17-night Antarctica and Patagonia Expedition Southbound Cruise

Optional Private Excursions

Avoid the crowds and hustle and bustle associated with a group activity. For a memorable trip ashore, we invite you to consider a private shore excursion. Enjoy the undivided attention of your own driver/guide and the flexibility of experiencing the aspects of the local culture that most interest you. Below are just some samples of the private shore excursions we can arrange for you. Let us personalize your experience!

Valparaiso: Encounter with the Art - 4 hours

HIGHLIGHTS OF THIS EXCURSION

• La Sebastiana –  Pablo Neruda Museum
• A local artist’s studio

 
DESCRIPTION
 
Picturesque Valparaiso was one of the first Chilean cities founded by the Spanish in 1536.
 
A thriving port for centuries, modern Valparaiso remains Chile’s primary outlet to the sea. In 1906, a vicious earthquake struck the city, toppling hundreds of the city's priceless monuments. This earthquake, however, would be a portent of things to come: The truly fatal blow to Valparaiso would come 8 years later. In 1914, the first international ship crossed the Panama Canal. The golden age of Valparaiso had come to an end. After years of gloom and decay, the historic port and university town is now living something of a revival. The Chilean government has pledged both economic and structural support to the city, and private entities are implementing projects that seek to trigger an urban renaissance in Valparaiso as a world heritage city and Chile's cultural capital. Among the priorities are culture, heritage preservation, and economic development via tourism. This effort culminated in UNESCO naming Valparaiso’s Historic Quarter a World Heritage Site in 2003.
 
Immigrants from all over the world have chosen to stay and leave their mark on this peculiar city.
Since over 450 years, this strategic port in the western coast of the South American continent has been the subject of interest for many renamed visitor. First visited by Drake and later on by Dutch pirates, left in ruins by Spanish cannons’ fire and reconstructed many times after numerous earthquakes, Valparaíso is a handmade city, a result of human intervention and an example of urban resilience.
 
During your 4-hour tour you will have the chance to see Valparaíso distinctively spontaneous hill neighbourhoods and their vernacular architecture, including more than a dozen ascensores (funicular cable cars) that connect the port with its surrounding heights.  This is a great city to explore on foot so that you can grasp its beauty.
 
One of the highlights of the tour will surely be Chilean Nobel Prize-winning poet Pablo Neruda’s Valparaiso residence, “La Sebastiana”. The house is full to the brim with the eccentric genius’ keepsakes from his many trips abroad, as well as an extensive library.
 
Also during your visit you will get the opportunity to visit the studio/gallery of a local artist who will be pleased to meet you and sharing with you his passion for art and his life experience in this bohemian city in front of the Pacific Ocean, a constant source of inspiration for many other artists

OBSERVATIONS

1. Includes the services of an English-speaking guide.
2. Bottled mineral water included.
3. Entrance fee to the museums are included. 
4. Museums are closed on Mondays.

*Travellers will be transferred from the pier to the excursion sites by car
 

Valparaiso - Wines of the Casablanca Valley

HIGHLIGHTS OF THIS EXCURSION
 

• Tour and Tasting at two emblematic vineyards of the Casablanca valley

  
DESCRIPTION
 
This morning you will be welcomed at the Valparaíso pier by your guide who will escort you on your private tour to the Casablanca valley.
 
The Casablanca Valley is a sub-region of the Aconcagua Valley, but its vineyards – first planted in the early 1980s – have earned worldwide recognition in a relatively short space of time. The warm, temperate climate of the area is greatly influenced by the coastal sea breezes, which in combination with a perfect terroir in a valley situated on the coastal plane, with distant hills and slopes rising no more than 400 meters above sea level provide ideal conditions for certain varieties of grape. It is not unlike Santa Barbara and portions of Sonoma, and fittingly, the grapes that have done best over the past half-decade or so have been Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc. While the area is best known for its crisp white wines, in particular Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay, varieties such as Gewürtztraminer and certain lighter reds such as Pinot Noir are fast becoming the varieties du jour.
 
The first visit will be made at the Casas del Bosque vineyard where the visit will commence with a tour of the winery and cellars. Continue with a tasting focussing on their superb, award-winning red and white wines including their award-winning Sauvignon Blanc Reserve 2004. A selection of dried fruits and cheeses will be served to accompany the wines during the tastings.
 
Then continue to the Matetic winery.
 
