Santiago, Mendoza, Buenos Aires, Bariloche, Puerto Varas
Arrival in Santiago and transfer to the hotel.
Santiago de Chile is a city of contrasts with remains of its colonial past to the ultramodern, high-rise buildings of the financial center; Chile's capital city will surprise you.
The city tour begins with the visit of the church San Francisco, which was build between 1572 and 1618. You will pass through the Barrio Paris & Londres which is characterized by its European architectural style and its' narrow cobbled street. Then you will pass by the sector of Club Hípico, one of the most beautiful horseracing tracks in South America, privileged by its architecture of the early centuries.
Continuing your tour to the Barrio Concha y Toro where you will immediately notice that the constructions of the buildings are very similar to those in the Barrio Paris y Londres. While walking through the main street you will recover vestiges of the aristocratic past of the capital. 1989 this district was declared as "Zona Tipica". You will be impressed by the gothic, neocolonial and Bauhaus constructions.
After that you will visit the Plaza de Armas and the cathedral. Just around the corner, you will find the main post office, the National History museum, the Metropolitana and the town hall of Santiago. From here you head along the famous Alameda, Santiago's colorful main avenue, to the heart of the city, seeing the "Palacio de la Moneda" (seat of government), various monuments and public buildings. Afterwards, you continue the tour by driving up to the San Cristóbal Hill. From one of the hill's view points, you will have the finest views of Santiago and the Andes Mountains. To round off the tour, you will pass through the modern residential areas of the city with their daring architecture and, finally, the bustling Providencia shopping zone. (City tour : 4 hours)
Day free for leisure or choice of optional tour.
Today you are going on a full day panoramic bus journey crossing the majestic Andes and the border to Argentina. After breakfast, you will be picked up at the hotel and transferred to the bus terminal in Santiago downtown. Board the comfortable public bus to Mendoza. Enjoy an impressive drive offering spectacular mountain views. Passing the city of Los Andes, your bus continues upwards on "Ruta 60" along the hillside of the Andean Mountains, offering you panoramic views on the way. You drive past Portillo, Chile's most important centre of winter sports. It is located at the foot of the Aconcagua, the highest mountain of South America. You are going to leave Chile crossing the Argentinean Border through a tunnel which was built in 1980. Now, the road starts to lead downhill. You see the "Puente del Inca" ("Inca Bridge"), a strange rock formation resembling a bridge crossing the Mendoza River. Your bus passes Los Penitentes, Argentina's best-known ski resort, before reaching Mendoza, your final destination for today. Arrival at the bus terminal in Mendoza and transfer to your hotel.(Santiago to Mendoza without guide : 6-7 hours)
You will visit the city sharing the culture and history of its foundation by the Spanish colonizers four centuries ago. It includes a visit to the Independence Plaza, the main avenues and the Civic Centre, The Founding area, The Aquarium (as optional), the General Martin Park and the Hill of Glory, a popular spot for a panoramic view. As an optional tour you will be able to visit the most important wineries, the bodegas, around the city including wine tasting.(City tour : approx. 3 ½ hours
Transfer from the hotel in Mendoza to the airport for your flight to Buenos Aires. Upon arrival in Buenos Aires transfer from the airport to the hotel.
In the afternoon you will visit the most important sites during a city tour. You will drive to the Plaza de Mayo, with the Casa Rosada, the pink house, seat of the government, the Cabildo (town hall) and the Metropolitan Cathedral, home of the Archbishop of Buenos Aires. The tour goes onto the district San Telmo. Until 1888 this part of the city was a river port, today San Telmo is one of the most modern and desired places to live in Buenos Aires.
The worker district La Boca is famous for its colourful tin-houses and its history as living district of Italian seamen and dock workers in the 19th century. The Barrio Norte called Recoleta is the quarter of the rich of Buenos Aires. On the cemetery of Recoleta one will find the grave of Eva Duarte who became famous as Evita Perón. Continue along the widest avenue in the world, the Avenida 9 de Julio, to the Plaza Lavalle with the Federal Court of Justice and the Teatro Colón, to Palermo with its parks and gardens. Return to the hotel. (City tour : 3 hours)
Day at leisure.
