Help with Almost Final Plan for Retirement Trip
May 24th, 2014, 07:22 PM
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Help with Almost Final Plan for Retirement Trip
Hello, after many trip dreams, we finally have a semi-final itineary for our 4 month retirement trip this fall/winter. There are a couple of areas that are not clear to me yet so would appreciate any tweaking suggested.
Fly Seattle to Lima Oct. 11
Lima - 4 nights 3B Barranco (confirmed)
Fly to Cusco, transfer to Ollytantambo for 5 nights Hostal Iskay and 1 night in Aguas Caliente before MP). (confirmed)
Bus to Cusco 5 nights
Fly to Arequipa for 4 nights (more Spanish classes).
Killawasi Lodge for Colca Canyon Tour 4 nights with transfer to Puno where we overnight one night
Bus to Copacabana for 1 night, Isla del Sol 1 night, Copacabana 1 night, next day Kayak Tour with Banjo Tours and transfer to La Paz for 3 nights
Unclear but probable bus to Oruro, train to Tupiza. I have asked Banjo Tours for help on this transfer. i assume 1 night in Oruro.
2 night in Tupiza, 3 night 4 day Tupiza Tours to the Salar with a return to Tupiza for overnight.
Over the border to Salta by bus. 2 weeks in the NW. Not sure how to allot our time. Any sugggestions?
Fly to BA and apartment for one week.
Fly to El Calafate for 3 nights including the MarPag glacier tour (thanks
mlgb!).
Puerto Natales by bus, rental car for 6 days,
TDP with vehicle, have email out to Hosteria Lago Tyndall for 5 nights.
Return car Puerto Natales with overnight.
Bus to El Calafate with over night. It seems we have to spend a night here again due to bus schedule difficulties getting to El Chalten.
1 week El Chalten Kau Si Aike ( done deal, clicked no cancellation by mistake).
2 days to get to Ushuaia for 6 day stay.
Return by bus to Puerto Arenas and overnight.
Fly next day to Coyhaique and rent car for 3 weeks exploring Carretera Austral in loop with car return to Coyhaique. ( this is my husband's one request!).
Here is where it gets confusing....we would like to visit the Lakes region but don't know where to fit it in. As mentioned we are tied to the week of Christmas in El Chalten. So, do we bus from Puerto Montt to Bariloche and then fly to Buenos Aires for a few days before flying home with maybe an Rand R at Colonia Los Limoneros (sp) or do we find a way to get from Ushuaia to Bariloche, travel across to Chile to Puerto Montt and rent a vehicle there for Carrretera Austral with drop off in Puerto Montt and fly to Santiago for return flight home.
We have our flight to Lima and return Buenos Aires but at this point can easily return by Santiago. (I have to say using our Alaska Airliines Miles has been a breeze. Very easy to chaange flights and lots of availability).
My husband tells me my next job should be a travel agent. I said fine but when 1 trip takes a year to plan, don't expect any income from it!
ANY thoughts appreciated....
Fly Seattle to Lima Oct. 11
Lima - 4 nights 3B Barranco (confirmed)
Fly to Cusco, transfer to Ollytantambo for 5 nights Hostal Iskay and 1 night in Aguas Caliente before MP). (confirmed)
Bus to Cusco 5 nights
Fly to Arequipa for 4 nights (more Spanish classes).
Killawasi Lodge for Colca Canyon Tour 4 nights with transfer to Puno where we overnight one night
Bus to Copacabana for 1 night, Isla del Sol 1 night, Copacabana 1 night, next day Kayak Tour with Banjo Tours and transfer to La Paz for 3 nights
Unclear but probable bus to Oruro, train to Tupiza. I have asked Banjo Tours for help on this transfer. i assume 1 night in Oruro.
2 night in Tupiza, 3 night 4 day Tupiza Tours to the Salar with a return to Tupiza for overnight.
Over the border to Salta by bus. 2 weeks in the NW. Not sure how to allot our time. Any sugggestions?
Fly to BA and apartment for one week.
Fly to El Calafate for 3 nights including the MarPag glacier tour (thanks
mlgb!).
Puerto Natales by bus, rental car for 6 days,
TDP with vehicle, have email out to Hosteria Lago Tyndall for 5 nights.
Return car Puerto Natales with overnight.
Bus to El Calafate with over night. It seems we have to spend a night here again due to bus schedule difficulties getting to El Chalten.
