Footprint Expeditions in South America

This awesome trip will show you the highlights of Argentina, Uruguay and Brazil in 19 days full of adventures discovering the lands of tango, candombe and samba. Join us on a fantastic journey through never ending flatlands, giant rivers and waterfalls and amazing beaches on the Atlantic coast. Also, meet friendly people and open your mind to new cultures. Experience traveling on basically anything that moves and spend your nights in nice and cozy hotels or a posada.

Brief Itinerary

Days 1, 2 - Buenos Aires

Arrive in the land famous for tango and gauchos at anytime during the day. Take the time to explore the colorful neighborhood of La Boca, the vibrant Palermo and the stylish Recoleta, or enjoy a great tango show.

Days 3, 4 - Colonia

Travel to this quaint, historical town on the shore of Rio de la Plata, with its cobblestone streets, gorgeous river views and great food. The town is protected by UNESCO as one of its World Heritage Sites.

Day 5 - Montevideo

A short bus trip will take us to the most laid-back capital city in South America, with a large population of young people. Visit the picturesque historic center and grab a bite to eat at a local market.

Days 6, 7 - Salto

Chill out at the local hot springs, get some massages or spa treatments, party with the locals and get ready for a night bus to Iguassu Falls.

Days 8, 9, 10 - Iguassu Falls

Located on the border between Argentina and Brazil, these breathtaking waterfalls consist of 275 falls along 2.7 kilometers (1.67 miles) of the Iguassu River, up to a height of 82 meters (269 ft). Take a boat trip into the spray of the Devil’s Throat fall.

Day 11 - Curitiba

We arrive in Curitiba, which is considered to be one of the best examples of urban planning in the world. Catch an air of a modern city and all its facilities.

Days 12, 13 - Paraty

Located on the Costa Verde of Rio de Janeiro, tropical forests, amazing beaches, waterfalls and a well preserved Portuguese historic centre await you.

Days 14, 15, 16 - Ilha Grande

Travel by ferry to Ilha Grande, well known for its scenic beauty, tropical beaches and absence of vehicles. Party on board our boat and enjoy a tasty barbeque on a beautiful, remote beach.

Days 17, 18 - Rio de Janeiro

The city is famous for samba music, football matches, Ipanema and Copacabana beaches, Sugarloaf Mountain and its favelas (slums). Visit one of the new wonders of the world and the most famous landmark in Brazil: the statue of Christ the Redeemer, on top of Corcovado Mountain.

Day 19

Departure day

Contents

1. Disclaimer
2. Important trip information details
3. Specific details
4. Joining hotel information
5. Joining instructions
6. Arrival day
7. Emergency contact
8. Our trip rules
9. Travel insurance
10. Visas
11. Highlights of this trip
12. What is included?
13. Not included
14. Optional and extra activities
15. What should I bring?
16. Laundry
17. Spending money
18. Suggested meal budget
19. Emergency fund
20. Local payment
21. Tipping tips
22. Money exchange

1. Disclaimer

   All of the information provided in this dossier was compiled with detailed care for our clients and is provided to them in good faith. This is not part of the contract between Footprint Expeditions and the client. This is a guideline for an itinerary that is updated every year according to the comments and feedback of our travellers, tour leaders and local operators, in order to provide the best experience possible for our clients. Our brochures are updated every year around late October so if you booked your trip with the previous brochure, it is possible that some changes may have been made to your itinerary.

   IMPORTANT NOTE: We recommend that you print the PDF dossier a few days prior to departure, in order to have the most up-to-date information about your trip.

   VALIDITY: Valid for all trips departing January 1st, 2009 - December 31st, 2009

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2. Important trip information details

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3. Specific details

   Grade of difficulty: 2/6
   Trip style: Expedition
   Service class: Original
   Group size: 4 (Min.) - 16 (Max.)
   Best time to do it: Year round

   Grade of difficulty

   Suitable for most fitness levels, this trip involves some light walking or hiking.

   Trip style rating

   In our classic trips you will immerse yourself in new cultures. Our tour leaders and company representatives will be your key to interact with local people in their communities. Become enchanted by the wildlife and discover the truth and beauty of each magnificent place that you visit.

   Group size

   We believe that group size is important in order to maximize our travellers’ experiences. The minimum allowed on each trip is four passengers and the maximum is sixteen. Keeping the groups between these sizes will allow our travellers to fully enjoy each experience, while at the same time lessoning any negative impact that we may have on the places we visit. Our advice: as there will be members of your group from different countries, age groups and social backgrounds, it is important to be open minded and respectful of your fellow travellers in order to create a great group dynamic.

   IMPORTANT NOTE

   Throughout the trip, other optional activities, including hiking, might increase the physical rating. For further information, please contact our sales department or get in touch with one of our adventure specialists.

