doloresmercado

BUENOS AIRES is called the Paris of South America and is worth 3 full days...is hte best city of SOUTH AMERICA..next could be RIo for the beaches and the sea or very up north CARTAGENA in Colombia.
Santiago is totally unremarkable..and if you want to shop..come to Buenos Aires
http://www.visitingbuenosaires.com/web/home

check the sites for the south of Argentina..Patagonia

http://patagonia.gov.ar/

here is a video of San Martin de los Andes - The 7 lakes
https://youtu.be/xijbgGIyHnE

BARILOCHE http://llaollao.com/en/

Havent been in Valparaiso but CHile is good for scenery but Argentina has amazing out of this world views

check the sites before deciding...

have a nice trip

mlgb

Is your plan allowing time in Tierra del Fuego NP from Ushuaia? A day trip can be had from there. I had always heard it was mediocre but I liked it. Ushuaia itself is very scenic especially as you sail away, with the background of mountains and the small town.

crellston

That is some birthday present! Always wanted to go to Antarctica.

That last itinerary looks pretty reasonable, but does include a lot of flying and, to introduce a note of caution, South American Airlines are not renowned for their punctuality or reliability. As an example, my Aerolineas Argentinas "direct" flight from Salta to Iguazu has changed 3 times in 3 months - the last change is that it is no longer direct, but via BA - grrr!

Santiago-Valpo takes 2-2.5 hours each way by bus. SPDeA to Calama, a similar time. Factoring this in, plus airport check in / waiting times, may not leave a whole lot of on the ground time to see stuff. Having said that there are loads of tour operators in SPdeA that can pack a lot of trips in at short notice. Best decide in advance what you want to do there.

We will be in Iguazu for the second time in September. We are spending two nights and are visiting the Argentina side on day one as that takes more time, and have booked an evening flight to BA so we can see the Brazilian side on the second day before we go to the airport. Absolutely blew us away the first time there and is probably second only to Salar de Uyuni in my list of all time favourite places. Some photos and detail from way back on our blog:

http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog...0400/tpod.html


A tip on San Pedro de Atacama - book your return bus to the airport as soon as you arrive. We had real problems getting seats to Calama on our last trip.

In terms of city time, I loved BA, but appreciate that it is not everyone's cup of tea. With just a couple of days it will pay dividends to decide exactly what areas you want to visit in advance.

MyBaggage

Thanks all for your feedback.

Dolores - my primary reason for the trip is Antarctica. it only made sense to add a few days to see a tiny bit of South America. I enjoy cities for architecture, museums, and food. I truly hate to shop!

Mlgb - again, I had to whittle down the itinerary. I was told that since I am going to see much of the Antarctic region, I could drop TdF. Also had to drop the Lakes District and Glaciares de Nacionale. But, depending on what time I get to PA, maybe I can see TdF.

Crellston - yes, I could see all of the required flying when I put it in writing. But if I want to see all of these places, I can't figure out what else to do. If I weren't traveling solo, I would consider driving some of these routes. When I get an estimate on what the "bookend" part of my travel will cost (excluding the Antarctica cost), I may add an extra day to Atacama, or Iguazu. That would help to spread out the flying. Thanks for the tip on the SPdA bus. The more I read about that area, the more excited I am to see it. And I may add a day to BA, but I generally do not enjoy big cities. Am reading guide books to define my BA itinerary. And I usually connect with a walking tour in cities for a focus on history and architecture. I may be working with an agent to advise and book. But after all of this work, I am wondering about just doing it myself. As thursdaysd says I can do. ��

Thank you all for your detailed and helpful replies.

MyBaggage

Crellston - forgot to ask - a private car/driver could replace the bus segments, right? And I guess that would save some time.

crellston

I am sure you could get a private car from Santiago to Valparaiso, but I doubt it would save much time as I recall the transfer system from the airport was pretty efficient. In terms of total travel time, maybe an hour's saving as you would be going door to door rather than connecting. Calama to SPdeA and VV - I really don't know. If it does exist it will be expensive. Everything is in San Pedro!

The only alternative to flying is the bus which, if you had more time, might be viable. But not for those destinations.

Until I had the great news about my own flight from salta to Iguazu being diverted via BA, I probably would has suggested Santiago to SPdeA to Salta and NW Argentina - an amazing area and thence to BA? It is about 8 hours bus by bus from salta to SPdeA and an amazing trip, but it is now a 20+ hour bus ride from Salta to Iguazu.

MyBaggage

So is 20 hours by bus a good trade off to a flight connection in BA?! Doesn't sound like it. On the other hand, you have piqued my interest about Salta. Will this decision making never end?!

After all of my reading I so very much want to see Atacama. But my ship activity is the bottom of the continent. So I must deal with the air travel somehow. I am retired so time is not the issue. Budget must be considered. But I got a great deal on the Antarctica cruise so I have wiggle room to add days. Honestly, I am wondering about my travel enthusiasm and travel stamina after a month.

crellston

Just had a look at my flights and it looks like a 6 hour trip via BA. Also had a look on kayak.com and it seems that they are still running direct flights to Iguazu 1.25 hours. But not every day. Buses are fantastic in Argentina, book Ejecutivo class and it is like business class on a good airline - lie flat beds, food, wine - even had bingo on one trip! Much more punctual that airlines. Worth 18 hours? Maybe not, but not as bad as it sounds as you are travelling overnight, will get some sleep and, of course, you save on a nights accomodation costs.

Salta and the NW is beautiful hence the reason it is known as "Salta la Linda " it has the desert scenery you mention plus, great food, wine and many interesting sights besides. A couple of links to our blogs covering two trips we have made there.

This one, entries 34-35 cover Salta and a flying visit to SPdeA http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog...ai/6/tpod.html

And this one, entries 75 onwards covers a longer trip of ten days http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog...ai/1/tpod.html also a bit about our time in Iguazu.

