Rio de Janeiro, Iguazu Falls & Buenos Aires
departures: November 8-17, 2016 January 5-14, 2017
PERU
BRAZIL RIO DE JANEIRO
BOLIVIA
3
PARAGUAY
nts
IGUAZU FALLS
3
nts
2-hour flight
1 hour flight
BUENOS AIRES URUGUAY
3
Mendoza
nts
CHILE ARGENTINA
“Rio de Janeiro, Iguazu Falls & Buenos Aires”
Rio de Janeiro, Iguazu Falls & Buenos aires DAY 1 - RIO DE JANEIRO L D Arrival to Rio de Janeiro and transfer to hotel, 03 nights of accommodation with breakfast. Welcome Dinner Included in local restaurant Rio de Janeiro is the second most populous city in Brazil and the sixth largest city in the Americas. The metropolis is anchor to the Rio de Janeiro metropolitan area, the second most populous metropolitan area in Brazil and seventh most populous in the
Americas. Rio de Janeiro is the capital of the state of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil’s third-most populous state. Part of the city has been designated as a World Heritage Site, named “Rio de Janeiro: Carioca Landscapes between the Mountain and the Sea”, by UNESCO on 1 July 2012 as a Cultural Landscape. Founded in 1565 by the Portuguese, the city was initially the seat of the Captaincy of Rio de Janeiro, a domain of the Portuguese Empire. Later, in 1763, it became the capital of the State of Brazil, a state of the Portuguese Empire. Rio de Janeiro is one of the most visited cities in the Southern Hemisphere and is known for its natural settings, Carnival, samba, bossa nova, and balneario beaches such as Barra da Tijuca, Copacabana, Ipanema, and Leblon. In addition to the beaches, some of the most famous landmarks include the giant statue of Christ the Redeemer atop Corcovado mountain, named one of the New Seven Wonders of the World; Sugarloaf Mountain with its cable car; the Sambódromo (Sambadrome), a permanent grandstand-lined parade avenue which is used during Carnival; and Maracanã Stadium, one of the world’s largest football stadiums.
DAY 2 - RIO DE JANEIRO B D After breakfast, traditional city tour to visit the best of Rio. We visit the Sugar Loaf . The Sugar Loaf Mountain (Pão de Açúcar) is a peak situated in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, at the mouth of Guanabara Bay on a peninsula that sticks out into the Atlantic Ocean. Rising 396 meters (1,299 ft) above the harbor, its name is said to refer to its resemblance to the traditional shape of concentrated refined loaf sugar. It is known worldwide for its cableway and panoramic views of the city.
bert Caquot. The face was created by the Romanian artist Gheorghe Leonida. The statue is 30 metres (98 ft) tall, not including its 8-metre (26 ft) pedestal, and its arms stretch 28 metres (92 ft) wide.
he lonely mountain is only one of several monolithic granite and quartz mountains that rise straight from the water’s edge around Rio de Janeiro. A glass-walled cablecar (in popular Portuguese, bondinho – more properly called teleférico), capable of holding 65 people , runs along a 1400-meter route between the peaks of Pão de Açúcar and Morro da Urca every 20 minutes. The original cable car line was built in 1912 and rebuilt around 1972/1973 and in 2008. The cable car leaves a ground station located at the base of the Babilônia hill, to the Urca hill and then to the Pão de Açúcar. Free afternoon to enjoy beaches. Dinner in local restaurant. Overnight.
The statue weighs 635 metric tons (625 long, 700 short tons), and is located at the peak of the 700-metre (2,300 ft) Corcovado mountain in the Tijuca Forest National Park overlooking the city of Rio. A symbol of Christianity across the world, the statue has also become a cultural icon of both Rio de Janeiro and Brazil, and is listed as one of the New Seven Wonders of the World. It is made of reinforced concrete and soapstone, and was constructed between 1922 and 1931.
DAY 3 - RIO DE JANEIRO B D After breakfast, we start excursion to the Corcovado and Tijuca Forest. Christ the Redeemer (Cristo Redentor) is an Art Deco statue of Jesus Christ in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, created by Polish-French sculptor Paul Landowski and built by the Brazilian engineer Heitor da Silva Costa, in collaboration with the French engineer Al-
Return to the hotel and free time to enjoy the beaches. dinner. Overnight. DAY 4 - RIO DE JANEIRO - IGUAZU FALLS B D In the morning, transfer to airport to take flight to Iguazu. Arrival and transfer to Hotel. 02 nights of accommodation with breakfast. Free time to enjoy the pool, and the hotel which offer a wonderful view
to the river, Brazil and Paraguay. Puerto Iguazu is the gate to enjoy one of the most awesome places in the world, a new 7-wonder of nature, and UNESCO World Heritage: The incredible Iguazu Falls
Iguazu National Park, in Spanish Parque Nacional Iguazu, is located near Puerto Iguazú, Province of Misiones, in Argentina. It has an extension of 67,720 hectares (167.34 acres) within the Paranaense Forest ecoregion, and it´s one of the most incredible places you can visit in South America. The Iguazú River, which means “big water” in Guaraní language, flows into the Paraná River. It is 1,500 meters wide (0.9 miles), and runs through islands and islets to finally fall from a lava cliff formed 120 million of years ago. Amazing isn´t it? Gregorio Lezama was the first owner of this land and, considering them of barely no value, sold them at a public auction using a sign that read “Rainforest area surrounded by many waterfalls”.
