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Gold Category Itineraries
Our Gold category trips include the best tours in each destination, usually done on a private basis or in small groups, guaranteeing an exclusive first‑class and in‑depth travel experience. Additionally, airport transfers are provided on a private basis in all destinations.
Silver Category Itineraries
Our Silver category has different and fewer tours than our Gold category, sometimes with fewer nights in some destinations.
This option includes first‑class tours but is a less exclusive and comprehensive experience compared to our Gold category.
Experience the mystic Salvador de Bahia, declared a Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO
» Rio de Janeiro (Breathtaking landscapes & home to one of the "New 7 Wonders of the World")
» Iguazu Falls (Selected by 100 Million Voters as One of the "New 7 Wonders of Nature")
» Fernando de Noronha (Exclusive haven for marine wildlife and home to the #1 beach in the world)
» Amazon Rainforest (The most bio-diverse ecosystem on Earth, chosen as one of the "New 7 Wonders of Nature" by over 100 million voters)
» Pantanal (Best place to see jaguars and largest wetlands on Earth. Home to the highest concentration of wildlife in the Americas)
Contact over 500 U.S. guests
We don't just share reviews — we connect you with past guests
Jean & Donald Erickson
(Stevensville, Michigan, United States)
"I started researching travel for South America, then I connected with Fred and he was the best! I had many questions and he answered them quickly and efficiently EACH TIME."
"Exploration Journeys made this a truly worry-free trip! They work to have the best guides you will ever find! This is not just a plug, they were highly knowledgeable, personable, and attentive, beyond what we have experienced with all our other travels."
Jean & Donald visited: Buenos Aires, Iguazu Falls and El Calafate.
TRIP REVIEW OF JEAN & DONALD ERICKSON
"This was our first trip to South America. Our trip that was planned with Fred from Exploration Journeys was Outstanding! I started researching travel for South America, then I connected with Fred and he was the best! I had many questions and he answered them quickly and efficiently EACH TIME. He was patient and helpful as I kept changing out parts of the tours. We had a fantastic 10 days in Argentina.
We had the best tour guides in Buenos Aires, who knew the history and made it so enjoyable to learn. Fred helped us see the most important highlights of Argentina (as we were told by a native Argentinian as we flew back to the states).
We loved both sides of the Iguazu Falls. We had a small glitch which Fred promptly took care of way beyond our expectations!
Don’t miss the glaciers at El Calafate! Trekking the Mighty Perito Moreno glacier was the biggest highlight of the whole trip!
Exploration Journeys made this a truly "worry-free" trip! They work to have the best guides you will ever find! This is not just a plug, they were highly knowledgeable, personable, and attentive, beyond what we have experienced with all our other travels.
Also, if staying in Buenos Aires, we highly recommend the Alvear Palace Hotel. It was outstanding and so close for walking to the recommended restaurants and the gravesite of Evita.
Our accommodations at Iguazu falls provided a fantastic view of the falls and the pool was greatly appreciated in the high temperatures and humidity.
Exploration Journeys puts together a fantastic travel booklet that you receive a few weeks before you leave. It leaves no questions or worries. It is very well detailed but provides many helpful tips that proved very useful. It definitely provides for a worry-free experience."
JEAN & DONALD'S BOOKED TRIP ITINERARY
Buenos Aires
Staying for 3 nights, with 1 tour included
Day 1: You arrive in Buenos Aires
Flight arrival in Buenos Aires, Argentina!
Welcome at the airport and transfer with private vehicle and guide to your hotel.
Day 2: Buenos Aires
Images of Buenos Aires: European Heritage and Latin American Passion (private tour)
The birthplace of Tango and Argentina’s vibrant capital, Buenos Aires is as captivating as the dance itself, an irresistible mix of elegance, passion, and culture. Commonly referred to as the “Paris of Latin America”, Buenos Aires is the best place in the world to enjoy a first-class tango show and to savor some of the tastiest steaks, accompanied by the celebrated Argentine Malbec wine.
