South American Odyssey: Rio de Janeiro, Buenos Aires Machu Picchu More

18 days
Save this trip to your favorites or other list
Additional images not provided by operator
Video not provided by operator
4.3/5 Great
100+ reviews  
81%
Save this trip to your favorites or other list
Small Group Tour
Learn the Samba in Rio and the tango in Buenos Aires, climb to Machu Picchu and go wine tasting in the vineyards outside of Santiago on this journey to the best of South America.
25% OFF
$10,529
From$7,949
See departure dates

Member Savings

Save up to $700!

Sign in to see which companies give additional
savings to Travelstride Members (it’s free)

Unlock Savings

Overview

Trip type
Small Group Tour
Lodging level
Standard - 3 star
Physical level
Easy
Trip pace
Balanced schedule

Highlights

    • Explore the highlights of Rio de Janeiro and take in the awesome splendor of Iguazu Falls from both the Argentine and Brazilian vantage points
    • Walk among the remains of the ancient Inca civilization in the Sacred Valley and at Machu Picchu, both UNESCO World Heritage Sites
    • Discover Argentine culture in Buenos Aires, the “Paris of the South,” with a tango lesson and the colorful neighborhood of Recoleta

What's this trip about?

    Learn the Samba in Rio and the tango in Buenos Aires, climb to Machu Picchu and go wine tasting in the vineyards outside of Santiago on this journey to the best of South America.

Compare to similar trips

Details

Itinerary focusClassic Highlights
Group sizeIntimate group - 12 max
Age rangeNo age restrictions
Flights and transportAll internal ground transport included
Start CityRio de Janeiro
End CityCuzco

Travel Themes

  • Hiking & Walking
  • Education / Learning

Destinations

Activities

  • Culture
  • Historic Sightseeing
  • History
  • Wine Tasting

Trip includes

    • 16 nights of accommodations
    • 5 expert-led lectures
    • 22 expert-led field trips
    • 4 flights during the program
    • 3 hands-on experiences
    • An experienced Group Leader
    • Customary gratuities throughout the program
    • Road Scholar Assurance Plan
    • Taxes

View Similar Trips

Itinerary

Travel Map

Day 1

In Transit to Program

In Flight

Day 2

Meals: Lunch and Dinner

Accommodation: Praia Ipanema Hotel

Arrive Rio de Janeiro, Sugarloaf, Welcome Orientation

Activity note: Hotel check-in available from 2:00 p.m.

Morning: Arrive to Rio’s Aeroporto International — Galeão Antônio Carlos...

Day 3

Meals: Breakfast and Lunch

Accommodation: Praia Ipanema Hotel

Exploring Corcovado, Favela, Samba Night

Activity note: Walking up to two miles throughout the day including up and down hill. The Samba night is an outdoor street party with crowded st...

Day 4

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Accommodation: Praia Ipanema Hotel

Rio's Historic Center and Samba School

Activity note: Walking approximately 2.5 miles, standing up to an hour at a time.

Breakfast: Hotel buffet.

Morning: Depart f...

Day 5

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Accommodation: Wyndham Golden Foz Suites

Fly to Foz do Iguaçu and Iguazu Falls Field Trip

Activity note: Ascending and descending airplane steps with hand baggage. Walking about 1.5 miles and standing for approxi...

Day 6

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Accommodation: Wyndham Golden Foz Suites

Bird Park, Falls Field Trip, Indigenous Community

Activity note: Walking up to two miles; humid, tropical climate; paved and unpaved paths, steps. Bring passports today as...

Day 7

Meals: Breakfast and Dinner

Accommodation: Hotel Intersur Recoleta

Fly to Buenos Aires, Argentina

Activity note: Ascending and descending steps with hand baggage. Walking up to two miles on paved city streets. Opportunity to try tango dance steps....

Day 8

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch  and Dinner

Accommodation: Hotel Intersur Recoleta

San Telmo & La Boca, Meeting Locals, Free Time

Activity note: Walking up to two miles and standing for about an hour at a time on paved cobblestone streets.

Brea...

Day 9

Meals: Breakfast and Lunch

Accommodation: Hotel Intersur Recoleta

La Pampa and Argentine Gaucho Life

Activity note: The drive into the countryside is about 50 miles, approximately 1.5 hours each way. Walking short distances and standing; unpaved g...

