Our leader made sure each and every one of us had the best experience of the countries that he was so passionate and knowledgeable about. They are beautiful and varied with snow capped mountains, glaciers creating large lakes and miles and miles of wide open spaces where a variety of animals such as grey foxes, sheep and guanacos roam. We learned of their history, culture, food, music and people whilst travelling from Buenos Airies to the ‘end of the world’ in Ushuaia and north through Chile. It is an experience I will never forget and would thoroughly recommend to those who love to travel.
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Small Group TourSmall group tours usually have 8-12 participants and maximum up to 18 travelers
Accommodation
Hotel, Lodge
Age Range
16-79 yrs
Operated in
english
Destinations
Buenos Aires, Perito Moreno Glac
Buenos Aires, Perito Moreno Glacier, El Chaltén, Ushuaia, Tierra Del Fuego National Park, Punta Arenas, Torres del Paine National Park, Torres Del Paine, El Calafate
Are you ready to travel to one of the most breathtaking destinations in the world? With this small group tour of Patagonia, you will discover magnificent mountains, extraordinary waterfalls, majestic glaciers, and glistening lakes! Begin your tour in Buenos Aires, the Argentine capital where you will visit famous landmarks such as Plaza de Mayo and La Boca. Catch a flight to Bariloche and visit Campanario Hill where you will discover breathtaking views of the surrounding lakes. Travel to El Calafate where you will see the Perito Moreno Glacier during your trip to Los Glaciares National Park. Enjoy a scenic boat ride around the glacier. Board your flight to explore Iguazú National Park where you will discover the majestic waterfalls, one of the Seven Modern Wonders of the Natural World. Visit the Devil's Viewpoint and enjoy the magnificent views of Iguazu Falls before you travel back to Buenos Aires where you will end your tour of Patagonia!
This was a fantastic trip that lived up fully to its billing, as we saw many spectacular and varied landscapes and we sampled many gorgeous wines. The guide Lucia was very knowledgeable and helpful throughout. My only observation is that it was a hard trip in terms of several very long days travelling of 8 or more hours - over 12 hours on one day - which meant we rarely had the chance to relax and/or enjoy the hotel facilities (e.g. pools in most hotels).
The Trip Notes highlighted this but even so, after more than a dozen Explore trips previously which we thought prepared us for a lot of time on the road , we were still surprised. Essentially the trip was 12 full days and we thought it could have been stretched to 14 to cover the same itinerary - maybe an extra day in Cafayate and in Cachi?
Why for example, did we travel from Mendoza to Aconcagua (a brilliant trip) but then back to Mendoza (3 hours each way) on one day, only to retrace our steps almost all the way back to Aconcagua on the next day, on the way to the next stop? This retracing of the same route wasted 6 hours, or almost a full day? Why did we not go from Aconcagua directly to the next stop, instead of back to Mendoza?
In summary, this is a great tour, but we recommend you review the itinerary and through better planning and some extra time make it a more relaxing tour spread over over one or two more days.
I usually don’t post reviews, but I wanted to thank the staff for helping to make our 2 week Argentinian adventure as flawless as possible. First Melina helped plan our itinerary, which was quite challenging since it included 4 flights and 5 hotels! The activities she suggested, from ice trekking to Tango shows were all fun and unique. The transportation to and from activities and hotels was stellar and such a time saver. We chose mid range hotels and each was clean and so fitting for the location we were at. Milagros took over once our itinerary was set and what a bonus that was! What stood out most was how graciously she accommodated all the issues we had once we began our trip - and there were a lot. From lost luggage to last minute flight and hotel changes, Milagros handled everything graciously and without an upcharge to do so. The farewell bottle of wine was such an unexpected surprise. Muchas Gracias, team!
This is a very active, fast-paced trip with plenty of opportunities for long hikes, amazing scenery and fabulous flora and fauna. Some long journeys, as it is a vast area to cover, but well worth it. An absolutely fabulous experience.
Small Group TourSmall group tours usually have 8-12 participants and maximum up to 18 travelers
Accommodation
Hotel, Lodge
Age Range
16-79 yrs
Operated in
english
Destinations
Buenos Aires, Perito Moreno Glac
Buenos Aires, Perito Moreno Glacier, El Chaltén, Mount Fitzroy, Puerto Iguazu, Iguazu Falls, Ushuaia, Tierra Del Fuego National Park, Punta Arenas, Torres del Paine National Park, Los Glaciares National Park
I've seen impressive waterfalls and scenery before but this takes it to a whole new level. When you think you've seen it all you turn a corner and get a whole new perspective. You get to see and experience different things everyday. With plenty of free days that you can organise yourself or fill with the optionals you can really bulk out this holiday and make it packed with new experiences which you may have not found by yourself. I've not had a minute spare as always an optional available to fill any free time which is what I chose to do. The Iguazu falls is a must experience! The views on the walk are simply breathtaking then your breath gets taken in a whole new way on the boat ride into the base of the Devil's throat.
Get a taste of the rhythms of Argentina and Brazil on this southern adventure journeying from Buenos Aires to Rio de Janeiro, taking in spectacular Iguazu Falls along the way. From tango to samba, Spanish to Portuguese, and Malbec wine to caipirinhas, these two countries are sure to have you enthralled in their passionate zest for life. Lively Rio de Janeiro is the perfect spot to cap off your South American sojourn, where the beaches of Copacabana or Ipanema beckon and sunset from the top of Sugarloaf Mountain shouldn’t be missed.
Diego, our Explore leader was excellent. He was very informative, went out of his way to make sure we had a good time and were kept safe. Christian and Raquel, who also joined us, as tour guides, were also very knowledgable, which they shared in a humorous manner. The highlights of the tour for me were the Iguazu Falls, Paraty and Ilha Grande.
Experience the diversity of wonders across Peru, Chile, Argentina and Brazil on a 24-day Premium journey. Be immersed in the ancient culture of the Incas, visit the Amazon Jungle and revel in the magnificent citadel ruins of Machu Picchu. Soak up the energy of Santiago and Buenos Aires’ lively neighbourhoods and sip some of the world’s best wine in Mendoza. At the border with Brazil, experience the magnificent might of Iguazu Falls, before finally arriving in one of the most beautiful cities in the world, Rio de Janeiro. With the guidance of passionate local leaders, you’ll find out South America dances to the beat of its own drum.
Small Group TourSmall group tours usually have 8-12 participants and maximum up to 18 travelers
Accommodation
Hotel, Lodge, Resort
Age Range
15-99 yrs
Operated in
english
Destinations
Rio de Janeiro, Lima, Santiago
Rio de Janeiro, Lima, Santiago, Valparaiso, Mendoza, Buenos Aires, Puerto Maldonado, Puerto Iguazu, Amazon Lodge Tambopata, Cusco, Ollantaytambo, Machu Picchu
It not only covered the places that we always wanted to see as well as some that we had never heard of. We didn’t even know that the Iguazu Falls existed but we found them to be one of the most amazing places to visit.
The trip was really good with lots of standout places and experiences. Our trip manager was brilliant. He was friendly and knowledgeable and made everything easy. Some of the accommodation wasn’t the best (poor showers, uncomfortable beds, no safety lock box, no elevator) but for the most part acceptable.
