Chile & Argentina: The Andes to Patagonia (2012)

I don’t like having so few dinners. Our leaders always met us at a restaurant if we wanted to come. However, 2 hotels were so far away that taking a cab was necessary. Several of us said it seemed we were spending all our money on meals and local guides.

Traveler: Allegra Anderson from Stone Mountain, GA traveled on January 18, 2012

My wife and I thoroughly enjoyed our recent trip to Patagonia. Our trip leader, Eduardo was wonderful, very helpful, knowlegeable and had a good sense of humor. The scenery was spectacular (snow capped mountains, tumultuous falls at Iguassu, the jungle and the ocean)and I am sure that Eduardo's offering to Gauchito Antonio Gil helped us have mostly excellent weather in the 3 national parks we visited. it was fun cavorting with the guanacos and the red and grey foxes we met. The food was outstanding, especially at the 3 home-hosted lunches we attended. We enjoyed the school visit and the home-hosted visits, letting us get to know some of the friendly Argentine and Chilean people on a more personal level. The educational and cultural experiences we had will be with us for a lifetime! Thank you OAT for a most wonderful adventure!

Traveler: Michael Moeller from Portland, OR traveled on March 26, 2012

This was a very exciting trip. The glaciers were magnificent and we got a real up close view. The horseback riding and the bar-b-q were very unique. Our guide was familiar with the family we visited so we had great music and danced the nightaway.
The steaks were so very good and reasonable. Our accomodations were perfect. Some were close to town, but some were not, but transportation was not an issue. As usual OAT triedto meet our every need.

Traveler: Rosalyn Scher from Long Beach, NY traveled on October 10, 2009

[The] Tango [Optional Tour] was fun. But not enough options.
Too little time in Santiago, Buenos Aires, and Punta Arenas. Too much time in Bariloche.

Traveler: Deborah Schlesinger from Saint Helena, CA traveled on February 01, 2012

I am not certain what I expected of this area as some friends said they were going and why didn't I come along. So I packed my bags and away I went. All I can say is, it was beyond fabulous. Mother nature is wondeful and wonderous with the terrain created and the beautiful glaciers. Our leader, Alex, was so much fun and has such love for his fellow man and his country. All of the people we met along the way were extraordinary. The home visits were beyond belief. Chiloe is an incredible experience. If you are just thinking about this trip...all I can say is...'go for it!!!" you won't be disappointed.

Traveler: Linda Thieben from Los Angeles, CA traveled on March 12, 2012

PATAGONIA – 2012

Our journey began and ended in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Our hotel, The Argenta, was very centrally located for walking tours in the downtown area. Our guide, Nicole, warned us strenuously about pickpockets and thieves. She advised me not to bring my “expensive” camera along on any walking tours. I didn’t! We walked through some parks and down Florida Street, the “walking street” where Mary and I danced the tango in 2006. There was much to see and, fortunately, it was uneventful.

Not at all like two weeks later when Mary and I were walking through a park toward Puerto Madero, the newly renovated condochicrestaurant area that once was he original port of entry for all ships. Mary had to sit on a bench to get rid of a stone in her shoe when the “Cara Cara” birds hit. She and I were covered with little drops of “poop” that appeared to come from above. A middle-aged Argentine couple came to our rescue with a bottle of water and Kleenex. We kept screaming and pushing them away. Fortunate for us that we did. They were looking to pick our pockets of anything they could get. I had on a new pair of cargo pants with very good zippers that were hard to open. That and our pushing them away saved us from losing anything.

Oddly enough we didn’t realize what wad happened until over three hours later when I was back at our hotel listening to another couple in our group explaining the same thing that happened to us. Only, they got robbed of a lot of money.

I panicked and starting feeling my pockets. Everything seemed to be there…except…my passport. Oh no! My passport was still in my old pair of “poopy” pants; I had forgotten to transfer it to my new pants when I changed clothes. Saved by the zipper!

We were also warned about counterfeit 100 peso bills. A favorite ploy of unscrupulous taxi drivers is to take a 100 peso bill given them by the passenger, switch it for a counterfeit and tell the rider it was counterfeit and demand additional payment.

Our incident left a bad taste in our mouths about Buenos Aires, which we left that early evening. I suppose every big city has its problems. There was no question, however, that the crooks were targeting tourists extensively in areas that had attractions.

Bariloche, in the Lakes region, was our first stop via a two-hour packed flight. Nicole, our guide, had everything organized; it went smoothly all the way to our hotel,Villa Huinid, overlooking Lago Nahuel Huapi. Nicole made it clear that she expected everyone to be on time with only a five-minute margin of error. We understood that.

Apart from tourism, the area has a nuclear research facility, which is a big draw for financial resources. The waste material goes to the United States for disposal.

The weather held again so we were able to ride the cable chair up to the top overlooking all the lakes at Llao Llao (pronounced “chow, chow”). The “ancient” hotel at Llao Llao is something that you can look at (from the outside) but not touch. Unfortunately, for all those rich people staying there, Llao Llao is very expensive, has small rooms and windows and NO air-conditioning…a real “bear” in summer.

It is easy to see why Parque Argentino Nahuel Hauapi is a national park; blue skies, milky clouds against a shimmering lake with magnificent mountains zigzagging in and out of inlets. An interesting pine tree in this area is the Monkey Puzzle. Its needles are triangular shaped with a very sharp point. As the tree matures the branches grow long and swirly like the tales of monkeys with pinecones on the ends.

A highlight of the day was a visit to a local brewery run by Thomas Gilbert, a young Frenchman, who started the business with his father. Thomas is the quality control person; he drinks a lot of beer. There are sixteen microbreweries in the Bariloche area. Impressive! The lunch and the freshly brewed beer were very good, too.

Our next adventure was rafting down the Rio Limay, which flows, into Lago Nahuel Hauapi. We were advised that on a scale of 1 to 5, 5 being the most difficult, our river trip would be a -1. So, if we wanted excitement we should not go on this trip. This was going to be a leisurely, relaxing, no hassle FLOAT down a no-rapids river with a guide doing all the rowing. What could go wrong with that? Well…for starters, one of our two rafts was partially deflated. Our guides started furiously using a hand pump to blow it back up again. Not to worry! The river looked to be a quarter mile wide where we were entering. I casually asked, how deep is this river. Only about six to ten feet deep. We were given life jackets – a good move – and told to buckle up. Then we were given a quick lesson on what we should do if we, god forbid, fell out of the raft. The rower has an inflatable buoy filled with rope, which plays out as the buoy comes flying toward the waterlogged rafter. Simply face the raft, grab onto the rope and hang on while you are pulled back into the raft. Piece of cake!

The raft was finally filled with air, we climbed aboard and our guide pushed off. The river was moving rapidly and we slid with ease into its center. Ahhhh! That’s not too bad, now is it? We could easily see down to the very rock bottom of the Limay. Talk about the purest of water; our guide said that we could drink this river water without any problem whatsoever. No thank you!

On one side of the Rio Limay was national park; ergo, no buildings. The other side was private land. Ergo, ….still NO buildings…a couple of sheep, cattle and one lonely scraggly dog looking for companionship as he ran down the shore barking at us. Occasionally, we could see an estancia off in the distance. Beautiful rock formations appeared regularly. An occasional fisherman with a guide in a small raft went casting by looking for that trophy trout. We saw only one fish, caught by a person on shore; it was about ten pounds.

All too soon we reached our destination and had to leave the river. It was a beautiful two hours…and no deflations.

