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The trip you requested will be changing due to annual improvements to our itineraries. To give you the widest choice, we've also included the closest alternative trips to your selection. We have listed all departures that are still to run from our previous brochure. Please download the trip notes for exact itinerary of any given departure.
Route: Santiago to Rio de Janeiro or v.v.
Length of Section: 7.5
Comfort Zone: 3 out of 5 [what's this?]
Physical Rating: 3 out of 6 [what's this?]
Crew: 2 crew, local guides as necessary
Vehicle: Overland expedition vehicle.
Accommodation: Campsites, wildcamps, hostels/hotels. (75% camping, 25% hotels)
Why not add one of these trips to the start or end of your adventure:
Our Rio Carnival Package (5 days in 2009, 6 days in 2010)
Overlanding across South America from west to east, we begin our epic journey in Santiago, Chile's urbane capital, driving through the stunning Lake District on our way to Bariloche in Argentina. We'll overland across Patagonia, heading for the end of the world - Tierra del Fuego, and the town of Ushuaia, departure point for trips to Antarctica. Patagonia is famed for its wilderness, and we'll explore the dramatic wilderness of Torres del Paine, and go glacier walking at Moreno. Heading to Buenos Aires there's time to relax and enjoy the city before we turn north for Brazil. We'll go wildlife spotting in the wetlands of the Pantanal, then drive up the beautiful Emerald Coast, ending our epic South American journey in Rio de Janeiro.
what's included?
Week 1: Santiago, Pucon & Bariloche
- Discover the Chilean Lake District
- Explore and discover the streets of Santiago
- 3 night stay in stunning lakeside resort of Bariloche
- Time for optional adventure activities around Pucon
Week 2: Los Alerces NP, Monte Leon & Ushuaia
- Enjoy the abundant wildlife at Monte Leon NP
- Spend time at the end of the world in Ushuaia
- Lakeside overnight camp in Los Alerces NP
- Wildcamping through the vast Patagonian expanses
Week 3: Tierra del Fuego, Magellan Straits & Torres del Paine NP
- Follow in Darwin's footsteps across the Magellan Straits
- Bushcamp at the old estancia of San Gregoria
- 4 days to explore and trek the rugged Torres del Paine NP
- Discover Tierra del Fuego - the land of fire
Week 4: Moreno Glacier & Los Glaciares NP
- Explore the awesome Los Glaciares NP
- Guided full day trip to Moreno Glacier
- Encounter the penguin colonies on the Atlantic Coast
Week 5: Valdez Peninsula & Buenos Aires
- Guided visit to Valdez Peninsula to meet the elephant seals and sealions
- Explore cosmopolitan Buenos Aires, the coolest city in South America
- Overland through the vast Pampas, home to the cowboy Gauchos
Week 6: Iguazu Falls & Bonito
- Visit the Jesuit ruins at San Ignacio de Mini
- 2 full days to enjoy the crystal clear waters at Bonito, Brazil's ecotourism capital
- Overland adventures across the Tropic of Capricorn
- Discover the majestic Iguazu Falls from Argentina and Brazil
Week 7: Brazilian Pantanal, Campo Grande & Brotas
- Travel overland via Campo Grande, capital of Mato Grosso do Sul
- Time for optional adventure activities at Brotas
- 2 night wildlife safari into the Pantanal
Week 8: Parati & Rio de Janeiro
- Laid back boat trips to islands off Parati
- 3 days on Brazil's Emerald Coast
- Arrive in vibrant Rio de Janeiro
what can I do on the way?
(Activities available at extra costs)
- Wine tasting tour in a renowned Chilean vineyard
- Trek up the snowcapped volcano Mt Villarica
- Horseriding, white-water rafting or hikes around Pucon
- Boat trips, treks, bikes and horse riding in stunning mountains
- Beagle channel boat trips and sightseeing flights from Ushuaia
- Zodiac boat trips, horse rides and trekking in Torres del Paine NP
- Ice walk up, boat trip to or horse riding near the Moreno Glacier
- Glacier trek, hikes and horseriding in Los Glaciares NP
- Visit the UNESCO site Cueva de las Manos at Río Pinturas
- Winter boat trips to find Southern Right whales off the Valdez Peninsula
- Relax in the picutresque village of Sierra de la Ventana
- Practice your dance steps in the birthplace of Tango
- Experience the atmosphere at an Argentinian football match
- Boat trips, forest hikes and helicopter over Iguazu Falls
- Caving, rafting and snorkeling in the waters of Bonito
- If time allows white-water rafting and canyoning at Brotas
- Scuba dive on Parati's Emerald Coast
- Horseriding and mountain biking in Parati
- Visit the favelas of Rio de Janeiro
- Take a cable car up Sugarloaf mountain in Rio
- Visit the world famous statue Christ the Redeemer