Official Language: Portuguese

A city of southeast Brazil on Guanabara Bay, an arm of the Atlantic Ocean. The city's name, Portuguese for "River of January," reflects the fact that the first European explorers to visit the bay, in January 1502, believed it was the mouth of a river.
It was named by mistake: there’s no river there. The explorer Gaspar de Lemos set sail from Portugal in 1501 and arrived at a huge bay in Brazil the following January. Thinking the bay was the mouth of a river he named it after the month.

The city of Rio de Janeiro, or simply Rio, is the 2nd largest city in Brazil. Founded in 1565 by the Portuguese.  The city highlights include:
- Beaches such as Copacabana and Ipanema,
- the Christ The Redeemer (Cristo Redentor) statue: located in the Corcovado Hill, (Corcovado means hunchback) , 2200 ft above sea level. There may be long queues to go up.
- Maracanã stadium: the largest football stadium in South America and once the largest on Earth
- Sugar Loaf Mountains (Pão de Açúcar, one taller, the other shorter. Pão=loaf, as in loaf of bread; Açúcar=sugar): Going atop is a definite must-do. Several vantage points offer magnificent views. The cable car ticket is R$35. Buses and subway buses bring you to the base station.
- Selarón staircase (Escadaria Selarón) - famous stairs covered in tiles https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Escadaria_Selarón
- Rocinha favela - a large shanty town, avoid all favela!! (favela = slum)

Arrival (International Airport): GIG, http://www.aeroportogaleao.net/en
Galeão - Antônio Carlos Jobim International Airport (IATA: GIG, ICAO: SBGL) still better known by its old name Galeão International Airport, and is situated 20 km (12 mi) north of the city centre. Read the wikitravel page on how to get from airport to downtown and how much the taxi fares should be. Radio taxis are usually blue, green, or white. If you want to avoid being ripped off, which is most likely after arrival at the airport, then it may be worthwhile taking a Radio taxi.

Port Info: http://www.whatsinport.com/Rio-de-Janeiro.htm
- The port of Rio de Janeiro comprises the Terminal of Manguinhos, the Mauá Wharf, Wharf of Are Cristovão, Wharf of Gamboa and Wharf of the Cashew. Píer Mauá serves the cruise ships.
- Píer Mauá: http://www.piermaua.rio/en/ , located in CENTRO close to downtown, is about 12 miles from GIG airport, and is a 20-min taxi ride to Copacabana.
- According to TravelWeekly.com, http://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise/Ports-of-Call/Rio-de-Janeiro/Ships , "Ships dock at the Píer Mauá astride the old downtown at Avenida Rodrigues Alves 10, which meets the beginning of (the north end of) Avenida Rio Branco in Centro"
- In the cruise terminal there is a TI counter where you may book tours or ask to call a taxi. There will also be two jewelers, Stern as well as Amsterdam Sauer, each offers free ride to their Ipanema premises. Going through the Stern's exhibit on how gemstones are mined, cut and set is fairly interesting. Ditto for the Amsterdam Sauer exhibit. You may leave these stores whenever you want if shopping is of no interest to you. You will still get a free ride back to the ship when you want to go back. You can walk around Ipanema for a while to get a flavor of that area and then get a free ride back to the ship.
Options:
- after checking in at the ship at 1pm, have lunch and unpack and relax on the ship, or may go to downtown for a sightseeing walk, or take a taxi to Copacabana beach.
- To fill a few hours, follow Frommer's self-guided walking tour of Centro: http://www.frommers.com/images/destinations/maps/jpg-2006/591512-mp0601wtscentro.jpg
- Viator has a 4-hr afternoon walking tour at USD$56.99/pp starting at 1:00pm. (Won't work for us either today or tomorrow.) http://www.viator.com/tours/Rio-de-Janeiro/Rio-de-Janeiro-Half-Day-Walking-Tour/d712-2484_07.
- book a tour at the TI counter in the cruise terminal. Or get a free ride from one of the jewelers to its shop in Ipanema and back.

3. Rio Cultural Tours : http://www.rioculturalsecrets.com/

4. Inside the terminal there is a large booth selling tours to all the popular sights and seemed well organized

According to Búzios Online http://www.buziosonline.com.br/home/english/index.cfm : Originally settled by European pirates and slave traders, this happy mixture of many bloods prospered and became a picturesque fishing village, famous for its unique combination of rustic charm, architectural harmony, incredible beauty and sophisticated boutiques and restaurants frequented by discerning visitors who come from all over the world to savor its magic.