Visiting a horse “ranch” was next on our agenda. Mary and I didn’t ride the horses. Some people rode the horses out and walked backed. Others walked out, and then got on the horses and rode back. We walked both ways. Finally, we were beginning to see what the real Patagonia was like…rolling plains, distant low level mountains with snow capped peaks far off in the distance, scrub brush, smallish, scraggly trees. As we walked behind the horses, they quickly got lost from our view as they dipped and weaved through imperceptible gullies and draws. Unfortunately, we ended walking on a partially completed road, which didn’t lend to the atmosphere of the situation. The weather changed quickly and we weren’t prepared – left the rain gear in the bus. So, we got soaked on the walk back. However, we were rewarded with a beautiful rainbow. The wind dried us off by the time we got back from our walk. Everyone appreciated a delicious homemade lunch. Mary and I gave our hosts a little gift of a refrigerator magnet notebook and a piece of amethyst we had “discovered” in Thunder Bay, Ontario a couple of years ago.

The next day we started our bus trip from Bariloche to Chiloe Island…a full day’s drive. We could have gone into Chile via the lakes, but it is not recommended…too long, uncertain lake waters, bad weather and constant changing from boat to land to boat several times…with all our luggage. So, we schlepped our luggage onto a luxurious bus that can easily hold 45 people; we were sixteen including Nicole, our guide. We traveled the entire length of Lago Nahuel Huapi to the 4,333 foot pass, Paso Cardenal Antonio Samore, just south of the infamous volcano, Velcan Puyehue. The Paso was covered with volcanic ash, snowplowed off the road to allow traffic. Ash was flying through the Paso on high winds. We got out of there quickly after taking a picture that said, “Bienvenido a Chile.” Unfortunately, Velcann Puyehue was clouded over; couldn’t see it.

A little further on we had lunch at a non-descript restaurant along the side of the road. The chicken and vegetables were excellent. But, the astounding experience at this stop was what was next door – a museum of vintage Studebaker cars going all the way back to the origins of the car. It has more Studebakers than any other museum apart from Detroit. What a surprise! So delightful!

We turned south at Osorno and drove on a new freeway past Frutillar that we visited a few years ago on our cruise around the tip of South America. Velcann Orsano across Lago Llanquihue was partially covered in clouds. But, it was easy to see that much of the Volcano had no snow on its peak. Much global warming had taken since we were last there in 2005.

Bypassing Puerto Varas and Puerto Montt, we went directly to Pargua where we caught a 20-minute ferry ride to Chiloe Island. We stayed at Hosteria Ancud, a UNESCO historical site situated on a fortressed point facing the Pacific Ocean. Chiloe Island is very interesting because it is the place where the potato is supposed to have originated by the Mapuche People. They traded the potato to the Incas, which then spread throughout South America. There are reported to be about 6,000 varieties of potatoes. Many varieties of potatoes, grown locally, never reach the markets, but are eaten by the local people. Potatoes are the basis for all meals. It is not unusual for kids to eat mashed potatoes and French fries at the same meal.

Another important historical note is that the Mapuche People, who inhabited a vast area of South America, were never fully subdued by the Spaniards and later Chile and Argentina until around1845. All Mapuche men were raised to be warriors. They were a fiercely independent and warrior people who were able to outfox the Spaniards at every turn until completely overwhelmed. They stole the Spanish horses and became better riders than the Spaniards. Nowadays the Mapuche are using the public media to push their causes for land reform in the courts. It is a slow process.

Castro, on Chiloe Island is the third oldest city in Chile and was never destroyed by wars.

On Chiloe Island and other remote areas the Mapuche still attempt to maintain their way of life, to keep their traditions alive. They are doing much of this through the local communities and schools. We visited a school supported by OAT; some children and their mothers came in to show us their school and entertain and feed us. It was a desolate building, but still they had a school whereas before they had none. The headmaster was now being supported by one additional teacher for the coming year. Improvements are slow.

The tides on Chiloe Island are 16 to 20 feet high which causes its own adjustment problems. Many colorfully painted houses are high up on stilts to deal with the tides. We enjoyed a delicious seafood soup at the local market filled with hunks of fish and several different kinds of shell fish…for only $1.50 a bowl. One delicacy we did not try was kelp. It is a staple food item on the Island. Babies love it. It is like a pacifier. They can chew on it all day. They also sell black bricks of green seaweed, which are compressed and salted. Didn’t try that either. It’s not unlike the Irish cooking and eating potatoes and cabbage…I’m told.

When we got back to our bus, we found that it was being watched by a little girl, Priscilla, who earlier had asked our guide, Nicole, “Do you want me to watch your bus?” She used the money she got from “guarding” buses to pay for her school supplies. Quite an entrepreneur.

The San Francisco cathedral on Chiloe is quite a sight. It was originally designed by an Italian architect…in marble…which, of course, the Chiloeans don’t have. They followed the design and built the outside using sheet metal and the inside using wood from the Cypress tree. Beautifully done!

We had another lunch at a local home, which was not unlike the Hawaiian or Fijian Luau. Because of the unpredictability of the weather the cooking took place in an octagonal shaped cookhouse. Softball sized rocks were heated by a strong fire in a half barrel. After the rocks were heated, the barrel was removed and the rocks spread out. The food was added on top of the rocks: several kinds of shellfish, chicken, steaks, sausages, potatoes, corn…whatever the cook wanted. The entire “lot” of food was covered with large leaves and matts. After one hour the food was ready…and delicious. During the cooking time we learned about Chiloen Guanaco wool dying that the local women are re-developing to promote this fledgling industry.

We were told that there are distinct differences between Brazilian, Argentine and Chilean women. After making love: A Brazilian woman says, “More, more!” An Argentine woman says, “Do you love me?” A Chilean woman says, “Don’t tell anyone!”
I wouldn’t know!

We had been having beautiful weather until the day we went to Islotes de Punihuil on the pacific side of Chiloe. Even so, we donned our rain gear and went out in the boats to see the Magellan Penguins and the other birds. Fortunately, the islands were not far off shore and the waterways were well protected. We climbed aboard wheeled carts, which were pushed into the surf so we could board the boats without getting our feet wet.

Puerto Varas is a small tourist town on Lago Llanquihue. Of course, I had to try the local casino. After an hour of playing blackjack I walked away from the table one peso ahead. Not bad for an hour’s entertainment.

Now came the real heavy-duty tourism…a two-and-one-half hour flight to Punta Arenas; overnight there and then an all day bus ride to Torres del Paine. They like to keep the Torres national park pristine…all gravel roads, not very well kept up; few accommodations inside the park and virtually none outside; long drives to get anywhere. We were lucky to be staying at Hosteria Lago Grey at the opposite end of the Lake where lies the Lago Grey Glacier.

The views of Torres must be taken from quite a far distance…unless you are doing some heavy-duty hiking and climbing, which we were not. The views, none-the-less, were spectacular and now we have pictures to remind us of terrains not seen anywhere else on earth.

Traveling to the Lago Grey Glacier was relatively easy; a short walk from our Hosteria to the dock, donning lifejackets; a short motorboat ride to the main boat for the trip to the Glacier. Icebergs scattered the lake as we approached the Glacier, which was split at the waters’ edge into two sections. Before we toured the Glacier we picked up about twenty young men and women coming back from an environmental work program. They were dressed “to kill” with all the latest brands: North Face; Doite, Mercks, Ski; Letti; Vertical; Patagonia Gabierno de Chile, to name a few.

After two days of Lago Grey and Torres we drove out of the park and into Argentina, heading for El Calafate, the gateway to Los Glaciares national Park. Here there is quite a contrast. El Calafate is on the plains of Patagonia, at least fifty miles from the Park. All the amenities of tourism are here; good lodging, many restaurants and shops.

The drive to the Park is along Lake Argentino, one of the largest and most spectacular lakes in South America. Darwin and his team missed finding this lake by only a couple of hours because it was at a higher elevation and they couldn’t see it…and, they were running out of food.

Perito Marino Glacier is about eighteen miles long and five miles wide where it butts up against the peninsula that houses the main Park Lodge. The road is paved from outside the Park to the main lodge above the Marino Glacier. Metal walkways cover paths and support the many tourists that want to walk along the glacier and view it from various vantage points. It is especially conducive to watching for calving of iceberg.

