Chile and Argentina tour
On this sample itinerary we’ve combining two of South America’s great capitals, Santiago and Buenos Aires, with the tremendous landscapes of Andean Patagonia and the mighty Iguazu. This two-week tour is a great introduction to Chile and Argentina.
Day 1 Santiago
Arrive in Santiago, Chile, and transfer to your hotel. Begin an afternoon city tour with the Alameda Bernardo O’Higgins, Santiago’s main avenue, the pedestrian streets of Huérfanos and Ahumada and the famous Plaza de Armas, surrounded on all sides by significant historical buildings.
Continue on to Santa Lucia, the hill upon which the Spanish founded Santiago in 1541, before crossing the Mapocho River to visit Bellavista, Santiago’s cultural and artistic neighbourhood. Conclude your day among the top-notch restaurants, elegant shops and modern skyscrapers of Providencia.
Day 2 Torres del Paine
Fly south to Punta Arenas in Chilean Patagonia. Your first port of call will be the penguin colony at Otway Sound. Next, visit the Milodon Cave, a declared Natural Monument where German settler Hermann Eberhard found the fossilised remains of a prehistoric giant sloth in 1896. Continue on to the magnificent Torres del Paine National Park. The park is 1,630 square kilometres of soaring granite peaks, creaking glaciers, pounding waterfalls and turquoise lakes, continually replenished by melt from the Patagonian Ice Cap. The park is a mecca for outdoor, wildlife and walking enthusiasts.
Day 3 Grey Glacier
Weave by boat between house-size masses of neon-blue ice to the 40-metre face of Grey Glacier for an up close look at its deep crags and caverns.
Day 4 Torres del Paine
The park has wonderful hiking opportunities. Take a trek to the base of the iconic spires of the Paine massif, or head off in search of the park’s resident wildlife: dopey guanacos (orange-coloured cousins of the llama), condors, flamingos and elegant pumas.
Day 5 Puerto Natales
Continue to be amazed by the sensational views as you travel through the park to the town of Puerto Natales.
Day 6 El Calafate
Say goodbye to Chile as you transfer to the Argentine city of El Calafate, gateway to Parque Nacional Los Glaciares and its stunning showpiece, the Perito Moreno Glacier. Otherwise, consider cruising through the southern fjords between Chile and Argentina.
Day 7 Perito Moreno Glacier
Keep your eyes peeled for condors and flamingos on your way to city-sized Perito Moreno, one of the planet’s few advancing glaciers, where a series of walkways offers amazing views of the glacier’s face, a soaring, 80-metre-tall electric-blue wall of ice. If you’re really lucky you’ll witness house-sized blocks shear away from the face and hitting Lago Argentino with a mighty crash, only to reappear and bob away as icebergs.
Day 8 Upsala Glacier
Today’s excursion is to Perito Moreno’s neighbour, Upsala. Cruise across Lago Argentino between wind-sculpted icebergs to see the glacier up close, then continue to Onelli Bay, where you can walk through the forest to the emerald waters of Onelli Lake. Back on the water, the trip continues past the 110-metre-tall Spegazzini glacier before passing within sight of a condor rookery. The largest birds in South America, Condors can have a wingspan of up to three metres - an incredible sight.
Days 9-10 Iguazu Falls
Transfer to the airport and fly via Buenos Aires to the warmer climate at Iguazu Falls. Straddling the border of Brazil and Argentina, Iguazu Falls is one of the most overwhelming sights in the world.
Over 200 cascades thunder over a daunting horseshoe-shaped cliff, surrounded by squawking tropical jungle. Enjoy a half-day tour on the Argentine side of the falls, following a well designed network of walkways, and passing through the rainforest in a small ecological train. The main attraction is Devil’s Gorge, where 35 rivers and more than 200 rapids are forced together down a 90-metre drop.
Days 11-12 Buenos Aires
Drive to the Brazilian side of Iguazu National Park and walk along the edge of the river gorge, enjoying views of the falls from the maze of walkways that take you even closer to the edge. Later, fly back to Buenos Aires and transfer to your hotel.
On the following day, enjoy a fascinating tour of the elegant turn-of-the-century districts that earned Buenos Aires the moniker of the ‘Paris of South America’. From the charming cobbled alleys and colonial architecture of San Telmo, explore the Plaza de Mayo, dominated by the Casa Rosada (Government House), the National Bank, the cathedral and original Parliament House.
Then continue up the leafy Avenida de Mayo towards the imposing grandeur of the Palace of Congress and the captivating Recoleta Cemetery. There is an optional dinner and tango show at the highly acclaimed Rojo Tango available in the evening.
Day 13 Optional estancia tour
Of the many optional tours offered, we highly recommend visiting an estancia (ranch), where you can absorb the atmosphere of country life.
Just 60 miles from Buenos Aires, Estancia Candelaria del Monte occupies nearly 200 acres of Argentina’s famous pampas. Experience life as an Argentine cowboy, learn local traditions and tuck into steaks cooked on an asado (barbecue). Or enjoy a day at leisure.
Day 14 End tour
Transfer to the airport for your flight back to the UK.
To book, call 0845 643 6548
To book this travel offer, call one of our tailor-made travel experts now, quoting reference WEX101692.
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