Santiago, Easter Island, Torres del Paine, and Patagonia Cruise
15 Days/13 Nights
From $9,969 per person
(Dbl. Occupancy, Not Incl. Airfare)
Departures from October to March
Overview
You will enjoy some of the most breathtaking scenery in the world on this tour of Easter Island and Southern Patagonia. The tour begins in Santiago, then takes you to Easter Island, known for its colossal Moai statues, and Torres del Paine National Park, one of the best parks for outdoor enthusiasts in all of South America. The last part of the tour is a five day Australis cruise, which takes you through the Strait of Magellan and the Beagle Channel to Ushuaia, Argentina.
Lodging and Meals: This tour includes accommodations for 13 nights (3 nights in Santiago, 3 nights in Easter Island, 3 nights in Torres del Paine, and 4 nights aboard the ship), and 28 meals (13 breakfasts, 8 lunches, and 7 dinners).
Best Time to Go: October-March.
Destinations: South America, Chile, and Patagonia.
Interests: Adventure, All-Inclusive Properties, Culture & History, Expedition Cruising, Wildlife Viewing, and Wine Tasting.
Places Visited: Santiago, Easter Island, Torres del Paine National Park, Punta Arenas, and Ushuaia & Tierra del Fuego.
Day-by-Day Itinerary
Note: The itinerary below reflects our suggested excursions for the Atacama portion of the tour. The exact order of the tours may vary, depending upon your arrival date. Excursions in Atacama for 4 Star, 5 Star, and Deluxe accommodations are offered on an a la carte basis, meaning you can choose from a number of different alternatives.
Day 1: Santiago.
Depart to Santiago via overnight flight.
Day 2: Santiago.
After passing through immigration and customs, proceed to the reception area, where our inbound services representative will be holding a sign with your name on it. You will be greeted and then transferred to your hotel. Overnight in Santiago. Note: Check-in time is 2:00 PM. We can request early check-in but cannot guarantee it.
Day 3: Santiago-City Tour-Winery Tour.
In the morning, you will have a panoramic city tour of Santiago, which will include Parque O’Higgins, Plaza de Armas (the city’s historic center), Palacio de la Moneda, ex-National Congress, Mapocho Station Cultural Center, Santa Lucia Hill, the place of Santiago’s founding in 1541,and the Bohemian district of Bellavista. In the afternoon, you will visit your choice of one of the following vineyards around Santiago (included in price): Concha y Torro, Cousino Macul, and Undurraga. Overnight in Santiago. (B)
Day 4: Santiago-Easter Island.
Transfer to the airport for the flight to Easter Island. Upon arrival, you will be transferred to your hotel. Overnight in Easter Island. (B)
Day 5: Easter Island-Rano Raraku-Anakena Beach.
Full day excursion visiting the archaeological site of Akahanga and the quarry at Rano Raraku volcano, where all of the moai on the island were carved. You will see over 300 statues in various stages of completion, and one giant moai, 21 meters (69 ft.) tall. You will also visit Ahu Tongariki, the largest ahu (burial site), whose moai were re-erected after a tsunami flattened the statues, Ahu Te Pito Kura, site of the largest moai moved from the quarry, and the ahu Nau Nau at Anakena Beach. Picnic lunch at Anakena Beach. Overnight in Easter Island. (B,L)
Day 6: Easter Island-Orongo-Ahu Akivi.
Morning visit to the Rano Kau extinct volcano crater (1.6 km in diameter), the ceremonial village of Orongo, which features the largest concentration of Petroglyphs on the island, with images of post-moai deity’s, such as Tangata Manu (birdman), Make Make (the creator), and Komari, and then to Ahu Vinapu. After lunch (not included), the tour continues on to Ahu Akivi, site of the seven moais overlooking the sea, the Caves of Ana Tepahu, among the largest on the island, and Pun-a-Pau quarry, the sole source of red scoria that was used to carve the pukao (topknots) of some of the moia. Overnight in Easter Island. (B)
Day 7: Easter Island-Santiago.
Transfer to the airport for your return flight to Santiago. Upon arrival, you will be transferred to your hotel. Overnight in Santiago. (B)
Day 8: Santiago-Punta Arenas-Torres del Paine.
Transfer to the airport for your flight to Punta Arenas. Upon arrival, you will be taken from the airport by van (+/- five hours of travel time) to Torres del Paine. For Hotel Las Torres (3/4 Star accommodations), en route (after traveling for two hours), you will visit the Cerro Negro cattle ranch and see first-hand the lifestyle of the settlers at the end of the world and roam around the beautiful colonial house. Depending on the time of arrival, the visit will include a traditional Magallanes-style barbeque. Overnight in Torres del Paine. (B,L,D)
Day 9: Torres del Paine.
Choose from one full-day or two half day optional excursions (included in the cost of the tour). Overnight in Torres del Paine. (B,L,D)
Day 10: Torres del Paine.
Choose from one full-day or two half day optional excursions (included in the cost of the tour). Overnight in Torres del Paine. (B,L,D)
Day 11: Torres del Paine-Punta Arenas-Australis Cruise.
Check in at the Cruceros Australis office in Punta Arenas from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Cruise-ship boarding at 6:00 p.m. The Captain and crew give a welcome cocktail reception on board. Immediately afterward, the ship departs for “the uttermost part of the earth”. Our excursion will take us through the Strait of Magellan and Beagle Channel to explore one of the most breathtaking wilderness regions in the world: Southern Patagonia, and Tierra del Fuego. We have just embarked on a Great Adventure! Overnight aboard the Ship. (D)
Day 12: Australis Cruise-Ainsworth Bay-Tucker Islet.
