Behold the hundreds of thundering cascades, including roaring Devil’s Throat, that comprise Iguazu Falls, and see firsthand the diversity of Brazil’s culture in a jungle community of indigenous Guarani.
Special Note: Any guests travelling with Portable Oxygen Concentrators (POC) or CPAP breathing machines should read further below for airline stipulations with regards to bringing this equipment on tour.
DAY 1
After flying into the Ezeiza International Airport in Buenos Aires, you will be met near the luggage claim area and transferred to your hotel for the night.
The day and evening will be at leisure with all meals on your own.
Check in at the hotel is 3:00pm. Although every effort will be made to have rooms available earlier, this cannot be guaranteed. If your flight arrives early in the day, you may wish to book an extra night to guarantee immediate check-in.
Note: Guests failing to arrive on Day 1 of a scheduled land program will be considered no-shows and their hotel space released.
DAY 2
Following breakfast at the hotel, you will transfer to the International airport for the flight to Iguazu. Large luggage not needed for the Iguazu trip should be stored at the hotel.
After flying into the Iguazu airport, you will transfer to the Brazilian Side of Iguazu Falls National Park to visit one of the wonders of the world.
Lunch at Porto Canoas Restaurant or similar.
Following lunch, enjoy an excursion with a motorized boat cruise. You will enjoy a quiet walk through the jungle until we reach the pier, where we will board the boats and sail along the Iguazú canyon to the foot of the Brazilian waterfalls.
After the zodiac, take an elevator to the base of the waterfalls and stop just above the river level and admire the majestic Iguazu Falls from a footbridge of 1,000 meters
Walk back to the hotel, where Dinner will be served.
DAY 3
Following breakfast at the hotel, you will visit the Argentinian Side of the Iguazu Falls National Park to visit one of the wonders of the world, the impressive Garganta Del Diablo (Devil’s Throat), where the Iguazu River crashes down almost 80 meters forming many rainbows. You will reach this fantastic sight through a unique train ride on the Eco-Train (1000-metre footbridge from the train station to the Garganta del Diablo).
Lunch will be served inside the National Park at La Selva Restaurant, or similar.
Finalize your visit to this wonderful spot, walking through the upper and the lower circuits of the National Park, by catwalks and observatories, appreciating these wonderful waterfalls from different angles.
In time, you will transfer to the Belmond Hotel Das Cataratas for the evening. Dinner will be served at the hotel.
DAY 4
Following breakfast at the hotel, you will visit a community of indigenous Guarani people. As you walk the surrounding jungle trails, a member of the community will describe some of the Guarani beliefs and legends. You will also learn how they use medicinal plants to naturally treat illnesses.
In time, you will visit a temple deeper in the jungle and learn about Guarani rituals of initiation and baptism. To enhance your understanding of this special culture, you will also visit homes in the community and see animal traps and traditional crafts made from natural materials.
After the visit, transfer to a local restaurant for lunch. You will then transfer to the airport for the return flight to Buenos Aires. Upon landing, you will proceed to your hotel.
You will then spend the evening admiring all qualities of tango in its different expressions with first category dancers and singers as well as a tango orchestra, enjoy and "feel" this music at its utmost while having a Dinner at the Tango House.
You will then return to the hotel.
DAY 5
After breakfast at the hotel and check out, you will begin an enlightening tour of Buenos Aires. Highlights along the way will include Main Square Plaza de Mayo surrounded by the presidential palace known as Casa Rosada, the colonial town hall and the neoclassical Cathedral, where the remains of national hero General Jose San Martin lie.
Then, it’s on to the neighborhood La Boca, where you will meander along El Caminito, a street full of expressive brightly colored buildings. You will also pass through the affluent Palermo neighborhood and past the Recoleta Cemetery, which holds thousands of grandiose mausoleums including Eva Peron’s.
You will then transfer to the pier to embark the ship.
Land Program Details Step by Step:
• Please note: The order of sites visited may vary to avoid congestion. This program is subject to flight confirmations which are beyond our control. All program details including timings and any flights indicated below are approximate, given here for general reference purposes and subject to change. Direct flights are never guaranteed.
• Itineraries with the most up to date details (at the time) will be issued when you are emailed your final cruise documents 21 days prior to sailing. You will then receive one last final itinerary from our ground operator with a Welcome Letter upon arrival or at your hotel. Please review that Welcome Letter and your final itinerary carefully for any further amendments.
• The hotels used for your land program will be the hotels listed in this document unless you have been advised otherwise in advance of the land program start date.
• Guests failing to arrive on Day 1 of a scheduled land program will be considered a no-show and their hotel space released.
