Perfect for those with late flights, this tour allows you to see the absolute highlights of Buenos Aires before spending the afternoon watching gauchos at a working ranch and then transferring to the airport to fly home. After departing from the pier, you will enjoy a leisurely drive through Buenos Aires, taking in landmarks such as the oldest neighborhood San Talmo. You will also see Plaza de Mayo, arguably the country’s most famous square. Its name refers to the revolution that began nearby in May 1810 and led to Argentina’s independence from Spain. Some of the surrounding buildings are just as celebrated, including the salmon-colored executive mansion known as Casa Rosado and the glorious Metropolitan Cathedral. Then, it’s on to the neighborhood La Boca, where you will meander along El Caminito, a street full of expressive brightly colored buildings. Some claim the tango originated here around 1870, and tango dancers are often seen performing impromptu in the streets. Continuing on into the countryside, you will spend nearly four hours at an estancia that evokes the spirit of traditional ranching. Upon arrival, you’ll be welcomed with traditional empanadas and a glass of wine or juice before enjoying a hearty barbeque of grass-fed Argentine beef that has been grilled to perfection. To enhance the experience, there will be a folkloric performance and gauchos will show off their prodigious skills as horsemen by riding at breakneck speed during a ring race. Following your gaucho experience, you will transfer to the Ezeiza International Airport for the flight home. Arrival time at the airport will be approximately 5:00 p.m.

San Antonio, commune and the capital of the San Antonio Province in the Valparaíso Region. It is the hub of the fishing area that spans the Chilean coast from Rocas de Santo Domingo to Cartagena. Its port is the largest in terms of freight handled and the busiest in the western coast of South America. Continue through the central valley, crossing the coastal range on a two hour scenic journey to Santiago. Stop for a typical Chilean snack of Empanadas with local wine before arriving to Santiago. Your city tour includes the most important highlights of historic and modern Santiago, including La Moneda (Presidential Palace). Then, continue towards the Plaza de Armas with the Cathedral and through the newer residential areas of the city. Visit Los Domínicos handicraft town showing local craft. Here, you will have some time for shopping. You’ll enjoy a late lunch at a local restaurant just before your tour ends at the airport.

OVERVIEW

Enjoy an introductory look at two towns that are vastly different in size yet share a common history. Although Puerto Madryn boasts a population 10 times that of Gaiman, Welsh immigrants founded both towns to escape cultural and religious persecution in the latter half of the 19th century. That Welsh influence is still highly evident in Puerto Madryn through attractions such as the Welsh Settlers monument and the street names, many of which honor prominent Welsh immigrants. Chances are, you will spot the Welsh flag flying on many of the buildings or perhaps just the flag’s iconic red dragon on the signage. The Welsh heritage may be even more noticeable in Gaiman as the red-brick town is more compact. Patagonian Welsh is widely spoken as you will likely discover while pausing for cakes and pastries at a Welsh tea house. To enhance the experience, a Welsh choir will perform traditional songs. A walking city tour is done over the city of Gaiman. Once back to Puerto Madryn, there is a short drive through the city to see the Municipality, Main Square and the Welsh Women's Monument and then return directly to the pier.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Discover the surprisingly strong Welsh heritage of Puerto Madryn and Gaiman.
• See Welsh-influenced attractions and perhaps hear Patagonian Welsh being spoken.
• Enjoy tea and tasty pastries at a Welsh tea house in the town of Gaiman.
• Hear a Welsh choir perform traditional, heartfelt songs about the Welsh heritage.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

Observe the bountiful wildlife in Tierra del Fuego while cruising the Beagle Channel in a catamaran that will take you to islands full of seabirds, sea lions and Magellanic penguins.

After departing from the pier, you will soon board a catamaran and sail into Beagle Channel, the strait that separates Argentina from Chile. The waterway is named for the HMS Beagle, in which Charles Darwin explored the area in 1833-1834.

Islands dot the channel and the rocky coast is wild and wonderful with forests to the water’s edge and the southern Andes in the far distance. Few places on earth are so pristine and unaffected by what little civilization there is.

Seabirds are abundant in most every direction. You may spot black-capped albatrosses, flocks of seagulls and grayish skuas, an aggressive bird that often attacks other birds in mid-air to steal the fish they have caught.

Approaching Sea Lions’ Island, you will see dozens of the namesake mammals clustered on the rocks. The males are typically twice the size of the females and weigh nearly 800 pounds. While pausing for photos at nearby Bird Island, you will notice that the main inhabitants are Imperial Cormorants and Magellanic Cormorants.

