Compare South American Odyssey by Globus vs From Argentina to Chile with Lake Crossing in 12 days by Qwerty Travel Argentina

Day 1: ARRIVE IN RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL

Welcome to Rio de Janeiro!
At 3:30 pm, meet your Tour Director for a drive along Ipanema and Copacabana beaches to the base of 1,300-foot-high Sugarloaf Mountain. Ascend by cable car to its summit, where you can take in spectacular vistas of the city. Next, toast the start of a memorable vacation with [LF] caipirinhas, a traditional Brazilian cocktail, from atop Sugarloaf Mountain during a cocktail party.

LOCAL FAVORITE
LOCAL TASTES A once-in-a-lifetime experience awaits atop Sugarloaf Mountain overlooking Guanabara Bay and the Atlantic Ocean. Take in the breathtaking panoramic views as you join a private cocktail party with your fellow travel companions. Toast with a traditional caipirinha, Brazil’s national cocktail, made with fresh lime, cachaça (a distilled sugarcane spirit), and sugar. Deliciosa!

Day 2: RIO DE JANEIRO

Heavenly Views
The city’s landmark, the statue of Christ the Redeemer, crowns Corcovado Mountain, a rounded peak rising 2,300 feet from the bay below. A scenic ride by cog railway leads to the top, where a breathtaking 360-degree panorama affords sweeping views. From here, proceed to bustling downtown Rio, where modern office towers stand next to relics of the Portuguese colonial past. View the Sambódromo and visit the Cathedral. The afternoon is at leisure for you to experience this vibrant city on your own. Tonight, it’s a fun outing to a churrascaria for a feast of barbecued meats marinated and roasted over charcoal in true Brazilian style. (Breakfast,Dinner)

TOUR HIGHLIGHT
EPIC RIDE Soar to the summit of Corcovado Mountain by cog railway to reach the site of the iconic statue of Christ the Redeemer. This crowning jewel of Rio and Brazil was constructed between 1922 and 1933. The statue of Jesus Christ stands 98 feet high (or 124 feet including the pedestal) with an arm span of 92 feet wide. Towering over the city, this piece of art is truly an engineering marvel and was even voted one the New7Wonders of the World.

Day 3: RIO DE JANEIRO

Beaches, Boutiques & Bites
A full day at leisure to enjoy Rio. Relax on one of the world-famous beaches or take advantage of the world-class shopping or fine dining. (Breakfast)

FREE TIME TIPS
EXPLORE MORE Spend free time in Rio de Janeiro with an optional excursion to Petropolis, (mountain resort and former summer palace of Emperor Dom Pedro II). This and more options throughout your tour are available for purchase with MyGlobus. Get local maps and tips for free time on your GlobusGO app.

Day 4: RIO DE JANEIRO–IGUASSU FALLS

What a Rush!
A flight from Rio takes you to Iguassu Falls. Experience the clouds of spray, the incessant roar, and the surrounding luxuriant tropical growth that make this an unforgettable natural wonder. Head into Brazil’s Iguassu National Park to enjoy the magnificent panorama of waterfalls from the Brazilian side. Your Local Guide introduces the spectacle of this 2-mile-wide rushing torrent. With some cataracts as high as 250 feet, Iguassu Falls is nothing short of hypnotic! (Breakfast,Dinner)

TOUR HIGHLIGHT
NATURAL WONDERS Explore incredible Iguassu National Park (Brazilian side) and walk the pathways skirting Iguassu Falls. Watch for amazing wildlife in this protected area, including toucans, agoutis, giant otters, anteaters, tapir, and even jaguars!

Day 5: IGUASSU FALLS

Taking the Plunge
Today, journey across the Brazilian border by motorcoach to the Argentine side of Iguassu Falls, where you will take the Ecological Jungle Train and enjoy a closer perspective on a walking tour of the falls. Meander along the walkways from atop the falls and enjoy an exhilarating view looking over the precipice of the falls as the water plunges to the rocks below. You will also have the chance to walk through the rainforest on the lower falls trails that will bring you up close to some of the smaller cataracts. Return to the hotel, where the remainder of the day is at your leisure. (Breakfast)

TOUR HIGHLIGHT
PICTURE PERFECT Iguassu National Park (Argentinean side) – From this side of the falls you get a bird’s-eye view from the catwalks perched over part of the Devil’s Throat, where 14 waterfalls drop more than 300 feet into the Devil’s Gorge below. A completely different perspective from that of Brazil’s side which is why you always need to see both sides of the falls!

