15-night Cape Horn & Glaciers of Patagonia Cruise

Dynamic and bustling, a city which seems never to sleep, Buenos Aires is one of the most exciting cities in Latin America. Tango was born here, restaurants serve an all manner of world cuisine, bars play the latest music, cafés spill on to the streets and nightclubs allow dancing throughout the night. Cultural hub of a society which traces its roots to European immigration, it is famous throughout South America for its theatres, museums and galleries. Gucci, Armani, Prada, to name a few, line the boulevards catering for the fashion conscious porteños, their offerings as stylish as anything found in the cities in Europe or North America.

Destination Guide

Excursions

Buenos Aires-Private Half Day City Tour 4 Hours — Optional Private Excursions

Buenos Aires-Rojo Tango + Dinner — Optional Private Excursions

Buenos Aires-Full Day Estancia El Ombu de Areco + Visit to San Antonio de Areco — Optional Private Excursions

Buenos Aires-Tigre Navigation — Optional Private Excursions

Buenos Aires-Full Day Colonia del Sacramento — Optional Private Excursions

Buenos Aires - Full Day Sightseeing Tour - 7 hours — Optional Private Excursions
Meet your local guide at local pier and start with your visit. 
Explore some of the most recognizable landmarks in Buenos Aires. Find out about the history and culture of this city, as you take in some of the most significant spots. Start at the most important square in the country: Plaza de Mayo. The country was founded here in 1580, and today the most important governmental buildings are located here including Casa Rosada (Government House), Cabildo (City Hall) and Catedral Metropolitana (Metropolitan Cathedral). Continue through the cobblestoned streets of San Telmo neighbourhood, where the original porteños (Buenos Aires residents) settled in the early days. The next stop is picturesque La Boca, home to Caminito, perhaps the city's most photographed street thanks to its corrugated iron and brightly coloured houses. This block houses one of the few outdoor museums in the world, where artists exhibit work, related to the influence of mainly Italian immigrants who arrived at this port at the end of the 19th century. La Boca is home to the legendary football (soccer giants) Boca Juniors, whose colours of blue and yellow adorn most of the houses and stores in this neighbourhood. Drive towards Palermo, passing through Puerto Madero, a regenerated area where redbrick warehouses have been transformed into trendy restaurants and bars.
Once in the northern area of the city, drive past Palermo Chico with its impressive townhouses, tree-lined boulevards, and parks. Palermo Soho, on the other hand, combines the flavour of an old, working-class neighbourhood with some contemporary details, including ethnic restaurants, design stores and bars. The bohemian atmosphere makes it popular with Argentines as well as foreign visitors, and restaurants cater to all palates. Continue to Recoleta, one of the most elegant and sophisticated districts, visit Nuestra Señora del Pilar Church and Recoleta Cemetery, known for its rich architecture and famous personalities whose mortal remains it treasures.

After the sightseeing you will be transferred back to the pier.

Tour highlights: 
- May square
- Old quarters at San Telmo neighborhood
- Caminito street at La Boca 
- Palermo neighborhood and parks
- Recoleta Cemetery  

 
Inclusions

• Transfers to/from the pier
• English speaking guide
• Private vehicle

Exclusions

• Gratuities for guide and driver
• Lunch 

Buenos Aires sightseeing tour with shared visit to Colon Theatre - Half Day — Optional Private Excursions
Meet your local guide at local pier and start with your visit. 

Familiarize yourself with some of the most recognizable landmarks, as well as history and culture in the Paris of the South, on this half-day private guided city tour. Kick off at Plaza de Mayo square, the heart of the city both from a historical and political point of view, and site of its foundation in 1580 by Don Juan de Garay. The next stop is San Telmo with its cobbled stone streets and colonial buildings. Also visit La Boca neighbourhood, the tough port barrio and colourful working-class area. Before returning to the hotel, visit Colon Theatre, one of the world's greatest opera houses, with its sublime interior, every piece of marble, furniture and crystal, imported from Europe. The theatre took 80 years to be completed and finally opened in 1908. It combines many European architectural styles and influences, including Greek columns, French stained glass and Italian marble. The house seats up to 2,500 people and the Colón has hosted opera celebrities such as Luciano Pavarotti, Maria Callas and Placido Domingo. Shared guided tour to Colon Theatre.


