Chile & Argentina: The Andes to Patagonia (2012)

Buenos Aires • Bariloche • Chiloé Island • Puerto Varas • Punta Arenas • Torres del Paine National Park • Calafate
  • 16 days
  • from only:
  • $3895
  • $244 per day
    Land Tour Only
  • 17 days
  • from only:
  • $5045
  • $297 per dayIncludes international airfare and government taxes
Chile & Argentina: The Andes to Patagonia
IN THIS SECTION:
Detailed Itinerary
Video: Travelers' experiences of Chile & Argentina
NEW-Private Departures
Is this Adventure Right for You?
It's Included
Unique Accommodations
Extend Your Adventure
Santiago & Easter Island, Chile
Iguassu Falls Jungle Expedition
Optional Tours
Local Team & Insider Tips
Grand Circle Foundation
Your Travel Handbook
Air information
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Customize your trip

Learn how to customize your adventure, or view standard air routing and travel times. The choice is yours with our True Choice program.

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Customize your trip

With our True Choice Program, you can choose to stay longer before or after your trip on your own, or combine two adventures to maximize your value. Here are more ways to create the OAT adventure that’s right for you:

  • Choose our standard air routing, or work with us to select the airline and routing you prefer
  • Make your own international flight arrangements directly with the airline, applying frequent flyer miles if available
  • Stay overnight in a connecting city before or after your trip
  • Request to arrive a few days early to get a fresh start on your adventure
  • Choose to “break away” before or after your trip, spending additional days or weeks on your own
  • Extend your adventure with our optional pre- and post-trip extensions
  • Combine your choice of OAT adventures to maximize your value
  • Upgrade to business or premium economy class

The air options listed above will involve an additional fee of $100 per person for confirmed requests (as well as incremental airfare costs based on your specific choice). This service fee will be waived for Inner Circle/Sir Edmund Hillary Club members.

Or, when you make your reservation, you can choose our standard air routing, for which approximate travel times are shown below.

GATEWAY

TRAVEL TIME*

Atlanta

14hrs

Baltimore, Dallas, Los Angeles, Tampa

15hrs

Boston

16hrs

Chicago, Newark

17hrs

Miami

9hrs

New York (JFK)

11hrs

Orlando

13hrs

Philadelphia

18hrs

Denver, Phoenix, San Francisco, Seattle

20hrs

Portland, OR

21hrs

* Estimated total time, including connection and layover. Actual travel time may vary.

The information above reflects approximate flight times from the gateway cities listed to Buenos Aires, Argentina. Routing is based on availability and subject to change. You will receive your final air itinerary approximately 14 days prior to departure.

REFER and EARN

Earn increasing rewards as a Vacation Ambassador

REFER and EARN as a Vacation Ambassador with
the BEST referral program in the industry

Inspiring new travelers to join the OAT family is a rewarding experience—both for you and your new travelers.

Share your love of travel with others and, for each referral who embarks on an OAT trip, you will earn $100 in CASH or credit. With your 4th referral departing on a 2012 departure, your reward increases to $200 in CASH or credit per person. And once you refer 8 travelers departing in either 2012 or 2013, you'll earn a FREE trip valued up to $4,500 per household—which will bring the total value of your earned rewards up to $5,600.

And you are also passing along savings to your new traveler: We'll instantly deduct $100 off the cost of their reservation when they mention your name and Customer Number while reserving.

To learn more about the benefits of our Vacation Ambassador Referral Program, please call us toll-free at 1-800-955-1925 or click here.

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Pre-Trip: Santiago & Easter Island, Chile

5 nights from only $2195
OAT

In the midst of the majestic Andes Mountains, discover Santiago, Chile, a city as vibrant and historic as it is elegant. Then venture more than 2,000 miles west to find Easter Island, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the most isolated—and intriguing—places on Earth. Discover the island’s rich Polynesian heritage that dates back to the fourth century, its dramatic volcanoes and brilliant beaches, and its welcoming Rapa Nui people. And above all, ponder the mystery of the nearly 900 massive monoliths—called moai—perched dramatically on its seaside cliffs.

