Fly overnight, via São Paulo, to Rio de Janeiro.

Meet your tour manager when you arrive in Rio and transfer to your hotel. Rest and relax, enjoying an included welcome drink at the hotel this evening. Dinner is at leisure tonight.

Begin your South American adventure with a half-day included tour that, as well as introducing downtown Rio, features a cable car ride up Sugarloaf Mountain. The spectacular 360-degree views from atop the mountain are unforgettable.

This evening, enjoy an included drink at a local carioca bar close to your hotel before the chance to take in an optional Ginga Tropical Show in town. This show combines Brazil’s diversity and cultures through different styles of dance, music and live performances and concludes with a carnival-inspired finale. Dinner is at leisure tonight.

Continue your exploration of Rio today with an excursion to a wonder of the world – the Christ the Redeemer statue atop Corcovado Mountain. Drive through lush suburbs to the Cosmo Velho cog-railway station, and journey up to the giant figure, then take the lift or escalator – or brave the stairs – up to the viewpoint. Return to Rio via the famous beach districts of Ipanema and Leblon. This evening, enjoy your final evening in Rio with an included dinner at the nearby Martinez Restaurant.

Early this morning transfer to the airport, for your flight to Iguazú Falls, the world-famous cascades at the meeting point of Brazil, Argentina and Paraguay. Travel by coach through the lush foliage, and enjoy a two-night stay at your resort hotel on the Brazilian side of the Falls. Dinner is included tonight.

You’ll start your exploration of Iguazú on the Brazilan side of the Falls, where a series of pathways leads through the lush foliage of the UNESCO-listed Iguazú National Park, which is nurtured by the constant moisture from the astonishing waterfalls. Walk out over the footbridge, and ride the panoramic lift, to enjoy the sweeping views across Iguazú's 275 plunging cataracts, before transferring to the Argentinian side for a fresh perspective. Still within the boundaries of the Iguazú National Park, the Argentinian side is a stunning jungle refuge for big cats, monkeys, tapirs and countless colourful bird species. Here you’ll enjoy a choice of fascinating guided walks, accompanied by a park ranger, as well as a 25-minute train ride to see the most spectacular of the torrents – the famous Devil’s Throat – from a series of walkways and footbridges. Dinner is at leisure tonight.

Transfer to the airport for the short flight to Buenos Aires. Upon arrival, meet your Argentinian tour manager and transfer to your hotel. Dinner is at leisure tonight.

Today you'll enjoy a guided introduction to Buenos Aires. See Plaza de Mayo’s parliament buildings, the tango district of San Telmo, the famously colourful La Boca district, the chic Puerto Madero riverside area and La Recoleta – the Argentinian capital's most elegant neighbourhood.

Return to the hotel at the end of a wonderful day, perhaps joining in the optional dinner at the nearby Revire Restaurant.

Discover more of the enthralling Buenos Aires under your own steam today, or join an exciting optional excursion into the pampas grassland

Leave Buenos Aires and drive to San Antonio de Areco, the heart of Argentina's 'gaucho' traditions. Arrive at El Ombu de Areco, a traditional, 741-acre ranch dedicated to agriculture and animal farming. Here, the ranch's impressive late-colonial style mansion, built by Lieutenant-general Pablo Riccheri in 1880, and its magnificent “casco” promise an unforgettably immersive taste of Argentine culture. Enjoy a full day following the Areco River on horseback riding or, if you'd prefer, follow the same route on foot, before settling in for a traditional asado (BBQ lunch) that includes fine meats, salads, wine, and dessert. Later this afternoon, enjoy an intimate folklore show as a gaucho plays the guitar and see a horse-riding skills demonstration.

However you choose to spend your day, return to your Buenos Aires hotel for your final night in Argentina.

Transfer to the airport this morning for your overnight return flight, bringing a wonderful break to an end.

Early morning arrival.