Tour highlights: 
- May square
- Old quarters at San Telmo neighborhood
- Caminito street at La Boca 
- Colon Theatre (shared visit)

Inclusions

• Transfers to/from the pier
• English speaking guide
• Private vehicle

Exclusions

• Gratuities for guide and driver
• Lunch 

Buenos Aires Sightseeing Tour North - half day — Optional Private Excursions
Meet your local guide at local pier and start with your visit. 
Familiarize yourself with some of the most recognizable landmarks in the northern area of Buenos Aires. Drive through Palermo, a district with several different areas such as classic Palermo Chico and contemporary Palermo Hollywood. Start in Palermo Chico with its impressive townhouses, tree-lined boulevards, and parks, then continue to Bosques de Palermo parks; past the Japanese and Rose Gardens with their lakes and sculptures, which can be visited independently. From here continue past the Palermo racetrack and polo grounds where the famous Argentine Polo Open is played every December. Palermo Soho, on the other hand, fuses the flavour of a working-class neighbourhood with contemporary twists such as ethnic restaurants, design stores and bars. Its bohemian atmosphere makes it popular with Argentines as well as foreign visitors. Gastronomy options appeal to all palates. Finally, visit Recoleta neighbourhood, home to many a mansion, which takes one back to Argentina's  glorious days. The tour ends at the Recoleta Cemetery, renowned for its rich architecture and sculptures that makes it more of an open-air museum than a final resting place.

After tour you will be transferred back to the pier.

Tour highlights: 
- Palermo trendy area
- Japanese and Rose garden in Palermo
- Recoleta cemetery

Inclusions

• Transfers to/from the pier
• English speaking guide
• Private vehicle

Exclusions

• Gratuities for guide and driver
• Lunch 

Buenos Aires Sightseeing Tour & Evita Museum - Half Day — Optional Private Excursions
Meet your local guide at local pier and start with your visit. 

Explore the highlights of the 'Paris of South America' in a four-hour tour accompanied by one of our experienced representatives who will introduce you to the history and culture of this magnificent city. Beginning with the historical areas of Buenos Aires: Plaza de Mayo, the historical and political heart of the city, laid out by Don Juan de Garay in 1580 during the second founding of Buenos Aires. Continue to La Boca, the tough port barrio and colourful working-class area of Buenos Aires, Palermo with its gardens and mansions; and finally, Recoleta, where you will visit its world famous cemetery and see the tombs and mausoleums of the most important personalities of Argentine history. Finally, visit the Evita Museum, a living museum where people can learn, understand and appreciate the life of one of the most important women in Argentine history.

After the sightseeing you will be transferred back to the pier.

Tour highlights: 
- May square
- Caminito street at La Boca 
- Palermo neighborhood and parks
- Recoleta Cemetery  
- Evita´s museum

Inclusions

• Transfers to/from the pier
• English speaking guide
• Private vehicle
• Entrancee fee for Cemetery and Evitas museum

Exclusions

• Gratuities for guide and driver
• Lunch 

Buenos Aires Tigre Getaway - Half Day — Optional Private Excursions
Meet your local guide at local pier and start with your visit. 
Escape the hustle and bustle of central Buenos Aires on this relaxing half-day getaway, featuring fashionable riverside suburbs and a cruise along sheltered waterways. Drive to Tigre passing through neighbourhoods such as Vicente López, Olivos, and San Isidro, and past elegant homes of these residential suburbs, including the Presidential Residence in Olivos, official home to Argentina's president. On arrival at the Paraná River, board a private river boat and head out along the Delta's waterways. An array of colourful sights awaits as the boat cruises past islands, turn-of-the-century homes, yacht clubs and a fleet of watercrafts, including canoes and sailboats. A soft drink and snack are served while you enjoy the scenery. Re-join your vehicle when the river cruise ends and transfers you back to the hotel.
After the sightseeing you will be transferred back to the pier.

Tour highlights: 
- Parana river
- Sail in the Delta  

 
Inclusions

• Transfers to/from the pier
• English speaking guide
• Private vehicle
• Private river boat

 
Exclusions

• Gratuities for guide and driver
• Lunch 

Buenos Aires Tango Show & Dinner at Rojo Tango — Optional Private Excursions
Meet your local guide at local pier and start with your visit. 
At Rojo Tango, a unique venue designed by Philippe Starck located within the Faena Hotel, enjoy an evening of “Porteño” (residents of Buenos Aires) music and dance. After a three-course dinner with wine and without moving from your seat, the band will strike up and the dancers will appear on scene, to recreate nostalgic times when Tango was danced in the streets of Buenos Aires. A majestic performance full of fantasy and sensuality and incredible skill.
After the sightseeing you will be transferred back to the pier.

