28/12/2011

Traveler in America: from Argentina to Chile

From Argentina to Chile, with Traveler in America you embark on a 17 day/14 night discovery of the wide open spaces of South America. From north to south, east to west, this adventure is sure to provide unforgettable excitement.

Argentina the name rings out like an invitation to dance, discover, or stroll. Try the tango, explore Buenos Aires, and wander through its different neighbourhoods. A far cry from the usual American big city, Buenos Aires offers wide avenues, immense parks, and an elegant ambiance. As soon as you land at the airport, this circuit proposes to take you on a historic visit to discover the unique qualities of this city over two days. Starting with the Barrio de la Boca and its brightly coloured houses, to the Recoleta and its stately buildings, the cemetery where the country’s famous rest for eternity (including Eva Peron), the docks and their trendy restaurants, and the San Telmo district with its antique shops. This is where with the shrug of a shoulder, a dark and proud glance silhouettes entwine and unwind to the rhythm of the tango. In the streets, the voice of Carlos Gardel, one of the greatest tango singers, pours out of milongas while the evening comes together. On your programme, dinner and a show. For a first night that sways, with precise dance steps and the beauty of the movement. But reducing Argentina to just its capital would be a grave injustice. The rest of the trip will prove this to you. A 3-hour flight south takes you to Ushuaia, for a total change in scenery. Nestled against the mountains with ocean views, this small city, the southernmost in the world, offers a complete break with your regular life. Visit the lighthouse at the end of the world, the former prison, go shopping in duty-free boutiques, feast on fish and crabs, and of course, drink in the impressive natural views.

The absolute must for your first outing, an early morning stroll in the Tierra del Fuego National Park, just before going on the excursion offered on the Beagle Canal to get close to sea lions. The scenery is unique, breathtaking. Such as El Calafate and the astonishing Glacier National Park and the gigantic Perito Moreno, an immense stretch of ice measuring 5km up to 70 m deep. Here, silence reigns, whether you are camped out facing the glacier or in a boat slaloming between the icebergs. Steel-blue icebergs which punctuate the waves with their shapes full of illusions. The air is brisk, the light brilliant.
But Argentina is not the only country that triggers such intense emotions. On the other side of the border, you arrive in Chile by car. Against a backdrop of glaciers, steppes and forests, you enter the Torres del Paine National Park. Two days of exploring and trekking await, with a delicious pause when evening comes in the fantastic universe of the Explora hotel. Opening onto the landscape, this lodge bathes in light, playing with the neighbouring rough-hewn summits. The décor is in blue and white, in contrast to the colours painting the Atacama Desert.
After two nights in Santiago and an excursion to the Valparaiso quarter, you fly to the extreme northern end of Chile. Where volcanoes are shaped like perfect cones and valleys overflowing with sand take on a moon-like allure. Between lamas and vicuñas, San Pedro de Atacama will be your base camp.

A charming, authentic, exotic base camp. Part of the luxurious Relais & Châteaux network, the Awasi will gently rock you to sleep for the last three nights in a refined yet cosy ambiance… simply sublime. Just like this voyage dedicated to larger-than-life nature.
By Valérie Ferrer

Combined Argentina/Chile
17 day/14 night trip from 7,000 euros/person. Price includes international flights in economy class on a regularly scheduled flight, domestic flights in Argentina on Aérolinas and in Chile on Lan, airport taxes, the service of private local guides, private vehicle transportation with guides, visits and excursions, lodging on a bed and breakfast basis (but full board at the Awasi).
Information and reservations: Traveler in America on +33 1 42 36 19 10 or www.travelerinamerica.fr