Maximum enjoyment of this vacation requires walking on cobblestone streets, uneven pathways, and climbing stairs. Elevations exceeding 10,000 feet can make even modest exertion a challenge. Maximum elevation on this tour is 13,000 ft.
Itinerary
Day 1 ARRIVE IN RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL
Welcome to Rio de Janeiro! At 3:30 pm, meet your Tour Director for a drive 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 
caipirinhas, a traditional Brazilian cocktail, from atop Sugarloaf Mountain during a cocktail party.LOCAL FAVORITELOCAL 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!RIO-DE-JANIERO-CAIPIRINHAS.jpg
Day 2 RIO DE JANEIRO
Heavenly ViewsThe 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 Sambodromo 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. TOUR HIGHLIGHTEPIC 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 (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 voted a New7Wonders of the World. RIO-DE-JANEIRO-CORCOVADO.jpg
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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. 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.RIO-DE-JANEIRO-IPANEMA-BEACH.jpg
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Day 4 RIO DE JANEIRO–BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA
The Boulevards of Buenos Aires Fly to Buenos Aires, proud capital of the vast country that occupies most of the southern part of the continent. After arriving at your central hotel, acquaint yourself with the “Paris of South America” and its wide boulevards and outdoor cafés. Spend an evening at leisure. TOUR HIGHLIGHTCITY 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 cortadito or the choicest Argentinian wines.BUENOS-AIRES-STEAK.jpg
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Day 5 BUENOS AIRES
Dining, Dancing & Dazzling Your included sightseeing this morning starts in La Boca, a vibrant district and site of the city’s first port. Take a short walking tour of this unique enclave at the mouth of the river and then on to San Telmo, famous for its late-colonial buildings and as a popular gathering spot for artists. At the Plaza de Mayo, see La Casa Rosada (the President’s Pink House) and the Metropolitan Cathedral, which houses San Martin’s Mausoleum. Drive past the ornate Teatro Colón opera house before reaching Recoleta Cemetery, burial site of Eva Perón. After an afternoon at leisure, top off the evening at a famous Tango club. Start with a dance lesson, followed by dinner of Argentine steaks and other local specialties, and end with a show featuring flawless performances of Latin America’s most sensuous dance—the Tango! LOCAL FAVORITE CULTURAL GEMS Like two dancers entwined in perfect sync, the Tango and Argentina go hand in hand. Tonight, feel the passion of this iconic dance at a local milonga (Tango house), where professional tango dancers teach you the traditional techniques of the Argentine Tango. After learning some of the key dance moves, the professionals will delight you in Tango Show featuring the dance as it has evolved through the ages. Plus, dine on Argentine specialties and wine too! BUENOS-AIRES-LA-BOCA.jpg
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Day 6 BUENOS AIRES
Argentine Adventures Today is a full day at leisure. FREE TIME TIPSEXPLORE MORE Discover the timeless traditions of Argentina with an optional excursion to the pampas (grasslands). Experience the atmosphere of Argentine country life as you visit an estancia (ranch). Get acquainted with the lifestyle of the gauchos and enjoy a barbecue lunch and the warm hospitality of your hosts before returning to the city. 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.BUENOS-AIRES-GAUCHO.jpg
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Day 7 BUENOS AIRES–IGUASSU FALLS, BRAZIL
What a Rush!This morning, fly to Iguassu Falls, Argentina. The spectacle of this 2-mile-wide rushing torrent—with some cataracts as high as 250 feet—is nothing short of hypnotic. The clouds of spray, the incessant roar, and the surrounding luxuriant tropical growth make this an unforgettable natural wonder. Upon arrival, journey to the Argentinean side of the falls and take the Ecological Jungle Train for 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. Later, cross into Brazil via motorcoach for a free evening. TOUR HIGHLIGHTNATURAL WONDERS Visit Iguassu National Park (Argentinian side) to meander along the walkways from atop the falls, and enjoy an exhilarating perspective 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. IGUASSU-FALLS.jpg
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Day 8 IGUASSU FALLS–LIMA, PERU
Taking the PlungeToday is dedicated to exploring the Brazilian side of Iguassu Falls from a completely different vantage point than in Argentina. A walk along the pathway at the base of the falls takes you into the Devil’s Throat Canyon, with spectacular panoramic views of many of the 275 cataracts that make up Iguassu Falls. Have a late lunch or early dinner before flying to Lima, Peru. TOUR HIGHLIGHTPICTURE PERFECT 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!IGUASSU-FALLS-CLOSE-UP.jpg
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Day 9 LIMA
Legendary LimaYour city sightseeing tour focuses on Lima’s rich colonial history as well as the modern city. See the 18th-century San Francisco Monastery with its unique cloisters, Government Palace, and the cathedral situated around the vast Plaza de Armas. Tonight, visit the Larco Herrera Museum, which houses the largest private collection of Pre-Columbian Peruvian art in the world. Enjoy dinner at the museum’s restaurant. LOCAL FAVORITE ART & ARCHITECTURE This evening, an exclusive guided tour of Lima’s Larco Herrera Museum, on the site of a 7th-century pre-Columbian pyramid, introduces you to the world’s largest private collection of pre-Columbian Peruvian art. See 5,000 years of art, artifacts, and archaeological treasures followed by a special dinner in the beautiful Peruvian café here. LIMA-CATHEDRAL.jpg