Today you will enjoy a half day Tigre Tour. Drive along the Northern residential districts of the city, until getting to San Isidro, a colonial and aristocratic area. You will see the mansions and houses in front of the River Plate. You will continue the driving to Tigre, a charming area near Buenos Aires city where a great number of summer residences, yacht clubs and rowing clubs attract the week-end activity of many "porteños".
The Tigre Delta with its rivers, streams and numerous green islands is one of the most attractive areas for visitors. The continuous sediment of the Paraná River, which gives the river and estuary their particular brownish-red color, forms the Delta islands. Enjoy a boat excursion (1 hour) along the innumerable channels of the Paraná-Delta to see some of the hundreds of islands covered with luxuriant vegetation. Drive back to the city via the Panamericana highway.(Tigre Tour : 4 hours, Seat-in Basis)
Transfer from hotel to the airport and flight to Bariloche. Arrival and transfer to hotel.
In the afternoon enjoy a half day tour "Circuito Chico" (approx. 3.5 hours) You start the tour from Bariloche to the southeast along Ezequiel Bustillo Avenue, bordering the Nahuel Huapi Lake on a winding, crossing the residential district Melipal, you arrive at Playa Bonita. Continue to Campanario Hill, where an optional chair lift takes you to the top of the hill (1050 mts) from where you can enjoy one of the most impressive views of this region. You will see lakes Nahuel Huapi and Moreno, the Trebol lagoon, St Peter's Peninsula, Llao Llao, Victoria Island and Otto, Lopez, Goye and Catedral Mountains, apart from the whole city of Bariloche.
After coming down, you will travel to Llao Llao Peninsula, where the small and delicate St Edwards Chapel and Llao Llao Hotel, two architectural jewels, will take our fancy.Over the coastline Puerto Pañuelo is the starting point for Lake Tours. Further on you will go by a golf course, cross the bridge over the Angostura river that joins Nahuel Huapi Lake with Moreno Lake, and pass by López Bay at the base of López Hill. Then, you get to the Panoramic Point, a belvedere with a magnificent view of Moreno Lake and Llao Llao peninsula. Cross the bridge over Moreno Lake at a narrow end and return to Bariloche.
Day at leisure
Option 1: Transfer to the bus station and drive by public bus without guide from Bariloche in Argentina over the border to Puerto Varas in Chile. Upon arrival your guide will welcome you and transfer to the hotel.
Option 2: Lake crossing Experience - Bariloche/Puerto Varas 1 Day (about 11 hours) Depart early morning to Lake Crossing Terminal and Puerto Panuelo. Embark the catamaran for one hour navigation of the Blest arm of the Nahuel Huapi Lake, until reaching Puerto Blest. You can take the opportunity to enjoy lunch (optional) in the cosy restaurant of the Blest Hostal with a magnificent view of the lake. Then you start a bus trip to Puerto Alegre which borders the Frías river during 3 km. On board a motorship you sail Frías Lake for 15 minute, from where you shall have the first view of Tronador Hill. Upon arrival at Puerto Frías you clear Argentine customs and proceed on a bus through lush Andean vegetation to the Vicente Pérez Rosales pass and then 29 kms. to the Chilean customs at Peulla. After customs, it is a short ride to Peulla.
Then you board the Lagos Andinos Catamaran and set out to cross the waters of the Todos Los Santos lake. On our trip you will be able to view Mount Puntiagudo and the impressive Osorno volcano. You will arrive to Petrohué, from where you continue by bus until our last stop, the Petrohue rapids. Bordering LLanquihue Lake, you get to Puerto Varas.
Day at leisure or choice of optional tour.
Today you will proceed to Puerto Montt for a half day sightseeing tour.
Puerto Montt was founded by German settlers in 1852, whose influence still remains in the style of the wooden houses. You will pass along the "Costanera" Avenue and continue to the observation point for a beautiful view of the city, Reloncavi Bay, Tenglo Island and channels. Afterwards, you will pass through the town's centre with its typical square and its cathedral. Visit the picturesque cove of Angelmo, which has been a source of inspiration for many painters, and the interesting seafood and handicraft market.
Transfer to the airport and flight to Santiago. Arrival in Santiago and transfer to your hotel.
Transfer to the Santiago airport and return flight home.