Discover Brazil, Argentina, & Chile

Santiago is Chile’s largest city and capital, with internationally recognized vineyards and Andean ski resorts very close by. Explore the many museums and parks, and visit the vibrant neighbourhood of Bellavista to see some handicrafts and trendy cafés.

Travel south to the colorful seaside town of Valparaíso, where bright houses perch on the hills overlooking the South Pacific. During the city’s golden age in the late 19th century, it served as an important stopover for ships sailing the Strait of Magellan between the Atlantic and the Pacific, and attracted waves of immigrants from across Europe and the world. Accompany a local expert on a tour of the city’s elegant historic quarter, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Visit the home of Pablo Neruda, the famed Chilean poet, and wander narrow lanes to view spectacular street art. Enjoy free time to explore on your own before returning to Santiago.

This morning, drive into the Andes and cross the border into Argentina. Wind past verdant meadows and clear lakes, and spot the distant, snowcapped summit of Mount Aconcagua—the highest mountain in both the Western and Southern Hemispheres. This afternoon, arrive in Mendoza, the heart of Argentina’s world-renowned wine country, a landscape of sun-drenched vineyards surrounded by striking grey peaks.

Home to over 1000 wineries producing nearly a billion litres of wine yearly, the majority of all the vineyards in Argentina are found in the Mendoza region. The renowned Malbec varietal is sustained by the crystalline waters of the Rio Mendoza fed by the melting snows of the Andes. Visit wineries in the region with a local wine expert to explain the unique elements of the region, the distinct flavour notes found here, and the history of wine production in this area. Later, enjoy a 5-course meal of local and international delicacies paired with some of the finest wines in the world.

Enjoy a free day to explore the city of Mendoza, the regional capital perched in the Andean foothills. Stroll along the city’s historic streets—wider than any other city in Argentina due to innovative reconstruction following a devastating 19th-century earthquake. Choose to visit more nearby wineries, take a cooking class, or set out on a hike in the surrounding hills. Or opt to relax with a glass of Malbec or chilled Torrontés at a park-side café and soak up the daily rhythms of Argentine life.

Catch a morning flight to Buenos Aires, and then transfer to a countryside estate, known as an estancia. Enjoy a farm-to-table lunch, then spend the afternoon exploring the working ranch, learning about the popularity of polo in Argentina, and chatting with gauchos, or local cowboys. Opt to head out on a horseback ride with an expert wrangler before returning to Buenos Aires for the evening.

Spend a full day exploring the “Paris of South America,” Argentina’s elegant capital city. Visit historic sites such as the Plaza de Mayo; the colorful, Italian-influenced La Boca neighborhood; and the spectacular Recoleta Cemetery, where Eva Perón and several past Argentine presidents have been laid to rest. Enjoy a light dinner at one of many charming sidewalk cafés or restaurants before an evening tango lesson at a popular local venue known as a milonga. Choose to stay for the nightly gathering of neighborhood students and teachers who pair up to practice their steps.

Fly north to the oceanside jewel of Rio de Janeiro. One of the largest countries in the world, Brazil certainly has plenty to see – Iguaçu Falls springs immediately to mind – but more than anything it's the Brazilian passion for life, epitomized by Rio's annual Carnival celebrations, that will make you fall in love and want to return again.

This massive city gets as many as five million international tourists every year to sip caipirinhas on the beach, dance the samba in the city’s streets, and ascend Corcovado Mountain to see Christ the Redeemer for yourself. Later, learn about the iconic dance of samba, an icon of African heritage and afro-Brazilian resistance in the country. Get a taste of Carnaval magic, learn some steps and meet some of the people who create the colourful costumes.

The Pantanal, a largely flat, wetland area roughly half the size of France, covering over 70,000 sq mi (180,000 sq km) making it the world's largest tropical wetland. The area has the largest concentration of wildlife in South America; rich in bird life, including colourful macaws and jabiru storks. With a bit of luck and the appropriate weather, you may spot unique species such as capybara, howler monkeys, caiman, giant river otters, anacondas, and anteaters.

Wildlife viewing in South America automatically makes you think of the Amazon rainforest, while biodiverse the dense jungle of the Amazon makes wildlife viewing a challenge. The wide open spaces of the Pantanal, on the other hand, offer easy viewing opportunities to spot a diverse set of species both in the wetlands and on land with the naked eye. At night, go caiman spotting and watch as a whole other set of species come to life under the cover of darkness.

Continue exploring this extraordinary ecosystem as you learn about efforts underway to protect big cats such as the rare Pantanal jaguar. Head out on hikes along the slow-moving tributaries of the Paraguay River. With luck, spot slithering anaconda, rare marsh deer, and the Brazilian tapir, and learn how the unremarkable apple snail acts as a keystone species in this complex and diverse environment.

Fly north to the Iguazú Falls area, near the borders of Brazil, Paraguay, and Argentina. Cross the border from Argentina to Brazil to experience the panoramic view of the falls. As if imposing Iguazú Falls – with its 275 waterfalls – couldn’t get more impressive, the area surrounding this natural wonder is home to jaguars, ocelots, anteaters, and large toucans, among others. The falls and the national park by the same name were named UNESCO World Heritage sites in 1984.

Visit the Argentina side of Iguazú Falls, standing amid the spray from the falls’ spectacular cascades, and set out on a hike along forest trails that wind directly over the cataracts known as the Devil’s Throat. Choose to explore by boat, gaining a unique perspective on the falls from below. In the evening, gather for a talk with a local naturalist to learn about the flora and fauna living around the falls, and the uses of local plants in traditional healing remedies.

Today, see the falls from a different angle during a trip to the Brazilian side. Take in panoramic views of the roaring cascades and stroll along scenic walkways winding in and out of lush tropical forest. Later, transfer to the airport and fly to Rio de Janeiro.

Depart at any time.