When we were there an “underground” river started flowing out of the point of the glacier just below the Lodge. The water was gushing out in about a ten-foot waterfall and causing more calving as the ice broke off from above. We saw several calving’s during our visit. Another phenomenon that we saw was an iceberg calving off the glacier from under the water. Two enormous slabs of black glacier ice broke the surface of the lake like two nuclear submarines breaking surface in the movie HUNT FOR RED OCTOBER. We spent the entire day at the Glacier…awesome.

Soon we were on our way home…only memories and many pictures to remind us of a great trip. Three and a half hours from El Calafate to Buenos Aires; nine hours from Buenos Aires to Miami and four hours to Minneapolis. Home again!

Art Indelicato
March 14, 2012

Traveler: Arthur Indelicato from St Louis Park, MN traveled on February 16, 2012

[Pacing] was a bit brisk at times. The trip before the home hosted meal, when we visited Petrohue Falls, was too rushed. When I would stop for a moment to take a picture or enjoy what I was viewing, I would lose the rest of the group ...

Traveler: Eileen Michalski from Downing, WI traveled on November 24, 2011

Trust your Trip Leader, Local Guides, and the Bus Drivers!! Be flexible, participate, and enjoy all the new and different things coming your way.

Our trip leader, Nicole, was the absolute best. She spent hours making sure our tour went smoothly. Getting us onto the plane to Barioloche, into the hotel near Glacier Grey, and making sure we settled into our rooms comfortably made our trip memorable.

We learned about buffs, how to wear them (they are unisex), and how practical they are. With the winds and things flying through the air (sand, rocks, etc.), buffs can protect the face, mouth, and hair and keep you warm. Listen, OAT, it's time to add them to your list of free gifts, and have videos on the different ways to wear them.

We especially appreciated getting to sites before the busloads of other tourists.

This is a fairly physical tour--walking on a moraine, fighting Patagonian winds, and always something new to see everywhere. Walking poles were very welcome.

The bus rides (buses were very comfortable--14 in a large bus) were long but I don't know how we could have experienced the wide, open wonder of Patagonia. There seems to be an open mindset in the far off wilds of Patagonia, in both tourists and locals.

Because of the high UV rays (ozone hole) and either hot andor cool weather, be sure to wear layers (wicking is best), sunscreen, a good hat (make sure it will stay on your head), SPF clothing, and sturdy shoes (walking shoes may not be enough).

Always, always, have your camera ready. The bus stopped for lots of wildlife (sometimes it felt like we spent a good portion on the side of the road). This is how we saw a puma--acres of burned vegetation and the puma was just sitting, surveying the land.

The Learning and Discovery presentations and the Controversial topics are an important part of learning about the area you are visiting. It put a historical aspect to the country and a better understanding of why things happen.

Traveler: Daniel Ngan from Houston, TX traveled on January 14, 2012

This was a fantastic trip led by Lucelia, our wonderful guide! Due to the closed Bariloche airport, we did have an early morning flight and 6 hour bus ride to get there, but the weather was clear and the area is stunningly beautiful. On some days the blowing ash from the Puyehue Volcano makes things miserable as we heard from a group that preceded us by a couple days.

We lucked out again by being the first OAT group to be able to stay in Torres del Paine Park after the wildfires. Again we had wonderful, clear weather and 3 amazing hikes.

Our group consisted of 16 friends who are all hikers, and Lucelia went out of her way be make sure we were able to do several great hikes.

This trip involves a number of long bus rides, but it's really the only way to see this large area in such a short time frame.

We can't have enough praise for Lucelia, who constantly worked to make sure our trip was special. She even invited us to her home for an empanada party on the last day of the trip!

Traveler: David Moser from Tucson, AZ traveled on January 07, 2012

This was an excellent trip. Our guide, Fernando, was fantastic as were all of our local guides. The people on the trip were wonderful to spend time with and the itinerary was great. I would recommend this trip to everyone.

Traveler: Chrys Smiley from Flagstaff, AZ traveled on January 12, 2012

We were quite disappointed by this trip, in large part due to two travel disruptions and the resulting necessity for three additional long bus transfers. The airport in Bariloche remains closed at least until March 2012. As a result, we had to get up at 2:00 a.m. on our second morning in Buenos Aires to fly to an airport that was a seven hour bus ride (on a small, cramped bus) from Bariloche. Once there, the views were impaired by ash in the air and walking was sometimes unpleasant as a result of blowing ash.
We also were unable to stay in Torres del Paine Park due to the aftermath of a brush fire, which added several hours in a bus, driving on terrible roads, on the two days we visited the park, and prevented us from seeing Glacier Grey.
I would strongly recommend that one not sign up for thsi trip until both these problems have been resolved and that, if you are signed up, you seek to defer your departure until after they have been resolved.

Traveler: Elliott Weiss from Tucson, AZ traveled on January 05, 2012

I was fortunate to take the tour Chile-Argentina: Los Andes to Patagonia. I have been on all the 7 continents, and this tour is now one of my favorites. The scenery is stunningly beautiful. The snow covered Andes are majestic. The wild floweres were a show of wondrous color, a feast to the eyes. The magnificent glaciers and lakes with the most beautiful colors of blue, green--what a joy! The large bus made the long rides comfortable as we enjoyed the marvelous views.

Now, back home, I keep my large photos in view so that I can relive the wonderful experience every day.

Even in summer you must dress like an onion, in layers, as advised by Santiago.
Santiago Giorgi our PD did everything in his power to make the tour memorable. He succeeded. Thanks, Santi!

My advice: Do not hesitate--go. You will not be sorry.

Traveler: Daissy Owen from Iowa City, IA traveled on December 08, 2011

We booked an OAT tour and along with 14 other people toured both Argentina and Chili culminating in my "bucket list" destination of Patagonia. The group we went with were great, well-educated professionals, friendly, and there were no personality issues. Hurrah! Our tour guide was spectacular, enthusiastic, helpful and informative.

We started out in Buenas Aires,the only real problem was that the airport at Bariloche (our first stop after BA) was closed due to continuing wind-blown ash from previous volcanic eruptions AND airport rennovations. This resulted in a less than comfortable 8 hour bus ride (no toilet on bus, only 2 "rest" stops and no provided water) from Neuquen (the only airport open and "near"). That was, frankly, the pits!

We did the requisite tourist sights in BA - Eva Peron's mausoleum, the opera house, tango lessons (we didn't excel);). Our hotel was o.k. no great, however centrally located and we could walk everywhere in the city. Street vendors along Florida Street, small shops etc....interesting that mostly locals shopped at the sidewalk vendors spread out all over the walkway (no cars on this pedestrian street).

Bariloche when we finally arrived is a tourist resort haven, beautiful, wonderful comfortable hotel, great (and expensive shops), loads of restaurants, and a not-so-short walk from the main shopping area. However the wind blew constantly, it was dry and very dusty so had to content with that on our many walks. Did some hiking after chair lift to Campanario Hill, visited a brewery where we encountered the owner who sported the worst "bad-hair" day any of us had ever seen, a 1-man brewery operation and the beer was good, some shopping, area full of Swiss chocolate (milk chocolate) and not too much of my favorite dark chocolate. sigh. Then we had an informative talk by a representative of the Mapuche People (the native american group who early-on inhabited that area). They are trying to keep that culture alive however they are so widely dispersed geographically and culturally, that may not be possible. We then went to a ranch (no electricity other than that produced by their own generator, no telephone lines (satellite phone only, no tv etc...., did some horse-back-riding or more hiking (optional). Then treated to a great lamb pit bar-b-que. Yummy!

Next day we crossed the Andes (by bus) again not too comfortable a ride leaving Argentina for Chili. interesting sights including having to stop for shepherd moving their (1500+ sheep) on the road from one side to another. They all wore the traditional "basque" hats, that was a surprise since they are not Basques however that is their traditional headgear. The sheep were all already shorn, usually about 1Xyear.And the herd seemed to go on forever, very interesting along with the gauchos who herd them and the dogs....

