Patagonia Explorer by Avanti: Santiago, Patagonia, and Buenos Aires

Patagonia, Argentina & Chile: A Trip of Lifetime!

12 Days/11 Nights

Departs Daily from Santiago

Combine the culture and sophistication of two South American capitals with the rugged beauty of adventurous Patagonia. Explore the remote, spectacular landscape of Patagonia, a nature lover’s paradise shared by Chile and Argentina at the southern tip of the Americas. Centuries ago, this was the end of the known world. You’ll never forget the sights here; jaw-droppingly beautiful mountains, calving glaciers, turquoise lakes and abundant wildlife. This adventure in the wild is bookended by stays in two of South America’s most fascinating cities, Santiago and Buenos Aires.  Truly, the trip of a lifetime.

Santiago, Chile

Day 1: Arrive Santiago:

Airport greeting and transfer to your hotel. Free time to relax or explore on your own - easy using Santiago's extensive, safe metro system. This city of contrasts is surrounded by snow-capped mountain peaks and miles of vineyards. Check out the neighborhoods of Bellavista, Providencia, Lastarria, and Barrio Brasil for art galleries, cafes, shopping, restaurants and nightlife. Overnight Santiago.

(Accommodations, Santiago)

Day 2: Santiago:

You are met at your hotel by a guide for a half-day private walking tour of central Santiago. Founded in 1541, Santiago is a fascinating combination of old and very new building styles. See the late 18th century La Moneda Presidential Palace, nearby Art Deco buildings from the 1930s, neoclassical National Congress, old Customs House (now the Pre-Columbian Art Museum), baroque Metropolitan Cathedral, National Historical Museum, Stock Exchange and Club de la Union. The city's oldest building is the 16th century San Francisco Church and monastery. Afternoon and evening on your own. Visit any of the museums you walked past on the tour, or try the Fashion Museum, Museo de la Chilenidad, featuring Chilean artists, the strikingly modern Museum of Visual Arts or the sobering Museum of Memory and Human Rights, which documents the repressive rule of the dictator Pinochet. Check out the hip Paris-Londres district – built in the 1920s to resemble both cities. Step back in time at Calle Concha y Toro, one of the oldest parts of the city. Or take the cable car or funicular up the hill of Cerro San Cristobal for a panoramic view of the city. Fans of the poet Pablo Neruda should go to La Chascona, his second house, built to resemble a ship interior and located in the Bellavista neighborhood. Good thing you have another day here – there's so much to see. Overnight Santiago.(Breakfast, Accommodations, Santiago)

Day 3: Santiago:

Avanti offers a variety of optional half-day and full-day tours in and around Santiago. Themes and activities include biking, walking, wine-tasting, cooking, dining, history and architecture. Or take a day trip to the charming seaport of Valparaiso and nearby beach resort Vina del Mar. Or do all those things you meant to do yesterday! Overnight Santiago.(Breakfast, Accommodations, Santiago)

Day 4: Santiago to Torres del Paine:

Transfer to the airport to fly to Punta Arenas. You are met at the Punta Arenas airport by a driver guide who will take you to your hotel of choice in Torres del Paine while providing information on this fascinating area enroute.(Breakfast, Santiago; Dinner, Accommodations, Torres del Paine)

Day 5: Torres del Paine:

After breakfast, enjoy a daily excursion of your choice to discover the unforgettable wilderness of Torres del Paine National Park, designated a World Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO.(Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Accommodations, Torres del Paine)

Day 6: Torres del Paine:

After breakfast, enjoy a daily excursion of your choice to discover the unforgettable wilderness of Torres del Paine National Park, designated a World Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO.(Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Accommodations, Torres del Paine)

Day 7: Torres del Paine to El Calafate:

There is regularly scheduled bus service (5 hours) between Puerto Natales and El Calafate and many properties offer the transfer on a shared or private basis. A picturesque town overlooking Lake Argentina, Calafate is the gateway to Glaciers National Park. The glaciers in this southernmost part of the Andes were formed more than 20,000 years ago. The Southern Patagonian ice field, shared by Chile and Argentina, is the world's largest outside of Antarctica.(Breakfast, Torres del Paine; Accommodations, El Calafate)

Day 8: El Calafate:

Depart early morning for a full-day excursion (with lunch) to Perito Moreno glacier, which measures close to 20 miles long and some 200 feet high. While other glaciers are retreating, Moreno advances up to 2 meters (6.5 feet) every day. Against the backdrop of snow-covered Andean peaks, glaciers dazzle the eye with shades of blue and turquoise reflecting in the ice. You spend 3 hours on the glacier balconies and walking along pathways. Icebergs the size of buildings calve off the glacier's face. You've never seen anything like it. Late afternoon return to El Calafate and overnight.(Breakfast, Accommodations, El Calafate)

