1. Rio de Janeiro - check in, rest, orientation to the program, free time
2. Rio de Janeiro - full day city tour, Sugar Loaf Mountain, PM entertainment
3. S㯠Paulo - drive to S㯠 Paulo, orientation and tour
4. Ponta Grossa - Castro, Carambei, Dutch farm visit
5. Ponta Grossa - Vila Velha stone city visit, optional Iguazu flight
6. Florianopolis - train to Floripa, see German-founded towns
7. Florianopolis - Day tour of Ilha de Santa Catarina island
8. Gramado - visit Aparados do Serra National Park, Itambezinho Canyon and Fortaleza Canyon
9. Gramado - Caracol State Park and Bento Gon硬ves
10. Pelotas - Porto Alegre visit
11. Montevideo - enter Uruguay, visit Punta del Este resort
12. Montevideo - city tour, museum visit, street market, free time
13. Buenos Aires - ferry across Rio Plata, orientation to Buenos Aires and lecture on history and culture
14. Buenos Aires - architecture tour, Casa Rosada, Teatro Colon, farewell dinner with tango
15. Buenos Aires - flight home

Day 2 - Rio de Janeiro - Today, we will enjoy a full day in Rio. You'll have the morning to rest and refresh. Around midday we'll depart for a city tour, going downtown to visit the Cathedral, built by the Portuguese in the 1700s in Baroque style. Next, we'll tour the beaches of Copacabana, Flamengo and Ipanema (remember the famous Bossa Nova song "Girl from Ipanema"?). Travel up to Sugar Loaf on the cable car where you'll have a stupendous view of this beautiful city and the sea below. Sugar Loaf (known locally as P㯠de A纣ar) is a famous landmark seen on numerous postcards. In the evening, go out on the town, or we can organize a group to head to the Plataforma to catch dinner and a Samba show (the city's best one, we might add). Overnight in Rio de Janeiro.

Day 3 - S㯠 Paulo - In the morning, we'll have to free time to relax or hit the beach. Around noon, we depart Rio de Janeiro for S㯠Paulo, the largest city in South America. Founded in 1554 as a mission, S㯠Paulo came of age in the late 1800s during the coffee boom. The subsequent industrialization produced a high population density, finally reaching its present level of 18 million inhabitants. Nowadays, the bustling city is a lively center of culture. Upon arrival, we'll enjoy an orientation to the city and then proceed to the hotel for dinner and overnight.

Day 4 - Ponta Grossa - Drive southwest to Ponta Grossa, located due west of Curitiba in the state of ParanᮠWe will drive via Castro and Carambei, where descendants of the original Dutch settlers will greet us. In the 19th century, their forebears left Rotterdam to seek their fortunes in the New World. The Dutch character of the town is apparent, and you can enjoy Dutch as well as Brazilian cuisine here. The Catholic and Protestant churches, the small shops and the quaint school remain a small piece of the Netherlands set in a tropical environment. Most of the inhabitants earn their living in agriculture and animal husbandry, and gladly tell about their daily life. Arrive in Ponta Grossa and check in to our hotel for overnight.

Day 5 - Ponta Grossa - Today we'll visit Vila Velha, a fascinating area where sentinel-like sandstone figures resembling animals, humans and other shapes can been seen in these unique formations; the site is also known as the "lost stone city." The curious rock formations are the result of sand deposits from when glaciers covered the area between 300 and 400 million years ago; since that time, erosion sculpted these strange figures. There's also a place to swim here and the chance to go down in an elevator to one of the area's crater lakes. Interested parties have the option of flying to Iguazu Falls on a day trip originating in Ponta Grossa. The Falls, one of the world's greatest natural wonders, consist of 275 waterfalls pouring into the Paran᠒iver. See your tour guide for details. Overnight in Ponta Grossa.

Day 6 - Florianopolis - Leave for Curitiba, where we board the train to Florianopolis, the capital of the state of Santa Catarina. We'll experience some absolutely stunning scenery; words cannot do the area justice. Along the mountain ranges and by thundering waterfalls, we drive through the 475-meter long Roca Nova Tunnel (the longest of 13 tunnels) and over the Devil's Peak, the highest point in the route at 955 meters (3133 feet). At Morretes, a small colonial town dating from 1721, the bus will be waiting to take us through the coastal mountain setting to the European-founded towns of Joinville, Brusque and Blumenau, set in a valley resembling the Rhine Valley in Germany. Residents of these cities, and others like them, are descendants of German and other European settlers that arrived here in the mid- to late 19th century. To a great extent, their culture, language and traditions have been preserved. Overnight in or near Florianopolis.

