Day 01: Depart to Miami
Meet your tour director, Larry Rupiper, and fellow travelers in Miami.

Day 02: Miami / Lima, Peru
Our international flight departs at 1:20 a.m. and we arrive in Lima in the early morning.  Lima is the capital and main cultural and business center of Peru.  After clearing customs we are welcomed by our Peruvian national guide, who will start us off with a relaxing city tour including the Plaza Mayor, the historical center of Lima.  Plaza Mayor features impressive Colonial treasures - the Presidential Palace, City Hall, and the Archbishop's Palace.  We also drive through the elegant and charming residential districts of San Isidro and Miraflores, located on the Pacific Ocean.  Following a mid morning breakfast at a beachfront restaurant we check into our hotel, Jose Antonio, located in Miraflores.  We have time to relax and freshen up before we meet in the afternoon for a guided tour of the International Potato Center, known worldwide by its Spanish acronym, CIP.  At the CIP we attend an informative presentation on potatoes, sweet potatoes, and root and tuber crops.  Through scientific research, the CIP seeks to reduce poverty and achieve food security in developing countries.  Tonight we enjoy a welcome dinner in our hotel.  In-flight meal service, B, D

Day 03: Lima's Countryside
Peru is one of the world's largest producers of asparagus and therefore America's largest competitor for asparagus production.  This morning we visit an asparagus farm where we learn how Peru's asparagus production has developed into the country's third largest agricultural export, behind coffee and cacao.  Asparagus has recently become one of the trendiest vegetables on the American dinner table.  Peru's growing season is opposite from North America which makes the vegetable available almost year round.  We enjoy lunch and a folk show at the Hacienda San José, a former sugar cane plantation.  (As an alternative to the asparagus farm, we also offer a visit to a world recognized gold museum.)  We return to our hotel in Lima and the remainder of the day is yours to explore this beautiful city.  B, L

Day 04: Lima / Cuzco
Our one hour morning flight takes us to Cuzco, the mythical capital of the Inca Empire.  We check into our hotel upon arrival.  To get acclimated to the 11,000 foot altitude, we recommend resting before our afternoon tour that shows us all the beauty of a glorious past.  Our guided city tour includes the Plaza del Regocijo, the Plaza de Armas, the Cathedral of Santo Domingo Monastery, and Old Town with its narrow cobble stone streets.  We also visit the legendary Koricancha, the main Inca temple in Cuzco City and an architectural masterpiece of the Incas.  Near the city we explore Sacsayhuanman, an archaeological park with more than 200 archaeological sites.  We see the remains of the Inca culture, including underground galleries and a semicircular amphitheater.  We also see Puca Pucara, an ancient military installation made up of stairways, terraces and large walls, and Tambomachay, known as Balneario Inca or "Incan Watering Place."  Enjoy impressive views of the Cuzco Valley and the glaciers to the south.  Tonight we stay at the Jose Antonio Cuzco Hotel.  B, D

Day 05: Cuzco / Aguas Calientes/ Machu Piccu/ Aguas Calientes
Today's unforgettable journey begins with a scenic rail trip through the Sacred Valley, ending in Aguas Calientes (meaning hot springs.)  We disembark the train and ascend by coach to Machu Picchu and the legendary "Lost City of the Incas," one of the most impressive archaeological sites in the world.  Here we find the remains of temples, houses, terraces for growing crops, and a sacrificial altar.  Enjoy an incredible guided tour of the citadel, considered to be one of the most extraordinary examples of landscape architecture in the world.  After a buffet lunch at the Machu Picchu Sanctuary Lodge, we return to Aguas Calientes by motorcoach.  We stay at the Hatuchay Tower Hotel.  B, L

