| DAY
1 DEPARTURE FROM NORTH AMERICA
Enjoy full meal service on your scheduled wide-bodied flight
to Santiago de Chile.
DAY
2 ARRIVE SANTIAGO DE CHILE (2 NIGHTS)
We will be met at the airport by our tour manager/guide and
transfer into central Santiago. We check in to our hotel before
taking a traditional City Tour, visiting
the best of Santiago de Chile.
DAY
3 VALPARAISO - SANTIAGO DE CHILE
Today we take an excursion to visit Valparaiso.
On arrival we visit La Sebastiana, one of poet Pablo Neruda's
three quirky homes that have been converted into museums honoring
the distinguished Nobel Laureate's work and life. La Sebastiana
is special because visitors are allowed to wander about freely
without an accompanying guide. This afternoon we will spend
time at Viña del Mar. The Playa Caleta
Abarca beach is located in a protected bay near the entrance
to Viña del Mar, next to the often photographed "flower
clock" and the Cerro Castillo.
• Your first concert performance
will be today
DAY
4 SANTIAGO DE CHILE - FLIGHT TO BUENOS AIRES
(2 NIGHTS)
After breakfast this morning we transfer to the
airport for our flight to Buenos Aires. We will be met at
the airport by our tour manager/guide and transfer into central
Buenos Aires, Argentina’s capital city, which if often
called “The most European city in South America.”
On arrival we check in to our hotel. We begin the day with
a comprehensive Buenos Aires City Tour, highlighting
many of the important landmarks and buildings in the city,
as well as it various neighborhoods, including La
Boca, San Telmo, La Recoleta and Palermo.
During our tour we will explore the Colonial Center
including, Plaza de Mayo, the Cabildo, Casa Rosada,
the Cathedral, the Obelisk,
the Congress, the Government House
and the wide 9 de Julio Avenue,
as well as the Puerto Madero Riverfront. During our City Tour,
we will also take a guided tour of the Colon Theater
(pending opening date after renovations)
one of Buenos Aires finest attractions. Buenos Aires's golden
age of prosperity gave birth to this luxurious opera house,
which has hosted Luciano Pavarotti, Julio Bocca, Maria Callas,
Plácido Domingo, Arturo Toscanini, and Igor Stravinsky.
The project took close to 80 years to complete, but the result
is spectacular. This evening we will enjoy a Tango
Dinner and Show at La Esquina Carlos Gardel, featuring
the world-renowned passionate music and dance native to Argentina.
DAY
5 DAY TRIP TO THE PAMPAS (ESTANCIA)
Today we will enjoy an excursion to the Pampas
and visit a typical “Estancia” or farm. The Pampas
is one of the most important economical areas in Argentina
and gauchos once made a living farming this smooth landscape
with monotonous vegetation of small bushes, grass and gramineous
plants. On the Estancia, the gaucho traditions are kept alive
and we will spend a wonderful day in the countryside getting
to know a typical Argentine ranch, where many agricultural
and cattle raising activities are carried out by modern gauchos.
On arrival we visit the Estancia House (Museum) before enjoying
a sampling of delicious local homemade empanada pastries.
There will be Activities such as horseback riding and sulky
rides (one-horse carriages), before a Typical Asado Lunch,
a delicious barbecue with famous Argentine beef. We will also
enjoy a Dance and Music Show with typical gaucho dance and
music. This is followed with an opportunity to admire the
gaucho’s skills on their horses as we view Cuadreras
and Ring Races. We return to Buenos Aires for our evening
concert.
• Your second concert performance will be
today
DAY
6 BUENOS AIRES - HYDROFOIL TO MONTEVIDEO
(3 NIGHTS)
Today we will depart from Buenos Aires and travel
by hydrofoil to Uruguay; the trip takes about
2.5 hours, and we will arrive in Montevideo late this afternoon.
DAY
7 MONTEVIDEO
This morning we will begin our Walking Tour
in the Old City’s Independence Square,
which was originally the site of a Spanish citadel. We visit
the old town hall El Cabildo where Uruguay's
constitution was signed. The building also served as the city's
jailhouse in the 19th century. Now a museum, the Cabildo houses
the city's historic archives as well as maps and photos, antiques,
costumes, and artwork. This afternoon we visit the Iglesia
Matriz (Matriz Church); the cathedral was the city's
first public building, erected in 1804. It houses the remains
of some of Uruguay's most important political, religious,
and economic figures, and is distinguished by its domed bell
towers.
DAY
8 MONTEVIDEO
We begin the day as we visit the Taranco Palace,
built in the early 20th century and now the decorative arts
museum. The building represents the trend toward French architecture
during that period. The museum displays Uruguayan furniture,
draperies, clocks, paintings, and other cultural works. The
remainder of the day can be spent in the Mercado del
Puerto (Port Market), which is open during afternoons
and weekends at Piedras and Yacaré. Here we can sample
the flavors of Uruguay, from small empanadas to enormous barbecued
meats.
• Your third and final concert performance
will be today
DAY
9 MONTEVIDEO - HYDROFOIL - DEPARTURE
FROM BUENOS AIRES
Today our enjoyable and rewarding tour will come to an end
as our tour manager/guide accompanies us to the airport for
our return flight home. (Dinner will be on your own at
the airport). Flight time permitting, there can be a
final shopping expedition in Buenos Aires City before the
final airport transfer.
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