Santiago & Easter Island, Chile

TRAVEL PLANNING GUIDE

Across the Andes: Chile’s Atacama Desert & Argentina’s Northwest 2020 Small Groups: 8-16 travelers—guaranteed! (average of 14) Overseas Adventure Travel ® The Leader in Small Groups on the Road Less Traveled 1 Overseas Adventure Travel ® 347 Congress Street, Boston, MA 02210

Dear Traveler,

We've always felt that real travel is about meeting new people and discovering unfamiliar cultures—elements that are at the heart of every O.A.T. adventure.

In the following pages, you'll find detailed information about the adventure you've expressed interest in, including a detailed day-to-day itinerary. We've also included visa requirements, regional weather conditions, local currency and health information—even a few film and book recommendations for further inspiration about this destination.

Exploring the world with O.A.T. allows you to experience the awe and wonder of familiar and far- flung destinations in a small group of 8-16 travelers (with an average of 14). And since no one brings a new location to life better than someone who makes his or her home in that destination, you'll be accompanied by one of our local Trip Leaders, who will serve as your chief experience leader—helping to ensure you're getting the personalized experiences you're looking for.

With O.A.T. you'll benefit from our decades-long experience introducing the world to American travelers at the best value anywhere. We have the lowest prices in the industry and offer FREE Single Supplements—which means solo travelers never pay more for their own hotel or cabin. Plus, you can join the 85% of travelers who are choosing to personalize their experiences. From extending your travels—whether with us or on your own—to building in time to ensure a smooth beginning and end to your adventure, the choice is yours.

We hope you find the information inside helpful. If you have any further questions about this trip, don't hesitate to contact one of our Adventure Specialists at 1-800-955-1925. Thank you again for your interest, and we look forward to welcoming you soon on a life-changing adventure.

Warm regards,

Alan E. Lewis Harriet R. Lewis Chairman Vice Chairman Overseas Adventure Travel

P.S. Visit us online to find videos and films about our adventures—from independent films featuring the destinations you'll visit, to itinerary highlights. Go to www.oattravel.com and enjoy the show!

1073 POD PMA-LET.indd 1 5/31/12 4:11 PM

2 WHAT’S INSIDE

TRIP SUMMARY

It’s Included ...... 4 Departure Dates and Prices ...... 5 Freedom to Personalize Your Experience ...... 6

DETAILED DAY -TO-DAY ITINERARY ...... 7

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT THIS TRIP...... 34

Travel Documents & Entry Requirements ...... 36

Health ...... 38

Money Matters ...... 42

Preparing for Your Trip ...... 46 Packing ...... 49 Climate ...... 56 About Your Destinations ...... 59

Demographics & History ...... 65

Resources ...... 78

MAP ...... 83

3 Discover Argentina’s scenic northwest, an area unknown to most American travelers

New! A c r o s s t h e A n d e s : Chile’s Atacama Desert & Argentina’s Northwest Small Group Adventure Chile:œÖłŶĢÖėŋ̇ÁÖķťÖũÖĢŭŋ̇œÖł”āùũŋùāŶÖóÖĿÖ̵ΆArgentina: Purmamarca, Salta, Cachi, Cafayate, Buenos Aires

Countries: 2 Ά!ĢŶĢāŭ̆7

Small groups: 8-16 travelers—guaranteed! It’s Included (average of 14) • International airfare, airport transfers, • 2 4 small group activities government taxes, $ Explore in a small group of 8-16 16 days from fees, and airline fuel surcharges unless • 5195 travelers (average group size of 14) Includes international airfare you choose to make your own air arrangements • Services of a local O.A.T. Trip Travel from only $306 a day Experience Leader • All land transportation and 2 internal flights • Gratuities for local guides, drivers, and 15 days from $ 3795 luggage porters Accommodations for 14 nights Without international airfare • 5% Frequent Traveler Credit 32 meals—daily breakfast, 9 lunches, • • toward your next adventure— Single Supplement: FREE and 8 dinners (including 2 Home- an average of $390 Hosted meals)

Maximize Your To get a richer view of the Included Features on this adventure, Discoveries & Value watch our Trip Itinerary video at www.oattravel.com/noa2020

Optional extension s : Hill of the Seven Colors, Santiago & Easter Island, Chile Purmamarca, Argentina 5 nights pre-trip from $2595 Travel from only $519 per night Buenos Aires & Coastal Uruguay 6 nights post-trip from $2195 Travel from only $366 per night

Across the Andes: Chile’s Atacama Desert & Argentina’s Northwest

4 Across the Andes: Chile’s FREEDOM TO PERSONALIZE YOUR EXPERIENCE From spending more time abroad or adding extensions, to Atacama Desert & Argentina’s choosing your air preferences, our Adventure Specialists are Northwest here to discuss your personalization options at 1-800-955-1925. Visit www.oattravel.com/personalize-noa2020 for details.

2020 Dates & Prices

APRIL; DEPART FROM MARCH; MAY-JUNE AUGUST-SEPTEMBER JULY OCTOBER-NOVEMBER

Miami $5795 $5895 $5195 $5995 New York, Orlando, Tampa $5895 $5995 $5295 $6095 Baltimore, Boston, Chicago, Detroit, Los Angeles, Newark, San Francisco, $5995 $6095 $5395 $6195 Washington, DC Atlanta, Dallas, Denver, Houston, $6095 $6195 $5495 $6295 Minneapolis, San Diego, Seattle Philadelphia, Phoenix, Portland $6195 $6295 $5595 $6395

Without international airfare $4495 $4595 $3795 $4695

Additional departure cities are available. Upgrade to Business Class may be available for the international portion of your flight. Call for details. NOA2020

Critical Air Information Below, you’ll find the East and West Coast cities with the longest flight times. For more information on average flight times based on your gateway city, visit www.oattravel.com/noa2020. GATEWAY DEPART RETURN

Hours Typical Connection Hours Typical Connection Chiacago (East Coast) 14 hrs 1 13 hrs 1 San Francisco (West Coast) 16 hrs 1 18 hrs 1

Prices are per person. Airfare prices include government taxes, fees, and airline fuel surcharges. All prices and availability are effective as of the date of this publication, and are subject to change without notice. Standard Terms & Conditions apply, please visit our website: www.oattravel.com/tc. Every effort has been made to produce this information accurately. We reserve the right to correct errors.

For specific departure dates, current availability, and detailed pricing, visit www.oattravel.com/noa2020pricing

COMBINE ADVENTURES FREE SINGLE RESERVE EARLY & SAVE SHARE YOUR LOVE & SAVE SUPPLEMENT with our Good Buy Plan OF TRAVEL We offer FREE Single New travelers you refer will See more of the world—and Supplements on your main The earlier you pay by check or instantly save $100, and avoid another international trip and all extensions. electronic funds transfer, the you’ll earn increasing rewards— flight—by combining this more you SAVE! up to a FREE trip! Each departure has limited solo adventure with Real Affordable space available—c all today For details, visit For details, visit Peru. to reserve. www.oattravel.com/gbd www.oattravel.com/va

Publication Date 9/23/19

Information & Reservations 1-800-955-1925 www.oatt ravel.com/noa2020

5 Freedom to Personalize Your Experience Your Choice, Your Adventure, Your Way

We recommend you spend extra time in a destination to truly make your adventure everything you’ve ever dreamed about—in fact, 85% of our travelers are personalizing their experience in more than 90 countries. Call us at 1-800-955-1925 to discuss personalizing your adventure today or visit us online at www.oattravel.com/personalize-noa2020.

'āƩ łāÈŋŽũRùāÖķdāłėŶĞŋĕœŶÖƘ̝arrive early, Back-to-Back Adventures: 90% of travelers who combined two stay later & more trips anywhere in the world rated it excellent Extending your time in a destination can improve your overall travel One of the most common adventures travelers combine with this one experience—and allow you to seek out even more eye-opening is Real Affordable Peru. If you’re already overseas, why not see more cultural interactions. Your local Trip Experience Leader will help to of the world and avoid another international flight? Plus, you’ll save ensure you’re getting the personalized experiences you’re looking $250-$350 per person when you reserve two trips right after one for. With their unmatched understanding of Chilean and Argentinian another. culture, it’ll be no surprise to you that 94% of our travelers rate their Trip Experience Leader excellent. ”ũĢƑÖŶāùƑāłŶŽũāŭ̆¦ũÖƑāķĢłÖłāƗóķŽŭĢƑāėũŋŽťŋĕÖŭ From extending your travels—whether with us or on your own— ĕāƒÖŭ˓ to building in time to ensure a smooth beginning and end to your Reserve an exclusive departure with your friends and family. It’s Small Group Adventure, the choice is yours. Here are some of simple: You choose the people you travel with, the departure date, and your options: the size of your group. O.A.T. does the rest. Maximize Your Time & Value: 55% of travelers take an extension ĢũzťŶĢŋłŭ̆mŋũāŶĞÖł˔ˏͮŋĕŶũÖƑāķāũŭóŽŭŶŋĿĢơā Trip extensions give you more time, allowing you to get refreshed and acclimated before your adventure begins or before your return ŶĞāĢũƪ ĢėĞŶŭ to the U.S. On this adventure, you have two extensions to choose • Choose your departure city and airline from, including Santiago & Easter Island, Chile and Buenos Aires & • Depart from one city and return to another Coastal Uruguay. • Upgrade your seat or choose a specific meal option “Break Away” Options: 30% of travelers spend more time abroad Before or after your main adventure or trip extension, “break away” anywhere you’d like to do more exploring entirely on your own. Extend your time abroad with the following options: • Spend more time before your adventure in Santiago • Spend more time after you adventure in or Buenos Aires Please note: Our Adventure Specialists can help you plan your airfare if you’d like to “break away,” however since this option is completely on your own, you will need to plan your own accommodations, meals, tours, and transfers.

Plaza de Armas, Santiago, Chile

6

Across the Andes: Chile’s Atacama Desert & Argentina’s Northwest 2020 16-Day Small Group Adventure

EXTEND YOUR TRIP

PRE-TRIP Santiago & Easter Island, Chile POST-TRIP Buenos Aires & Coastal Uruguay

Your Day-to-Day Itinerary

7 OVERSEAS ADVENTURE TRAVEL

Overseas Adventure Travel, founded in 1978, is America’s leading adventure travel company. The New York Times, Condé Nast Traveler, The Los Angeles Times, Travel + Leisure, The Wall Street Journal, US News & World Report, and others have recommended O.A.T. trips. But our most impressive reviews come from our customers: Thousands of travelers have joined our trips, and 95% of them say they’d gladly travel with us again, and recommend us to their friends.

A WORD ABOUT ADVENTURE TRAVEL

Our Across the Andes: Chile’s Atacama Desert & Argentina’s Northwest adventure is designed for people who want a different kind of travel experience. These distinctive regions of Argentina and Chile range dramatically in scope and atmosphere, from the sophistication of Buenos Aires to the stark, rugged landscape of the Atacama Desert and the fantastical valleys and canyons of Argentina’s northwest SURYLQFHV7REHVWHQMR\WKHYLYLGFRQWUDVWVRQWKLVWULSEULQJ\RXUFXULRVLW\ͬH[LELOLW\DQGVSLULWRI adventure.