Les Eclaireurs Lighthouse is another photo-worthy site, as is the colony of Magellanic penguins on Martillo Island. These highly social birds will often come up to the catamaran as they hunt for cuttlefish and squid. It’s the perfect opportunity for a close up shot, after which you will return to the pier.

Valparaiso is well-known all over the world due to its impressive architecture and because it has been mentioned in world-famous books such as “Moby Dick” by Herman Melville. During the tour you will be able to experience the hilly old part of Valparaiso, as well as the impressive downtown section, and experience a ride on two of the amazing “ascensores”, or funiculars, some of them unique in the world. This tour has been designed for those who want to walk the town and want to “discover” Valparaiso more intimately.

The city consists of two completely different sections, one of them known as El Plan, referring to the lower part adjacent to the port area. Continue with a drive up the hillside where we find the other section, "Los Cerros" or "El Plan Alto". On some 42 hills we find a jumbled mass of fine mansions, tattered houses, and shacks in utter confusion spread along the narrow streets. Your first stop will be at the promenade “Paseo 21 de Mayo”. From here there is a superb view over the city and its bay. Next, your bus will descend to El Plan and you will pass by the main feature of this area which is the Plaza Sotomayor, dominated by the Naval Headquarters building and the impressive monument to the Heroes of Iquique. From here you will cross the historical business center with fine office buildings on narrow streets strung along the edge of the bay. As your bus drives along Prat avenue, you will distinguish majestic, ancient buildings belonging to some banks that do not exist anymore, such as A. Edwards and Cia. and the former Banco de Londres. Also notable is the Turri building, right at the end of the block, which has at the top a very impressive clock. Other interesting buildings worth mentioning are the El Mercurio building, the oldest newspaper in Chile still in operation, the Stock Exchange, and the Public Library.

The tour will continue through Plaza Victoria, which was the heart of all social life during the 1880’s. In front of it is possible to see the cathedral, built between 1930 and 1950. Afterwards, you will have the wonderful chance to experience a ride on one of the most picturesque funiculars of Valparaiso.

From here, your bus will take Alemania Avenue, the only one that crosses most of the Valparaiso hills. Climbing up hills, you will see the city from another point of view. You will reach “La Sebastiana”, one of the museum houses of the laureate Nobel Prize winner, Pablo Neruda. Astonishing in its construction, and also for the enormous variety of different types of objects found here. From here you will go to Cerro Alegre. Afterwards, lunch at a local restaurant. Then, you will descend in to El Plan of Valparaiso on another amazing “ascensor”. Your bus will be waiting to take you back to the ship.

This tour is a great option for those with flights after 5:00 – 6:00 p.m. who wish to gain a greater understanding of Argentina’s wonderfully cultured capital by visiting a range of neighborhoods and landmarks before being dropped at the airport.

After departing from the pier, you will head to Recoleta & Palermo to drive around these unique residential neighborhoods while learning about the Porteño's lifestyle from your local guide.

Next, you will visit Plaza de Mayo, arguably the country’s most famous square. Its name refers to the revolution that began nearby in May 1810 and led to Argentina’s independence from Spain. Some of the surrounding buildings are just as celebrated, including the salmon-colored executive mansion known as Casa Rosado. You will also see the glorious Metropolitan Cathedral, which is adorned with frescoes and elaborate artwork.

Then, it’s on to the neighborhood La Boca where you can stroll along El Caminito, a cobblestone street full of expressive brightly colored buildings. La Boca, meaning “the mouth,” was the site of city’s first harbor at the mouth of the Riachuelo River. Some claim the tango originated here around 1870, and tango dancers are often seen performing impromptu in the streets.

Finally, a traditional Argentine lunch at the Puerto Madero waterfront awaits you, after which you will transfer to the Ezeiza International Airport for your flight home. Arrival at the airport is approximately 2:00 p.m.

