- Chile
- Chile Argentina and Patagonia
Our fascinating tour offers a fabulous insight to Patagonia, combining two of South Americas most famous cities, cosmopolitan Santiago with the elegant and vibrant Buenos Aires. Travel through the delightful colonial city of Valparaiso and the contrasting city of 'the Garden city' Vina del Mar. Enjoy a once in a lifetime experience of sailing through magnificent glaciers, possibly spotting dolphins and seals and delight at the dominance of the stunning icebergs.
Depart on your scheduled, overnight flight to Santiago.
Dinner
On arrival, you’ll be met and transferred to your hotel. This afternoon, commence your tour of vibrant Santiago. Set against the Andean peaks, this tour takes you to the city’s historic heart.
Breakfast
Following breakfast, today is a tale of two cities. Valparaiso is a colonial city presenting an excellent example of late 19th century urban and architectural development in Latin America, considered a World Heritage site by UNESCO. Enjoy a ride on a traditional cable car and delight in the outstanding colours of the cliff top homes, bohemian culture and outstanding sea views. Continue to the coastal city of Vina Del Mar, a sharp contrast to neighbouring Valparaiso, known as the 'Garden City', a fascinating and beautiful location where you will enjoy delightfully expansive parks, fabulous architecture and the crystal-clear waters of the Pacific Ocean. There will be an opportunity to visit La Sebastiana museum at an additional fee, famous for inspiring the Chilean Poet Pablo Neruda.
Breakfast
Today is at leisure for you to explore the energetic and cosmopolitan city of Santiago at your own pace. An optional excursion to the renowned vineyard of Santa Rica will be available.
Breakfast
Following breakfast transfer to Santiago airport for your flight to Punta Arenas. On arrival, you will be met and enjoy a tour of the small isolated city of Punta Arenas. Continue to Puerto Natales, gateway to Parque Nacional Torres del Paine. This quaint town is situated on the shore of the Sound of Ultima Esperanza, once you have checked in to your hotel the rest of the day is at your leisure.
Breakfast & Lunch
Today you will board a ship to sail the Channel of Last Hope, marvel at the awe-inspiring glaciers which sharply pierce the ocean from the southern continental ice field. Enjoy the stunning views as you sail past the famous Heritage Building, a slaughterhouse dating back to 1913 before continuing through the Senorat canal. Hopefully, you will catch sight of the Magellan Dolphins, frequent visitors to this area and possibly as a graceful sea lion whilst admiring the Condor birds by a stunning waterfall. You will then disembark for a stroll towards the Serrano glacier along the shores of Tempanos Lagoon and through a native forest, the huge icebergs and amazing landscapes complete an unforgettable day.
Breakfast & Lunch
Considered the highlight of your trip, the National Park Torres del Paine is quite simply spectacular, internationally recognised as one of the most unique and beautiful places on the planet. Known for its soaring mountains, lakes, waterfalls and stunning blue icebergs that slice the glaciers and grasslands whilst sheltering rare wildlife such as guanacos. The three granite peaks of the Pane mountain range which dominate the landscape of the park spectacularly extend up to 2,500 metres above sea level. Following your lunch, you will embark on a short hike to the Grey Lake to witness the many icebergs originating from the Grey Glacier.
Breakfast
After breakfast, you will begin your journey to Argentina stopping for lunch en route. On arrival, you will be met by your local representative to check in at your hotel in El Calafate, the gateway to the Perito Moreno Glacier.
Breakfast
The Perito Moreno Glacier is known locally as the 8th Wonder of the World is the planet's 3rd largest reserve of fresh water and one of the continent's last advancing glaciers. Your full day tour will leave you in awe of the glaciers unfathomable beauty. Calving icebergs the size of skyscrapers you may witness the glaciers signature movement as they slowly detach.
Breakfast
Full day at leisure in El Calafate to relax and unwind.
Breakfast
Following breakfast transfer to the airport for your flight to the vibrant city of Buenos Aires. You will be met and transferred to your hotel. Evening at leisure.
Breakfast
Enjoy a morning city tour commencing in the historic Plaza de Mayo, the site of the 1810 revolution and now a hub of political life. From here you will see the Casa Rosada government palace and its famous balcony where Eva Peron used to address the people. Continue to the picturesque and colourful neighbourhood of La Boca with its famous street 'Caminito' whose architecture reflects the European influence of the late 19th century. In the evening marvel at a traditional tango, show whilst enjoying dinner. Tango originated in the 1880 ghettos which were populated by Italian and Spanish immigrants, Africans and Gauchos. From this intersection rose the 'Comrpraditos', whose songs, lyrics, and dances reflect 'el duelo de cuchilleros', or knife fights characteristic of the social ambience. The tango rose from a mix of Cuban and Spanish rhythms, some polka, and according to some, also a bit of African music.
Breakfast
Transfer from your hotel to Buenos Aires Airport in time for your flight back to the UK, or continue on to your chosen extension.
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The order of events and sightseeing may vary according to local conditions or for operational purposes. The schedules of the domestic airlines in country are subject to frequent changes. For this reason, we have indicated approximate times only. Your local guide will inform you of any schedule changes as they are informed of them. The driving times listed are point to point and do not include the duration of excursions or stops en route. Some road construction and/or weather conditions may lengthen the driving times. Our intention is to adhere to the day-to-day itinerary as printed; however, order of events and sightseeing may vary according to local conditions.