Tender Pier info: http://www.southamericaportreviews.com/BuziosBrazil.htm
- Ships anchor in the bay in front of Búzios. A 10-min tender ride into the Porto Centro wharf. Buzios' city center is located just 2 blocks south of the tender pier.
- Once you exit the pier, turn right along the ocean, that is Rua das Pedras Shopping Street, the main thoroughfare. If you walk straight ahead from the tender pier, you will soon be at Placa Santos Dumont square. The Bridget Bardot statue is 10-min walk to the left, away from the city center.
- Búzios must be the Brazilian Bikini capital of the world. There are seemingly hundreds of bathing suit and beachwear stores, clothing boutiques. (How about shop for Brazilian Melissa sandal or Havaianas slim flip flop?)
- you may hop on a trolley which is not part of Oceania's trolley.

O's excursions:
1. Búzios Highlights (BUZ-003)- 2 hr, $85: pause at several beautiful beaches then to Rua das Pedras for free time and then back.
2. Beaches Of Búzios BY Trolley (BUZ-002)- 2 hr, $129. Trolley meet you at the tender pier. The primary difference between this tour and BUZ-003 is the mode of transportation. As you travel along the coast, you will pass an amazing stretch of golden sand beaches, each highlighting the reasons why Búzios is becoming a sought-after destination. The Trolley tour includes 5 photo stops and a drive through the downtown area.
3. Beach & Swim BY Schooner (BUZ-001) - 2.5 hr, $129. A leisurely cruise in the green waters of Búzios, including stops for swimming, snorkeling and beachcombing.

Options:
DIY walk along the shore to Rua das Pedras to do some shopping and browsing. Continue walking down the length of Rua das Pedras. Take a trolley ride if one is available and if it looks fun.

Paraty is crowded and lively throughout the summer, brimming with Brazilian and European vacationers and good music. The town’s cosmopolitan flavor is further enhanced by the large number of artists, writers and chefs, both Brazilian and foreign, who have settled here and opened shops, galleries and restaurants in recent years.

Port Info: http://www.whatsinport.com/Parati.htm
- The tender will take 30-min. The walk into the old town, past the old church, is 5-min. See the historical old town. The cobble stoned streets are very pretty with restored colonial homes turned into small shops, restaurants, and artists studios.
- The cobble stone street is designed so that at high tide the water comes into the street and cleans them.
- Casa da Cultura is a culture center.
- Buses to the beautiful village and beaches at Trindade (Trinity, 三位一體) leaves from the Bus Station. Buy tickets on board, approximate R$3 to Trindade.

Get around:
- The historic town is compact and can be covered on foot; cars, save for taxis picking up or dropping passengers, are not allowed into the historic city center.
- Beware of the Taxi's as they are very expensive (between R$25-30 for a 1.5km drive) and are not metered, therefore negotiate a price before jumping in one.

O Excursion:
1. Historical & Cultural Parati (PTI-003)- 2 hrs, $99. Walking from the pier to the historical center. You'll observe that houses could only be built in a certain way, the streets followed a simple grid pattern, and even the cobblestones were arranged in channels to drain water from storms and elevated tides from full moons.
Among the finest landmarks are the Church of the Santa Rita de Cassia, which was built in 1722, and the House of Culture, a museum housed in a beautiful colonial mansion. You will also see plenty of other colonial homes, appealing boutiques and tasteful galleries featuring work from local artists. After approximately two hours of walking, you may either remain in town to further explore on your own, or return to the pier with your guide.

Options:
1. DIY - walk to the historical center. Visit churches, museum, galleries and shops.
2. Book a 2-hr walking tour with a local guide named Harry, starting at 10am for $30/pp, minimum 2 person, max 8. See http://www.paratyexplorer.com/paraty-city-tour.html
3. Viator has a 2-hr walking tour for USD $106/pp: http://www.viator.com/tours/Paraty/Paraty-City-Sightseeing-Tour/d5426-2484PARCITY
4. ToursByLocals: https://www.toursbylocals.com/Paraty-Tours?gclid=CLHs8Prkvs0CFdRZhgodU5gAwg

Perched on a lovely peninsula in southern Brazil, Porto Belo is revered for its beaches, most especially Bombas and Bombinhas, which share a beautiful emerald-green bay. In fact, the area is called the "Emerald Coast."

Porto Belo, in the state of Santa Catarina, Brazil, was a small fishing village (with most of its inhabitants Portuguese descendants from the Azores Islands) until just a few decades ago when its fabulous beaches became the focal point for Brazilians on holiday. The town of Porto Belo itself is quaint, but the surrounding beach communities are really the focus of a visit to Porto Belo.