Day 06: Aguas Calientes / Cuzco / Santiago, Chile
Rise early to watch the sunrise over the mountains that surround the entire village.  After breakfast in the hotel, we board the Vistadome train again for our return trip through the Sacred Valley of the Incas.  Enjoy your final rail ride through this scenic area!  We disembark at the Ollanta station and transfer back to Cuzco via motorcoach.  If time allows, we stop at a local craft market exploding with a riot of brightly colored fabrics, pottery, jewelry, fruits and vegetables.  A farewell lunch is served in a local restaurant in Cuzco before we transfer to the airport for our flight to Santiago, Chile.  B, L, In-flight meal service

Day 07: Santiago
We arrive into Santiago late the previous evening and have time to relax before we regroup around noon to explore the historical and modern sights.  Our trip starts at Santiago's main avenue, the Avenida Libertador Bernardo O'Higgins, also known as Alameda.  We visit La Moneda, the Government Palace, where we learn its historical significance.  We walk through the bustling pedestrian streets of Huérfanos and Ahumada, and tour the famous Plaza de Armas, the city's Main Square.  Plaza de Armas is surrounded by many historical buildings, including the Metropolitan Cathedral.  Next we visit the lushly forested hill, Cerro Santa Lucia, the most imaginative and exuberant piece of landscaping in Santiago.  Cerro Santa Lucia bears historical importance because Santiago was officially founded by Pedro Valdiva at the foot of Cerro Santa Lucia on February 12, 1541.  From the hill's lofty top we are able to see the Parque Forestal on one side and the Mapcho River on the other.  We cross the river for a tour of Barrio Bellavista, the French influenced, cultural and artistic neighborhood of Santiago.  Barrio Bellavista lies at the foot of Cerro San Cristóbal, the city's highest hill.  Finally we visit Providencia, one of the noble parts of Santiago, with top-rated restaurants, elegant shops and modern high-rise buildings.  We make a special visit to the Mundo del Vino, a unique wine shop.  We also visit the wine museum, which is next to our dinner restaurant, Camino Real, located atop Cerro San Cristóbal.  During dinner, enjoy great views of the Chilean capital!  We return to our Hotel Torremayor in Santiago where we stay the next four nights. B, D

Day 08: Viña del Mar / Valparíso
Enjoy a ride through the beautiful coastal region of the Pacific Ocean, passing through the agricultural valleys of Curacaví and Casablanca.  We visit picturesque Valparíso, the country's main seaport.  Valparíso was the most important maritime destination of the Pacific Coast until the Strait of Panama was opened to navigation in 1914.  Valparíso's surrounding hills seem to dive right into the ocean.  By touring the downtown area and hilly neighborhoods, we gain a better understanding of why it was Chile's most flourishing city in the early 20th century.  We journey north along the coastline of the bay before we reach Viña del Mar, Chile's most luxurious resort town.  With its many parks, lush vegetation, and huge palm trees, Viña del Mar well deserves the name "Garden City."  After lunch at a local restaurant in the Reñaca area, stroll the golden sandy beaches and visit the casino. B, L

Day 09: Colchagua Valley / Santa Cruz
We follow the Pan-American Highway south and travel to Colchagua Valley, well known for its excellent grape-growing soil.  Before reaching Santa Cruz, we pass through several small country villages surrounded by vineyards and get a feel for the traditional way of life in central Chile.  Santa Cruz is a quiet, provincial town, with the main square adorned by huge palm trees.  We visit two different vineyards of the Colchagua Valley.  During the tour we are introduced to the customs and traditions of the valley.  A traditional lunch is served at the hotel Santa Cruz Plaza, in front of the central square.  In the afternoon we visit the Colchagua Museum, housing the largest private collection of Chile's paleontological, archaeological, pre-Columbian, and Spanish Colonial artifacts.  We return to our hotel in Santiago.  B, L