Tour highlights: 
- Tango show at Rojo tango
- First class venue

 
Inclusions

• Transfers to/from the pier
• Private vehicle
• Dinner

 
Exclusions

• Gratuities for guide and driver
• English speaking guide

Dynamic and bustling, a city which seems never to sleep, Buenos Aires is one of the most exciting cities in Latin America. Tango was born here, restaurants serve an all manner of world cuisine, bars play the latest music, cafés spill on to the streets and nightclubs allow dancing throughout the night. Cultural hub of a society which traces its roots to European immigration, it is famous throughout South America for its theatres, museums and galleries. Gucci, Armani, Prada, to name a few, line the boulevards catering for the fashion conscious porteños, their offerings as stylish as anything found in the cities in Europe or North America.

Destination Guide

Excursions

Buenos Aires-Private Half Day City Tour 4 Hours — Optional Private Excursions

Buenos Aires-Rojo Tango + Dinner — Optional Private Excursions

Buenos Aires-Full Day Estancia El Ombu de Areco + Visit to San Antonio de Areco — Optional Private Excursions

Buenos Aires-Tigre Navigation — Optional Private Excursions

Buenos Aires-Full Day Colonia del Sacramento — Optional Private Excursions

Buenos Aires - Full Day Sightseeing Tour - 7 hours — Optional Private Excursions
Meet your local guide at local pier and start with your visit. 
Explore some of the most recognizable landmarks in Buenos Aires. Find out about the history and culture of this city, as you take in some of the most significant spots. Start at the most important square in the country: Plaza de Mayo. The country was founded here in 1580, and today the most important governmental buildings are located here including Casa Rosada (Government House), Cabildo (City Hall) and Catedral Metropolitana (Metropolitan Cathedral). Continue through the cobblestoned streets of San Telmo neighbourhood, where the original porteños (Buenos Aires residents) settled in the early days. The next stop is picturesque La Boca, home to Caminito, perhaps the city's most photographed street thanks to its corrugated iron and brightly coloured houses. This block houses one of the few outdoor museums in the world, where artists exhibit work, related to the influence of mainly Italian immigrants who arrived at this port at the end of the 19th century. La Boca is home to the legendary football (soccer giants) Boca Juniors, whose colours of blue and yellow adorn most of the houses and stores in this neighbourhood. Drive towards Palermo, passing through Puerto Madero, a regenerated area where redbrick warehouses have been transformed into trendy restaurants and bars.
Once in the northern area of the city, drive past Palermo Chico with its impressive townhouses, tree-lined boulevards, and parks. Palermo Soho, on the other hand, combines the flavour of an old, working-class neighbourhood with some contemporary details, including ethnic restaurants, design stores and bars. The bohemian atmosphere makes it popular with Argentines as well as foreign visitors, and restaurants cater to all palates. Continue to Recoleta, one of the most elegant and sophisticated districts, visit Nuestra Señora del Pilar Church and Recoleta Cemetery, known for its rich architecture and famous personalities whose mortal remains it treasures.

After the sightseeing you will be transferred back to the pier.

Tour highlights: 
- May square
- Old quarters at San Telmo neighborhood
- Caminito street at La Boca 
- Palermo neighborhood and parks
- Recoleta Cemetery  

 
Inclusions

• Transfers to/from the pier
• English speaking guide
• Private vehicle

Exclusions

• Gratuities for guide and driver
• Lunch 

Buenos Aires sightseeing tour with shared visit to Colon Theatre - Half Day — Optional Private Excursions
Meet your local guide at local pier and start with your visit. 

Familiarize yourself with some of the most recognizable landmarks, as well as history and culture in the Paris of the South, on this half-day private guided city tour. Kick off at Plaza de Mayo square, the heart of the city both from a historical and political point of view, and site of its foundation in 1580 by Don Juan de Garay. The next stop is San Telmo with its cobbled stone streets and colonial buildings. Also visit La Boca neighbourhood, the tough port barrio and colourful working-class area. Before returning to the hotel, visit Colon Theatre, one of the world's greatest opera houses, with its sublime interior, every piece of marble, furniture and crystal, imported from Europe. The theatre took 80 years to be completed and finally opened in 1908. It combines many European architectural styles and influences, including Greek columns, French stained glass and Italian marble. The house seats up to 2,500 people and the Colón has hosted opera celebrities such as Luciano Pavarotti, Maria Callas and Placido Domingo. Shared guided tour to Colon Theatre.