Port Info: http://www.whatsinport.com/Porto-Belo.htm and http://www.southamericaportreviews.com/PortoBeloBrazil.htm . See the harbor and beach map at: http://www.royalcaribbean.com/content/en_US/pdf/shopping_guides/PortoBeloRC_ENG.pdf

Porto Belo is a tender port. Your ship will anchor outside of Porto Belo and tender into Porto Belo's yacht harbor.
- There is limited shopping right by the tender wharf and there is a free shuttle (5-minutes ride) to downtown Porto Belo for more shops and stores. The bus will drop you at the main square in Porto Belo, which is full of small shops and vendors selling various crafts and other items. (However, when we arrived, there was no offering of such shuttles.) HINT: If Buzios is also on your itinerary, save your shopping time for Buzios.
- Also, the main beach communities of Bombas and Bombinas offer abundant shopping opportunities. However, Porto Belo's shopping is not the focus of a visit here.

Bombas Beach, 3 miles to the east of Porto Belo, is the closest beach to town and may be crowded. It is the beach that the cruise lines use for their beach break shore excursion and while a very nice beach, may be noisy and crowded. There are complete beach services here including restaurants, bars and beach activities.

Bombinhas Beach is located past Bombas Beach and offers a little more solitude, but still quite crowded. Bombinhas Beach is lined with restaurants, bars, shops and boutiques and the main street (1 block inland) offers even more shopping opportunities. Taxi cost BRL 50 (or USD$15) one way from the tender pier, we decided to save the $30 r/t fare and stayed near the tender pier of Porto Belo.

The Porto Belo Tour Bus (sightseeing bus): hourly, buses are in red color.
The Porto Belo (sightseeing) Tour Bus that departs the marina where the tender wharf is located. The tour takes about 1 hour and you will see everything that there is to see in Porto Belo including its local beaches, stores, sights and such. Those that took it found it enjoyable. [However, when we arrived, the TI told us that the bus schedule is not convenient for cruise ship visitors like us, and that we should take a taxi instead, so we never found out what the schedule of the sightseeing bus were.]
Options:
1) DIY: 1-hr Sightseeing bus tour, browse downtown square, walk to Bombas beach and Bombinhas beach.

Port Info: http://www.whatsinport.com/Rio-Grande.htm , and http://www.portoriogrande.com.br/site/sobre_porto_localizacao.php and also searched the landmark by name, then found location map on tripadvisor. See my customized Google map for the locations of the following landmarks:
- The city has a bustling waterfront and a very nice main square.
- Alfandega, the Customs House - The building of the former customs of Rio Grande is the most beautiful and vast existing building in neoclassical architecture in the city. It was built in 1804 at the behest of Emperor Dom Pedro II to manage the public revenue of this province. Free admission.
- Catedral Sao Pedro - constructed in Baroque style and erected by the Portuguese in 1775, is the oldest church in the state.
- Praça Tamandaré - https://pt.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pra%C3%A7a_Tamandar%C3%A9 is the largest square in the interior of Rio Grande do Sul. The park-like square is also home to several Sculptures of the river-Grandino artist Erico Gobbi (1925-2009)
- The Oceanographic Museum (free admission) has interesting exhibits of one of the most extensive marine life collections from South Atlantic waters. (But the exhibits are only in Portuguese, and a small exhibition too.)
- Basic hours for most stores and businesses are from 9am to 6pm, with an extended lunch hour from around noon to 2pm.

O only has one excursion at this port:
Sights Of Rio Grande (RGR-001) - 3hr, $99. Begin with a scenic drive through the downtown area of Rio Grande, past the heart of the city, where the majority of the most elegant and historical buildings are located. Your first stop is a visit to Alfandega, the Customs House, a neo-classic style building built by the Emperor Dom Peter II in 1879. Stroll to the oldest Cathedral of the State, Catedral Sao Pedro, constructed in Baroque style and erected by the Portuguese in 1775, is the oldest church in the state. Continue to the Museum of Sacred Art at the Chapel of the St. Francisco, which holds several important pieces, some from the legacy left by the Jesuits and some from private collection acquired by the Government. Next, your guide will take you to the Praca Tamandare, where you will view several art sculptures. Then visit the Oceanographic Museum (free admission) and view its collection of rare and unusual species of invertebrates(無脊椎動物), fish and mollusks(軟體動物). However, it is easy to do the same itinerary on our own.