Day 6: IGUASSU FALLS–BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA

The Boulevards of Buenos Aires
This morning, cross the Brazilian border into Argentina by motorcoach to transfer to the Cataratas del Iguazu International Airport for your flight to Buenos Aires. After arriving, an orientation walk acquaints you with the “Paris of South America” and its wide boulevards and outdoor cafés. (Breakfast)

TOUR HIGHLIGHT
CITY SIGHTS Elegant European architecture, epicurean cuisine, and a café culture to rival any rue de Paris, Buenos Aires is a city of leisurely afternoons sipping café con leche or the choicest Argentinian wines.

Day 7: BUENOS AIRES

Dining, Dancing & Dazzling
Your sightseeing starts in La Boca, a vibrant district and site of the city’s first port. Take a short walking tour of this unique enclave and then on to San Telmo, famous for its late-colonial buildings and a popular gathering spot for artists. At Plaza de Mayo, see La Casa Rosada (the President’s Pink House) and the Metropolitan Cathedral, housing San Martin’s Mausoleum. Drive past the ornate Teatro Colón opera house before reaching Recoleta Cemetery, burial site of Eva Perón. Next, [LF] learn how to make a traditional Argentinean dish during your empanada cooking class. After an afternoon at leisure, top off the evening at a famous Tango club. The Tango and Argentina go hand in hand and tonight you will [LF] visit a local milonga, or tango house, where professional tango dancers teach the traditional techniques of the Argentine Tango. After your lesson, enjoy a farewell dinner featuring Argentine steaks and other local specialties. Top off the evening when the professionals delight you with a Tango Show featuring the dance as it has evolved through the ages! (Breakfast,Dinner)

LOCAL FAVORITE
LOCAL TASTES Immerse yourself in Argentina’s culinary culture when you learn how to make empanadas. This hands-on cooking class teaches you the different fillings and the various 'repulga' techniques (how to close the empanada.) After perfecting your creation, enjoy your homemade empanada and a glass of Malbec.

Day 8: BUENOS AIRES

Ranch Life
Today, head into the heart of the pampas (grasslands) and immerse yourself in the atmosphere of rural, country life at a working [LF] Argentina estancia (ranch). After a traditional welcome with empanadas and local beverages, get acquainted with the lifestyle of real gauchos (cowboys) on a carriage ride through the pampas. Later, at lunch, enjoy an authentic feast, complete with world-renowned Argentine beef, salad, desserts, local wine, and live music and dance by the gauchos themselves. Top off the day with a horsemanship show by the gauchos before saying adios to the countryside and heading back to the city. (Breakfast,Lunch)

LOCAL FAVORITE
CULTURE & TRADITION Estancias date back to the 16th Century during Spanish colonization when conquistadors where gifted land to raise and breed cattle. Today, these lands and traditions that go along with them have been passed down from generation to generation. Today, you step into the traditional, local life of a gaucho and embrace Argentinian heritage.

Day 9: BUENOS AIRES–BARILOCHE

Patagonian Pleasures
Fly south to Bariloche in Patagonia on the shores of fjord-like Lago Nahuel Huapi in the heart of Argentina’s Lake District. Arrive in the early evening and join your Tour Director for a leisurely stroll through the picturesque town. See the city hall, the clock tower in Municipality Square, and the famous chocolate factories. (Breakfast,Dinner)

TOUR HIGHLIGHT
CULTURAL GEMS You are in Argentina but, you feel like you are in a small town in Switzerland when in Bariloche! Use your time here to sample its famous chocolate, sip locally crafted beer, dine on world class cuisine, and take in the breathtaking views of this Patagonian mountain town.