Extra Nights
• All extra nights booked through the cruise line are confirmed at the hotel that is used on the FIRST NIGHT of your land program
• If you book extra nights through the cruise line, you will be met as per the flight details provided and transferred to your hotel. Check-in is 3:00pm (subject to change). Meals other than breakfast, as well as activities, are on your own until day 2 of the program.
• If you have an early-arriving flight, you may wish to book an extra night as your room will not be ready for occupation until approximately 3:00pm.
• If you book extra nights on your own, transfers are not included.
DAY 1
Arrival of your international flight.
Meet and greet and transfer to your hotel.
3:00pm check-in at the hotel.
The remainder of the day and evening at your leisure.
Dinner on your own.
Overnight at the Alvear Art Buenos Aires or similar
Meet and Greet and transfers
• Final cruise documents will be emailed 21 days prior to sailing. The local ground agent’s telephone number will be on page 1, if you can’t locate the meet-and-greet representative upon arrival. Be aware that the representative may be assisting others and may not be in sight when you first exit Customs and the luggage claim area.
• Look for someone holding a sign with the cruise line logo and possibly your name. If in doubt, ask the airport staff to direct you to the meeting area for transfers or to page our representative.
• Meet and Greet and transfers are arranged for guests arriving on Day 1 of a land program or for extra nights booked through the cruise line and are arranged based on the flight details received by guests at least 14 days before sailing. Guests arriving independently before the program start date will not have a transfer included.
• If we have not received your flight details or your flights have changed, and the Destination Services Land Team has not been notified, then a transfer cannot be provided, and guests will be responsible for getting to the land program hotel at their own expense. Please immediately contact our Reservations Department for any flight changes before departure.
DAY 2 – timings below are subject to actual flight details
7:00am Buffet Breakfast at the Hotel
8:00am Transfer to the Buenos Aires domestic airport
8:15am Check in for the flight to Iguazu
9:45am Fly to Iguazu (flight details TBA and subject to change)
11:30am Arrival into Iguazu and Transfer to Foz do Iguazu National park
1:00pm Lunch at Porto Canoas or similar
2:00pm Visit Foz do Iguazu National park and join the Macuco Safari (Zodiac Ride)
6:30pm Transfer to the hotel
7:00pm Time at Leisure
8:30pm Dinner at the hotel
Overnight at the Belmond Hotel Das Cataratas or similar
DAY 3
7:00am Buffet Breakfast at the hotel
7:30am Transfer to Iguazu Falls National Park
8:00am Visit to Iguazu Falls – Devil’s Throat
12:00pm Lunch at La Selva or similar
1:00pm Visit the upper and lower circuits
6:30pm Transfer to the hotel
7:30pm Time at Leisure
8:30pm Dinner at Hotel
Overnight at the Belmond Hotel Das Cataratas or similar
DAY 4 – timings below are subject to actual flight details
7:00am Buffet breakfast at the hotel and check-out
8:00am Visit a Guarani community
11:30am Lunch at a local restaurant
12:15pm Transfer to the Airport
2:30pm Fly to Buenos Aires (flight details TBA and subject to change)
5:00pm Arrival into Buenos Aires and Transfer to the hotel and check-in
8:30pm Dinner and Tango Show at La Ventana Tango House or similar
12:00am Return to the hotel
Overnight at the Alvear Art Buenos Aires or similar
DAY 5
7:30am Buffet breakfast at hotel
10:00am Check-out. Buenos Aires sightseeing
2:00pm Approximate arrival at the port and embark the ship
Expected Weather
Seasons in South America are exactly opposite of those in North America. Rain can fall at any time of the year. Hot humid climate should be expected during the summer (December-March)
Avg High 90°F
Avg Low 65°F
Mean 74°F
What to Bring
Light, loose clothing as well as mosquito repellant are recommended. A bathing suit or waterproof clothing, as well as comfortable, rubber-soled shoes are also recommended at the falls, as the pathways can be uneven in places, and you are very likely to get wet from the spray of the falls. Hat and sunglasses, cash for personal expenses, light layered clothes, sunscreen, comfortable walking shoes, any needed medication, and changing clothes.
Currency
The official Argentine currency is the Argentinian Peso.
Electricity
220 volts A.C. (50 Hz). We recommend bringing your own travel adaptor if required.
Luggage
As you will be flying on a domestic flight, the luggage restrictions are as follows:
• 5kg/11lbs of carry-on luggage
• 15kg / 33lbs of checked-in luggage
Any excess luggage will be stored at the hotel in Buenos Aires, where you will receive it upon your return. Be sure to bring necessary medications, valuables and documents with you.