1 week El Chalten Kau Si Aike ( done deal, clicked no cancellation by mistake).
2 days to get to Ushuaia for 6 day stay.
Return by bus to Puerto Arenas and overnight.
Fly next day to Coyhaique and rent car for 3 weeks exploring Carretera Austral in loop with car return to Coyhaique. ( this is my husband's one request!).
Here is where it gets confusing....we would like to visit the Lakes region but don't know where to fit it in. As mentioned we are tied to the week of Christmas in El Chalten. So, do we bus from Puerto Montt to Bariloche and then fly to Buenos Aires for a few days before flying home with maybe an Rand R at Colonia Los Limoneros (sp) or do we find a way to get from Ushuaia to Bariloche, travel across to Chile to Puerto Montt and rent a vehicle there for Carrretera Austral with drop off in Puerto Montt and fly to Santiago for return flight home.
We have our flight to Lima and return Buenos Aires but at this point can easily return by Santiago. (I have to say using our Alaska Airliines Miles has been a breeze. Very easy to chaange flights and lots of availability).
My husband tells me my next job should be a travel agent. I said fine but when 1 trip takes a year to plan, don't expect any income from it!
ANY thoughts appreciated....
May 25th, 2014, 12:47 AM
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Looks like a fantastic trip! I am looking forward to reading all about it! I don't think I would change anything about the first part of your trip. I like that you are spending a good amount of time in each place. On a long trip it can get a little exhausting being constantly on the move.
Two weeks is a great amount of time to spend in NW Argentina. I would rent a car and drive a loop of the region from Salta. A week is a decent amount of time for a leisurely drive, perhaps a few days more. If you enjoy wine then Cafayate is worth a few days to explore the vineyards. Cachi, Purmamarca, Huamahaca, Tilcara, Chicoana are all worth visiting. We found it easy enough to just turn up and find accomodation without booking in advance which allowed us a great deal of flexibility. The driving is easy and the scenery spectacular so lots of stops along the way to admire said scenery.
Salta itself is very nice. We tend to stay at Casa Hernandez in San. Lorenzo, a few miles out of the city. Easy to get into town if you have a car or by bus if you don't. Nice place to chill out and the hosts are fantastic - a home from home.
From La. Paz we flew to Sucre and got the bus to Tupiza. sucre is a lovely city but the train from Oruro to. Tupiza sounds great ( wish I had thought of that!)
Can't help with the southern section as haven't made it that far down yet (make sure you post ALL the details)
no Iguazu?
Two weeks is a great amount of time to spend in NW Argentina. I would rent a car and drive a loop of the region from Salta. A week is a decent amount of time for a leisurely drive, perhaps a few days more. If you enjoy wine then Cafayate is worth a few days to explore the vineyards. Cachi, Purmamarca, Huamahaca, Tilcara, Chicoana are all worth visiting. We found it easy enough to just turn up and find accomodation without booking in advance which allowed us a great deal of flexibility. The driving is easy and the scenery spectacular so lots of stops along the way to admire said scenery.
Salta itself is very nice. We tend to stay at Casa Hernandez in San. Lorenzo, a few miles out of the city. Easy to get into town if you have a car or by bus if you don't. Nice place to chill out and the hosts are fantastic - a home from home.
From La. Paz we flew to Sucre and got the bus to Tupiza. sucre is a lovely city but the train from Oruro to. Tupiza sounds great ( wish I had thought of that!)
Can't help with the southern section as haven't made it that far down yet (make sure you post ALL the details)
no Iguazu?
May 25th, 2014, 07:36 AM
#4
For getting from Puerto Montt to Bariloche I highly recommend the bus and boat combo. You book through http://www.cruceandino.com/en/ - or I did it in Puerto Montt a couple of days ahead.
See: http://mytimetotravel.wordpress.com/...-boat-day-one/
See: http://mytimetotravel.wordpress.com/...-boat-day-one/
May 25th, 2014, 08:02 AM
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You can drive the Carretera Austral - Ruta 7 - starting in Puerto Montt combining road with ferries (in summer). This would give you a chance to see the northern bit of the Carretera Austral. You need to be very flexible on this stretch as there is not that much infrastructure, you need to drive slowly and lodging is varied, ferries may be delayed or not run. You do need a special permission to take a rental car on the Carretera due to mainly gravel roads or if you want to enter Argentina. Insure to the maximum as broken windshields from kicked up stones are not uncommon. You could possibly cross into Argentina at Futaleufu and up through Esquel and Bariloche and back to Chile to drop the car off in Puerto Montt. That would save the backtracking and ferries of the northern section.
