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Locally Hosted Independent Tour Suggested Departure Day: |
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ITINERARY (Subject to change without notice):
Day 1- Friday - Depart Miami: Evening departure on overnight flight south to Chile.
Day 2 - Saturday - Arrive Santiago: Morning arrival in Santiago. Meeting and transfer to Singular Santiago in trendy Lastarria for overnight. Your room is paid for immediate check-in so you can relax this morning. This afternoon visit the highlights of Santiago, fourth largest city in South America. Santiago is beautifully set among a backdrop of the snow-capped Andes. See the diversity of monuments and public buildings such as the Government Palace La Moneda, among others surrounding this area. Stop at the Plaza de Armas with the Cathedral of Santiago, the Central Post Office and Historical Museum and drive along the Alameda past San Francisco Church and Santa Lucia Hill, where Santiago was founded In 1541. Also visit the La Chascona Museum, the house that Pablo Neruda built for his lover and then third wife, Matilde Urrutia. The house shows the unique world where the remarkable Nobel Prize of Literature recipient once lived. Afternoon at leisure to explore at your own pace. (B)
Day 3 - Sunday
- Santiago - Puerto Montt - Puerto Varas: Morning transfer to the
airport for flight south to Puerto Montt, gateway to the scenic
Lake District. Meeting upon arrival
in Puerto Montt and transfer to Puerto Varas and the lovely
Hotel AWA
for two night stay. Spend the afternoon visiting this scenic area and the
major points of interest in Puerto
Montt and Puerto Varas. Puerto Montt was founded in 1852 by German colonists and the
nearby fishing village of Angelmo has a bustling fish market and colorful
handicraft market. Puerto Varas is often called the City of Roses and has a spectacular
setting right on the shores of Lake Llanquihue, with vistas of snow-capped Osorno Volcano
Day 4 - Monday -
Puerto Varas: Drive along the shores of the
Day 5 - Tuesday - Puerto Varas - Peulla - Bariloche: Morning departure on scenic full day crossing of the Lake District, using a combination of motor coaches and motor launches. Drive to Petrohue Falls for a visit before motor launch across Lake Todos Los Santos to Peulla for lunch. After lunch a short drive over the mountain takes you to Puerto Frias where you clear customs and board your motor launch for 30 minute cruise to Puerto Alegra where a short motor coach transfer takes you to Puerto Blest for scenic final leg by motor launch to Bariloche. Meeting upon arrival and transfer to your hotel, the spectacularly set Llao Llao Resort and Spa for three night stay in Studio Deluxe Lake Moreno accommodations. (B/L)
Day 6 - Wednesday - Bariloche: This morning enjoy a scenic 50 km drive skirting Lake Nahuel Huapi and climbing through a forest of coihue trees, a native evergreen, offering views of the Andean peaks. The road then winds along Lake Moreno to a panoramic point which offers breathtaking views of Lakes Moreno & Nahuel Huapi, Victoria Island and the Andes in all their splendor. You'll also take the chair lift up to the summit of Cerro Campanario for spectacular vistas of the lakes and surrounding forests. Afternoon at leisure to explore this charming alpine style town at your own pace. (B)
Day 7 - Thursday - Bariloche: Day at leisure to explore at your own pace. Optional activities you can arrange include hiking, rafting, biking, horseback riding and culinary experiences. (B)
Day 8 - Friday - Bariloche - Buenos Aires - Comodoro Rivadavia - Bahia Bustamante: Morning transfer to the airport for your flight to Buenos Aires where you connect to your flight south to Comodoro Rivadavia. Meeting upon arrival by your local host from Bahia Bustamante and transfer 110 miles north, a drive of about two hours, to Bahía Bustamante located on the northern arch of San Jorge Gulf, Chubut Province. This 80,000 hectare retreat with the small town of Bahia Bustamante is well known for its biodiversity. Few places worldwide house as many and as varied a selection of birds and sea mammals and since December 2008 its coasts have been part of the Marine National Park "Patagonia Austral". During your three night stay you will enjoy exclusive use of a Sea House, all meals and daily activities. (B/L/D)
