Day 5 (Sunday) Puerto Varas – Bariloche

Today, you use several modes of transportation as you leave Puerto Varas. Drive to Petrohue on Lake Todos, which is considered the "jewel" of the Lake District; it is a glacial basin set between the incredibly thick forests of the Rosales National Park. You have dramatic views of the Osorno volcano as you travel by cruise boat across the lake to Peulla and then drive through an Andes mountain pass between Chile and Argentina.

Arriving in Bariloche, you check into the Llao Llao Hotel, which commands a breathtaking view from a high hill overlooking a crystalline lake with the Andes as a backdrop. In the tradition of other great hotels of the world, this establishment offers quality at every turn.

This evening, you dine in the hotel’s restaurant, which offers delectable regional and international meals, followed by exquisite pastries filled with locally grown fruit – raspberries are a regional specialty. (B,L,D)

Today you relax; allow yourself to be pampered by the staff at the hotel and enjoy the inn’s amenities. There is a huge indoor pool that lies under a sloping glass ceiling before incredible views. You can make use of the tennis courts, the golf course, sailboards, canoes, mountain bikes and the spa. There is also fishing, hiking, bird watching and excursions to lakes, rivers, forests, mountains, and glaciers. The long pine gallery is lined with shops and art for those who prefer quieter activities.

This evening, you make your à la carte dinner selections at the hotel restaurant with the spectacular mountain and lake views. (B,L,D)

Enjoy the natural surroundings here before departing for your flight to Buenos Aires, the sophisticated capital city of Argentina set on the southern bank of the Rio del la Plata (Silver River). Your hotel is the Alvear Palace Hotel, the most elegant hotel in Buenos Aires - a 1932 Beaux-Arts building located in the stylish Recoleta neighborhood, near smart shops and embassies. Your accommodation features an elegant lobby with fine furniture, Palladian windows, chandeliers, and elaborate floral arrangements; a pianist entertains for afternoon tea.

This evening, your dinner at a restaurant in one of the older districts features a tempting variety of characteristic Argentine dishes. Beef specialties feature prominently, but you also may choose roasted chicken prepared with a mixture of herbs, garlic, oil and (sometimes) vinegar as well delicious stews and a variety of pasta.

No visit to Buenos Aires is really complete until you have participated in the tango scene. The tango started at the end of the last century from a mixture of various popular rhythms. Originally, only men danced to the music of the flute, violin, and guitar. The flute was eventually replaced by the accordion, which gave the music its distinctive tone. Join others on the dance floor to enjoy the spectacular blend of the traditional Argentine, and modern "piazzola"-style, tango. (B,L,D)

Driving outside the city, you see thousands of acres of flat grassland with large herds of cattle and wind pumps used to obtain water. Today you visit a cattle ranch and see the important influence such estancias have in promoting Argentina as a worldwide beef supplier. You see distinctively dressed horsemen - gauchos - and savor the delicacies that are prepared for you at a traditional barbecue.

Return to the city in time to relax before dinner at the hotel, and an after-dinner stroll around the Recoleta, which is notable for its residences and parks. (B,L,D)

After breakfast this morning, you explore the "Paris of the Tropics", the financial and cultural center of South America. Although there is modern construction and dynamic activity here, old traditions and charming customs have been nurtured and preserved. You visit the Plaza de Mayo, which is surrounded by some of the city’s major public buildings; this is the historic heart of the city. You see the Casa Rosada (the Presidential Palace) which is notable for its statuary, elaborate furnishings and library. You also see Palermo Park – the city’s largest park - with lakes, rose gardens, and the Andalusian Patio.

This afternoon, you board your flight for Iguassu Falls, located on the Brazil-Argentina border. The original Indian name of Y-Guazu (meaning Big Water) was never changed; these are the most overwhelming and spectacular waterfalls in South America.

The hotel tonight is located within the national park, just across the road from the breathtaking falls. The long, low Spanish-colonial main building of the hotel is accented by a tile roof and a cupola, its pale pink walls contrast starkly with the deep green of the jungle. Your à la carte dinner this evening features regional and Continental cuisine. (B,L,D)

After breakfast this morning, you visit the Iguassu Falls, considered by many to be the most impressive falls in the world. The water from thirty rivers joins the Iguassu River, which divides into more than 280 separate falls, 270 feet high, spilling over a gulf almost 3 miles wide. Most of the falls lie in Argentina, but the best view is from the Brazilian National Park, in which your hotel is located.

