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Journey from El Chalten - 15 days Overland El Chalten to Paine Towers Nat'l Park plus Buenos Aires & Santiago

ITINERARY (Subject to change without notice):

Day 1 - Depart Miami: Evening departure on overnight flight to Chile.

Day 2 - Arrive Buenos Aires: Meeting upon arrival Buenos Aires and transfer to the Cesar Park Hotel, in the heart of fashionable Recoleta for 2 nights with buffet breakfast daily. Your room has been pre-paid to assure immediate check-in upon arrival. Balance of the day at leisure. This evening you will enjoy the Rojo Tango Experience, with dinner and tango show. (B/DS)

Day 3: Buenos Aires: Morning city tour of Buenos Aires, often called "The Paris of South America". Drive down the widest boulevard on earth, 9 de Julio, past the Obelisk commemorating 400 years of history, past the Colon Opera House and many other places of interest in this sophisticated European style city. Afternoon at leisure to explore at your own pace.  (B)

Day 4 - Buenos Aires - El Calafate: Morning transfer to the airport for flight south to El Calafate, in the heart of the Argentine Patagonia and gateway to Parque Nacional Los Glaciares. Meeting upon arrival by explora staff and drive north some 3 hours to El Chalten, a small village located in Los Glaciares National Park, 220 kms (136.6 miles) northeast to El Calafate. Our center of operations and lodging during the following three days is at the El Puma lodge. (B/D)

Days 5, 6, 7 - El Chaltén & Parque Nacional Los Glaciares:
During these days we explore the foot of El Chaltén on diverse excursions of differing length and ability, and during which you will get to know the geology, glaciology, flora and fauna of this remote region. During our daily excursions we will visit the Torre and Fitz Roy mountain ranges, formed 12 million years ago. We will pass through old-growth forest and valleys that are characteristic of the Patagonian pampa, and border glaciers, rivers, cascades and lakes. We will also arrive at lookout points where we will be treated to outstanding views of El Chaltén and its mountain ranges, and from where we can observe condors and eagles. (B/L/D)

Day 8 - El Chalten to Paine Towers National Park:
We begin our journey to Torres del Paine National Park in the morning, passing by the icebergs in Lake Viedma and continuing on through the extensive pampa plains, bordering rivers and lakes of intense color. In Calafate we will enjoy a lunch of typical cuisine of the area. We continue crossing the pampa until we reach the Cancha Carrera border. We cross to the Chilean side and head northeast toward Torres del Paine. Along the way we will pass a few lakes, pass through the pampa and the sculptured formations of the Patagonian Andes and arriving at Paine Towers National Park for four night stay at the Explora Patagonia. (B/L/D)

Please NOTE: During your stay you will enjoy all meals, an open bar and a daily menu of excursions. Each night the resident guides will discuss the options for activities the next day - they range from half day, easy excursions to full day, difficult excursions and include walks, hikes, treks, horseback riding and motorlaunch excursions. The excursions are designed to give you ample time to explore the beauties of the park. Explora also has its own stables and offers a variety of horseback excursions in the park.

Day 9 - Paine Towers National Park: Today enjoy excursions as offered by the Hotel Explora. (B/L/D)

Day 10 - Paine Towers National Park: Once again, enjoy excursions as offered by the hotel. (B/L/D)

Day 11 - Paine Towers National Park: Once again, enjoy excursions as offered by the hotel. (B/L/D)

Day 12 - Paine Towers National Park - Punta Arenas - Santiago: Morning transfer by Hotel Explora five hours south to Punta Arenas airport for your flight north along the Andes to Santiago. Meeting upon arrival Santiago and transfer to your hotel, the Ritz Carlton Santiago. (B)

Day 13 - Santiago: Morning City tour of Santiago with visits to the main points of interest in Santiago including the Pre-Columbian Museum, a drive up Cerro San Cristobal for a bird's-eye panoramic view of the city and wine tasting at the Wine House. Afternoon at leisure to explore at your own pace. (B)

Day 14 - Depart Santiago: Morning at leisure to explore at your own pace. Mid-day pick-up for an hour's drive to the Santa Rita winery where you will enjoy lunch at the vineyard's popular Dona Paula's restaurant, a visit to the winery and the small but excellent musuem. Late afternoon return drive directly to the airport at Santiago to check in for your return overnight flight. (B)

Day 15 - Arrive USA: Arrive the USA in the morning, clear immigrations and customs and make connections to your home city.

RATES and DETAILS: