10 Nights - South America Sojourn

Buenos Aires, Argentina

Dubbed the Queen of the Plate River by Argentine author Carlos Romero, Buenos Aires is Argentina’s cosmopolitan capital and to Portenos synonymous with Argentina. It is the country’s center of manufacturing, banking, culture and intellectualism, but shows very little of its Spanish heritage. The city experienced a boom in the 19th century, taking its cue from Paris, and since then is often referred to as the Paris of South America.

Based on the original Spanish settlement, old Buenos Aires was laid out around a central plaza, bordered by a fort and armory, the city hall and cathedral. This ensemble became the Plaza de Armas, later redesigned as the Plaza de Mayo. Nouveau Buenos Aires rivaled New York as a port for European trade. Landed gentry with estancias larger than some countries hired Parisian architects to design urban villas for their visits to town. The modern parts of the city feature glass office buildings, often adjacent to those done in ornate French style. One out of every three Argentineans lives in Buenos Aires, finding the city irresistible. The world has few cities that are enjoyed as much as the millions of Porteños enjoy theirs.

The heart of the city's history is concentrated around the Plaza de Mayo with the Town Hall, the Casa Rosada (the presidential building) and the Metropolitan Cathedral. The cathedral is an important religious landmark and national historic site. It contains the tomb of Jose de San Martin, Argentina's most revered national hero. Near the square are superb restaurants, movie theaters, boutiques, art galleries and the pedestrian street Florida. It leads to some of the city’s finest hotels and offers plenty of shopping opportunities.

Few cities share Buenos Aires’ ambiance, lifestyle and the amenities that make it so endearing to residents and visitors alike.

Montevideo, Uruguay

Home to almost 50% of the nation's population, Montevideo is a modern metropolis with a historical old town dating back to colonial times. Surrounding the whole city lies an uninterrupted stretch of white sandy beach.

Highlights include Ciudad Vieja (Old Town) with its 18th century buildings, the vibrant Mercado del Puerto, and the bustling commercial activity of Avenida 18 de Julio and its cultural offerings (theatres, museums and art galleries).

Punta del Este, Uruguay

At the beginning of the 19th century, Punta del Este was a vast semi-deserted region only visited by sailors and fishermen. Today this coastal town, commonly referred to as the St Tropez of South America, attracts close to 300,000 visitors each year.

Opposite the large peninsula separating the two waters of the Atlantic Ocean and Rio de la Plata, lie the enchanted islands of Isla Gorriti and Isla de los Lobos, inhabited by one of the world's largest sea-lion colonies.

At Sea

Enjoy the whole day at sea.

Itajai, Brazil

Itajaí, city, eastern Santa Catarina estado (state), southern Brazil. It lies at the mouth of the Itajaí River, at 20 feet (6 metres) above sea level. Founded in the mid-19th century by German and Italian colonists, Itajaí is now the commercial centre and Atlantic port for an agricultural region drained by the Itajaí River and its tributaries. Wrapping paper and cotton textiles are the principal goods manufactured in the city, which also exports lumber, starch, cassava (manioc), sassafras, vegetable oil, and tobacco. In the late 1970s a fishing terminal was installed there. Itajaí is connected by highway and air to Florianópolis, the state capital (about 50 miles [80 km] south), and by road to Blumenau (30 miles [48 km] west) and Joinville (about 45 miles [72 km] north). Pop. (2010) 183,373.

Santos (Sao Paulo), Brazil

Santos, port city, southeastern São Paulo estado (state), southeastern Brazil. It occupies an alluvial plain on the inner side of São Vicente Island, cut off from the mainland by a tidal channel. The city lies only a few feet above sea level, and its swampy island is drained by deep concrete conduits. The channel is free from obstructions, and in front of the city it widens into a bay deep enough for the largest oceangoing vessels. The docks are 4 miles (6 km) long and can accommodate about 50 ships at a time.

Parati, Brazil

Nestled in a bay 240km south of Rio de Janeiro, Parati was founded in 1531 and grew rapidly. Within a century a larger expanse of land was needed, and this was provided by local landowner Jácome de Melho, who requested that the villagers celebrate the day of NS dos Remédios. Parati became the second most important port town in Brazil during the "Ciclo de Ouro""

Ilha Grande, Brazil

The lush, mountainous coastline between Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo features a gorgeous stretch known as the Costa Verde – or “Green Coast”. And it’s not difficult to see where it got its name from. Home to virgin Atlantic rainforest that hugs the mountainside before plunging down to a succession of island-pitted bays of blue and turquoise water, it attracts year-round visitors from nearby city-dwellers and tourists from further afield.

Just off the coast, Ilha Grande is perhaps the jewel in its tropical crown. With no roads or cars to disturb the aura of peacefulness, and boasting over 100 beaches (some of which are amongst the best to be found anywhere in Brazil), it makes for a great escape from the hustle and bustle of Rio.

Many visitors from abroad visit the island for a day or two as part of a wider organised tour of southeast Brazil. But if you’ve got a bit more time, it’s perfect for an extended stay. Especially if spending your time hiking through well-marked jungle trails to white powder beaches floats your boat. Not to mention kayaking, snorkelling and diving in the clear waters offshore. Or even just taking a half-day or full-day boat trip to some of the more hard-to-reach beaches.

Buzios, Brazil

Just 105 miles from Rio de Janeiro, a pleasant 2-hour trip takes you to the peninsula of Búzios, whose more than 20 magnificent beaches and crystal-clear water contrast with the exuberantly sculptured landscape and exotic vegetation, which a prodigal "Mother Nature"" has privileged with a wonderful year-round summer.

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

For over half a century, Rio has ranked as a favorite destination for visitors from all over the world. The combination of a dark blue sea studded with rocky islands, a backdrop of tumbling wooded mountains and expanses of bare grey rock makes for a magnificent setting. In addition, the city emanates an air of exuberance that is hard to find elsewhere. Cariocas, as Rio natives are called, are fun-loving people, embracing the entire world with their happy, vibrant rhythms.

Rio’s history effectively began on January 1, 1502, when a Portuguese captain, André Gonçalves, steered his craft into Guanabara Bay thinking he was heading into the mouth of a great river. The city takes its name from this event - Rio de Janeiro means the "River of January."" Initial progress in Rio was slow since Salvador in the north was the center of the new Portuguese colony. In the 1690s

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

For over half a century, Rio has ranked as a favorite destination for visitors from all over the world. The combination of a dark blue sea studded with rocky islands, a backdrop of tumbling wooded mountains and expanses of bare grey rock makes for a magnificent setting. In addition, the city emanates an air of exuberance that is hard to find elsewhere. Cariocas, as Rio natives are called, are fun-loving people, embracing the entire world with their happy, vibrant rhythms.

Rio’s history effectively began on January 1, 1502, when a Portuguese captain, André Gonçalves, steered his craft into Guanabara Bay thinking he was heading into the mouth of a great river. The city takes its name from this event - Rio de Janeiro means the "River of January."" Initial progress in Rio was slow since Salvador in the north was the center of the new Portuguese colony. In the 1690s