The 5th Latin American Congress on Epilepsy

Proposed itinerary:

Arrival in Montevideo.Transfer by private coach and English speaking guide to the hotel.

At noon, we depart by coach and English speaking guide for the city tour in Montevideo.

Montevideo is a fantastic and modern city with pleasant 19th and early 20th century buildings, beautiful parks, many historic monuments and beautiful endless beaches. The tour includes a visit to: Ciudad Vieja (Old City), the Cathedral and Colonial Town Hall, the Port Market, Downtown shops, Independence Square, Parliament Palace, El Prado neighbourhood where you'll find one of the oldest parks in Montevideo city - that features famous sculptures. Also you will visit during the city tour in Montevideo, the elegant residential areas like Carrasco, Punta Gorda and Pocitos with its magnificent private residences and the Hotel Casino Carrasco - an imposing building overlooking the coast and filled with tradition and history. The return drive will be along the coast to see the long stretches of world-class beaches. In the afternoon, attend the Welcome Ceremony at the Congress. Dinner will be served at the hotel. Accommodation at 4 * hotel in Montevideo.

After breakfast, attend the Congress. OPTIONAL, full day excursion to Colonia de Sacramento. Colonia de Sacramento is a jewel of the colonial era. It was founded in 1680 and it was declared a "World Heritage Site" by UNESCO, it preserves the enchantment of the old times. A visit to the historic center of Colonia del Sacramento is like a walk back in time. Founded by the Portuguese, this old colonial town is renowned for its cobbled, windy streets and colorful houses reminiscent of old Lisbon. Walking along the paved of streets of this town is like going through a poetic space. Today this quaint town is rich in history, with picturesque street lamps and historic buildings. The tour includes visiting the Barrio Histórico (historic quarter) section of Colonia del Sacramento, Plaza Mayor (main square) with its most astonishing attractions: Portón de Campo – the City Gate, the Lighthouse and convent ruins of the 17th century Convent ofSan Francisco, Basilica del Sanctísimo Sacramento – the Basilica of the Holy Sacrament, built of stone by the Portuguese in 1808, the Portuguese Museum – constructed in the 18th century - it exhibits Portuguese furnishings, jewelry, uniforms and old maps of Portuguese naval expeditions, Casa de Nacarello – an 18th century Portuguese house, the Municipal Museum – rebuilt by the Spanish in 1835 - exhibits artifacts and documents of the city's different periods and cultures, Viceroy's House – the Casa del Virrey, reconstructed from the original ruins and the Iglesia Matriz – the oldest church in Uruguay, dating from 1695. Lunch will be served at a local restaurant. Transfer back to the hotel. Dinner and accommodation at a 4 * hotel in Montevideo.

After breakfast, attend the Congress. OPTIONAL, full day tour to Punta del Este -one of themost famous resort in South America, with a notoriety similar to that of Saint Tropez. For those that don’t fall sleep immediately after sunrise all day long there are fashion presentations on the beach, yacht cruises, surfing, carting and horse back riding. Punta del Este is a narrow spit of land jutting into the Atlantic, surrounded by beaches and a yacht harbor, but informally it encompasses a much larger area. Around its edge is the oceanfront promenade, the Rambla General Artigas, which is lined with cafes, bars and seafood restaurants. You can spend the day at the beach enjoying one of many water sports (yachting, swimming, surfing, deep-sea fishing and waterskiing). Because of its unique geography, the peninsula at Punta lets you watch the sun both rise and set over water. The beaches are good, with each having a certain ambience of its own. The scene changes from season to season, so you'll just have to find where you're comfortable. Playa Mansa, protected by the peninsula, is calmer than the Playa Brava beaches that face the Atlantic. The Mansa beaches are favored by families and water sports enthusiasts. Playa Brava's waves draw surfers, and the activity carries on into the night, with numerous pubs and nightlife options. We will visit the Moorish-style fortress, once the home of painter Carlos Paez Vilaro, now an art gallery and the Museo del Mar. The symbol of Punta del Este is La Mano, a giant concrete hand sculpture rising out of the sands of the Atlantic across from the bus station. The sculpture made by the Chilean artist Mario Irrarazabal, was inaugurated in 1981. A tranquil change of pace from the beach is the church Nuestra Señora de la Candelaria. Across the street is the Meteorological Station, a modern lookout tower built over a 100-year-old schoolhouse. Entry is free to the museum at its base, with old pictures of Punta and weather instruments. The tower is not always open, but it has a great view of the surroundings. Directly across the street is Faro de Punta del Este, the city's symbolic lighthouse, dating from 1860. Inside, you'll find high white arches and yellow walls punctuated by simple golden stained-glass crosses in the windows. Then, we will stroll through Plaza Artigas, where we have the opportunity to buy souvenirs and crafts. Here you can serve the best “mate” (local tea). Lunch will be served at a local restaurant. After lunch, free time to take a bath or enjoy the beaches. In the evening, transfer back to the hotel. Dinner and accommodation at a 4* hotel in Montevideo.

