Ultimate South America with Santiago Stopover & Galapagos Cruise

ARRIVE IN SANTIAGO, CHILE

Welcome to Santiago, where you will be met by a Cosmos representative. With a coastline more than 2,650 miles long, Chile is more than 10 times longer than it is wide. With a distinctly European flavor accented with Latin flair, Santiago is one of South America's most sophisticated and modern cities.

Please note: The Tour Director does not accompany guests on extensions. Guided service is as outlined in the day by day itinerary.

SANTIAGO

Step back into the 16th Century as your Local Guide traces the city's history and heritage. Your guided city tour introduces you to Santiago-the country's political, commercial, and cultural capital. View La Moneda Government Palace before visiting the Plaza de Armas, the main square, with a visit to the 18th Century Cathedral. This afternoon and evening are at your leisure.

• Meals Included:
• Breakfast

SANTIAGO-RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL

Today, Fly to Rio de Janeiro, home to white-sand beaches and world-famous Carnival! Relax this afternoon in spectacular Rio.

• Meals Included:
• Breakfast

RIO DE JANEIRO

Today, meet your Tour Director, who will have pointers for your free time exploration.

• Meals Included:
• Breakfast

RIO DE JANEIRO

Guided sightseeing begins with a drive along Rio’s famed Leblon, Ipanema, and more. Take the cog railway 2,300 feet up to the summit of Corcovado to view the Christ the Redeemer statue and enjoy 360-degree views of Guanabara Bay and the bustling city below. The famed statue was completed in 1931 becoming emblematic for both the city and the Brazilian nation as a whole. Your afternoon is free to explore.

• Meals Included:
• Breakfast

RIO DE JANEIRO

A free day in Rio allows you to relax on one of the beaches or take an optional excursion to the historic city of Petropolis.

• Meals Included:
• Breakfast

RIO DE JANEIRO–IGUASSU FALLS

Fly to Iguassu Falls, one of the greatest natural wonders of the world. Journey to the Brazilian side of the falls to see the 275 waterfalls cascading over a precipice almost two miles wide and 250 feet deep. Walk into Devil’s Throat Canyon, where clouds of mist, a thunderous roar, and 180-degree rainbows surround you—an unforgettable experience!

• Meals Included:
• Breakfast
• Dinner

IGUASSU FALLS. EXCURSION TO IGUASSU FALLS, ARGENTINA

Cross the Brazilian border by motorcoach and visit the Argentine side of Iguassu Falls. Begin with a short ride on the open-air Ecological Jungle Train through the surrounding rainforest. A series of boardwalks takes you above the falls for a look over the edge to see the water crashing down below into the Devil’s Throat. Return to Brazil’s side of Iguassu Falls for free time, or you may opt to visit the Bird Park, home to many species of endemic birds as well as flora from the area.

• Meals Included:
• Breakfast

IGUASSU FALLS–BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA

This morning, cross the Brazilian border into Argentina by motorcoach to transfer to the Cataratas del Iguazu International Airport for your flight to Buenos Aires, Argentina’s cosmopolitan capital. After settling into your hotel, you may wish to familiarize yourself with the “Paris of South America” and its wide boulevards, outdoor cafés, and charming shops.

• Meals Included:
• Breakfast

BUENOS AIRES

Morning sightseeing with a Local Guide focuses on the city’s well-known landmarks, including the Teatro Colón Opera House and Plaza de Mayo, site of La Casa Rosada (the President’s Pink House), and Metropolitan Cathedral. Also, visit La Boca and San Telmo, one of Buenos Aires’ oldest neighborhoods, and Recoleta Cemetery, where Eva Perón is buried. End your day with an optional excursion to enjoy an Argentinean meal, followed by a sensuous Tango show highlighting this alluring dance so popular here.

• Meals Included:
• Breakfast

BUENOS AIRES

Today is free for independent activities, or you can take an optional excursion to visit a local estancia (ranch) to experience the life of the gauchos (cowboys) on a traditional Argentine ranch complete with a barbecue lunch.

