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Second Half South America Sensations & Skorpios II (19 days)19 days duration
This morning you make your way to the airport for your flight to South America, via Auckland. As you cross the International Date Line you ‘gain’ a day, so you arrive in Santiago Airport also on Friday. Here you remain in transit until you board your flight to Puerto Montt in the Southern Lakes District of Patagonia, departing later this afternoon. On arrival into Puerto Montt you are met and taken to your hotel for the night.
Later this morning you are collected from your hotel and taken to the Puerto Montt Cruise Ship Terminal. At noon your vessel departs and sails through the Llanquihue Archipelago before catching sight of Calbuco City. Later you sail through the Ancud Gulf, the Archipelago of Chiloe and cross the Corcovado Gulf. (D)
This morning you navigate through the Moraleda and Ferronave Channels before arriving at the fishing village of Puerto Aguirre. In the afternoon you continue the voyage through the Ferronave, Pilcomayo and Costa Channels before anchoring at Hualas Cove, 20 nautical miles from the awe-inspiring San Rafael Glacier. (BLD)
Around breakfast time your ship enters the San Rafael Lagoon and anchors a little way from the San Rafael Glacier. Weather permitting, small boat excursions are undertaken among the multicolored icebergs. In the afternoon your ship moves closer the glacier before setting sail for the Quitralco Fjord. (BLD).
Today your vessel berths at the Quitralco Pier where you have the opportunity to bathe in the hot springs. If the weather permits, you undertake a boat excursion into the fjord. Around dinner time your boat sets sail towards Chiloe and navigates through the Moraleda and Perez Norte Channels. (BLD)
Around breakfast time your vessel undertakes the Corcovado Gulf Crossing during which there is a possibility of seeing humpback and blue whales. You continue to sail through the Yal Channel before arriving at the beautiful city of Chiloe in the early afternoon. You may disembark to visit this picturesque location. Later this evening you set sail towards Puerto Montt and pass through the Lemuy, Dalcahue and Quicavi Channels. Tonight your captain hosts a farewell dinner and dance. (BLD)
Following breakfast the boat docks at the pier in Puerto Montt where your cruise comes to an end as you disembark. You are met and taken to your hotel in Puerto Varas, a beautiful alpine type town on the shores of Llanquihue Lake. You have the afternoon at leisure to explore the town. (B)
From Puerto Varas our Southern Lakes Crossing is a combination of bus and boat travel traversing this spectacular area. We are collected from our hotel and travel by coach around the shores of Llanquihue Lake. After entering the Vicente Perez Rosales National Park we visit the Petrohue Falls and then cross Todos los Santos Lake (also known as “Esmeralda”, Emerald in English), seeing Margarita Island, Osorno Volcano and the peaks of Puntiagudo and Tronador Mountains to Peulla, where we stop to complete Chilean Immigration and Customs procedures.
After lunch we cross the Vicente Perez Rosales Pass to the Argentine Immigration and Customs point. We then travel by catamaran across Frias Lake to Puerto Alegre where we again board a bus to take us to Puerto Blest. From Puerto Blest to Puerto Panuelo is again by boat, this time on the famous Nahuel Huapi Lake. On disembarkation at Puerto Panuelo we are met and taken to our hotel in Bariloche for two nights. (BL)
Bariloche, situated on the shore of the beautiful Lake Nahuel Huapi is an internationally recognised ski resort with steep streets, wooden chalets perched Swiss style upon a glacial moraine at the foot of Cerro Otto, and without a doubt is the best centre for exploring the Nahuel Huapi National Park.