Day 10: BARILOCHE

Alpine Treasures
This chic alpine resort boasts some of the most glorious scenery in the country. Cameras should be ready for today’s guided sightseeing including a chairlift ride to a lookout point at Cerro Campanario. You’ll want to capture the vistas of surrounding lakes and Andes mountain peaks. The tour continues with a leisurely drive around the Llao Llao Peninsula, Lago Moreno, and Lopez Bay followed by lunch at a local restaurant. (Breakfast,Lunch)

TOUR HIGHLIGHT
EPIC RIDE Sit back and relax on the 7-minute chairlift ride to the Campanario summit at 3400 feet. From here you will experience the best views in Patagonia. Take in the sweeping vistas of the surrounding snow-capped mountains, glacial lakes, and lush forests.

Day 11: BARILOCHE–PUERTO BLEST–PUERTO VARAS, CHILE

Peak Perfection
Set out today for your [LF] Andes Lake crossing! Board a boat for the cruise across Lago Nahuel Huapi to Puerto Blest. Proceed by motorcoach and see emerald lakes, thick pine forests, and the snow-capped peaks of the Andes Mountains. Look out for soaring Osorno Volcano as you cross Lago Todos los Santos by catamaran. Skirt the southern shore of Lago Llanquihue on the way to Puerto Varas. Drive to your hotel along the rosebush-lined streets of this lakeside resort. (Breakfast,Lunch,Dinner)

LOCAL FAVORITE
NATURAL WONDERS Why go around the Andes Mountains when you can cut a path directly through them? That’s exactly what you will do today on a full-day Andes Lake Crossing from Argentina to Chile! Sail across glacial lakes, travel through national parks, stop on a remote island for lunch, watch for giant condors, and cruise past active volcanoes into Chile. Today will be an unforgettable adventure.

Day 12: PUERTO VARAS–PUERTO MONTT–SANTIAGO

Summits & Seas
Your morning tour of the nearby seaport of Puerto Montt in Chilean Patagonia takes you to the harbor brimming with fishing vessels and along a busy waterfront lined with seafood stalls. Transfer to the airport for your flight north to Santiago. Perched between the Pacific Ocean and the Andes, Santiago has evolved as the country’s political, commercial, and cultural capital. Tonight, dinner is at the hotel. (Breakfast,Dinner)

TOUR HIGHLIGHT
LOCAL TASTES Discover a wide variety of fresh seafood during your visit to the local market in the seaside village of Angelmó near Puerto Montt. If seafood isn’t your preference, you’ll also find fruits, vegetables, cheese, meats, handicrafts, and much more.

Day 13: SANTIAGO

Toasts of the Town
Today, your Local Guide traces the city’s history and heritage on a guided city tour. Start at La Moneda, the official Government Palace, before heading to the Plaza de Armas, the main square, with a visit to the 18th-century cathedral. Continue into Chile's nearby wine region and visit one of Chile's oldest wineries, Cousiño-Macul’s. A guided tour uncovers the vine-to-wine process that produces some of the world's finest wines. (Breakfast)

TOUR HIGHLIGHT
HISTORIC SPOT Learn the history of wine during your visit to Cousiño-Macul’s Winery in the Maipo Valley. Family operated since it was built in 1856, Cousiño-Macul's reserve wines are estate grown, vinted, and bottled in the family tradition of six generations. Tour the hundred-year-old vines, walk through the cellars, and taste a selection of the wines.

Day 14: SANTIAGO

Hasta Luego, Chile
The day is free for independent activities. You may want to take advantage of an optional excursion to the beautiful coastal region west of Santiago. Tonight, your Tour Director hosts a special farewell dinner to celebrate a great touring adventure. (Breakfast,Dinner)

FREE TIME TIPS
EXPLORE MORE Take an excursion to Valparaiso and Viña del Mar. Drive through the hills of Chile’s wine country to the historic port of Valparaiso, and continue along the coast to nearby Viña del Mar. This and more options throughout your tour are available for purchase with MyGlobus. Get local maps and tips for free time on your GlobusGO mobile app.