Tour highlights: 
- May square
- Old quarters at San Telmo neighborhood
- Caminito street at La Boca 
- Colon Theatre (shared visit)

Inclusions

• Transfers to/from the pier
• English speaking guide
• Private vehicle

Exclusions

• Gratuities for guide and driver
• Lunch 

Buenos Aires Sightseeing Tour North - half day — Optional Private Excursions
Meet your local guide at local pier and start with your visit. 
Familiarize yourself with some of the most recognizable landmarks in the northern area of Buenos Aires. Drive through Palermo, a district with several different areas such as classic Palermo Chico and contemporary Palermo Hollywood. Start in Palermo Chico with its impressive townhouses, tree-lined boulevards, and parks, then continue to Bosques de Palermo parks; past the Japanese and Rose Gardens with their lakes and sculptures, which can be visited independently. From here continue past the Palermo racetrack and polo grounds where the famous Argentine Polo Open is played every December. Palermo Soho, on the other hand, fuses the flavour of a working-class neighbourhood with contemporary twists such as ethnic restaurants, design stores and bars. Its bohemian atmosphere makes it popular with Argentines as well as foreign visitors. Gastronomy options appeal to all palates. Finally, visit Recoleta neighbourhood, home to many a mansion, which takes one back to Argentina's  glorious days. The tour ends at the Recoleta Cemetery, renowned for its rich architecture and sculptures that makes it more of an open-air museum than a final resting place.

After tour you will be transferred back to the pier.

Tour highlights: 
- Palermo trendy area
- Japanese and Rose garden in Palermo
- Recoleta cemetery

Inclusions

• Transfers to/from the pier
• English speaking guide
• Private vehicle

Exclusions

• Gratuities for guide and driver
• Lunch 

Buenos Aires Sightseeing Tour & Evita Museum - Half Day — Optional Private Excursions
Meet your local guide at local pier and start with your visit. 

Explore the highlights of the 'Paris of South America' in a four-hour tour accompanied by one of our experienced representatives who will introduce you to the history and culture of this magnificent city. Beginning with the historical areas of Buenos Aires: Plaza de Mayo, the historical and political heart of the city, laid out by Don Juan de Garay in 1580 during the second founding of Buenos Aires. Continue to La Boca, the tough port barrio and colourful working-class area of Buenos Aires, Palermo with its gardens and mansions; and finally, Recoleta, where you will visit its world famous cemetery and see the tombs and mausoleums of the most important personalities of Argentine history. Finally, visit the Evita Museum, a living museum where people can learn, understand and appreciate the life of one of the most important women in Argentine history.

After the sightseeing you will be transferred back to the pier.

Tour highlights: 
- May square
- Caminito street at La Boca 
- Palermo neighborhood and parks
- Recoleta Cemetery  
- Evita´s museum

Inclusions

• Transfers to/from the pier
• English speaking guide
• Private vehicle
• Entrancee fee for Cemetery and Evitas museum

Exclusions

• Gratuities for guide and driver
• Lunch 

Buenos Aires Tigre Getaway - Half Day — Optional Private Excursions
Meet your local guide at local pier and start with your visit. 
Escape the hustle and bustle of central Buenos Aires on this relaxing half-day getaway, featuring fashionable riverside suburbs and a cruise along sheltered waterways. Drive to Tigre passing through neighbourhoods such as Vicente López, Olivos, and San Isidro, and past elegant homes of these residential suburbs, including the Presidential Residence in Olivos, official home to Argentina's president. On arrival at the Paraná River, board a private river boat and head out along the Delta's waterways. An array of colourful sights awaits as the boat cruises past islands, turn-of-the-century homes, yacht clubs and a fleet of watercrafts, including canoes and sailboats. A soft drink and snack are served while you enjoy the scenery. Re-join your vehicle when the river cruise ends and transfers you back to the hotel.
After the sightseeing you will be transferred back to the pier.

Tour highlights: 
- Parana river
- Sail in the Delta  

 
Inclusions

• Transfers to/from the pier
• English speaking guide
• Private vehicle
• Private river boat

 
Exclusions

• Gratuities for guide and driver
• Lunch 

Buenos Aires Tango Show & Dinner at Rojo Tango — Optional Private Excursions
Meet your local guide at local pier and start with your visit. 
At Rojo Tango, a unique venue designed by Philippe Starck located within the Faena Hotel, enjoy an evening of “Porteño” (residents of Buenos Aires) music and dance. After a three-course dinner with wine and without moving from your seat, the band will strike up and the dancers will appear on scene, to recreate nostalgic times when Tango was danced in the streets of Buenos Aires. A majestic performance full of fantasy and sensuality and incredible skill.
After the sightseeing you will be transferred back to the pier.

