wetlands region in the north of Argentina. Spanning more than 15,000 square kilometres, the Ibera wetlands are roughly the size of Belgium, which gives you an idea of how much there is to explore. The biodiversity in incredible, and the swamps, lakes and lagoons are home to such creatures as otters, alligators, deer, wolves and black howler monkeys, just to name a few. Keep a look out too for those oddly noble-looking creatures, the capybaras. These cousins of guinea pigs are the largest rodents in the world. Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: 1 x Hotel

Day 4: Ibera Wetlands/Ituizangó
Take part on a full day (approximately 8-10 hour) walking tour and car safari with a guide, tasty lunch and plenty of snacks. You might see any number of obscure species – maybe caiman or swamp deer, perhaps even an armadillo, or a flock of rhea (which are like a South American equivalent of an emu). Anacondas, though particularly hard to spot at certain times of the year, are also known to inhabit these wetlands. Keep an eye to the sky, as you’re bound to catch a glimpse of some of the 350 bird species here, from the sharp-tailed tyrant to the gorgeous and garish yellow robin. Meals: Breakfast,Lunch

Accommodation: 1 x Hotel

Day 5: Foz do Iguazu
Enjoy some breakfast and prepare for a long travel day. From Ituizangó take a comfortable local bus to Puerto Iguazu (approximately 5 hours). As soon as you arrive at Puerto Iguazu bus station, you will take a minivan across the border into Brazil and continue to your hotel in Foz do Iguazu (approximately one hour, depending on traffic at the Argentina–Brazil border). Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: 1 x Hotel

Day 6: Foz do Iguacu
Here at Iguazu, you’ll visit the mighty waterfalls from both the Brazilian and Argentinian sides. At over 2 kilometres long, Iguazu Falls are actually a series of cataracts. There are over 270 falls in all, and with some reaching up to 80 metres in height, they are wider than Victoria Falls and higher than Niagara. Enjoy the magnificent panoramas on the Brazilian side of Iguazu Falls. Seeing the falls from this side has its perks, such as a view of San Martin Island which you don’t quite get from the Argentinean side. You might like to take a helicopter ride over the falls while you’re here. This optional excursion gives you spectacular views of the falls and the lush green parklands that surround it. Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: 1 x Hotel

Optional Activities:

• Iguazu Falls - Zodiac ride up to the falls - 90USD
• Iguazu Falls - Helicopter ride - 130USD
• Iguazu Falls - Bird Park Entrance - 80BRL

Day 7: Iguazu Falls
Today we go to the Argentinean side of the Falls where it’s possible to follow a series of boardwalks to get up close to the thundering waters – so close you can almost touch them. Later, visit a Guarani community for the rare opportunity to meet some of the region’s few remaining indigenous people. Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: 1 x Hotel

Included Activities:

• Iguazu Falls - Tour of the Argentinian side of the falls
• Iguazu Falls - Guarani community visit

Optional Activities:

• Iguazu Falls - Zodiac ride up to the falls - 90USD

Day 8: Rio de Janeiro
Travel by plane to Rio de Janeiro, the festive heart of Brazil. Settle into your hotel and then set out on an orientation walk with your leader. Rio is a fascinating and diverse city best known for its contrasting images of favelas (shanty towns) and the glitz and glamour of Carnaval. With free time, you can choose from many optional activities. Perhaps head to a football game, take a cable car ride between Praia Vermelha and the Sugarloaf Mountain for incredible views over town. For further options, chat to your leader. Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: 1 x Hotel Santa Clara

Optional Activities:

• Rio de Janeiro - Carnival rehearsal (June to Carnival only) from - 120BRL
• Rio de Janeiro - Football Game (schedule dependent) from - 400BRL
• Rio de Janeiro - Sugarloaf Mountain Cable Car (entrance) - 160BRL

Day 9: Rio de Janeiro
This morning you’ll be picked up at your hotel first thing in the morning and head straight to Christ the Redeemer to beat the crowds. Soak up the early morning air and take some photos of this iconic statue before heading to a traditional local Farmer’s Market. Your local leader will show you some of the best foods to try as well as providing plenty of interesting facts about the market traditions. Today you’ll have a free afternoon, so may wish to return to the hotel with your leader to relax. Otherwise, a visit to Sugarloaf is a great way to spend the rest of the day. Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation: 1 x Hotel

Day 10: Rio de Janeiro
There are no activities planned for the final day and you are able to depart the accommodation at any time. Meals: Breakfast

Optional Activities:

• Rio de Janeiro - Total Rio Tour Combo 2: Old Town, Sugarloaf & Urca Urban Adventure - 149USD
• Ilha Grande - Day trip - 390BRL