On arrival at Buenos Aires international airport an English speaking guide will be waiting for you in the arrivals lobby at the airport to assist you with your luggage and take you to your hotel.
A fascinating tour of the elegant turn-of-the-century districts that earned Buenos Aires the soubriquet of the Paris of South America. From the charming cobbled alleys and colonial architecture of San Telmo along to the Plaza de Deco, dominated by the Casa Rosada (Government House), the Nación Bank, the Cathedral and original Parliament House, up the leafy Avenida de Deco towards the imposing grandeur of the Palace of Congress and the historically fascinating Recoleta Cemetery, you will discover the facts, stories and anecdotes that make up the colourful tapestry of the history of Buenos Aires.
At night:
Enjoy a typically Argentine first-class meal, be it the traditional steak, chicken or Patagonian lamb with a mouth-watering array of salads as well as any of a number of excellent pasta dishes before settling down for a two-hour show which includes some of the best-loved songs, music and dances performed by skilled musicians and dancers.
A driver will take you to the airport for your flight to Ushuaia in Tierra del Fuego where a driver will be waiting for you in the arrivals lobby to assist you with your luggage and take you to your hotel.
Breakfast at hotel. At the set time, you will be transferred to the Australis Cruises office for the check in procedures.
Cruise ship boarding from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. The Captain and his crew give a welcome cocktail reception on board. Immediately afterwards, the ship departs to “the uttermost part of the earth”. The expedition takes you through the Beagle Channel and the Strait of Magellan to explore one of the most captivating wilderness regions in the world: Southern Patagonia and Tierra del Fuego.
You sail through the Beagle and Murray channels to reach Cape Horn National Park, where you can disembark (weather permitting). Cape Horn, is a sheer, 425-meter (1,394-foot) high rocky promontory, and in the past it was the only entrance to the Pacific Ocean. This place is known as the “End of the World”, and it’s the last land fall before Antarctica. The park was declared a World Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO in June 2005.
In the afternoon, there is a landing at Wulaia Bay, once the largest Yamana Indian settlement in the area. Charles Darwin landed there on January 23rd, 1833, during the voyage of the HMS Beagle. This area is also renowned for beauty of its vegetation and geography. You can walk through a Magellanic forest of Lengas, Coihues, Canelos, ferns, and other native vegetation to reach a look-out point.
In the morning you will sail through the desolate Brecknock and Ocasión channels to reach Cockburn Channel in the afternoon. After lunch, we arrive at Chico Sound and disembark in Zodiac boats to explore Alakaluf Fjord and to see its beautiful waterfalls and observe the Piloto and Nena glaciers from the sea.
Early in the morning, there is a landing on Magdalena Island in the Magellan Straights. It was in the past an essential source of supplies for navigators and explorers. The island is inhabited by an immense colony of Magellanic Penguins which can be sighted during a walk to a lighthouse, which guides ships on their way through the straits. In September and April this excursion is replaced by a Zodiac boat ride at Isla Marta to observe sea lions. After visiting the island the cruise continues to its final destination, Punta Arenas, disembarking at 11:30 a.m.
Upon arrival you will be assisted by one of our guides who will take you to the hotel in Torres del Paine.
Three full days exploring the world famous Torres del Paine park and the surrounding areas. The park is excellent for walkers and its treasures are best reached on foot, however horse riding and 4x4 excursions can be arranged.
A driver will take you to Punta Arenas airport for your flight to Santiago where a driver will be waiting for you in the arrivals lobby to assist you with your luggage and take you to your hotel.
Your guide will meet you at your hotel to take you on a fascinating tour of what has become South America’s most dynamic city. Tour the bustling streets to the lively fish market and through the historic neighbourhoods of the old city centre. From the vantage point of Santa Lucia hill you will see how this vast city creeps towards the towering Andes that dwarf the city’s modern skyline.
A driver will meet you in the hotel lobby and take you to the international airport for your return flight.
*Prices are per person, based on two people sharing a double or twin room.
Prices are subject to availability.
Included:
• All tours and transfers in a private vehicle with driver and bilingual guide.
• Two full day tours in Torres del Paine with private guide
• Three full day tours in the Atacama with private guide
• Accommodation at Hotel Orly (Santiago) / Weskar Lodge (Puerto Natales) / Hotel Casa de Don Tomas (San Pedro de Atacama)
Not included: Flights
