Depart on your scheduled flight to Buenos Aires via Madrid. On arrival this evening, transfer to your hotel for a three-night stay.

The capital of Argentina, Buenos Aires is situated on the estuary of the River Plate and is considered to be the most elegant city in South America.

This morning we have included a city tour of Buenos Aires, often referred to as ‘The Paris of the Americas’. Your tour will include visits to Plaza de Mayo where the Casa Rosada (Government House) is situated. Also in the square is the Cathedral of Buenos Aires where the tomb of General San Martin, the hero and liberator of Argentina, is located. You will also visit the La Boca District which is renowned for its brightly painted houses and has now become an artists’ colony. The tango was born here. A visit will be made to the Recoleta cemetery, famous for its beautiful family tombs and the burial place of Eva Peron.

Leaving Buenos Aires, we travel to the Tigre Delta, a labyrinth of waterways. We board a traditional riverboat for a trip around the delta, exploring this maze of riverside villas, islands, Victorian docks and pretty Englishstyle gardens.

One of the things Argentina is famed for is its beef, and there are many cattle ranches to be found in the nearby La Pampas region. Today we can take an optional full-day tour to the heart of Argentina’s Pampas, where you will experience a day at a typical ‘estancia’ (ranch). You will see the gauchos displaying their horsemanship skills. The tour also includes a typical Argentine barbeque so you can sample the local beef for yourself.

This evening, there is an optional visit to a traditional dinner and tango show.

Transfer to the airport today for your flight to Iguacu Falls where we have the afternoon to settle into our hotel for the next two nights and a chance to relax by the pool. Situated at the meeting point of three countries (Brazil, Paraguay and Argentina), the Iguaçú Falls are one of the world’s largest natural wonders. The falls are higher than Niagara, wider than Victoria and consist of 275 separate falls, pouring up to eight million gallons of water every second into the swirling river below.

Today, we include a full-day tour to explore the Argentine side of the falls. It is a sight of stunning beauty and magnitude and our visit takes us on the train that leads through the national park to the walkways that criss-cross both the top and the bottom of the falls, with plenty of opportunity to see and to experience the myriad falls up close.

Before we leave, why not join our optional half-day excursion.

Having explored the falls close up from Argentina, why not join our optional half-day excursion to view the mesmerising Iguaçú Falls from the Brazilian side. Approaching from this side you will be rewarded with panoramic views which offer you the opportunity to better understand the immense scale of the falls. You’ll also be able to follow the walkways that take you almost into the centre of the Devil’s Throat.

This afternoon, we transfer to the airport for our flight to Rio de Janeiro. We stay in this exciting city for the next three nights.

Today enjoy a half-day included tour to the peak of Corcovado and the famous statue of Christ which stands proudly overlooking the city. You drive firstly along the world famous beaches of Copacabana and Ipanema. To reach the top and the statue of Christ it is necessary to ascend via a small cog railway which winds up the mountain. The statue was built and placed on the hill in the early 1900s. After ascending to the top of this tremendous outcrop you will be rewarded with breathtaking views of the city and the surrounding dramatic landscape.

You will then continue through the city centre past the Opera House and National Theatre. This afternoon you have the chance to enjoy an optional tour to Sugarloaf Mountain.

Sugarloaf Mountain is a classic Rio de Janeiro landmark. On this optional excursion you will board the famous cable-car for your journey to the peak of the mountain. As a prelude to this exciting ascent you will enjoy a tour along the seashore avenues of the Flamengo and Botafogo beaches before arriving at the Praia Vermelha for a breathtaking cable-car adventure. At the top of the mountain you will enjoy superb views of the central town and the world-renowned beaches. A truly picture perfect location with inspirational views.

Today you are free to explore the city at your leisure. Rio de Janeiro is unique - simply bursting with energy, excitement and entertainment. It is beautifully situated beneath Corcovado and Sugarloaf Mountain, and blessed with magnificent beaches such as Copacabana and Ipanema. It has the world’s largest carnival, the largest football stadium, the beautiful parks and the most legendary nightlife. With its exciting rhythms, bustling shops and fashionable bars, it is an informal and intriguing city.

Morning free before transferring to the airport for your return flight to the UK via Paris.

Arrive back in the UK.