INCLUDED IN YOUR PRICE

» International airfare, airport transfers, » Explore in a small group of 8-16 travelers government taxes, fees, and airline fuel (average group size of 14) surcharges unless you choose to make your » Services of a local O.A.T. Trip own air arrangements Experience Leader » $OOODQGWUDQVSRUWDWLRQDQGLQWHUQDOͬLJKWV » Gratuities for local guides, drivers, and » Accommodations for 14 nights luggage porters »3 2 meals—daily breakfast, 9 lunches, and 8 » 5% Frequent Traveler Credit toward your dinners (including 2 Home-Hosted meals) next adventure—an average of $390 » 24 small group activities

WHAT THIS TRIP IS LIKE

PACING » Some early mornings » 7 locations in 15 days (6 days in Chile and 9 » Airport transfers in Santiago and Buenos days in Argentina) with two 1-night stays Aires can take up to 1.5 hours » LQWHUQDOͬLJKWLQ&KLOHDQGLQWHUQDOͬLJKW PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS in Argentina » Not appropriate for travelers using wheelchairs, walkers, or other mobility aids

Itinerary Subject to Change. For Information or reservations, call 1-800-955-1925

8 » You must be able to walk 3 miles unassisted » Travel by 24-passenger coach and participate in 6-8 hours of physical » Long bus rides of 4-8 hours on several days activities each day 'D\VDQG LQWHUQDOͬLJKWLQ » This trip takes you to remote places with no &KLOHRIKRXUVDQGLQWHUQDOͬLJKWLQ medical facilities nearby Argentina of about 2 hours » We reserve the right for Trip Experience FLIGHT INFORMATION Leaders to restrict participation, or in some circumstances send travelers home, if their » Travel time will be 8-19 hours and will most limitations impact the group’s experience likely have two connections ACCOMMODATIONS & FACILITIES ALTITUDE » 6 full days at altitudes above 7,000 feet (3 » Hotel rooms are smaller than in the U.S. and days in Chile and 3 days in Argentina) offer simple amenities » On Day 8, ten hours are spent at altitudes » All accommodations feature private baths above 10,000 feet, reaching a maximum altitude of 15,800 feet. Our 24-passenger van is equipped with an oxygen tank for emergency purposes. » On Day 12, we reach a maximum altitude of 11,000 feet » We strongly recommend that you discuss precautions for altitude sickness with a healthcare professional before you travel on this trip. Proper preparation, including any medication recommended by your healthcare professional, is essential to traveling comfortably at these elevations.

CLIMATE » Daytime temperatures average 70-75° F in the Atacama Desert while nighttime or early morning temperatures are considerably cooler, between 35-50° F in the Andes

TERRAIN & TRANSPORTATION » Travel on mountainous, unpaved roads; walking on rough, steep, slippery trails that do not have handrails

Itinerary Subject to Change. For Information or reservations, call 1-800-955-1925

9 Across the Andes: Chile’s Atacama Desert & Argentina’s Northwest 2020

Chile and Argentina have long been on travelers’ maps thanks to their cultured capitals Santiago and Buenos Aires, but these South American countries still have a few unexplored corners to beguile even the most ZRUOGO\DGYHQWXUHUV-RXUQH\ZLWK2$7WRGLVFRYHUWKHVSHFWDFXODUODQGVFDSHVWKDWDZDLW̜ͫHU\FDQ\RQV UDLQERZKXHGPRXQWDLQVͫHOGVRIWRZHULQJFDFWLDQGVDOWͬDWVWKDWVWUHWFKDVIDUDVWKHH\HFDQVHH,Q Chile, we’ll witness the world’s driest desert: the mighty Atacama, where wind-carved rock formations DQGSLQNSOXPHGͬDPLQJRHVOHQGDVXUUHDOTXDOLW\WRWKHSDUFKHGODQGVFDSH7KHQZH̞OOFURVVWKH$QGHV Mountains through a dramatic highland pass that takes us into Argentina’s little-known northwest provinces. +HUHZH̞OOH[SORUHSLFWXUHVTXHDGREHWRZQVLPPHUVHRXUVHOYHVLQ$UJHQWLQD̞VXQLTXH$QGHDQFXOWXUHDQG VDPSOHVRPHRIWKHFRXQWU\̞VͫQHVWZLQHVLQEORVVRPLQJ&DID\DWH We’ll also get to know the locals during Home-Hosted meals with families in Valparaiso and San Pedro, and during a visit to a rural school in Argentina—intimate experiences that are possible thanks to our small group size. And our Trip Experience Leader will be on hand every step of the way to share insights into these two remarkable cultures. From dazzling capital cities to mile-high deserts, Andean peaks to red-rock ravines, this is a true off-the-beaten-path adventure that takes you from coast-to-coast and across the world’s longest mountain range. This is South America like you’ve never seen it before.

EXTEND YOUR TRIP

Santiago & Easter Island, Chile 5 NIGHTS PRE-TRIP Witness two vastly different faces of Chile, beginning in Santiago, where rich history and a modern elegance blend together. Then discover one of mankind’s greatest enigmas: the collection of giant moai statues VFDWWHUHGDFURVV5DSD1XL (DVWHU,VODQG ,QDRQFHLQDOLIHWLPHVRMRXUQWRWKLV81(6&2:RUOG+HULWDJH Site, you’ll visit rustic moai which lay untouched where they fell and others which have been restored to their upright glory. From cosmopolitan capital to remote island escape, your expert Trip Experience Leader will be there to shed light on modern culture and bring ancient history to life.

Buenos Aires & Coastal Uruguay 6 NIGHTS POST-TRIP Explore Argentina’s capital in-depth and add another South American country to your travels with this post-trip adventure to Buenos Aires and Uruguay. First, stroll the wide boulevards and elegant plazas of FRVPRSROLWDQ%XHQRV$LUHV7KHQMHWDFURVVWKH5LRGHOD3ODWD̜DQGDQLQWHUQDWLRQDOERUGHU̜E\K\GURIRLOWR reach Uruguay, a small and oft-overlooked nation that combines a modern sensibility with its colonial past. Stroll charming seaside towns, sip Uruguayan wine, and discover the lively capital Montevideo.

Itinerary Subject to Change. For Information or reservations, call 1-800-955-1925

10 DETAILED ITINERARY

Day 1 Depart U.S. Evening: Free for your own discoveries. Perhaps you’ll take an evening stroll around Afternoon/Evening: 'HSHQGLQJRQ\RXUͬLJKW the hotel or retire to your room to rest for the VFKHGXOHGHSDUWWKH86RQDQRYHUQLJKWͬLJKW following day. to Santiago, Chile. Day 3 Discover Santiago Day 2 Arrive in Santiago, Chile • Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch • Included Meals: Dinner • Accommodations: NH Collection Plaza • Accommodations: NH Collection Plaza Santiago or similar Santiago or similar Breakfast: Served buffet-style at the hotel Morning: Welcome to Santiago! An O.A.T. beginning at 7am, featuring local and representative will greet you at the airport and international options. escort you to our hotel, where you’ll have a chance to rest and relax after your overnight Morning: We’ll depart around 8:30am for a ͬLJKW'HSHQGLQJRQZKHUHZHVWD\\RXU tour of Santiago. Against a stunning backdrop accommodations may feature an on-site gym of Andean peaks, Chile’s capital has witnessed and indoor swimming pool. Typical rooms a remarkable history, from settlement by may include wireless internet, television, conquistadors in 1541 to the Marxist, military, and minibar. and democratic governments of the 20th century. We’ll begin this morning’s discoveries Lunch: On your own, depending on when with a walk around downtown Santiago. We’ll you arrive. traverse the city’s hub on foot and via local Afternoon: Around 5pm, our Trip Experience subway, watching as Chile’s rich history comes Leader will take us on a short orientation walk to life at such places as La Moneda Palace, the around the hotel to get acquainted with the seat of Chile’s government, which served as the DUHDLQFOXGLQJZKHUHWRͫQGDQ\WKLQJ\RX setting for Pinochet’s violent military coup in might need. This is also a great time to ask the 1970s. Around 10:45am, we’ll get a bird’s your Trip Experience Leader about a particular eye view of all that the area has to offer at the experience you’re hoping to have outside of the second-highest point in the city, as we venture regular itinerary, such as a special dish you’d to the top of San Cristóbal Hill via funicular. like to try, for example. Lunch: Around noon, our small group will Dinner: Around 6:30pm, our small group proceed to a nearby restaurant for an included will depart for a Welcome Dinner. During the OXQFK%XWEHIRUHZHHDWZH̞OOKHDUDͫUVWKDQG meal, we’ll get to know each other, and our account of one of the darker periods of Chile’s Trip Experience Leader will make us aware of history: the 17-year dictatorship of General anything we need to know about our upcoming Augusto Pinochet. During his reign, Pinochet adventure. imposed severe censorship laws banning all left-leaning parties, and thousands of individuals were murdered or simply

Itinerary Subject to Change. For Information or reservations, call 1-800-955-1925

11 disappeared. A local who lived through the to the textile room, full of vibrant displays of dictatorship will share his or her experiences of intricate weaving complete with descriptions this troubled time. of the processes involved in their creation.

Afternoon: Around 2:30pm, we’ll make • How to get there: A 20-minute taxi ride, the 30-minute drive back to the hotel, and about $10 USD one way. you’ll have the remainder of the afternoon • Hours: 9am-6pm, Tuesday-Sunday. to discover more of Santiago on your own. • Cost: About $10 USD. Perhaps you’ll stroll through the famous • Learn the passionate secrets of La Chascona Bella Vista neighborhood, known for its funky Museum House: Constructed in 1953 by JUDIͫWLEXLOGLQJVDUWV\ERXWLTXHVKRSVDQG Nobel Prize winning Chilean poet, diplomat, galleries, and quaint cafes. Or you may like and politician Pablo Neruda, the house was to visit the Museo de Arte Precolombino. intended for his lover at the time and third Housed in an early 19th-century neoclassical wife, Matilda Urrutia, though he spent time building, the museum is dedicated to the study there as well. The house was called “La and display of pre-Columbian artworks and Chascona,” which was the pet name he had artifacts from Central and South America. for her. Walk through each colorful room in the house to get a sense of Neruda’s style, Dinner: On your own. Your Trip Experience from his impressive library to paintings from Leader is happy to provide recommendations. friends who were also renowned artists. The Evening: The evening is free for further unique architecture, too, speaks to Neruda’s exploration or resting before the next day’s creative mind: secret corridors lead to discoveries. different rooms throughout the house, and he likely often gazed out of the massive windows Freedom To Explore: During your two days for inspiration. in Santiago, you have the freedom to explore • How to get there: A 10-minute taxi ride, this capital city on your own during your free about $5 USD one way. time. Below are a few recommended options for • Hours: 10am-6pm, Tuesday-Sunday. independent explorations: • Cost: About $11 USD. • Explore the pre-Colombian culture of ancient • Mingle with local vendors selling traditional Central and South America at Museo Chileno crafts and delicious street fare at Pueblito de de Arte Precolombino: With a collection Los Dominicos: Situated along one side of ranging over 10,000 years, this museum Santo Domingo Church is a stretch of quaint, houses impressively preserved artifacts and cozy stalls lining a charmingly unpaved path, artworks that exemplify the artistic diversity with artisans selling everything from café con of this bygone culture. When you visit, you’ll leche to alpaca shawls and handicrafts. This ͫQGQHDUO\HDFKDUWLIDFWDQGDUWZRUNKDVD little village is also located at the foot of the story, whether it be about its function in the Andes, making them the perfect backdrop DQFLHQWZRUOGRULWVUHͬHFWLRQRISUH&RORP- for your stroll. Pueblito de los Dominicos is bian culture. Perhaps you’ll make your way one of the best ways to get to know locals in

Itinerary Subject to Change. For Information or reservations, call 1-800-955-1925

12 Santiago, with nearly 200 vendors showcas- Lunch: To really catch the rhythm of life in ing their work in traditional shops made of Valparaiso, around 12:30pm we’ll hop into straw and mud. colectivos—the public ride-share taxis that • How to get there: A 15-minute taxi ride, RSHUDWHRQͫ[HGURXWHVDQGDUHDSRSXODUZD\ about $6 USD one way. for locals to get around their city. Our colectivos • Hours: 10:30am-8pm, Monday-Sunday. will take us to the home of a local family, • Cost: Free. where we’ll share a Home-Hosted Lunch and learn about life in Valparaiso. Our small Day 4 Valparaiso • Home-Hosted Lunch group size allows us to have these intimate experiences and forge connections with locals, • Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch which greatly aid our understanding of the • Accommodations: NH Collection Plaza Chilean culture. Santiago or similar Afternoon: Around 2:00pm, we’ll bid our Breakfast: Served buffet-style at the hotel gracious hosts a fond farewell and make our beginning at 7am, featuring local and way back to Santiago. international options. Dinner: On your own. You may consider Morning: This morning, we set out at 8am dining in the Patronato neighborhood. Home for Valparaiso, a UNESCO World Heritage Site to the city’s community of expats, Patronato and Chile’s largest seaport. The city is just LVNQRZQIRULWVLQWHUQDWLRQDOO\LQͬXHQFHG over 70 miles from Santiago, and during our restaurant scene. hour-and-a-half long bus ride to get there ZH̞OOJHWRXUͫUVWWDVWHRIWKHHQFKDQWLQJ Evening: The rest of the evening is free to plan Chilean countryside, passing by rolling as you wish. vineyards, charming villages, and cloud-topped mountains. Day 5 Fly to Calama • Overland to San Once a booming port, Valparaiso’s economy Pedro • Valley of the Moon was hit hard when the 20th-century opening • Included Meals: Breakfast, Dinner of the Panama Canal led to a severe decrease • Accommodations: La Casa de Don Tomas LQWKHFLW\̞VVKLSWUDIͫF%XWWRGD\WKHFLW\KDV or similar bounced back as the nation’s cultural capital. Breakfast: Served buffet-style at the hotel Gritty yet romantic, it has long been a haven beginning at 7am, featuring local and for artists and writers. We’ll see its unusual international options. charms at play as we wander past old mansions and modern street art on a city tour led by a Morning: At 10:30am, we transfer 20 minutes knowledgeable local guide. Then we’ll explore WRWKHDLUSRUWIRUDKRXUͬLJKWQRUWK the city’s chaotic maze of narrow alleys, steep following the ridge of the Andes to Calama. Our staircases, and colorful funiculars that ramble ͬLJKWGHSDUWV6DQWLDJRDWSPDQGODQGVLQ up 17 surrounding cerros (hills). Around 10am, Calama around 2:10pm. we’ll ride one of these ascensores to catch a spectacular view. Lunch: On your own. Your Trip Experience Leader is glad to help you plan this during the travel day.