• Meals Included:
• Breakfast

BUENOS AIRES–LIMA, PERU

Board a flight for Lima, Peru. Heralded as the “City of Kings” by Spanish conquistadors, Lima still carries vestiges of its opulent past with its colonial buildings and world-class museums.

• Meals Included:
• Breakfast

LIMA

Sightseeing today focuses on Lima’s colonial heritage. Founded in 1535, Lima was once the capital of Spain’s South American Empire. Visit the baroque 11th-century San Francisco Monastery, with Spanish and Moorish architecture throughout. Continue to Plaza Mayor, where you will see the Government Palace that houses the presidential palace and was once the home of Francisco Pizarro, founder of Lima and conqueror of Peru. Nearby, see the cathedral where Pizarro’s remains are buried. The remainder of your day is free to explore on your own. Enjoy dinner at a local restaurant this evening.

• Meals Included:
• Breakfast
• Dinner

LIMA–CUSCO–SACRED VALLEY

Fly to Cusco high in the Andes and, upon arrival, descend into the Sacred Valley of the Incas. Learn about the importance of camelids (llama, vicuña, alpaca, and guanaco) for Inca cultures. See them up close and learn how their coats are transformed into colorful weaving fibers that are then used in ancient weaving techniques still in use today. Continue to Pisaq, a charming village with a famous market, where you have plenty of time to browse the many colorful stalls selling handicrafts ranging from alpaca sweaters and blankets to painted vases and sterling silver. Later, arrive at your hotel, nestled in the peaceful Sacred Valley.

• Meals Included:
• Breakfast
• Dinner

SACRED VALLEY

Start the day with a visit to Ollantaytambo and the Inca ruins of the same name. Explore the archaeological site that was the scene of the Inca resistance during the Spanish conquest—the only place ever to resist Spanish attacks. You will see how the temple area at the top of the terraces provided the perfect defensive stronghold. Next, visit a local home to experience life in this traditional village, which has been remarkably well preserved. Then, visit the Seminario Ceramics Workshop to learn about Peruvian ancient and modern art. End your day at a local chichería for a taste of a typical Inca drink in Peru called chicha.

• Meals Included:
• Breakfast

SACRED VALLEY–MACHU PICCHU

Board the Vistadome train that cuts a path through the picturesque Urubamba Valley bound for Aguas Calientes, the quaint town closest to the “Lost City of the Incas.” Ascend the mountainside through tropical forest to the sacred refuge of Machu Picchu. Your guide recounts the many accomplishments of the Incas as you tour the terraced ruins dating back to the 15th century. Abandoned when the Inca Empire fell to the Spanish, these remarkable ruins remained undiscovered for nearly 400 years. For this reason, many of the mysteries surrounding Machu Picchu remain to this day.

• Meals Included:
• Breakfast
• Dinner

MACHU PICCHU–CUSCO

Enjoy some free time this morning to explore the mountain town of Aguas Calientes; perhaps visit the local market, quaint boutiques, or take a walk along nearby trails. Later this afternoon, return to Cusco on the Vistadome train to the former capital of the Inca Empire.

• Meals Included:
• Breakfast

CUSCO

Embark on a guided sightseeing tour of Cusco that focuses on the city that was once the political, military, and cultural epicenter of the Incas. In fact, Inca foundations can still be found in Cusco, with the Spanish baroque structures built on top. Visit the Santo Domingo Monastery, where these two forms of architecture are melded together with the temple of both cultures atop one another. Also, see the Cathedral in the Plaza de Armas before a visit to the Temple of Sacsayhuaman. Some of the best examples of Inca masonry can be found at this fortress, where stones weighing up to 350 tons are pieced together to form a complex that could house up to 10,000 men. Learn about the ceremonies and battles that took place here on your tour. Roll up your sleeves to participate in a tree-planting project supporting the local community. Return to Cusco for dinner at a local restaurant.

• Meals Included:
• Breakfast
• Dinner

CUSCO–PUNO

Today, drive south along the Route of the Sun, one of Peru’s most beautiful scenic drives. Stops along the way include visits to the stunning Sistine Chapel of America, the Temple of Wiracocha and more. Arrive in Puno on the shores of Lake Titicaca where the legend says the first Inca, Manco Capac, arose from the waters of the lake by the power of the sun god to create the Inca Empire.