The following owner, Domingo Ayarragaray, developed it a bit further by building a hotel and roads so that visitors could see the waterfalls, and he also exploited local wood resources until President Hipólito Yrigoyen’s Government acquired the land.
Dinner in the hotel and overnight DAY 5 - IGUAZU FALLS B D After breakfast, we start excursion to Iguazu Falls Argentinean Side. Optional: Boat navigation to see the Devil´s Throat from the river The Parque Nacional Iguazu, offers many trails and circuits to enjoy different waterfalls and the jungle. Check the following information about the main areas to be visited in the park
VISITING THE PARK: IGUAZU FALLS, UPPER CIRCUIT It begins two hundred meters from The Rainforest Train Cataratas Station and along its way visitors can enjoy a panoramic view of the semicircular chain that begins at Dos Hermanas Waterfalls, going through Chico, Ramírez, Bosetti, Adán y Eva, and Bernabé Méndez Waterfalls, ending at Mbiguá Waterfall lookout as a first stop. It is characterized by having its trails set on top of the waterfalls edge, which allows a vertical view from the top, something really electrifying. It has places to rest, which makes the tour a source of energy and relax in contact with water. After Mbiguá Waterfall lookout, the gangway crosses the Superior Iguazú River to reach the edge of the second largest fall of this beautiful system: the San Martin Waterfall. This balcony has the best and widest panoramic view of the whole Park: you will be able to see the Hotel Das Cataratas and the elevators on the Brazilian side,
and the Sheraton Hotel, the Old Water Tank Tower, the balconies of Upper and Lower trails, the San Martin island and the gangway to Devil’s Throat on the argentinian side.
To exit this circuit, the gangway runs snaking back through islets in the Upper Iguazú delta, to finaly reach Cataratas Station. Upper Circuit • Length: 1.750 meters long (1913 yards) • Accessibility: high • Difficulty: none, without stairs • Estimated time of visit: two hours aprox. • Access to this trail is allowed until 05:00pm. • Restroom and bar: 50 meters away from the exit of the Circuit, at Cataratas Train Station.
cuit, where visitors can enjoy the bottom of the great water wall of Bosetti Waterfall. On the way out of this waterfall, 20 meters away, there is an access to the quay from where visitors can board a boat to San Martín Island. The Circuit goes on along the border of the Iguazú River opposite to the island, and visitors will marvel at its beaches and cliffs. The second part of the Lower Circuit ends at the lookout on top of where this branch of river meets the Iguazú canyon, and the impressive Devil’s Throat and its typical mist can be seen at the far. Up to here, all the visited locations are 100% accessible. The third and last parts of the Circuit, which lead back to Dos Hermanas Square, have stairs and go through the Lower Iguazú shore where Alvar Núñez, Elenita, and Lanusse steep waterfalls can be enjoyed. Lower Circuit • Length: 1,700 meters long (1,859 yards) • Accessibility: medium • Difficulty: access without stairs up to Bosetti Waterfall and Iguazú canyon lookout. • Estimated time of visit: an hour and 45 minutes • Access to this trail is allowed until 05pm • Restrooms and Bar: at Dos Hermanas Square, just at the Circuit entrance.
VISITING THE PARK: IGUAZU FALLS & THE DEVIL´S THROAT
VISITING THE PARK: IGUAZU FALLS, LOWER CIRCUIT Footbridges go into the forest foliage to where Dos Hermanas, Chico and Ramírez Waterfalls falling waters break and to the end of this part of the Cir-
The tour to reach the lookout balcony of the majestic Devil’s Throat allows visitors to approach a few meters from the most important and mighty waterfall of the Iguazu Falls, whose image has traveled all around the world, similar to a giant funnel that swallows the planet. The itinerary begins about 1,100 meters before the monumental fall, after getting off the Ecological Jungle Train at Devil’s Throat Station, which was desig-
ned with the purpose of generating the least possible environmental impact.