Tour highlights: 
- Tango show at Rojo tango
- First class venue

 
Inclusions

• Transfers to/from the pier
• Private vehicle
• Dinner

 
Exclusions

• Gratuities for guide and driver
• English speaking guide

Slightly threadbare and charmingly out of date, Montevideo harks back to pre-war days when it was the "Switzerland of South America." Art deco and art nouveau façades reflect this flourishing past, while the impressive Plaza Independencia, with its colonnades and open-air cafés, is a perfect place to savor the present.

Destination Guide

Nestled in a protected bay on the Gulf Nuevo, this unique hamlet was founded by adventurous Welsh colonists in 1865 and has maintained Welsh as its official language. Visit the Valdez Peninsula, the only known continental breeding place for elephant seals. Also watch for sea lions, whales and exotic birds.

Destination Guide

Port Stanley is the only town on the Falkland Islands, and though it has little more than 1,200 residents, it contains half of the islands' population. There are 700,000 sheep, and a wonderful assortment of sea birds and elephant seals.

Rounding the extreme southern tip of South America, you'll be awestruck by the rugged beauty and imposing vision of Cape Horn, a craggy, massive rocky point that was the bane of early explorers.

The world's southernmost city, Ushuaia overlooks Beagle Channel, named after the ship that took Charles Darwin to the bottom of the world. Founded just over one hundred years ago, this rustic town is situated amidst incredible snowcapped mountains, dramatic waterfalls, massive glaciers, and a forest known for its red foliage. Tierra del Fuego, the "Land of Fire," twelve miles to the west of Ushuaia, is known for its glacial landscape and its national park, which is a bird-watcher's paradise.

Destination Guide

Excursions

Ushuaia – Tierra del Fuego National Park and End of the World Train - Half Day — Optional Private Excursions
Meet your local guide at local pier and start with your visit. 
Begin the tour by driving along National Route N3, crossing the valley of the Pipo River and the foothills of Mount Susana, to the train station located in the area where the inmates of the old prison collected firewood.
 
The little steam train will wind along the trail that the prison train used to follow over bridges, swampy areas, and green valleys, making a short stop at La Macarena waterfall. On completion of the train ride and already in the Tierra del Fuego National Park, drive through the most attractive landscapes of the park, such as Lake Roca and Bahía Lapataia (where the National Route N3, part of the Pan-American Highway ends).
 
In different locations take short walks to appreciate the different species of the native forest and the protected fauna in the southernmost National Park of Argentina.

After the tour you will be transferred back to the pier.

Tour highlights: 

• Beagle Channel
• Lapataia Bay
• End of the World train

 
Inclusions

• Transfers to/from the pier
• English speaking guide
• Private vehicle

 
Exclusions

• Gratuities for guide and driver
• Box-Lunch
• Entrance fee

Beagle Channel flows to the south of Tierra del Fuego, South America and is named after the ship of Charles Darwin’s voyage. Three islands at its eastern end, with krill and oil reserves within their 200 mi territorial waters, and the dependent sector of the Antarctic with its resources, were disputed between Argentina and Chile and awarded to Chile in 1985.

Punta Arenas is the southernmost city on Earth, overlooking the Straits of Magellan. Situated astride one of the world's historic trade routes, its prosperity has risen and fallen with that trade. Punta Arenas enjoyed its first great boom during the California Gold Rush, when it served as a haven for great clipper ships. Although the port's importance diminished after the opening of the Panama Canal, the city reached even greater prosperity early in this century as the center of Chile's international wool trade. Today, Punta Arenas reflects a great mix of cultures, from English sheep ranchers to Portuguese sailors, and it remains an utterly fascinating testament to the Chile's rich history. Punta Arenas is also the starting point for excursions to some of the most spectacular scenery in the world.

Destination Guide

Excursions

Punta Arenas: Exploring the End of the World - 3.5 hours — Optional Private Excursions

HIGHLIGHTS OF THIS EXCURSION

• A visit to the Braun-Menendez Regional Museum.
• Cocktail and canapés at the De La Cruz hill
• The municipal cemetery and the tomb dedicated to the Ona Indians.

 DESCRIPTION

This city tour begins with a visit to the southern sector  of Punta Arenas where we’ll visit the eerie wreckage of the Lord  Longsdale ship and the local market.

Afterwards we’ll head back to Old Town Punta Arenas. Here its European architecture, public buildings, main square and gardens with their varied styles denote wealth and luxury that existed in the city during the "golden era" between 1880 and 1914, when Punta Arenas was one of the most active ports of the Southern Cone.

The visit will continue to the Braun-Menendez Regional Museum, the former residence of Maurice Braun and Josefina Menendez, a marriage that united the two largest fortunes in the region of Magallanes. With the falling price of wool and the nationalization of the farms during the 1970's, the family lost most of their wealth and their descendants have since moved from Patagonia to the rest of world.

