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Enhance your understanding of Polynesian culture — and treat yourself to an exotic island experience in the “navel of the world” — on a post-trip extension to Easter Island, a Chilean territory and UNESCO World Heritage Site. Rapa Nui, as it’s locally known, is distinguished worldwide as the one and only home of the mystifying moai statues. This extension is your opportunity to encounter these mystical talismans up close and disentangle history from legend. Who created these statues? How? Why? And what happened to them?
Fly to Santiago, Chile's historic capital
Fly to Santiago this morning. Upon arrival, a panoramic tour reveals the city’s colonial and contemporary highlights. You’ll have a chance to stroll down the famous Alameda, the city’s bustling main avenue, and explore the Plaza de Armas, surrounded by the 18th-century Metropolitan Cathedral, the stunning white Central Post Office, and the National History Museum — itself an historical monument. Enjoy your included dinner at your hotel.
Included Feature:
Destination Enhancement: Customize your journey when you add an optional excursion. A panoramic tour of Santiago reveals the city’s colonial and contemporary highlights. Learn more
Included meals:
Set out on a panoramic tour of Santiago, Chile, revealing the city’s colonial and contemporary highlights. You’ll stroll down Avenida Libertador General Bernardo O'Higgins Alameda. Also known as La Alameda, this is the city’s bustling main avenue. Explore the Plaza de Armas de San Fernando, Santiago’s historic main square, surrounded by the 18th-century Catedral Metropolitana de Santiago. You’ll also view the stunning white Central Post Office and the Palacio de la Real Audiencia de Santiago, an early 19th-century palace that once served as the home of Santiago’s royal courts of justice, but today is the site of the National History Museum.
Due to high call volume, we recommend you visit MyPortfolio to book this Destination Enhancement. Don’t wait — these optional experiences are limited to a select number of guests and are selling out fast!
Fly to mystical Easter Island
Today, you'll head to the airport for your flight to Easter Island. After checking into your hotel, embark on a tour of Hanga Roa, the island’s main town and capital. Enjoy dinner at the hotel this evening. Cultural Discovery: You’ll visit a family museum to learn about the Rapa Nui people from a local resident.
Touring the island’s architectural hot spots
Spend a full day touring the island’s famed moai and archaeological hotspots, starting with Ahu Vaihu, the site of an ancient temple. You’ll find moai toppled over, the result of tribal conflict, family rivalry, or perhaps even local superstition. Next you’ll see the Rano Raraku volcanic crater, a former moai quarry — there are even statues still waiting to be freed. You’ll view the moai in full glory at Ahu Tongariki, the island’s largest ahu platform. At Anakena Beach, you may go for a refreshing swim with moai in sight — Ahu Nau Nau is known as the island's most intricately carved statues. Lunch will be provided during the tour.
The epic sights of Orongo and Ahu Vinapu
You’ll head south of Hanga Roa for this morning’s tour. Straddled between the Rano Kau crater and cliffs above the Pacific is Orongo, the ruins of a sod-and-stone house settlement. Who knows what mysteries you’ll solve at your next stop, the archaeological site at Ahu Vinapu? Following leisure time for lunch, reconvene for an afternoon touring Ahu Akivi, the seven scout moai of Rapa Nui legend. Stop in Puna Pau on the way back to examine the red scoria rock used to make topknots for some of the moai. Tonight, weather permitting, you'll enjoy rustic picnic dinner at Tahai overlooking the endless Pacific Ocean.
Visit the most interesting post office on Earth, then fly to Santiago
Following breakfast at the hotel this morning, you’ll transfer to the airport for your flight back to Santiago. Along the way, you'll pay a visit to Easter Island’s post office, the furthest location from any other post office on the planet, where you can browse the unique postcards and pick up Easter Island’s stamp. After arriving in Santiago, you'll have the rest of the day to spend at leisure.
Fly overnight to the U.S.
Enjoy your last morning in Santiago at leisure after breakfast at the hotel. This afternoon, we’ll check out of our hotel and transfer to the airport for our overnight flight to the U.S.
Before your Antarctica exploration, why not cross another incredible natural wonder off your bucket list, and add another country (Brazil) to your passport? Travel to spectacular Iguassu Falls National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site of 275 thundering falls on the border of Brazil and Argentina. Second in size only to Victoria Falls, this series of cataracts once prompted Eleanor Roosevelt to take pity on her country’s most famous falls, saying “Poor Niagara!” as she gazed upon mighty Iguassu. The falls are all impressive, but the most spectacular is the Devil’s Throat, the 2,300-foot-long spectacle that separates Argentina and Brazil.
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Fly to Iguassu, Brazil
You’ll board an overnight flight to Iguassu, Brazil, arriving on Day 2.
Arrival in Iguassu and afternoon exploration
Welcome to Brazil! If you purchased your airfare from Vantage, upon arrival a Vantage representative will meet you and arrange transfer to your centrally located hotel. Settle in, relax and perhaps explore the stunning grounds, then join your fellow travelers for dinner at the hotel.
Behold the Devil’s Throat
Begin your explorations today on the Brazilian side of the falls, taking in spectacular panoramic views. Enjoy a walking tour with magnificent views of the Devil's Throat, where torrents crash into a narrow canyon from all three sides. This is the largest waterdfall in Iguassu Falls and a must-see for all.
Following your excursion, you’ll head back to the hotel for dinner.
Explore the Argentinian side of Iguassu
After breakfast, experience the Argentinean side of the falls from the Upper Trail, where we’ll enjoy an eye-popping vantage point as we literally walk across the water! After lunch in the park on our own, enjoy an afternoon at leisure. Dinner is on your own tonight.
Destination Enhancement: Customize your journey when you add an optional excursion. Enjoy Brazil at its most dazzling by heading out on the town for a traditional samba show. Learn more
Experience Rio at its most dazzling by heading out on the town for a traditional samba show sure to put you in the carnival spirit!
A lively dance of Afro-Brazilian origin, today Samba is the most prevalent dance form in Brazil. We’ll take you to a local samba performance where you can see for yourself the vibrant blend of Portuguese, African, and indigenous influences that have shaped Brazil’s singular music and dance forms. It’s a feast for the senses guaranteed to put a wiggle in your hips!
The tour is available during your optional trip extension to Iguassu Falls.
Fly to Buenos Aires and enjoy time on your own
Following breakfast, you’ll return to Buenos Aires and check into your overnight hotel. Enjoy a relaxing evening at leisure in preparation of the adventure that lies ahead. Dinner tonight is on your own.
Explore Buenos Aires’ highlights and join the base tour
Following breakfast at your hotel, you’ll set off on a tour of Buenos Aires’ most magnificent sites. Visit the Plaza de Mayo, the Casa Rosada, La Boca (a neighborhood full of colorfully-painted homes), and the neoclassical Catedral Metropolitana, the church home of Pope Francis. Later, you’ll join your fellow guests for Day 2 of the base tour.
FREE AIR on all 2023 departures**
