Luxury Chile & Argentina Waterfalls, Lakes, Wines and Deserts
Example Itinerary
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Overview
Making up the southern tip of the Americas, the vast territory of Argentina and Chile spans a breathtaking richness of natural and cultural treasures that would take a lifetime to explore. This incredible journey provides a chance to experience some of Chile and Argentina’s most remarkable highlights and luxurious accommodations. Travel in style on an adventure that will take you from the plundering falls of Iguazu and the fertile vineyards of Mendoza to the stark desert of San Pedro Atacama ...
Making up the southern tip of the Americas, the vast territory of Argentina and Chile spans a breathtaking richness of natural and cultural treasures that would take a lifetime to explore. This incredible journey provides a chance to experience some of Chile and Argentina’s most remarkable highlights and luxurious accommodations. Travel in style on an adventure that will take you from the plundering falls of Iguazu and the fertile vineyards of Mendoza to the stark desert of San Pedro Atacama and the volcanic National Park of Pucon.
Begin in the magnificent setting of Iguazu Falls, one of the natural wonders of the world, where you’ll have an opportunity to visit the infamous ‘Devil’s Throat’ and view the falls from both the Argentinean and Brazilian sides. After some time in, Buenos Aires, the capital of Argentina, head to the spectacular vineyards of Mendoza, where you will take a tour of the wineries and sample the produce of the region.
Continue to Chile and the harsh, surreal landscapes of the Atacama, the world’s driest desert. Covering some 1,000 kilometres, the Atacama offers a chance for trekking in the Salt Mountains, visiting the Moon and Death Valleys and sunset at the Taito Geysers. Your journey then ends in the panoramas and snow-capped peaks of the Lake District, where you have wealth of activities available in and around Villarrica Volcano.
TRIP HIGHLIGHTS
How Tailor-Made Works
Discuss your initial ideas with one of our experts, the types of things you want to see and do.
Your expert will start designing your perfect trip. Within a day or two we'll send a suggested itinerary.
At this stage you can still tweak anything from accommodation to experiences and dates, using our expert advice.
Time to prepare for your trip, safe in the knowledge you'll be in the expert hands of local guides and drivers throughout.
Relax and enjoy...through our partners you'll have support on the ground as well as 24-hour emergency assistance in the UK.
Example Itinerary
This is an example itinerary. Our experts have all travelled widely in the region and will be happy to tailor any of our itineraries to suit your tastes and budget, or build a trip from scratch.
Day 1 Arrive Iguazu
Arrive into Iguazu airport where you will be met by a local guide and taken to your luxury hotel, Melia Iguazu Resort & Spa.
Day 2 Iguazu Waterfalls: Devil's Throat
Start early today to beat the crowds. Get the first train to La Garganta del Diablo (Devil's Throat) and cross the walkways over the islands for the most spectacular view of the entire Devil's Gorge. There are 800 metres of walkway to explore, ensuring optimum viewing without disruption of wildlife trails. The lower circuit is 600 metres long and also has fantastic views of the falls.
Day 3 Iguazu Waterfalls: Brazilian Side
This morning you will be picked up from your hotel and taken across the border into Brazil to visit the Brazilian network of the falls, before returning to your hotel in Argentina. From the Brazilian side there are gorgeous panoramic views of the lower Iguazu River and the Devil’s Gorge Canyon. The elevator and the stairs lead to the shopping and restaurant area upstairs. There is some degree of difficulty as the path includes many stairs.
Day 4 Iguazu - Buenos Aires
You will be picked up from your hotel and taken to Iguazu airport for your flight to Buenos Aires. Check into the Park Hyatt Hotel and enjoy the rest of the day at leisure to explore this wonderful city.
Day 5 Buenos Aires: the Colourful Capital
Our expert, friendly guide will take you on and off the beaten track as you explore this vibrant and fascinating city in a private, four-hour city tour. The tour will take in the main highlights; the iconic 'La Boca', the former port that is now a colourfully painted village full of interesting arts and crafts, Recoleta, which is the most affluent neighbourhood in the city, the famous "Casa Rosada," the central government building on the Plaza de Mayo, the Metropolitan Cathedral and the famous Opera Theatre. We encourage you to let us know in advance if there are particular things that that interest you, so we can tailor the tour for you.
Day 6 Buenos Aires: Free Time
Enjoy some time at leisure in the lively capital. The day is free to make use of Buenos Aires' world-class restaurants, boutique shops and cafes, and art galleries.
Day 7 Buenos Aires - Aeroparque - Mendoza
You will fly out of Buenos Aires this morning to Aeroparque where you will be met and transferred to the Vines Resort & Spa, a multi-award-winning property within the prestigious Uco Valley of Mendoza.
Day 8 Mendoza: Local Vineyard Visit
Day at leisure. The expert winemaker, Santiago Achaval, may show you around the private vineyards, where he works with his team to create custom wine. You can get your hands dirty and assist the team in the vineyard if you wish. In the restaurant, you can sample the wine, beautifully paired with the open-flame cooked menu designed by famous chef Francis Mallmann.