Moving from downtown towards the North, we’ll arrive at the Mount La Cruz panoramic point. It offers a beautiful view of the city, with its colorful roofs spreading up to the strait and showing the landscape of Tierra del Fuego, Mount Sarmiento and the southern area of the Brunswick Peninsula. Before continuing will take a few minutes to make a toast enjoying this unique view and brilliant photo stop.

To end this excursion we’ll take you to the beautifully landscaped Municipal Cemetery. Here, one can admire the splendid mausoleums of pioneer families as well as a tomb dedicated to the Unknown Ona, the now extinct Fireland Indians. They say you can't really understand a culture until you see where they bury their dead, and in the case of the cemetery of Punta Arenas, this edict certainly rings true. The Municipal Cemetery was opened by the Governor Señoret in 1894 and features a giant stone portico donated by Sara Braun in 1919. Inside this necropolis lies a veritable miniature city, with avenues that connect the magnificent tombs of the region's founding families, settlers, and civic workers and a rather solemn tomb where lie the remains of the last Selk'nam Indians of Tierra del Fuego. 

*Travelers will be transferred from the pier to the excursion sites by car

Operational notes :
 
Duration : 3.5 hours
Level of activity : Easy.
Meal plan : Snacks and refreshments at Mount La Cruz
Travellers will be transferred from the pier to the excursion sites by car

Punta Arenas: Flavors of Patagonia - 4 hours — Optional Private Excursions

HIGHLIGHTS OF THIS EXCURSION

• An orientation tour of Punta Arenas
• A private culinary experience with a renowned local chef

 DESCRIPTION

The Walking City Tour begins at Main Square Plaza Muñoz Gamero and Old Town with its European arquitecture, public buildings and gardens with their varied styles denote wealth and luxury that existed in the city during the "golden era" between 1880 and 1914, when Punta Arenas became one of the most active ports of the Southern Cone.

To continue towards the area near the port and regional market where will meet up with Luis Gonzalez, Chef and owner of the unique Remezon Restaurant which offers wild flavours that come from this part of the world. Thus his proposal has been awarded and praised by many visitors.

Luis Gonzalez enjoys sharing his Patagonian recipes and culinary secrets with those who come to the Remezon. Today we’ll be doing some grocery shopping together at the market and his favourite spots and afterwards enter his kitchen where cooking is not only fun but we’ll also learn more about Punta Arenas culture, its people and way of living at the ends of the world.

After participating in preparing some delicious dishes it will be time to sit back and enjoy lunch.

Before leaving Luis will surprise you with a very special memento of this Patagonian culinary experience. 

*Travelers will be transferred from the pier to the excursion sites by car

Operational notes :
 
Duration : 4 hours
Level of activity : Easy.
Meal plan : Lunch with wine at the Remezón restaurant 
Travelers will be transferred from the pier to the excursion sites by car

Punta Arenas - A day on a Patagonian Ranch - 5 hours — Optional Private Excursions
HIGHLIGHTS OF THIS EXCURSION

• The local fauna
• Typical Patagonian lunch

DESCRIPTION
 
This journey begins as we take off from the city towards the north. Once leaving Punta Arenas enjoy the scenery of the pampas and Patagonian steppe; rheas may be seen alongside hundreds of sheep.
In 1852 Bernard E. Philippi brought some sheep from Chiloé (island across Puerto Montt) and in 1877 the governor Double Diego Almeyda traveled to the Falkland Islands and brought 300 sheep that were sold in Punta Arenas. The following year other traders brought more sheep, and thus began the business of farming and today represent one of the main economic activities in the region. The principal landowners were English and Scots, who knew the handling of sheep and the necessary infrastructure.
 
Rio Penitente farm was founded by Alexander Morrison, a Scottish pioneer in 1891. Today his descendants are in charge, and will be here to welcome visitors to their charming ranch to explore their facilities, discover the traditional work around the farm, and watch the sheep working dogs and a sheep shearing exhibition.
 
The comfortable old-world setting provides sharp contrast with the raw beauty of the beech forest and open pampas of the surrounding Patagonian Landscapes. The clear water of Rio Penitente, flowing through the farm, offers excellent trout fishing.
 
For lunch an exquisite Patagonian barbecue will be served at the main dinning room.