Itinerary Subject to Change. For Information or reservations, call 1-800-955-1925

13 Afternoon: From Calama, we’ll depart on a 1.5 Day 6 San Pedro • Salar de Atacama hour bus ride that will take us through stark salt flats red landscapes and past snow-capped peaks • Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch to our destination of San Pedro de Atacama. • Accommodations: La Casa de Don Tomas Along the way, we’ll stop for about a half an or similar hour to explore the Valley of the Moon around 3:30pm, a lunar setting of rock formations, Breakfast: Served buffet-style at the hotel caves, and gorges carved by eons of wind and beginning at 7am, featuring local and ͬRRGV 6FLHQWLVWVFKRVHWKLVUHJLRQWRWHVWGULYH international options. a prototype Mars rover in 2013.) Led by our Morning: At 10am, we begin the day’s knowledgeable Trip Experience Leader, we’ll discoveries with a walking tour of San Pedro, wander its rocky terrain and pause for photos where—with insights from our Trip Experience against the stark backdrop of Mother Nature. Leader—we’ll begin to learn about local Then, around 4pm, we’ll continue on the Chilean history and culture. This compact, ͫQDOVWUHWFKRIRXUMRXUQH\WR6DQ3HGURGH terra cotta-hued village serves as a base Atacama, an oasis town in Chile’s Norte Grande for northern Chile’s nearby wonders, but it region—home to the driest (and highest) contains a few fascinating sites of its own. As desert on Earth. San Pedro may be remote, we walk the dusty streets, we’ll observe the EXWLWVIDUͬXQJORFDWLRQGRHVQ̞WGHWHUWKRVH adobe architecture typical of desert towns and ORRNLQJWRIHDVWWKHLUH\HVRQWKHPDJQLͫFHQW spot traditional artwork adorning many local landscapes nearby: Considered the gateway homes. We’ll then visit the Church of San Pedro to exploring the Atacama, this small town de Atacama, perhaps the town’s most famous LVDSRSXODUVWRSDQG\RXPD\ͫQG\RXUVHOI landmark; built of adobe in the Spanish colonial rubbing elbows with travelers from all over style, this church is said to be the second oldest South America and, indeed, the world during in Chile. our time here. Lunch: Around 12:30pm at a local restaurant. Upon our arrival around 5pm, we’ll check into Afternoon: At 2pm, we’ll head back to the our hotel and you’ll have a few hours to relax hotel, where we’ll have a couple hours free to or explore on your own. Depending on where continue exploring or relax. Around 4pm, our we stay, our hotel may feature an outdoor small group will gather again to depart for the swimming pool and coffee bar. Typical rooms 6DODUGH$WDFDPDVDOWͬDWV2XUKRXUMRXUQH\ may include laundry service and wireless takes us through fantastic desert landscapes internet. of alternating rock and sand until we reach Dinner: Around 6:30pm, our small group will /DJXQD&KD[DDͬDPLQJREUHHGLQJVLWHLQ6DODU depart for dinner at a local, family-owned GH$WDFDPD&KLOH̞VODUJHVWVDOWͬDW:H̞OOKDYH restaurant, where we’ll toast to our new, the chance to seek out native wildlife, such as exciting locale. WKHWKUHHͬDPLQJRVSHFLHVWKDWLQKDELWWKLV lake—a bizarre sight in the midst of a desert. Evening: You may choose to continue spending 7KHͬDWVSDQVDZKRSSLQJVTXDUHPLOHV time with fellow group members, explore making it the third-largest in the world. around the hotel or retire to your room. Dinner: On your own.

Itinerary Subject to Change. For Information or reservations, call 1-800-955-1925

14 Evening: Around 8pm, we’ll depart for the Evening: After our intimate dinner with our 1-hour drive back to the hotel. The remainder of local host family, we’ll arrive back at the hotel the evening is free. around 8:30pm. The rest of the evening is yours to plan as you wish. Day 7 Optional Tatio Geysers tour • Valley of Death • Home-Hosted Dinner Day 8 Overland to Purmamarca, • Included Meals: Breakfast, Dinner Argentina • Home-Hosted Lunch • Accommodations: La Casa de Don Tomas • Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch or similar • Accommodations: La Comarca or similar

Breakfast: Served buffet-style at the hotel Activity Note: Today’s transfer is beginning at 7am, featuring local and approximately 5 hours, plus stops along the international options. way, and takes place at an altitude of up to 15,800 feet. Our vehicle will have an oxygen Morning: For those who wish to enjoy a free tank for emergency purposes. We recommend morning in San Pedro, this is your opportunity staying hydrated and eating light while at to do so. Perhaps you’ll stroll the town’s main high altitude. street, which is lined with artisan craft shops selling locally made pottery, alpaca woolen Breakfast: Served buffet-style at the hotel goods, and sculptures and jewelry made from beginning at 7am, featuring local and copper (sourced from the region) and gold. international options. Alternatively, for those fascinated by Earth’s Morning: We rise early to depart at 7:30am natural wonders, rise early for an optional for a long and epic journey, crossing the H[FXUVLRQWR(O7DWLRDEXEEOLQJJH\VHUͫHOG Andes—and the border—as we travel into enclosed by snow-capped volcanoes. Argentina by motorcoach. Winding roads Lunch: On your own, depending on your plan ZLOOWDNHXVWKURXJKPDJQLͫFHQWPRXQWDLQ for the day. passes, past the puna (grassy highlands), and up into the Andean plateau, where the Andes Afternoon: After lunch on your own and a bit are at their widest. Second only to Tibet, this of free time, our small group will reconvene is the largest area of high plateau on Earth this afternoon to depart around 4pm for the and supports very little life. Traveling at 15-minute drive to the Valley of Death. This these elevations affords spectacular views of rather morbidly named valley is of a paler hue, a unique biosphere, but may be challenging owing to its vast sand hills. Along with our Trip to some travelers: As we soak up the scenery, Experience Leader, we’ll have the opportunity we will climb to a maximum altitude of 15,800 to explore this valley, learn about its harsh feet—the same height as Mont Blanc, the environment, and appreciate its unique beauty. highest peak in the Alps—for a period of about Around 6pm, we’ll depart for a 15-minute drive one hour. In total, we’ll spend more than eight to the home of a local family, where’ll enjoy hours throughout the day above 10,000 feet. dinner this evening. To break up our journey, we will make two Dinner: Around 6:15pm a local family stops. First we will have our passports checked will welcome us into their home for a at the Argentinian border around 10:30am, Home-Hosted Dinner. a process that can take up to several hours

Itinerary Subject to Change. For Information or reservations, call 1-800-955-1925

15 depending on how many people are crossing Morning: After breakfast, we’ll depart that day. Should everything be running around 10am and drive through an arid valley, smoothly, we’ll plan to be back on the road multicolored mountains jutting sharply on by 11:45am. HLWKHUVLGHRIXVSDVWͫHOGVRIFDFWLXQWLO we reach Purmamarca. This small town is Lunch: Around 2pm, we’ll pause for lunch best known for its setting at the base of the in the remote village of Cerro Negro. Here, Cerro de los Siete Colores (Hill of the Seven we’ll have the rare opportunity to dine in the Colors)—a fantastic rainbow-hued mountain home of a local family—an experience that is resembling a layer cake. We’ll get to see this only possible because of our small group size. QDWXUDOZRQGHUXSFORVHEXWͫUVWZH̞OOH[SORUH Enjoy a homemade meal, make connections Purnamarca itself. Strung with low adobe with the family members, and get a glimpse EXLOGLQJV3XUPDPDUFDPD\DWͫUVWVHHP into the daily challenges of living in such a like a sleepy desert town, but it springs to life harsh climate. each day at the lively craft market held on the Afternoon: At 3pm, we’ll set out for the last main square. Here, browse for high-quality 2-hour leg of our journey. As we delve further handwoven goods and get to see Argentina’s into Argentina, we’ll begin to notice changes Andean culture—markedly different from the to the landscape, passing the awe-inspiring rest of country—in action. Peru and Bolivia are 6DOLQDV*UDQGHVVDOWͬDW:H̞OODUULYHLQ best known for their strongholds of traditional Purmamarca around 5pm, where we’ll check Andean culture, but this corner of northwest into our hotel. Depending on where we stay, our Argentina is home to a small but thriving hotel may feature a swimming pool and spa. population of indigenous Andeans as well. We’ll Typical rooms include wireless internet and also visit the town’s historic white-walled laundry service. church, the Santa Rose de Lima, which dates back to the 17th century.

Around 11am, we’ll take a hike lasting a little Dinner: On your own. Your Trip Experience over an hour along the Paseo de los Colorados Leader will be glad to provide suggestions. trail to reach the Cerro de los Siete Colores, pausing at scenic outlooks along the way to

DGPLUHWKHPDJQLͫFHQWYLHZDQGWDNHSKRWRV Evening: The rest of the evening is free to The cerro gets its famous striated colors from spend as you wish, whether you want to rest up mineral deposits dating back 400 million years. after a long day of travel or continue making Around 12:30pm, we’ll head back to town. discoveries. Lunch: On your own around 12:30pm. Your Trip Experience Leader will surely have restaurant Day 9 Purmamarca • Hill of the ideas, should you want any. Seven Colors Afternoon: You’ll have the rest of the afternoon • Included Meals: Breakfast, Dinner free to make your own discoveries. Perhaps • Accommodations: La Comarca or similar you’ll wander the town’s charming lanes in Breakfast: Served buffet-style at the hotel search for the algarrobo histórico, an ancient beginning at 7am, featuring local and and towering tree that has managed to survive international options.

Itinerary Subject to Change. For Information or reservations, call 1-800-955-1925

16 the desert’s harsh climate for 700 years. Or, After approximately 1 hour of exploring Tilcara, maybe you’d prefer to relax at the hotel and go we’ll drive to a local school, El Porvenir, for a swim. where thanks to our small group size, we’ll have the opportunity to meet the teachers and

their students. We’ll enter their classrooms Dinner: Around 7:30pm at the hotel. and observe in this intimate setting what rural Argentina’s education system is like. Cross-cultural experiences like this allow us to step momentarily into the shoes of the locals, Evening: After dinner, the evening is yours to to gain a deeper insight into a destination. relax or continue celebrating our journey. Lunch: Around noon, we’ll enjoy lunch with the Day 10 Tilcara • Visit a local school • Salta kids and teachers, giving us ample time to ask questions and get to know our kind hosts. • Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch • Accommodations: Alejandro I Hotel Afternoon: After lunch, we’ll say goodbye to or similar our new friends, departing around 1:30pm Breakfast: Served buffet-style at the hotel for the 2.5-hour drive through burnt-orange beginning at 7am, featuring local and valleys and twisting mountain passes to Salta. international options. Salta is the provincial capital and our home for the next two nights. We’ll check into our hotel Morning: Around 8:30am, we’ll set out on around 4pm. Depending on where we stay, our a 30-minute drive through dramatic gorge hotel may feature a swimming pool and sauna. scenery once again on our way to nearby Typical rooms may include wireless internet, a Tilcara, a picturesque town in the Quebrada de PLQLEDUDQGͬDWVFUHHQ79 Humahuaca (Humahuaca Gorge). This stunning gorge traverses the length of the Rio Grande Valley and follows the path of the ancient Dinner: On your own. Daring diners might like Inca Trail trade route; this combination of to try the regional specialty, llama; Salta’s breathtaking natural beauty and immense restaurants serve llama in a variety of ways, FXOWXUDOVLJQLͫFDQFH HYLGHQFHRIWKHURXWH̞V from grilled and carpaccio to llama stroganoff. use by prehistoric communities dates back 10,000 years) has earned the Quebrada a UNESCO World Heritage Site designation. Our Evening: The rest of the day is free to plan as destination isn’t the town itself, but what lays you’d like. You’re encouraged to ask your Trip outside it: the Pucará de Tilcara archaeological Experience Leader questions or ideas, should site. Shaped like a squared-off pyramid, the you want help structuring this time. small but impressive ruins at Tilcara provide a fascinating insight into ancient Andean culture. Our knowledgeable Trip Experience Leader will be on hand to illuminate the history of the site and of the people who lived here more than 10,000 years ago.