We then went to Chliloe via ferry, a poor mostly fishing island....not too much of interest there other than how to see the way the people live, elementary schools, higher education is off the island, there are markets, interesting goods and wares, scarves, various cheeses (homemade), a lot of woolen sweaters, gloves, hats etc....Visited a 1-room elementary school, played with the children, all adorable, of course. Then we flew to Punta Arenas, in Patagonia - the ultimate destination for many of us.

Hiked in Torres del Paine National Park, stayed overnight there, visited the Grey glacier (which now sadly is melting) Beautiful sight, calving etc.... The hiking was great, and the boat ride to the glaciers, but now there's a fire in the area - set inadvertently by some campers who decided to build a camp fire in an area that was not permitted and, I understand they've had to close the park temporarily. So sad! It was very dry and dusty not to mention the wind, which at times, was at least 70 mph - so strong that I was literally knocked off my feet and into a thorny bush resulting in a hand full of stickers......spent hours picking thorns out of my rt. hand, left hand held my hiking stick so that was o.k. I've never seen or experience such winds in my life....neither had many of us, and I've lived through many hurricanes!

The next trip was to El Calafate and the Puerito Moreno Glacier which is the most fantastic site and this one is actually not in danger of melting (yet). Actually the front of the glacier is receding, but the middle is advancing.....The walkway (made of recycled steel) is made for visitors access and the whole area is wonderfully maintained. There were visitors from all over the world. Most of the areas we visited have been settled by Europeans, who left Europe, beforeduring and after WWII. There was many German farmers, sheepherders, store owners, bakeries....some French and many,many Croatians (due to the Argentine and Chilean governments) giving free farm and ranch land to encourage Europeans to settle there.

We flew back to BA the next day for our trip home. We had a direct overnight flight to Miami.

Traveler: Norma Schattner from Jupiter, FL traveled on December 15, 2011

Visiting three fabulous destinations made this the most unforgettable trip that we've ever taken, and we have been traveling for over 50 years. The beauty, mystery, and history of E.I. were revealed magnificently by our trip guide, Martín Soliani and the local guide, Sheena. The lesson of destroying your natural resources will stay with us for a long time. Patagonia highlights included visiting the beautiful Los Glaciares and Torres del Paine National Parks. The stunning majesty of Iguazu Falls is apparent the minute you arrive. Getting soaking wet under the falls was an additional treat. The beautiful jungle eco lodge, Yacutinga, introduced us to the Guaraní culture, as well as keeping us busy with hiking and kayaking. So many activities every day, good food and company, lively discussions, all made for a special trip.

Traveler: Michael Bigelow from Murrieta, CA traveled on November 16, 2011

There isn't much to add to the rave reviews of this wonderful OAT trip, but I'll try. Traveling just before Christmas gave us the opportunity to see Buenos Aires at a very busy time, and to watch the Argentinians express themselves almost daily in protest of one thing or another!
The Chilean volcanic eruption in June continues to cause disruption in air service, but OAT was always ready with an alternative plan. Seeing the affects the volcano had on flora and fauna was another interesting aspect of this adventure.
We had perfect weather the whole time, and as a result were amazed at the sheer beauty of these two countries.
Our tour leader Sebastian ( or Seba as we learned to call him), made our trip extra special. He went out of his way to make our experience exceptional.
The only suggestion I have is that on the last day in Buenos Aires, as we await night departures for home, that OAT offer an optional day activity.

Traveler: Pamela Patterson from Lincoln, CA traveled on December 05, 2011

this is our 13th OAT trip and it was one of the best.This trip visits all type of locales. Having been to Antarctica ,I never dreamed how close to glaciers you can get here. We did it by boats and walking. The hiking was harder than we expected but walking for miles through the jungle was great. The horseback riding ,and the kyaking were typical of a wellrounded OAT trip.We loved the accomodations we had in the jungle. Our guide, Carolina was fantastic and since she was Chilean, she knew her information. You must bring clothes for hot and cold weather.The school visit was GREAT.and the home hosted lunches the best.. Seeing Iguassu Falls from both sides was one of the highlights.Going under the waterfalls in a boat was an experience you can't forget.We are looking forward to our next OAT in June.

Traveler: Ellen & Ira Salomon from Dunwoody, GA traveled on November 24, 2011

This was a fabulous trip! Just a lot of fun. The highlights of the trip for us were the hiking in Torres del Paine National Park and the boatride to Grey Glacier. We had perfect weather in both places. Other good things: We found that Bariloche had beautiful scenery and we enjoyed the horseback ride and the optional float on the Limay River. Chiloe Island was interesting to see as there is not much tourism there and it is like going back in time. The home hosted lunch there was great fun. The meal was mostly shellfish cooked underground. And the hosts made the meal very enjoyable. We found that the food and wine on this trip to be very good....beef and lamb in Argentina; shellfish and fish in Chile.

There were many other enjoyable things we did on this trip but rather than list them all, I've put together a video that you may enjoy watching if you are considering taking this trip.

You can find it at:
http:**youtu.be*-qLE2ZWMo7I
Where you see * replace it with a slash as this website does not seem to support the backslash.

Traveler: Michele and Jack from Spartanburg, SC traveled on November 10, 2011

I recently made this OAT trip, what an amazing trip it was. From the history and architecture of the cities to the spectacular mountains everyday we saw something new that was simply gorgeous and interesting.

While the itinerary was very good our tour leader, Carolina, made it even better as she went out of her way to introduce us to the local people and culture. I would highly recommend this trip to anyone who enjoys mountains, wildlife and outdoor scenery.

Traveler: Bill Newcomb from Shady Cove, OR traveled on November 24, 2011

This is one of the best trips I've been on. Although there were a few bumps on the road, i.e., substituting a plane ride from BA to Bariloche because volcano dust shut down the airport, OAT more than made up for things that inconvenienced us. Many of us got seasick on our boat ride to the Lago Grey Glacier and to make up for it, OAT gave us a catamaran ride (on a perfect day) to see the Perito Moreno Glacier which turned out to be much more spectacular because we witnessed a huge calving and caught it on video. Our guide, Carolina, was very knowledgeable, and because half of us were getting stomach ailments, she was kept very busy. She made sure she was always available for our needs. This trip was one where the weather cooperated 90% and we were able to get National Geographic quality pictures. The volcano, mountain and glacial scenery filled up 7,000 shots on my digital camera!

Traveler: Carol Kato from Eagle Point, OR traveled on November 24, 2011

This was my 10th trip with OAT and it definitely ranked right up there with the best.

We were very fortunate that we had near-perfect weather for the trip, and as this is a very outdoors oriented trip, this is a very important factor. I was in southern Patagonia 5 years ago, and had weather that was probably more typical of that region, strong winds, rain, and cold. None of that this time. I guess Mother Nature decided to balance the ledger for me :)

Our trip leader, Martin Soliani, another of OAT's excellent trip leaders, was disappointed that we didn't get to experience the strong windy conditions, more normal for southern Patagonia, but we were delighted.

As other reviews have covered the basic itinerary of the trip, I'll try to mention a few things that might be helpful if you are considering this trip, or have already signed up for it. Even though we had excellent weather, make sure you do as others here have recommended and take your rain and cold weather gear with you. Hiking shoes are fine as the hikes are pretty mild, and boots are really not necessary.

OAT mentions the entry fee of $140 for both Argentina and Chile. If you are only doing the main trip, you will only need to pay the fee when entering Argentina through Buenos Aires. The fees apparently are only collected at major entry cities, and when crossing from Argentina to Chile, you go by bus through a border crossing, and no fee is collected at the Chilean border. If you are doing the Easter Island pre-trip, you will have to pay the Chile entry fee when landing in Santiago.