Day 9 - Saturday - Bahia Bustamante: Activities at Bahia Bustamante are ideal for nature lovers. Here you
can take a motor launch to see colonies of sea lions, penguins and marine birds, go bird
watching, visit a
Day 10 - Sunday - Bahia Bustamante: Another day to enjoy the wildlife explorations in this uniquely pristine and remote area. (B/L/D)
Day 11 - Monday - Bahia Bustamante - Peninsula Valdes: Today is a spectacular day of overland travel. Stop at Gaiman, the largest symbol of Welsh communities in Patagonia. Surrounded by farms, chapels and houses of traditional Welsh style, Gaiman manages to keep the atmosphere of a small, quiet village. The inhabitants take pride in their tea houses, serving tea prepared to an ancient recipe that gives it a unique flavor, accompanied by fine, home-made confectionery and pastry. Many tea houses are historic houses and are filled with relics and pieces from the original immigrants from Wales. Then continue on to Peninsula Valdes, a UNESCO designated World Biosphere Reserve. Make a stop at the Istmo Amaginho Interpretation Center for an introduction to the flora and fauna of the peninsula before continuing on to your accommodations for the next three nights, the Faro Punta Delgada with all meals and a daily activities and excursions. (B/L/D)
Day 12 - Tuesday - Peninsula Valdes: Today you will have a choice of activities and visits in the Punta Delgada area, including a visit to the beach area, with a colony of elephant seals and sea lions, in addition to the birdlife, guanacos and rheas of the inland peninsula. (B/L/D)
Day 13 - Wednesday - Peninsula Valdes: Today you will drive north along the coast to Estancia San Lorenzo, located on the northeastern corner of the peninsula, on the shores of the San Matias Gulf. Here is the most important Magellan Penguin Colony on the peninsula. There are also elephant seals. A circular trail gives you plenty of opportunities to watch the prancing, the discussions and disputes, the nest making activities of these little fellow. You will also see Guanacos, Maras (Patagonia hares) and Rheas. There is a restaurant (not located close to the penguin rookery) where you will have lunch of the traditional lamb BBQ. Then continue on to Punta Norte, a Natural Reserve offering a refuge to elephant seals and southern sea lions during their reproduction period. For this reason it is also a spot chosen by the orca to feed. There is a tourist information center and interpretative trails. Late afternoon return drive south back to Faro Punta Delgada. (B/L/D)
Day 14 - Thursday - Peninsula Valdes - Puerto Piramedes - Puerto Madryn: As you drive off the peninsula you'll pass by three large dried salt lakes or marshes, Salina Grande, Salina Chica and Salitral, located almost in the middle of the peninsula. These deep depressions go as low as 130 feet below sea level and were an important part of the commercial development of the area during much of the 19th century. Continue on to Puerto Piramedes, a small, quaint town of 450 permanent inhabitants and the only town on the peninsula. Here you will enjoy a boat expedition
Day 15 - Friday - Puerto Madryn
- Trelew - El Calafate: Morning transfer to the airport at Trelew for flight to
El Calafate, gateway to Parque Nacional Los
Glaciares, the second largest in Argentina, extending some 170 km along
the Chilean frontier and covering some 759,000 hectares. It was declared a World Heritage
region by UNESCO in 1987. Some 40% of the park is covered by giant ice fields, with 47
major glaciers of which 13 flow east descending into the park to feed the two big lakes,
Lake Viedma in the north and Lago Argentino in the south. There are also about 190 smaller
glaciers that are not connected to the ice fields. Upon arrival in El Calafate
you will transfer to the EOLO, Patagonia's Spirit, a Relais & Chateux property set
between El Calafate and the Glacier National Park, on a hilltop with commanding vistas of
the countryside. EOLO will be your home for 3 nights as you explore this
area. (B/D)
Day 16 - Saturday - El Calafate: Today your private guide will take you into Los Glaciares National Park to experience Perito Moreno Glacier one of the few growing glaciers on earth with a 3 mile frontage towering some 180 feet above the water. You can take the boardwalks along the front of the glacier and enjoy a motor launch ride in front of it, offering spectacular views of the glacier's front. (B)
Day 17 - Sunday - El Calafate: Early morning transfer to Puerto Bandera to embark on your motorlaunch for a cruise to the northwest end of Lago Argentino to Upsala Glacier. As you enjoy the scenic two hour cruise to the Upsala Glacier, enjoy a light breakfast. The Upsala Glacier is considered one of the longest glaciers in South America at more than 36 miles long and more than 2 miles wide. Cruise in front of it’s massive façade and then continue navigating up the Cristina Channel to the historic Estancia Cristina. Enjoy a visit to the Costumbrista museum in the old sheering shed to learn the history of this historic and secluded estancia. Then board an all-terraine vehicle for a drive along 9.5 km of mountainous roads to the Continental Ice Shelter for a 30 minute walk to the viewpoint to enjoy another vista of the Upsala Glacier, Lake Guillermo, the Andes and the Southern Patagonia icefields. Late afternoon return cruise back to Puerto Bandera and transfer back to your hotel. A box lunch will be provided to you today. (BLD)
Day 18 - Monday -
Cerro Castillo - Puerto Bories:
Morning visit The Glaciarium, a
one-of-a-kind center and the first museum in South America dedicated to ice. It
is designed to entertain and educate – there are models, dioramas, photographs,
screens, interactive presentations. As soon as you set foot inside the exhibit
area, natural sounds of ice caves, water droplets and breezes help create a
special atmosphere and make you forget were you are. There’s a surprise around
every corner. Stop in at the GlacioBar, where everything inside is made from ice
- the walls and glasses made specially, and small icebergs picked out of the
lake for the bar, the stools, and decoration. The temperature is kept at a
chilly -10 Celsius (14 Farenheit).
After your visit continue your
private transfer three hours to the border crossing with Chile. Clear immigrations and
customs and meet up with staff from The Singular Patagonia,
a drive of about an hour and a half. You'll spend five nights at The Singular Patagonia with all meals, open bar and
four full days of activities both inside Paine Towers National Park and outside the park. Uniquely The Singular Patagonia offers, in addition to the usual hiking and van visits,
motor launch trips to nearby fjords and kayaking in their private reserve. (B/L/D)
Day 19 - Wednesday - Chilean Patagonia: Today you may select from the variety of activities offered by The Singular Patagonia. (B/L/D)
Day 20 - Thursday - Chilean Patagonia: Another day to enjoy activities as offered by The Singular Patagonia. (B/L/D)
Day 21 - Thursday - Chilean Patagonia: Another day to enjoy activities as offered by The Singular Patagonia. (B/L/D)
Day 22 - Friday - Chilean Patagonia: Another day to enjoy activities and excursions as offered by The Singular Patagonia. (B/L/D)
Day 23 - Saturday -
Puerto Bories - Punta Arenas and depart on the Stella Australis: Mid-day transfer to Punta Arenas, a drive of about
three hours, for cruise check-in and ultimately embarkation on the
Australis cruises for your four
night cruise through the Strait of Magellan and along Glacier Alley to Ushuaia in
Argentina. Your cruise accommodations are in AA Superior cabin and your cruise includes
all meals and activities/excursions as offered. The captain and crew give a
welcome cocktail reception on board and afterwards the ship departs for the journey
through one of the most captivating wilderness regions in the world.
Day 24 - Sunday -
Cruising Patagonia: During
the dawns early light our ship will continue navigating through Almirantazgo Inlet,
until arriving near Marinelli
Glacier in
Ainsworth Bay
where we will
enjoy a walk to discover a beaver dam in the midst of a marvelous Magellanic forest. On
the beach we will observe a colony of Elephant Seals. Continuing the
voyage, we will visit
Tucker Islet
where we will sight colonies of
Magellanic penguins and Cormorants from the zodiac boats.
