I recently went on a fabulous educational trip to Chile and Argentina
sponsored by ATAA and EcoAdventures.We went at the end of March, which
is the beginning of the fall season, so the weather was quite
comfortable with little rain. The journey began in Santiago, Chile and
ended in Buenos Aires, Argentina. I highly recommend EcoAdventures (a
Signature preferred partner) as a tour operator for Central and South
America.
They are very knowledgeable about the entire area and
specialize in customized FIT's. The local guides we had were also very
informative and personable. The itinerary consisted of many slices of
Chilean and Argentine life that not only introduced us to the cultures
of these two countries, but gave us the opportunity to experience what
we will sell to our clients, such as a folk show and wine train tour in
Santiago, and a tango show and gaucho ranch in Buenos Aires. The wines
of Chile and Argentina are known to be among the world's best, and both
countries are known for their ski regions. The dollar is still strong in
South America, which is another selling point.
We began our journey in Santiago, Chile, a very cosmopolitan city, at
the base of the Andes Mountains. Our hotel in Santiago was the Radisson
Royal, a very comfortable business hotel located near all the sites of
the city. Famous in Santiago is San Cristobal Hill, with sweeping views
of the city and the Andes Mountains, and the Plaza de Armas, the main
square, known for its many protests. We experienced one when we were
there!
The Colchagua Valley, not far from Santiago is known for its many
wineries. There are tours of the wineries and even a wine train (a
restored steam locomotive) that passes through many of the vineyards.
This would be a worthwhile excursion from Santiago for your clients.
Next we went to the Lakes Region and Upper Patagonia. Chile's Lakes
Region is absolutely stunning and the area is influenced by a strong
German presence. In Puerto Varas, we stayed at the very lovely Puelche
Hotel, which resembles a chalet and overlooks Lake Llanquihue.One of the
highlights of the trip was the Lakes Crossing excursion from Chile to
Argentina. It is a combination of vehicle/boat crossing through the
Andes on glistening lakes. We took the journey in one day, which was
very long, but a two day trip is more common for tourists, with a
night's stay in the Chilean town of Peulla. There you can hike, bicycle,
take a zip line tour, or relax and just enjoy the beauty of the area and
the Osorno Volcano. We had a lovely lunch in Peulla. The seafood in
Chile is superb and the Chilean Bass is delicious! The region tends to
be rainy, but on the day we were there it was sunny and warm. Our first
stop in Argentina was the beautiful San Carlos de Bariloche. Bariloche
is famous for its lakes and nearby ski areas as well as other
recreational activities. We stayed at the Villa Huinid Resort and Spa
right on the lake not far from town, which I highly recommend.
After Bariloche, we flew to Buenos Aires. The internal flights in Chile
and Argentina were on LAN Airlines. The planes were comfortable and the
flights were on time.
We had a couple of flight changes, but nothing monumental. Buenos Aires
is a very sophisticated city, sometimes called the Paris of South
America. The many public squares and parks of Buenos Aires are worth
seeing, and especially for me, the Casa Rosada (the pink Presidential
Palace) and Recoleta Cemetery which houses the mausoleum of Eva Peron. I
would also suggest a tour of the Evita Museum for those clients
interested in that part of Argentine history (and of course the award
winning Broadway musical). Buenos Aires is a city that you can roam for
days, so I would suggest at least three days...and the Argentine beef is
excellent!
Nine members of our group (out of a total 22) extended the trip to
include a night at Iguazu Falls, Argentina. The Iguazu is a must see, in
my opinion, whether your clients are in Brazil or Argentina. We stayed
at the Sheraton International Hotel, which is in the rainforest with
views of 'Devil's Throat', the main part of the falls. An ecological
train transports you to Devil's Throat. There are walking trails where
you can see exotic birds, monkeys and aardvarks. For those not afraid to
get wet, there are boat rides. The boats go right up to the Falls, so
close that you can almost touch them.Those in our group who took the
boat ride enjoyed themselves tremendously. Iguazu Falls is a very unique
experience. If clients have time, I would definitely recommend a longer
stay, perhaps two or three nights. The town of Puerto Igauzu is nearby
if they want to venture out.
We flew back to the domestic airport in Buenos Aires and were shuttled
to the international airport for our long journey home. It is imperative
that enough time is provided to get between the airports, so I recommend
a private transfer. The international air was provided by Delta
Airlines.They were on time and comfortable.
All in all, an excellent experience and two great countries to recommend
to our clients!
Trish BrysOvereem
Senior Travel Consultant
All Travel