Options:
1. Take the Oceania's excursion for $99. Because if we book 6 excursions or more, we'll receive 25% off from the a la carte prices. Therefore if excursion #6 were inexpensive to begin with, then with 25% off applied to both #5 and #6, excursion #6 ends up almost free, or costs very little money.
2. If DIY - From port to Praça Tamandaré is about 3.1km, and 8 min on taxi. We can taxi to downtown Alfandega, and then walk a short distance from there to see other downtown landmarks. Then take a taxi to the Oceanographic Museum. When done, taxi back to the port.

Official Language: Spanish

Punta Del Este (Point of the East) is a tony resort town. Enjoy this beautiful, chic beach resort, its marinas and interesting shops. See amazing works by Dali, Chagall and Miro at the Ralli Museum.

The elite Punta del Este is known for its beaches, surfing, beautiful people and an ardent night scene. It is expensive, usually about 50% more expensive than other areas of Uruguay, if not more. There are many travel sights, including the amazing restaurants. It's been called the Monaco of South America. or St. Tropez of South America, or just the French Riviera of South America.

The bulk of Punta del Este is on a peninsula jutting into the ocean. The perimeter of this peninsula can easily be traversed by foot. The resort takes its name from the "east point" marking the division of the Rio de la Plata on the west from the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Beaches on the Atlantic Ocean side are winding and not safe to swim alone.

The first Europeans to set foot in what is now Punta del Este were the Spanish at the beginning of the 16th century. However, the colonization of the area actually began around Maldonado at the end of the 18th century due to Portuguese expansionism.
See

1. Port - with the fish market and a lighthouse.
2. Museo Ralli - a large collection of contemporary Latin American surreal art. Located in a lovely Spanish-style building in the fashionable Beverly Hills neighborhood. Salvador Dali has several sculptures in one of the two sculpture gardens.
3. Casa-Pueblo - a beautiful resort-museum near Punta del Este. It was created by the late Uruguayan artist Carlos Paez-Vilaró, a sprawling white complex perched on a bluff above the ocean and houses many of the artist's most definitive works.
4. Gorlero Avenue - 10-block long major shopping area, about 10-min walk from the pier.
5. Seaside mansions of the rich ad famous
6. Beaches -Famous beaches includes: "La playa de los Dedos" ("The finger beach"), which is near the main street in Punta del Este, close to a surf spot, and it has a giant hand emerging from the sand. In La Barra the Bikini Beach is famous because of the models and famous people that go there.

Official Language: Spanish

Watch out for the "black water" scam (or Mustard, or ketchup, dropped onto your clothing), besides the pickpocket.

Have you read about the "blue" rate of exchange and safety rules for Buenos Aires?
- "Blue rate" : http://www.discoverbuenosaires.com/blue-rate . check DollarBlue rate at http://www.preciodolarblue.com.ar/ about 15 ARS to 1 USD. The preferred denomination is crisp green $100 bills, with no mark.

Port Info: http://www.whatsinport.com/Buenos-Aires.htm
- Cruise ships Terminal Benito Quinquela Martín (a bit north-east of the Estacion Retiro) opened recently is located about a ½ mile from the city center. If your ship is moored at one of the outlying docks at the port, a complimentary shuttle bus will deliver you to your ship.
- Taxis are readily available and very reasonable. Taxis throughout the city are metered, in pesos, but US currency is accepted. However, at the port, radio taxis are available with pre-set prices to the various neighborhoods in the city.
- You will also find complimentary shopping shuttle buses at the port. They will shuttle you back and forth to the different shopping areas. It's free and saves negotiating fares with "touts". You can always take a cab where the shuttle has dropped you off.
- Microcentro at the Avenue Florida is the commercial center of town.
- The streets around the port area are not safe to traverse on your own

O Excursion:
1. Highlights Of Buenos Aires (BUE-001) - 4 hrs, $99. 09:00am ~ 1:00pm
    Get acquainted with Buenos Aires during this tour, which highlights the city's major neighborhoods and attractions. Among the points of interest you will see are:
- Plaza de Mayo, or May Square, surrounded by the Presidential Office, the old Colonial Town Hall and the Cathedral.
- You will also drive through the charming streets of San Telmo and down the colorful roads of La Boca, famous for its multi-colored tin houses.
- Later, drive through elegant Barrio Norte on your way to the Recoleta Cemetery, an amazing aboveground cemetery lined with mausoleums and statues and Eva Peron's resting place.
- Finally, drive through Palermo and its magnificent mansions and parks before returning to pier.

