Cruising Patagonia with Buenos Aires, Bariloche & Santiago with Easter Island

Welcome to Buenos Aires, Argentina’s cosmopolitan capital. Settle into your hotel and meet your Tour Director, who will have pointers for your free-time exploration.

Morning sightseeing with a Local Guide focuses on the city’s landmarks, including the Teatro Colón Opera House and Plaza de Mayo, site of La Casa Rosada (the President’s Pink House), and Metropolitan Cathedral. Also, visit La Boca and San Telmo, one of Buenos Aires’ oldest neighborhoods, and Recoleta Cemetery where Eva Perón is buried. Top your day off with an optional excursion Argentinean meal, followed by a sensuous Tango show.

Today is free for independent activities, or you can take an optional excursion to a local estancia (ranch) to experience the life and horsemanship of the gauchos (cowboys), as well as traditional dance performances and a barbecue lunch.

Fly south to Bariloche in Patagonia on the shores of fjord-like Lago Nahuel Huapi in the heart of Argentina’s Lake District. Arrive in the early evening, with time to enjoy a leisurely stroll through the picturesque town, known as the chocolate capital of Argentina. See the city hall, the clock tower in Municipality Square, and the famous chocolate factories.

This alpine resort boasts some of the most glorious scenery in the country. Cameras should be ready for today’s guided sightseeing including a chairlift ride to a lookout point at Cerro Campanario at 3400 feet. You’ll want to capture the vistas of surrounding lakes and soaring peaks of the Andes Mountains. Continue with a leisurely drive around the Llao Llao Peninsula, Lago Moreno, and Lopez Bay.

Today takes you across the Andes by lake and road. Embark on a boat cruise across Lago Nahuel Huapi, through the fjord, to Puerto Blest. Proceed by motorcoach and see the emerald lake of Lago Frigo, Andean Temperate Rainforests, and cross over the Continental Divide. After lunch, look for the soaring Osorno Volcano as you cross Lago Todos los Santos by catamaran. Skirt the southern shore of Lago Llanquihue on the way to Puerto Varas. Drive to your hotel along the rosebush-lined streets of this lakeside resort.

Return to Puerto Montt for a tour of this nearby seaport. See the harbor brimming with fishing vessels along a busy waterfront lined with seafood stalls. Later, embark on the Skorpios. Sail through the archipelago of Llanquihue, see the city of Calbuco and through the Ancud Gulf to Quemchi on the island of Chiloé. Disembark on small boats towards the picturesque village where you can visit a handicraft market, cafes, the museum of the Chilean author Francisco Coloane and stroll around the beautiful streets. Return to the ship and sail south along the archipelago of Chiloé, crossing the Gulf of Corcovado at midnight.

Cruise the channels of Moraleda and Ferronave arriving at the fishing village of Puerto Aguirre. Disembark to visit the village for a walk through the streets, passing a typical Patagonian rainforest arriving at a lookout. Return to the ship and navigate through the channels of Ferronave, Pilcomayo and Casma. Arrive Barrientos Inlet, where we disembark to smaller boats approaching the rock formations to visit one of the largest bird colonies in Chile, counting Kelp Gulls, Rock shags, Red-legged shags, and Imperial shags. These birds are accompanied by South American fur seals. Later, continue south to Caleta Quesahuen or Punta Leopardos which is 20 nautical miles from the Glacier of San Rafael.

Cross the channel of Tempanos to the entrance of the lagoon San Rafael where the boat will anchor near the San Rafael Glacier. Take a boat excursion among the multi-hued icebergs (weather permitting). Later, set sail towards the Quitralco-Fjord.

After breakfast, visit Quitralco for a dip in the hot springs. Then, join a boat excursion to the inside of the Fjord (weather permitting). Later, sail towards Chiloé, navigating through the channels of Moraleda and Pérez Norte.

Navigate through the channel of Leucayec, crossing the Gulf of Corcovado early in the morning. You may even see humpbacks or blue whales in this zone. Continue sailing along the east coast of Chiloé, arriving mid-morning to the Conejos Inlet located in the Queilen channel. Disembark on small boats visiting the island inhabited by Magellan penguins and birds. Then continue sailing through the islands of Lemuy and Chelín. Arriving in Dalcahue, where you may choose to visit the handicraft market, the church or stroll along the promenade. Tonight, while sailing for Puerto Montt enjoy the Captain’s Dinner and farewell party.

Transfer to the airport for your flight north to Santiago. Perched between the Pacific Ocean and the Andes, Santiago has evolved as the country’s political, commercial, and cultural capital.

Today, we focus on Chile’s largest city, Santiago. See modern ‘Sanhatten’ with the tallest skyscrapers on the continent. Then to the oldest part of the city to see La Moneda Government Palace and San Cristobal Hill with its landmark statue of the Virgin Mary. Your tour ends at the city’s main square, Plaza de Armas, with a visit to the relic-filled Cathedral. Your afternoon and evening are at leisure. You may wish to explore the city on your own or take an optional wine tasting excursion to taste Chile’s famous export.

Today, enjoy a day at leisure. An optional excursion to Valparaiso and Viña del Mar is highly recommended. On this optional excursion, take a leisurely drive through the countryside and vineyards delivers you to Valparaiso, a city of 42 hills and the inspiration of many artists and poets. On to the chic seaside resort of Viña del Mar, full of unusual architecture and beautiful gardens. This evening, enjoy dinner to celebrate your exciting Latin American vacation.

Today, board a flight for Easter Island, considered the largest open-air museum and boasting more than 400 moais (giant sculptures), ruins, and temples.

Your first stop is Ahu Vaihu, where eight large moais lie in ruins, followed by Ahu Akahanga, said to be the site where bones of the first king of Easter Island (Hotu Matu’a) were buried. Next up: Rano Raraku, where 95% of all moai were carved and you will find 394 statues remaining in various stages of completion. It seems as if production was abruptly abandoned, leaving a frozen snapshot of time. Visit the beautifully restored Ahu Tongariki, the largest platform on the island with its 15 moai. See Ahute Pito Kura, the largest moai ever transported and erected on an ahu (stone ceremonial platforms). Last stop is the beach of Anakena, where King Hotu Matu’a first landed on Rapa Nui.

Visit Rano Kau, the second-oldest volcano on the island with a freshwater lake in its caldera. Continue to the ceremonial village of Orongo to see the restored houses from the 16th century. At Ahu Vinapu, see the fallen remains of the broken moai—the figures here are slightly different and have short legs. Next stop is Ana Kai Tagata, a beautiful cave with wall paintings depicting the Manutara bird. This afternoon, visit Ahu Akivi, with seven restored moais built in the middle of the island. According to legend, these statues represent the seven scouts sent to Rapa Nui by King Hotu Matu’a. Finally, visit the Puna Pau topknot-quarry, where all the pukaos that were placed on top of the moais were made.

Board your flight for a final night in Santiago.

Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning.