What to Expect
- Physical requirements:
This trip is only for very physically fit and healthy travelers and is not appropriate for travelers using wheelchairs, walkers, or other mobility aids. You must be able to walk approximately 3 miles unassisted and be comfortable participating in 6-8 hours of physical activities on some days. Agility and balance are required for horseback rides and boarding small fishing boats. We reserve the right for our Trip Leaders to modify participation, or in some circumstances send travelers home if their limitations are impacting the group’s experience.
- Pacing:
7 locations in 18 days with two 1-night stays. There are several long overland drives, including one 6-hour transfer and two transfers of up to 12 hours crossing the borders between Argentina & Chile, and three internal flights of 2, 3, and 5 hours apiece.
- Climate & terrain:
In the Andes and Patagonia, daytime temperatures average in the 50s to the 60s year-round and rain or high winds are possible at any time. We travel over city streets, bumpy roads, and rugged paths; walk and hike through backwoods and over uneven terrain on 6 treks of around 2 hours each; and embark on boat and ferry rides.
- Transportation:
We travel by minibus, ferry, horseback, chairlift, and small boat.
- Accommodations:
All our accommodations are hotel-standard, and feature private baths with hot showers and Western-style toilet facilities.
- Group size & leadership:
16 maximum with 1 Trip Leader.
Visa Information
U.S. citizens will need a visa (or visas) for this trip. In addition, there may be other entry requirements that also need to be met. For your convenience, we’ve included a quick reference list, organized by country:
- Argentina: No visa required. Note: Argentina charges a reciprocity (entry) fee.
- Chile (main trip/optional Easter Island extension): No visa required. Note: Chile charges a reciprocity (entry) fee.
- Brazil (optional Iguassu Falls extension): Visa required. (Necessary to visit the Brazilian side of the falls.)
Travelers who are booked on this adventure will be sent a complete Visa Packet— with instructions, applications, and a list of visa fees—approximately 100 days prior to their departure. (Because many countries limit the validity of their visa from the date it is issued, or have a specific time window for when you can apply, we do not recommend applying too early.)
If you are not a U.S. citizen, do not travel with a U.S. passport, or will be traveling independently before/after this trip, then your entry requirements may be different. Please check with the appropriate embassy or a visa servicing company. To contact our recommended visa servicing company, PVS International, call toll-free at 1-800-556-9990.
Vaccinations Information
For a detailed and up-to-date list of vaccinations that are recommended for this trip, please visit the CDC’s “Traveler’s Health” website.