What shore excursions-S. America Celebrity Infinity?
 

Has anyone sailed from Valparaiso to Buenos Aires on Celebrity Cruise Lines, and what shore excursions would you recommend? We are wondering if it is better (and certainly cheaper) to book tours independently, but are concerned about time needed to use tenders to get off the ship. Usually they give priority to the people buying the ship's excursions.

Buenos Aires is the ninth largest city in the world, located on the western bank of Rio de la Plata. It is the cultural, political, and economic capital of Argentina. Buenos Aires, a city of contrasts, is a blend of old world charm and modern conveniences. This large, vibrant, cosmopolitan city is divided into 47 distinct neighborhoods, or barrios, with their own unique characteristics. The fashionable shops, wide avenues, sidewalk cafes and flower vendors in the elegant La Recoleta district are reminiscent of Paris. Venture to the working class areas of San Telmo and La Boca and it feels like “Little Italy”.

Patagonia’s largest and most commercially important city, Punta Arenas, Chile is the capital of the Magallenes Province. Located on the western side of the Strait of Magellan, between the Pacific and Atlantic Ocean, at the foot of the Andes, Punta Arenas was once the stomping ground for European explorers, entrepreneurs, and adventurers. Now, Punta Arenas’ economy is based on farming, oil exploration and tourism. The port provides a base for South Atlantic fishing boats and Antarctic research vessels. The weatherworn streets of this bustling, active city of 100,000 are a mixture of old mansions (built during the wool boom of the late 19th century), cathedrals, homes with colorful corrugated rooftops, high rise office buildings and modern hotels. From English sheepherders to Portuguese sailors, Punta Arenas is a melting pot of various cultures.

A major port, Valparaiso, with a population of over 300,000, is the second largest city in Chile. It is also home to the Chilean navy. This blue collar city is a jumble of colorful clapboard houses and Victorian mansions balancing precariously on a circle of steep hills. This majestic panorama is backed by the distant snow-capped peaks of the Cordillera. Its unique scenery is matched only by its raucous nightlife, as sailors’ bars and bordellos line the winding, hilly streets. Valparaiso is a great contrast to its twin sister, Vina del Mar, as they sit side by side along the Pacific coast. Vina del Mar was founded as a weekend retreat and garden residence for the wealthy of Valparaiso and Santiago. This coastal resort with its wide tree lined streets, lush gardens, expensive hotels and restaurants, and grand casino remains today the preferred beach destination of Chileans.

Thank you so much for that great posting. How descriptive you are. We will be in those cities in January on the Regal Princess Antarctic cruise. I can't wait to see the country and enjoy the beauty and culture.

I´ve been on a cruise from Valparaiso to Rio a few years ago. The excursion I liked best was something called train trip to the end of the world. You literally go to the end of the world. It´s a don´t miss.

Simone what port did you do that train trip out of?

Thanks

I know a good company, in Santiago that to be able to help with the transfer from Santiago to Valparaiso and tour by the places of that region.
Port compass requested minims to us of 6 passengers and we single to be two.
We made adjustments with www.enaturchile.com.we had times wonderful.
They fixed tour for us, according to our necessities putting a guide and a single car for us

Traveller 69,
It was in Ushuaia.
Other tours I did:
Puerto Madryn: Peninsula Valdes. I liked it a lot. You can see lots of penguins and sea lions as well as other local flora and fauna.
Punta Arenas: penguin caves. So so. If you do valdes you don´t need this one.
Puerto Montt:Petrohue and Chilean district: beautiful!