Itinerary Subject to Change. For Information or reservations, call 1-800-955-1925

17 Day 11 Discover Salta Our next stop around 12:30pm is the Museum • Included Meals: Breakfast, Dinner of High Altitude Archaeology, whose wonderful collection of Incan and pre-Incan artifacts • Accommodations: Alejandro I Hotel sheds light on the history and culture of or similar these long-ago civilizations. But perhaps the Breakfast: Served buffet-style at the hotel most famous items in the museum are the beginning at 7am, featuring local and 500-year-old bodies of three Incan children. international options. Known as the Children of Llullaillaco, their bodies were found frozen atop nearby Mount Morning: Around 9:30am, we’ll depart to Llullaillaco, where the extreme cold and aridity explore Salta, a sprawling metropolis in the QDWXUDOO\PXPPLͫHGWKHP:LWQHVVLQJWKHLU heart of the desert. Founded in 1582 by the bodies, which are in pristine condition, is equal Spanish Army, Salta today retains much of parts eery and fascinating. its original colonial charm, earning it the nickname Salta la Linda (“Salta the beautiful”). Lunch: On your own. The city claims to be the The city served an important function as a original home of the empanada, so it seems only stop on the gold trade route from Lima to the ͫWWLQJWRYLVLWWKH(O3DWLRGHOD(PSDQDGD̜D Buenos Aires port during the Spanish Empire. large food hall serving up many different styles But long before the Spanish came here, Salta DQGͬDYRUVRIWKHVHVDYRU\SDVWULHV̜GXULQJ was inhabited by ancient Inca and other Andean your time here. indigenous groups, and their traditional way of life is very much alive here—in fact, Salta is one Afternoon: The remainder of the afternoon of the few places in Argentina where you can is free to discover more of Salta. Your Trip hear people speaking Quechua. Experience Leader is full of suggestions, so please be sure to check with him or her if you’d We’ll begin our morning’s explorations with a like assistance planning the rest of your day. leisurely cable car ride up San Bernardo Hill for a sweeping view of the city and the dramatic valley to the west. Then, around 11:15am, we’ll Dinner: Around 7:15pm, our small group will begin our walking tour of the historic colonial depart the hotel for a 15-minute walk to a neighborhood. Salta’s epicenter is the Plaza local restaurant, serving us an Argentinean 9 de Julio, a tree-lined square bordered by classic—parrilla, or barbecue. graceful arcades built in the Spanish colonial style. The plaza is a popular place for Salteños (as the locals are known) to hang out at any Evening: After dinner, you are free to time of day, but it particularly comes alive continue enjoying the evening or retire to your at night and on Saturdays, when artisanal room for rest. vendors set up their stalls for a thriving craft market. We’ll stroll from the plaza past the Freedom To Explore: During your two days rose-colored Cathedral to San Francisco in Salta, you have the freedom to explore this Church, easily recognizable by its ornate red provincial capital on your own during your free and yellow facade, and venture inside to see its time. Below are a few recommended options for impressive altar. independent explorations:

Itinerary Subject to Change. For Information or reservations, call 1-800-955-1925

18 • Follow the journey of Argentinian war hero Around 11:30am, we’ll enter the cactus-strewn Martín Miguel de Güemes at Museo Güemes: Los Cardones National Park. This park was Learn about Salta’s native son and war hero created to protect the slow-growing cardon Martín Miguel de Güemes, as you peruse the cacti that thrive in the dry climate here (cardon numerous historical artifacts and multimedia grow less than a few millimeters per year). presentations that bring to life his many We’ll take a 20-minute walk through the accomplishments, especially his heroic park to soak up the stark barrenness of our actions in defending northwest Argentina surroundings and admire the towering cacti, against the Spanish during the Argentine War which can reach three times a man’s height; of Independence. along the way, you may see llama-like guanacos • How to get there: A 5-minute walk. pick their way among the spiky plants and • Hours: 11am-7pm, Tuesday-Sunday. condors soaring overhead. • Cost: Free. Lunch: Around 1:30pm in Payogasta, a rural village set along the Rio Calchaqui in an area Day 12 Explore Los Cardones National known for producing high-altitude wines. Park • Cachi Afternoon: After lunch, we’ll depart the • Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner restaurant around 2:30pm for the 30-minute • Accommodations: La Merced del Alto drive to Cachi. Upon arrival, we’ll check in to or similar our charming, countryside hotel and enjoy Activity Note: As we drive the Cuesta del free time for the afternoon, allowing you Obispo, we’ll reach a maximum elevation of plenty of time to relax or wander the beautiful 11,000 feet. We recommend staying hydrated at grounds. Depending on where we stay, our high altitude. hotel may feature a restaurant, swimming pool and spa. Typical rooms offer complimentary Breakfast: Served buffet-style at the hotel wireless internet. beginning at 7am, featuring local and international options.

Morning: Around 9am, we’ll depart Salta and Dinner: Around 7:30pm at the hotel. head out onto the open road. Our destination is the small town of Cachi, approximately 3 hours away. As we travel south, the landscape Evening: After dinner, you’re free to spend the will change time and again. First, we’ll pass evening as you wish. through the Quebrada del Escoipe gorge on a narrow road hewn from the surrounding Day 13 Cachi • Cafayate rust-red mountains. The desert gives way to more verdant scenery as we reach the Cuesta • Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner del Obispo (Bishop’s Slope) pass, a winding • Accommodations: Patios de Cafayate Wine 12-and-a-half mile cliffside road that makes Hotel or similar switchbacks across the mountain. The road Breakfast: Served buffet-style at the hotel is steep, but the views of the Argentinean beginning at 7am, featuring local and countryside are simply splendid. Along the way, international options. we’ll stop at local roadside vendors to peruse handicrafts, jewelry, and traditional fare.

Itinerary Subject to Change. For Information or reservations, call 1-800-955-1925

19 Morning: Around 8:45am, we’ll depart for the short ride to downtown Cachi, a laidback desert We’ll arrive at our hotel around 5pm and check town within view of the stunning Nevado de in. Depending on where we stay, our hotel Cachi mountain range. Referred to by locals may feature a swimming pool and on-site in the region as the “city,” tiny Cachi is the restaurant. Typical rooms may include a Jacuzzi biggest town for miles around and boasts tub, satellite TV, and minibar. an abundance of fresh mountain air, sunny days, and colonial charm. Our experienced Dinner: Around 8pm at our hotel. Trip Experience Leader will guide us through cobbled lanes lined with adobe houses and into the tranquil plaza as we learn about the way of Evening: Free to make your own discoveries. life here. Your Trip Experience Leader is available for Around 10:30am, we’ll board the bus and drive questions or suggestions. for about 1.5 hours until we come to Molinos, a sleepy backwater village that is as remote as it Day 14 Cafayate • Winery Visit is picturesque. • Included Meals: Breakfast, Dinner Lunch: Around noon in Molinos. • Accommodations: Patios de Cafayate Wine Hotel or similar Afternoon: After lunch, we’ll depart around Breakfast: Served buffet-style at the hotel 1pm to set out for our destination, Cafayate, beginning at 7am, featuring local and nestled in the heart of Argentina’s wine international options. country. Along the way, we’ll drive through the Quebrada de las Flechas (Canyon of the Morning: Around 10:30am, we’ll set out Arrows). Over thousands of years, wind and WKURXJKWKHͫHU\KXHG&DOFKDTXL9DOOH\WR rain have carved the sandstone here into reach the town of Cafayate. Mendoza, to the surreal, arrow-shaped rock formations that jut south, has long been considered Argentina’s skywards. As we continue towards Cafayate, the best wine-producing region, but in recent years landscape changes again: Red rock gives way Cafayate has emerged as a new player on the to verdant countryside and trestled vineyards. vintner scene. Here, high altitude vineyards at Our route is the legendary RN 40, or Ruta elevations ranging from 5,000 to almost 10,000 40, an unpaved road that is as central in the feet produce richly aromatic malbecs, tannats, Argentinean national consciousness as Route cabernet sauvignons, and the local specialty, 66 is in the American west, inspiring songs, torrontés—a dry and fruity white wine that ͫOPVDQGERRNVDERXWWKHEHDXW\DQGMR\VRI is just beginning to make a name for itself the open road. At more than 3,100 miles long, outside of Argentina. Grapes grown at these the RN 40 stretches from Jujuy province in high altitudes are exposed to greater sunlight, northwest Argentina to Punta Loyola near the resulting in thicker skins and more intense country’s southernmost tip—a distance greater wines. (For comparison, Europe’s highest than the width of the continental United States. vineyards sit about 4,000 feet about sea level.) We’ll drive a small piece of the road through some of northwest Argentina’s most brilliant And yet, despite all the buzz around the landscapes, following the Calchaqui River region’s wines, Cafayate town remains a through the dramatic mountain passes. reluctant occupant of the limelight, and you are more likely to see gauchos on horseback

Itinerary Subject to Change. For Information or reservations, call 1-800-955-1925

20 than busloads of eager oenophiles during our Morning: Around 8:30am, we’ll bid farewell time here. We’ll take a walking tour of the town to wine country and return to Salta for our while our Trip Experience Leader shares his ͬLJKWWR%XHQRV$LUHV$ORQJWKHZD\ZH̞OO knowledge of the region and of wine’s integral pass through the Quebrada de las Conchas role in daily life here. Along the way, we’ll see (Canyon of the Shells). Las Conchas is Cafayate’s double-domed cathedral, stroll frequently compared to the Grand Canyon through the elegant main plaza, and wander for its deep ravines and whimsical red rock the charming streets, where typical adobe style formations, including “el cementerio de barcos” meets Spanish colonial architecture. (the “cemetery of ships”), “HODQͫWHDWUR” (“the amphitheater”), and “el obelisco” Lunch: Around 11:45am, you’ll have time (“the obelisk”). We’ll pause for photos and to to explore more of Cafayate, as well as grab stretch our legs by these unique rockscapes, lunch on your own. Wine connoisseurs won’t then continue our 4-hour journey to the want to miss the Museo de la Vid y el Vino, Salta airport. an impressive museum devoted to all things wine—the grapes and the vines, the terroir, Lunch: Around 11:15am on the road. the wine-making process, and even the culture Afternoon: We’ll arrive in Salta around 1:45pm, surrounding this mythologized libation. ZLWKRXUKRXUͬLJKWGHSDUWLQJDWSP Afternoon: We’ll depart for the hotel around for Buenos Aires, Argentina’s dazzling capital 12:30pm and enjoy free time until 5:30pm, at that feels a world away from the stark desert which point our small group will gather for a landscapes we’ve called home for the last ten IDUHZHOOEULHͫQJ:H̞OOORRNEDFNRQKLJKOLJKWV days. Our arrival time in our new city is around from our adventure and reminisce about all 5:45pm, at which point we’ll transfer to our that we learned. At 6pm, we’ll depart for a hotel and check in. Depending on where we local winery, where we’ll have the opportunity stay, our hotel may feature a swimming pool to learn more about the industry, tour the and spa. Typical rooms may include coffee- and facilities, and sip a house-made wine. tea-making facilities and minibar.

