10 Days Magnificient Chile and Argentina

Upon arrival in Santiago, Chile, transfer directly to the hotel for leisure or rest.

Santiago is a vibrant capital that perfectly combines tradition and modernity. Today’s city tour will visit the Main Square, the Cathedral, the Post Office and the City Hall of Santiago, as well as the La Moneda Government Palace and the most traditional neighborhoods of the historical downtown. Later, visit Santa Lucía Hill, the hill is a splendid urban oasis in the middle of the capital. Here you will learn more about Chilean history while enjoying panoramic views of the city. Later, we will go to the Lastarria Neighborhood, known for its great cultural, patrimonial and gastronomic offer. The final part of our city tour will lead us to the financial heart of Santiago, known for its modern buildings and imposing crystal towers. For wine enthusiasts, there is a wonderful optional opportunity today to visit Winery to learn about Chilean winemaking and to enjoy a tasting of this brand’s well-known wines.

This morning we transfer to the airport for our flight to Punta Arenas in Chile’s southernmost Patagonia region. On arrival, we will go for a city tour to get to know the main attractions of Punta Arenas. We will also visit Cerro de la Cruz, a lookout point from where it is possible to see the Strait of Magellan and the island of Tierra del Fuego on the horizon. Later, we transfer to the city of Puerto Natales, the gateway to Torres del Paine National park, for overnight.

Today we will depart from the hotel and set out on a full-day excursion. The first stop is at the stunning Milodon Cave Natural Monument—an enormous crevice located on the slope of Benitez Hill and named after the Milodón. Next we proceed to Torres del Paine National Park to take in many fabulous views of its mountains and lakes such as Sarmiento, Nordenskjold, and Pehoé. A short trek will take us to “Salto Grande,” a great waterfall flowing from the rivers of the park. We continue to Grey Lake for a short walk through a thousand-year-old forest to admire icebergs that have been dislodged from their parent glacier. After a lovely day taking in some of the best that Mother Nature has to offer, we return to our hotel in Puerto Natales

Depart the hotel and transfer to a local pier for our boat trip to Balmaceda and Serrano Glacier. There are many exciting views to take in from aboard the boat as we cruise along Ultima Esperanza Fjord to Bernardo O´Higgins National Park. You will be able to see local cattle ranches, cormorants, sea lion colonies, beech forests and waterfalls. We will disembark at Puerto Toro, at the foot of the stoic Balmaceda Mountain, for a short trek along a lakeshore and through native forest to the Serrano Glacier. Enjoy a hearty lunch at a rustic ranch. In the late afternoon, we will make the return trip to Puerto Natales.

Today we take an overland journey from Puerto Natales across the Chilean-Argentine border to El Calafate, a town in the Argentine Patagonia. The journey typically takes around 4 hours, however the time needed for customs and immigration procedures at the border can vary from day to day. We will stop for lunch along the route. Upon arrival in El Calafate, we will go for a short orientation tour of El Calafate before arriving at the hotel for check-in.

Today we will visit Los Glaciares National Park. This park has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The most famous glacier is Perito Moreno located at the southwestern end of Argentino Lake. This glacier is one of the world’s few remaining still moving glaciers. This spectacular natural wonder has become one of the most visited places in all of South America. From time to time, its 60-meter-high snout releases ice walls the size of buildings that fall into Rico Bend or el Canal de los Témpanos from where they continue floating along the channel to the main area of the lake. You will have a remarkable day exploring and taking photos of this astonishing place.

Transfer to the airport for the flight to Buenos Aires, capital of Argentina. On arrival, we will transfer to our hotel for check in. This evening, here in the city of the birthplace of the tango, we will offer an optional opportunity to attend an elegant tango dinner show!

Today we will learn all about Buenos Aires, “The Paris of South America”. Our day will be spent touring the city to see all the popular sights including “Avenida 9 de Julio”, “Teatro Colón” and “Plaza de Mayo”, The Metropolitan Cathedral and “La Casa Rosada”. We will also tour the streets of tango in the traditional San Telmo Neighborhood and pass through Lezama Park. Then, we head to La Boca, the initial settling place of the Italian immigrants that arrived to the city. Next, we’ll pay a visit to Puerto Madero, its huge warehouses and silos where remodeled and redesigned, to finally integrate the river to the city and to create a new corporate, residential, hotel and gastronomic district. In Retiro and Recoleta, we will learn about the dreams of local aristocrats, when they sought to build a small-scale Paris in the heart of Buenos Aires. After visiting the impressive Plaza San Martín, we’ll stroll down Avenida Alvear, chosen by the world’s most distinguished brands to install their exclusive boutiques. We’ll visit the Basílica de Nuestra Señora del Pilar, one of the city’s oldest churches dating back to colonial times. Finally, we’ll admire the celebrated Recoleta Cemetery, a true labyrinth of ornate mausoleums. Tonight, following the tour, enjoy an Italian- Argentine style dinner.

This fantastic journey has come to an end. Transfer to the Buenos Aires Airport for your flight home.