Across from your hotel, take the paved walkway that runs part of the way down the cliff; there is an extraordinary view of the entire Argentine side of the falls. The path ends up almost under the powerful Floriano Falls; and from here, an elevator takes you to the top. You have a completely different view from helicopter as you fly over the Falls. (B,L,D)

The subtropical rain forest provides an environment rich in flora and fauna. Bird watching can be particularly rewarding; there are five different members of the toucan family in this park. An enormous variety of birds can be observed in the adjacent bamboo stands and thick forests.

Your afternoon flight takes you to Rio de Janeiro, and you transfer to the Copacabana Palace - on the beach of the same name. It’s Rio’s most famous and highly regarded hotel (this is where Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers stayed in the film, "Flying Down to Rio"). High-ceilinged salons are reminiscent of the Orient-Express, with frosted glass, pale colors, inlaid woods, and elaborate floral bouquets.

Tonight, you dine in the Cipriani restaurant at the hotel, where you have a choice of regional or Italian fare prepared by their Venetian chef. (B,L,D)

Rio has a magnificent setting – between the mountains and the sea; the colorful city is strikingly beautiful in its natural tropical environment. The deep blue water of three large bays contrasts with the lush green mountain forests and expanse of gray granite peaks overlooking the harbor.

First settled by the French in the 16^th century, the Portuguese ultimately took control of the region. It became an important port out of which gold was shipped in addition to an important export/import center for the surrounding agricultural lands. Today it is a true melting pot of lifestyles, cultures, religions, and ethnic backgrounds.

This morning, on your tour of the city, you visit the Rodrigo de Freitas Lagoon, where Rio’s rowing and small-boat sailing clubs are active, and the Botanical Gardens, with a striking network of avenues with 100-foot high royal palms. Here you can see more than 7,000 varieties of plants from around the world, including some endangered species. Look for monkeys in the trees.

You take two cable cars to the summit of the mountain called Pao de Acucar (Sugar Loaf). At a height nearly twice that of New York’s World Trade Center, you are rewarded with an impressive bird’s-eye view of Guanabara Bay, the city, and its beaches. You also see the Teatro Municipal (Municipal Theater), one of the most magnificent Eclectic style buildings in Brazil. You visit the Mosteiro (monastery) de Sao Bento and its church – simple and unadorned on the exterior, but extraordinary carvings and gilding are within. (B,L,D)

Today, you drive northward out of Rio - to visit the historical "imperial city" of Petropolis, which has kept the colonial style, with its cobblestone streets, horses, and carriages. Your ride to the summer hill resort takes you along a steep, scenic mountain road in the Serra da Estrela range, 2,000 feet above sea level in a lush green valley.

The city is also nicknamed the "city of hydrangeas" because of the abundance of these flowers here. The higher altitude here provides cooler temperatures than in Rio, making the location a popular one for wealthy city residents who wanted to escape the summer heat. In the mid-19^th century, Emperor Pedro II ordered the building of an imperial palace in Petropolis, and he made it his administrative headquarters for six months of each year. You visit the elegant neoclassical palace that has exhibits of the Crown Jewels and the furnishings of both Pedro I and Pedro II.

Tonight, after dinner in Rio, you attend a lively musical performance. Song and dance have been shaped by Brazil’s rich ethnic background; they are very evident at Carnival time, but are also very significant in the everyday life. Whether it is the samba, the salsa, or the merengue, the music will have you moving your feet in no time. (B,L,D)

After breakfast, you travel to the Corcovado Mountain – nicknamed "Hunchback" because of the shape of its peak. Ascending by way of a cog railway, at the summit you see the famous statue of Christ the Redeemer, with arms outstretched over the city. On your return, visit the Tijuca National Park, the largest urban-forested national park in the world.

Your afternoon is free before you are escorted to the airport for your overnight flight back to the states. (B,L)

Those of you who have chosen to continue your journey by including an Amazon cruise are escorted to the airport for your flight to Manaus.