Day 10

Meals: Breakfast and Dinner

Accommodation: DoubleTree by Hilton Santiago

Fly to Santiago and City Tour

Activity note: Early transfer to the airport for the flight to Santiago. Walking up to one mile and standing for about an hour on city streets.<...

Day 11

Meals: Breakfast and Lunch

Accommodation: DoubleTree by Hilton Santiago

Valparaíso, Viña del Mar, Winery

Activity note: The drive to Valparaiso is about 72 miles (116km), approximately 1.5 hours. To Vina del Mar is less than 10 miles (13km). Walki...

Day 12

Meals: Breakfast and Lunch

Accommodation: DoubleTree by Hilton Santiago

Wine Estate and Andean Museum

Activity note: The drive to the wine estate is about 18 miles (28km), approximately 1/2 hour. Walking about one mile, standing indoors and out ap...

Day 13

Meals: Breakfast and Dinner

Accommodation: Costa del Sol Ramada Cusco

Fly to Cuzco-Peru, Check In, Rise & Fall of the Inca Empire

Activity note: Early transfer to the airport for the flight to Lima. Early transfer for full day trip from Santia...

Day 14

Meals: Breakfast and Lunch

Accommodation: Costa del Sol Ramada Cusco

Cuzco, Almudena, San Pedro Market, Sacsayhuaman

Activity note: Cuzco is at an elevation of 11,000 feet. Walking up to .5 miles, standing up to an hour at a time; paved streets, u...

Day 15

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Accommodation: Casa Andina Premium Valle Sagrado Hotel & Villas

Weaving Cooperative, Maras Salt Mines, Moray, Sacred Valley

Activity note: Motorcoach travel over winding roads. Walking (distance at personal d...

Day 16

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Accommodation: Casa Andina Premium Valle Sagrado Hotel & Villas

Pisac Sunday Market

Activity note: Walking about 2.5 miles and standing up to two hours.

Breakfast: Hotel buffet.

Morning: Pisac was founded ...

Day 17

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Accommodation: Costa del Sol Ramada Cusco

Machu Picchu UNESCO World Heritage Site

Activity note: The train ride from Ollantaytambo to Aguas Calientes is approximately 1.5 hours. From Aguas Calientes to Cuzco is a...

Day 18

Meals: Breakfast

Program Concludes

Activity note: Transfers to the airport for flights home.

Breakfast: Breakfast bags provided for early departures.

Morning: Check out of the hotel and transfer to Aeropuerto Internacional Alejandro Velasco...

Want a tailor-made trip instead?

Your trip, your way, planned by an expert:

  • You choose budget, destinations, activities, transport & lodging type
  • Expert designs the itinerary for you, and once approved, takes care of logistics
Design custom trip

Dates & Availability

Price From $7,949
Price per day$442
Last Updated: 11/13/2018

Check Current Availability, prices, specials with Road Scholar.

The total tour cost includes the tour price (regular or promotional) and the compulsory local payment. The promotional price is subject to change. Check directly with the operator for the latest price offer. The tour operator requires you to pay only the tour price to purchase your travel. The compulsory local payment will be paid when you join the trip. All prices are based on double, twin or triple share occupancy. Solo passengers will be accommodated in a double, twin or triple room according to availability with a passenger(s) of the same gender. Single supplement only needs to be paid if the passenger does not want to share and requests their own room. Discounts can only be applied at the time of booking and cannot be added at a later date, regardless of any changes made to the original booking.

Prices may vary due to local taxes and trip seasonality. Click "Request Info" to inquire directly with the tour operator for the final trip price.

Travelstride Gift Card
One card, thousands of extraordinary trips
Gifts Card

Road Scholar Reviews & Ratings

4.3/5  Great
Excellent
236
Great
9
Average
2
Disappointing
9
Terrible
46
Write a Review

Other Road Scholar Reviews

M

Michal McGinnis

Feb 2025

Written on

Wonders of Costa Rica at a slower pace

When I signed up for the Wonders of Costa Rica at a slower pace. The hotel listed in the itinerary for day 8&amp;9 was a 4 star hotel on the beach called the Punta L...

F

Floralin

Jan 2025

Written on

Same complaint as everyone else

Same complaint as everyone else. While I can see why the Cancel for Any Reason clause may be necessary for the business model, the problem is that THIS IS NOT EXPLA...