The downside of Salta is that the best way of seeing really requires a series drive car. Given the terrain and remoteness, I wouldn't recommend it as a solo traveller. However, I am sure there are , seat in bus, tours available from salta covering the major places or, alternatively, a private tour. Angie Valdez, who sometimes posts here as Flintstones, runs them. I used to have her contact details, but lost them. Maybe she will happen across this post.

Re travel stamina. My wife and I travel for extended periods and travel exhaustion can become an issue for even the most ardent travellers. I find it is important to factor in a couple of days here and there doing absolutely nothing. It seems to recharge the travel batteries, at least for me.

So many places, so little time!!

MyBaggage

Silly me, I didn't think of an overnight bus - good option, less stressful, I would think. I keep looking at my itinerary to see what I could live without - no luck. I would like to do the bulk of this wish list before the cruise, with just a few days after the cruise to complete the wish list. The most efficient order will drive my decisions.. It sounds as if you are "suggesting" I focus on Argentina rather than Chile?

MyBaggage

Crellston, I am enjoying your travel blog. You and your wife have travel adventures I envy!

crellston

Glad you are enjoying it MB. Not necessarily suggesting Argentina as opposed to Chile, it's just that I have a lot more experience of the former. We have had an, all too brief, foray into Patagonia but not that far south. It is very much on my hit list though. It just hasn't been the right time of year. Would love to see Torres de Paine and one of my many travel ambitions is to travel the whole of the Panamerican Highway in south and Central America.

avrooster

E-mail for Angie Valdez, top independent Salta guide, with her own transportation: [email protected]

Have a great time in my country's NW.

doloresmercado

hi my baggage..I am with you about shopping...just mentioned that because someone was suggesting Montevideo for shopping..Buenos Aires is a city worth visiting for its ARCHITECTURE!!...

An is true Aerolineas Argentinas is totally UNRELIABLE so plan flights allowing delays... and buses are expensive and take HOURS! as an example BUE to Mendoza is 14 hours...

SO LET US know which have u decided to do..and will suggest any changes if needed...South America IS complicated..

doloresmercado

YES my baggage STAY in the aerea..going to Iguassu is out of the questions..going from one end of the country..

Where are you FLYING from?..back home?

If u do Patagonia/south Argentina..suggest San Martin de los Andes

If you leave FROM Buenos Aires..u can spend 1-2 days..

As an Argentine..sorry not keen on Chile..except for the fjords..

cheers

thursdaysd

Do NOT skip Iguazu!

I think you would find this easier if you thought of it as your <i>first</i> trip to SA, not your only trip. That's what I did. I still have Peru, Bolivia, Ecuador and Colombia to see. If you could save the Atacama for the next trip I think this one would work better.

MyBaggage

I am waiting to book my international ticket (using miles) until itinerary is identified. I found an agent who is from Chile and who has been helpful. The tentative plan is fly into Santiago, depart from Buenos Aires. 12 nights in Chile, 17 night Antarctic cruise, 5-6 nights in Argentina.
- Santiago, 3 nghts
- san pedro de Atacama - 4 nights
- puerto arenas - 1 night. after long travel day
- land transfer to Torres del Paine - 3 nights
- back to Punta Arenas for 1 night, ship leaves next day.

After cruise:
2 nights in Iguazu
3 nights in Buenos Aires
(And now i am reading about staying on an estancia for a night or two. I must stop reading.)

I hear you thursdaysd about my next trip. But at my dottering age, i still have places to see and dont know if i will get back. Which is what i said after Africa last year!

Everyone here has been very helpful.

MyBaggage

Forgot to add - ship departs from Punta arenas, but returns to Ushuaia.

mlgb

How long will it take you to get from Ushuaia to Iguazu? I think it might be better to insert Buenos Aires (2 nights) in between Ushuaia and Iguazu, to allow for travel delays. Then Iguazu, and a final night in BA before you fly home.

I still stand by my preference of Valparaiso over Santiago and BA for a single traveler.

The bus transfer can be done directly from Santiago airport to Valparaiso, by the way, you don't have to go into the city to do it.

I'm going to cut and paste into a Trip Report about my arrival into Santiago airport and taking the bus onward to Valparaiso.

MyBaggage

Buenos Aires got inserted between Ushuaia and Iguaza. 1 night in BA, 1 night in Iguazu, 4 nights in BA. better plan, thanks.

I am going to be staying in Santiago. After my copious research, that seemed to make the most sense for me. I will have a guided city tour, and a day trip to Valpo.

Cities tend to rank lower on my wish list. But this journey already includes an 18-day Antarctic cruise, the Atacama desert, and Torres del Paine. So a few days in two cities seemed to provide a little contrast.

Thanks for your input. I will be very very careful in my wanderings.

crosscheck

Hi MyBaggage,

I go to Santiago often for work and always have a day or two on my own pre or post trip. The Free Walking Tour is a must, as is Neruda's house. Valpo is awesome - be sure to include the seaside Neruda house even if you've gone to the main one in Santiago...also stellar. (And read some Neruda to get into the head of the culture!) I also highly recommend the Uncorked Wine Tour if you have time. I think some cooler hotels have opened since I was last there. BTW, I loved Buenos Aires, but do think it would not have been as great if I didn't speak Spanish. There I did a very comprehensive bicycle tour and a tango tour, both stellar.

Here are my Santiago and BA recs:

http://www.fodors.com/community/sout...highlights.cfm

http://www.fodors.com/community/sout...lar-heaven.cfm

I regret not going to San Pedro de Atacama and am thinking of going back with Mr. Crosscheck to also visit Easter Island and Torres del Paine. So envious that you're doing Antarctica.