Day 7 - Florianopolis - Today we will enjoy a city tour of Florianopolis. "Floripa" is a modern city occupying land on the mainland as well as on the Ilha de Santa Catarina (Santa Catarina Island). We then cross one of the four-lane bridges to the Ilha. The numerous beaches on the island's east coast are spectacular, with immense strips of sand and large waves. Return to the hotel; your evening is free to visit a good restaurant or stroll on the city's waterfront. Overnight in Florianopolis or Torres.

Day 8 - Gramado - Get ready for some breathtaking scenery today as we visit one of Brazil's greatest natural treasures - the Aparados do Serra National Park. Making our way into the state of Rio Grande do Sul, we'll stop at the Itambezinho Canyon, a spectacular formation steeper and greener than the Grand Canyon. This majestic canyon, formed by the Rio Perdiz, lies at the entrance to the National Park. We'll also take a trip to the unforgettable Fortaleza Canyon, which has dropoffs of almost 1,000 meters, accompanied by a local guide. On days with good weather, the Atlantic Ocean can be seen from here. Towards the end of the day we arrive in Gramado, a scenic mountain resort spot with nice restaurants, pretty landscaping and Swiss chalet-style architecture. Arrive in Gramado for check-in and overnight.

Day 9 - Gramado - In the morning, we'll visit the Caracol Waterfalls, in the Caracol State Park around the town of Canela. The falls tower at 131 meters, and giant pines dot the park. In the late morning we will make an excursion to the Italian town of Bento Gon硬ves in the wine-growing region and enjoy a local wine-tasting. The old-fashioned wineries and stone houses are reminiscent of days gone past. In the Rua das Pedras (Street of Stones) and the Italian Immigrant Museum we'll learn about the original settlers. Overnight in Gramado.

Day 10 - Pelotas - Our journey will take us to Pelotas via Porto Alegre, the capital city of the state of Rio Grande do Sul. In Porto Alegre we'll take the time to enjoy lunch in a typical Argentine-style steakhouse (not included). We'll arrive in Pelotas in the late afternoon, situated near the Uruguayan border.

Day 11 Montevideo - Today we will cross the border with Uruguay to head for Punta del Este, one of the most exclusive and elegant coastal resort spots in all of the Americas. Here, many movie stars and other elites have houses and mansions. After stopping here we'll make our way to the capital of Montevideo, beautifully set on the banks of the Rio Plata.

Day 12 - Montevideo - Today we'll have the whole day to spend in the city. After an enlightening city tour of Montevideo, we will have the afternoon free to discover the city on your own. The colonial center of the town hearkens back to its Spanish origins. Sites of interest include the National Historical Museum and the town market. The port area has become a fascinating quarter where you can buy crafts, listen to music or watch colorful street performers. Overnight in Montevideo.

Day 13 - Buenos Aires - Today we'll take the bus to Colonia del Sacramento, where we will board the ferry to take us across the Rio Plata (River of Silver) to Argentina. In times of the Spanish Empire, Buenos Aires was only a small town, compared to Lima and Mexico City, but at the end of the 19th Century it grew to be a large port city through its trade in grain and wool. The cultural and architectural influences of the Italians and the French led Buenos Aires to become known as the "Paris of Latin America," a title which it has gracefully retained. Overnight in Buenos Aires.

Day 14 - Buenos Aires - Buenos Aires offers a wealth of culture for the visitor. A city tour will allow for closer glimpses of the intricate architecture and for observing the city's vivacious daily life. We'll learn the story of Eva Peron and about the birth of the tango in the 19th century. Numerous sights in the city include the Casa Rosada (Presidential Palace) and the lavish Teatro Colon, one of the most beautiful theaters in the world. In the evening, we'll enjoy a special Farewell Dinner with a spectacular tango presentation.

Day 15 - Departure - In the morning, you'll be free to do some last-minute shopping in Buenos Aires. In the afternoon, you'll be transferred to the Ezeiza International Airport for your flight back home. We are confident you have enjoyed your trip and will wish to return one day soon!