Day 4 (Saturday, 8 November):

After breakfast, attend the Congress. At noon, transfer by coach to the port, where we will embark on a cruise to Buenos Aires. Arrival in Buenos Aires and transfer by private coach to the hotel. In the afternoon, free time for leisure, visiting and shopping. Dinner and accommodation at 4 * hotel in Buenos Aires.

Day 6 (Sunday, 9 November):

After breakfast, depart by coach and English speaking guide for the city tour in Buenos Aires. The half-day city tour starts at the historic Plaza de Mayo square, scenery of resonant political demonstrations. It is surrounded by the Government House, best known as the “Pink House”, which is the Government seat; the Cabildo (the old City Hall) and the Cathedral. The Avenida De Mayo, which starts in this square, is an interesting set of buildings of varied styles that reflect the diversity of its inhabitants. Through this avenue, you reach the Congress Palace. Wide avenues and green areas appear constantly trying to slow down the rhythm of this vertiginous city. A sample of this is Julio Avenue, with its eight lanes divided by small green squares with old leafy trees and enriched by sculptures and fountains. In the middle of this avenue, in Plaza de la Republica, the Obelisk arises as a symbol of the city. Southwards, we reach the picturesque and colourful port neighbourhood of La Boca with its famous street, “Caminito”, whose architectonic characteristics reflect the culture the European citizens that arrived to these shores at the end of the 19th century, specially Genovese sailors. The visit continues towards San Telmo, one of the oldest neighbourhood in Buenos Aires, which was also a center for immigrant settlers and still keeps most of its architectonic patrimony untouched: its colonial houses, its cobbled streets. Every Sunday an antique fair is held in Plaza Dorrego. The area has also a lively night-life as there are many tango houses, restaurants and pubs. We continue the tour towards the modern district of Puerto Madero, Palermo neighbourhood with its elegant residences framed by wide green areas. We finally reach the district of Recoleta, the most sophisticated neighbourhood in Buenos Aires. Transfer back to the hotel. In the afternoon, free time for leisure, shopping or visiting. Dinner and accommodation at a 4 * hotel in Buenos Aires.

Day 6 (Monday, 10 November):

After breakfast, depart by coach and English Speaking guide for a full day tour to Delta Tigre. Wewill depart from your hotel northwards, passing by the residential neighborhoods and the President's Residence in Olivos, in front of which the Maipú Station is located. This is the first station of the Riverside Train, where you will board this picturesque train, from whose panoramic windows you will be able to appreciate the immensity of the Rio de la Plata and the gorgeous residences built over its hills. We will get off the train in the renewed San Isidro Station, an interesting complex of restaurants, cinemas and shopping placed in an elegant, residential area. Lunch will be served at a local restaurant. We will visit the imposing Neo-gothic Cathedral, located in the historic center of the city, which is surrounded by houses in Colonial and Italian styles, cobbled streets and its square with centenary trees.The visit continues towards Tigre, a lovely neighborhood situated in the delta of Paraná River. The area was first colonized in 1580 but it was not until the last years of the XVIII century that some people settled in this area. The first inhabitants were smugglers that took advantage of the labyrinth of little rivers and isles to hide and to enter with goods, evading the customs taxes. Finally, in the last years of the 19th century, it turned into the favorite recreation place for the high class of Buenos Aires. Therefore, a sail along the Delta, will allow us to admire the old residences that contrast with the wooden houses built over piles, to beat the constant floods. You will also see some yacht and rowing clubs and get to know the typical features of a community that lives in fellowship with the river. The Delta contains several little isles covered with abundant subtropical vegetation, crossed by channels and streams, making it an ideal place to relax amongst nature and pure air. In the evening, transfer back at the hotel. Dinner and accommodation at a 4* hotel in Buenos Aires.

