4* & 5* Patagonia Cruises to Ushuaia, Torres del Paine and Santiago

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Day 1 - Thursday, Santiago de Chile:
Arrive this morning in Santiago de Chile, gateway to the Andes, situated between mountain peaks and the Pacific Ocean. Your SouthAmerica.travel tour guide will accompany you to your international 4 **** hotel in the green heart of the city, the Hotel Radisson ****.
This afternoon is free for you to discover the city nestled between mountains. In the evening transfer to your restaurant "Il Siciliano" to have dinner and return to the hotel.

Day 2 - Friday, Santiago de Chile:
After breakfast full-day included excursion to the San Francisco church built in the 16th century, then visit the Government Palace "La Moneda", the Plaza de Armas and some national monuments such as the Cathedral, the Central Post Office and the City Hall of Santiago.
The trip continues to San Cristobal Hill, where the zoo, the Metropolitan Park and the Cultural House are located. In the end of the tour you will cross the the Mapocho River.

Day 3 - Saturday, Santiago de Chile: Vina del Mar & Valparaiso Tour.
Half way to Valparaíso, we can observe the variety of scenery and vegetation in the Curacaví and Casablanca valleys, as well as the Coastal mountain range. Arriving to Valparaíso, the main commercial port of Chile, we will see clusters of houses built along the hills. On one of the hills is “La Sebastiana”, the former home of the Nobel Prize winning poet, Pablo Neruda, and which houses a wide collection of his brick a brac. We will pass the National Congress building and then drive along Pedro Montt Avenue, from where we can see Italian Park, Victoria Square and the Cathedral. On the Brasil Avenue we will see the British Arch, the Regional Government Building and the statue to Lord Cochrane.
Later, we will pass through the Chinese Quarter, the monument to the heroes of Iquique, Prat Quay, the historic elevators of the Port of Valparaíso, the former Customs House and the El Membrillo cove. We will visit the Playa Ancha Hill, the Municipal Stadium and the Navy School. We will then take the coastal road to Viña del Mar, which is also known as “The Garden City”. Places of interest are the Floral Clock, the Abarca Cove, the Arab Union Club, Wulff Castle, the Marga-Marga estuary, the Municipal Casino, Peru Avenue, Acapulco beach and Vergara Quay.
Our trip continues along the coast passing the beaches of The Marines, as well as Las Salina, Reñaca and Cochoa beaches and up to the sea-wolf viewing point. We will then stop for lunch (not included). We will then return to the center of Viña del Mar, from where we get right into downtown Viña del Mar, where we will find the Francisco Vergara Square, the Municipal Theatre and Sucre Square.

Day 4 - Sunday, Santiago de Chile - Punta Arenas
Fly from Santiago de Chile straight south to Puerto Natales to get to Punta Arenas. Transfer to your hotel Costaustralis ****. Dinner is on the house!

Day 5 - Monday, Punta Arenas - Torres del Paine
Breakfast in your Hotel Costaustralis. Early start driving for full day inside Torres del Paine National Park. This busy day traveling and walking includes unforgettable views of the Towers and the Torres Massif, Lago Grey and Grey Glacier and tremendous wildlife. Journey on some short hikes to reach the most beautiful points of view of this National Park and of course also get to know the diverse wildlife. Overnight in Hotel Las Torres *** in Torres del Paine.

Day 6 - Tuesday, Torres del Paine
Day at leisure after breakfast in Torres del Paine

Day 7 - Wednesday, Torres del Paine - Punta Arenas - Mare Australis Cruise
After breakfast transfer from Torres del Paine to Punto Arenas - 5 days - Expedition Cruise onboard Mare Australis: Departs Wednesdays from Punta Arenas. The Captain and crew will give a welcome cocktail reception on board. Immediately afterward, the ship will set sail for the "uttermost part of the earth".
Through the mythical Strait of Magellan, travel to Southern Patagonia, including Tierra del Fuego. This is the beginning of a Great Adventure!

Day 8 - Thursday, Mare Australis Cruise
Disembark at Ainsworth Bay to enjoy the sight of the Marinelli Glacier from a distance and visit a colony of elephant selas. Disembark at the bay of the Brookes Glacier to hike near the glacier.

Day 9 - Friday, Mare Australis Cruise
Disembark in the bay of the Pia Glacier and excursion to an observation point. Navigate through the Beagle Channel and appreciate the spectacular "Glacier Avenue".

Day 10 - Saturday Mare Australis Cruise
Cape Horn Disembark in the Cape Horn National Park, a place where the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans merge. Disembark in Puerto Williams, the southernmost town of the world.

Day 11 - Sunday, Mare Australis Cruise - Ushuaia
Arrive in Ushuaia, the the most important Argentinean city of Tierra del Fuego and the southernmost city in the world. Disembarkment is at around 8 hrs. Your hotel is the Hotel Los Cauquenes **** in Ushuaia. Dinner included tonight.

