PACING: 5 destinations in 13 nights: 3 nights Santiago, 1 night Santa Cruz, 4 nights Buenos Aires, 2 nights Iguassu Falls, 3 nights Rio de Janeiro.

Details about your flights: Your flight to South America will connect through Miami. Since flights from Miami to Santiago depart late night, depending upon your home city you may have a shorter or longer layover in Miami before your flight takes off. At the end of your trip, you will take an evening flight from Rio de Janeiro on Day 15, arriving into Miami on the morning of Day 16. Your trip also has 3 internal flights: Santiago to Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires to Iguassu Falls, and Iguassu Falls to Rio de Janeiro. The only long motorcoach days are from Santiago to Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz back to Santiago for flight to Buenos Aires, the full-day tour of Vina del Mar and Valparaiso, and the full-day tour to the estancia in Buenos Aires. However, each of these days includes stops and sightseeing along the way.

Optional Pre-Extension: 3 destinations in 6 nights: 3 nights Cuzco, 1 night in Machu Picchu, 2 nights in Lima. If you are taking the optional pre-extension, you will take an overnight flight from Miami to Cuzco, connecting through Lima. The extension has 3 internal flights: Lima to Cuzco; Cuzco to Lima; and Lima to Santiago (with an early departure).


PHYSICAL ACTIVITY: All sightseeing is on air-conditioned coaches with guides. Moderate walking required throughout the tour. In Iguassu Falls, there is walking on well-maintained trails and catwalks daily, with one day being approximately a 2 mile walk at Iguassu. In Rio there is a gondola ride to the top of Sugar Loaf and a cog train ride on Corcovado. There is the possibility of long lines to clear customs, particularly when entering Brazil.

Optional Pre-Extension: Most sightseeing is on air-conditioned coaches with guides and on Vistadome train. There is moderate to heavy walking at Ollantaytambo and at Machu Picchu, with steps, climbing of stairs, walking on cobblestones and uneven terrain. High altitudes in Machu Picchu (8,000 feet) and Cuzco (10,657 feet).


CULTURAL FOCUS: South America requires little to moderate cultural adjustment for most travellers, with the possible exception of Brazil, where visible poverty and beggars may be encountered. The different people, customs, foods, culture, and history are what make South America such a rewarding destination.


SPECIAL FACTORS: Temperatures can be quite hot and humid, particularly at Iguassu Falls during their summer months (November - March). A Brazilian visa is required for this program at an additional cost. Please refer to Vantage’s wheelchair and handicapped traveller policy as this journey does have some physical limitations, particularly on the Cuzco and Machu Picchu optional pre-extension.


HEALTH ADVISORY: The Brazilian Ministry of Health is advising that all travellers go to regions of risk of yellow fever receive the yellow fever vaccine. It is not required, but recommended for Iguassu, Brasilia and Manaus. The vaccine should be taken 10 days prior to entering the infected region by those people over 6 months of age and those who do not suffer from a weakened immune system. For more information, check on http://www.cdc.gov.