2. Highlights Of Buenos Aires With The Evita Museum (BUE-002)- 4.5 hrs, $99. 8:30am ~ 1:00pm.
- Begin with a scenic drive to Plaza de Mayo, or May Square, which is surrounded by the Presidential Office, the old Colonial Town Hall and the Cathedral.
- You will also drive through the charming streets of San Telmo and down the colorful roads of La Boca, famous for its multi-colored tin houses.
- Later, enjoy a drive through elegant Barrio Norte on your way to the Recoleta Cemetery, an amazing aboveground cemetery lined with mausoleums and statues and Eva Peron's resting place.
- Continue to the new Evita Museum, which opened its doors on the 50th anniversary of her death. Take an historical glimpse into her life as well as the social reality and international implications of her short life.
- Finally, drive through Palermo and its magnificent mansions and parks before returning to the ship.
- Spend this free Sunday afternoon in San Telmo, because San Telmo is very bustling on Sundays for people watching, street tango, and cafes

3. Gaucho Fiesta (BUE-004) - 7 hrs, $159. 9:30am ~ 4:30pm
- The ranch used is likely to be the "Estancia Santa Susana" (estancia=ranch, Gaucho=cowboy). Read its TripAdvisor review here: https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g3347717-d1723200-Reviews-Estancia_Santa_Susana-Los_Cardales_Province_of_Buenos_Aires_Central_Argentina.html . They can host up to 400 guests at a time. Its fun to get out of the city, but a lot of waiting around with nothing to do.)
- Begin with a scenic drive into the famous Pampas of Argentina, home of the Gauchos. Upon arrival at the Estancia, you will be welcomed with typical empanadas. Stroll around on the farm, take a horse or carriage ride, or watch the Gauchos preparing your barbecue, called asado al asador. At noon, sit down together and feast on a meal of the Gauchos. After lunch, the Gauchos will play traditional music and show how they dance in the Pampa. To conclude the day, the Gauchos will mount up and begin their display of horsemanship. Their skills seem almost unbelievable, but these men do almost literally live in the saddle.

A poster on Fodor's Argentina board, mlgb, said the taxi mafia at the port charges USD$25 minimum to the city. "Arriving by cruise ship you can pay the official taxis at the port with USD. They do charge very high prices as it's a monopoly (they start at $25 unless you can talk them down which isn't easy especially if you are with big luggage. So, you will be able to get to your hotel without ARS." However, another poster said that you may walk out of the port gate to hail regular-priced taxi.

Tipping -- A 10% tip is expected at cafes and restaurants. Give at least $1 to bellboys and porters, 5% to hairdressers, and leftover change to taxi drivers.
Water -- In Buenos Aires, the water is perfectly safe to drink. But if you are traveling to more remote regions of Argentina, it's best to stick with bottled water for drinking.
Electricity in Argentina runs on 220 volts. Note that most laptops operate on both 110 and 220 volts. Luxury hotels usually have transformers and adapters available.
TO-DO list:

• Dinner (or lunch) at FERVOR: http://www.yelp.com/biz/fervor-buenos-aires
• See an inexpensive Tango dinner/show at Cafe Tortoni at 8pm; or Gala Tango at 10pm (show only, without dinner, for USD$120pp)
• Look into performance schedule at Opera Colon

(9/4/2016) Booked a private Buenos Aires past to present historical tour with guide Pedro Werberg (from the company: www.AmigodeBuenosAires.com), for 5-7 hours. Meet @10am at our hotel.
Contact: (international) +54911-5523-7255, (local, cell) 155-523-7255
Email: info@amigodebuenosaires.com, clickonenglish55@gmail.com
Web: www.amigodebuenosaires.com
Review of Pedro Werberg with a photo of him, http://www.batips.com/tango/pedro-werberg-reveals-buenos-aires-hidden-treasures/

The tour covers:
1- Recoleta area and the cemetery.
2- Palermo
3- The pink palace or government building. Pope Francis church--city center--
4- Touristy but colorful La Boca ( birth place of tango )
5- San Telmo.

Sightseeing on own.
Visit museums, tour inside the opera house, go inside the cathedral if we did not go the day before, walk the Florida street (Calle Florida), go inside Galerías Pacífico as well as visit its food court.

Tango Show - 8pm show at Cafe Tortoni http://www.cafetortoni.com.ar/en/

Airport:
Two airports. Aeropuerto Internacional Ministro Pistarni, Ezeiza, services most international flights, and
Aeroparque Jorge Newbery, Aeroparque, services domestic and regional flights.

Ezeiza is 35km (22mi) south of downtown. Aeroparque is only 8km (5mi) north of downtown. Deluxe buses make the journey to both airports for a higher fare than local buses, but often include hotel drop-offs. However, taxi is the easiest to go from Centro to airport. Book online with TAXI EZEIZA and the fare advertized was ARS$480, about USD$36.