Today’s pleasant tour follows the southern shore of the Lake Nahuel Huapi. On a clear day, we might catch sight of the highest mountain of the area, El Tronador (The Thunderer), whose snow capped peaks rise to 3,554 metres. We follow the southern edge of Lake Moreno, under the steep cliffs of Mount Lopez, to the spectacular panoramic point for a magnificent view looking back towards the Andes that we’ve just traversed. The breathtaking view includes Lake Moreno, the Llao Llao Hotel and the northern arm of Lake Nahuel Huapi with Victoria Island in its centre. The peaks of the Andean Chain, including Mount Lopez, Capilla and Millaqueo rise to the west of the lakes. Your afternoon is at leisure in Bariloche. (B)
This morning we are taken to Bariloche Airport for our flight to Buenos Aires. On arrival into the Domestic Airport we connect with our flight to Iguazu Falls, in Argentina. On arrival at Iguazu we will be met at the airport and taken to our hotel for two fabulous nights. (B)
Iguazu Falls is considered by many as the most impressive water falls in the world and surpassing in grandeur both Niagara and Victoria. Some 275 separate cascades fall in a wild array of spray over a winding 3 km cliff frontage into a gorge 60 metres deep. One of the most spectacular of the falls is aptly named “The Devil’s Throat”. After breakfast we are taken on a comprehensive walking tour of the Argentine side of the falls.
Later we are taken to the banks of the Iguazu River where we board our powerful inflated boat for an incredibly spectacular ride up the river to the base of the falls. (B)
This morning we visit the Brazilian side of the falls for a panoramic walking tour. After lunch you can choose from one of the included tours listed below. Later we are taken to the airport for our flight to Rio de Janeiro. On arrival we are met and taken to our hotel located on Copacabana for three nights. Rio sweeps 20 kms along the narrow strip between the mountains and the sea. The combination of dark blue sea, studded with rocky islands and the tumbling mountains with expanses of bare grey rock is very impressive. Brazilians say: “God made the world in six days, the seventh He devoted to Rio”. (B)
TOUR 1: Visit a local bird sanctuary to see a wide variety of South American species. TOUR 2: Undertake a seat in coach tour to the ITAIPU Dam and Hydroelectric Plant.
This morning we are taken on a tour to Corcovado and the Statue of Christ. The tour passes by Rodrigo de Freitas Lagoon to Cosme Velho, where the modern funicular train is boarded for the 20 minute ride high up to the top of the 770 metre high Corcovado Mountain. The Christ the Redeemer Statue is one of Rio’s most famous landmarks. It is 37 metres high, weighs 1,100 tons and has a 360 degree view of the entire area below, encompassing the city, the bay, the mountains and the sea within a circle of up to 160 kms. The Tijuca Rain Forest and the famous beach suburbs of Barra and Sao Conrado are seen on our way back to the hotel.
Tonight we are taken to one of Rio’s most popular restaurants for a typical Brazilian dinner. Later we enjoy Rio’s best Samba Show outside of Carnival! (BD)
In the afternoon we visit the old city of Rio before being taken to the Sugar Loaf Mountain, located uniquely above the entrance to Guanabara Bay. It is reached by a spectacular 2-stage cable car ride that offers a beautiful view of the city and its beaches from high above Rio. On arrival we enjoy a cool drink as the sun sets over the emerging lights of the city below. (B)
This morning we are taken to the airport for our flight to Buenos Aires. On arrival we are taken to our hotel for a three-night stay. (B)
Buenos Aires is the Argentine capital and the most fashionable city in South America, with many beautiful parks and plazas. Portenos, as the locals call themselves, are fun loving people who enjoy their way of life. This morning we are taken on a city tour during which we see the Casa Rosada, City Hall, the Congress, the Cathedral, the Colon Theatre, Avenue 9th July (the world’s widest street) and the historic Italian La Boca District. This evening we dine at and enjoy the city’s superior Tango Show. (BD)
Today is at leisure. You can choose from one of the included tours listed below. (B)
TOUR 1: Seat in coach tour to a Gaucho farm in the pampas, including a BBQ lunch. TOUR 2: Seat in coach tour of the Tigre Delta.
This morning we are taken to Buenos Aires Airport for our flight back to Sydney. (B)
You arrive home late today. Welcome Home!
All prices are subject to currency fluctuations, additional airline charges and changes in costs from ground suppliers. We reserve the right to vary any part of the tour at our sole discretion as circumstances may require.
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