Brazil/Argentina/Chile/Peru
South American Odyssey: Rio de Janeiro, Buenos Aires, Machu Picchu & More
Program No. 22885RJ
Learn the samba in Rio and the tango in Buenos Aires, climb to Machu Picchu and have lunch hosted by locals in colorful Valparaiso on this journey to the best of South America.
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Protecting the Environment
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19 days
18 nights
36 meals
16B 13L 7D
1
In Transit to Program
In Flight
2
Arrive Rio de Janeiro, Visit Sugar Loaf.
Rio de Janeiro
3
Exploring Corcovado and Favela experience.
Rio de Janeiro
4
Rio's Historic Center and Samba School
Rio de Janeiro
5
Fly to Foz do Iguaçu and Iguazu Falls Field Trip
Iguazu Falls
6
Iguazu Falls, Argentinean side.
Iguazu Falls
7
Fly to Buenos Aires, Argentina.Tango experience.
Buenos Aires
10
Contemporary Buenos Aires. Free time to explore.
Buenos Aires
11
Fly to Santiago and City Tour
Santiago
12
Valparaíso, Family host lunch
Santiago
14
Cuzco, Pisaq & local Ranch
Urubamba Valley
15
Ollantaytambo Ruines, and Inca town, Urubamba Market.
Urubamba Valley
16
Machu Picchu UNESCO World Heritage Site
Aguas Calientes
19
Arrival to North America
In Flight
At a Glance
The rhythm of samba and the icons of Rio de Janeiro: Corcovado, Sugar Mountain and Copacabana Beach. The pounding waters of Iguazu Falls. The glint of sunlight illuminating the ruins of the Incas in the Sacred Valley and Machu Picchu. The colorful and classic neighborhoods of Buenos Aires and the culture of Argentina’s Gauchos. Cosmopolitan Santiago, the Pacific coast of Chile all set against the imposing backdrop of the Andes. On this journey from the extraordinary coast of Brazil to the mountaintops of the Peruvian Andes, feast your senses on the natural, ancient and contemporary wonders of South America.
Activity Level
Keep the Pace
Elevations up to 11,000 feet in Cusco, Peru. Walking and standing up to two miles a day in a variety of conditions.
Small Group
Love to learn and explore in a small-group setting? These adventures offer small, personal experiences with groups of 13 to 24 participants.
Best of all, you’ll…
- Explore the highlights of Rio de Janeiro and take in the awesome splendor of Iguazu Falls from both the Argentine and Brazilian vantage points.
- Walk among the remains of the ancient Inca civilization in the Sacred Valley and at Machu Picchu.
- Discover Argentine culture in Buenos Aires with a tango lesson and the sophisticated neighborhood of Recoleta.
Suggested Reading List
(13 books)
Visit the Road Scholar Bookshop
You can find many of the books we recommend at the Road Scholar store on bookshop.org, a website that supports local bookstores.
South American Odyssey: Rio de Janeiro, Buenos Aires, Machu Picchu & More
Program Number: 22885
Lonely Planet Buenos Aires
The best of Buenos Aires is included in this practical guide, along with a pullout map and insider recommendations on shopping, eating, sleeping and day trips.
Cataratas del Iguazu
This foldup, laminated card shows seven maps of the falls, Puerto Iguazu, park and region.
Buenos Aires, A Cultural History
An exhilarating, erudite guide to Buenos Aires as it has been portrayed by writers, poets and thinkers; serves well as a guidebook, too, with a street map and detailed neighborhood descriptions.
Lost City of the Incas
This first-rate adventure story by the man who brought Machu Picchu to the attention of the world 100 years ago is not just a gripping tale of exploration and archaeology, it also sets the scene for any visitor to the site.
The Incas
Featuring archival drawings and photographs, a chronology and chapters on Atahualpa, the Conquistadors and Hiram Bingham, this handy book (previously published as People of the Sun) illuminates the daily life, monuments and history of the Incas.
Stone Offerings
Torrey captures the dramatic setting, solitude and intricate construction of the Inca site of Machu Picchu in 100 striking color photographs taken over a few days at summer and winter solstice.
Tropical Nature
Two uncommonly observant and thoughtful field biologists offer a lucid portrait of the tropics through 17 marvelous essays that introduce the habitats, ecology, plants and animals of the Central and South American rainforests.
Inca Trail: Machu Picchu, Sacred Valley, Cusco Map
This fact-filled map shows the whole of the Sacred Valley, from Cusco to Ollantaytambo and Machu Picchu, on one side, and, on the reverse, the area surrounding the sanctuary in splendid, topographic detail (1:50,000). It's the best map for those making the trek from kilometer 88 to the site and an excellent choice for those exploring by bus or train.
The Machu Picchu Guidebook
With maps and site plans, a segment on new discoveries, a wildlife section and a fold-out full color painting of the city as it may have looked during a solstice celebration in 1530.
Brazil
An excellent, colorful primer to the country and its history, covering the varied landscapes, diverse cultures and regional customs, including carnaval and soccer.
The Brazilians
A clear, comprehensive and compelling introduction to Brazil, covering politics, history, economics, ecology, conservation and culture.
Cloud Forest, A Chronicle of the South American Wilderness
Matthiessen recounts with wit, insight and style his odyssey to the Amazon and Andes, including Machu Picchu and Tierra del Fuego.
Forgotten Continent
Economist editor Reid draws on his years in the cities, presidential palaces and shantytowns of Central and South America in this portrait of a region rich in oil, farmland and culture, with consideration on its prospects in the face of globalization.