Dinner: Around 8pm at the hotel. Dinner: On your own. Your Trip Experience Leader is happy to provide ideas.

Evening: The rest of the evening is yours to continue celebrating our amazing journey or Evening: The remainder of the evening is free retire to your room. to plan as you’d like.

Day 15 Cafayate • De Las Conchas Canyon Day 16 Explore Buenos Aires • • Fly to Buenos Aires Return to U.S. • Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch • Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

• Accommodations: Arc Recoleta Boutique Breakfast: Served buffet-style at the hotel Hotel or similar beginning at 7am, featuring local and Breakfast: Served buffet-style at the hotel international options. beginning at 7am, featuring local and international options.

Itinerary Subject to Change. For Information or reservations, call 1-800-955-1925

21 Morning: At 8:30am, we depart the hotel to delve into the rich history of Buenos Aires—an epic tale of birth and rebirth, protests and passions, suffering and triumph set against the placid landscape of the Rio de la Plata. We’ll begin our discoveries with a stop at Plaza de Mayo—a monument-lined square that is home to Argentina’s presidential residence, the Casa Rosada. From there, we’ll stroll the wide boulevards of Avenida 9 de Julio and make our way to the colorful La Boca artists’ district, where the Argentinean tango was born.

$WDPZHͫQLVKRXUH[SORUDWLRQRI%XHQRV Aires with a short tango lesson that introduces us to the dance whose passion and grace exemplify the spirit of Argentinean culture.

Lunch: Around 12:30pm our small group will gather one last time for a Farewell Lunch, during which we’ll toast to a journey that has taken us from coast to coast and across the Andes.

Afternoon: At 2pm, we head back to the hotel, gather our belongings, and begin making our way to the airport around 4:30pm, where we depart for home or begin our post-trip extension to Buenos Aires & Coastal Uruguay.

Please note: You have a day room available until we leave Buenos Aires, but there is no overnight hotel stay tonight.

Itinerary Subject to Change. For Information or reservations, call 1-800-955-1925

22 OPTIONAL TOURS

During your trip you will be able to book optional tours directly with your Trip Experience Leader. He RUVKHZLOODVN\RXWRFRQͫUPWKHSD\PHQWIRUWKHVHWRXUVE\ͫOOLQJRXWDSD\PHQWIRUP2SWLRQDOWRXUV can only be purchased with a credit or debit card. We accept Visa, MasterCard, and Discover credit cards. We also accept Visa and MasterCard debit cards, but it must be a debit card that allows you to sign for purchases.

In order to correctly process these charges, there can be a delay of 2-3 months from the date of your return for the charges to be posted to your account. Therefore we ask that you use a card that will not expire in the 2-3 months following your return.

Please note: Optional tour prices are listed in U.S. dollar estimates determined at the time of publication and DUHVXEMHFWWRFKDQJH2SWLRQDOWRXUVPD\YDU\

Tatio Geysers (Day 7 $115 per person)

7DWLRLVWKHWKLUGODUJHVWJH\VHUͫHOGLQWKH world—and one of the highest, at an elevation of nearly 14,000 feet. Surrounded by volcanic peaks, over 80 gurgling geysers spurt columns of steam into the Andean air. On this optional tour, we’ll rise before dawn to catch the geysers LQWKHGUDPDWLFPRUQLQJOLJKWDVWKHͫUVWUD\V of the sun illuminate the steam clouds. This tour includes a boxed breakfast. We’ll return to San Pedro around noon.

Itinerary Subject to Change. For Information or reservations, call 1-800-955-1925

23 PRE-TRIP 6DQWLDJR (DVWHU,VODQG&KLOH

INCLUDED IN YOUR PRICE

» Roundtrip airfare between Santiago and » 4 small group activities Easter Island » Services of a local O.A.T. Trip » Accommodations for 2 nights in Santiago Experience Leader and 3 nights on Easter Island » Gratuities for local guides, drivers, and » 9 meals—5 breakfasts, 2 lunch, luggage porters and 2 dinners » All transfers

PRE-TRIP EXTENSION ITINERARY

Witness two vastly different faces of Chile, beginning in Santiago, where rich history and a modern elegance blend together. Then discover one of mankind’s greatest enigmas: the collection of giant moai statues VFDWWHUHGDFURVV5DSD1XL (DVWHU,VODQG ,QDRQFHLQDOLIHWLPHVRMRXUQWRWKLV81(6&2:RUOG+HULWDJH Site, you’ll visit rustic moai which lay untouched where they fell and others which have been restored to their upright glory. From cosmopolitan capital to remote island escape, your expert Trip Experience Leader will be there to shed light on modern culture and bring ancient history to life.

Day 1 Depart U.S. and indoor swimming pool. Typical rooms may include wireless internet, television, Afternoon/Evening: Depart today on your and minibar. RYHUQLJKWͬLJKWWR6DQWLDJR&KLOH3OHDVH refer to your individual air itinerary for exact Lunch: On your own. Your Trip Experience departure and arrival times. Leader is happy to provide recommendations.

Afternoon: Depending on arrival times, our Day 2 Arrive in Santiago, Chile • Trip Experience Leader will plan to lead our Welcome Dinner small group on an orientation walk through the • Included Meals: Dinner streets of this historic capital city around 5pm. • Accommodations: NH Collection Plaza Home to a third of Chile’s 17 million people, Santiago or similar 6DQWLDJRUHVWVDWWKHFRQͬXHQFHRIWKH0DSRFKR and Maipo rivers, surrounded on all sides by Morning:'HSHQGLQJRQ\RXUͬLJKWVFKHGXOH Andean peaks—a breathtaking setting for a arrive in Santiago, Chile where a representative capital that has witnessed a remarkable history, will meet you at the airport and assist with from settlement by conquistadors in 1541 to the your 30-minute transfer to your hotel. Your Marxist, military, and democratic governments accommodations may feature an on-site gym of the 20th century.

Itinerary Subject to Change. For Information or reservations, call 1-800-955-1925

24 Dinner: Around 6pm our small group will Nui National Park, Rano Kao is an extinct depart for a Welcome Dinner, where we’ll toast volcano and archaeological site. There, we’ll to the beginning of our new adventure. ͫUVWYLHZWKHIUHVKZDWHUODNHWKDWKDVIRUPHG in the crater’s depths, one of the island’s Evening: After returning from dinner, you can three natural bodies of fresh water. Next, choose to further discover the city or retire to we’ll explore Orongo’s ceremonial center on bed before our journey to Easter Island. the crater’s edge, one of the principal sites of the birdman cult, immortalized by the stone Day 3 Fly to Easter Island • Visit Orongo & carvings of birdmen into rock. Rano Kao Volcano Around 6:30pm, we’ll head back to the hotel. • Included Meals: Breakfast, Dinner • Accommodations: Taha Tai or similar Dinner: Around 7pm at the hotel.

Breakfast: Around 6am at a local restaurant. Evening: The rest of the evening is free. Perhaps you’d like to continue bonding with Morning: After an early breakfast this morning, your group, or return to your room to rest. we depart for the airport around 6:45am to FDWFKRXUDPͬLJKW:H̞OOͬ\QHDUO\ PLOHVDFURVVWKHVRXWKHDVWHUQ3DFLͫF2FHDQWR Day 4 Discover moai at Ahu Tongariki, Te Easter Island, so named by a Dutch sailor who Pito Kura & Anakena Beach landed on the island on Easter Sunday, 1722. • Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch Today, the island—also known as Rapa Nui—is • Accommodations: Taha Tai or similar home to around 5,000 people, including 3,000 Breakfast: Served buffet-style at the hotel Rapa Nuians, the Polynesian people whose beginning at 8am, featuring local and ancestors were responsible for carving the international options. PDJQLͫFHQWmoai—giant stone sculptures that grace the island’s tropical landscape. These Morning: Around 9am, we’ll embark on a striking sculptures—and the isolated culture full day of discovering the island’s famed that created them—have earned Rapa Nui a moai, the massive rock faces whose origin and place in the imaginations of people the world meaning have sparked great speculation over over, as well as its designation as a UNESCO the centuries. Nearly 900 of these monolithic World Heritage Site. statues have been found on the island, and it LVHVWLPDWHGWKDWHDFKRQHWRRNͫYHRUVL[PHQ Lunch: On your own. one year to carve with hand-held tools. We’ll Afternoon: Around 1pm, we’ll arrive at follow the footsteps of an ancient civilization to Easter Island and transfer to our hotel around various ahus—sacred sites where several moai 1:30pm. Depending on where we stay, our hotel stand, beginning with Ahu Akahanga. may feature a swimming pool and on-site Akahanga was once inhabited and contains restaurant. Typical rooms may include wireless a number of ancient structures we’re able to internet, air conditioning, and a private explore, including upright and fallen moai bathroom with hair dryer. statues, earth ovens, and outdoor agricultural After 1.5 hours of free time, we’ll set out around areas. Next, we’ll make our way around 10am to 3:30pm for one of the most scenic spots on Ahu Tongariki, the largest collection of restored the island, Rano Kao Volcano. Located in Rapa moai, which had previously been toppled in

Itinerary Subject to Change. For Information or reservations, call 1-800-955-1925

25 civil wars and swept away by a tsunami, so the school out of recycled materials in 2014 their restoration is particularly breathtaking along with the help of 70 volunteers from to behold. all over the world. Ever since, they’ve been working to preserve their culture through Around 11am, we’ll continue on to the inactive music and provide more opportunities for volcano and freshwater crater of Rano Raraku, the children of the island. Toki offers hands- the famed location where all moai statues were on experiences to all who visit, including carved. To examine their origins, we’ll catch classes and workshops that contribute to the a trail along the base of the volcano, granting sustainability of the building. Perhaps you’ll us excellent views of the many statues that sit in on a planting workshop in the Ancestral remain in the quarry. At 66 feet in length Agroecological Orchard, wherein you’ll learn and a whopping 220 tons, we’ll also have the about harvesting foods native to Easter Island opportunity to appreciate the largest moai ever using ancient Rapanui techniques. constructed, Ko Te Tokanga (The Giant). • How to get there: A 5-minute taxi ride, Lunch: Around 1pm our small group will relax about $8 USD one way. and refuel for the day with lunch boxes. • Hours: 10am-3pm, Monday-Friday. • Cost: About $8 USD. Afternoon: After a boxed lunch, we’ll depart around 2pm to discover Te Pito Kura, which • Immerse yourself in Rapa Nui and Polynesian today lies on the ground, but—at 32 feet in culture with a traditional Varua Ora Dance length—is considered the largest moai ever Show: Watch local performers demonstrate erected on an ahu or platform. Finally, we’ll ancient dances, and if you’re so inclined, get H[SORUHSULVWLQH$QDNHQD%HDFKZKHUHWKHͫUVW your face painted with a distinctive “Takona,” Polynesian settlers are believed to have landed traditional face painting used during shows. DQGZKHUHZH̞OOͫQGVL[PRUHmoai. When you attend a performance, you’ll see how the Varua Ora dance troupe members Around 4:30pm, we’ll depart for our 30-minute have preserved Rapanui and Polynesian drive back to the hotel. culture through rhythm and music. The performance lasts one hour and includes a Dinner: On your own. Your Trip Experience drink, but if you’d like to savor dinner, you’re Leader is ready with suggestions. welcome to attend the buffet before. Evening: The rest of the evening is free. • How to get there: A 5-minute taxi ride, Perhaps you’ll head into Hanga Roa, the main about $5 USD one way. town, to continue exploring. • Hours: 7pm-8pm, Monday, Wednesday, & Freedom To Explore: During your three days in Friday. Easter Island, you have the freedom to explore • Cost: About $25 USD for show only; about this remote island on your own during your free $75 for dinner & show. time. Below are a few recommended options for • 5HͬHFWRQ5DSD1XLKLVWRU\DWWKHMuseum independent explorations: Hanga Roa: Founded in 1973 and dedicated to preserving cultural heritage, the museum • Visit the music school on the most remote houses an impressive collection of ancient island in the world, Toki Rapa Nui: Founded objects dating back to a number of different by Easter Island native and concert pianist periods. One object of particular interest is Mahani Teave, Teave and her husband built EHOLHYHGWREHWKHͫUVWmoai eye. The artifacts

Itinerary Subject to Change. For Information or reservations, call 1-800-955-1925

