51 days in Europe, South America, United States & Canada Itinerary

Small in size but rich in history, culture, and natural beauty, Portugal features contrasting landscapes that include long beaches, lush vineyards, verdant valleys, and rolling hills dotted with tiny settlements where old traditions still prevail. The country's serene interior, often overlooked by foreigners, remains largely unspoiled by mass tourism and offers visitors a chance to discover this less-trodden part of Europe at their own pace. Ripe for leisurely adventures on foot or by bicycle, Portugal's fertile countryside boasts well-preserved medieval castles and outstanding wineries, producing some of the world's finest ports. The country's cities offer a lively culinary scene known for its many award-winning restaurants, topping the itineraries of foodies from around the globe.

The largest country in South America and the biggest Portuguese-speaking nation in the world, Brazil remains best known for its soccer tradition and annual Carnaval. Most visitors on holiday in Brazil come for the country's outstanding beaches, music, wildlife, and diverse neighborhoods, each one boasting its own distinct character, atmosphere, and way of life. A tour of Brazil reveals a vast land of great natural and human diversity, from its sprawling rainforest wildernesses, to its busy urban centers. There are plenty of things to do in Brazil, from basking on its coastline to chasing the samba scene or catching a picturesque sunset from one of the country's lush mountaintops.

Home to the highest and lowest points in South America, diverse Argentina enthralls visitors with its contrasting landscapes and rich cultural heritage. A tour of Argentina reveals a sprawling land of fiercely proud and hardworking gauchos, the legendary cowboys of South America's pampas. A vacation in Argentina also leads you to giant urban centers, filled with modern tourist attractions that include fine restaurants, award-winning museums, and renowned public parks, gardens, and zoos. Away from big cities, Argentina sightseeing combines visits to mighty waterfalls situated inside World Heritage-listed national parks in the north of the country, with excursions to icy glaciers in the south.

More than the country of car-packed streets seen in TV shows and movies, the United States of America is a complex and diverse home to over 300 million people living in a wide range of landscapes and climates. From its big-city skyscrapers to its sprawling natural parks, the country's ''melting pot'' combines many ethnic groups that share a strong sense of national identity despite their cultural differences. A country of road trips and big blue skies, the United States harbors orderly cities filled with restaurants, parks, museums, and innumerable sightseeing opportunities, as well as pristine natural areas perfect for a holiday in the great outdoors. To see as much as you can of this diverse land quickly, drive over some of the more than 6 million km (4 million mi) of highways leading through deserts, mountain peaks, fertile fields, and giant urban centers.

Most people remember their holiday in Canada by the country's great outdoors, yet this sprawling land of hulking mountains and rocky coastlines also boasts numerous modern cities, home to some of the world's finest dining, shopping, and entertainment options. Made for leisurely road trips, North America's biggest country features vast landscapes still unspoiled by mass tourism. A tour of Canada reveals a place packed with diverse cultures, living in tolerance and enjoying one of the highest standards of living in the world. If the vastness of those natural landscapes overwhelms you at any point during your Canada vacation, head to the openhearted cities of Vancouver, Toronto, or Montreal, ideal destinations for art lovers, history buffs, shopaholics, fashionistas, and impassioned foodies.