Single Supplement: FREE.

Please note: This extension only available on select departures. Ask your Adventure Specialist for details.

It's Included

  • Roundtrip airfare between Santiago and Easter Island and airfare from Santiago to Buenos Aires
  • Accommodations for 2 nights in Santiago and 3 nights on Easter Island
  • 8 meals—5 breakfasts, 1 lunch, and 2 dinners
  • 6 small group activities
  • Services of our own resident OAT Trip Leader, who speaks English and the native language
  • All transfers
Day 1
Depart U.S.

Depart the U.S. this evening for an overnight flight to Chile.
Day 2
Arrive in Santiago, Chile/Welcome Dinner

We arrive in Santiago today and transfer to our hotel. This afternoon, we’ll embark on a walking tour through the streets of this historic capital city. Home to a third of Chile's 17 million people, Santiago rests at the confluence of the Mapocho and Maipo rivers, surrounded on all sides by Andean peaks—a breathtaking setting for a capital that has witnessed a remarkable history, from settlement by conquistadors in 1541 to the Marxist, military, and democratic governments of the 20th century.

This evening, we’ll get to know our Trip Leader and fellow travelers over a Welcome Dinner at a local restaurant.
Day 3
Fly to Easter Island/Visit Orongo & Rano Kao Volcano

After breakfast this morning, we fly across the southeastern Pacific Ocean to Easter Island, so named by a Dutch sailor who landed on the island on Easter Sunday, 1722. Today, the island—also known as Rapa Nui—is home to around 5,000 people, including 3,000 Rapa Nuians, the Polynesian people whose ancestors were responsible for carving the magnificent moai—giant stone sculptures that grace the island’s tropical landscape. These striking sculptures—and the isolated culture that created them—have earned Rapa Nui a place in the imaginations of people the world over, as well as its designation as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

This afternoon, we'll set out for one of the most scenic spots on the island. At Rano Kao Volcano, we'll view the freshwater lake that has formed in the crater's depths, and explore Orongo's ceremonial center on the crater's edge. This place was one of the principal sites of the birdman cult, which is immortalized by the stone carvings of birdmen into rock.

From Rano Kao, we’ll return to our hotel, where we'll enjoy dinner together tonight.
Day 4
Discover moai at Ahu Tongariki, Te Pito Kura & Anakena Beach

This morning, we’ll set out to discover the island’s famed moai—giant monoliths whose origin and meaning have sparked great speculation. We’ll follow the footsteps of an ancient civilization to various ahus—sacred sites where several moai stand. At Ahu Vaihu, we get a chance to view moai in an unrestored state, and then continue to Ahu Tongariki’s impressive collection of 15 restored moai carved from the quarries of nearby Rano Raraku Volcano. We’ll enjoy a boxed lunch before discovering Te Pito Kura, which today lies on the ground but—at 32 feet in length—is considered the largest moai once erected on an ahu. Finally, we’ll explore pristine Anakena Beach, where the first Polynesian settlers are believed to have landed and where we’ll find six more moai. Return to our hotel and enjoy dinner on your own this evening.
Day 5
Morning at Leisure/Visit Ahu Akivi/Sunset at Tahai Beach

This morning is free to relax by the seaside or make your own discoveries. In the afternoon, we'll visit Ahu Akivi, one of the only inland ahus on the island, the seven moai of which stand in a line facing the ocean and (during spring and autumn) the sunset. This evening, we'll enjoy watching the sunset ourselves, over the moai at Tahai Beach, bidding a fond farewell to Easter Island before returning to our hotel. Dinner is on our own tonight.
Day 6
Fly to Santiago

After breakfast, we fly back to Santiago and enjoy a final evening of independent exploration and dinner on our own.
Day 7
Fly to Buenos Aires

Following breakfast this morning, we fly to Buenos Aires to meet our fellow travelers and set out to explore Chile & Argentina: The Andes to Patagonia.