26 found in the museum were collected by Finally, we’ll make our way to another ahu, Kuri Sebastian Englert, a German priest who came Aurenga, before making the 30-minute drive to the island in 1935 and spent over thirty back to the hotel around 6:30pm. years of his life studying the heritage of Dinner: On your own. Your Trip Experience the island. Leader is happy to provide ideas. • How to get there: A 15-minute walk, about $4 USD one way. Evening: For those interested in participating, • Hours: 9:30am-5:30pm, Tuesday-Friday; we’ll depart the hotel around 8pm to watch the 9:30am-12:30pm, Saturday & Sunday. sunset over the moai at Tahai Beach, bidding a • Cost: Free. fond farewell to Easter Island before returning to our hotel around 9pm. The rest of the Day 5 Morning at leisure • Visit Ahu Akivi evening is free to rest or continue celebrating • Sunset at Tahai Beach our exciting journey. • Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch • Accommodations: Taha Tai or similar Day 6 Fly to Santiago • Included Meals: Breakfast Breakfast: Served buffet-style at the hotel beginning at 8am, featuring local and • Accommodations: NH Collection Plaza international options. Santiago or similar Breakfast: Served buffet-style at the hotel Morning: The morning is to be spent at your beginning at 8am, featuring local and leisure, whether you care to continue exploring international options. Hanga Roa, rest in your room, or relax by the VHDVLGH̜3OD\DGH$QDNHQDLVDSDUWLFXODUO\ͫQH Morning: 2XUͫQDOPRUQLQJLQ(DVWHU,VODQGLV stretch of sand. Your Trip Experience Leader free to make your own discoveries, whether you is happy to help you plan your morning, or choose to head into town, walk along the water, you can also reference the Freedom to Explore RUUHVWEHIRUHRXUͬLJKWWR6DQWLDJR options included in this itinerary for ideas. Lunch: On your own. Lunch: At 12:30pm, our small group will depart for a 30-minute walk to enjoy lunch in the Afternoon: Around 12:45pm, our small group home of a local. We’ll have the opportunity to will make the 10-minute drive to the airport to get to know our generous host and understand FDWFKRXUͬLJKWWR6DQWLDJRGHSDUWLQJDWSP their way of life. Dinner: On your own. Afternoon: Around 3pm, our adventure will Evening: We will arrive in Santiago around continue with a visit to Ahu Akivi, one of 10pm and make the 30-minute transfer to our the only inland ahus on the island, whose hotel and check in. Depending on where we seven moai stand in a line facing the ocean stay, our hotel may feature an on-site gym and and (during spring and autumn) the sunset. swimming pool. Typical rooms may include a Considered a celestial observatory, all its moai ͬDWVFUHHQ79ZLUHOHVVLQWHUQHWDQGPLQLEDU are interestingly all the same shape and size. The rest of the evening is at your leisure. Later, we’ll continue on to Puna Pau rock quarry, the material source for the hat-like structures placed on the heads of select moai.

Itinerary Subject to Change. For Information or reservations, call 1-800-955-1925

27 Day 7 Begin the main adventure • Included Meals: Breakfast

Breakfast: Served buffet-style at the hotel beginning at 6am, featuring local and international options.

Morning: This morning we’ll connect with our fellow travelers on the main adventure, New! Across the Andes: Chile’s Atacama Desert & Argentina’s Northwest.

Itinerary Subject to Change. For Information or reservations, call 1-800-955-1925

28 POST-TRIP Buenos Aires & Coastal Uruguay

INCLUDED IN YOUR PRICE

» Hydrofoil from Buenos Aires to » 6 small group activities Colonia, Uruguay » Services of a local O.A.T. Trip » Accommodations for 2 nights in Experience Leader Buenos Aires, Argentina, 2 nights in » Gratuities for local guides, drivers, and Montevideo, Uruguay and 2 nights in José luggage porters Ignacio, Uruguay » All transfers »1 0 meals—6 breakfasts, 3 lunches, and 1 dinner

POST-TRIP EXTENSION ITINERARY

Explore Argentina’s capital in-depth and add another South American country to your travels with this post-trip adventure to Buenos Aires and Uruguay. First, stroll the wide boulevards and elegant plazas of FRVPRSROLWDQ%XHQRV$LUHV7KHQMHWDFURVVWKH5LRGHOD3ODWD̜DQGDQLQWHUQDWLRQDOERUGHU̜E\K\GURIRLOWR reach Uruguay, a small and oft-overlooked nation that combines a modern sensibility with its colonial past. Stroll charming seaside towns, sip Uruguayan wine, and discover the lively capital Montevideo.

Day 1 Buenos Aires Evening: The evening is free for further exploration. For night owls, you may want • Destination: Buenos Aires to venture out to experience Buenos Aires’ • Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch legendary nightlife. • Accommodations: Arc Recoleta Boutique Hotel or similar Freedom To Explore: During your three days in Buenos Aires, you have the freedom to explore Afternoon: After your city tour and tango WKLVͫHU\FDSLWDOFLW\RQ\RXURZQGXULQJ lesson, enjoy a free afternoon in Buenos Aires. your free time. Below are a few recommended Perhaps you’ll enjoy the Paseo del Rosedal, options for independent explorations: or Rose Garden Walk, located in the Palermo neighborhood. Stroll through the elaborate • Visit the museum that pays homage to gardens where around 1000 varieties of roses Argentina’s beloved First Lady at Museo are on display. Evita: Eva Perón, or Evita, was the wife of Argentine President Juan Perón and First Dinner: On your own. Your Trip Experience Lady from 1946 until her death in 1952. Leader is glad to provide ideas. Inaugurated in 2002, the museum is housed in a 1920s-style mansion, owned by Evita and used to support her social foundation.

Itinerary Subject to Change. For Information or reservations, call 1-800-955-1925

29 Peruse videos, historical photos, books, Morning: After breakfast this morning, we’ll posters and even many of the former actress’ depart around 9am for a short ride to the wardrobe items. Recoleta District, known for its elegant homes, • How to get there: A 15-minute taxi ride, fashionable restaurants and shops, and famous about $4 USD one way. cemetery where former First Lady and workers’ • Hours: 11am-7pm, Tuesday-Sunday. rights activist Eva Perón is buried. As an area • Cost: About $6 USD. of historical and architectural interest, we’ll ZDONWKLVDIͬXHQWQHLJKERUKRRGDQGODWHUKDYH • Smell the roses at Rosedal of Palermo: the opportunity to pay homage to the former Located in the Palermo neighborhood of actress and First Lady. Buenos Aires, this 8-acre park features an impressive 18,000 rose bushes, numer- Then, around 11am we’ll do a guided tour ous works of art, a Greek bridge and an through the legendary Teatro Colón. Built in Andalusian patio. 1908, this is one of the world’s most famous • How to get there: A 15-minute taxi ride, opera houses, and international stars vie to about $4 USD one way. perform here as they do at Milan’s La Scala and • Hours: Open 24 hours, 7 days a week. Vienna’s State Opera House. • Cost: Free. Lunch: On your own. Your Trip Experience • Navigate the sprawling, colorful bazaar of San Leader is eager to provide suggestions, should Telmo Antique & Artisan Market: Started in you want any. 1970, the originally small market was strictly Afternoon: The afternoon is free for you to for antiques and held only on Sundays. Today, make your own discoveries. Art lovers won’t it spans numerous blocks of cobblestone want to miss the Museo de Arte Latinoamericano streets in Buenos Aires’ oldest neighborhood, de Buenos Aires, better known as MALBA, known for its colonial buildings, street art, which contains pieces by such noteworthy cafes, tango parlors, and antique shops, and Latin American artists as Diego Rivera and features a vast array of items for purchase. Frida Kahlo. • How to get there: A 20-minute taxi ride, about $4 USD one way. Dinner: On your own. • Hours: 10am-6pm, Saturday & Sunday. Evening: The evening is free for independent • Cost: Free. exploration. Day 2 Explore Buenos Aires Day 3 Buenos Aires • Hydrofoil to • Destination: Buenos Aires Colonia, Uruguay • Montevideo • Included Meals: Breakfast • Accommodations: Arc Recoleta Boutique • Included Meals: Breakfast Hotel or similar • Accommodations: Axsur Design Hotel or similar Breakfast: Served buffet-style at the hotel beginning at 7am, featuring local and Breakfast: Served buffet-style at the hotel international options. beginning at 7am, featuring local and international options.

Itinerary Subject to Change. For Information or reservations, call 1-800-955-1925

30 Morning: Around 11am, we’ll bid farewell to Day 4 Explore Montevideo Argentina and transfer to the ferry station, • Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch where we’ll take a speedy hydrofoil 30 miles • Accommodations: Axsur Design Hotel across the Rio de la Plata. Our nautical journey or similar will be brief (lasting about 30 minutes), but it will take us across international borders and Breakfast: Served buffet-style at the hotel LQWRWKHWKLUGDQGͫQDO6RXWK$PHULFDQFRXQWU\ beginning at 7am, featuring local and of our adventure: Uruguay. Our arrival time is international options. approximately 1:45pm. Morning: Around 9am this morning, we’ll Nestled between Brazil and Argentina, tiny depart for a tour of Montevideo. Home to nearly Uruguay has long been overlooked by travelers, half of the nation’s population, Montevideo is but this bite-sized nation offers plenty of a beachy, cosmopolitan city that many visitors history, culture, and rugged natural beauty liken to Rio de Janeiro for its modern waterfront just waiting to be explored. Our introduction to skyscrapers and laidback feel. (Montevideo’s Uruguay is Colonia del Sacramento, a former Carnaval, it’s worth noting, lasts even longer Portuguese settlement whose enchanting than that of Rio’s—a full two months.) We’ll colonial architecture earned it a UNESCO spend the morning taking in the city’s sights World Heritage Site designation. After having during a walking tour that will take us from our passports stamped at customs, we’ll take palm tree-fringed Plaza Independencia to a walking tour of Colonia’s Barrio Histórico, Teatro Solís, Montevideo’s most important or historic district, passing by the town’s theater and the second largest theater in main square, church, and iconic lighthouse, South America. which affords sweeping views of the Rio de la Lunch: Around 12:30pm, we’ll head to Mercado Plata below. del Puerto, or Port Market. Here, artisans Lunch: with craft stalls, street performers, and steak restaurants (called SDUULOODV all jostle for space Afternoon: Around 4:30pm, we’ll make an under the elegant wrought-iron ceiling of the overland transfer lasting a little over two hours market. We’ll stop into one of these parrillas to reach Montevideo, Uruguay’s capital and for lunch. our home for the next two nights. Depending on where we stay, our hotel may feature a Afternoon: After lunch, we’ll make the short ͫWQHVVURRPDQGFDIH7\SLFDOURRPVPD\ drive back to the hotel around 2pm. This include minibar, wireless internet, and an afternoon is free for you to continue exploring in-room safe. Montevideo on your own. Your Trip Experience is full of ideas, so please be sure to check with Dinner: On your own. him or her should you want any.

Evening: Free for your own discoveries, or you Dinner: On your own. may wish to retire for the evening. Evening: The remainder of the evening is free.