At dawn, we continue navigating through Almirantazgo Sound until finally arriving near Marinelli Glacier in Ainsworth Bay, where we enjoy a walk to discover a beaver dam in the midst of a marvelous Magellanic forest. On the beach we observe a colony of Elephant Seals. Later we visit Tucker Islet, where we view colonies of Magellanic Penguins and Cormorants from the Zodiac boats. The islet’s penguins migrate in April; as a replacement we visit Brookes Bay, for a short walk to see a glacier. Overnight aboard the Ship. (B,L,D)
Day 13: Australis Cruise-Pia Glacier-Glacier Alley.
We navigate through the main part of Beagle Channel to reach Pia Bay, where we disembark near Pia Glacier. We take a short hike to a lookout point with a spectacular view of the entire glacier tongue, stretching from high in the mountains all the way to the sea. After this unforgettable experience, we sail again along the northwest arm of Beagle Channel through majestic “Glacier Alley”: Spain, Romanche, Germany, Italy, France and Holland glaciers. Overnight aboard the Ship. (B,L,D)
Day 14: Australis Cruise-Cape Horn-Wulaia Bay.
We sail through Beagle and Murray channels to reach and disembark in Cape Horn National Park (weather permitting). Cape Horn, on Hornos Island, is a sheer, 425-meter (1,394-foot) high rocky promontory. This mythical place is known as the “End of the Earth”; a visit is a singular privilege. The park was declared a World Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO in June 2005. In the afternoon, we go ashore in historic Wulaia Bay, once the site of one of the region’s largest aboriginal settlements. This area is also renowned for the mesmerizing beauty of its vegetation and geography. We walk through a Magellanic forest of Lengas, Coigües, Canelos, ferns and other native vegetation to reach a lookout point. Overnight aboard the Ship. (B,L,D)
Day 15: Australis Cruise-Ushuaia.
Arrival at Ushuaia, Argentina’s most important city on Tierra del Fuego, and the southernmost city in the world. (Disembarkation is at 8:00 a.m. or 9:30 a.m., depending upon the departure). (B)
B = Breakfast, L = Lunch, D = Dinner
Itinerary Map
What's Included
Price Includes
- South American Vacations’ expert pre-departure planning services and documentation.
- Airport/hotel/pier transfers with baggage handling.
- Hotel accommodations including taxes and service charges.
- Accommodations on board the M/V Stella Australis or the M/V Ventus Australis.
- All meals scheduled on board including alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, and other meals as indicated on the itinerary.
- Excursions as indicated on the itinerary including all applicable entrance fees.
- Local, English-speaking tour guides.
Price Does Not Include
- International airfare.
- Domestic airfare.
- Meals not indicated on the itinerary.
- Hotel nights after the cruise.
- Port tax in Punta Arenas, Chile ($105).
- Gratuities to ship crew and guides (suggested $25/passenger/day).
- Gratuities to tour guides, drivers, and hotel staff.
- Gifts and personal items.
- Travel insurance.
We will be happy to quote the cost of airfare and travel insurance, and to make these arrangements for you.
Accommodations
Santiago
Easter Island
Torres del Paine
Patagonia
Additional Details
Group/Private: All airport transfers in Santiago are private, and the city tour and winery tour in Santiago are group tours for single passengers and 3 Star accommodations, and private for 4 Star, 5 Star, and Deluxe accommodations. All services in Easter Island are operated on a group basis for single passengers and 3 Star accommodations, and are private for 4 Star, 5 Star, and Deluxe accommodations. And, all services in Torres del Paine and on the Australis Cruise are operated on a group basis. The transfers in Punta Arenas are private, and the transfers from the pier in Ushuaia, Argentina to the airport in Ushuaia, and from AEP Airport to EZE Airport in Buenos Aires are private.
Elevations: Santiago is 1,700 feet above sea level, and Torres del Paine National Park elevations can reach 4,000 feet or more, depending upon your itinerary.
Passport/Visa: For Chile U.S., Canadian, UK, and EU citizens require a valid passport for at least six months from the date of entry, sufficient funds, and a return ticket. Upon entry, you will be issued a Tourist Card (Tarjeta de Turismo) valid for up to 90 days which you can extend for another 90-day period by paying $100 USD at the Chilean Immigration Office. You must return the Tourist Card upon departure. Citizens of other countries are advised to contact the Chilean embassy in their country before traveling. For Argentina, U.S., Canadian, Australian, and EU citizens require a valid passport (for the duration of their stay), sufficient funds, and a return ticket for stays of up to 90 days. It is highly recommended that your passport has at least six months of valid term beyond your departure date. Citizens of other countries are advised to contact the Argentina embassy in their country before traveling.
Travel Insurance: In order to protect your travel investment from unforeseen circumstances that may arise before or during your trip, we strongly recommend that you purchase travel insurance. We offer Allianz Global Assistance’s Classic Comprehensive and other plans. The Benefits and Coverage Limits are summarized on our Travel Insurance page. Call your travel counselor if you have any questions or to purchase a plan.
To Book This Trip: For 3 and 4 Star accommodations, we require a non-refundable deposit of $1,700 in single occupancy, and $1,500 per person in double and triple occupancy. For 5 Star and Deluxe accommodations, we require a non-refundable deposit of $3,500 in single occupancy, and $2,100 in double and triple occupancy. The balance of the trip cost is due 60 days prior to departure.