When in Buenos Aires you'll have a tango lesson at a local milonga or dance hall. When we were there, the downstairs area where the dance lesson is usually given, was being painted and we had our lesson in the area where the local folks come to dance the Argentine Tango. This is where the lesson should always be held, as you get to see how the locals love dancing their national dance. Make sure that somehow you get up to the second floor to see this.

The June 4 volcanic eruption in Chile has caused major problems with air travel in Argentina, with airports all over the country susceptible to closing due to ash clouds. At the time we were there, the Bariloche airport was closed for repair, and flights either had to land in Esquel, a 4-hour bus trip up to Bariloche, or Neuquen, a 7-hour trip. Ash clouds could also affect the bus crossing over the Andes, with the alternative being 4 bus rides and 3 boat rides and many more hours to accomplish the same crossing. OAT has masks on the bus, but it might be worthwhile to check beforehand to see if you should bring some of your own.

The scenery in Torres del Paine (PINE-ay) and El Calafate is spectacular, so make sure you bring lots of memory cards for your cameras, and for the more enthusiast photographers, a polarizing filter would definitely help.

Unlike some OAT trips, where one or more shopping stops are made, there are none on this trip. There are places to do a little shopping on your own such as Florida Street and La Boca in Buenos Aires, the shops in El Calafate, and a restaurant-gift shop at the border when crossing back from Chile to Argentina. If you see something you might want, buy it then. You may not get another chance.

For those of you not doing the Iguassu Falls post-trip extension, you might want to check the itinerary for the last day and see if you could get a return flight home a day earlier. The reason I'm suggesting this, is that it appears that all returning flights leave the evening of the last day, leaving just about the whole day free in Buenos Aires. With a lot of free time in Buenos Aires at the beginning of the trip, several tour members felt that going home the previous day, after returning from El Calafate to Buenos Aires, would have been preferable. For those of us waiting for the nighttime flights home, our trip leader, Martin, arranged for an optional tour of the Delta region of Buenos Aires. This is something you might want to consider if you have no other plans.

I took over 1,600 pictures during the trip, and a subset of them can be seen at www.pbase.com*sgitlin*andespatagonia. You will need to replace the * with a slash, as for some reason, the reviews at this website will not accept a slash whether it's in web addresses, dates, or anything else.

All in all, this was a fantastic trip and I would highly recommend it to all OAT travelers.

Traveler: Stewart Gitlin from Huntington Beach, CA traveled on November 21, 2011

This was an incredible trip in every respect. Highlight was the spectacular scenery of the Andes but also loved Chiloe Island. Lots of variety, incredibly friendly people, great food--we could not have been more pleased with the entire experience. We highly recommend this trip.

Our journey began and ended in Buenos Aires. We’d never been to BA so decided to arrive early to have time to get to know the city. It was great decision because time in the city on this itinerary is very limited. BA is amazing, so rich in history, wonderful architecture, fascinating neighborhoods. We spent seven days there and enjoyed every minute. The city tour off and on bus is great way to see a lot in more limited time. If you’ve been to BA we highly recommend day trip (or longer if you'd love a wonderfully quiet experience) to incredibly beautiful Colonia del Sacramento across the river in Uruguay.

The trip itinerary includes a short walking tour of Avenida de Mayo, sightseeing trip to Boca and Recoleta Cemetery, as well as a tango lesson and optional Tango Show. The show is incredible--dancers are very professional and meal outstanding--well worth the price.

At this point in the trip we began to encounter the challenges created by the June eruption of the Puyehue volcano. Blowing ash has forced the closure, off and on, of the BA airport and the airport of town of Bariloche (closed entirely since June) and off and on of other towns in both Argentina and Chile. We ended up flying to Esquel and driving north to Bariloche. This drive turned out to be great opportunity to see more of the interesting steppe landscape. Bariloche is a beautiful town, struggling to deal with the ash that is a dirty nuisance. Despite this we had great weather and lovely experiences there. The horseback ride up Campanario Hill and gorgeous views from the top, as well as optional float trip of the Limay River, visit to Gilbert brewery and conversation with Christina of the Mapuche tribe, were highlights.

Continuing to benefit from the volcano challenges, instead of flying from Bariloche to Puerto Varas per the original itinerary, we took an amazing (incredible as it sounds) trip--crossing the Andes to Chile by boat! Four short bus rides and three longer boat rides carried us through stunning mountain scenery of snowcapped mountains. We were blessed by absolutely incredible weather that enabled us to clearly see both Osorno and Calbuco volcanos--both snow-capped and majestic. What a treat.

One incredible experience after another followed. Chiloe Island was a lovely surprise--very interesting culture, unique wooden churches, great school visit, wonderful home hosted meal -- best we’ve ever had -- and penguins to boot. Our two days there were really very special.

Then it was on to the tip of South America--Punta Arenas on the Straits of Magellan and the absolutely stunning Torres del Paine National Park. There aren’t enough adjectives to describe this area. Loved the great hikes with amazing photo opp’s, the boat trip to see Grey Glacier up close, and toasting our trip with Pisco Sour chilled with glacial ice. We were again blessed with sunny days that made for spectacular photos.

The trip was climaxed with Los Glacieres National Park and Perito Moreno Glacier. Being so close to the calving glacier is an awesome experience--life changing. Finally a flight took us back to BA for an outstanding farewell dinner in Puerto Madero.

Hotels on this trip were almost without exception excellent. Especially loved Villa Huinid in Bariloche, Ancud Hotel on Chiloe Island (very unique), Cabo de Hornos in Punta Arenas (beautiful, too bad only 1 night), Lago Grey Hotel (incredible views from bar--could sit there all day), and Kau Yatun in Calafate. Food was great--lots of wonderful steak, great wine and Pisco Sours we were greeted with at each hotel. Each meal was an event.

Our guide Eduardo was outstanding--very professional, knowledgeable, personable and great problem-solver. He was amazing! Local guides were also excellent. Learning and discovery were integrated into every moment of this journey. The memories you bring back home are priceless.

Tips: Although we had excellent weather throughout this trip it is a good idea to have layers ready. Do bring warm hat--earmuffs good, or tie for hat as you’re often wearing the hat where it will be blown away if not tied down. Warm scarfs are great. Unless you’re in BA in Dec-Feb you’ll want more cold weather clothes than warm weather items. Not particularly strenuous trip--even the hikes were mild enough that older, less fit people were able to participate--so don’t expect that you’ll get your daily aerobics in.

Traveler: Sam & Flora Sanchez from Albuquerque, NM traveled on October 17, 2011

Our trip to Patagonia was an adventure.

From the bustling cosmopolitan streets of Buenos Aires, to the snow-capped Andes Mountains, to the arid plains of Patagonia, to the picturesque coast of Chile, to the windswept vistas of Punta Arenas, there was never a dull moment.

We enjoyed the excellent guidance of our tour leader Andrea and several local guides. Andrea facilitated our journey in many ways and she documented our travels in a photo album she sent us on return. Andrea was caring, kind, resourceful, humorous, and optimistic.

At the start in Buenos Aires, we toured the city on foot, by city bus, and subte (subway), visiting the tomb of Evita Peron and dining at Le General restaurant with Peron-era decor including a life-like figure of Evita.

We visited the Plaza de Mayo (central plaza), saw the Casa Rosada (White House), visited a milonga, a tango dance hall, and had a tango lesson.

We traveled to Bariloche in the Andes Mountains, part way by air, and part way by bus (due to the airport closure at Bariloche). Andrea ingeniously arranged a private bus for us at the airport in Neuquel.

Bariloche is known as “Little Switzerland" for its scenic grandeur. We rode horseback to the the top of a nearby steep hill to overlook the mountains and lakes in another impromptu experience.

Later we visited a microbrewery for lunch, talked to the brewmeister, and took a float trip down the Limay River. We visited a local working estancia (ranch) for dinner.