approved by the National Parks Administration was possible because of the replacement of all the old wood gangways by these current ones, characterized by an ecological architectural development, and specially designed for for structural piles safeguard, preventing the circuit being closed long periods of time, as occured decades before. Devil’s Throat • Length: 2.200 meters long (1913 yards) • Accessibility: high • Difficulty: none, without stairs. • Estimated time of visit: two hours. • Access to this trail is allowed until 05:00pm. • Restroom and bar: 20 meters away from the exit of the Circuit
There, you can begin enjoying the environment that the Iguazu River and its small islands offer, actually a refuge of countless and picturesque deep blue jays. The gangway leading to the balcony that faces the waterfall is just over a kilometer in length, is safe and quiet, either on wheelchair or by walking, due to the absence of obstacles and its absolutely flat character. The end of the tour, at the balcony, gives us a magical and unique moment, staring at a huge wall of water over 80 meters high, located on the border of Argentina and the sister Republic of Brazil. The folding system of gangways was designed to preserve them from being damaged due to an important increase in the flow of Iguazu River. In normal circumstances, when the river is low, the railings are raised and the gangways allow the people get to the Balcony of the Devil’s Throat. When the river increases its flow, railings are fold to allow the flow to pass through, by reducing the resistance, and thereby also enabling to pass a trunk floating above. And if the river level is very high, the flow velocity increases, and that is the moment when the gangways detach themselves, to avoid compromising the concrete structure. Once the flow is down again, all the structure is reset. When this process eventually occurs, access is not enabled for people, but the Iguazu National Park never closes its doors, and those who are visiting us, can come to enjoy the splendor that acquire the rest of the falls when the river rises, due to an unusual majesty that can only be appreciated in opportunities like these. This system of gangways and security, proposed and
DAY 6 - IGUAZU FALLS B D After breakfast, we will start a visit to the brazilian side of the falls. Optional: Visit to Parque Das Aves VISITING THE PARK: IGUAZU FALLS BRAZILIAN SIDE The waterfalls are formed by the falls of Iguaçu River, which in Tupi-Guarani means “big water”. Eighteen kilometers before joining the Paraná River, the Iguaçu overcomes a ground unevenness and plunges in drops of up to 80 meters high, reaching a width of 2780 meters. Its geological formation dates from about 150 million years, but the formation of the landform of the falls began about 200 thousand years. The Iguaçu river measures 1200 meters wide above the falls. Below is a close up to 65 m channel. The total width of the Falls in Brazil is approximately 800 m and on the Argentine side of 1,900m. The height of the falls ranging from 40 to 80 mts. The average flow of the river is around 1,500 m3
per second, ranging from 500 m3/s in dry seasons to 8,500 m3 /s in full. The largest volume of water occurs between the months of October to March. There are 19 major jumps, five of them on the Brazilian side (Floriano, Deodoro and Benjamin Constant, Santa Maria and Union) and the other on the Argentine side. The arrangement of heels, with most of them on the Argentinean side and facing Brazil, provides the best view for those who observe the scenery from Brazil.
We stop for lunch in Puerto Madero Buffet Restaurant. Return to the hotel and free afternoon. Optional: Dinner Tango Show in a typical place of Buenos Aires
DAY 7 - IGUAZU FALLS - BUENOS AIRES B D Breakfast. After breakfast, free time until transfer to airport to take flight to Buenos Aires. Arrival and transfer to your hotel. Free time to rest or walk the city at your own. Dinner.
DAY 8 - BUENOS AIRES B D In the morning, Tradicional City Tour visiting the best of Buenos Aires. We will show you “The Queen of Plata”. We pick you up from your hotel to travel around the most emblematic points in the city. 9 de Julio Avenue –Colon Theatre – The obelisk – Diagonal RoqueSaenz Peña Avenue – Plaza de Mayo: here we make a stop and visit Buenos Aires Metropolitan Cathedral – visit to San Telmo town, Parque Lezama – La Boca: guided tour around Caminito and craft fair, here you will have free time to take photographs. Trip around La Boca Port – Puerto Madero and Retiro towns. Palermo town. Bosques de Palermo [Palermo woods] (Galileo Galilei Planetarium) Monument of the Constitution and the Four Argentinian Regions – Recoleta town (Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes [National Museum of Fine Arts] Nuestra Señora del Pilar Church, Recoleta Cemetery) End of guided tourist circuit.