The new Matetic vineyard, designed by the Viña Matetic team in cooperation with architect Lawrence Odfjell, is a state-of-the-art winemaking facility, constructed so as to complement its glorious setting. In other words, harmony has been reached between the winery´s organic agricultural practices and the natural landscape of the valley.
 
Upon arrival to the vineyard you will be greeted and invited to listen to a brief introductory speech about the vineyard history and the different phases of wine production while appreciating stunning views of the vineyards and the beautiful Rosario Valley. Then you will proceed to the tasting room where you will sample the high quality Matetic wines.
 
Lunch today will be served at excellent Matetic Winery’s restaurant.


Notes:

1. Includes the services of an English-speaking guide.
2. Bottled mineral water available in the vehicle

*Travelers will be transferred from the pier to the excursion sites by car

Optional Private Excursions

Avoid the crowds and hustle and bustle associated with a group activity. For a memorable trip ashore, we invite you to consider a private shore excursion. Enjoy the undivided attention of your own driver/guide and the flexibility of experiencing the aspects of the local culture that most interest you. Below are just some samples of the private shore excursions we can arrange for you. Let us personalize your experience!

Buenos Aires - Full Day Sightseeing Tour - 7 hours

Meet your local guide at local pier and start with your visit. 
Explore some of the most recognizable landmarks in Buenos Aires. Find out about the history and culture of this city, as you take in some of the most significant spots. Start at the most important square in the country: Plaza de Mayo. The country was founded here in 1580, and today the most important governmental buildings are located here including Casa Rosada (Government House), Cabildo (City Hall) and Catedral Metropolitana (Metropolitan Cathedral). Continue through the cobblestoned streets of San Telmo neighbourhood, where the original porteños (Buenos Aires residents) settled in the early days. The next stop is picturesque La Boca, home to Caminito, perhaps the city's most photographed street thanks to its corrugated iron and brightly coloured houses. This block houses one of the few outdoor museums in the world, where artists exhibit work, related to the influence of mainly Italian immigrants who arrived at this port at the end of the 19th century. La Boca is home to the legendary football (soccer giants) Boca Juniors, whose colours of blue and yellow adorn most of the houses and stores in this neighbourhood. Drive towards Palermo, passing through Puerto Madero, a regenerated area where redbrick warehouses have been transformed into trendy restaurants and bars.
Once in the northern area of the city, drive past Palermo Chico with its impressive townhouses, tree-lined boulevards, and parks. Palermo Soho, on the other hand, combines the flavour of an old, working-class neighbourhood with some contemporary details, including ethnic restaurants, design stores and bars. The bohemian atmosphere makes it popular with Argentines as well as foreign visitors, and restaurants cater to all palates. Continue to Recoleta, one of the most elegant and sophisticated districts, visit Nuestra Señora del Pilar Church and Recoleta Cemetery, known for its rich architecture and famous personalities whose mortal remains it treasures.

After the sightseeing you will be transferred back to the pier.

Tour highlights: 
- May square
- Old quarters at San Telmo neighborhood
- Caminito street at La Boca 
- Palermo neighborhood and parks
- Recoleta Cemetery  

 
Inclusions

• Transfers to/from the pier
• English speaking guide
• Private vehicle

Exclusions

• Gratuities for guide and driver
• Lunch 

Buenos Aires sightseeing tour with shared visit to Colon Theatre - Half Day

Meet your local guide at local pier and start with your visit. 

Familiarize yourself with some of the most recognizable landmarks, as well as history and culture in the Paris of the South, on this half-day private guided city tour. Kick off at Plaza de Mayo square, the heart of the city both from a historical and political point of view, and site of its foundation in 1580 by Don Juan de Garay. The next stop is San Telmo with its cobbled stone streets and colonial buildings. Also visit La Boca neighbourhood, the tough port barrio and colourful working-class area. Before returning to the hotel, visit Colon Theatre, one of the world's greatest opera houses, with its sublime interior, every piece of marble, furniture and crystal, imported from Europe. The theatre took 80 years to be completed and finally opened in 1908. It combines many European architectural styles and influences, including Greek columns, French stained glass and Italian marble. The house seats up to 2,500 people and the Colón has hosted opera celebrities such as Luciano Pavarotti, Maria Callas and Placido Domingo. Shared guided tour to Colon Theatre.


