Buenos Aires, Bariloche & the Lakes District, Iguazu Falls
8 days / 7 nights
From $1,900 per person, double occupancy for 2009

Day 1: Buenos Aires
Welcome to Argentina, the second largest country in South America. Upon arrival at Ezeiza International Airport in Buenos Aires, you will be met and assisted by our local representative and transferred to your hotel. Overnight accommodation at the Hotel LoiSuites in a Studio Junior, breakfast included. The LoiSuites Hotel is located in the Recoleta area of Buenos Aires. Decorated in light colors, the hotel's ambiance is elegantly modern with sleek lines and simplistic contemporary artwork. All rooms are suites with air conditioning and two phone lines. The hotel has an indoor swimming pool, sauna, gym, restaurant, and business center and an atrium dining area where breakfast is served. The location in the heart of La Recoleta allows close access to shopping, restaurants and cafes and outdoor craft markets. - 2 nights.

Day 2: Four Balconies of Buenos Aires
Set off on a half-day, privately-guided tour of Buenos Aires in which a professor of the University uses four parks and plazas of Buenos Aires (Plaza de Mayo, Parque Lezama and La Boca, Plaza San Martin and Recoleta) to introduce visitors to Argentina, its history, contrasts, contradictions and the peculiar psychology of its inhabitants. This tour is a great way to introduce you to the different, colorful districts of Buenos Aires and determine where you may wish to return. (B)

Day 3: Buenos Aires - Bariloche
Hotel pickup and transfer to the national airport for your flight to Bariloche. Airport reception and transfer to your hotel. Airport reception and transfer to Bariloche hotel. Overnight accommodations at Design Suites Bariloche, standard room with daily breakfast included. - 3 nights. (B)

Days 4: Bariloche/Argentina Lakes District
No matter what your interests, you'll find plenty to do in this Swiss-like village resort town in the heart of Argentina's Lakes District. Both a summer and winter resort, Bariloche caters to skiers in the summer (it is Argentina's most popular ski resort), and mountain climbing, hiking and fishing during winter. If you're an avid shopper, you'll be delighted with the wide assortment of woolen and leather goods available in the shops and markets. The smell of chocolate will tease your senses before you even taste a bite of the rich confection that Bariloche is famous for. Your stay here will include a morning tour of the region, where you may take the chairlift to the top of the 3,600 foot Cerro Campanaria for a breathtaking view of the lake district. (B)

Day 5: Bariloche/Argentina Lakes District
The city of Bariloche provides an excellent base and easy access to different adventure activities throughout the year. Instead of offering a packaged day-program with fixed itineraries, we offer diverse programs in the diverse environments available in the lakes district of Patagonia: desert, forest, high alpine terrain, glacier and lakes. When designing these alternatives, we take in consideration the appropriate level of exertion wanted by our clients, as well as the weather and mountains conditions. We run trekking, rock-climbing, sea-kayaking, backcountry skiing and snowshoeing programs. All of these activities can be combined in two, three or more days according to availability, personal needs and the current weather conditions. An extensive list of excursion possibilities can be provided upon request. (B)

Day 6: Bariloche - Buenos Aires - Iguazu
Hotel pickup and transfer to the airport for your flight to Buenos Aires. Upon arrival, proceed to your connecting flight to Iguazu. Airport reception and transfer to your hotel. Overnight accommodations at the Sheraton Iguazu Resort & Spa, in a standard falls view room with daily breakfast included. With an ideal location right in the heart of the national park and just steps from the falls, the hotel brings together a very beautiful landscape with an amiable service, a comfortable style and excellent quality. The 3-story hotel has 180 rooms and suites, all with private balcony and the exclusive Sheraton Sweet Sleeper bed, individual control air conditioning, optional high speed internet access, cable TV, alarm clock, hair dryer, radio, iron and ironing board, telephone, minibar, and safe. The hotel also counts with restaurant, 2 bars, 2 swimming pools, tennis courts, room service, business center, meeting and convention space, a brand new spa with 5 indoor rooms, 4 outdoor tents, an indoor room for couples, and a Vichy shower; there are also relaxing and spacious Zen areas, a sauna, vapor room, an hydro massage pool, a totally equipped modern gym plus in and outdoor space for yoga, Pilates, and stretching.

Day 7: Iguazu Falls
Iguazu Falls are considered by many to be the most beautiful and spectacular waterfalls in the world, perhaps because of the 200 streams that emerge from the rainforest to form a myriad of gorgeous falls, large and small, which mingle so graciously with the surrounding vegetation. This region is one of the greatest ecological reserves of the world and it has been has been declared a World Heritage Site. Today you will explore the Argentine side of the falls with bilingual guide. This side of the mighty falls offers three different tracks into the forest, each with self-explanatory signs describing where cataracts drop into the canyon. You'll see the Devil's Throat, with its breathtaking view. You and your guide will explore the upper and lower trails close to the falls. You will take the train and then a short hike to the lookout point over the Devil's Throat, with impressive views of waterfalls on three sides. The access to San Martin Island is by way of the catwalks of the lower circuit. Arrival at the Visitors Center and the Iguazu National Park entrance. In order to access the catwalks from where you will see the Falls, you will board a gas-propelled train which will take you to the Upper Falls Circuit and the Devil's Throat. (The Upper and Lower Falls circuits are within walking distance of the Sheraton Iguazu.) Once at the Devil's Throat Station you will have to walk for about one kilometer (0.6 mile) on a flat catwalk built over the Upper Iguazu River. This catwalk crosses several islands along the way to the end, where you will be surprised by a strategic lookout point resting on the side of the gorgeous Devils Throat. Each station and catwalks have snack bars and toilets. (B)

The following are optional guided excursions (not included in trip cost):


Half-day Yacutaria Photo Safari
The Iguazu National Park extends over 220,000 acres and protects one of the natural areas of greatest biological diversity in the country - the Paranaense Subtropical rainforest, a Southern Brazilian Jungle extension. It has more than 2100 known plant species. With this jungle (exceeding 120 feet in height) as a natural frame, one finds the spectacular Iguazu Waterfalls with more than 270 beautiful falls. Surrounding them the visitors may walk through many jungle paths where it is frequent to encounter varied wildlife. This safari cuts deep into the jungle and follows the path of an old trail (closed to public) where, with the assistance of a fully qualified naturalist guide, you will enjoy and understand the most incredible diversity of wildlife in the area.

The Great Adventure
An 8 kilometer guided tour through the Yacaratia Trail along the Subtropical forest will lead you to the six kilometer navigation through the Lower Iguazu River. Spectacular boat navigation on the lower Iguazu River. The navigation will get close to the San Martin, The Three Musketeers and the mighty Devil's Throat. A true adventure with lots of adrenaline! Duration: approx. 60 min

Half-day Birding in the National Park
This birding tour takes place in different areas of the National Park. Observation of endangered and native species. The amount of birdlife is really remarkable, with more than 420 species (about 40% of all those present in Argentina) having been sighted. Most notables are: Hummingbirds, Trogons, Woodpeckers, Gleaners, Antbirds, Tyrants, Manakins and Tanagers.

Day 8: Iguazu - Buenos Aires - Int'l departure
Hotel pickup and transfer to the airport for your flight to Buenos Aires. Upon arrival at Buenos Aires' National Airport (Aeroparque) you will be met and assisted by our local representatives and transferred approximately 45 minutes to the International Airport (Ezeiza). (B)

Domestic airfare not included in trip cost - from $714, per person, subject to change