Day 12 - Monday, Ushuaia
Breakfast in your hotel.
This morning we will visit the stunning Tierra del Fuego National Park, Argentina's only coastal national park. In route we will have the opportunity to take in the beautiful Argentinean landscape. Once in the park we will stop at Ensenada Bay, where you'll be treated to beautiful views of Redonda Island. We will arrive at the "End-of-the-World Station", where the "Fueguian South Railway" arrives is in the outskirts of the city of Ushuaia, 8 kilometers west, in a valley between Mt Susana and Le Martial range, along the banks of the Pipo River.
Also known as "End-of-the-World Train", its attractiveness is due not only to its elegance and style, but also to its historical context. On this train, the inmates of the erstwhile "Ushuaia Prison" - a penitentiary which is intimately related to the development of this attractive and picturesque southern city - were transferred to their forced labor camps.
The narrow-gauge railway is propelled by steam engines and has at present elegantly ornamented wagons. The whole journey is done in the company of a bilingual guide (English-Spanish) who explains in detail the history of the "Prisoners' Train".

Day 13 - Tuesday, Ushuaia - Puerto Madryn
Flight from Ushuaia to Puerto Madryn. Transfer from Puerto Madryn downtown to Trelew Airport. Meal at restaurant and accomodation in Hotel Bahia Nueva *** Puerto Madryn.

Day 14 - Wednesday, Puerto Madryn - Península Valdéz Reserve
Breakfast in your hotel. We can feel the force of Nature at Península Valdés Reserve.
In the morning we will go from Puerto Madryn to the North through the Provincial Route 1; after 17 kilometers we will continue our journey through the Provincial Route 2. 77 kilometers later, we will arrive to the entrance to Peninsula Valdés Reserve: Carlos Ameghino Isthmus, where we will visit a Center of Interpretation of the land, vegetation, animals and history of the place. After 20 kilometers through the same route, we will go to the East and we will arrive to Caleta Valdés, continental settlement of sea elephants, where we will be able to observe these magnificent animals in their reproduction stage or skin change. Going on through the Provincial Route 47, we will arrive to Punta Delgada.
There, we will see the Lighthouse.
This particular place is the only one on the East coast of Península Valdés where tourists can visit the beach.
Then, we will visit the beach of Puerto Pirámide, where we will be able to taste typical food and will make the traditional whales watching on board special ships, an experience that lasts around one hour, with nuances of great adventure. Then, we will visit the Island of the Birds. And, for those who want to enjoy this virgin nature even more, we can watch whales from the coast of El Doradillo, ending our excursion and returning to Puerto Madryn in the afternoon. Meal at Parador La Elvira in Caldeta Valdez.

Day 15 - Thursday, Puerto Madryn - Punta Tombo - Buenos Aires:
After breakfast enjoy Punta Tombo. The journey to Punta Tombo is one of the most fascinating drives on the Patagonia steppe. In this area you find the largest continental Penguin rookery in South America. It is located 120 miles (180 km.) south of Puerto Madryn, in a protected area of more than 200 ha. with soft pebbly beaches. On the rocky peninsula and neighbouring areas, ther are over 200.000 reproductive couples of Magellan Penguins.
The majestic place is being taken care of by specialized fauna keepers, the visitors can stop at the cafeteria and use the sanitary facilities.
Then flight from Trelew to Buenos Aires. In the evening enjoy Tango Show & Dinner La Ventana. A higher level or popular art. With the "Gran Orquesta de Juan D' Arienzo", two Tango singers, four dancing couples, music from "Altiplano" and "Ballet Folclorico." 30 artists on stage.
Accommodations in Hotel Reconquista Garden **** Buenos Aires.

Day 16 - Friday, Buenos Aires
Breakfast at the hotel and then enjoy a city tour.
This tour gives you the emotion of multiple Buenos Aires. You will see the symbol of Buenos Aires: the obelisk. Visit different squares such as Plaza de Mayo, Plaza San Martín, Plaza del Congreso. Avenues: Corrientes, de Mayo, 9 de Julio, among others. Historical neighbourhoods: La Boca - with its colorful houses, San Telmo - home to Tango as well as the antiques Market on Sunday Morning, Montserrat.
Elegant neighbourhoods such as Palermo, home to many embassies and the capital`s wealthier population, as well as Recoleta - knows for its parks, restaurants and nightlife, and the modern: Puerto Madero, Buenos Aires old port which has been completely renovated with many restaurants and shops, just at the city`s edge. Parks such as Lezama, Tres de Febrero and the Ecological Reserve. We will also visit financial and commercial areas and the soccer stadium.

Saturday:
Return flight home after breakfast or continue on another trip.