wannabakiwi

Dear Fodor Friends~ We have booked our two weeks for Chile and Argentina Dec 19-Jan 2, flying into Santiago. Nothing else is booked. I am interested in the boat trip from Chile to Bariloche. Can any of you recommend tour companies? Also, how much time would you recommend for stay in the Puerto Varas area for two avid outdoors types? Much thanks!

tower

Hello again, Wannbakiwi:

Puerto Varas and the lake district is quite lovely. At the Vicente Rosales Hotel in nearby Puerto Montt, they can arrange a bus-boat -bus-boat crossing of the five Andean lakes (emerald green, deep blue)...through a thick rain forest and ending up in Bariloche. We loved the trip and chose to take the overnighter rather than straight through...staying in a quaint, very remote village (Peulla) in mid-journey.

I can send you scanned photos of Pucon, Bariloche and the lake district, if you wish.

Stu T. ([email protected])

quimbymoy

here's the website to the company i used, cruces del lagos. it was a really enjoyable excursion, although we only went to peulla & back.
http://www.crucedelagos.cl/VersionIn...ndex_flash.htm

i think a 4-5 day stay in the area is good. nice kayaking, biking, hiking, rafting & horseback riding all around!

wannabakiwi

Wow, Quimbymoy and Stu T~ Now I am rethinking a lot. Thank you so much. I think I may be "rushing" Chile. My original plan was to visit Argentina, but I could not get awards points there, so I opted for Santiago. Therefore, my original plan was Santiago-Puerto Vargas-Bariloche-Buenos Aires-Iguasu-Santiago home. Should I focus on Chile for this trip, with only 4 days via the beautiful lake crossing to Bariloche? I am overwhelmed!

Jed

I would second the thought that you should stay in Chile. After Bariloche, you could go to Punta Arenas and then to Torres del Paine, which has great outdoors activity, or even Easter Island. Save Argentina for another time, when you can spend an adequate time there.

quimbymoy

i agree too that you should spend your whole trip in chile. torres del paines should not be missed, especially if you are outdoorsy. great hiking & stunning scenery there!

Graziella5b

As far as know there is only one company that does the Crucede lagos, you consider going to Chile and then should you need to come back to Argentina taking a bus which costs aprox 15 dollars and is excellent.

AndrewDavid

wannabakiwi
we spent 19 days on the ground in Argentina at the end of Decemeber /mid January and just saw Bs As, Glaciere NP and Iguazu and felt we would have enjoyed more time in all 3 locations. I concur, and recommend Argentina as a separate trip, concentrating ur time on the apparent wonders of Chile this time
buen viaje
AndrewDavid

wannabakiwi

Ok, you have all convinced me. Don't overlook Chile! Jed, haven't I run across you on the New Zealand forum? Do you all think that we should at least make the trip to Bariloche, but venture no further on our first trip? AndrewDavid, a good friend of mine is going just to Mendoza for a week, so my original trip plan is clearly like trying to see New Zealand and Australia on the same trip! What a knuckle head! Once again, you guys have leant great insight. Your thoughts will make our trip more meaningful and less stressful! I have more questions for you, but now I have to go back to the archives!

Jed

Yes, I spend a lot of time on the NZ board. I spent a lot of (compulsive) time researching for a trip 3 years ago, and I loved every minute there.

Yes, a side trip to Bari would be worth it, for the experience of the Andean boat trip and seeing it. Then to TDP and/or EI.

AndrewDavid

u mean australia and nz aren't the same country any longer? i thought sure after we spent 5 weeks in oz i got an nz stamp in my passport as well
cheers
A/D

fyi i'm chronicling our trip under "Our Wonderful Time in Argentina"