Our expert “porteño” (as locals are called) guide will take you on a cultural journey, where you’ll visit the most iconic neighborhoods and learn about the highlights of the city; taking in its architecture, culture, history, and more! This tour is also a great opportunity to learn from your expert tour guide, the necessary information and useful tips to make the most of your free time in the city.
This is a private 4-hour tour. The usual three stops we make on this tour and walk are downtown (Plaza de Mayo), La Boca, and the Recoleta neighborhood (to visit the cemetery).
Day 3: Buenos Aires
We’ll then visit Tigre: the impressive entrance to the Parana delta, fully scattered by islands, dense vegetation and houses on pilots that can be appreciated on our hour long motor boat ride along some of its rivers. The journey ends with a stop at the local handcrafts and fruit supply market (Mercado de Frutos).
This is a private tour (except the navigation which is done with a group boat with your private guide) tour lasts 5 hours and is done in the morning usually departing at 9 AM and returning at 2 PM for you to have lunch (not included) after the tour.
Day 4: Last day in Buenos Aires
Transfer in private vehicle to Buenos Aires Airport.
Iguazu
Staying for 2 nights, with 4 tours included
Day 4: You arrive in Iguazu
Flight arrival in Iguazu.
Depending on your flight arrival time you will have time to go first to your hotel or you will be taken directly to your tour and then to your hotel.
Behold the Breathtaking Panoramic Views of Iguazu Falls from the Brazilian Side (private tour)
With 80% of the falls located on the Argentine side, it is only from the Brazilian side that one can see almost all of them at once, in full, breathtakingly panoramic views.
The Brazilian side offers majestic scenic views of the beauty and entirety of the falls; this is because the Brazilian footbridge lies across the river from the falls, offering a unique perspective and epic scenic views, making the Brazilian side different and absolutely complementary to the experience from the Argentine side.
This is a half-day private tour.
Walking Among Exotic Birds in the Iguazu Rainforest (private tour)
You’re about to enter a one-of-a-kind bird sanctuary! Here you’ll find the largest colony of toucans on display in the world, as well as the largest colony of parrots on display in South America, along with 150 different bird species from Brazil and all over the world, many of them endangered.
Located in the midst of the lush tropical rainforest, Foz Tropicana Bird Park is an internationally-recognized rescue and preservation center for endangered birds; and it’s among the most important ones in South America. You’ll find yourself side by side a myriad of exotic birds, in the three walk-in aviaries, where you’ll have the opportunity to have an up-close and personal experience with amazingly colorful parrots and Toco Toucans, among many other birds… all of them right next to you or even flying over your head!
In addition to the diversity and beauty of the birds you’ll see, the park itself presents itself as a unique location. It covers nearly 40 acres (16 hectares) of rainforest, so you’re quite literally going to find yourself in the middle of nature as you make your way along the trails!
This visit lasts about an hour and a half to two hours and takes place on the same day as your Brazilian side of the falls tour.
Day 5: Iguazu
Witness the Unique Power & Might of the Iguazu Falls from the Argentine Side (private tour)
“You might have seen the photos. Even read about it. You might have visited other great waterfalls before. But you probably still have no idea what to expect when you come face to face with the almighty Iguazu Falls,” stated CNN in their article “Iguazu Falls: Why this natural wonder should be on everyone’s bucket list". To put that into perspective, Iguazu Falls is nearly twice as tall as Niagara Falls and nearly three times as wide. The late U.S. First Lady, Eleanor Roosevelt, was reportedly so impressed by the sight of Iguazu Falls that she exclaimed “Poor Niagara!”
In 1984, Iguazu Falls became a UNESCO World Heritage Site; and in 2011, it was selected as one of the 7 winners of the “New Seven Wonders of Nature” worldwide competition in which more than 100 million votes were cast.
Their size and scale are unlike any other waterfall on Earth. Made up of a system of 275 waterfalls, they have a staggering water flow of up to almost 3.5 million gallons (13 million liters) per second – enough to fill five Olympic swimming pools!