Since the Chilean border was closed with Puyehue Volcano in full vent, we crossed the Andes Mountains by 4 buses and 3 ferries in a memorable way. Part of the trip over the mountains was in a rugged all-wheel drive bus over a steep, narrow, winding gravel road.

We went to Chiloé, the second largest island in Chile, and its capital Castro, and learned about the indigenous peoples, the Mapuche.

At a local market, we purchased produce for our meal with the aid of sign language and good humor on the part of the vendors who were surprised to see a group of Norte-americanos sudden appear in the middle of their small town market.

We rode a small city bus in Castro which brought us some strange looks from the regular riders, and later visited a remote one-room school supported by the Grand Circle Foundation. Our lunch was cooked and shared by the mothers and students.

For dinner that day, we feasted on a local specialty, curanto, a stew consisting of shellfish, meat, potatoes, and vegetables, cooked in a hole in the ground lined with rocks and covered with nalca (Chilean rhubarb) leaves, using the produce we had purchased earlier in the market.

After breakfast the next morning, we traveled to the quaint fishing town of Puñihuil, where we boarded small boats and motored out for a close encounter with some residents of the wildlife sanctuary, including the seldom seen Humboldt penguins.

We toured the town of Puerto Varas showing its distinctive German heritage, located in the heart of Chile’s Lakes District. We went to Vicente Pérez Rosales National Park to witness the Petrohue Waterfalls and walk through a temperate rain forest, one of few in the world.

We toured the remote, windy, colorful town of Punta Arenas, 53 degrees south latitude, resting at the tip of South America.

We traveled overland to Torres del Paine National Park, South America's finest, remote and beautiful, to stay in a rustic lodge located inside the park at the foot of a glacial lake.

We went for a trek along the shores of Lago (Lake) Grey, where blue icebergs floated near gravel beaches while Glacier Grey loomed in the distance.

The next morning, we hiked to Salto Grande, a rushing waterfall and viewed local wildlife including the reclusive guanaco.

The next afternoon was the most exciting part of the entire trip when we boarded a small boat to drive upwind on an ice-cold lake in gale force winds with waves crashing over the boat and icebergs floating left and right, to get an up close look at the Grey Glacier.

The next day we left the beautiful Torres del Paine National Park and took a full-day excursion to Los Glaciares National Park where we were able to get close to the Perito Moreno Glacier, one of only three Patagonian glaciers that is growing, and which is located in the great southern ice-fields of Chile, the third largest supply of fresh water in the world.

Finally we flew back to Buenos Aires to end an exciting trip.

Highly recommended for those seeking plenty of adventure in one of the world's last great unspoiled lands.

Traveler: Ray Adman from Saint Augustine, FL traveled on October 06, 2011

One of the best trips I've taken with OAT. Kuddos to Andrea Salas, our trip leader. She was the epitomy of excellence. Anyone reading thiswho goes on this trip should request her trips. Further our group was also one of the most cohessive i've travelled with.
We took both the pre and post trips. We lucked out on Easter Island wher we got to see the annual Tapati festival where the island picks a queen. It is a week long festival with a lot of competitions of groups supporting the two contestants. They incude island crafts, ancient sporing events and all nite outdoor show with much singing and dancing. We traveled in early Feb. If you can, schedule your trip to see this festaval. The rest of the Easter Island tour was als good with the mysterys revealed. Swimmig was good too.
The other reviewers have described the main trip pretty accuratly. Santiago and Buenos Aires were great cities. Went to a couple of Weekend local markets. Antiques abounded, also many street performers. Tango rules in Buenos Aires. The lessons and the show were good. Both citis are large ,very clean and friendly even though Andrea kept warning us about pickpockets. Both cities also had very interesting history of which I was not completly aware.
As described by others the Patagonia was spectacular. Like some others describe we had fantastic weather. None of Andreas' dire warnings came to pass. The mountains, penguins, glaciers,were all spectacular. Really enjoyed the people interaction. Went to two local festivals and OAT sponsered school and community.
In the Patagonia we had more meals on our own than the usual OAT trip which turned out to be a plus. Got to try a lot more local food than the usual fare. Also got to explore on our own and made some fun discoveries we wouldn.t have had otherwise.
We also took the post trip to Igassu Falls. Don't miss this trip! The falls are spctacular. The boat trip under the falls was terrific. Also the two days at the rain foest was very interesting. Great nature walks, fantastic lodge.
In all it was right up there with the best travel I've had. Very few negatives: hotel in Buenos Aires. 7hr layover in Miami going, twenty seven hours to get home while there were direct flights of only 8 hours. My wife's back went out and again Andrea went the extra mile find chiropractors in several places, even a Sharman in Igussau.
The trip was so spectacular I took 5700 photographs! I'm still sorting and editing and the trip was 6 mos. ago.

Traveler: Michael Gelardi from Magnolia, TX traveled on February 07, 2011

I want to start off by saying I almost cancelled this trip and I am soooo glad I didn't! My 20-year old daughter wanted to do this and so I relented. My concern was the physical aspects - the horseback riding, the hikes, the river rafting. Luckily our trip leader, Pilar, answered my email and calmed my nerves. Everything about this trip was fabulous and not as difficult as I thought it might be. The scenery was as breathtaking as I expected and more. This trip offered everything from flora to fauna and the people we met were extremely friendly. I would take this trip again in a heartbeat.
I loved getting close to Periot Moreno and watching it calve. I loved staying at Kau Yatun Hotel and watching the sheep eating grass on the lawn and the gaucho and his dogs rein them in. I loved the market where we had to find a specific local product and find out about it. A woman who was selling clothes was chewing on a vegetable which she shared with me. And some kids came to visit with us at a school even tho it wasn't in session.

Traveler: Rhonda K. from Passaic, NJ traveled on December 25, 2010

I've decided just to post some pictures of each leg of the trip, with the pretrip to Easter Island. If you take the trip, Do not miss Easter Island. There are many good reviews on the site with great suggestions:

Here is the link to pictures of each leg of the trip:

http:www.andrew-rabatin.netINTERNATIONAL-TRAVEL-PHOTOSSOUTH-AMERICA

just cut and past it into your browser.

Traveler: Andrew Rabatin from Willoughby, OH traveled on September 13, 2010

A few selective comments on this superb tour which was part of a longer fabulous five weeks in Argentina and Chile:

1) tour leader and guides: Our guide Andrea Salas was the platonic ideal of a tour leader. Andrea was experienced, young, knowledgeable, resourceful and fun. She selected local guides that were equally fine. Andrea also answered my questions prior to the trip and kept me from over-packing. We have found the OAT tour leaders on all our trips super special and Andrea held up this tradition.

2) Tour itinerary: My husband hates to dance but one of the activities he most talks about when telling friends about our trip[ was our tango lesson and the optional tango show in Buenos Aires. Also a most special treat in Bariloche was the far ranging discussion we had after our gentle horseback ride and barbecue with the young ranch owner. The ultimate reason for the trip was visiting Torres del Paine. The weather cooperated to make all our activities memorable.

3) optional activities: I was skeptical about the following optional activities but we did them to be a good sport. Our decision paid off.

The float trip: We have enjoyed white water rafting and thought a float trip might be boring. The spectacular scenery
on a clear day made the trip more than worthwhile.

The folk music show: I was even more apprehensive about this show in El Calafate because I feared it would be too touristy. Wrong again. The show was simple and fun and only would have benefited from the usual English translation about what the singersactors were talkingsinging about.

In sum, this is another great OAT tour and we are ready to sign up for another.

Traveler: Linda Carl from Chapel Hill, NC traveled on March 27, 2010

When I think about my recent trip to Argentina and Chile, I remember the beautiful scenery. As a city gal, I refer to this trip as my "Wilderness Adventure." Okay, so we DID have a hotel room with a shower every night, and we always had great meals provided for us, and our walks could not be classified as hikes, or our river rafting as harrowing. For that matter, the horse I rode on the sheep ranch was so tame he kept wanting to stop. So why would I call this my wilderness adventure? Because I have never seen such natural beauty, day after day, mile after mile. From snow topped mountains, to glaciers and lakes, Patagonia is a vast unspoiled land – most of it breathtakingly beautiful. Bring your camera!

