Brazil & Argentina

Stylish, sophisticated Rio thrills visitors with its beautiful beaches, stunning mountains, and innovative buildings. Most impressive may be the soaring cathedral, whose vast interior can accommodate 25,000 people. Four enormous stained-glass windows throw colored light down on the space, unbroken by columns or other supports. Back outside, you may feel that you've escaped to Paris -- the theater house and art museum were modeled after Paris's ornate Opéra Garnier and Louvre museum.

Jump in what may be your most spectacular glass-elevator ride ever. Sugar Loaf Mountain (named because it resembles the ceramic mold used to refine sugar cane) rises up from the intersection of Guanabara Bay and the Atlantic Ocean. You'll take a glass-sided cable car up the peak, where you'll find amazing views of the entire city and beyond.

Rio's most spectacular landmark, up close and personal. Go up Corcovado ("hunchback") Mountain on a Swiss-made cogwheel train, through the lush Tijuca National Forest, and arrive at the top to see the statue of Christ the Redeemer that gazes out over the city. The views from the mountain are astounding, as is the statue itself. It stands almost 100 feet tall and weighs over 1000 tons.

Indulge in the flavours, sounds, and sights of traditional Brazilian culture, from samba dancing to capoeira martial arts.

The spray from the enormous and spectacular waterfalls in the Iguaçu National Park create a lush rainforest environment filled with unique animals. Keep an eye out for giant otters and giant anteaters, as well as exquisite orchids and other plants, as you explore. Get up close and personal with Iguaçu Falls, which splashes down from more than 50 feet above. A stone staircase leads up to the Iguaçu River above.

Smoldering with history, beauty, and passion, Buenos Aires' streets and plazas exude a sophistication unrivalled in South America. Start at the city's most historic and arresting square, the Plaza de Mayo, where Evita addressed crowds from the balcony of Casa Rosada. The stark Neoclassical cathedral stands nearby; its twelve columns represent the twelve apostles. See the diversity of Buenos Aires' neighborhoods as you tour the barrios of La Boca, Puerto Madero, and Recoleta (where Evita is buried).

Your flight home is overnight. You will return home on Day 10.