Itinerary Subject to Change. For Information or reservations, call 1-800-955-1925

31 Day 5 Winery Visit • José Ignacio Day 6 Explore José Ignacio • Visit a • Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch local farm • Accommodations: Posada Arenas de José • Included Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Ignacio or similar • Accommodations: Posada Arenas de José Breakfast: Served buffet-style at the hotel Ignacio or similar beginning at 7am, featuring local and Breakfast: Served buffet-style at the hotel international options. beginning at 7am, featuring local and international options. Morning: We’ll transfer around 9am almost three hours to José Ignacio, a beach town on Morning: At 9am, we’ll set out on a walking Uruguay’s southeastern coast. WRXURI-RV«,JQDFLR2QFHDVOHHS\ͫVKLQJ village, this beach town has gained popularity Along the way, we’ll stop around 11:30am at among well-heeled Uruguayans and a small winery to meet the owners and stroll international jet setters alike, thanks to its through their vineyards, as well as sample proximity to glitzier Punta del Este. But while tannat, the full-bodied and tannin-rich fashionable restaurants and boutique now red wine for which Uruguay is known. The populate its pristine shores, José Ignacio still tannat grape is thought to have originated retains its small town feel (for now, at least). in southwest France (the French-sounding Here, life moves at a slower pace: locals haul “tannat” being a reference to the high tannin in the daily catch, vacation-goers relax on content found in wines produced with this the beach, and events proceed in unhurried grape), but never achieved the popularity fashion. We’ll step into this laid back rhythm of other French wines like bordeaux or during our time in José Ignacio, which begins chardonnay. Instead, the grape was exported with a walking tour of the town center. Next, to Uruguay, where local vintners helped it we’ll make our way to Jose Ignacio’s presiding WRͬRXULVK&XUUHQWO\WDQQDWLVFRQVLGHUHG landmark, a picturesque lighthouse overlooking Uruguay’s “national grape.” Today’s winery the rocky coast below. We’ll climb to the to top visit provides us the opportunity to learn about of the landmark to take in sweeping views of this special wine, as well as our generous hosts the town. who cultivate it. Then, around 10:30am, we’ll drive Lunch: Around noon at the winery. approximately 30 minutes to Chacra La Corona, Afternoon: Around 2pm, we’ll depart a typical Uruguayan farm. Upon arrival the winery and continue on to the former around 11am, we’ll meet with the owners, who ͫVKLQJYLOODJHRI-RV«,JQDFLRZKHUHZH̞OO will teach us about the history of the farm arrive around 4pm and check into our hotel. and the food production process, including Depending on where we stay, our hotel cheese-making. We’ll also visit the onsite may feature a swimming pool and on-site orchard and milk yard. After an introduction restaurant. Typical rooms may include minibar, to their operation, the owners will host us for wireless internet, and an in-room safe. a barbecue lunch, during which we’ll have the opportunity to learn more about local farm life. Dinner: On your own. Lunch: Around 1pm we’ll enjoy a BBQ lunch Evening: You’ll have the rest of the evening with the owners of Chacra La Corona. free to relax and explore the town.

Itinerary Subject to Change. For Information or reservations, call 1-800-955-1925

32 Afternoon: After lunch, we’ll depart around course of 36 years. Originally a summer house 3:30pm to return to our hotel. The afternoon and studio for the artist, Casapueblo now is at leisure. For those interested in taking houses a museum, art gallery, cafeteria and advantage of the aquatic location, Brava hotel. We’ll have the opportunity to tour this Beach is known for its tremendous waves and PDJQLͫFHQWEXLOGLQJZKLFKERDVWVDZKRSSLQJ golden sands. WKLUWHHQͬRRUV:KLOHKHZDVDOLYH3£H] Vilaró indicated that the architectural style of Dinner: At the hotel. Casapueblo borrows from the real-life nest of Evening: The rest of the evening is free, the hornero, a bird typical to Uruguay. whether you’d like to continue exploring José

Ignacio or turn in for the night. Around 3:30pm, we’ll depart for the 1.5-hour Day 7 Discover Punta del Este • transfer to the Montevideo airport for our 8pm Return to U.S. LQWHUQDWLRQDOͬLJKWKRPH • Included Meals: Breakfast

Breakfast: Served buffet-style at the hotel beginning at 7am, featuring local and international options.

Morning: Around 9am, we’ll bid farewell to José Ignacio and head west along Ruta 10 towards Montevideo and the airport, making two exciting stops along the way.

First, we’ll explore Jose Ignacio’s glamorous neighbor, Punta del Este. Just 20 miles from José Ignacio’s tranquil retreat, “Punta” (as those in the know call it) feels a world apart: luxury high-rises rim the palm-fringed beaches, mega-yachts bob off shore, and exclusive restaurants and night clubs draw some of South America’s biggest celebrity names. Around 10am, we’ll take a walking tour of this glitterati hotspot, pausing at Playa Brava to take in Punta’s most iconic site: the larger-than-life “Mano en la Arena” sculpture RIͫYHͫQJHUVSURWUXGLQJWKURXJKWKHVDQG

Lunch: On your own in Punta; be sure to be on the look-out for famous faces as you dine.

Afternoon: Around 1:30pm, we’ll make the 20-minute drive to Punta Ballena for a visit to Casapueblo, a building constructed by Uruguayan artist Carlos Páez Vilaró over the

Itinerary Subject to Change. For Information or reservations, call 1-800-955-1925

33

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT THIS TRIP:

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for this adventure, on subjects ranging from passports to weather, and currency to recommended reading.

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reserve your departure of this trip, which outlines everything you’ll need to know before and during your adventure. What’s more, our Adventure Specialists will be ready and eager to address any additional questions you may have.

With all of our resources available to you, enjoy peace of mind … and look forward to the incredible discoveries that await.

34 CONTENTS

TRAVEL DOCUMENTS & ENTRY REQUIREMENTS...... 36

HEALTH ......
38

MONEYMATTERS ......
42

Top Tips

Local Currency

Tipping Guidelines

PREPARING FOR  TRIP
...... 46

PACKING ...... 49

CLIMATE...... 56

ABOUT YOUR DESTINATION ...... 59

Culture & Points to Know

Shopping

DEMOGRAPHICS & HISTORY
...... 65

RESOURCES ......
78

35 TRAVEL DOCUMENTS & ENTRY REQUIREMENTS

Your Passport • Must be in good condition

• Must be valid for at least 6 months after your scheduled return to the U.S.

• Must have the required number of blank pages (details below)

• The blank pages must be labeled “Visas” at the top. Pages labeled “Amendments and Endorsements” are not acceptable

Need to Renew Your Passport? Contact the National Passport Information Center (NPIC) at 1-877-487-2778, or visit their website at www.travel.state.gov for information on obtaining a new passport or renewing your existing passport. You may also contact our recommended visa service company, PVS International, at 1-800-556-9990 for help with your passport

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• Main trip only: You will need 3 blank passport pages.

• Pre-trip extension to Easter Island: No additional pages are needed.

• Post-trip to Uruguay: You will need 1 more page for a total of 4 blank passport pages.

• Both the pre- and post-trip extensions: You will need a total of 4 blank passport pages.

No Visas Required Travelers with a U.S. passport do not need any visas for this adventure, including the optional trip extensions.

Traveling Without a U.S. Passport? If you are not a U.S. citizen, or if your passport is from any country other than the U.S., it is your responsibility to check with your local consulate, embassy, or a visa services company about visa requirements. We recommend the services of PVS International, a national visa service located in Washington D.C.; they can be reached at 1-800-556-9990 or www. pvsinternational.org.

Traveling With a Minor? Some governments may require certain documentation for minors to enter and depart the country or to obtain a visa (if applicable). For further detail on the required documentation, please contact your local embassy or consulate.

36 Migration Forms When entering a new country, you might be given a Migration form. Keep it with you until the end of your trip, as the Migrations Authority might require it.

Emergency Photocopies of Key Documents We recommend you carry color photocopies of key documents including the photo page of your passport plus any applicable visas, air itinerary, credit cards (front and back), and an alternative form of ID. Add emergency phone numbers like your credit card company and the number for your travel protection plan. Store copies separate from the originals.

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Overseas Taxes & Fees This tour may have taxes and fees that cannot be included in your airline ticket price because you are required to pay them in person onsite. All taxes are subject to change without notice and can be paid in cash (either U.S. or local currency). If applicable, you will receive a list of these fees with your Final Documents.

37 HEALTH

Is This Adventure Right for You? Please review the information below prior to departing on this adventure. We reserve the right for our Trip Experience Leaders to modify participation, or in some circumstances send _]LaPWP]^
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PACING • 7 locations in 15 days (6 days in Chile and 9 days in Argentina) with two 1-night stays

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• Some early mornings

• Airport transfers in Santiago and Buenos Aires can take up to 1.5 hours

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS • Not appropriate for travelers using wheelchairs, walkers, or other mobility aids

• You must be able to walk 3 miles unassisted and participate in 6-8 hours of physical activities each day

• This trip takes you to remote places with no medical facilities nearby

• We reserve the right for Trip Experience Leaders to restrict participation, or in some circumstances send travelers home, if their limitations impact the group’s experience

ALTITUDE • 6 full days at altitudes above 7,000 feet (3 days in Chile and 3 days in Argentina)

• On Day 8, ten hours are spent at altitudes above 10,000 feet, reaching a maximum altitude of 15,800 feet. Our 24-passenger van is equipped with an oxygen tank for emergency purposes.

• On Day 12, we reach a maximum altitude of 11,000 feet

• We strongly recommend that you discuss precautions for altitude sickness with a healthcare professional before you travel on this trip. Proper preparation, including any medication recommended by your healthcare professional, is essential to traveling comfortably at these elevations.

CLIMATE • Daytime temperatures average 70-75° F in the Atacama Desert while nighttime or early morning temperatures are considerably cooler, between 35-50° F in the Andes

38 TERRAIN & TRANSPORTATION • Travel on mountainous, unpaved roads; walking on rough, steep, slippery trails that do not have handrails

• Travel by 24-passenger coach

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FLIGHT INFORMATION • Travel time will be 8-19 hours and will most likely have two connections

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• All accommodations feature private baths

Steps to Take Before Your Trip Before you leave on this adventure, we recommend the following:

• Check with the CDC for their recommendations for the countries you’ll be visiting. You can contact them online at http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel or by phone at 1-800-232-4636.

• Have a medical checkup with your doctor at least 6 weeks before your trip.

• Pick up any necessary medications, both prescription and over-the-counter.

• Have a dental and/or eye checkup. (Recommended, but less urgent)

No Vaccines Required At the time of writing there were no required vaccines for this trip. The CDC recommends that all travelers be up to date on their routine vaccinations and on basic travel vaccines like Hepatitis A and Typhoid, but these are suggestions only. However, this could change in future so we encourage you to check with the CDC yourself before meeting with your doctor.

Medication Suggestions • An antibiotic medication for gastrointestinal illness

• Prescription pain medication in the unlikely event of an injury in a remote location

• Altitude sickness medication

Traveling with Medications • Pack medications in your carry-on bag to avoid loss and to have them handy.

39 • Keep medicines in their original, labeled containers for a quicker security screen at the airport and a better experience if you get stopped by customs while overseas.

• Bring copies of your prescriptions, written using the generic drug name rather than a brand name to be prepared for any unforeseen loss of your medications.

We recommend checking with the State Department for medication restrictions by country: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel/International-Travel- Country-Information-Pages.html. (Pick the country and then follow the links to “Local Laws 
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Staying Healthy on Your Trip

Jet Lag Tips • Start your trip well-rested.

• Begin a gradual transition to your new time zone before you leave or switch to your destination time zone when you get on the plane.

• Attempt to sleep and eat according to the new schedule.

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• After arrival, avoid the temptation to nap.

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40 Food We’ve carefully chosen the restaurants for your group meals. Fruits and vegetables are safe to eat in Chile, Argentina, and Uruguay.

Altitude Illness Purmamarca is at an altitude of over 7,600 feet, Cachi at roughly 8,300 feet, and we will reach altitudes between 11,000-15,800 feet during the border crossing from San Pedro de Atacama LYO
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41 MONEY MATTERS

Top Three Tips • Carry a mix of different types of payments, such as local currency, an ATM card, and a credit card.

• Traveler’s checks and Discover cards are not accepted in the countries visited on this adventure.

• You will not be able to pay with U.S. dollars on the majority of this trip; you will need local currency instead. U.S. dollars may be accepted in larger cities, such as Buenos Aires and Santiago, but you should always ask about exchange rates before making a purchase.

Local Currency For current exchange rates, please refer to an online converter tool like www.xe.com/ currencyconverter
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• Banknotes: 1,000, 2,000, 5,000, 10,000, and 20,000 pesos

• Coins: 10, 50, 100, and 500 pesos

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42 • Banknotes: 20, 50, 100, 200, 500, 1000, and 2000 pesos

• Coins: 1, 2, 5, and 10 pesos

How to Exchange Money On your trip, the easiest way is to withdraw funds from a local ATM. The ATM will give you local money and your bank at home will convert that into U.S. dollars.

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ATMs When using the ATM, keep in mind that it may only accept cards from local banks, and may not allow cash advances on credit cards; you might need to try more than one ATM or more than one card.

Many banks charge a fee of $1-$5 each time you use a foreign ATM. Others may charge you a percentage of the amount you withdraw. We recommend that you check with your bank before you depart.

