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Bienvenidos! Welcome to Argentina. You’ll arrive in Buenos Aires, Argentina’s capital, where you’ll be met at the airport and transferred to your hotel in the heart of the city. If you arrive early, maybe head to a local rooftop bar and enjoy the views of Buenos Aires with a cocktail. You’ll have a welcome meeting at 5 pm tonight, where you’ll meet your local leader and fellow travellers. After, head to the home of a porteno (person from Buenos Aires) for a traditional asado (barbecue) feast. Chat with your friendly host about all things Argentina while tucking into a spread of meats, provoleta cheese and plenty of local wine. If you want to keep the evening going, you could go to a post-dinner tango show.

Discover the history, cultural influences and architectural heritage of Buenos Aires on a city tour with a local guide. Visit La Boca (famous for its brightly painted houses) and the original town hall and presidential palace known as the Pink House at Plaza de Mayo. Walk through the historic Monserrat and San Telmo neighbourhoods and pass by the facade of the Recoleta cemetery. Head to a mate tasting next and learn about the cultural significance of this traditional, caffeine-rich herbal beverage, Argentina’s national drink – and try it for yourself. You’ll also explore the seven-story Teatro Colon – one of the world’s finest opera houses, with marble staircases, stained-glass windows and gold leaf–adorned balconies. The last stop is Floralis Generica, a huge metal flower by Argentinean architect Eduardo Catalano. After an afternoon of free time, regroup in the evening for the El Aljibe tango show in the heart of San Telmo. Watch the fun live performance while you tuck into a three-course a la carte meal with malbec and chardonnay wines – if you’re feeling inspired, maybe try out a few moves on the dance floor!

This morning, transfer to the airport and board a flight to Puerto Iguazu in Argentina. You’ll spend the next two days exploring Iguazu Falls in depth, seeing them from both the Argentinian and Brazilian sides. Although you’re flying into Argentina, today will be spent exploring the Brazilian side of Iguazu Falls, which offers unforgettable panoramic views. At over 2 km (1.2 mi) in length, and made up of 275 waterfalls, Iguazu is taller than Niagara Falls and spans a wider area than Victoria Falls! For a bird’s-eye view, you can also opt to take an optional helicopter flight. Later, you’ll check into your Feature Stay – perfectly located near the entrance to Iguazu National Park and surrounded by native forest, this is your home for the next two nights. Enjoy some quiet downtime at the hotel’s pool and spa tonight or simply kick back with your camera roll.

Rise and shine for an early departure to the Argentinian side of the falls, where you can get close to this incredible feat of nature. There’s a system of boardwalks on the Argentinian side of the falls that allow you to access some incredible viewing points, or you could take an optional Zodiac ride beneath the cascades. This afternoon, you’ll have the opportunity to visit a Guarani community – one of the few remaining original inhabitants of the region. Meet with a member of the community to learn about the native tools used for daily activities. Your host will show you around and provide insight on the Guarani way of life while explaining how they have preserved their traditions on the edge of one of the world’s most popular attractions. Return to your hotel for a leisurely evening.

Today, take a flight from Foz do Iguacu to Rio de Janeiro. When you have settled into your hotel, join your leader on an orientation walk to get a feel for this lively city and learn a little about its layered history. The rest of the day is free to explore at your own pace. You might like to head down to the famous white sands of Copacabana and Ipanema beaches for a snapshot of local life. If you’d like to listen to some live music, head to Lapa and join the locals for some dancing, and climb the famous Lapa Steps.

Today, you’ll get to know the sights and sounds of Rio during a full-day tour with your leader. Visit Corcovado Mountain for expansive views over the city from the base of the Christ the Redeemer statue – one of the Seven Wonders of the World! Next, head to the creative neighbourhood of Santa Teresa and continue to the famous Selaron Steps to see Chilean artist Jorge Selaron’s famous artwork. Give your feet a break during a lunch stop in a restored home dating to 1907. Finally, visit the iconic Sugarloaf Mountain and enjoy the views. Its name comes from the mountain’s resemblance to a traditional sugarloaf – a tall cone of refined sugar that was popular in the Caribbean and Brazil until the late 19th century. After your tour, take the afternoon to relax, hit the beach or explore further. This evening, maybe go for a final dinner with your group and toast to a brilliant adventure.

Your trip comes to an end after breakfast. If you’d like to extend your stay in Rio de Janeiro, please speak to your booking agent to arrange additional accommodation in advance.