ROCS Holidays - Newspaper

Signature Journeys

27

17 Day Guided THE ULTIMATE SOUTH AMERICAN EXPERIENCE 21 ST AUG - 06 TH SEP 2025

Starting from €5619pp

DAY 1/2 – MALTA - BUENOS AIRES Meet your tour manager at Malta International Airport for your flight to Buenos Aires, Argentina’s capital and home of tango. This vibrant city blends modern life with colonial architecture, art, and rich traditions. On arrival, check into the 4* Hotel Grand Brizo. Begin a panoramic tour including the Colon Theatre, Plaza de Mayo, Casa Rosada, the Cathedral (where Pope Francis once preached), San Telmo, and colourful La Boca with its famous Caminito street and tango dancers. DAY 3 – BUENOS AIRES Explore the elegant Recoleta district, known for its Parisian-style architecture, boutiques, and museums. Visit the famous Recoleta Cemetery, resting place of national heroes and icons. Continue through Palermo’s parks and gardens, passing the zoo and polo fields. End in trendy Palermo Soho and Hollywood, with their modern cafés, restaurants, and designer shops. DAY 4 – BUENOS AIRES Leave Buenos Aires and drive to San Antonio de Areco, the heart of the “gaucho” traditions. Arrive at “El Ombu de Areco”, a traditional, 300ha (741ac.) ranch dedicated to agriculture and animal farming. The late-colonial style mansion was built in 1880 by Lieutenant-general Pablo Riccheri and its magnificent “casco” contribute to the ideal setting for an unforgettable time. Enjoy a full day here horseback riding, or walk along the Areco River. Indulge in a delicious and typical BBQ lunch called “asado” that includes fine meats, salads, wine, and dessert. Then, enjoy an intimate folklore show as a gaucho plays the guitar and see a horse skills demonstration. DAY 5 – BUENOS AIRES Depart your hotel and drive north to the capital’s outskirts. Tigre is a popular weekend getaway for many “porteños” and boasts many summer homes as well as yacht and rowing clubs. Take a boat excursion (shared) along the Paraná Delta and its channels, rivers, streams, and numerous islands, appreciating the lush vegetation. DAY 6 –COLONIA DEL SACRAMENTO Travel by ferry to Colonia del Sacramento in Uruguay. Visit the old bullring and San Benito chapel before exploring the UNESCO-listed historic quarter, known for its cobblestone streets, colonial buildings, lighthouse, and charming small museums. Return to Buenos Aires by ferry in the evening. DAY 7 – BUENOS AIRES Day at leisure for personal sightseeing and shopping. Buenos Aires offers plenty of activities to be enjoyed. The city shopping district, with its many shops and stores is popular with the locals and tourists alike. The city has many museums and Historical buildings that can be visited on this free day. DAY 8 – BUENOS AIRES – PUERTO IGUAZÚ Fly to Puerto Iguazú and transfer to your 5* Hotel Mercure, set in the subtropical rainforest of northern Argentina. The town serves as a gateway to the spectacular Iguazú Falls, one of the world’s great natural wonders, located at the junction of Argentina, Brazil, and Paraguay. DAY 9 – PUERTO IGUAZÚ Depart your hotel and drive to the Iguazú National Explore the Argentine side of Iguazú National Park. Take the forest train to the Upper Circuit with panoramic views of the falls, and continue to the dramatic Devil’s Throat, where walkways bring you close to the thunderous cascades. Discover further views from the lower trails. DAY 10 - PUERTO IGUAZU Drive through the National Park until you reach the Brazilian side of the falls. From here, walk along the paths and appreciate the lush vegetation, butterflies, and cascades. Take the 1,5km path that leads you to an amazing panoramic view of the Devil’s Throat. From here, appreciate the incredible scene that includes other iconic sites in Argentina like the Two Sisters and Bozzeti waterfalls, the Superior Circuit, and San Martin Island, where the movie “The Mission” was filmed.

DAY 11 - PUERTO IGUAZU - RIO DE JANEIRO Start your journey to the airport for your flight to Rio De Janiero. Transfer to your 5* Hotel Hilton Rio De Janeiro Copacabana in the south zone. Drive through Copacabana neighbourhood till the next stop at Urca Station to get two glass cable cars to go to the top of several monolithic granite rocks called Sugar Loaf Mountain. Appreciate the beautiful lush views surrounding the iconic natural monument. To reach the summit, passengers take two cable cars, one to the shorter Morro da Urca, and then to Sugar Loaf´s mountain. The Swiss-made bubble-shaped cars offer passengers 360° views from the city and the some points, to the open sea and Guanabara Bay. Return to your hotel after breathtaking landscapes. DAY 12 – RIO DE JANEIRO Drive to Come Velho district and take the train through the Tijuca forest up the Corcovado Mountain. Along the way, appreciate the lush rainforest and the views. When you arrive at the top, admire the well known Christ the Redeemer statue, one of the world’s wonders. From one of Rio de Janeiro’s most privileged belvederes, appreciate the panoramic views of the city and its surroundings. Make your way back down and end your tour with stops at the famous, white sandy beaches of Copacabana, Ipanema, and Leblon and return to your hotel. **Remark: If the cogwheel train is unavailable, access Corcovado Mountain in a city certified van that departs from “Largo do Machado. DAY 13 – RIO DE JANEIRO Discover Rio’s historic centre, including Praça XV, the old royal palace, and Arco Teles. Visit the beautiful Candelária Church, the Monastery of St. Benedict, and the ornate Portuguese Reading Room. End your tour at the Selarón Steps and the impressive Metropolitan Cathedral. DAY 14 – RIO DE JANEIRO Enjoy a Jeep tour through Rio’s bohemian Santa Teresa district, full of colonial houses, studios, and street art. Continue into Tijuca National Park, the world’s largest urban forest, for a short jungle walk and a stop at a scenic waterfall. DAY 15 – RIO DE JANEIRO Depart hotel and drive through the forest until you reach the royal city of Petrópolis. Start your tour with a visit to the Imperial Museum, which was once the summer palace of Brazil’s last emperor, Pedro II. The pink and white building has many exhibitions that vary from historic artifacts to contemporary art. Next, visit the Roman Catholic Cathedral and appreciate the impressive architecture and the bell tower; the Emperor and his family are buried here. Finally, admire the impressive glass architecture of the “Crystal Palace” surrounded by imperial and modern mansions and buildings. DAY 16/17 – RIO DE JANEIRO - MALTA Check out of rooms and free time to enjoy this marvelous city before we transfer to Rio de Janeiro airport for your flight back home.