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Si! Patagonia Highlighting Parque Nacional Los Glaciares Patagonia Cruise Paine Towers National Park 18 Days

Locally Hosted Independent Tour Suggested Departure Day: Wednesday

ITINERARY (Subject to change without notice):

Day 1 - Wednesday - Depart USA:  Depart Miami, New York or Los Angeles on overnight flight.

Day 2 - Thursday - Arrive Buenos Aires:  Morning arrival in Buenos Aires.  Meet and transfer to the Four Seasons Buenos Aires for 2 night stay with buffet breakfast daily.  Your room is paid for immediate check-in.  Day at leisure to explore at your own pace.  This evening you'll enjoy the Rojo Tango Experience, a cabaret designed by Phillippe Starck, with the city's best tango show accompanied by dinner.  It's small, sexy, sensual and delightful. (B/DS)

Day 3 - Friday - Buenos Aires :   Morning visit to the main points of interest in this sophisticated, European style city, often called "The Paris of South America", including historic San Telmo, colorful La Boca, Plaza de Mayo with Casa Rosada, Catheral and Cabildo, fashionable Recoleta among other places of interest.  Afternoon at leisure to explore at your own pace. (B)

Day 4 - Saturday  - Buenos Aires - El Calafate:  Morning transfer to the airport for flight south to the edge of the Andes and 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.  Meeting upon arrival and transfer to Eolo, a Relais & Chateau property majestically perched atop a Patagionian steppe crest offering sweeping vistas, for a three night stay with all meals. Afternoon at leisure to relax and enjoy the facilities. (B/D)

Day 5 - Sunday - El Calafate:  Today you will drive into the Parque Nacional Los Glaciares to the south arm of Lago Argentino facing Peninsula Magallanes to view Perito Moreno Glacier .  Standing 240 feet above sea level, it is the only growing glacier in the world.  Your guide will take you on a walking tour along the boardwalks in front of the massive glacier, and then on a motor launch that cruises along the face of the glacier, offering spectacular views of this huge mass of blue ice.  Plenty of time to explore at your own pace before return transfer to your hotel. (B/L/D).

Day 6 - Monday - El Calafate:  Morning transfer to Puerto Punta Bandera, for two hour scenic cruise sailing amid icebergs until reaching the west front of the Upsala Glaciar, towards Avellaneda Peninsula.  Cruise past several important points (such as Boca del Diablo or La Olla and Cristina Arm) in order to get to the Upsala Glacier.  It’s here where you can enjoy the gorgeous glacier.  The Upsala Glacier is between 5 km and 7 km wide with a "snout" some 60 meters high and a length of 60 km, South America's longest glacier.  Then  continue cruising up the Cristina arm of the lake to the remote and historic Estancia Cristina.  Debark and short walk to the estancia for a visit to the Costumbrista Museum in the old shearing shed where you will learn about the pioneering family who built the original estancia.  You will also enjoy an excursion by all-terrain vehicles, travelling 9.5 km through the mountainous roads in the area, ascending up to the continental ice shelter where a 30 minute walk will bring you to exquisite vistas of the front of Upsala Glacier, Lake Guillermo and the Andeas.  Enjoy a box lunch and late afternoon return cruise to Puerto Bandera and transfer to your hotel. (B/L/D)

Day 7 - Tuesday - El Calafate / Ushuaia:  Morning transfer to the El Calafate airport for flight south to Ushuaia, southernmost city on earth.  Transfer to the Hotel Los Cauquenes, overlooking the channel.   Afternoon at leisure to explore at your own pace. (B)

Day 8 - Wednesday - Embarkation on Australis and depart Ushuaia:  Morning excursion the Train at the End of the World, a historic and scenic journey.  Then onto Lapataia Bay in Tierra del Fuego National park, with lunch and eventual late afternoon transfer to the port for 5PM embarkation on the M/V Stella Australis or M/V Ventus Australis for a cruise from Ushuaia, through legendary Strait of Magellan to Punta Arenas, with all meals and daily activities as offered. (B/L/D)

Day 10 - Friday - Cruising Patagonia:  Morning cruise to the Bay of the Gunter Plushow Glacier where you will disembark for a hike near the glacier.  Then continue cruising through channels of O'Brian and Ballenero, Desolada Bay, Paso Aguirre and Breakneck Channels. (B/L/D)

Day 11 - Saturday - Debarkation / Punta Arenas / Puerto Bories:  Early morning visit to Magdalena Island with an enormous Magellan penguin colony with over 120,000 in different stages of breeding plus historic San Isidro Lighthouse.  Return cruise to Punta Arenas.  Meeting upon debarkation by staff from Hotel Singular Patagonia for three hour transfer north just a few minutes past Puerto Natales, to Puerto Bories and the Hotel Singular Patagonia.  You'll enjoy a four-night stay with all meals, open bar, all activities and excursions included. (B/L/D)

Day 12 - Sunday - Puerto Bories:  During your stay at Puerto Bories you are very close to Paine Towers National Park  and you will have a variety of activities to choose from, exploring both inside and outside the park.  The Singular Patagonia offers two private reserves of 15,350 hectares, dedicated to the conservation of natural species of flora and fauna at the disposal of their guests, to be visited and admired in exclusive private expeditions.  Among the options are exclusive trips to the hotel's private reserves: Punta Jamón and Estancia La Cumbre at Sierra Baguales Ranch. (B/L/D)

Day 13 - Monday - Puerto Bories:  Today select from the excursions as offered by the hotel.  In addition to having active excursions you can also explore the history of the pioneers and Patagonia. (B/L/D)

Day 14 - Tuesday - Puerto Bories:  One last day to explore the exquisite beauty of the Parque Nacional Torres del Paine and the surrounding area. (B/L/D)

Day 15 - Wednesday - Puerto Bories - Punta Arenas - Santiago:  At the appropriate time staff from Singular Patagonia will transfer you three hours to the Punta Arenas airport for your flight north along the Andes to Santiago, the capital of Chile.  Meeting upon arrival and transfer to the Singular Santiago in trendy Lastarria for a two night stay. (B)

Day 16 - Thursday - Santiago:  This morning visit the highlights of Santiago, fourth largest city in South America.  Santiago is beautifully set among a backdrop of 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 17 - Friday - Depart Santiago in the evening:  Depart Santiago and drive across the coastal ranges past Melipilla, a typical farming village to San Sebastian to turn north to Isla Negra, a quiet summer resort made famous by the Chilean Poet Pablo Neruda who arrived there in the 40's and made it his home.  Here you will visit his home, today a museum.  Then continue driving along the coast via El Quisco, Algarrobo, and finally to the San Antonio Valley and Matetic Winery where you will have a late lunch, visit to the winery and tasting session.  Late afternoon return drive back to the Santiago airport for your international departure flight. (B/L)

Day 18 - Saturday - 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.