Unlike Niagara Falls, which is surrounded by developments such as casinos, a revolving restaurant, and coffee shops, Iguazu Falls are located within one of the few remaining inland rainforests in South America, the Atlantic rainforest, which is a haven for more than 2,000 plant species, about 400 birds species, and 80 types of mammals!
This is a full-day private tour.
A Speedboat Adventure Up-Close the Iguazu Falls
Get ready for a thrilling speedboat adventure, enjoying a unique, up-close perspective of the majestic Iguazu Falls and experience a different viewpoint of the falls from what you’ll see from the panoramic boardwalks. Our speedboat will zip the waters of the Iguazu River and approach the falls getting thoroughly splashed by their mist as you hear their loud roar!
This ride provides a unique and extremely close-up view of the San Martin and Three Musketeers falls with the opportunity to take outstanding close-up photos. The high point of this experience will be without a doubt, being showered under the mist of the San Martin Falls; the second strongest falls in the Iguazu system. Now it’s time to hop on board and begin our waterfall adventure!
This is a 12-minute group tour and is done on the same day you do the Argentinean side of the falls tour. This tour has an age restriction (click on tour name above for details).
Day 6: Last day in Iguazu
Transfer in private vehicle to Iguazu airport.
You will take a flight to Buenos Aires and from there you will take another flight to El Calafate.El Calafate
Staying for 3 nights, with 2 tours included
Day 6: You arrive in El Calafate
Flight arrival in El Calafate. Welcome at the airport and private transfer to your hotel.
Depending on your flight arrival time, you can relax at your hotel, enjoy your own explorations, or ask your tour guide about suggested activities for your free time.Day 7: El Calafate
Conquering the Mighty Perito Moreno Glacier!
Discover your inner adventurer as you explore and conquer one of the world’s most awe-inspiring and unique glaciers: The Perito Moreno. This splendid ice giant showcases its mighty glory in the Patagonian Glaciers National Park, which has been declared Mankind’s Natural Heritage site by UNESCO. The park’s vast size not only gives it the distinction of being the largest ice mantle in the world after Antarctica, but also that of being the third largest fresh water reserve on the planet.
Now, picture yourself strapping on your ice spikes, as you begin trekking along this ice giant on a full-day discovery journey along one of the few glaciers in the world, which is actually growing and advancing.
Your full day of adventure will include a close-up navigation of the Perito Moreno Glacier and a visit to the seven panoramic balconies facing the front of the glacier where you’ll have amazing picture-taking opportunities. After an adventure-packed day, you’ll be able to rest with the satisfaction of having successfully conquered the mighty Perito Moreno!
This is a full-day group tour and has an age restriction (click on tour name above for details).
Day 8: El Calafate
Icy Blue Giants: Navigate the Largest Patagonian Glaciers and take the most Awe-inspiring Glacier Photos (in boat’s VIP section)
Hop aboard as we embark on a discovery journey to admire the second largest glacier in South America: the Upsala, as well as other Patagonian ice giants only accessible by boat. The glaciers’ grandness is imposing, and their color remarkable: ranging from pure white to shades of dark blue. We’ll get comfortable in our seats, inside the exclusive VIP cabin on the upper floor of our ship, where we’ll experience better panoramic views with superior comfort and service.
On our way to the Upsala Glacier, we’ll enjoy great photo opportunities while we see icebergs of incredible and diverse shapes and sizes.
This is a full-day group tour and includes lunch at VIP boat cabin, including water, soft drinks, wine and beer.
Day 9: Last day in El Calafate
Transfer in private vehicle to El Calafate airport.
Buenos Aires
Staying for 1 night
Day 9: You arrive in Buenos Aires
Arrival in Buenos Aires and transfer to your hotel in private vehicle.
Day 10: Buenos Aires
Transfer from your hotel to Buenos Aires cruise port in private vehicle.
We look forward to welcoming you again in Argentina!