There are some very good blogs online done by people who have done the route by car, motorcycle or bike. Have a search and a read of the more recent ones.
There are some very good blogs online done by people who have done the route by car, motorcycle or bike. Have a search and a read of the more recent ones.
May 26th, 2014, 03:44 AM
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Oh, what a wonderful trip! Good for you to put so much effort into planning; it sounds excellent. I agree with your husband, as one of the places I most want to go that I haven't been to in South America is the Carretera Austral.
I like Huentetu's idea ("You could possibly cross into Argentina at Futaleufu and up through Esquel and Bariloche and back to Chile to drop the car off in Puerto Montt"). If you do that, or go the other direction, the trip from Puerto Montt to Bariloche was an easy one (we did it in a rental car), though we did need some special authorization from the Chilean border control to get through the Argentine border control, which are about 45 min. apart on a beautiful road. We didn't have the right authorization, so had to go back and forth a few times. Just a tip so that you don't have to drive extra, too!
In the lakes region of Argentina, we loved loved loved the town of Villa la Angostura (vi ja, as they call it). Smaller and cuter, and less over the top touristy than Bariloche. There is an excellent national park within a national park there (Los Arrayanes National Park) which you can take a boat ride to from Villa. It's a short but beautiful hike, and like many of the parks we visited in Argentina, there is a cute little cafe (confiteria) there to buy food and have a little picnic after the walk. Don't forget to try the alfajores!
Enjoy your lovely retirement trip!
I like Huentetu's idea ("You could possibly cross into Argentina at Futaleufu and up through Esquel and Bariloche and back to Chile to drop the car off in Puerto Montt"). If you do that, or go the other direction, the trip from Puerto Montt to Bariloche was an easy one (we did it in a rental car), though we did need some special authorization from the Chilean border control to get through the Argentine border control, which are about 45 min. apart on a beautiful road. We didn't have the right authorization, so had to go back and forth a few times. Just a tip so that you don't have to drive extra, too!
In the lakes region of Argentina, we loved loved loved the town of Villa la Angostura (vi ja, as they call it). Smaller and cuter, and less over the top touristy than Bariloche. There is an excellent national park within a national park there (Los Arrayanes National Park) which you can take a boat ride to from Villa. It's a short but beautiful hike, and like many of the parks we visited in Argentina, there is a cute little cafe (confiteria) there to buy food and have a little picnic after the walk. Don't forget to try the alfajores!
Enjoy your lovely retirement trip!
May 26th, 2014, 03:00 PM
#8
I will not be much help but I hope you enjoy 3B Barranco, try to have a chat with Elizabeth and Enrique when they are not too busy!! There are lots of dining options at all price levels nearby and they are happy to make reservations for you.
It did seem a lot of back and forthing between Chilean and Argentina in the south, and I've heard the border crossings can take a while.
It did seem a lot of back and forthing between Chilean and Argentina in the south, and I've heard the border crossings can take a while.
May 26th, 2014, 06:34 PM
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Wow, such good advice.
Crellston, thanks for the heads up for Casa Hernandez, I think that would be a good first 2 days after crossing from Bolivia.
Mlgb - 3B has been so easy to communicate with. I know we will enjoy the area.
Thursdasd and HappyTrvlr, the bus/boat combo sounds good and seems to solve our logistical dilemma.
Huentutu, thanks for the suggeston. We are now thinking still about bus from Puerto Natales to Coyhaique, renting car there and taking 3 weeks to explore with a rental return to Coyhaique and flying or ferry to Puerto Montt to follow bus/ferrt crossing into Argentina with maybe a small pass through Chiloe first.
Pantanal, thanks for the Villa la Angostura suggestion. Our daughter and family stayed in Bariloche for 3 weeks and though they loved the convenience for hiking, they didn't love the town. They suggested San Martin de los Andes as a base.
If we skip Sucre, we can get 9 days in the Argentinian Lakes region before flying to El Calafate. There is is still a lot of back and forth from Puerto Natales, Punta Arenas. I have tweaked to decrease that somewhat.
The new wrinkle: i just happened upon a couple of trip reports for the Puna Catamarquena with Socompa Tours. The photos are amazing and the tour is rated very positively. The 5 day tour seems like something we would like. This would eat into our time for other exploration but still 9 days left. My one concern is any similarity between this area and the Bolivian Salar. Has anyone spent some time in the Argentine Puna?