OVERVIEW

Explore the historical capital of the Falkland Islands and enjoy the surrounding natural beauty, an experience that will leave you with a remarkably complete understanding of the area. While driving through the British-influenced city of Stanley, you will hear enlightening commentary about landmarks such as Christ Church Cathedral – the world’s southernmost Anglican cathedral – the Government House and the massive arch made from the jawbones of two blue whales, a monument erected in 1933 to mark the centennial of the British administration of the Falklands. At the tip of Cape Pembroke, you will see the lighthouse on the islands’ easternmost point. To reach nearby Gypsy Cove, you will walk the nature trail that leads to a breeding ground for Magellanic penguins, a species named for Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan. These birds are easy to identify by the two distinct black stripes across their chests and the fact that they often bray like donkeys.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Settle in for an enlightening drive through Stanley, the capital of the Falkland Islands.
• See the city’s main landmarks and gain an understanding of the British influence.
• Take in the gorgeous views from the lighthouse at the tip of Cape Pembroke.
• Walk a nature trail to observe a colony of Magellanic penguins.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

Discover Punta Loma Natural Reserve where you will have the opportunity to see a sea lion sanctuary. Young sea lions, which are not sexually mature, may be seen during the entire year, and, from April onwards, you can view the sea lions that migrate from Puerto Piramides. Before returning to the ship, we visit the Puerto Madryn Ecocentro Museum, the first center of its kind in Argentina, dedicated to the study of marine ecosystems.

OVERVIEW

Snap selfies at the most photogenic spots in and around Montevideo, many of them iconic attractions that define the city. To ensure the best possible results, a selfie expert guide will offer tips so you can capture just the right angle, lighting and composition for every shot. Your pictures will be ideal for posting on social media and sharing in other ways.

As you travel through Montevideo, you will pause at designated selfie stops that include:

Selfie Spots:
• Salvo Palace
• Independence Square
• The Montevideo sign on the beach promenade
• Centenario Stadium
• La Carreta ox-cart monument
• Montevideo Bay viewpoint

HIGHLIGHTS

• Take inspiring selfies at the most photogenic attractions in Montevideo.
• Follow tips from your selfie expert guide to ensure the very best pictures.
• Learn the historical significance of the locales while enjoying their dramatic settings.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Wear casual, weather-appropriate clothing and comfortable walking shoes.
• Bring a hat, sunglasses and sunscreen.
• Be sure your phone or camera is fully charged.

OVERVIEW

Meander through several bustling markets full of ingredients essential to Uruguayan cuisine and enjoy tastings along the way. At the Montevideo Agricultural Market – which is housed in a majestic, century-old cast-iron building – you will see an array of garden-fresh fruits and vegetables as well as a traditional Uruguayan butcher shop. You may be offered samples such as bizcochos pastries or other local snacks. While exploring a popular fish market, you will behold an array of seafood ranging from salt cod to squid. You will also browse a feria, a typically open-air street market that will present a candid glimpse into daily life. Founded in 1868, the Mercado del Puerto is no longer a working market as this historical cast-iron building has transitioned into a prime location for restaurants. Guests will be offered a sample of mate, a traditional caffeinated infusion.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Sample traditional Uruguayan foods and beverages while browsing popular markets.
• Walk through markets that focus on fresh produce and one that offers mostly seafood.
• Enjoy tastings of pastries, ice cream and mate, the national drink of Uruguay.
• Remain in the Mercado del Puerto after the tour and dine on your own if you wish.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

This tour is a photographer’s dream. Start with a drive to the tiny port of Petrohue in the Vicente Perez Rosales National Park, and board a catamaran for a cruise on Lake Todos los Santos, known as Lake Esmeralda because of its vivid, blue-green color. Enjoy lunch in the Puerto Varas surroundings before your drive to Petrohue Falls. You’ll stop along the way for a short walk through the woods to the Petrohue River, where the waters plunge over hard volcanic rocks to form wild, gushing cascades.

The path is well-marked and has railings, but some parts are uneven and crooked and can be muddy after a rainfall. On the return to the port, you’ll drive through the beautiful, lush countryside dotted with weathered clapboard barns and churches. You’ll stop at the handicraft market in Puerto Varas. Here, you’ll have magnificent views of Lake Llanquihue, the largest lake in Chile, and snow-capped Osorno Volcano. You’ll see the highlights of Puerto Montt on a short orientation drive.

Travel in small groups on this 4x4 off road adventure and spend some time with breeding pairs of Gentoo penguins. Join your mini-bus and driver guide at the Jetty Visitor Centre for a 15 minute ride to nearby Newans Farm. Here you’ll meet your 4x4 drivers, who will take you to the nearby Gentoo penguins. Experience an off road adventure and admire the scenery while learning more about the Falklands way of life.

There are approximately 200 breeding pairs of Gentoo penguins at this scenic site. Enjoy approximately 45 minutes with the penguins, before your returning off road journey.