Bienvenido! Welcome to Buenos Aires. Buenos Aires is the ultimate cosmopolitan city, with Latin passion, European elegance and its own distinctive style. Your adventure begins with an important welcome meeting at 6 pm. Your leader will leave a note at the hotel reception telling you where the meeting will take place. If you arrive early, why not visit San Telmo and its weekend antiques market and artists' displays – it's a great chance to acquaint yourself with some portenos (local residents). Alternatively, visit La Boca (home to the world-class football team Boca Juniors), Recoleta (the grand cemetery) or perhaps Casa Rosada (the Pink House).

Enjoy some breakfast, then embark on an orientation walk through this fantastic city. You'll be introduced to some of Buenos Aires' major sights – the likes of the Colon Theatre, the Obelisc and Plaza de Mayo. Along the way, learn a little more about Argentina's independence from Spain. In the late afternoon, take a comfortable overnight bus to the Ibera Wetlands region in the north of Argentina (approximately 9 hours). These wetlands are the second-largest in the world, trumped only by the Pantanal in Brazil.

Arrive in Mercedes and transfer to the small town of Carlos Pellegrini, your base for exploring the Ibera Wetlands. Roam the marshes and lush grasslands, seeing how many of its animals you can spot. Spanning more than 15,000 square kilometres, the Ibera wetlands are roughly the size of Belgium, which gives you an idea of how much there is to explore. The biodiversity in incredible, and the swamps, lakes and lagoons are home to such creatures as otters, alligators, deer, wolves and black howler monkeys, to name a few. Keep a look out for those oddly noble-looking creatures, the capibaras. These cousins of guinea pigs are the largest rodents in the world.

Take a boat cruise across the wetlands in search of more of its myriad wildlife and birdlife. There will also be plenty of time to explore on foot. You might see any number of obscure species – maybe caiman or swamp deer, perhaps even an armadillo, or a flock of rhea (like a South American equivalent of an emu). Anacondas, though very hard to spot at certain times of the year, are also known to inhabit these wetlands. Keep an eye to the sky as you're bound to catch a glimpse of some of the 350 resident bird species, from the sharp-tailed tyrant to the gorgeous and garish yellow robin.

Enjoy some breakfast and prepare for a long travel day. Start with a 4WD transfer to the city of Posada (approximately 3 hours). From there, take a comfortable local bus to Puerto Iguazu (approximately 5 hours). As soon as you arrive at Puerto Iguazu bus station, you will take a minivan across the border into Brazil and continue to your hotel in Foz do Iguacu (approximately 1 hour, depending on traffic at the Argentina–Brazil border).

Here at Iguazu, you'll visit the mighty waterfalls from both the Argentinian side and the Brazilian side. At over two kilometres long, Iguazu Falls are actually a series of cataracts. There are over 270 falls in total, and with some reaching as high as 80 metres they are higher than Niagara Falls (and wider than Victoria Falls). From the Argentinean side it’s possible to follow a series of boardwalks to get up close to the thundering cascades – so close you can almost touch them. Later, visit a Guarani community for the rare opportunity to meet some of the region’s few remaining indigenous people. You might like to take a helicopter ride over the falls while you're here. This optional excursion gives you spectacular views of the falls and the lush green parklands that surround it.

Enjoy the magnificent panoramas on the Brazilian side of Iguazu Falls. Seeing the falls from this side has its perks, such as a view of San Martin Island which you don't quite get from the Argentinean side. Afterwards you will take an afternoon flight to Rio de Janeiro (approximately 2 hours). From Rio you will be driven in a private van (approximately 2.5 hours) to Arraial do Cabo. Arraial do Cabo is a quaint fishermen town surrounded by gleaming white sand dunes, and the beaches here are truly excellent. Their crystal-clear waters make for some of the best snorkelling in the region.

Embark on a half-day boat tour that takes in a variety of beaches. While each spot has its charms – some are best for surfing, some for snorkelling, others for relaxing – all are exquisite. Prainha is arguably the most photogenic beach in the country – this is the one you can see as you approach town. Your boat cruise will stop in at the incredible Blue Cave, a rock formation in the middle of the sea where a combination of the sun and deep clear water creates an intense colour. When the tide is low, you can enter the cave by boat, through an opening that's about 3 metres wide.

Enjoy a free day to explore the many different beaches in the area. Perhaps head to Foguete Beach, known for its good waves and fine sands. This popular spot, located near the city itself, hosts many a surfing competition. For somewhere more laid-back, check out the Beach of the Angels, which has calm waters and the odd trawler and yacht passing on the horizon. Alternatively, head for the beautiful landscapes of Sudoeste Beach which is shallow and great for strolling along.

Travel by local bus to Rio de Janeiro, the festive heart of Brazil (approximately 2.5 hours). Settle into your hotel and enjoy some free time. Rio is a fascinating and diverse city, best known for its contrasting images of favelas (shanty towns) and the glitz and glamour of Carnaval. With your free time, you can choose from many optional activities. Perhaps head to a football game, take a cable car ride between Praia Vermelha and the Sugarloaf Mountain for incredible views over town, or explore the favelas with a local guide. Be sure to check out the Christ the Redeemer statue while you're here. For further options, chat to your leader. 

There are no activities planned for the final day and you are free to depart the accommodation at any time.