JenV

First off, I am so grateful to these boards for all of the help over the years. I have only been on the Europe board, this is my first post over here. I will be participating in a Habitat for Humanity building project in Santiago, Chile from 12/10 to 12/18 and have booked a flight in to Santiago 12/8 and out of Buenos Aires on 12/28. I have a rough idea of what I want to see and have mapped out days as follows:

12/8 land 7am - Santiago overnight or straight to Valparaiso
12/9-12/10 - Valparaiso
12/10 - am back to Santiago for team meeting
12/10-12/17 - working in Santiago
12/18 - breakfast and goodbyes, head to San Pedro de Atacama
12/18-12/20 or 12/21 San Pedro de Atacama
12/21 to Buenos Aires overnight
12/22-12/23 to Iguazu hoping for 2 full days and want to see both sides
12/23 night flight to BA??
12/24-12/27 only 4 days for BA - was hoping for 5

I started looking in to all the flights and it seems either really expensive and impractical or downright insane to try and do these transfers in 1 day. For instance, is it doable to go from Atacama back to Santiago to BA and up to Iguazu in one day? Didn't look like it.

I'm just wondering if above seems feasible and enough time in each spot. The build isn't moveable but does the rest seem like a good allocation of time. The above are all priorities for me to see but if I need adjustment I am flexible.

Once I get the itinerary nailed down I can start working on activities and book hotels etc. Since it's high season I want to get going on that as soon as possible.

Thanks for your invaluable advice and suggestions.

JenV

crellston

It probably is insane. We usually travel by bus in SA but on this trip included some flights and really wish I hadn't! Our direct flight from Salta to Iguazu lasting 2 hours has been change 6 times and is now indirect via BA lasting 8 hours!

You are really pushing it to fit in everything. If you want to include Sand Pedro then, rather than going back to Santiago, consider getting the bus from there to Salta which I think took us around 12 hours. There is a direct flight from salta to Iguazu but do see my comments above!! The bus takes 20 hours and is a decent alternative.

You need 2 full days to see both sides of the falls. We are spending two nights there (our second trip) and are spending one full day on ethArgentine side and a half day before our evening flight on the Brazil side. That is unless Aerolinas Argentinas screw up yet again!!
I would definitely make sure you have sufficient time at the falls. Even if you lose a day in BA.

Sky Airlines seems by far the cheapest but you had to play around with the website as the cheapest fares didn't always come up when I tried to use it. I t may be one of the few times when a travel agent can add value.

JenV

Thank you for your response crellston. I did look at the bus to Salta and flight option but it was ridiculously expensive and still takes a long time (as does the all bus route to Iguazu), still something to consider. I am worried about short changing everything, I'm a city girl so definitely want my BA time and to appreciate feeling the vibe of being in a neighborhood for more than a few days.

Best of luck with your flight situation!!

JenV

Huentetu

If you arrive in Santiago on 8 December you will find the highway to Valparaiso closed for a religious pilgrimage. They close it the afternoon before and it goes opening up late on the 8th. Better to spend the night in Santiago.

JenV

Thank you for the info Huentetu. That is a bummer since I have limited time to spend there. Would there be any other way to get to Valparaiso on the 8th?

Huentetu

You can get there by bus but they go a very long way around via Calera, which adds at least an hour onto the trip. There will be fewer buses as well. If you want to go, then take the Turbus airport bus all the way to their terminal and see what is available.

JenV

Thank you Huentetu! I'm starting to realize that there is a lot to do in and around Santiago and that I may want a free day there anyway. Is 2 days too little to see Valparaiso (full day Friday and Saturday, leaving early Sunday morning)?

Now that I have been reading and researching for 2 days I am rethinking above itinerary and will be asking some additional questions in new threads. Thanks all!

Huentetu

I think that is a good time frame for Valparaiso. You can take one of the free (for tips) walking tours, which is the best way to see the city.