Last thought: If we stay on the Chilean Lake side, we could fly out of Santiago. I am seeing some nice beach area BnBs in Concon. Might be a great way to wind down..... I do have to decide between BA or Santiago for exit flight fairly soon secondary miles flights are disappearing. Next step is apartment hunting in Buenos Areas. Looking at one in Palermo Viejo. Our daughter stayed in this area between El Salvador and Hondorus and thought we would like it....
Thanks again for helping us plan this fantastic trip!
Crellston, thanks for the heads up for Casa Hernandez, I think that would be a good first 2 days after crossing from Bolivia.
Mlgb - 3B has been so easy to communicate with. I know we will enjoy the area.
Thursdasd and HappyTrvlr, the bus/boat combo sounds good and seems to solve our logistical dilemma.
Huentutu, thanks for the suggeston. We are now thinking still about bus from Puerto Natales to Coyhaique, renting car there and taking 3 weeks to explore with a rental return to Coyhaique and flying or ferry to Puerto Montt to follow bus/ferrt crossing into Argentina with maybe a small pass through Chiloe first.
Pantanal, thanks for the Villa la Angostura suggestion. Our daughter and family stayed in Bariloche for 3 weeks and though they loved the convenience for hiking, they didn't love the town. They suggested San Martin de los Andes as a base.
If we skip Sucre, we can get 9 days in the Argentinian Lakes region before flying to El Calafate. There is is still a lot of back and forth from Puerto Natales, Punta Arenas. I have tweaked to decrease that somewhat.
The new wrinkle: i just happened upon a couple of trip reports for the Puna Catamarquena with Socompa Tours. The photos are amazing and the tour is rated very positively. The 5 day tour seems like something we would like. This would eat into our time for other exploration but still 9 days left. My one concern is any similarity between this area and the Bolivian Salar. Has anyone spent some time in the Argentine Puna?
Last thought: If we stay on the Chilean Lake side, we could fly out of Santiago. I am seeing some nice beach area BnBs in Concon. Might be a great way to wind down..... I do have to decide between BA or Santiago for exit flight fairly soon secondary miles flights are disappearing. Next step is apartment hunting in Buenos Areas. Looking at one in Palermo Viejo. Our daughter stayed in this area between El Salvador and Hondorus and thought we would like it....
Thanks again for helping us plan this fantastic trip!
May 26th, 2014, 07:26 PM
#10
I would recommend time in Puerto Varas over Chiloe.
Also, do you know about the ferry from Puerto Natales to Puerto Montt? http://www.navimag.com/site/en
Don't pass up Bariloche altogether - fabulous views there. I found San Martin a bit lacking in comparison.
Also, do you know about the ferry from Puerto Natales to Puerto Montt? http://www.navimag.com/site/en
Don't pass up Bariloche altogether - fabulous views there. I found San Martin a bit lacking in comparison.
May 28th, 2014, 01:22 PM
#11
Did you do the ferry thurdaysd? I spoke to some other tourists who did, and they said they would not repeat it. Too much time on rough seas out of sight of land.
I do recommend the day cruise from Puerto Natales if you have time, I did a day trip to see the two glaciers in O'Higgins but they have a variety of itineraries.
http://www.turismo21demayo.com/es/r/...maceda-serrano
I do recommend the day cruise from Puerto Natales if you have time, I did a day trip to see the two glaciers in O'Higgins but they have a variety of itineraries.
http://www.turismo21demayo.com/es/r/...maceda-serrano
May 28th, 2014, 01:36 PM
#12
This is my report on the ferry trip (note that they are now using a different boat):
http://mytimetotravel.wordpress.com/...ored-on-boats/
http://mytimetotravel.wordpress.com/...ored-on-boats/
Jun 7th, 2014, 05:55 PM
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well another month almost past and still tweaking our trip plan.
we seem to have an extra 4 days before needing to be in El Calafate and not sure what to add or subtract.
to repeat myself:
4 nights in Lima
fly Cusco and 5 nights Ollytantambo (Spanish classes) and 1 night AQ before our MP day.
5 nights Cusco
bus to Puno, overnight
bus to Copa overnight
Isla del Sol overnight
Copa overnight (taking a Kayak tour this day).
La Paz 3 nights
fly Sucre 5 nights
fly or bus to Tarija (want to take the overnight trek to see the condors) 5 nights
bus Tupiza (keeping our fingers crossed to make it to Tupiza in one piece after seeing horror stories on this bus route).
Tupiza 3 nights
Salar Tour 3 nights with ride back to Tupiza for another night
bus to Salta and NW for 2 weeks (this will be 2nd half of November, hoping weather will be good)
bus to BA ` one week in an apartment
mystery 4 days
El Calafate 3 nights
El Chalten 7 nights (Christmas)
Punta Natales 2 nights and car rental for TDP
TDP 5 nights including NYE
Puerto Natales return car there or Punta Arenas where we will stay 2 nights
Bus Ushuaia for 6 nights
Bus to Punta Arenas with overnight
fly or bus to Coyhaique and rent car for
2 weeks Cattera Austral probably south of Coyhaigue
return car and fly Puerto Montt with 3 weeks to explore lakes area and possibly Chiloe.
fly out BA or Santiago. not sure yet. If BA would probably spend a couple of nights at Los Limoneros to chill out before flying home.
I do know travel schedules can be interrupted but this does make some sense logistically. Any ideas on where to extend some time as we do have 4 unaccounted days before flying to El Calafate. Maybe more time in NW Argentina or BA?
I realize we are staying longer in places than most folks but our rule of thumb has always been no less than 3 nights if we have traveled a distance to get there.
I have booked our Ollytantambo, Cusco, Lima, Torres del Paine, and El Chalten lodging. I am now looking for an apartment in BA.
Any help appreciated.
Thanks.
we seem to have an extra 4 days before needing to be in El Calafate and not sure what to add or subtract.
to repeat myself:
4 nights in Lima
fly Cusco and 5 nights Ollytantambo (Spanish classes) and 1 night AQ before our MP day.
5 nights Cusco
bus to Puno, overnight
bus to Copa overnight
Isla del Sol overnight
Copa overnight (taking a Kayak tour this day).
La Paz 3 nights
fly Sucre 5 nights
fly or bus to Tarija (want to take the overnight trek to see the condors) 5 nights
bus Tupiza (keeping our fingers crossed to make it to Tupiza in one piece after seeing horror stories on this bus route).
Tupiza 3 nights
Salar Tour 3 nights with ride back to Tupiza for another night
bus to Salta and NW for 2 weeks (this will be 2nd half of November, hoping weather will be good)
bus to BA ` one week in an apartment
mystery 4 days
El Calafate 3 nights
El Chalten 7 nights (Christmas)
Punta Natales 2 nights and car rental for TDP
TDP 5 nights including NYE
Puerto Natales return car there or Punta Arenas where we will stay 2 nights
Bus Ushuaia for 6 nights
Bus to Punta Arenas with overnight
fly or bus to Coyhaique and rent car for
2 weeks Cattera Austral probably south of Coyhaigue
return car and fly Puerto Montt with 3 weeks to explore lakes area and possibly Chiloe.
fly out BA or Santiago. not sure yet. If BA would probably spend a couple of nights at Los Limoneros to chill out before flying home.
I do know travel schedules can be interrupted but this does make some sense logistically. Any ideas on where to extend some time as we do have 4 unaccounted days before flying to El Calafate. Maybe more time in NW Argentina or BA?
I realize we are staying longer in places than most folks but our rule of thumb has always been no less than 3 nights if we have traveled a distance to get there.
I have booked our Ollytantambo, Cusco, Lima, Torres del Paine, and El Chalten lodging. I am now looking for an apartment in BA.
Any help appreciated.
Thanks.
Jun 7th, 2014, 08:12 PM
#17
You really have put a lot into this trip planning!
Thought I would mention La Casa Escondida which is not far from Punta Arenas. They really helped me with arrangements in S. Chile, both speak English and as you will find the Chilean accent is tough. Raves on Tripadvisor, they can make you a parrillada, arrange penguin tour, etc. Wonderful folks.
http://www.lacasaescondida.cl/
Thought I would mention La Casa Escondida which is not far from Punta Arenas. They really helped me with arrangements in S. Chile, both speak English and as you will find the Chilean accent is tough. Raves on Tripadvisor, they can make you a parrillada, arrange penguin tour, etc. Wonderful folks.
http://www.lacasaescondida.cl/
Jun 7th, 2014, 08:16 PM
#18
PS you will be in Barranco during CasaCor, ask 3B about it and also Las Pallas.
http://www.casacorperu.com/
http://www.casacorperu.com/
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