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Dates:
March 3-18, 2003 March 20 - April 4, 2003
Length: 15 days/14 nights (plus travel time)
Arrive/Depart: Buenos Aires, Argentina /
Santiago, Chile
Journey Price: $5,695/person/double occupancy.
Inquire about single supplement (limited availability)
Includes all accommodations, meals, ground transportation,
airfares from Buenos Aires to El Calafate and from
Punta Arenas to Santiago (at the conclusion of the
journey), site fees, and professional guide service.
Airfare from your home to South America, alcoholic
beverages, equipment rental, and optional leader
gratuities are not included.
Group Size: 10 - 14 Travelers
Activity
Level:
Moderate-High
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Your
Daily Itinerary |
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Day
1
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Day
1
Depart from your home city for Buenos
Aires. Typically this is an overnight flight
(about 9 hours) from Atlanta, New York,
or
Miami; but the time change is only one hour
ahead of the East Coast. We have some special
fares with United, but you can fly on
American or Delta as well.
Accommodations:
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Day
1
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Day
2 -- Buenos Aires
Arrive Buenos Aires by mid day and take a
private transfer to the Hotel Crillon in
downtown Buenos Aires. Relax and refresh
before gathering for a welcome reception in
the hotel lounge with Pam and Bill and your
new traveling companions. With maps and
stories, we'll review the journey ahead! We
take an evening city tour to a great tango
show/restaurant for a welcome dinner.
Accommodations: Hotel Crillon |
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Day
3-4-5
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Days
3, 4, 5 -- Lago Viedma
This morning, we bid farewell to the
sophistication and city crowds of Buenos
Aires to fly south into the heart of
Patagonia. Our flight takes us to El
Calafate, on the shores of the magnificent
Lago Argentino. From there, we travel by
small bus to the distinctive Estancia
Helsingfors with its commanding views of the
Andes and peaceful setting on the shores of
Lago Viedma. We spend several days cradled
in
its legendary hospitality, enjoying life on
a
traditional Argentinean estancia (ranch).
Walking, excellent horseback riding, touring
the ranch vegetable gardens, and a genuine
asado (typical Argentine barbecue) ...
Accommodations: Estancia Helsingfors |
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Day
6-7-8
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Days
6, 7, 8 -- El Chalten
On the other side of Lago Viedma, is the
scenic mountain village of El Chalten, set
in
the foothills of the Andes, in the heart of
Los Glaciares National Park. This park was
declared a UNESCO World Heritage area in 1982
to protect its unique landscapes, flora, and
fauna. We base from here for three days,
where a delightful choice of excursions
awaits! Local guides lead fabulous hikes to
the base of the dramatic Mt. Fitzroy and
Cerro Torre, or gauchos can take you
horseback riding to enjoy the same vistas
as
the hikers. The horses got rave reviews from
out guests last year. We stay for three
nights at the charming ...
Accommodations: Hosteria El Puma |
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Day
9-10
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Days
9, 10 -- Los Notros
The Perito Moreno Glacier is one of the
largest glaciers in the world, flowing
gracefully out of the Andes into Lago
Argentino. We get to spend the next several
nights in full view of this magnificent
glacier and the peaks behind at an elegant
country inn, Hosteria Los Notros. Driving
from Helsingfors to Los Notros, we hope to
see guanacos and rheas, animals you don't
ever get to see driving around the Rockies!
The great sweep of open country framed by
high peaks is breathtaking. After lunch in
El
Calafate and time to browse in the craft
shops, bookstores, and gift shops, we drive
into the southern end of Los Glacia...
Accommodations: Hosteria Los Notros |
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Day
11-12-13
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Days
11, 12, 13 -- Torres del Paine Nat'l
Park
The panoply of remarkable places
continues! We're up with the sun this morning
as we head south to Chile and Torres del
Paine National Park. We depart after
breakfast, traveling in our mini-bus along
the edge of the Andes to the Chilean border.
Here, we are met by guides from Explora, the
fabled luxurious hotel in the heart of Torres
del Paine. Coming into the park, herds of
guanacos wander over the hillsides and
flamingoes and black-necked swans forage in
a
pond, where you would least expect to see
them! A late but tasty lunch is followed by
a
guided walk or relaxation at the lodge. The
n...
Accommodations: Explora/Hotel Salto
Chico |
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Day
14
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Day
14 -- Punta Arenas
We travel to the southern tip of the
continent today, to the seaport of Punta
Arenas, on the Straits of Magellan. At your
leisure, we'll walk around this unusual city,
only several hundred miles from Antarctica!
We celebrate this remarkable journey this
evening with a farewell dinner.
Accommodations: Hotel Jose Nogueira |
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Day
15
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Day
15 -- Depart for home
After some last minute shopping and museum
visits, we depart Punta Arenas on a mid-day
flight to Santiago to catch evening flights
back to the United States. We can make
arrangements for those wanting to stay on
in
Santiago or Punta Arenas for a few days. For
those of you going home, you can plan on
arriving in your home city by mid-day the
following day.
Accommodations: |
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