Day 10: Concha y Toro
Today we travel south on the Pan-American Highway to Buin, an agricultural town close to the Maipo River.  We ascend to Alto Jahuel, a picturesque mountain village, where we see stunning vistas of beautiful vineyards against the backdrop of the towering Andes.  This area is ideal for the production of the Cabernet Sauvignon grapes that are used to produce the most traditional red wine of the country.  We pass through extensive vineyards before we reach the largest and most important, Concha y Toro.  Founded in 1883, this vineyard uses the most modern technology for its refrigeration equipment, including stainless steel tanks, filters, and casks made of American and French oak.  We visit the beautiful private park of the family, the historical museum, the cellars and caves, including the legendary Casillero del Diablo or "Cellar of the Devil."  It is named Casillero del Diablo because it is so deep and dark that no one would dare go in.  Following the wine tasting, we travel back to Santiago and enjoy shopping at Los Dominicos and Vitacura handicraft market as well as the Parque Arauco Mall.  B

Day 11: Santiago, Chile / Buenos Aires, Argentina
Today we transfer to the airport for our flight across the Andes Mountains to Argentina.  At the airport in Buenos Aires we are met by our Argentinean national guide.  We check in and enjoy a welcome drink at the hotel, our home for the next three nights.  Buenos Aires is an incredible city with a unique combination of European-style elegance and the vibrancy of a Latin American city.  During our afternoon city tour we visit the Plaza de Mayo, the Central Cathedral, San Telmo, the Teatro Colon and Palermo Park.  We also see the Casa Rosada, the official residence of Argentina's president.  We drive down one of the widest boulevards in the world, Avenida 9 de Julio, the street named in salute to Argentina's Declaration of Independence on July 9th, 1816.  We also travel past the famous, but spooky, Recoleta Cemetery, the final resting place of Evita Peron.  This evening, enjoy one of the highlights of the tour - sample Argentina's famous beef and delicious wines, watch a spectacular presentation of the popular and sensuous Tango, and listen to unforgettable Pampas and Andean music.  B, D

Day 12: Buenos Aires' Countryside
This morning we travel through the countryside of rural Argentina for a look at the sprawling farmland and unending soybean fields.  We enjoy a full day of technical visits in Chivilcoy with a guided tour of soybean, corn, and wheat plantations.  After lunch in a local restaurant, we have a short conference with the local farmers to familiarize us with their means of production and grain storage facilities.  An English-speaking agronomic engineer will be present during the technical visits to answer our questions.  Arriving back in Buenos Aires, we stop at a leather factory.  If you want a custom made leather jacket, sport coat, or other leather garment, you can have it made here and it will be delivered to the hotel for your final inspection.  B, L

Day 13: Buenos Aires
Today we have an interesting visit to the Mercado Concentrador de Hacienda, a large livestock auction market. This auction will merchandise 20% of all the cattle sold in Argentina, the second largest cattle producing country in the world. On average, they sell about 12,000 to 14,000 head per day and all the cattle go to slaughter.  The yards have a capacity of 30,000 head and are located in the heart of Buenos Aires.  We then drive out to an Argentina ranch and have a look at their crop production of corn, soybeans and sunflowers.  We also see some of their top of the line breeding stock.  We enjoy a BBQ lunch, Gaucho style, with fresh salads and homemade deserts.  We travel back to Buenos Aires.  There may be time to take a stroll down the incredible Florida Street.  If you haven’t purchased any treasures to this point, you are certain to find them here.  B, L

Day 14: Buenos Aires / Miami
This morning you have free time to relax or spend as you choose.  In the afternoon we depart to visit the new district of Palermo Soho.  The streets are lined with elegant cafés and a variety of shops, including antique shops, handicrafts, clothing, etc.  There is time to do your own exploring or last minute souvenir shopping before we depart to the airport for our flight to Miami.  B, In-flight meal service

Day 15: Return to US
We arrive in Miami in the early morning which leaves us plenty of time to connect to our home gateway.

International Airfare from Miami & South American Domestic Airfare (excl. taxes)

Transfers, Deluxe Motorcoach and Four Star Hotels

Meals as per itinerary - B: Breakfast, L: Lunch, D: Dinner

All Entrance Fees to Special Sights, Events and Activities (Listed Below)

English-speaking Tour Guides Throughout

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