Tour highlights: 
- May square
- Old quarters at San Telmo neighborhood
- Caminito street at La Boca 
- Colon Theatre (shared visit)

Inclusions

• Transfers to/from the pier
• English speaking guide
• Private vehicle

Exclusions

• Gratuities for guide and driver
• Lunch 

Buenos Aires Sightseeing Tour North - half day

Meet your local guide at local pier and start with your visit. 
Familiarize yourself with some of the most recognizable landmarks in the northern area of Buenos Aires. Drive through Palermo, a district with several different areas such as classic Palermo Chico and contemporary Palermo Hollywood. Start in Palermo Chico with its impressive townhouses, tree-lined boulevards, and parks, then continue to Bosques de Palermo parks; past the Japanese and Rose Gardens with their lakes and sculptures, which can be visited independently. From here continue past the Palermo racetrack and polo grounds where the famous Argentine Polo Open is played every December. Palermo Soho, on the other hand, fuses the flavour of a working-class neighbourhood with contemporary twists such as ethnic restaurants, design stores and bars. Its bohemian atmosphere makes it popular with Argentines as well as foreign visitors. Gastronomy options appeal to all palates. Finally, visit Recoleta neighbourhood, home to many a mansion, which takes one back to Argentina's  glorious days. The tour ends at the Recoleta Cemetery, renowned for its rich architecture and sculptures that makes it more of an open-air museum than a final resting place.

After tour you will be transferred back to the pier.

Tour highlights: 
- Palermo trendy area
- Japanese and Rose garden in Palermo
- Recoleta cemetery

Inclusions

• Transfers to/from the pier
• English speaking guide
• Private vehicle

Exclusions

• Gratuities for guide and driver
• Lunch 

Buenos Aires Sightseeing Tour & Evita Museum - Half Day

Meet your local guide at local pier and start with your visit. 

Explore the highlights of the 'Paris of South America' in a four-hour tour accompanied by one of our experienced representatives who will introduce you to the history and culture of this magnificent city. Beginning with the historical areas of Buenos Aires: Plaza de Mayo, the historical and political heart of the city, laid out by Don Juan de Garay in 1580 during the second founding of Buenos Aires. Continue to La Boca, the tough port barrio and colourful working-class area of Buenos Aires, Palermo with its gardens and mansions; and finally, Recoleta, where you will visit its world famous cemetery and see the tombs and mausoleums of the most important personalities of Argentine history. Finally, visit the Evita Museum, a living museum where people can learn, understand and appreciate the life of one of the most important women in Argentine history.

After the sightseeing you will be transferred back to the pier.

Tour highlights: 
- May square
- Caminito street at La Boca 
- Palermo neighborhood and parks
- Recoleta Cemetery  
- Evita´s museum

Inclusions

• Transfers to/from the pier
• English speaking guide
• Private vehicle
• Entrancee fee for Cemetery and Evitas museum

Exclusions

• Gratuities for guide and driver
• Lunch 

Buenos Aires Tigre Getaway - Half Day

Meet your local guide at local pier and start with your visit. 
Escape the hustle and bustle of central Buenos Aires on this relaxing half-day getaway, featuring fashionable riverside suburbs and a cruise along sheltered waterways. Drive to Tigre passing through neighbourhoods such as Vicente López, Olivos, and San Isidro, and past elegant homes of these residential suburbs, including the Presidential Residence in Olivos, official home to Argentina's president. On arrival at the Paraná River, board a private river boat and head out along the Delta's waterways. An array of colourful sights awaits as the boat cruises past islands, turn-of-the-century homes, yacht clubs and a fleet of watercrafts, including canoes and sailboats. A soft drink and snack are served while you enjoy the scenery. Re-join your vehicle when the river cruise ends and transfers you back to the hotel.
After the sightseeing you will be transferred back to the pier.

Tour highlights: 
- Parana river
- Sail in the Delta  

 
Inclusions

• Transfers to/from the pier
• English speaking guide
• Private vehicle
• Private river boat

 
Exclusions

• Gratuities for guide and driver
• Lunch 

Buenos Aires Tango Show & Dinner at Rojo Tango

Meet your local guide at local pier and start with your visit. 
At Rojo Tango, a unique venue designed by Philippe Starck located within the Faena Hotel, enjoy an evening of “Porteño” (residents of Buenos Aires) music and dance. After a three-course dinner with wine and without moving from your seat, the band will strike up and the dancers will appear on scene, to recreate nostalgic times when Tango was danced in the streets of Buenos Aires. A majestic performance full of fantasy and sensuality and incredible skill.
After the sightseeing you will be transferred back to the pier.