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4. Joining hotel information

   Hotel name:
   Address number:
   City:
   Country:
   Tel:
   Web:

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5. Joining instructions

   In case you miss your airport transfer, provided by Footprint Expeditions, the following information will be useful to help you reach your joining hotel in Buenos Aires.

   Buenos Aires International Airport, Ministro Pistarini “Ezeiza”, is located in Ezeiza, 22km/14 miles or about 40 minutes away from the city, depending on traffic. The best way to get to the hotel is by taxi. Give the driver the hotel name and address and remember to set the price before you board the cab.

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6. Arrival day

   Please note that Day 1 is an arrival day and no activities have been planned, so you can get there at any time. Likewise, the last day is a departure day with no scheduled activities, so you can leave at any time.

   On Day 1 of the trip, around late afternoon, your tour leader will organize a meeting where they will give you detailed information about your expedition and you will be able to meet the other members of your group. This is also an opportunity for you to provide the tour leader with your basic information (insurance details, international flight information, etc). In case you miss this briefing, the tour leader will leave you a message detailing where and when you should meet the group the next day.

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7. Emergency contact

   In case you need to contact Footprint Expeditions, please call one of our offices in Peru or Brazil. If for any reason you do not get a quick answer, you can call one of our 24 hour emergency mobile phones.

   Footprint Expeditions, Cuzco, Peru: +51 84 245.642
   Emergency Mobile Phone: +51 84 984.111.377 or +51 84 984.111.378

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8. Our trip rules

   The use of illegal drugs or prostitution contravenes the laws and is against our travel philosophy. Our tour leader has the right to expel any member of the group if they are found breaking these rules.

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9. Travel insurance

   You will need travel insurance for protection against the unexpected (health emergencies or financial losses) and for your own peace of mind so that you can fully enjoy your holiday. Travel insurance is mandatory for all travellers participating in a tour run by Footprint Expeditions and the insurance details will be checked and collected by our tour leaders on Day 1 of the trip.

   We recommend insurance policies that cover medical expenses (including emergency repatriation), trip cancellations, personal liability, loss of luggage and personal items, etc.

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10. Visas

    IT IS A MANDATORY RESPONSIBILITY FOR ALL TRAVELERS TO HAVE THE CORRECT TRAVEL DOCUMENTATION AT THE TIME OF TRAVELING WITH FOOTPRINT EXPEDITIONS. All countries require a valid passport with a minimum of six months validity. We suggest that you contact your embassy or consulate for the correct and most up-to-date visa requirements for the countries you will visit in your chosen trip, or check the following website for further information: www.visahq.com

    Countries visited in this trip:
    

    • Argentina
    • Uruguay
    • Brazil
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11. Highlights of this trip

    • Buenos Aires
    • Colonia (UNESCO World Heritage)
    • Montevideo
    • Salto hot springs
    • Iguassu Falls (Argentinean and Brazilian sides; UNESCO World Heritage)
    • Sao Paulo
    • Paraty
    • Ilha Grande (with boat trip and snorkelling)
    • Rio de Janeiro (with Corcovado Tour)
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12. Activities

    Iguassu Falls, Corcovado Tour in Rio de Janeiro

    Tour leader

    This individual will specialize in Argentina's, Uruguay's and Brazil's regions and cultures, and will lead the group throughout the entire trip.

    Meals

    Breakfast (17), lunch (1)

    When travelling with Footprint Expeditions, not all of you meals will be included. We want you to be able to explore the flavour of the local cuisine in each place that we visit, and our experienced guides and tour leaders can suggest some great food options in every destination. Nevertheless, most of our trips include some meals in order to facilitate your experience. This is usually a continental breakfast, but also some lunches and dinners during included activities where it would be impossible for you to find your own food. The food provided on these occasions is always fresh and very well prepared by our chefs and cooks.

    Accommodation

    Hotel (17), night bus (1)

    Important note: Accommodation can be quite basic or multi-share at times.

    Transport

    Private and local buses, boat, ferry and the power of your own feet!

    We believe that a big part of the adventure experience is the journey from one destination to another. This is why we use a multitude of forms of transport to travel; always putting safety first by using reliable companies.

    Local guides

    Driver in Iguassu Falls (tour leader will guide), Corcovado Tour in Rio de Janeiro.

    Airport transfer

    Transfer from the airport upon arrival in Buenos Aires is included if you provide us with the flight information at least five days in advance.

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13. Not included

    • International flights
    • International airport taxes
    • Visas
    • Meals not listed
    • Optional or extra activities during free time
    • Transfer for optional or extra activities
    • Tips
    • Items for personal use
    • Pre and post tour accommodation
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14. Optional and extra activities

    Buenos Aires:

    • Tango show $(?)
    • City tour $(?)
    • Football match $(?)