Day 9 Mendoza: Wine Tour
The Uco Valley is a wonderful wine growing region, big blue skies over endless vineyards all framed by the mighty Andes mountains, and the scenery prepares the senses for the distinctive flavours and aromas of the high-altitude wines of the Uco Valley. Begin at one of the country’s biggest wineries, Salentein, to see the art gallery and taste some wines. Next, visit the Bousquet family, who hail from the southern French city of Carcassonne and have a long history of winemaking, who were attracted by the high-altitude soils of Mendoza. The last winery is Andeluna, a smaller boutique winery where you will see how their methods of winemaking make their wines so special. Surrounded by an impressive landscape at the foot of the Tupungato Volcano, the winery offers an exquisite gourmet lunch to enjoy with their prestigious wines.
Day 10 Mendoza – Santiago - Calama – San Pedro Atacama
This morning you will be picked up from your hotel and transferred to the airport for your flight to Calama, via Santiago. When you arrive in Calama you will be met and taken to your hotel on the outskirts of San Pedro de Atacama, where you will spend the next three nights. Awasi Lodge is a refined, rustic hotel with just 8 rooms, all with private patios and outdoor and indoor showers. Awasi is the only hotel in the region to offer all activities on a private basis and is one of the finest places to stay in Atacama.
Day 11 San Pedro De Atacama: Geysers & Valleys
Over the next couple of days you will be able to experience the sights and sounds of the Atacama Desert with guides from the hotel. More than two dozen excursions are available from the Awasi, they are arranged on a one-on-one basis with your own private guide. Guides pair up with guests based on the interests expressed in an initial questionnaire, for example archaeology, mountain biking or astronomy. All of the excursions are expertly executed, and the equipment and gear used is first-rate. You can choose from an array of great options like Valle de la Luna and Cordillera de la Sal (Moon Valley and Salt Cordillera), the Tatio Geysers, the Chilean Altiplano, the Geoglyphs and Lauca National Park, to name a few.
Day 12 San Pedro De Atacama: Explore Otherworldly Landscapes
Another day of private excursions from the Awasi Atacama.
Day 13 Pedro De Atacama – Calama - Santiago
On arrival to Santiago you will be met by a local guide and transferred to your hotel in the city centre. The rest of the day is at leisure.
Day 14 San Santiago – Temuco – Pucón
You will be transferred to the airport for your flight to Temuco. Your driver will pick you up from the airport and drive you north through the Lake District to the town of Pucon. You will be staying in Hacienda Vira Vira, set in a marvellous native park and surrounded by stunning volcanos and right along the shores of the peaceful Liucura River near Pucon. This outstanding hotel which offers all inclusive programs and has its own organic farm is now a Relais & Châteaux member.
Day 15 Pucon: Villarica National Park Volcano Hike
There are a multitude of excursions available from the Hacienda; trekking in Villarrica National Park or Huerquehue National Park, birdwatching, rafting down Liucura River, visiting the Vira Vira heese factory, fishing, Mapuche community visits, mountain biking, horse back riding, SUP boarding, white water rafting, skiing or snowboarding on Villarrica Volcano, husky sledding and helicopter flights.
Day 16 Pucon: Lakes Hiking
Another day of activities from Hacienda Vira Vira.
Day 17 Pucon: Relax in Chile's Lake District
Another day of activities from Hacienda Vira Vira.
Day 18 Pucón - Depart Temuco
You will be met and driven to Temuco airport for your onward flight.
EXAMPLE ACCOMMODATION
Palacio Duhau, Buenos Aires
A wonderful world-class luxury hotel in the heart of Recoleta, the Palacio Duhau combines the best of both worlds with old-world architectural elegance and sophisticated, contemporary décor. Marble, chandelier-strewn lobbies; a room dedicated to cheese; an art gallery; fine dining; and an indulgent wellness spa all make for a lavish stay. Rooms at the five-star hotel are spacious and well-equipped, the service is impeccable and the breakfast is one of the best in the city.
Awasi Atacama, San Pedro de Atacama
A marvellous boutique lodging on the outskirts of San Pedro de Atacama, fashioned from adobe, wood and stone to create a refined, rustic hotel with just eight rooms. Each room comes with a private patio, outdoor and indoor showers and is assigned its very own private guide and 4WD vehicle. There is an outdoor pool and lovely courtyard, providing an exquisite atmosphere at night with low lighting to fully appreciate the unique canvas of the starry Atacama night sky. The service is impeccable with incredible attention to detail, and the excursions offered are second-to-none. When not sampling their menu of exclusive excursions, guests can enjoy excellent cuisine within a unique setting. Awasi is one of the finest places to stay in Atacama.
