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