Argentina, Atacama Desert & Chile Delights

Bienvenidos a Buenos Aires! Meet up with your tour leader and fellow travellers at the hotel this evening. After an itinerary overview, head to a local restaurant for a welcome dinner. Get your first taste of Argentinian cuisine including irresistible empanadas and the country’s world-famous beef (vegetarian dishes are available) while getting to know the rest of the group.

This morning, join a local guide on a driving and walking tour. Discover the city’s top sights including the Plaza Del Mayo, the Metropolitan Cathedral, Casa Rosada, Recoleta Cemetery and El Caminito. This evening is free. Tonight’s Tango Dinner & Show excursion is highly recommended for an authentic meal along with a dazzling showcase of Argentina’s most famous dance form!

Make the most of this free day in Buenos Aires! Alternatively, add another country to your list and join today’s optional excursion to Colonia del Sacramento, one of the oldest towns in Uruguay! This unmissable day trip includes a return ferry, an orientation tour, lunch and a visit to the 19th-century lighthouse for panoramic views! Later, enjoy an included dinner.

Bid farewell to Buenos Aires this morning as the tour makes its way to the quaint city of Tigre. Known as the “Venice of Argentina”, Tigre is located on the Tigre River Delta and boasts many gorgeous riverside sights and entertaining activities. Arrive and set off on an orientation tour. After, experience the majestic river on an optional boat tour!

After breakfast, the tour makes its way to the airport for an included flight to Mendoza. Arrive in the afternoon and embark on an orientation tour. Visit the beautiful Plaza Independencia, the city’s main square, which bursts with bright greenery and admire the Aconcagua mountain in the distance. The rest of the day is free to explore on your own.

Take the opportunity this morning to taste the world-class Argentine wine and spectacular mountain scenery that Mendoza is known for! Indulge in a local wine tasting and a tour of two notable wineries with the morning or afternoon half-day Mendoza Wine Experience. Delight in tasting some of Argentina’s most prized wines, including the famous Malbec. ¡Salud!

This morning, embark on the journey of a lifetime towards Chile! Travel through the Andes, along the legendary Carretera de los Caracoles in a comfortable bus equipped with “bus beds”. This engineering marvel gets its name from the road’s dramatic spirals and hairpin turns, resembling a snail’s shell. Arrive in Santiago and enjoy a hearty buffet dinner at the hotel.

Discover Chile’s capital city on an insightful guided tour this morning. Visit the historic Plaza de Armas and ride the funicular to take in sweeping city views from San Cristóbal Hill. Finally, enter the La Chascona museum, formerly Pablo Neruda’s home. The rest of the day is free. Join tonight’s optional excursion for a tasting journey through Chilean wine.

Head to the airport this morning and board a flight to Calama. Upon arrival, travel to San Pedro de Atacama. Located on a high plateau in the Andes mountains, this town is home to otherworldly nature and ancient archaeological sites. Admire the adobe architecture and wander along the lively Caracoles Street. Tonight, enjoy a family-style dinner at a local restaurant.

Enjoy a free day in the Atacama desert! Visit Laguna Cejar, a crystal clear lake and Atacama’s very own Dead Sea, on an optional excursion! Another bucket-list sight awaits on tonight’s excursion to Valle de la Luna. This spellbinding valley gets its name from the lunar-like landscape with saline rocks formed over time from wind and rain.

Head to the Calama airport after breakfast and arrive back in the Chilean capital this afternoon. After checking into the hotel, take this evening to rest up after a busy few days of adventures. Alternatively, enjoy the Santiago nightlife. Grab dinner at one of the city’s many excellent restaurants or dance the night away at a nightclub.

Explore more top sights in Santiago today or to join the Valparaiso Half Day Trip. This colourful, UNESCO-listed port city is known for its bohemian hillside neighbourhoods which have inspired many artists and poets. Here, visit the hilltop La Sebastiana museum which was previously a house owned by Pablo Neruda. After, head back to Santiago for a farewell dinner.

After 13 days of Argentina adventures and Chile guided tours, this life-enriching journey through some of South America’s most spectacular sights comes to an end this morning. Enjoy one last breakfast with the group and don’t forget to swap contact details with your newfound travel friends! Expat Explore wishes you a pleasant journey home or onward.