La Cantera Jungle Lodge, Iguazu
La Cantera Lodge de Selva by Don sits just outside the main town of Puerto Iguazu and is only a ten-minute drive from the waterfalls. This stylish and innovative jungle lodge has been carefully designed to preserve the environment and have the least impact. The hotel has been built on 3 hectares of rainforest, home to trees over 400 years old and other endangered species. The 50 rooms have a light jungle theme with large windows and tasteful wood architecture. There is a lovely outdoor pool, good quality restaurant and an excellent wine bar. For the more adventurous traveller, mountain bikes are available to rent, so you can explore the surrounding areas at your leisure. Other activities include, canopy walks, waterfall abseiling and jungle races.
Holiday Inn Airport Hotel, Santiago
Located direct opposite the airport terminal, the Holiday Inn is a comfortable base to overnight when you have an early flight the following day. The rooms are of a high standard and have first class amenities. There is a good in house restaurant and if you have time to enjoy the facilities, there is a swimming pool, Jacuzzi, sauna and steam room available.
&Beyond Vira Vira, Pucon
Opening in October 2014, Vira Vira is a Hacienda Hotel set in a marvellous native park and surrounded by stunning volcanos and right along the shores of the peaceful Liucura River near Pucon. A dream come true for the wonderful hosts and owners Michael and Claudia Paravacini, this outstanding hotel which offers all-inclusive programs and has its own organic farm is now a Relais & Châteaux member. The Hotel has been designed by the owners to offer 18 spacious, luxurious and above all very cosy and comfortable rooms for the guests, either in the Hotel Suites (35 – 50m2) or the Villa Suites (75m2).
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Accommodation listed here is intended as a guide only, to give you a taste of what we can do. Our experts can tailor any aspect of this itinerary and accommodation to suit your budget and tastes.
WHAT'S INCLUDED
MEALS
TRANSPORT
ENTRANCE FEES
EXPERT TEAM
ACCOMMODATION
WILD MILES
ACCOMMODATION
Wild Miles Club
When you book a trip with Wild Frontiers you are awarded points, which are based on the return distance from London to the arrival city of your trip. Points are awarded for all our holidays, including both our escorted group tours and tailor-made trips. When you accrue points, you will qualify for the following discounts on all future bookings:
| Blue | More than 10,000 points | 2.5% discount |
| Bronze | More than 30,000 points | 5% discount |
| Silver | More than 45,000 points | 7.5% discount |
| Gold | More than 60,000 points | 10% discount |
This itinerary is aimed to give you an idea of what we can offer. The price shown above is per person, based on two people travelling outside of peak periods. As this itinerary is only a suggestion and can be tailor-made to suit your interests and budget, your final price may differ.
Positive Impact of this Trip
Making a Difference
Community Tourism
People and local communities have always been at the heart of Wild Frontiers and the travel experiences we offer. Through community tourism we have the opportunity to generate real positive impact, supporting people we visit through sustainable local development, and in turn help to alleviate poverty and protect culture and environments in often more vulnerable destinations. While doing so, our clients gain richer travel experiences and more meaningful connections with the people they meet.
Conservation and Climate Action
As a travel company, we hold a responsibility to minimise our environmental footprint and contribute to sustainability, and work closely with local communities to support their efforts. By implementing initiatives such as carbon measuring, tree-planting, reducing single-use plastic and promoting eco-friendly practices, we can help mitigate the negative impacts of tourism on fragile ecosystems and local communities. Additionally, prioritising conservation efforts helps preserve natural habitats and wildlife, ensuring that future generations can continue to enjoy the wonders of our planet.
Wild Frontiers Foundation
The Wild Frontiers Foundation aims to provide a platform to create awareness, raise money and deliver funding to projects in countries where we operate as a travel company. Through the foundation, we are able to channel money into grass roots projects, which we have either established ourselves or support through charity partners. These include initiatives focused around education, the empowerment of local people and community conservation.
START PLANNING YOUR TRIP
Our team of experts have a wealth of knowledge and experience to help you plan your adventure of a lifetime.
WHY WILD FRONTIERS?
Expert travel consultants
Up-to-date knowledge and advice from our experienced consultants on the best places to stay, things to do and regions to visit to make your holiday the trip of a lifetime.
EXPERIENCED LOCAL GUIDES
We use experienced local guides to help bring the sights to life, introduce you to local characters and ensure you get under the skin of your destination.
HAND-PICKED ACCOMMODATION
Whether you are looking for a boutique hotel, homestay, local guesthouse, luxury spa, tented camp or heritage hotel, our experts can select the perfect property for you.
24-HOUR SUPPORT
Our local agents are there to help you on the ground should you need any assistance, and in addition you will be given a 24-hour UK emergency phone number.Meet the expert, Richard
Richard is our Latin America expert, who has travelled extensively in the region.
Speak to Richard by calling
1(833) 200-4640
OTHER ITINERARIES IN ARGENTINA
Check out our group tours in Argentina
As well as private tailor-made trips, we also offer small group tours (max size 12) to Argentina. Led by an experienced tour leader, travel with a group of like-minded people on one of our award-winning group tours.
View Group Tours in Argentina