• Meals Included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch

PUNO. EXCURSION TO LAKE TITICACA

Experience fascinating Lake Titicaca today as you embark on a motorboat tour of the highest navigable lake in the world and its manmade islands. On Taquile Island, see how the local people integrate their Inca and Spanish past. Continue to the Uros floating islands, a group of approximately 40 artificially made islands. Learn how the Uros people construct their islands, homes, boats, and many other resources completely of tortora reed, a centuries-old practice. Enjoy a farewell dinner hosted by your Tour Director this evening.

• Meals Included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner

PUNO–JULIACA–LIMA

En route to Juliaca, stop at the pre-Incan burial grounds of Sillustani. See the above-ground tombs, chullpas, in which the Aymara people buried their high priests. You will be welcomed into a local home for an inside look at life here. Fly to Lima and transfer to your hotel.

• Meals Included:
• Breakfast

LIMA–QUITO, ECUADOR

Board a flight for Quito where you will be met by a Cosmos representative and transfer to your hotel for a free evening.

Please note: The Tour Director does not accompany guests on extensions. Guided service is as outlined in the day-by-day itinerary.

• Meals Included:
• Breakfast

QUITO

On an included city tour with a Local Guide, see Independence Square with its Cathedral and San Francisco Plaza Church, and the Basilica. Return to your hotel for a free afternoon and evening to explore Quito at leisure.

• Meals Included:
• Breakfast

QUITO–SAN CRISTOBAL ISLAND (EMBARKATION)–GALÁPAGOS CRUISING: SAN CRISTOBAL ISLAND

Return to Quito airport and fly to San Cristobal. Embark the Galápagos Legend for a 4-night cruise. This afternoon, visit the Galápagos Darwin Interpretation Center with your expert Naturalist and learn about ongoing conservation of the archipelago, its history, ecosystems, flora, and fauna. Next, a walk to Tijeretas Hill brings you to a frigatebird nesting colony.

• Meals Included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner

GALÁPAGOS CRUISING: ESPAÑOLA ISLAND

Join your Naturalist for excursions to Gardner Bay and Punta Suárez on Española Island, one of the oldest islands in the archipelago. Here, you will see the famous blowhole, as well as unique sea bird colonies, including the waved albatrosses (April-December), Nazca and blue-footed boobies, and Darwin’s finches.

• Meals Included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner

GALÁPAGOS CRUISING: FLOREANA ISLAND

This morning, visit Post Office Bay, named for the wooden barrel that served as an informal post office for sailors passing through. Here, you may also encounter Darwin’s finches, yellow warblers, and lava lizards, and take advantage of another chance for great snorkeling. This afternoon, visit Cormorant Point to see a brackish lagoon, which usually holds one of the largest flamingo populations in the Galápagos. The trail continues to a beautiful white-sand beach, one of the most important nesting sites of Green Pacific sea turtles. Enjoy a chance to snorkel among sea turtles, reef fish, sea lions, and even white-tipped reef sharks.

• Meals Included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner

GALÁPAGOS CRUISING: SANTA CRUZ ISLAND

This morning, visit Dragon Hill, where you will find a brackish lagoon frequented by shorebirds, ducks, and flamingos. Further inland, the trail offers a beautiful view of the archipelago, as well as the chance to see land iguanas. A special treat is in store for you this afternoon at Punta Bowditch. Be one of the first people to visit this new site on Santa Cruz Island! Relax on a powdery beach, snorkel around turquoise water islets and hike beside salt pools and dried white corals. This area is also a common nesting site for marine turtles.

• Meals Included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner

GALÁPAGOS CRUISING: SANTA CRUZ–BALTRA (DISEMBARKATION)–GUAYAQUIL

After breakfast, disembark and head into the highlands of Santa Cruz Island and visit the Giant Tortoise Reserve. See and learn about the conservation and breeding programs to protect the endangered tortoise species found here. Continue to the airport and fly to Guayaquil. Tonight is at leisure.

• Meals Included:
• Breakfast

GUAYAQUIL

Your vacation ends after breakfast this morning.

• Meals Included:
• Breakfast