Lastly, don’t forget to memorize the actual digits of your card’s PIN number (many keypads at foreign ATMs do not include letters on their keys—they only display numbers.)

Chile: ATMs are available in larger cities, such as Santiago, but will not be available in remote locations.

Argentina: ATMs are available in larger cities like Buenos Aires, Ushuaia, and Bariloche, but will not be available in remote locations.

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Credit & Debit Cards Even if you don’t plan on using a credit card during your trip, we still suggest that you bring one or two as a backup, especially if you are planning a large purchase (artwork, jewelry). We also suggest that you bring more than one brand of card (i.e. Visa, MasterCard, American Express) if possible, because not every shop will take every card. For example, although the Discover card is accepted in some countries outside the U.S., it is not widely adopted, so other brands will work at a much larger range of stores, restaurants, etc.

43 Chile: Credit and debit cards are widely accepted in large cities for major purchases and in shops associated with the tourist trade (souvenirs, museum gift shops, etc.), but may not be accepted by smaller shops or restaurants. Some businesses add a surcharge of 2-4% to use a credit card. Credit cards are generally not accepted in more remote locations, such as Easter Island.

Argentina: Credit and debit cards are widely accepted in Buenos Aires for major purchases and in shops associated with the tourist trade (souvenirs, museum gift shops, etc.), but may not be accepted by smaller shops or restaurants. Some businesses add a surcharge of 5-10% to use a credit card; look for the word “recargo”. Some restaurants will accept credit cards—but not all—and you usually cannot leave a tip on a credit card. Visa is commonly accepted, but MasterCard and American Express are not.

Uruguay: Credit cards are accepted at most hotels, restaurants, and shops. Some smaller Mom-and-Pop type establishments may not accept credit cards, so it’s always a good idea to have some cash.

Notify Card Providers of Upcoming Travel Many credit card companies and banks have fraud alert departments that will freeze your card if they see suspicious charges—such as charges or withdrawals from another country. To avoid an accidental security block, it is a good idea to notify your credit card company and/or bank you will be using your cards abroad. You can do this by calling their customer service number a week or two before your departure. Some banks or credit card companies will also let you do this online.

You should also double-check what phone number you could call if you have a problem with a card while you are abroad. Don’t assume you can use the 1-800 number printed on the back of your card—most 1 800 numbers don’t work outside of the U.S.!

Tipping Guidelines Of course, whether you tip, and how much, is always at your own discretion. But for those of dZ`
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• O.A.T. Trip Experience Leader: It is customary to express a personal “thank you” to your Trip Experience Leader at the end of your trip. As a guideline, many travelers give $7- $10 USD (or equivalent in local currency) per person for each day their Trip Experience Leader is with them. Please note that these tips can only be in cash. If you are taking any of the optional extensions, your Trip Experience Leader during the extension(s) may not be the same as the one on your main trip.

• Housekeeping staff at hotels: $1 per night

• Waiters: Your Trip Experience Leader will tip waiters for included meals. If you are dining on your own, 10-15% is customary, and tips are usually left in cash. Most restaurants charge a table fee, called servicio de mesa, which is not a tip, but more like a cover charge.

44 Please Note: Your tour price includes gratuities on the main trip and optional extensions for local guides, drivers, and luggage porters that may assist you during the scheduled activities on your adventure. All tips are quoted in U.S. dollars; tips can be converted and paid in local currency or in U.S. dollars. Please do not use personal or traveler’s checks for tips.

45 PREPARING FOR YOUR TRIP

Land Only Travelers & Personalized Air

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• Air-Inclusive: You booked international air with us. Airport transfers are included as long as you didn’t customize your trip’s dates (see next bullet).

• Personalized Air: You booked international air with us, and have customized it in some way. If you have customized your trip’s dates to arrive early, stay longer, or stop on your own in a connecting city, airport transfers will NOT be included. You must also arrange your own accommodations for any additional nights. For your convenience, a preliminary list of your included hotels is available on your My Account at www.oattravel.com/ myaccount under “My Reservations”.

Airport Transfers Can Be Purchased 1Z]
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Airport transfers can be purchased up to 45 days prior to your departure; they are not available for purchase onsite. To learn more, or purchase airport transfers, please call our Traveler Support team at 1-800-221-0814.

If you don’t meet the requirements above, you’ll need to make your own transfer arrangements. We suggest the Rome to Rio website as a handy resource: www.rome2rio.com.

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Optional Tours Optional tours are additional add-on tours that allow you to personalize your adventure by tailoring it to your tastes and needs. And if you decide not to join an optional tour? Then you’ll have free time to relax or explore on your own—it’s about options, not obligations.

What You Need to Know • All optional tours are subject to change and availability.

46 • Optional tours that are reserved with your Trip Experience Leader can be paid for using credit/debit cards only. We accept MasterCard, Visa, and Discover credit cards; we can also take MasterCard or Visa debit cards as long as the card allows you to sign for purchases. (You won’t be able to enter a PIN.)

• To ensure that you are charged in U.S. dollars, your payment will be processed by our U.S. headquarters in Boston. This process can take up to three months, so we ask that you only use a card that will still be valid three months after your trip is over. The charge may appear on your credit card statement as being from Boston, MA or may be labeled as “OPT Boston”.

• Your Trip Experience Leader will give you details on the optional tours while you’re on the trip. But if you’d like to look over descriptions of them earlier, you can do so at any time by referring to your Day-to-Day Itinerary (available online by signing into My Account at www.oattravel.com/myaccount).

Communications

Cell Phones If you want to use your cell phone on the trip, check with your phone provider to see if your phone and service will work outside of the U.S. It may turn out to be cheaper to rent an international phone or buy a SIM card onsite. If you want to use a local SIM, just make certain your phone can accept one.

Calling Apps Another option is to use a smartphone app like Skype or FaceTime. These services are usually less expensive than making a traditional call, but you’ll need a Wi-Fi connection and the calls may count towards your phone plan’s data allowance. Many smartphones—and some tablets or laptops—come with one of these apps pre-installed or you can download them for free from the appropriate apps store.

Calling Cards and 1-800 Numbers When calling the U.S. from a foreign country, a prepaid calling card can be useful because it circumvents unexpected charges from the hotel. Calling cards purchased locally are typically the best (less expensive, more likely to work with the local phones, etc.).

One reminder: Do not call U.S. 1-800 numbers outside the continental United States. This can result in costly long distance fees, since 1-800 numbers do not work outside the country.

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47 How to Call Overseas When calling overseas from the U.S., dial 011 for international exchange, then the country code (indicated by a plus sign: +), and then the number. Note that foreign phone numbers may not have the same number of digits as U.S. numbers; even within a country the number of digits can vary depending on the city and if the phone is a land line or cell phone.

Chile: +56 Uruguay: +598

Argentina: +54

48 PACKING

Luggage Limits

MAIN TRIP LIMITS

Pieces per person One checked bag and one carry-on per person.

Weight restrictions Varies by airline. If your flights within South America are on LAN airlines, the weight limit is 50 lbs for checked bags and 17 lbs for a carry- on. If any of your flights in South America are on Aerolineas Argentinas, the weight limit is 33 lbs for checked bags and 17 lbs for a carry-on.

Size Restrictions Varies by airline. Measured in linear inches (length+width+depth). Generally, 62 linear inches is the checked bag limit.

Due to limited space on the motorcoach, carry- on luggage is limited to approximately 18” x 14” x 8” for this adventure.

Luggage Type Checked luggage: Duffel bag or soft-sided suitcase. Please do not bring a hard-sided (clamshell) suitcase.

Carry-on luggage: Small backpack

TRIP EXTENSION(S) LIMITS

Santiago & Easter Island: Same as the main trip.

Buenos Aires & Coastal Uruguay: Checked bags are limited to 44 lbs.

49 REMARKS/SUGGESTIONS

Luggage rules: Luggage rules and limits are set by governmental and airline policy. Enforcement of the rules may include spot checks or may be inconsistent. However one thing is the same across the board: If you are found to have oversized or overweight luggage, you will be subject to additional fees, to be assessed by—and paid to—the airline in question.

Please note: On some departures our regional flights will be on LAN airlines, on other departures they must be on Aerolineas Argentinas airlines instead. Please refer to your air itinerary to determine which restriction applies to you. Please note that most previous travelers were able to stay within the 33 lb limit.

Ferry to Uruguay: For travelers on the post-trip extension, you will need to pack all liquids, gels, creams, and sharp objects in your checked bag for the ferry from Argentina to Uruguay on Day 18.

Don’t Forget: • These luggage limits may change. If the airline(s) notify us of any changes, we will include an update in your Final Documents booklet.

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week or so prior to departure. For your convenience, we maintain a list of the toll-free numbers for the most common airlines on our website in the FAQ section.

• Baggage fees are not included in your trip price; they are payable directly to the airlines.

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Clothing Suggestions

Functional Tips As you will experience a wide range of temperatures and weather conditions, we suggest several layers of clothing. If you like to hand-wash your clothes, look for fabrics that will dry out overnight. You can buy clothing designed especially for travel, with features like wrinkle- resistant fabric or built-in sun protection.

• Dress in layers: You can add or remove layers according to weather shifts. Suggestions include short-sleeve shirts, turtlenecks, long-sleeve shirts, sweatshirts, sweaters, a warm jacket, long underwear, etc.

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Style Hints Dress on our trip is functional and casual. Women might want to bring one casual dress and a pair of dressier sandals.

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Year-Round Clothing Checklist T Shirts: A mixture of short and long-sleeved shirts to layer T ?]Z`^P]^
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T Light rain jacket/windbreaker with hood

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T Optional: Swimsuit

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T Spare eyeglasses/contact lenses; sunglasses T Sunscreen: SPF 30 or stronger T Insect repellent with DEET (we recommend 30-35% strength) T Flashlight or headlamp: Consider a small but powerful LED version or a version with an alternative power source (wind-up, solar powered).

T Pocket-size tissues T Moist towelettes (baby wipes) and/or anti-bacterial “water-free” hand cleanser T Electrical transformer & plug adapters T Camera gear with extra batteries or battery charger. We recommend bringing ziploc bags to protect your camera.

Medicines & First Aid Gear T Your own prescription medicines T ?]LaPW
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52 T An antibiotic medication for gastrointestinal illness T Optional: A strong prescription pain medication for rare emergency purposes T Optional: Altitude sickness medication

Optional Gear T Travel alarm or travel watch with alarm T Lightweight binoculars (if birding) T Hanging toiletry bag (with hook to hang on doorknob and pockets to organize items) T Basic sewing kit T Hair dryer. Bring this only if you feel you need one 100% of the time. Most hotels will provide them during this trip.

T Hand-wash laundry soap T Reading materials T Travel journal/note pad and pens T Phrase book T Small gift for Home-Hosted visit T Folding walking stick

Home-Hosted Visits Many of our adventures feature a visit with a local family, often as part of the A Day in the Life experience. It is customary, though not necessary, to return your hosts’ generosity with a small gift. If you do bring a gift, we recommend that you bring something the whole family can enjoy, or something that represents your region, state, or hometown. Get creative and keep it small—peach jelly from Georgia, maple sugar candy from New England, orange blossom soap from California; something that can be used or used up is best. When choosing a gift, be certain to consider the local culture as well. For example, we do not recommend alcohol in Muslim countries because it is forbidden in Islam, and your hosts may be religious. 9Z_
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Chile: C and/or L

Argentina: C and I

54 Uruguay: C, F, I, and L

Type C Type F Type I Type L

Availability Barring the occasional and unpredictable power outage, electricity is as readily available on this adventure as it is in the U.S.

55 CLIMATE

Santiago, Chile: Santiago has such delightful year-round temperatures that its climate is often compared to that of southern California. During your travel season, daytime highs are typically TY
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Easter Island, Chile: The cool Humboldt current keeps this sub-tropical climate cooler than most of its kind. The annual average temperature is 70°. February is hottest; July and August coolest, with winds adding a chill. Some amount of rain falls 140 days a year, though much of it falls at night. The heaviest months for rain are March-June. August-December are the driest months.

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regions. Summers bring warmer weather with average temperatures in the mid- to high-70s, but possibly reaching the mid-90s during a heat wave, while the winter months may be cooler with averages in the high-40s to low-60s. Uruguay does not experience snowfall, but does enjoy four seasons throughout the year.

56 Climate Averages & