Best of Argentina & Chile

Argentina - the second biggest state of South America, has a surface of 2.8 million square kilometres. The country has 33 million inhabitants and nearly half of them live in the surroundings of Buenos Aires, one of the most cosmopolitan cities of the world. Argentina is a fascinating land of contrasts where the exceptional is almost commonplace. It’s home to an abundant wildlife, enjoys a unique culture, and delights in an astonishing variety of landscapes from tropical rain forest in the north to the remote vastness of the Antarctic in the South. Three big landscapes form the country: the Andes in the west, the northern and western flatland as well as the wide plains of Patagonia in the South. The country that is stretched in length has three climatic zones: tropic in the north, moderate in the centre and polar in the extreme South. The Indian aborigines only live in the north-western Andean region and in the north-east province of Misiones. The rest of the population is mainly composed of European immigrants. The official language is Spanish, but in bigger towns English is also quite common.

Chile - squeezed between Andes and Pacific, with a maximum width of 44 kilometres, this country is a unique thin, 4.300 kilometres long coastal stripe. For many people, Chile is still a white spot on the map. But behind there lies an extremely rich and original nature beauty that makes this country with its friendly population a very attractive destination. It units the driest desert of the world, abundant forests as well as fantastic glaciers and fjords. The European influence can be noticed in the towns, by the people with their culture and politeness. That is why Chile today is one of the highest developed countries of South America in which all ‘works’.

Day 01 – Saturday                                                                                                  Buenos Aires

• Transfer international airport Buenos Aires - Hotel

Upon arrival in Buenos Aires, transfer from the airport to the hotel.

Buenos Aires - is not only the capital of Argentina; it is also one of the 10 most important metropolises in the world and the centre of the political, economic and intellectual life of the country. This cosmopolitan city - with great European cultural influence - displays a refined taste in its cooking, in its ”boutiques” and in the elegance of its inhabitants. Almost 12 million people live there and can enjoy the plentiful night life visiting ”tango” bars, cabarets, discotheques, restaurants or eternally open bars. During the day, a wide variety of attractions is offered: museums, art galleries, tasteful shops, fascinating antiques, large green areas, parks, wide tree lined boulevards, clubs and sporting events. The Italian-Spanish descent of the inhabitants has formed this modern metropolis. Feel the flair, above all in the Italian old quarter La Boca and in the wide streets with cafes from the turn of the century. At the Plaza de Mayo, in the political centre of town, is the starting point of this tour through this exciting capital. The widest street of the world, the very famous opera house and also the shopping street Florida make Buenos Aires unforgettable.

Middle Class:

Overnight at Hotel De Las Americas 3* or similar (standard room)

Comfort Class:

Overnight at 725 Continental 5* or similar (superior room)

Day 02 - Sunday                                                                                                     Buenos Aires

•  Breakfast
• Half day city tour (3h)

After breakfast you will visit the most important sites during a city tour. You will drive to the Plaza de Mayo, with the Casa Rosada, the pink house, seat of the government, the Cabildo (town hall) and the Metropolitan Cathedral, home of the Archbishop of Buenos Aires. The tour goes onto the district San Telmo.

Until 1888 this part of the city was a river port, today San Telmo is one of the most modern and desired places to live in Buenos Aires. The worker district La Boca is famous for its colourful tin-houses and its history as living district of Italian seamen and dock workers in the 19th century. The Barrio Norte called Recoleta is the quarter of the rich of Buenos Aires. On the cemetery of Recoleta one will find the grave of Eva Duarte who became famous as Evita Perón. Continue along the widest avenue in the world, the Avenida 9 de Julio, and continue to the Plaza Lavalle with the Federal Court of Justice and the Teatro Colón, to Palermo with its parks and gardens. Return to the hotel.

Afternoon free at leisure – following optional tours can be booked with our local SAT office:

Optional: half day Tigre Tour. From your hotel we will drive along the Northern residential districts of the city, until getting to San Isidro, a colonial and aristocratic area. You will see the mansions and houses in front of the River Plate. You will continue the driving to Tigre, a charming area near Buenos Aires city where a great number of summer residences, yacht clubs and rowing clubs attract the week-end activity of many “porteños”. The Tigre Delta with its rivers, streams and numerous green islands is one of the most attractive areas for visitors. The continuous sediment of the Paraná River, which gives the river and estuary their particular brownish-red color, forms the Delta islands. Enjoy a boat excursion (1 hour) along the innumerable channels of the Paraná-Delta to see some of the hundreds of islands covered with luxuriant vegetation. Drive back to the city via the Panamericana highway.

Optional: Visit to the San Telmo market (not possible on seat-in basis). From your hotel we will take you to San Telmo, which is no doubt the best kept historical neighborhood and eldest district of Buenos Aires. Here one has time to stroll around Plaza Dorrego, where each Sunday an antique market takes place. Tango couples are dancing on the street. Cafes invite to sit on their terrace and to relax by enjoying this nice scenery. Another attraction are the numerous antique shops, where one might find the right souvenir. After the visit, return to the hotel.

Optional: Visit of a Tango Show incl. dinner at the Restaurant Viejo Almacen.

Middle Class:

Overnight at Hotel De Las Americas 3* or similar (standard room)

Comfort Class:

Overnight at 725 Continental 5* or similar (superior room)

Day 03 - Monday                                                                                   Buenos Aires – Ushuaia

• Meals: Breakfast
• Transfer hotel – domestic airport Buenos Aires
• Flight Buenos Aires - Ushuaia (not included)
• Transfer airport - hotel

Transfer to the domestic airport for the flight to Ushuaia.

Ushuaia is the capital of the territory and the southernmost city in the world. Like Rio Grande Ushuaia has grown fast in the last few years, thanks to immigration and the electronics industry in the area. You should not miss the End of the World Museum, the old prison and to explore some restaurants to try the excellent spider crabs. A walk around the harbor is interesting too, where some old boats can be seen. Ushuaia and its scenery inspired the research and fantasies of Jules Verne, Fitz Roy, Charles Darwin and Emilio Salgari.

Upon arrival at Ushuaia airport transfer to your hotel.

Middle Class:

Overnight at Hotel Altos Ushuaia 3* or similar (standard room)

Comfort Class:

Overnight at Hotel Cilene del Faro 4* or similar (standard room)

Day 04 – Tuesday                                                                                                           Ushuaia

• Meals: Breakfast
• Half day tour Tierra del Fuego National Park

In the morning you will go on a half day tour to the Tierra del Fuego National Park, where you will get the impression as if time goes slower than anywhere else.

The long stormy winters and the width of the sky formed a very simple and modest way of living. The National Park is crossed by many rivers which flow into the Beagle Channel.

Drive through the park to enjoy the landscapes and have a little walk.

In the afternoon the following optional tour can be booked with our local SAT office:

Optional: Catamaran tour on the Beagle Channel

The Beagle Channel became its name due to the expedition from Charles Darwin. You will pass through the Casco Island where a lot of nest from seabirds and sea lions can be seen onto the Island Los Lobos to see the sea lions.

Middle Class:

Overnight at Hotel Altos Ushuaia 3* or similar (standard room)

Comfort Class:

Overnight at Hotel Cilene del Faro 4* or similar (standard room)

Day 05 - Wednesday                                                                                    Ushuaia – Calafate

• Meals: Breakfast
• Transfer hotel - airport
• Flight Ushuaia - Calafate (not included)
• Transfer airport - hotel

Transfer to the airport and flight to El Calafate (not included). Pick up at the airport by our local guide and transfer to the hotel.

El Calafate - The village of El Calafate on Lake Argentino, is an expensive and developing Tourist Centre. There is a chapel dedicated to Santa Teresa in the centre, behind it Perito Moreno Street gently climbs the large hill south of the town, from which one can see the silhouette of the south end of the Andes, the Redonda Lake and Soledad Island on Argentino Lake. It is the southern gateway to the Los Glaciares National Park, which is 50 km (31 mi) away. On the alluvial plain by the lake there are many interesting birds, and in the other direction there is scope for good hill walking. Colorful cave paintings are also captivating.

The afternoon is at leisure – the following optional tour can be booked with our local SAT office:

Optional: Half day Glaciarium Museum (duration about 2h 30min)

The Glaciarum Museum is the first museum in South America dedicated to the glaciers and Patagonia ice. It has a privileged location, situated close to El Calafate town (20 minutes’ drive) on the way to Los Glaciares National Park.

The whole complex is a last generation interpretation centre which will offer to the visitors an interactive exhibition with the aim to learn about the glaciers.

It`s an interactive museum with theme rooms, exhibitions showing recent investigations, scenic & lighting effects, multimedia programs and audio-visuals.

It also counts with a permanent exhibition focused on global climate changes and the environmental problems on earth.

Middle Class:

Overnight at Hotel Kau Yatun 3* or similar (standard room)

Comfort Class:

Overnight at Hotel Kosten Aike 4* or similar (standard room)

Day 06 - Thursday                                                            Calafate – Perito Moreno – Calafate

• Meals: Breakfast
• Full day tour Perito Moreno (regular seat-in basis)

Today guests will go on a full day tour to the Perito Moreno Glacier. After a drive through the National Park Los Glaciares one arrive all of a sudden in a forest full of colours, before one sees - equally unexpected - the glacier Perito Moreno. This is one of the few glaciers that are still growing. Every 4 to 5 years it covers the gap between the mainland and itself and grows into the Lago Argentino. Eventually the ice cannot resist the enormous pressure of the water and crashes with a frightening noise. One can watch this glacier spectacle every day when single ice blocks fall into the lake. Considering that the glacier is 5 km long and 70 m high one can imagine the noise this makes. Here we will have 2 hours to experience the glacier before driving back to Calafate.

Middle Class

Overnight at Hotel Kau Yatun 3* or similar (standard room)

Comfort Class

Overnight at Hotel Kosten Aike 4* or similar (standard room)

Day 07 - Friday                                                                                  Calafate – Puerto Natales

• Meals: Breakfast
• Transfer hotel - bus terminal
• Transfer Calafate - Puerto Natales (with public bus, without local guide)
• Transfer bus terminal – hotel (regular seat-in basis)

In the morning transfer to the bus terminal. From here guests will travel with the public bus to Puerto Natales. Pick up at the bus terminal and transfer to the hotel.