DAY 9 - BUENOS AIRES B L D In the morning, start excursion to a traditional “Estancia” or farm in the Pampas. Pick you up at your hotel. Transportation by bus along Panamericana route towards the north and to the ranch. Welcome with “empanadas”, juices and wines. Visit to the Manor House, a small museum which displays gauchos’ tools, furniture crockery and different utensils. Here you will have free time to ride horses, go on outings by “zulki” (2-wheel carriage) and carriages. Includes lunch and free drinks! Lunch:“chorizo” [highly-seasoned sausage], “morcilla” [blood sausage], “asado”, beefs, “vacío” [thin flank] or chicken, salads. Drinks: mineral water, sodas, beer, red or white wine. Dessert: coffee and “pastelitos” Tango, folklore and dance shows. Herd exhibition, Gaucho Ring Race, ‘Cuadreras’ Race [horse race]. End of the activities. Return to the hotel. Farewell Dinner. Overnight. DAY 10 - BUENOS AIRES Breakfast. Free time until transfer to airport
PRICES FOR BUENOS AIRES, IGUAZU FALLS & RIO DE JANEIRO TOUR Departures: November 8-17, 2016 January 5-14, 2017
SINGLE
DOUBLE
TRIPLE
3290
2590
2539
Internal flights
550
550
550
Optionals Included
190
190
190
Standard Prices
PER PERSON
PER PERSON
PER PERSON
Hotels: Windsor Excelsior in Rio de Janeiro (4* superior) Hotel Panoramic in Iguazu Falls (5*) Hotel Pestana Buenos Aires (4* superior) GENERAL CONDITIONS: 1- These are guaranteed departures with a minimum of 8 people confirmed in the group. If we can´t confirm this minimum number of passengers, we will give you the option to take the same program with local guides (with 7 or less people, the tour will be the same, except that tour will not include a tour conductor during the complete itinerary. It will be replaced by different english speaking local guides, and tour will be managed by a tour manager available on the phone 24 hours a day). If client does not accept, deposit will be refunded 100% immediately. 2- For bookng purposes, to reserve your hotel rooms and extras for your trip, deposit of USD 300 per person is required. If you add internal flights too, initial deposit will be USD 500.- per person. The booking form have to be filled with full information in www.departures.ripioturismo to confirm your booking. A confirmation email will be sent by our company with payment details 3- After first deposit, our company will request a second deposit to cover the 30%, when the group is guaranteed by the minimum of passengers. Finally, balance have to be paid 30 days prior departure. 4- Methods of payment accepted are: Bank deposit, Wire Transfers, or Paypal (Paypal account or use of credit cards). If you use your credit card, there is an extra 3% charge 5- Prices are per person, based in single, double or triple rooms. Standard Prices correspond to price per person for the tour detailed in the previous pages, without optionals, and internal flights. Hotels will include standard rooms. Double rooms can be twin or double bed, and triple rooms with double + single, or three single beds.
6- Prices for internal flighs do not include local taxes. Check details for local taxes to be paid in each airport. 7 - Reservation cancellation: cancellations shall be made in writing, without exception, and passengers shall be refunded the price of the trip after a deduction of cancellation charges. The cancellation date shall be the date RIPIO EVT. is dully notified by the passenger. The sum to be refunded to the passenger shall be paid by the company at the company’s premises within 30 days of the date notice was given of the cancellation. If cancellation notice is received 30 days prior to departure, 30% of the down payment made on the reservation shall be deducted to cover administrative expenses. If notice is received within 30 days prior to departure, the company shall retain the total down payment. 8 - Changes made by the company prior to departure: the company may change itineraries, services, departure dates, etc. either in order to provide a better service, or because of acts of God or unforeseen circumstances. Unforeseen circumstances include: strikes, earthquakes, civil war, quarantine, revolutions, fires, adverse meteorological conditions, epidemics, bad road conditions o breakage’s, these being just illustrative. The company reserves the right to cancel the trip due to unforeseen circumstances or because the minimum number of people required to participate in the program has not been reached. In such a case the passenger will be informed in writing and he may opt for: a) Demanding that he be refunded the full price paid to us. b) Deciding on an alternative trip and pay an additional sum of money or get a refund, whatever the case may be, if there is a price difference. 9 - Prices for optionals, are for a package of activities marked in red in the itinerary. If you want to pre-book and confirm in advance these optionals, add this supplement to your final price. 10 - Health: Passengers must be in good health and physical condition. Passengers are responsible for having checkups and the company is not to be held responsible in case they have not been completed.. However, it is the passenger’s responsibility to bring along medicine that has been specifically prescribed to him. 11 - Complaints: neither RIPIO EVT nor service providers shall accept a formal complaint unless it is made in writing within 15 days after the trip has ended. 12 - Insurance: travel insurance is not included in the price of the program. RIPIO EVT strongly recommends passengers to get travel insurance.
Ripio EVT - Leg 10.687 de Ideas Turisticas SRL info@ripioturismo.com - www.ripioturismo.com Phone: +54 11 4855 4684