After breakfast, transfer by coach to the airport for the flight to Ushuaia. Arrival in Ushuaia and transfer by private coach and local guide to the hotel. Free time for leisure, visiting or shopping. Ushuaia, the capital of Tierra del Fuego, is located at the coast of the Beagle Channel and surrounded by Le Martial Mountains. It’s location allows it to offer a unique combination of mountains, sea, glaciers and forests. You can visit La Mission Neighborhood, the area chosen by the first white men who settled here, the Brown and Solier districts built by the first immigrants at the beginning of the 20th century. Here, you can see old homes important to the local culture including the family homes of the Bebans, Pastorizas, Cangas, Fiques, Salomons, Ramos, Provincial Legislature and the old Government home. Another important sites that worth visiting are: the Maritim Museum, the Old Prison of Ushuaia, and the End of the World Museum. Dinner and accommodation at a 4* hotel in Ushuaia.

After breakfast, depart by private coach and English speaking guide to Tierra del Fuego National Park. The tour starts from the touristy dock sailing the wide Ushuaia bay until we reach the Beagle Channel through Paso Chico. There we will visit the Bridges Islands, where we will stop to watch cormorant colonies as well as those of sea wolves. During the navigation which goes on towards the east, we will enjoy the wonders of the Beagle Channel, the mountains that surround it and many different sea bird species like skuas, seagulls, albatross, petrels, ducks, etc. Lunch is served on the way. We continue the journey to Tierra del Fuego National Park, the first place to see will be La Ensenada (The Cove) from where we will be able to see the Isla Redonda (Round Island) and above the coast of the Beagle Channel you will se the snow capped mountains of Cadena Sampaio (Sampaio mountain range), then we will head for Lago Rocca zone traveling a narrow path which allows us to see all the species of the fuegian flora. Upon arrival to the lake, we will start our first walk bordering this lake and the natural outlet of Lake Lapataia. From here the view of Cerro Condor is the outstanding spot, through its peaks passes the border of the Republic Chile. We will then continue towards Lapataia Bay to see Laguna Verde (Green Lagoon). Transfer back to the hotel. Dinner and accommodation at a 4* hotel in Ushuaia.

After breakfast, transfer by private coach to the airport for the flight to Buenos Aires.

Departure from Buenos Aires.

• Transfer by private coach and English speaking guide from the airport to the hotel in Montevideo;
• 3 nights accommodation in twin rooms with halfboard at 4 * hotel in Montevideo;
• Transfer by private coach from the hotel to the port in Montevideo;
• Transfer by ferry from Montevideo to Buenos Aires;
• 3 nights accommodation in twin rooms with halfboard at 4* hotel in Buenos Aires;
• Half day city tour by private coach and English speaking guide in Buenos Aires;
• Full day tour by private coach, train & boat to Delta Tigre in Buenos Aires (lunch included);
• Transfer from the airport to the hotel to the airport in Buenos Aires;
• Return flight from Buenos Aires to Ushuaia;
• 2 nights accommodation in twin rooms with halfboard at 4* hotel in Ushuaia;
• Return transfer from the airport to the hotel in Ushuaia;
• Full day tour to Tierra del Fuego National Park and Beagle Channel cruise (lunch included);
• English speaking local guides for the transfers and tours;
• Eurolink Tours escort during the tour.

• Medical Insurance;
• Visa entry fees;
• Meals not listed in the itinerary;
• Sightseeing not listed in the itinerary;
• Optional tour to Colonia in Montevideo (lunch included): GBP 50 / person;
• Optional tour to Punta del Este in Montevideo (lunch included): GBP 50 / person;
• Personal expenses, such as laundry, drinks, fax, telephone calls, optional activities etc;
• Gratuities, tips to drivers, guides, bell boys;
• Excess baggage charge.