Day 9: El Calafate to Buenos Aires:

Transfer to the airport for a 3 hr flight north to Buenos Aires, known as the “Paris of the South”. You are met at the airport and transferred to your hotel. After several days spent contemplating a stark wilderness, the energy, sights and sounds of this vibrant, sophisticated city may come as quite a culture shock. Spend the afternoon and evening exploring on your own – it's a highly walkable city that combines Latin American passion with European influences – especially that of the many Italian immigrants. Traditional Argentine cuisine revolves around beef – check out a typical parilla (grill) – or the trendiest fusion cuisine. Nightclubs, bars and tango halls (milongas) abound. (Breakfast, El Calafate; Accommodations, Buenos Aires)

Day 10: Buenos Aires:

A perfect introduction to the most elegant capital city in South America, this half-day city tour will show you the highlights of Buenos Aires. Overnight Buenos Aires.(Breakfast, Accommodations, Buenos Aires)

Day 11: Buenos Aires:

Avanti has nearly 40 optional half-day and full-day tours in Buenos Aires, so whether your passion is tango, Evita, wine tasting, biking, shopping, museums, bars and cafes, artists' studios, Jewish heritage or a gaucho fiesta, you'll find plenty to see and do. Included with this vacation is a dinner and tango show at La Ventana. Overnight Buenos Aires.(Breakfast, Dinner, Accommodations, Buenos Aires)

Day 12: Depart Buenos Aires:

Enjoy a private transfer from your hotel to the airport back home or for your next Avanti destination. (Breakfast, Buenos Aires)

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Cancun, Popular Beach Destination With Turquoise Waters, White-Sand Shores, Endless Nightlife

As one of the most popular beach destinations in North America, Cancun, Mexico, is famous for its turquoise waters, white-sand shores, luxury hotels and endless nightlife. Cancun is a part of the state of Quintana Roo, or Mexican Caribbean, which attracts over two million visitors to this Mayan beach side city a year.

The Zona Hotelera, or Hotel Zone, is home to a 14-mile stretch of hotels that range from high-end, all-inclusive resorts, to student-friendly budget hotels. Though this area may teem with tourists who only seek constant pampering and sunshine, there is an authentic Mexican city just down the round in downtown Cancun. Unseen by travelers who don’t leave the confines of their resort, downtown Cancun offers a mix of tradition and modernity, and is home to many restaurants, shopping centers and outdoor markets where the locals spend their time. Not far from Cancun, travelers who seek out history and culture can delve deep into the Mayan ruins and archaeological sites at neighboring Tulum, Chichen Itza and Coba.

Because Cancun is bordered by the Caribbean Sea on one side, and Nichupte Lagoon on another, there are a myriad of outdoor, water and adventure sports to partake in. Featuring some of the best fishing, scuba diving and snorkeling in the world, the Great Mesoamerican Reef is located just off of the city’s coast. Most resorts, as well as independent operators, will offer a variety of water sports, such as windsurfing, para sailing, jet-skiing, water skiing and kayaking to those looking for an aquatic thrill. Championship golf courses overlooking the Caribbean and eco-parks with underground rivers and cavern tours are also popular draws for visitors.

Showcasing everything from traditional Mexican cuisine downtown, to chic bistros and upscale international restaurants, the Cancun dining scene has something to suit all tastes. Puerto Madero serves a fusion of Spanish cuisines. Menu highlights are the spicy beef empanadas, lobster tail and grilled ribeye Madero. For a beautiful Mediterranean meal on the water, Terraneo is located on the lagoon side of the Hotel Zone, and offers well-crafted Mediterranean classics. Pik Nik is a wonderful and inexpensive lunch spot serving up homemade localized Mexican dishes such as fish tacos and ceviche.

Located just six miles from the Hotel Zone, Cancun International Airport (CUN) is Mexico’s second-busiest airport, and serves the region’s international and domestic air travel. Many hotels and resorts will provide transportation to and from the airport. If not, rental cars are available, though rules of the road tend to differ here than in most of the United States. The most efficient way to get around is by taxi. They are plentiful and can get expensive, but make sure a price in negotiated before taking off. There are also public buses that have frequent stops throughout the downtown and Hotel Zone areas.

Cancun has a tropical climate and is characterized by warm year-round temperatures and a pronounced rainy season. The average annual temperature stays around 80.8° F (27.1° C) and tends to remain in that vicinity for the entire year. The tropical storm season lasts from May through December, with peak precipitation coming down in September. The best times to visit Cancun are in the late winter and early spring months, when humidity and rainfall is at a minimum.

For more information, pl visit: http://etravelcruise.com/destinations/north-america/mexico/cancun.html

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