Central and South America > South America Coast to Coast

Essential Latin America

Latin America is a real showcase of nature’s raw power and beauty – from the thundering Iguassu and Angel Falls, to the jagged peaks of the Andes and the brooding glaciers in Patagonia’s pristine wilderness. Encounter an unprecedented diversity of life in the mighty Amazon Basin, home of the oldest tropical rainforest in the world. Or explore the less well-known but equally untouched jungles of Guyana and the vast Venezuelan wetland plains. Follow in the footsteps of Darwin to the unique Galapagos Islands,which inspired the theory of evolution and changed the way we look at life on Earth. The Maya, Aztec and Inca civilisations have all left behind fascinating cities, monuments, temples and vast pyramids that we are only just beginning to understand.

Santiago (3 nights), Mendoza (2 nights), Buenos Aires (3 nights), Iguassu Falls (2 nights) and Rio de Janeiro (2 nights)

• Scheduled flights, including U.K. airport passenger duty and service charge
• The services of an experienced Bales Tour Manager from London who takes care of all the tipping on your behalf
• Experienced English-speaking guides, exclusive to the Bales Group, for included sightseeing
• Private air-conditioned vehicles, exclusive to the
• Bales group (except for the journey from Santiago to Mendoza), for included sightseeing
• Sightseeing as detailed, including all entrance fees
• First class hotels throughout, most with swimming pools
• Ocean View Rooms in Rio
• 12 full breakfasts
• Average group size 16 passengers

Day 1 Evening departure from London Heathrow by TAM Airlines via Sao Paulo (11 hours) to Santiago (4 hours). Meals:
	Day 2 On arrival in Santiago transfer to the Crowne Plaza Hotel. Rest of day at leisure. Meals: Hotel: Crowne Plaza Santiago
	Day 3 Morning tour of historical Santiago, starting with the neo-classical Moneda Palace, seat of the government, and continuing through the downtown area to the pre-Columbian Art Museum, whose collection contains ceramics and textiles from the Inca, Maya and Azteca cultures. The tour continues to the Plaza de Armas, surrounded by the 18th century cathedral, the National Historical Museum and the central post office. Meals: B Hotel: Crowne Plaza Santiago
	Day 4 A full day tour to the Pacific Ocean coastal port of Valparaiso and the attractive resort of Viña del Mar. En route you will pass through the fertile winegrowing valleys of Curacavi and Casablanca. Meals: B Hotel: Crowne Plaza Santiago
	Day 5 In the morning, board your coach (not exclusive to passengers of Bales Worldwide - also see special note concerning the 29 July departure) for the thrilling road journey through the Andes into Argentina and the charming city of Mendoza, famous for its excellent wines (approximately 7 hours depending on time spent at the border). Stay at the Executive Park Suites Hotel. Meals: B Hotel: Executive Hotel
	Day 6 The city of Mendoza has a special charm with beautiful trees and parks, wide shaded sidewalks, and a friendly atmosphere which has been an inspiration to the arts. Musicians, writers, poets and artists have felt something deeply moving about this city and its surroundings. The town of Mendoza was founded in 1562. It slowly grew into a city close to the high Andes which were its protection and life giver. The climate and mountain waters combined to make a green countryside for hard working immigrants. In 1883 Mendoza was completely destroyed by an earthquake but in a short time the progressive people of Cuyo rebuilt their city over the rubble and ruins and jealously cared for it. Today its climate and soil have made its vineyards famous and the wine is sold throughout the country and exported to all parts of the world. Your sightseeing today will include the old and modern parts of the city, San Martin Park and some wine-tasting at a vineyard. Meals: B Hotel: Executive Hotel
	Day 7 Morning flight to Buenos Aires (1 hour 30 minutes), where you will stay at the Claridge Hotel. Afternoon tour of this elegant and cosmopolitan city where you will see the beautiful parks and gardens of Palermo, the colourful district of La Boca, the old quarters of San Telmo, the Government House, Congress and the Recoleta Cemetery. Meals: B Hotel: The Claridge Hotel
	Day 8 Free. A number of optional excursions can be booked locally including a boat trip in the delta near the town of Tigre. Meals: B Hotel: The Claridge Hotel
	Day 9 As above. Meals: B Hotel: The Claridge Hotel
	Day 10 Morning flight to Iguazu (1 hour 45 minutes). View the falls from the Argentine side including the awesome ‘Devil’s Throat’, falls (take some sturdy footwear and have some waterproofs as you can get wet close to the Devil’s Throat), before crossing into Brazil for your stay at the Das Cataratas Hotel. Meals: B Hotel: Das Cataratas Hotel
	Day 11 At leisure. The Iguassu Falls are set amidst a sub-tropical forest abounding in colourful birds and butterflies. The Iguazu River joins the Parana River and the water plunges over hard granite into a wide gorge creating a series of gigantic waterfalls and a never-ending thunderous roar. You can take an optional boat trip to the base of the falls, or a helicopter ride for spectacular aerial views. Meals: B Hotel: Das Cataratas Hotel
	Day 12 Afternoon flight to Rio de Janeiro (2 hours), where you stay at the Excelsior Copacabana Hotel in Ocean View Rooms. Meals: B Hotel: Excelsior Copacabana Hotel
	Day 13 A full day of sightseeing in Rio. Commence by taking a cog wheel train through the Tijuca Rain Forest to the station near the foot of the statue of Christ the Redeemer on Corcovado Hill. At 700 metres above sea-level, the views from the summit are breathtaking (weather permitting). Also drive along the famous beaches of Copacabana, Ipanema and Leblon. Later, you will be transferred to the district of Urca where you take the first of two cable cars to Sugar Loaf Mountain. The first cable car takes you to Urca Hill, 215 metres high offering great views of Guanabara Bay and its islands, the Rio-Niterói bridge and Corcovado hill. From here, continue your ascent to the summit, a further 395 metres, from where (weather permitting), you can enjoy views of Copacabana beach, the Santa Cruz fortress and some beaches of Niterói. Meals: B Hotel: Excelsior Copacabana Hotel
	Day 14 Free until your evening flight by TAM Airlines via Sao Paulo (50 minutes), (change aircraft) to London (11 hours). (Alternatively, you can extend in Rio, or relax at the resort of Buzios, or even explore other areas of Brazil.) Meals: B
	Day 15 Arrive London Heathrow in the early afternoon. Meals: B