Puerto Natales is a small village with approx. 19.000 inhabitants, located approx. 247 km (153 mi) northwest of Punta Arenas at the coast of the Fjord of Last Hope. Puerto Natales is the capital of Ultima Esperanza Province and was founded in 1911. Originally, people lived on sheep farming and fishing. In the past years it developed to an important touristic place which is of main interest as starting point for excursions to the sensational National Park Torres del Paine.

Middle Class:

Overnight at Hotel Costaustralis 4* or similar (City view)

Comfort Class:

Overnight at Hotel Costaustralis 4* or similar (Sea View)

Day 08 - Saturday                         Puerto Natales – Torres del Paine N. P. – Puerto Natales

• Meals: Breakfast
• Full day excursion into the Torres del Paine National Park  (regular seat-in basis)

After breakfast drive to the Torres del Paine National Park. You will be able to appreciate the most spectacular worldwide reserve at the end of the world, 150km northwest from Puerto Natales. On this this protected area you will find a fertile combination of lakes, lagoons, waterfalls, glaciers, hills and peaks. Inside the area, the road is surrounded with dozens of lagoon, contrasting with hills and snow-capped mountains. You will visit among other things the Milodon Cave and the Salto Grande waterfall.

In the late afternoon drive back to the hotel.

Middle Class:

Overnight at Hotel Costaustralis 4* or similar (City view)

Comfort Class:

Overnight at Hotel Costaustralis 4* or similar (Sea View)

Day 09 - Sunday                                                   Puerto Natales – Punta Arenas – Santiago

• Meals: Breakfast
• Transfer hotel - bus terminal (regular seat-in basis)
• Transfer Puerto Natales - Punta Arenas (with public bus without local guide)
• Punta Arenas city tour ending at Punta Arenas airport
• Flight Punta Arenas - Santiago (not included)
• Transfer airport - hotel

Early morning transfer to the bus terminal in Puerto Natales and transfer by public bus (4h) to the city of Punta Arenas.

Punta Arenas found in 1848 at the shores of the Magellan Strait, is definitely a town with "European” character. Sheep-breeding, oil and chemical factories, fishery and commerce are the main sources of income. Penguin colonies and immense farms, as well as a usually cold and windy climate will be experienced here.

Upon arrival at the public bus station, you will be welcomed by your local guide for a city tour through Punta Arenas, which was the first permanent settlement in Austral Patagonia. Started on the 18^th of December 1848 as a small colony, in a couple of years it developed to be the most important cultural, commercial, and cattle raising centre of Patagonia.

You proceed to a tour through the tidy laid out avenues and squares which host more than thirty monuments. Proceed to Cerro La Cruz, from where you can enjoy a fantastic panoramic view of the city and the Strait of Magellan.

Afterwards continue to Punta Arenas airport for your flight to Santiago de Chile (not included).

Upon arrival pick-up and transfer to the hotel.

Middle Class:

Overnight at Hotel Providencia 3* or similar (standard room)

Comfort Class:

Overnight at Hotel Atton Vitacura 4* or similar (standard room)

Day 10 - Monday                                                                                             Santiago de Chile

• Meals: Breakfast
• Half day city tour

Santiago de Chile is a city of contrasts with remains of its colonial past to the ultramodern, high-rise buildings of the financial centre; Chile’s capital city will surprise you.

At the beginning of the city tour you will see the San Francisco church, which was built between 1572 and 1618. You will pass through the Barrio Paris & Londres which is characterized by its European architectural style and its’ narrow cobbled streets.

Then you will visit the area of the Club Hípico, one of the most beautiful horseracing tracks in South America, privileged by its architecture of the late 19^th century.

Continuing your tour towards the Barrio Concha y Toro, you will immediately notice that the constructions of the buildings here are very similar to those in the Barrio Paris y London.

While walking through the main street you will recover vestiges of the aristocratic past of the capital. In 1989 this district was declared as “Zona Tipica” (Typical zone). You will be impressed by the gothic, neo-colonial and Bauhaus constructions.

After that you will visit the Plaza de Armas and see the cathedral. Just around the corner, you will find the main post office, the National History museum and the town hall of Santiago.

From here you head along the famous Alameda, Santiago’s colorful main avenue, towards the heart of the city, seeing the “Palacio de la Moneda” (seat of government), various monuments and public buildings on the way.

Afterwards, you continue the tour by driving up to the top of the San Cristóbal Hill. From one of the hill’s view points, you will have the finest views of Santiago and the Andes Mountains.

To round off the tour, you will pass through the modern residential areas of the city with their daring architecture and, finally, the bustling Providencia shopping zone.

Middle Class

Overnight at Hotel Providencia 3* or similar (standard room)

Comfort Class

Overnight at Hotel Atton Vitacura 4* or similar (standard room)

Day 11 - Tuesday                                                                                            Santiago de Chile

• Meals: Breakfast
• Transfer hotel - airport

Transfer to the airport for flight back home.

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