Day 15: SANTIAGO

Safe travels until we meet again!
Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning. (Breakfast)

Day 1: Buenos Aires

Arrival at Buenos Aires airport and transfer to your accommodation. Rest of the day at leisure

Day 2: Buenos Aires – City tour

During the morning visit the city of Buenos Aires. This tour gives you the emotion of a multiple Buenos Aires. We will see the symbol of our city: the obelisk. We will visit different squares such as Plaza de Mayo, Plaza San Martín, Plaza Congreso. Avenues like Corrientes, Mayo, 9 de Julio, among others. Historical neighbourhoods: La Boca, San Telmo, Montserrat. Elegant neighbourhoods such as Palermo and Recoleta, and the most modern: Puerto Madero. Parks such as Lezama and Tres de Febrero. We will also visit financial and commercial areas and a Football Stadium.

Day 3: Buenos Aires

Day at leisure to discover this amazing city by your own or enjoy some suggested optional excursion

Day 4: Buenos Aires – Bariloche

Transfer to the airport. Flight to Bariloche. Arrival and transfer to the hotel. 

Day 5: Bariloche – Short Circuit

Circuito Chico is a Scenic Tour on which to enjoy good food as well as the beautiful views. The scenery is magnificent along the whole drive, and there are several natural lookouts, such as López Bay and “Punto Panorámico” panoramic lookout. Cerro Campanario, a hill standing “in the center of the landscape” (Km 17), has a chairlift that will carry you up to “the heights of amazement” to enjoy the most beautiful view in the area.

Tasty specialties at several tea houses and restaurants along the way add flavor to the scenic tour. Hotel LlaoLlao and San Eduardo Chapel, opposite Puerto Pañuelo, are unique tourist attractions. If you have time, the easy paths through Llao Llao Municipal Park provide an opportunity for a peaceful walk through the forest. Another alternative is to drive a few more kilometers to the traditional village Colonia Suiza with its unique atmosphere of a historical old rural settlement.

Other attractions along Circuito Chico are regional craft products including knitted garments, woodwork, candles, pottery and cosmetics, among others. Don’t miss the Small Circle Scenic Tour!

Day 6: Bariloche

Today you have a free day to enjoy and spend on your own or enojoy some suggested optional tour.

Day 7: Bariloche – Lake Crossing – Puerto Varas/Puerto Montt

Trasandino Crossing. This pioneering journey quickly became one of the attractions of Lake Todos los Santos and Vicente Pérez Rosales National Park, the first national park in Chile and the second oldest in America. The circuit offers travelers the opportunity to marvel at the nature of two national parks Andean environment, the Pérez Rosales in Chile and the NahuelHuapi in Argentina, “surf” the Andes through lakes and rivers, visit places magic, as Puerto Blest and Peulla, and enjoy, in the headwaters of the course, two beautiful cities: Bariloche and Puerto Varas.

Day 8: Puerto Montt/Puerto Varas

Day at leisure to discover this amazing city by your own or enjoy some suggested optional excursion.

Day 9: Puerto Montt/Puerto Varas – Santiago de Chile

Transfer to the airport in Puerto Montt. Flight to Santiago de Chile. Arrival and transfer to the hotel.

Day 10: Santiago de Chile – City tour

The city tour is a tour of the historical, commercial and zones.- tour and outer courtyards of the Government Palace “La Moneda” (visit determined by the activities of the President), view the historic center with the Plaza de Armas areas Cathedral, Central Post Office, City Hall, etc. It then passes through the main avenue of the city “La Alameda”, Santa Lucia Hill, Forest Park, Museum of Fine Arts, the bohemian Bellavista neighborhood and then continue to Cerro San Cristobal, natural view of the city.- We follow the modern residential and commercial areas, sectors that reach the foot of the Cordillera de los Andes. New neighborhoods such as Santa María de Manquehue, Las Condes and Vitacura, Bicentennial Park, mixed with areas of advanced architecture as in the Barrio El Golf For those who wish may end the tour in a modern shopping center or return to the hotel.

Day 11: Santiago de Chile

Day at leisure to discover this amazing city by your own or enjoy some suggested optional excursion.

Day 12: Santiago de Chile

Transfer to the airport for your departure flight.