*Travelers will be transferred from the pier to the excursion sites by car
 

Evocative of Switzerland, Chile's lake district is noted for its pristine, almost Alpine scenery and bracing climate. Visit Lake Llanquihue (pronounced "Yankee-way"), and explore the rugged coastline leading to Ensenada. Marvel at a Fuji-like volcano, Mount Osorno, which rises to a height of 8,500 feet. View the rushing falls and turbulent rapids of Petrohue and cruise the blue-green waters of placid Lake Todos Los Santos. Taste Chilean country specialties and enjoy folklore entertainment at a rustic hosteria.

Destination Guide

Excursions

Puerto Montt: The Llanquihue Lake Experience - 6 hours — Optional Private Excursions
HIGHLIGHTS OF THIS EXCURSION

• The town of Puerto Varas
• The Settlers Museum in Frutillar
• Angelmó Handicrafts Market in Puerto Montt

 

DESCRIPTION
This excursion takes in the main attractions of Puerto Montt and the nearby towns of Puerto Varas and Frutillar, both located on the shores of Lake Llanquihue, with spectacular views of the snow-capped Osorno Volcano.
 
Puerto Montt was founded in 1853 by German immigrants and their stalwart promoter Vicente Pérez Rosales, who named the town after another promoter of immigration, President Manuel Montt. The waterfront here was rebuilt after the devastating earthquake of 1960, which had destroyed the city's port, church, and neighbourhood of Angelmó. Today it is the capital of Chile's Southern Lake District, a thriving city that invests heavily in salmon farming, shipping, and tourism. Puerto Montt is commercially and strategically very important to this region. Settled by German colonists in the mid-19th century, it features middle-European architecture, with high-pitched, redwood-shingled roofs and ornate balconies.
 
On leaving the port there will be a short visit of the Angelmó Handicrafts market located just a few minutes walk from the dock gates, before continue through the centre of the city for a glimpse of highlights such as the redwood cathedral on the city's plaza, which is the city's oldest building, dating back to 1856. Continue to the town of Puerto Varas for an orientation tour and enjoy the opportunity to take a photograph across the waters of the Llanquihue to one of the regions icons; the mighty Osorno Volcano. Puerto Varas is one of Chile's most charming towns, not only because of its privileged lakeside location, but also because of its quaint, German-influenced architecture, and its friendly, laid-back atmosphere. The city was built by the sweat and tenacity of German immigrants, and later it became a port for goods being shipped from the Lago Llanquihue area to Puerto Montt (mostly timber). Today most of the area's middle- and upper-middle-class residents call Puerto Varas home and commute to Puerto Montt and other surrounding places for work.
 
Along the trip we will do a short stop to enjoy the delicious local beer, Drakkar and Colonos; we will also visit the brewery to learn how they produce it. Our host will be the owner who will explain us the process.
 
Continue to the historic town of Frutillar. Founded in 1856 by German settlers, this is one the most charming towns in Chile. A visit will be made to the Settlers Museum, which features a collection of 19th-century antiques, clothing, and artefacts gathered from various immigrant German families around the area. There will also be a visit to the Teatro del Lago Concert Hall, an open-air venue that is gaining prestige on both a national and international level, and which is home to Frutillar’s famous Music Festival. Once an event for local and regional artists, this annual festival now draws international performers.
 
Light lunch will be served at “Lavanda Casa de Té”, an old barn where Opa Pancho spended many hours dedicated to one of his hobbies, mechanic; today, it has been turned into an exclusive tearoom immersed in lavender plantation.  Among aromas, flavors and memories of an unforgettable time, we will taste the finest flavors of tea accompanied by the best local pastry
 
After light lunch return to Puerto Montt, stopping briefly at an observation point for a view across Tenglo Bay with the ship in port.


Operational notes :
 
Duration : 6.15 hours
Level of activity : Easy.
Meal plan : Light lunch & mineral water 
Travelers will be transferred from the pier to the excursion site. 
 

Puerto Montt: A Journey into Chile's Oldest National Park - 4 hours — Optional Private Excursions
HIGHLIGHTS OF THIS EXCURSION

• The Petrohué Rapids
• The town of Puerto Varas
• Puerto Montt and the Angelmó Market

 
DESCRIPTION
This excursion takes in the main attractions of Puerto Montt, Puerto Varas, and the Petrohué Rapids, one of southern Chile’s most beautiful attractions.
 
Departing from the pier, the drive heads directly to one of the most famous beauty spots in Chile’s Lake District; Petrohué Rapids. The scenic journey follows the road to the village of Alerce, with views of charming wooden houses and churches, pristine farmland, and lush green forest, before taking the road that skirts Lake Llanquihue.
 
