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Online Program

Adventures Online: The People & Places of South America

Program No. 24351RJ
Get a taste of Lima, Rio de Janeiro and Buenos Aires without leaving your home during this three-day, online learning adventure, live from South America!

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At a Glance

There’s so much to learn about and discover in South America! Experience the very best of Lima, Rio de Janeiro and Buenos Aires during a three-day online learning adventure, live from South America. Delight in virtual field trips to explore the downtown region of Lima, Copacabana and Ipanema in Rio de Janeiro and the charming streets of Buenos Aires. Learn more about these countries during expert-led lectures on Peru’s natural spaces and geography, Brazil’s role as the largest country in South America and the Spanish history of Argentina. Along the way, get to know your fellow Road Scholars and enjoy opportunities to interact with local residents as you meet and speak with a Peruvian about daily life in Lima, learn about Bossa Nova Music with a musician from Brazil and delight in a live Tango performance with a dancer in Buenos Aires.

Best of all, you’ll…

  • Explore Peru’s capital city of Lima during a virtual field trip to discover its Main Square, Presidential Palace, Basilica Cathedral and other important landmarks.
  • Join a local expert for a virtual exploration of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil to walk the streets of Copacabana and Ipanema, learn about the importance of Carnival and take in the statue of Christ the Redeemer.
  • Discover Buenos Aires, Argentina, during a virtual field trip to the “Paris of South America” to explore its French-style architecture, colonial architecture and the Colon Theater.

General Notes

You’ll enjoy 2-3 hours of daily instruction, discussion and/or field trips, which includes sufficient breaks throughout the program. This online program is through Zoom, an easy-to-use web video service that includes closed captioning. All you need is an Internet connection and your computer. We’ll provide a how-to guide to make sure you’ll have a hassle-free experience. In keeping with our Traditional On-Site programs, ALL ADVENTURES ONLINE MULTI-DAY PROGRAMS (INCLUDING THIS PROGRAM) ARE PRESENTED LIVE; THESE PROGRAMS ARE NOT RECORDED. Please review the daily itinerary for start and end times to ensure you won’t miss a minute of this live experience. All times are listed in the EASTERN time zone. If you live in a different time zone, please adjust your schedule accordingly.
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.
The Brazilians
by Joseph Page
A clear, comprehensive and compelling introduction to Brazil, covering politics, history, economics, ecology, conservation and culture.
Tropical Nature
by Adrian Forsyth, Ken Miyata
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.
Brazil
by Regis St. Louis
An excellent, colorful primer to the country and its history, covering the varied landscapes, diverse cultures and regional customs, including carnaval and soccer.
Lonely Planet Buenos Aires
by Lonely Planet
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.
Stone Offerings
by Mike Torrey
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.
Inca Trail: Machu Picchu, Sacred Valley, Cusco Map
by Lima 2000
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.
Forgotten Continent
by Michael Reid
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.
The Machu Picchu Guidebook
by Ruth M. Wright, Alfredo Valencia Zegarra
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.
Lost City of the Incas
by Hiram Bingham
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.
Cloud Forest, A Chronicle of the South American Wilderness
by Peter Matthiessen
Matthiessen recounts with wit, insight and style his odyssey to the Amazon and Andes, including Machu Picchu and Tierra del Fuego.
Cataratas del Iguazu
by de Dios
This foldup, laminated card shows seven maps of the falls, Puerto Iguazu, park and region.
The Incas
by Carmen Bernard
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.
Buenos Aires, A Cultural History
by Jason Wilson
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.





Important registration tip:
If you want to attend the live lecture, please do not wait until the last minute to enroll.
If you enroll after a lecture is complete, we’ll send you a recording of the event.