Tour highlights: 
- Tango show at Rojo tango
- First class venue

 
Inclusions

• Transfers to/from the pier
• Private vehicle
• Dinner

 
Exclusions

• Gratuities for guide and driver
• English speaking guide

Buenos Aires: Gaucho celebration - Full Day

Meet your local guide at local pier and start with your visit. 
Join a Gaucho celebration at Estancia Santa Susana, a typical ranch only 80 km from Buenos Aires. The estancia has 1,200 hectares (2965 acres) dedicated to agricultural activities and has been a popular tourist destination near Buenos Aires for the last 30 years. Experience the genuine Gaucho lifestyle with various activities, such as a delicious typical Argentine barbecue with drinks, horsemanship show, a visit to the main house, the colonial museum, and the chapel. A short horse-back or carriage ride is also available before lunch. This tour provides an insight to the most fascinating traditions of Argentina.
After the sightseeing you will be transferred back to the pier.

Tour highlights: 

• Horseback activity
• Agricultural activities
• Gaucho lifestyle

 
Inclusions

• Transfers to/from the pier
• English speaking guide
• Private vehicle
• Lunch at the estancia

 
Exclusions

• Gratuities for guide and driver

Optional Private Excursions

Avoid the crowds and hustle and bustle associated with a group activity. For a memorable trip ashore, we invite you to consider a private shore excursion. Enjoy the undivided attention of your own driver/guide and the flexibility of experiencing the aspects of the local culture that most interest you. Below are just some samples of the private shore excursions we can arrange for you. Let us personalize your experience!

Ushuaia: National Park,Trekking y Canoas - Full Day

Meet your local guide at local pier and start with your visit
 
After breakfast, take a short drive to Tierra del Fuego National Park to discover the secrets of this unique park, were the Andes are accessible from the sea and the fresh water of rivers and lakes mix with ocean water from the Beagle channel in pristine forests. 
Arrive at Ensenada Bay and start a moderate seven kilometers trek along the coast-line. Steamer ducks, upland gooses, and Magellanic woodpecker are some of the birds that you may spot during this three hour walk, that also enhance the opportunity of discovering old native middens left by the ancient dwellers of the area, the yamanas.  
After a warm lunch in a dome in the park your guide will provide paddling technique and safety briefing, rubber boots, over-pants and life-jackets before rowing downstream Lapataia River in comfortable inflatable canoes.  
Floating at leisure down the Lapataia river will allow you explore an area seldom visited by men and concentrate on every attraction the place has to offer involving ornithology, geology, ecology and photography . After some ninety minutes of gentle paddling arrive at Lapataia Bay.  
Please keep in mind that due to weather conditions the order of the itinerary may have to be altered. Please keep in mind that due to weather conditions the order of the itinerary may have to be altered.  
After the tour you will be transferred back to the pier. 
 
Tour highlights:

• Beagle Channel 
• Lapataia Bay 
• Roca Lake 

Inclusions 

• Transfers to/from the pier 
• English speaking guide 
• Private vehicle 
• Lunch 

Exclusions 

• Gratuities for guide and driver 

Ushuaia – Tierra del Fuego National Park and End of the World Train - Half Day

Meet your local guide at local pier and start with your visit. 
Begin the tour by driving along National Route N3, crossing the valley of the Pipo River and the foothills of Mount Susana, to the train station located in the area where the inmates of the old prison collected firewood.
 
The little steam train will wind along the trail that the prison train used to follow over bridges, swampy areas, and green valleys, making a short stop at La Macarena waterfall. On completion of the train ride and already in the Tierra del Fuego National Park, drive through the most attractive landscapes of the park, such as Lake Roca and Bahía Lapataia (where the National Route N3, part of the Pan-American Highway ends).
 
In different locations take short walks to appreciate the different species of the native forest and the protected fauna in the southernmost National Park of Argentina.

After the tour you will be transferred back to the pier.

Tour highlights: 

• Beagle Channel
• Lapataia Bay
• End of the World train

 
Inclusions

• Transfers to/from the pier
• English speaking guide
• Private vehicle

 
Exclusions

• Gratuities for guide and driver
• Box-Lunch
• Entrance fee