So, is this trip just about the scenery? No, it's not. But your itinerary and the reviews from other travelers can fill you in on the details of all the sites and activities that lay in store for you.

Instead of repeating how much you will enjoy this trip (you will) or how great the guide is (Alex, our guide was excellent – as a matter of fact, he was perfect!) I will focus on preparation details. Here are some well-intentioned suggestions if you are planning to take this tour:

1. Pack for all seasons and weather. Dress in layers, or as the local guides say, dress like an onion. On our trip, we experienced (almost) tropical heat in Buenos Aires (sun, high 80's), but as we traveled further south, it got colder, windier, and cloudy with occasional rain. For the heat I packed cotton and for the cold I packed silk long underwear, and wool slacks and sweaters. I packed a light-weight down jacket and finally, a Gore-Tex jacket and pants to fend off the wind and rain as needed. Add to this some Gore-Tex hiking bootsshoes and a wool hat and you should be all set. During the course of each day, I would find myself taking off or putting on as the weather changed from moment to moment.

2. Plan to carry a small backpackdaypack. As you “hike” (really, I don’t think we ever walked a distance greater than two miles at one time), you will need somewhere to store the clothing you are taking on and off. (You can only tie so much around your waist!) You will also need a place for your camera and its accessories.

3. I never wear a fanny pack at home; I always take one on a trip. On this trip, it gave me quick access to money, Kleenex, hand wipes, chap-stick etc.

4. Don’t forget your sunglasses. When the sun is out, it’s bright. It’s so bright, I needed sunscreen too.

5. Nobody told me to take a cotton scarf to protect my face from the wind; I could have used it. The wool scarf that I did pack was too warm. On our trip, our guides estimated the wind gusts to be 55-60 mph.

6. I took gloves without full fingers to enable me to take photos; I never wore my gloves. I guess it’s better to have and not need; pack a pair just in case.

7. I took a Gore-Tex baseball cap; it kept the sun andor rain off my face. When the weather got worse, I added my wool hat on top and pulled up the hood of my jacket. I was warm. One lady in our group had a pair of ear muffs; if you have sensitive ears, this is a great idea for when the wind is gusting but it’s not terribly cold.

8. I have never owned Gore-Tex bootsshoes in my life … until this trip. I think they were worth the money as my feet stayed dry while walking through puddles etc. I would recommend hiking boots if they are comfortable (they’ll keep your ankle secure); otherwise shoes. I took one pair of each; it was not necessary. They took up too much room in my suitcase. Whatever style you choose, make sure to break them in before you leave for the trip. I also packed wool hiking socks which were the perfect accessory to my boots. Finally, I packed a pair of comfortable walking shoes for Buenos Aires so I wouldn’t have to walk the city streets in boots.

9. About halfway through the trip, we had access to a laundry service. That was a nice surprise. Until then, I was washing my socks out by hand at night.

With the wide range of weather conditions possible for this trip, packing well is essential. After that, the rest of the trip is pure joy!

Traveler: Karen D from Chesterfield, MO traveled on March 13, 2010

Previous reviewers have provided plenty of details about this trip, so I'll just point out a few highlights here:

PILAR: Pilar Olivares, our trip leader, was just terrific. Our departure date was one week after the earthquake struck Chile, and she was in touch with us right away with updates and reassurances as well as advice. And once we arrived, she took over with the goal of making sure we enjoyed ourselves thoroughly while becoming educated about the region. She told us this trip was planned by the guides themselves, and indeed, everything seemed very personal. I was amazed at the breadth and depth of Pilar's knowledge -- about everything! In addition, her sense of humor helped make us one happy family from the beginning. Our local guides were also excellent.

PHOTOS: There were photo-worthy sights everywhere! Torres del Paine and Perito Moreno are at the top of the list, but when I look at my many pictures I'm reminded of so many other places and activities, e.g., the tango lesson, the wonderful scenery around Bariloche, the penguins at Punihuil, the hikes, the marketplaces and so much more. Bring lots of memory cards!

FOOD: We enjoyed quite a variety, from the beef in Argentina to all that delicious seafood in Chile -- abalone, mussels, fresh fish, king crab (OK, the barnacles weren't quite as tasty as the rest). The home-hosted curanto and the road-stop cazuela were exceptional. Whoever selected our food menus did an exceptional job. Even when we were on our own for meals, we asked Pilar or the local guides for recommendations, and they were always spot-on!

WEATHER: We absolutely lucked out on this trip. Yes, we got the "orders" about bringing waterproof clothing so we could "be prepared for the worst" in the unpredictable climate of Patagonia. However, as one of our local guides said, "we have weather like this, like NEVER." The strong winds and rains never materialized, and nothing had to be changed or cancelled due to bad weather. In fact, a few times the guides would stop the bus so we could take photos at places where even they said they've rarely seen such beautiful views!

On my end-of-trip evaluation, I had a hard time pinpointing what I liked best about this trip, because I enjoyed everything. I've been on five OAT trips, and it seems like each new one goes to the top of the list, as this one does.

Traveler: Sharlynn Mar from San Jose, CA traveled on March 06, 2010

Another excellent OAT trip! Many highlights. Don’t miss either the pre- or post-trip; both are outstanding experiences, not-to-be-missed parts of the world. At dinner one evening during the trip, we discussed what we wished we had known before traveling…for those who (wisely!) choose this trip, here is our list.
• Argentina, Chile, and Brazil now charge US citizens the same amount that a US visa costs their citizens, approximately $130. This is a new practice for Argentina and caught us by surprise. Only Brazil requires the visa (and payment) in advance of arrival (post-trip only).
• If you can get the Brazilian visa yourself you will save a lot of $. Not only is there a charge to have it obtained for you, but the Brazilian embassy charges more for visas obtained by an agency than by individuals. I wondered if the cost of the visa would be worth the couple hours spent in Brazil. The answer is yes!
• Having some US currency in small ($1, $5), crisp bills is helpful.
• Especially if you take the pre-trip, you pass back and forth between Chile and Argentina several times. Exchange enough $ for each country the first time in order to save on exchange fees. Bank cards were very convenient everywhere.
• Credit cards were widely accepted.
• There are local tour guides in every location increasing the $ needed for tipping.
• There was not tissue (e.g. Kleenex) in any of the hotels. You might want to bring some.
• There are lots of flights on this trip; bring entertainment! Guide books fit the bill well; you can read about your next destination as you travel.
• Cell phones worked just about everywhere; computer access in most hotels, generally free or at very low cost
• Traveling in Jan-Feb, we found no trouble drying clothes in the hotel room anywhere on the trip.
• Swim suit: few opportunities to use it; wished I had had one on the post trip. Some enjoyed swimming in the cool Pacific on the pre-trip.
• The float trip and boat ride during the main trip are accomplished without getting the feet wet; no special footwear is needed. But do pay attention to recommendations in OAT’s literature re footwear.
• The literature says it, but just a reminder. If you like to use a facecloth, bring one. None are provided.
• Take the recommendations in OAT literature re cold, windy, wet weather seriously. We had fabulous weather, but it was very cold and windy at times and, occasionally wet.
Hope you find some of this helpful and have as great a trip as we have had.

Traveler: Leslie from Silver Spring, MD traveled on January 18, 2010

This was OATGCT trip number 32. I picked this trip even though I had been in this area three years ago on the OAT adventure that included the cruise on the Skorpios III. I knew that there was lots more to see and experience, and was not disappointed.