The arrival to the village of Ensenada, at the foot of the Osorno Volcano, marks the entrance to the oldest National Park in Chile; the Vicente Perez Rosales National Park. Founded in 1926 it covers an area of 251,000 hectares (619,970 acres), incorporating the park's centrepieces Lake Todos los Santos, the Petrohué Rapids, and three commanding volcanoes; Osorno, Calbuco, and Puntiagudo.
 
The mighty Petrohué is one of Chile’s most beautiful and exciting glacial rivers, and your guests will marvel at the spectacular scenery of ancient forests, waterfalls and breathtaking views of the surrounding mountains and volcanoes. Upon arrival to the rapids, one can enjoy the spectacle of the inky-green waters as they crash through lava channels formed after the eruption of the Osorno in 1850.
 
Head back west in the direction of Puerto Varas, where a short stop will be made. This tidy little town, with its lovely architecture and bustling centre, is mainly residential and thrives on tourism thanks to its grand setting on Lake Llanquihue and proximity to the nearby National Parks. Here there will be an opportunity to take a photograph or two across the waters of Lake Llanquihue to the mighty Osorno Volcano. The city was built by the sweat and tenacity of German immigrants, and later it became a port for goods being shipped from the Lago Llanquihue area to Puerto Montt (mostly timber). Today most of the area's middle- and upper-middle-class residents call Puerto Varas home and commute to Puerto Montt and other surrounding places for work.
 
Return to Puerto Montt, stopping briefly at an observation point for a view across Tenglo Bay with the ship in port, followed by a short orientation tour through the centre of the city for a glimpse of highlights such as the redwood cathedral on the city's plaza, which is the city's oldest building, dating back to 1856.
 
The transfer will end either on the pier or for those who choose to browse for bargains, at the Angelmó Handicraft Market, just a few minutes’ walk from the dock gates.


Operational notes :
 
Duration : 4 hours
Level of activity : Easy.
Meal plan : Mineral water 

**Travelers will be transferred from the pier to the excursion sites by car

 

Puerto Montt: The Route of the Pioneers - 7 hours — Optional Private Excursions
HIGHLIGHTS OF THIS EXCURSION

• A walk on the Osorno Volcano
• Breathtaking mountain and cold rainforest scenery

 
DESCRIPTION
This excursion follows route taken by the German, Swiss and Austrian pioneers in 1850, looking for a way to reach Argentina from Chile.
 
This programme commences with a drive north out of Puerto Montt towards the village of Alerce, with views of charming wooden houses and churches, pristine farmland, and lush green forest. Then take the road to Colonia Tres Puentes. This small, sleepy town is located at the foot of the Calbuco Volcano. A stop will be made at a nearby forest of the ancient alerce trees.
 
Continue the journey to the Vicente Pérez Rosales National Park, climbing the Osorno Volcano to the Ski and Mountain Centre, at an altitude of 4,200 feet above sea level. When you reach the La Burbuja sector, you will take a short trek to enjoy the panoramic views and will be able to take pictures of the summit of Osorno and Calbuco with their snow-covered peaks, and of Lake Llanquihue. You will also enjoy the views from the chairlift.
 
Lunch will be served at a local restaurant, before continuing to one of the most famous beauty spots in Chile’s Lake District; Petrohué Rapids. The mighty Petrohué is one of Chile’s most beautiful and exciting glacial rivers, and your guests will marvel at the spectacular scenery of ancient forests, waterfalls and breathtaking views of the surrounding mountains and volcanoes. Upon arrival to the rapids, one can enjoy the spectacle of the inky-green waters as they crash through lava channels formed after the eruption of the Osorno in 1850.
 
Return to Puerto Montt to rejoin the ship.

Notes:
Duration : 7 hours
Level of activity : Easy.
Meal plan : Mineral water 
*Travelers will be transferred from the pier to the excursion sites by car
 

Santiago, like Chile in general, has enjoyed a renaissance of cultural, intellectual and especially commercial activity for more than two consecutive decades. The Andes Mountains overlook Santiago's eastern edge, and their snowy peaks provide good hiking, skiing, rafting and kayaking—and the beach is only a short drive away. Small wonder it is the country's capital and largest city, as well as one of the continent's largest metropolises.

Centro (downtown Santiago) is still dotted with Spanish colonial buildings and old churches, as well as many sparkling new modern buildings. Other neighborhoods house international restaurants, upscale boutiques and lively nightlife. Tourist areas are compact, and the resident Santiaguinos are pleasantly helpful. The city has a certain efficiency not found elsewhere in Latin America, and an obvious prosperous feel to it. The major drawback is that ongoing development and traffic congestion have created air pollution and smog, and the shanty towns on the outskirts appear to be growing (albeit in a controlled state).

Destination Guide