Bright Horizons 16

• Arrival and Time Zone Adjustment

Arrive in Rio, sun and fun capital of South America, in the morning. Your Insight Cruises host (who will be with you until you board our cruise ship) will meet you after you have claimed your luggage and passed through customs and accompany you to our hotel, The Royal Rio Palace (or comparable). The rest of the day is at leisure. You can take an optional tour to the Rio de Janeiro Botanical Gardens, a UNESCO biosphere reserve. Over 8,000 plant species grow in the 350-acre expanse, including the royal palms which have become the Garden’s symbol and pau-brasil, the national tree of Brazil.

Come evening, we’ll take a “Rio by Night” tour, including dinner at a traditional Brazilian Churrascaria (barbecue) restaurant, followed by a spectacular Samba Show. (Dinner is provided) [Royal Rio Palace Hotel or comparable]

• Surveying the Terrain

Morning tour begins at Copacabana and Ipanema, two of the world’s most beautiful beaches. We’ll ride a cable car to the top of Sugar Loaf Mountain for a panoramic view of the beaches and Guanabara Bay. After our lunch we head to the Corcovado Mountain and take a short train ride to the summit. Here, at 2,400 feet above the city we’ll see the iconic 125-foot statue of Christ the Redeemer. Corcovado’s panoramic view of the city demonstrates why many visitors consider Rio to be one of the most beautiful cities in the world. At the end of the day we return to our hotel to relax or stroll along Copacabana beach. (Breakfast and lunch are provided) [Royal Rio Palace Hotel or comparable]

• Iguazu Falls: Brazilian Side

We fly from Rio to Iguazu Falls. This natural wonder consists of over 275 separate cataracts across a span of two and one-half miles, wider than Victoria Falls, higher than Niagara Falls and beyond words. We’ll have lunch at a restaurant overlooking the falls and take an afternoon walking tour of the Brazilian side of the Falls. In late afternoon we’ll cross into Argentina and settle into our hotel overnight. (Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are provided) [Sheraton Iguazu Resort & Spa or comparable]

• Iguazu Falls: Argentinian Side

This morning we tour the Argentine side of Iguazu Falls (as it is called in Spanish-speaking Argentina, as opposed to “Iguassu Falls” in Portuguese-speaking Brazil), including a visit to famous Devil’s Throat, the most magnificent of the cataracts. Brazil has the panoramic view of the Falls; Argentina’s Iguazu National Park gets you very close to the thundering waters. We’ll fly from Iguazu Falls to Buenos Aires, where we’ll transfer to our hotel, and have the evening at leisure. (Breakfast and a box lunch are provided) [Intercontinental Buenos Aires or comparable]

• Architectural tour and Tango show

Built in the 19th century, era of plenty for the wealthy land barons of Argentina, this city’s architecture and sophistication rivals that of Paris. Today we’ll focus on Buenos Aires’ landmark buildings and vistas. sightseeing begins at the Plaza de Mayo and continues via Casa Rosada, the President’s residence, the Teatro Colon Opera House and Avenida 9 de Julio, the world’s widest boulevard. We’ll see the brightly painted buildings of the traditionally Italian Boca District, the Cathedral and the Tomb of General Jose de San Martin; visit the historic Recoleta Cemetery; and the Tomb of Evita Peron. We’ll stop at the legendary Cafe Tortoni the oldest coffee venue in the city. This evening we’ll have dinner and take in a Tango Show at Esquina Carlos Gardel, or similar. (Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are provided) [Intercontinental Buenos Aires or comparable]

• Leather factory and Veendam embarkation

After breakfast, you’ll visit a leather factory for a look at the art and craft synonymous with Argentina. Then we’ll regroup at our hotel, then transfer to the pier to board the ms Veendam. (Breakfast is provided)

• Five (5) nights accommodation in outstanding hotels.
• Twelve (12) meals: five (5) breakfasts, four (4) lunches, and three (3) dinners at our carefully selected restaurants. (Non-alcoholic beverages provided with each meal.)
• Welcome cocktail reception.
• Services of an English-speaking host (7x24) and local tour guides.
• All land transportation (as listed on the itinerary).
• Entrance fees to all tourist sites (as listed on the itinerary).
• All gratuities.
• Baggage handling, city and hotel taxes.

• Airfare into Rio de Janeiro, visa-processing fees, travel insurance.
• Argentina government reciprocity fee of $141 per person will be charged upon arrival by the local authorities
• Brazilian visa required of U.S. citizens. This needs to be issued by Brazilian Consulates in the U.S.
• Personal expenses such as alcoholic beverages, imported mineral waters, telephone charges, room service, and laundry charges.

• The price of the above is $3,249 pp.
• For those requiring single occupancy accommodations, a supplementary charge of $599 will apply.
• Deposit is 15% ($450 pp based on double occupancy).
• Please note that our South American host will eat with you during all group meals throughout the trip. This is to ensure that you are receiving the best service. If, at any time, you would prefer to dine on your own, please let the host know.
• Pricing is based on the February 2012 exchange rate of $1 Argentinian Peso to $1 U.S. Dollar. At the time of final payment (November 1, 2012) if the exchange rate goes up by more than 10% from the current rate, pricing will be adjusted accordingly.

• Should you decide to cancel your place on this tour between the time of deposit and 90 days prior to the tour, you will forfeit $150 USD pp; between 90 and 60 days prior to departure, you will forfeit your deposit; between 60 and 30 days prior to departure, you will forfeit 25% of the tour price; between 30 and 15 days you will forfeit 50% of the tour price; from 14 days or less, you will forfeit 100% of the tour price.
• All notices of cancellation must be written to be effective. The date of cancellation will be the date of reception by Insight Cruises’ personnel.