If booking more than 12 weeks before departure a deposit of £295.00pp will need to be paid at the time of booking with the full amount payable at 12 weeks prior to departure. The deposit applies to adults and children. If you are within 12 weeks of travel then the full balance of the holiday will be payable.
British citizens currently do not need a tourist visa to enter Chile and Argentina. Visa requirements are subject to change and obtaining a visa is the responsibility of the traveller and not Mercury Holidays. We recommend you check with your destinations' Tourist Board or Embassy prior to departure for the most up to date guidelines regarding these.
Please note that final flight details will be confirmed on your final documentation which will be sent to you approximately 21 days before departure. Check in baggage is included with your flight. A printed E-ticket is no longer required at check-in, all you need to do is present your passport to the staff at the desk and your boarding pass will be given to you. Check-in should be at least 3 hours before departure.
If you wish to arrange Airport car parking, lounges or accommodation at preferential rates, we recommend you book this in advance with Holiday Extra Tel. 0871 360 2000, quoting HX313.
We strongly recommend that you and all members of your party are suitably insured as soon as you book your holiday. It is a condition of booking that you must have suitable travel insurance. It is important that you purchase travel insurance that suitably covers your participation in whatever activities you may undertake at the time that you make your booking. To assist you with this, we have arranged travel insurance in partnership with Holiday Extras. To arrange your travel insurance with Holiday Extras, please call 0800 781 4237 and quote 'WK830' for preferential rates. Please ensure you provide us with the name of your insurer, policy number and their 24-hour emergency contact number as soon as possible. Mercury Holidays will not be liable for any costs incurred by you due to your failure to take out suitable travel insurance from the date of booking.
It is your responsibility to check any health and vaccination requirements applicable to your booked arrangements. We can only provide general information about this. Health and hygiene facilities and disease risks vary from country to country. You should take health advice about your own needs as early as possible and in good time before your departure. Sources of information include; www.fco.gov.uk, www.travelhealthpro.org.uk/, www.hpa.org.uk, your General Practitioner or a specialist clinic.
This tour is accessible to most people with an average level of fitness and normal mobility. It involves moderate days of walking on uneven paths and small hills and getting on and off coaches and boats. This tour is not suitable for anyone with walking difficulties.
The currency in Chile is the (Chilean Peso (CLP). We recommend that you exchange your currency before you leave the UK. The currency in Argentina is the (Argentinian Peso (ARS). We recommend that you exchange your currency before you leave the UK.
As normal practice you may be asked for your credit card details on check-in at the hotel in order to cover any extras incurred during your stay. If you do not have a credit card, you may be asked for a cash deposit. MasterCard and Visa are widely accepted in hotels as well as American Express.
You will need to take some extra money with you to cover any meals where these are not mentioned on your itinerary and personal purchases, such as souvenirs, drinks and snacks. Approximately (£500-£600) per person should be sufficient for the duration of your tour. Please also bear in mind that there will be several shopping opportunities throughout your tour. Tipping is at your discretion; however we would recommend approximately ($3.00-5.00) per day. Tips are accepted in the local currency, however it is asked that if you do not tip in the local currency that you only pay with notes, as coins cannot be exchanged.
This is an escorted tour, meaning the you will have the services of an English-speaking guide during each excursion ensuring that you have first-hand knowledge at all times.
Private Tour: If you have booked a private tour then you will be accompanied by a Driver Guide or a Driver and Local Guides. These will be available to you during all scheduled sightseeing. Private Tours can depart on any day of the week depending on flight and train schedules and the opening days of the attractions. They will follow the itinerary as described in the brochure unless you have been advised otherwise and you will still have all of the same meals, sightseeing and local excursions included.
Your accommodation is selected for convenience, location, comfort or character, and can range from business hotels to leisure hotels. Hotel accommodation is generally rated as local three to four-star standard, but please note there is no international classification system for hotels, and differences in facilities and quality do exist compared to what you might expect in the UK. All group tours hotels have private bathroom facilities and air-conditioning, where needed. Rest assured that all accommodation used by Mercury Holidays is regularly inspected by our staff and partners to ensure that standards meet your needs.
Breakfast is always western style and served in the hotel each morning. Dinner (when included) will be taken in local restaurants or at the hotel. A variety of restaurants are visited giving you the chance to experience a range of dishes and flavours.
On arrival in Chile you will be met by a representative from our local agent, Southbound Travel, holding a sign displaying: “Mercury Holidays”. The Mercury Holidays/Southbound Travel representative will show you to your transfer vehicle. If you cannot see your representative, please proceed to the "La Pica restaurant" located just in front of the main exit, between gates number 3 and 4, where your guide will meet you.
There are many illegal taxis operating around Santiago Airport and they have been known to steal from tourists. Official taxis are dark blue in colour.
Your guide will be on hand 24 hours a day should you have any queries.
If you need to contact your representative during you stay the details are:
Chile (Southbound Travel) Address: Cowork Latam Apoquindo Avenue 2930, Las Condes - Santiago-Chile Telephone 24 hour: 00 569 9639 1191 E-mail: emergency@southbound.travel
Argentina (Eurotur) Address: Viamonte 486, Buenos Aire, Argentina Contact number: 0054 11 4312-6077 Email: patricia.parra@eurotur.tur.ar
Argentina: When calling from a UK number: 0054 911 6878 1562
When calling from a local number in Argentina: 11 6878-1562 / 11 4992-136 E-mail: 247@eurotur.tur.ar