The trip started with an e-mail from our guide, Raffaele Di Biase, which included the word Gore-Tex. That was followed up with a personal phone call from Chile, which included the word Gore-Tex. I know that waterproof gear is mentioned in the handbook, but I was optimistic--too opitmistic! Even in the summer you can have four seasons all in one day like we did. My best advice is to be prepared as it will add greatly to your enjoyment.

OAT did a wonderful planning job for this itinerary, including so many places to see and a great variety of activities. Our guide, Rafaelle brought life to those plans. We never seem to run out of included discoveries, and if you did find free time, there was always much more to discover on your own.

Without going into the trip details, which you can read in other reviews, I just want to thank OAT for making this trip a real adventure, and beyond that, an afordable trip for singles. I want to thank Raffaele for his personal contact and attention not just to me, but to the entire group.

This was a great trip to what is still an almost unspoiled part of the world , one not to be missed.

Traveler: Richard from Studio City, CA traveled on December 19, 2009

This was a truly wonderful trip with endless photographic possibilities, lots of wildlife sightings, and plenty of opportunity to experience the culture and cuisine. Be prepared for many local guides who do an excellent job of acquainting you with the local environment and people. All three optional trips were well worth the investment. The tango show was especially enjoyable and offered excellent food and a bottomless glass of wine. The three home-hosted meals were all unique and tasty. Chiloe is in isolated island unchanged time and extremely interesting. All cities have craft markets, but El Calafate has the best value (quality for the $) and the best selection of local art. But, if you want a fleece vest or jacket, Bariloche is the place. The weather in Patagonia is extremely changeable from minute to minute, so always be ready for rain, strong wind and sun. The extra time this trip offers at Torres del Paine allows more opportunity to catch this area at its best. Kudos and thanks to Carlos who stepped in at the last moment to be our guide.

Traveler: Peter and Jane from Seneca, SC traveled on December 08, 2009

Something for everyone: that's how I would describe the itinerary for OAT's trip to Patagonia. Discovery and learning occurred around every corner, and thanks to hosts of local guides and our trip leader Sebas Brina, we had myriad opportunities to experience them. We visited the busy city of Buenos Aires, learned its history and politics, and experienced its culture with a tango lesson. But we also encountered rural culture in various small towns, on a sheep ranch, at a school, and through a mate tea ceremony. Various modes of transportation-- horseback, city bus, subway, hiking, rafting-- were part of the trip. We viewed wildlife: the rare Andean deer, fox kits, guanacos, condors, sea otters, penguins, a pygmy owl, and more. Magnificent tastes tickled our palate every day: Italian specialties, lamb, wine, pisco sours, dulche de leche, ice cream, wild boar, Fernet! Shopping opportunities popped up everywhere, including at a leather store and a lapis lazuli shop. And the scenery was awe-inspiring, from the mountains of Torres del Paine to the glacier Perito Moreno.

Traveler: Kathy & Jan from Stevens Point, WI traveled on December 01, 2009

This was our 9th trip with OAT and certainly won't be our last. We had been to South America 5 previous times and the only reason we signed up for this trip was because of the Easter Island extension. I assumed it would be the highlight of the trip but then we visited Torres Del Paine and the trip just increasingly got better as we went. The landscapes are some of the most beautiful we have seen and the history (as provided by our outstanding guide Eduardo Brownell) was not only informative but very interesting . We enjoyed the presentation by the Mapuche speaker and the history of the Mapuche's.
The walkway that has been built around the Glaciar Perito Moreno provided an upclose view and provided for some magnificent photo opportunities. Our horseback ride at Fortin Chacabuco was quite the experience. The weather pulled a New England Noreaster on us and went from sunshine to rain to sleet but when we reached the top of the mountain there was this magnificent rainbow ... proving to us that everything is worth trying.
We were also fortunate to travel with all Inner Circle OAT members and everyone made the pre-trip to Easter Island except for one traveler. It is always interesting to hear about other travelers trips and we usually leave a trip with another one in mind from using recommendations from our fellow traveling companions.
We would certainly place this trip high on the list for recommendations.
Thank you Eduardo for a wonderful and enlightning experience.

Traveler: James from Bristol, NH traveled on November 09, 2009

Our 1st trip with Overseas Adventure - it was an exciting informative and beautiful experience!

Traveler: Stanley from Los Alamitos, CA traveled on November 10, 2009

I just read Marie Smith's review of the Chile & Argentina trip. I fully agree with everything she said. It was truly a fabulous experience. Something for everyone. If you're into photography, you won't be disappointed in subject matter. I took about 1500 photos filling five albums.

Be prepared for long walks and hikes. I am a great grandmother and wasn't quite as prepared as I should have been but it didn't stop me. And "YES"! Pedro Potqueras was absolutely outstanding. It was also really neat to have had Alicia Guevara from the Boston Office join us, as well as Ana Rossi from buenos Aires.

There were just five of our main group that went to Rapa Nui (Easter Island) and we were so blessed to have experienced such history and to meet some wonderful people. Two others from the main group were there but they did the trip on their own.

Go! You won't be disappointed.

Gerry Showalter, Ramona, CA

Traveler: Geraldine from Ramona, CA traveled on September 10, 2009

Dear Travelers and OAT,

I recently went on a trip with OAT called "The Andes to Patagonia".A spectacular experience to various places in Chile-Santiago,Puerto Varas,Chiloe,Punta Arenas and in Argentina to Bariloche,El Calafate and Buenos Aires,to name a few beautiful places in South America.
Our group were the pioneers for this new trip.
A pre- trip to "Easter Island"-{Rapanui}, was an incrediable highlight,and for myself a dream and wish to go there,since I was a kid.The dream became reality thanks to OAT! To see the big "Moai"-sculptures in person is beyond beleif ! The remote island is very special surrounded by a blue ocean, and all the sculptures standing in rows overlooking the land...is magic!
We discovered a lot about Patagonia and the Andes.I have been to Patagonia before,but this particular program is filled with so many different and exciting and fun activities, so there is no time to be bored here.
We experienced everything from seeing the most incrediable glaciers close up in colors so blue and beautiful....and mountains for miles so peacefully,under the big blue sky above,only in Patagonia...and horseback riding along nature's best path.
Going down a river in a boat..looking at the wildlife and enjoy the serenity around us.Panoramic views and many photo opportunities everywhere.
Torres del Paine where we hiked to...is heaven on earth,I think!!!! And all the parks are wonderfu to be part of.
The glacier "Perita Moreno" is bigger than life itself...almost...and you will always remember this one.
We had discussions about the different cultures and learned a lot during this time we were on the road in one of the most beautiful places on earth.
In order to enjoy all this ,it's important to bring the right clothing.The weather is unpredictable sometimes and it's easier to enjoy each outdoor and indoor activity when anything from hot sun to heavy rain and strong winds changes often.
Our hotels were both comfortable and clean,and the food always a delicious treat!
This is a big and rich program so the more prepared you are for an adventure like this,the more fun and relaxed and enjoyable it will be.
Our great tripleader Pedro Porqueras shares his knowledge and passion for all the places we visited.He is helpful and nice to everyone and goes the extra mile.I would definately recommend him to other travelers.Especially for this adventurous trip.This is my second time I travel with Pedro as our trip leader.The local guides are all quite knowledgable as well, and share their information about their specific places.
it's great to try to do every activity that OAT offers ,since each one has its beauty.{You can rest when you get home...}.
I am very happy with this trip ,and all the expectations I hoped for I definately received.
OAT makes sure you are safe and in good hands.We all learned so much during this trip from The Andes to Patagonia's wonderful nature and wildlife ,to the elegant and passionate tango in the most special city in Argentina-Buenos Aires,and so much more to discover in this city.
There will be rich memories for years to come, after a journey like this one.

"Life is sprinkled with moments of beauty,
It's an amazing and emotional journey."
Enjoy,
Marie Louise Smith

Traveler: Marie Louise Smith from Half Moon Bay, CA traveled on September 10, 2009