Road to Rio | Small Group Tour | Buenos Aires to Rio de Janeiro

Road to Rio is a small group tour operated by Viva Expeditions.

This tour is guaranteed to operate with a minimum of 4 travellers. When there are 4- 9 travellers in the group, the tour will be hosted by an experienced local guide in each city. When there are 9 – 20 travellers in the group, the tour will be hosted by an experienced guide for the duration of your tour in South America.

ARRIVE TO BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA
On arrival into Buenos Aires you will be met and transferred to your hotel.

Welcome to Buenos Aires, known as the “Paris of the South” due to its European atmosphere with glamorous avenues lined with fashionable shops and Parisian-style restaurants and cafes. Buenos Aires has emerged as one of the trendiest and most exciting cities in the world to visit. Considered by many to be the Latin American capital of fashion, design and architecture, Buenos Aires serves up a rich and intoxicating mix of culture, comfort and fun.

Tonight there will be a pre departure welcome meeting and a welcome dinner with the group.

Meals included: Dinner

DISCOVER BUENOS AIRES
A tour of Buenos Aires serves as a great introduction to this incredible city giving you a taste of its fascinating history, architecture, culture, inhabitants, anecdotes, and secrets. Our expert, friendly guide will take you on and off the beaten track as you explore this vibrant & fascinating city.

This evening enjoy an intimate & passionate tango show, housed in a cosy wood-panelled 19th century building in the heart of Buenos Aires historic centre. Dinner included.

Meals included: Breakfast, Dinner

STREET ART & SPEAKEASY TOUR IN PALERMO
You will have some free time this morning to explore Buenos Aires at leisure before we head out in the afternoon for a fun behind the scenes experience of Buenos Aires.

Buenos Aires is full of secret spots, that you'll discover if you get around with locals. We invite you to uncover some speakeasy bars in the neighborhood of Palermo. We start at a secret and beautiful ROOF TOP while sharing a beer, soda or cocktail. Then we’ll hit the streets to discover some real amazing murals, talk about their artists, exchange our feelings & thoughts towards their work. At the middle of our visit will do another stop, to taste a typical Argentinian drink.

Done with hunting murals, we´ll end the night at a SPEAKEASY BAR totally secret! Have you ever been in a thematic Prison Bar or a Port Bar or a Railway Bar? You will love it!

Meals included: Breakfast

BUENOS AIRES - IGUAZU FALLS
Today we depart Buenos Aires & fly to Iguazu Falls.

Transfers & flights included.

The spectacular Iguazu Falls that straddle the Argentine-Brazil border, are made up of 275 individual waterfalls lining a 2.7km wide horseshoe-shaped gorge.

In the evening relax and enjoy the rich rainforest surrounding our hotel or take some time to relax by the pool.

Meals included: Breakfast

EXPLORE THE ARGENTINEAN IGUAZU FALLS
Full Day Private Iguazu Falls Tour. Iguazu Falls, the largest waterfalls system in the world, are truly awe-inspiring to behold, spanning the border between Brazil and Argentina. Though Brazil boasts better views of the falls, Argentina is blessed with about 80 percent of this natural marvel’s 275 separate cascades. Paved trails and catwalks wind their way around the falls—sometimes reaching within an arm’s length of the water—and a free train connects the main trailheads.

We like to start the tour early in order to try and beat the crowds and get the first train to the Devil’s Throat. There are walkways over the islands which take you to a balcony over the falls and the most spectacular view of the entire Devil’s Gorge. You will then have plenty of time to walk the 800 metres of paths on the upper circuit. These new suspended walkways are detached from the jungle surface so as to protect the fauna by preventing disruption of the natural trails. From this circuit you have a higher sight of the falls, providing you with a magnificent panoramic view. It takes around 1 hour to cover the upper circuit. The lower circuit contains 600 metres of walkways, also detached from the jungle floor, and has great views from below and around the falls. If you have booked - or would like to book locally - the boat trip under the falls, the guide will take you to the boarding point. Once you have finished all the circuits, you go back to the visitor centre where the vehicle will be waiting for you.

Meals included: Breakfast

BRAZILIAN FALLS & ON TO RIO DE JANEIRO
Today we explore the Brazilian side of the Falls. Iguaçu Falls (Cataratas do Iguaçu), the largest waterfalls system in the world, are truly awe-inspiring to behold. Though Argentina boasts longer trails around the falls, Brazil is blessed with the best views of this natural marvel’s 275 separate cascades, which span the border between the two countries. Take in full-frontal views of Devil’s Throat (Garganta del Diablo), San Martin Island, and more from the short-but-sweet catwalks that wind their way around the Brazilian side of Iguaçu Falls. Though less forested and natural than the Argentinean trails, you’ll find significantly better panoramic views of Iguaçu Falls in all its unforgettable glory—and they even offer an elevator to a postcard-perfect viewpoint over Devil’s Throat, considered the most spectacular scene in the park.

After the tour, there will be time to visit the nearby Bird Park. The Bird Park (Parque das Aves) is an Integrated Conservation Center for Birds of the Atlantic Forest and the second most visited attraction in Foz do Iguaçu, where visitors can have close contact with Atlantic Forest birds in immersion ponds during a walk that connects the contact with nature and knowledge. Located near the Iguaçu National Park, where the Iguaçu Falls lie, the Bird Park is one of the largest bird parks in Latin America, whose main job is the conservation of the 120 species of birds of the Atlantic Forest in some danger of extinction.

Following this visit to the falls we will head to the airport for our onward flight to Rio De Janeiro.

Meals included: Breakfast

DISCOVERING RIO
An early start this morning aiming to beat the crowds. Starting at the bottom of Corcovado Hill, where you will ascend the mountain by vehicle. Climbing 4km through the world’s largest urban national park, the Tijuca Forest, you will arrive at the statue of Christ the Redeemer. After some time with the panoramic views, the tour continues via the bohemian neighbourhood of Lapa and its famous arches en route to Copacabana. You will have a traditional Brazilian BBQ lunch before visiting the famous Sugarloaf with views across the entire city, where we have some drinks and will enjoy the sunset.

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch

RIO BEYOND THE BEACH
This morning we will visit a unique site in Rio, located inside one of its Favela communities.

For 21 years, Project Morrinho has told a story of community, authenticity and respect. Started in 1998 by two brothers in the Pereira da Silva community, this cultural space beautifully articulates the geography in which it was formed. A collection of thousands of broken and painted bricks forms different streets and neighbourhoods, all at home to a diverse population of personalities. What began holistically as a manifestation of the right to play has turned into an artistic revolution. Today, Morrinho is a collective and cultural community space that unites creativity, tourism, education and activism.

Our tour explores this work of cultural urban art and gives visitors a glimpse of the complexities and strong sense of community in the most overlooked elements of Brazilian society.

The afternoon is free to enjoy Rio at your leisure.

This evening we will enjoy a lovely farewell dinner at a typical Brazilian restaurant.

Meals included: Breakfast, Dinner

DEPART RIO
After a final breakfast it is time to bid farewell as this is where our journey together ends.

You may continue to travel to discover more of South America and this tour connects with our Colours of Peru 9 day small group tour.

Please Note: All hotels are subject to change and will be confirmed in your final documents 3-4 weeks prior to travel.