Carriage of Portable Oxygen Concentrators (POC) or CPAP breathing machines on internal flights per airline regulations (subject to change as each airline has their own regulations)
1. Guests must obtain a Doctor’s Certificate mentioning their medical condition and the need to carry this equipment with them on their flights.
2. The certificate should have attached a picture of the equipment with its description/specifications especially with regards to the type of batteries used (lithium/dry or any other type).
3. These documents need to be sent to the Land Program Team via Reservations at RSSC at least one month prior to travel so that our local operator can begin the notification process with the airline(s).
4. Failure to comply with the above regulations may result in a denial of this equipment at the airport for which the cruise line nor our local ground operator be responsible for.
Documents and Visa Requirements
A passport that is valid at least 6 months after travel is required. Please check with your local embassy for any visa requirements for your nationality for both Brazil and Argentina, as you will be crossing the border between the two countries.
VERY IMPORTANT – The name on your cruise booking, passport and any visas if required, must all be exactly the same for flight ticket purchase, otherwise guests may be denied travel by flight. Please ensure that all documents are identical in spelling to the names provided for your cruise reservation including first, middle and last name. Manifests generated by the cruise line must match your travel documents.
Failure to have the required documents ahead of time will result in denial of travel and guests will have to pay for any expenses incurred in order to not proceed with the program.
Aircraft type (subject to change):
Boeing 737/800 (116-134 seats) // Airbus 320 (120-180 seats) // Boeing 737/700 (136 seats)
Accommodations
Belmond Hotel Das Cataratas
Rodovia Br 469, Km 32, s/n Parque Nacional Iguassu National Park, Foz do Iguaçu, Brazil
Phone: +55 21 3500-0293
Alvear Art Buenos Aires Hotel
Suipacha 1036, Buenos Aires, Argentina
Phone: +54 11 4114-3400
*We will only source different hotels in unforeseen situations. If similar hotels are required, they will be of equal ratings and standards and you will be notified of the change. If you are not notified of any changes before your departure, then you will be staying at the hotels listed in this program.
NOTE:
• Please note that in case of staying in a property located on the Brazilian Side, guests when crossing the border have to change vehicles due to local regulations.
• Brazilian Vehicles are not allowed to pick up guests at the Argentinian Airport.
• Argentinian Vehicles are not allowed to enter the Brazilian National Park.
• Migration procedures have to be done when crossing the border from Argentina to Brazil and vice versa.
• Bringing a passport is mandatory.
Land cost Includes
• 2 nights at the Alvear Art Buenos Aires Hotel including breakfast or similar hotel
• 2 nights at the Belmond Hotel Das Cataratas including breakfast or similar hotel
• Transfers
• Half-day Buenos Aires sightseeing
• Dinner and tango show
• Excursion to Argentine falls and entrance fee
• Brazilian falls with a Macuco Safari Zodiac boat
• Visit a local Guarani community
• Porterage for luggage
• Economy-class flights between Buenos Aires and Iguazu – direct flights not guaranteed
• Meals as per detail
• English-speaking guides on tours
• Excess luggage storage in Buenos Aires while the group is in Iguazu
Please Note: Guests booking their own flights independently of the cruise line are responsible for ensuring that the cruise line has the updated arrival information, so your transfer can be arranged. If you book additional nights independently of the cruise line, an arrival transfer is not provided. If we do not receive flight details a minimum of 14 days in advance, transfers will not be provided.
Land cost Excludes
• Any hotel incidentals including room service and mini bar
• Any meals or beverages not mentioned above
• Gratuities to drivers and guides
• Visa fees if required
• Excess or overweight luggage fees
Please note: Land programs that encompass multiple days ashore customarily include extensive and prolonged activity, while those of shorter durations typically have more moderate activity levels. However, each program varies, and participants should be prepared to negotiate a mixture of surfaces which may include inclines, cobblestones, sand, gravel and natural paths. There may also be a need to climb steps or stairs on occasion. Guests who utilize a wheelchair and those with mobility concerns are advised to check with the cruise line in advance to see if any portion of the tour program may not be considered suitable for their individual situation.
Please note: All land programs are capacity controlled and subject to availability. Programs falling under the minimum number of required participants are subject to cancellation. Pricing listed is also subject to change to meet unexpected cost increases for transportation, land arrangements or currency fluctuations. Once purchased, pricing is guaranteed and not subject to change. Land programs must be purchased no later than 90 days prior to your sail date. Cancellations made within 90 days or less prior to the sail date are subject to 100% cancellation penalty. There are no refunds for unused portions of any program. Guests failing to arrive on Day 1 of a scheduled land program will be considered no-shows and their hotel space released.
Prices are per person, based on double occupancy and subject to availability.