Day
25 - Monday - Cruising Patagonia: Today you will
navigate the main part of the Beagle Channel to enter
Pia Fjord and disembark near the
glacier of the same name. We will take an excursion to a look-out point that is ideal for
viewing the mountain range where the glacier originates and its flow all the way to the
sea.
Day
26 - Tuesday - Cruising Patagonia: Sail through the Beagle and Murray
Channels to disembark in
Cape Horn National
Park. Cape Horn, a sheer, almost
425-meter-high promontory, where the Atlantic and Pacific Ocean merge, was discovered in
1616 by the Dutch commercial expedition organized by Isaac Le Maire.
Day 27 - Wednesday - Arrive Ushuaia: Morning arrival to Ushuaia,
the most important Argentine city in Tierra de Fuego, and the southernmost city in the
world.
Day 28 - Thursday - Ushuaia - Buenos Aires: Morning transfer to the airport for flight north to Buenos Aires. Meeting upon arrival and transfer to the Alvear Palace for 2 night stay with buffet breakfast daily. Balance of the day at leisure to explore at your own pace. This evening you'll enjoy the Rojo Tango Experience. Tango is the music that best defines the spirit of Buenos Aires, nostalgic but streetwise. Unlike more traditional tango shows, Rojo Tango is a smaller more intimate style show celebrating the history, love, passion and glamour of the tango. (B/DS)
Day 29 - Friday - Buenos
Aires: Today you will enjoy a visit to the
"Paris of South America" as Buenos Aires is often
called. The capital of Argentina, this is a sophisticated city with many excellent
museums, art galleries, boutiques and shops from around the world. Visit the main points
of interest including famed "Caminito" street in the colorful Boca district.
Day 30 - Saturday - Depart Buenos Aires in the evening: Day at leisure to explore Buenos Aires at your own pace. The city is very walkable and filled with leather stores, museums and art galleries. Your room is paid for late check-out so no need to hurry through the day. Evening transfer to the airport to check-in for your international departure flight. (B)
Day 31 - Sunday - Arrive USA: Morning arrival in the USA and connect to your home flight.
PLEASE NOTE - IMPORTANT:
The following Payment, Change and Cancellation Policies are for general
information only.
This is a sample program which will be customized to fit your Trip Wishes,
Travel Style and Parameters.
Your personal customized program will carry Terms & Conditions specifically
applicable to your program's inclusions
and will be the governing Terms & Conditions.
SAMPLE LAND RATE PER PERSON: (All rates subject to change without notice) | |||
YEAR | Single Occupancy | Twin Occupancy - P/P | Triple Occupancy - P/P |
2024 | Request | $24,950.00 - $29,700.00 | Request |
2025 | Estimate 10% increase | ||
Plus Air fares and USA Departure Taxes | |||
PAYMENTS: By credit card; special form required & must carry Card Holder's signature | ||
Deposit to Confirm - Per Person | 2nd deposit - Per Person | Full Payment Due |
$500 non-refundable | As needed - to be advised | 95 to 35 days prior departure |
CHANGES: | |
After reservations confirmed | If new documents are required |
$100 per change | $100 per change + $100 re-issue documents |
CANCELLATIONS: | ||||
Cancelled Between | Up to 95 days | 94 - 61 days | 60 - 31 days | 30 - 00 days |
Fees Per Person | $500 + any non recoverable deposits placed on your behalf | 30% - 50%
dependent on your program |
50% - 75% dependent on your program |
100% |
TRIP CANCELLATION INSURANCE: Insurance with CFAR (Cancel For Any Reason) is Highly Recommended |
RATE INCLUDES: |
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RATE DOES NOT INCLUDE: |
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NOTE: Information was last updated January 01, 2024. Information
& rates subject to change. Responsibilities, Terms & Conditio |