    Colonia:

    • Bike rental $(?)
    • Scooter rental $(?)

    Montevideo:

    • City tour $(?)

    Salto:

    • Hot springs $(?)
    • Massages $(?)

    Iguassu:

    • Green Passport (Argentinean National Park) $35
    • Rafain dance show and dinner $35
    • Helicopter flight $(?)
    • Itaipú Dam $(?)

    Sao Paulo:

    Paraty:

    • Bike rental $(?)
    • Boat trip $(?)

    Rio de Janeiro:

    • Favela tour $30
    • Football matches $20
    • City tour $(?)
    • Tijuca Forest tour $(?)
    • Guanabara Bay boat trip $(?)
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15. What should I bring?

    Always bring the items of clothing that you might need for the trip. It is also a good idea to bring a set of some nice clothes for going out in the evening or for some fine dinning. Pack as light as possible; remember that you will have to carry your back pack or duffel bag. We also recommend that you bring good quality outdoor clothes, especially hiking boots, a wind breaker and a warm jacket in case you are doing outdoor sports.

    RECOMMENDED ITEMS:

    • Passport
    • Airline tickets or printed e-tickets
    • Travel insurance
    • Credit or debit card and us dollars cash
    • Footprint Expeditions voucher
    • Camera and/or video camera
    • Visa and vaccination certificates
    • Printed dossier
    • Some good reading material
    • Pocket knife
    • Flashlight
    • Water and windproof jacket
    • Sun hat or cap
    • 2 pairs of long trousers
    • 5 t-shirts
    • 2 fleece tops
    • 1 pair of hiking pants
    • Sunglasses
    • Insect repellent
    • Flip flops
    • Day pack
    • Other items for personal use
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16. Laundry

    Laundry service is provided at most of the hostels and hotels where we will be staying, although they may charge a bit more than the street launderettes. There are private laundry facilities available for reasonable prices in almost all of the towns visited on our trips. We suggest that you ask your tour leader for the best places to do it.

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17. Spending money

    It is very important to bear in mind your own spending habits when you make your trip budget based on eating, drinking, partying, shopping, tipping and any other expenses that may arise. Every traveller has different spending requirements and it is important to remember that it is always better to take more rather than less money as you do not want to spoil your trip because of feeling short of funds.

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18. Suggested meal budget

    Allow USD 370 for meals not included.

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19. Emergency fund

    In case of any emergency caused by external factors out of the control and responsibility of Footprint Expeditions (e.g. social issues, natural disasters, or strikes), trips can be re-routed, and it is important for you to have access to at least an additional USD 200 or equivalent as an emergency fund. While any of the previously listed emergencies rarely occur, it is better to be safe than sorry!

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20. Local payment

    Most of our trips involve a Local Payment. The overall tour price is divided into two separate payments. The first payment is the one that you paid directly to your travel agent, to your Footprint Expeditions sales representative or through our website. The Local Payment is the final amount which must be paid to your tour leader or Footprint Expeditions representative on Day 1 of the trip, at your joining hotel. It has to be paid in cash in the requested currency; normally US Dollars or Euros. Doing this allows us to supply our tour leaders with cash to help pay for the tour until they get the total funds needed for the trip, avoiding problems caused by limited banking facilities and the slow transfer of funds. At the same time, this helps us to save on operational and administrative costs and we can keep our trip prices competitive by passing on those savings to you.

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21. Tipping tips

    In Latin America, it is customary to tip service providers such as guides, drivers, cooks, porters and horsemen, depending on the quality and quantity of the service. It is of considerable significance to the people who will take care of you during your trip. Ask your tour leader for specific recommendations. Expect to tip in restaurants at approximately 10%, or more, depending on the quality of the service and food. Please remember that tipping is an expression of satisfaction for the services you received and is not compulsory.

    If you felt that your Footprint Expeditions tour leader did an outstanding job, tipping is appreciated. As a guideline, we recommend $25 per person, per week of travel. However, this amount is a personal preference, entirely at the customer’s discretion.

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22. Money exchange

    Visa credit cards are largely accepted in most of the countries in South America, and there are plenty of ATM facilities for cash advances on credit and debit cards. Be aware that in most places you will be charged a fee of up to 10% when paying with credit cards. Always ask how much you will be charged. Other widely accepted cards are MasterCard, American Express, and Diners.

    We suggest that you bring a combination of USD cash, credit and debit cards and some Travellers Checks, even if you may get a less-favourable exchange rate for the latter. The commission varies between 2% to 10%, but the Travellers Checks will give you the safety in case your credit or debit cards won’t work.

    Exchange rates can fluctuate every day, so please visit the following site for the most up-to-date exchange rates: www.xe.com

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