Once you’ve been to Rio de Janeiro, you know what the pulsating city of  vibrant nightlife, steamy beaches and dramatic Pao de Acucar Mountain is all about. But Rio is also a city of stunning architecture, marvelous food and a teeming metropolis. For a glimpse of the country’s natural beauty, we jet down to Iguazu Falls to immerse ourselves in verdant jungle trails and mist-shrouded cataracts. Once you experience firsthand the sultry sophistication of Buenos Aires, you’ll quickly understand how the tango came to be invented here. The city steps quickly, pulses with passion, and shamelessly flirts with travelers. Our accommodations here are sure to seduce you, too – the elegant Axel Hotel, the world’s only gay hotel chain. And in our Hermes small group, we’ll move about with ease and take it all in at a relaxed pace.

• Rio, Full day Corcovado & Sugar Loaf tour Steamy Dinner show in Rio Plenty of free time to relax on the beaches
• Iguazu Falls, Tour of both Brazilian and Argentinean side of Iguazu FallsGet up close to the falls on our boat tour
• Buenos Aires, including Plaza de Mayo, Recoleta Cemetery, and San Telmo district
• Evening dinner & tango show
• 4+ star accommodation on Ipanema Beach (the gay beach)
• Services of a Hermes Tours escort
• Services of an expert, local guide in all cities
• $100 per person savings if you reserve 5 months before departure!

RIO: Ipanema Plaza Hotel 5 star - Located on Ipanema beach. This hotel is the premier hotel for the GLBT traveler.  The hotel is the closest hotel to the gay beach.  This boutique style hotel has a rooftop swimming pool and fitness centre with some of the best views.  

Iguazu Falls: Cataratas Hotel An oasis of luxury is hidden among the leafy tropical jungle of Misiones, just a stone’s throw from the peerless Iguazú waterfalls: the Hotel Cataratas (waterfalls). In fact, we love waterfalls so much that we have even built a few of them into our swimming pool! The Cataratas is a five-star hotel designed so that you and your family can brush aside your problems for a few days, forget your routines and surround yourselves in enveloping nature and exclusive comfort.

Buenos Aires: Hotel Axel - Located in San Telmo, where history, bohemian-chic and the gay scene mix, let go and be captivated by the Axel Hotel Buenos Aires - a cosmopolitan and enticing space that stimulates the senses. With airs of tango, design and comfort, Axel Hotel Buenos Aires seduces with its play of lights and transparencies, the sound of water, the Axel mosaic and furniture by Charles & Ray Eames, Mies van der Rohe and Eileen Gray.

Included:
Please note that the above cost includes domestic airfare, accommodation, all meals indicated services of a Hermes Tours Escort throughout the trip, all ground transportation and airport transfers.

Not Included:
International Airfare, international aiport departure taxes, personal travel insurance, any other activities excluded in the itinerary, services of a personal nature like telephone calls, laundry, alcohol...traditional gratuity to Hermes Tour Manager; gratuities to guides, and driver.

Visas
Brazil: Both US and Canadian passport holders require visas for travel to Brazil. To enter Brazil, any foreigner must have a passport, an international vaccination certificate (if applicable) and a visa issued by a Brazilian Embassy or Consulate. A yellow fever vaccination certificate is requested if the applicant traveled within the last 90 days to: Peru, Ecuador, Columbia and many African nations.

Costs for American citizens is: USD$ 140.00. Visit the Brazilian Embassy in the US: Click Here
Costs for Canadian citizens is: CDN$ 81.25. Visit the Brazilian Embassy in Canadat: Click Here

Argentina Visas: Travelers from the US, Canada and most European nations do not need visas to enter Argentina.


Immunizations & Health
No immunizations are required, but the U.S. Center for Disease Control strongly recommends the following inoculations: tetanus, hepatitis A & B, typhoid, and yellow fever as well as anti-malaria pills. Please check out their website http://www.cdc.gov/travel/tropsam.htm for complete details.


Currency and Money Issues: The currency in Brazil is the Real. The US dollar is widely accepted. Credit cards are widely accepted in Rio, but less so outside major cities. In small towns, ATMsare readily available throughout Rio. You may exchange travelers checks at your hotel or at currency exchange offices.

The currency Argentina is the peso. Travelers can use their credit cards in most places we will be traveling to.  There are also international ATM machines where you can get local currency if needed.   Most places in Argentina will take dollars (their currency used to be tied to the dollar).  All major currencies can be exchanged however the rate depends on where you change your money. Banks usually offer the best rates and you will need your passport or a copy of it to change money in a bank. The American Express card is less widely accepted. Travelers checks are also accepted however can carry a heavy commission fee.

Making a reservation with a deposit will be considered to be consent to the following conditions:

Hermes Tours reserve the right to accept or decline any person as a member of the tour at any time and to make whatever changes become necessary with or without notice. Guaranteed departure with a minimum of 8 participants.

Hermes Tours is not responsible for airline cancellation or change penalties incurred by individual tour participants for air tickets purchased prior to notification that the tour is a confirmed departure. Travel cancellation insurance would cover these costs should the tour be cancelled.

Hermes Tours does not accept responsibility in whole or in part for any delay, loss, accidents, personal injury, sickness, medical expenses, or property damage occasioned by fault of any person from whatever cause. All participants are required to sign a standard liability form.