Radcliffe Choral Society to Uruguay & Argentina

The itinerary is the starting point to your tour, but it’s not set in stone. Your group leader may make changes leading up to departure.

Day 1, Thursday May 28: Overnight Flight

Depart on your 12-day custom performance tour of Uruguay & Argentina! Dinner and breakfast are served onboard your flight.

Day 2, Friday May 29: Colonia del Sacramento

Arrival at Carrasco International Airport in Montevideo. Our coach will be waiting to transport us to Colonia del Sacramento. Colonia, the only Portuguese settlement along the Río de la Plata, now serves as a tourist hub and a key port for the region's agricultural trade. Reminiscent of old Lisbon, Colonial boasts winding cobblestone streets and colorful houses. Its Historic Quarter is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. After checking into the hotel, we'll have time to rest. In the evening, we'll meet our tour guide for a brief orientation, followed by dinner at a local restaurant (B,D)

Day 3, Saturday May 30: Colonia del Sacramento

The day begins with breakfast at the hotel. We’ll then enjoy a guided walking tour of this historic Portuguese fortress city, founded in the 17th century. There will be free time for lunch on your own, followed by a rehearsal at the picturesque Bastión del Carmen, located on the banks of the Río de la Plata, with charming gardens and an enthusiastic audience. The Colonia Municipal Choir will welcome us with traditional Uruguayan music. In the evening, we will celebrate our first performance in South America with a concert at Bastión del Carmen, followed by dinner at a local restaurant. (B,D)

Day 4, Sunday May 31: Buenos Aires

We’ll take the traditional and famous Colonia-Buenos Aires ferry to cross the Rio de la Plata. Upon arrival, our coach will transfer to our hotel in the cosmopolitan city of Buenos Aires, also known as the “Paris of South America.” After check-in, we’ll enjoy sightseeing in Buenos Aires, southern San Telmo, and La Boca. In the afternoon, we’ll return to the hotel to freshen up before our workshop with a renowned professional choir director, with whom we will work on the pieces of the massive finale that closes the Baires Canta festival. Tonight an exciting welcome dinner at Perón Perón, a charming restaurant in the San Telmo neighborhood. This spot blends history, culture, and a touch of familial bohemia, transporting us back to the 1940s. Dinner will feature a menu inspired by the social and political movement that has shaped Argentina’s history. Traditional music and the surprising rendition of the "Marcha Peronista" will create a unique atmosphere. You’ll even have the chance to join in and surprise the hosts and other guests with your singing! (B,D)

Day 5, Monday June 1: Buenos Aires

After breakfast, we’ll begin the day with a tour of San Telmo and La Boca, two of Buenos Aires’ most traditional and colorful neighborhoods, renowned for their tango-filled atmosphere. We’ll also visit Plaza de Mayo, the Metropolitan Cathedral, the historical Cabildo, the Casa Rosada, the presidential seat of government, and its famous balcony, from where Perón and Evita gave speeches in front of a square filled with supporters, as shown in the film Evita, starring Madonna and Banderas. the iconic Café Tortoni, Argentina’s oldest café, a historic venue frequented by artists, intellectuals, and politicians. In the afternoon, we’ll attend a masterclass led by a distinguished local choir director. In the evening, we’ll put on our dancing shoes for a tango lesson in a local "milonga" (tango dance venue), where we’ll have dinner.

Day 6, Tuesday June 2: Buenos Aires

Today, we’ll travel to Los Cardales for a tour of Estancia Santa Susana and a traditional "fiesta gaucha" at a ranch. Spanning 3,000 acres, this site is dedicated to agriculture. We’ll enjoy a traditional Argentine barbecue lunch, followed by a folkloric show, a visit to the ranch’s museum, and horseback riding through beautiful landscapes. On the way back to Buenos Aires, we’ll stop at the art studio of renowned Argentine sculptor Alejandro Marmo in Pilar, where we’ll perform a concert for a socially vulnerable audience. After the performance, we’ll return to the hotel, with the option to enjoy a light snack before bed.

Day 7, Wednesday June 3: Buenos Aires

This morning, we’ll visit San Telmo and La Boca, exploring these neighborhoods' main tourist attractions. We’ll also visit the Bicentennial Museum, located beneath the Casa Rosada, the seat of the Argentine government, and the Evita Museum. In the evening, we’ll perform a concert at a church in Buenos Aires, renowned for its architectural beauty. The concert will be accompanied by a Mass

Day 8, Thursday June 4: Buenos Aires

After breakfast, we’ll visit the Rosedal in Palermo and the Planetarium, with a chance to take a traditional photo by the monumental Floralis Genérica sculpture in the Plaza de las Naciones Unidas in Recoleta. This sculpture was designed by Argentine architect Eduardo Catalano and donated to the city in 2002. The tour will conclude in Recoleta, where you can have lunch before rehearsing for the final concert at the University of Buenos Aires’ Law School auditorium. Afterward, we’ll enjoy a farewell gathering featuring empanadas and Argentine sweets to conclude the tour.

Day 9, Friday June 5: Buenos Aires

After breakfast, enjoy your final day in Buenos Aires with a visit to Florida Street, one of the city’s main shopping districts, known for its excellent leather, suede, woolen fabrics, and jewelry. We can store our luggage at the hotel, and after having lunch, we will return to collect it before boarding the bus that will take us to the international airport. We will then take our return flight, carrying with us the memories and the countless photos and videos that capture the experience of the best concert tour we’ve ever had (D)

Day 10, Saturday June 6: Departure

Wake-up this morning onboard your flight, and arrive back home to the United States from your successful performance tour of Uruguay & Argentina! (B)