Journey from Shimmering Glaciers to the Mighty Amazon
Itinerary
*We’ve not included domestic flights in the guide price for this itinerary, but your Travel Specialist will arrange these for the best price available at the time of booking. Prices vary throughout the year, though we’d estimate an additional £600-£800 for your domestic flights. We can also help you book your international flights if needed.
Days 1-4 – Buenos Aires: Romance and tango
Explore sexy and sophisticated Buenos Aires, a city of steamy tango, sizzling steaks and a nightlife that never stops. Take an eye-opening tour with a local Porteño (resident of the city) for an edgy glimpse into behind-the-scenes life and soak up the totally seductive atmosphere. You’ll stay in happening Palermo district, one of the most popular barrios in Buenos Aires.
Days 4-7 – Sailing amongst the glaciers
After breakfast you’ll be collected by a driver and taken back to the airport for your flight to El Calafate; the next destination on your Argentina and Brazil holiday. There are a few flight options to choose from, both direct and indirect. Flying times start from around 4 hours. Your flights within South America will be booked alongside your international ticket. Please speak to your Travel Specialist for more information.
Get glacial in Patagonia, sailing between icebergs and exploring a frozen world of endless mountains, lakes and cool blue glaciers bigger than the entire city of Buenos Aires. It’s a surreal, silent place that has to be seen to be believed. This trip will take you into the frozen heart of Patagonia, a land of dazzling white snow, deep sapphire skies and cool blue glaciers.
Days 7-10 – Iguazu Falls in the rainforest
Today you’ll have time to have one final look round El Calafate before we arrange your transfer back to the airport, about 30 minutes drive, in time to check in for your flight to the next destination on your trip: Puerto Iguazu. There are numerous flight options today, both direct and indirect. As a rough guide, flying times start at approximately 6 hours. Your Travel Specialist will chat through all the options with you to pick the best routing for you.
Feel the spray of roaring Iguazu Falls and explore the surrounding rainforest, where raccoon-like coatis play. A cluster of cascades set within rich National Park, Iguazu Falls will leave you deafened and utterly speechless. You’ll visit both the Argentinean and Brazilian side of the Falls, the latter with a guide, spending two nights on the Argentina side and the third night on the Brazilian side.
Days 10-14 – Welcome to the jungle – Amazon lodge
Today you will make your own way to the airport for your onward flight to Manaus, the gateway to the Amazon. As a rough estimate your flying times start at approximately 6 and a half hours. On arrival into Manaus you will be collected and transferred to your hotel where you’ll spend the night, before your journey into the rainforest the following day. As you continue further along the river the vegetation will become denser and denser, until you arrive at the small jetty where you’ll board a boat for the final part of your journey into the rainforest.
The lodge is small-scale, eco-friendly, and provides employment to people from the local communities. You’ll stay in your own comfortable wooden cabin, surrounded by the forest, and all of your food is included – home-cooked using ingredients found locally. You’ll also have warm water and electricity….most of the time, this is the Amazon after all! During your stay you’ll trek through the jungle, fish for piranhas and meet the locals along the waterways. On your final day you’ll be taken back to Manaus and transferred to the airport for your onward journey.
Days 14-16 – Cobbled Streets of Salvador
After returning from the rainforest you will be dropped off at the airport in Manaus where you will catch your flight to Salvador on the North East coast. Flying times start from around 6 hours. Back in the colonial days when the Portuguese ruled over Brazil, the arrival of African slaves brought African culture and traditions to Salvador de Bahia. The current combination of Indian, Portuguese and African influences really gives this city its unique identity. We believe the best place to experience this melting pot of cultures is in the historic Pelourinho district.
Upon your arrival in Salvador you’ll find one of our local guides waiting for you. They’ll tell you all about the city and its heritage as they take you to your comfortable pousada in the Pelourinho district. During your stay you will head out with your guide to explore this historic district, as you wander along the cobbled streets you will learn all about the history and how the religions and cultures from Africa have mixed with the Portuguese heritage to create a unique Bahian community.
Days 16-19 – Bahia Beach break
Next you’ll be collected from your hotel in Salvador and transferred to Praia das Ondas, a coastal village just 90 minutes to the north. The wide beaches of Praia das Ondas lies just an hour north of Salvador and is a great place to visit for some rest and relaxation. The pousada offers air-conditioned bungalows with hammocks set in a garden with two pools and a restaurant, as well as being only a short walk away from the beach.
If you feel like exploring, you can easily arrange a visit to the nearby town of Praia de Forte, which has a quirky assortment of souvenir shops and restaurants. On your final day we’ll pre-arrange the 90 minute transfer to take you back to the airport.
Days 19-22 – Revelling in Rio
Today you’ll be picked up at your accommodation and taken to the airport in Salvador for your flight to the whirlwind city of Rio de Janeiro. There are various flight options starting from just over 2 hours flying time.
Rio offers sweeping beaches, great food and a lively atmosphere. When you arrive you will be met by a guide who will take you through your itinerary and answer any questions. It’s about an hour transfer to your comfortable hotel right next to Copacabana beach, the perfect place for a stroll to watch the sunset behind the mountains. You’ll also spend a morning with a private guide and driver, so you can tick off some of those iconic sights.
Today you say goodbye to Brazil and make your own way to the airport for your flight back home to the UK.
Accommodation
For this itinerary we offer the following options
Upgrade this itinerary
For the locations included in this itinerary we have alternative options available in terms of comfort. Our In Style options can be more luxurious, offer something unique or offer a more comfortable transport option – all with that local flavour! If you would like to upgrade your itinerary select our In Style option below.