L

Lolly Kauss

Dec 2024

Written on

Road Scholar SCAMS older adults

If you want a real review and not their good reviews on their website, read this. Their customer service is horrible and they try to get as much money as possible by...

Write a Review

Travelers also viewed

Tour Operator

About Travelstride

Find your perfect trip

An epic selection of pre-planned trips on every continent, for every style. Thousands of itineraries from over 1,000 trusted travel companies.

Save time

Use simple search and comparison tools to easily find the best trip. Don't sweat the logistics — travel providers plan for you.

Save money

Book directly with the operator. See inclusive packages for the best values, and get access to amazing deals.

Travel confidently

Read unbiased user reviews, pick the operator that suits your needs, and connect with them directly.

Logistics

Accommodation

Praia Ipanema Hotel

3 nights  Rio de Janeiro

Cradle of Bossa Nova and source of inspiration of the best known Brazilian song in the world, the Praia Ipanema Hotel is located in the most famous and charming neighborhood of Rio de Janeiro, where trends are created, experiences shared and memories perpetuated

Wyndham Golden Foz Suites

2 nights  Foz de Iguacu

The Wyndham Golden Foz Suites has large suites and is in a great location; downtown with easy access to the city main sights – besides an unforgettable panoramic view.

Hotel Intersur Recoleta

3 nights  Buenos Aires

A hotel designed to enjoy the city through its most representative aspects; gastronomy, the expressiveness of its art, its events and lifestyle. A look that represents the union of the past and future of the city, reflected in the furniture and decor of the hotel, in the combination of colors and materials that present the beauty and memory of the place.

DoubleTree by Hilton Santiago

3 nights  Santiago

Centrally located within Santiago's recently developed commercial and financial district, DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Santiago - Vitacura is just one block away from The Costanera Center – an extensive business and commercial complex that includes South America’s largest shopping mall, theaters, offices and the tallest building in Latin America, Gran Torre Santiago. This Santiago hotel is within walking distance of national and international corporate headquarters, embassies and convention centers. Guests can also enjoy easy access to restaurants, boutiques, galleries, cultural buildings and many Santiago attractions. Experience a warm welcome when you stay at this contemporary Santiago hotel. You will even be greeted with a signature DoubleTree chocolate chip cookie when you check-in.

Costa del Sol Ramada Cusco

3 nights  Cusco

The hotel is situated two blocks away from the main square in a XVII century colonial house.

Casa Andina Premium Valle Sagrado Hotel & Villas

2 nights  Cusco

The Sacred Valley’s most complete hotel: a mountain chalet-styled retreat with panoramic Andes views from every room and every angle. On more than 8 landscaped acres (3 hectares), it breathes an air of tranquility and relaxation. Unique among Sacred Valley hotels – most of which remain isolated in the valley, offering precious little for guests to do – it contains an extraordinary, full-service “Sacred Spa”, a domed Planetarium & Observatory for stargazing in the massive Southern Hemisphere sky, and gourmet restaurant and bar. The 85 inviting, spacious rooms overlook the property’s extensive gardens and feature either private balconies or sunny sitting areas. Equidistant between Urubamba and Ollantaytambo, in the Sacred Valley of Cusco, the hotel is perfectly positioned for easy access to the valley’s abundant attractions and incomparable Inca ruins, including world-renowned Machu Picchu.

Travel Insurance
We strongly recommend purchasing travel insurance alongside your travel package to safeguard against unforeseen circumstances such as medical expenses, trip cancellations, and other contingencies. It offers you peace of mind and ensures you are prepared for unexpected events that may occur before or during your journey
Visa requirements
Visa requirements vary depending on your country of origin and your country of destination. It is your responsibility to familiarize yourself with the relevant requirements. For a handy tool that can help you quickly find the requirements, please visit this link .
Meals Included

16 Breakfasts, 13 Lunches and 10 Dinners

The following choices may be available when requested in advance: Vegetarian, Gluten Free

Age Requirements
No age restrictions
Additional Information
[object Object]
Trip ID
roadscholar-955

Become a member

(it's free)
  • Save up to $700 per person
  • Access members-only specials
  • Personalize trip recommendations
Sign up and save

Compare to Similar Trips

Top Tour Companies on Travelstride:
All 1,600+ companies >
Sign in to reveal savings up to $700 per person!