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Day 10 LIMA–CUSCO–SACRED VALLEY
Empire of the Andes Fly to Cusco, the impressive Andean city that was once the capital of the Inca Empire. Head into the Sacred Valley of the Incas and visit the semi-circular Kenko Amphitheater with its stone altars and labyrinth of passages, and see the ancient site of Puca Pucara. Also, in the Sacred Valley, experience an El Pago a la Tierra, or Mother Earth Ceremony, performed by a local shaman. Continue to Pisac, an old mountain village, where you will have free time to shop for local wares, such as alpaca sweaters and blankets, jewelry, or hand-painted ornamental dishes and vases at its famous market. Stay in the Sacred Valley tonight, with dinner at the hotel. LOCAL FAVORITE CULTURE & TRADITION Feel the earth, smell the coca leaves, and taste the chicha today as you make payment to Mother Earth. Participate in an El Pago a la Tierra, an ancient ceremony led by a shaman thanking Mother Earth and asking for good health, wealth, and safe travels. These mystical ceremonies have been practiced in Peru since before the arrival of the Incas.SACRED-VALLEY-MOTHER-EARTH-CEREMONY.jpg
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Day 11 SACRED VALLEY–MACHU PICCHU
Mystery on the Mountain This morning, visit the Inca Fortress of Ollantaytambo, followed by a visit to a local home, meet some of the area’s families, and experience their way of life in the Sacred Valley. Then, board the Vistadome train for a scenic journey through the lush Urubamba Valley. Upon arrival, ascend the mountainside to legendary Machu Picchu, the “Lost City of the Incas.” Your Local Guide will introduce this intact fortress with its temple remains, holy houses, and mile-long aqueduct, and will bring you closer to the mysteries still hidden in these amazing structures. Tonight, learn how to make the perfect Pisco Sour at a Peruvian cooking demonstration before your included dinner. LOCAL FAVORITETIMELESS TRADITIONS Today, you are invited into a local family’s home in the Sacred Valley. Learn about their traditions like weaving that has been passed down for centuries from ancestors. See how they cook, live, sleep, work, and maybe ask about the cuy (guinea pigs), they keep in their house.SACRED-VALLEY-WEAVING.jpg
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Day 12 MACHU PICCHU–CUSCO
Here Comes the Sun A morning at leisure in Machu Picchu allows you to wake up early to see the sunrise over Machu Picchu with your second included entrance to the ruins. After lunch, return to the Sacred Valley by train and continue to Cusco. TOUR HIGHLIGHTHISTORY & MYSTERY Staying overnight in Machu Picchu allows you to rise early and experience the ruins at their most pristine before the crowds arrive. Watch as the mist slowly burns off and the sun rays illuminate the ruins. While you are there, you may even want to try and get a selfie with one of the local llamas or alpacas! MACHU-PICCHU-SUNSET.jpg
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Day 13 CUSCO
Sun Worship & Spanish ConquestsOn your guided sightseeing tour of Cusco today, learn more about the Inca and Spanish influence. Begin at the heart of Cusco in the Plaza de Armas (main square), with a visit to the imposing Cathedral, where construction began in 1550 and was finally completed 100 years later. Continue to Koricancha and the Santo Domingo Monastery, and see how the two sites have become one. The Temple of the Sun at Koricancha was once the most important Inca site, dedicated to the worship of the Sun. The walls, altars, and decorations were all said to be covered in gold—until the Spaniards looted the temple and then built the contrasting Baroque Santo Domingo Monastery on top of the temple’s foundations. Also, visit the Temple of Sacsayhuaman, perched on a hillside overlooking Cusco. Enjoy an afternoon at leisure to explore on your own. This evening, your Tour Director hosts a festive farewell dinner at a local restaurant. TOUR HIGHLIGHTLEGENDARY LIVES Built in the 15th Century by the Incas, the Temple of Sacsayhuaman complex is considered to be one of the Inca’s greatest architectural creation. It is believed the site was originally constructed as a ceremonial site and later a fortress when the Spanish invaded. It remains unfathomable how and when this fortress of gigantic stones—with some blocks weighing more than 350 tons—was built. During your guided tour, learn some of the theories on how the massive stones used were carved, carried, and placed. CUSCO-SACSAYHUAMAN.jpg
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Day 14 CUSCO–LIMA
Hasta Luego, CuscoA short morning flight returns you to Lima. For a special treat, make a stop at a local Peruvian food market to get a real taste of the life of the local people. The remainder of the day is at leisure to explore on your own. LOCAL FAVORITE LOCAL TASTES Stop for a real taste of Peru at a local market. Sample some of the local fruits and vegetable that aren’t found in other parts of the world. You can also find spices, meats, seafood, and even a souvenir or two. And, you’ll definitely want to take some photos of the beautiful, brightly hued displays. LIMA-MARKET.jpg
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Day 15 LIMA
Safe travels until we meet again!Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning. LIMA-PERUVIAN-TEXTILES.jpg
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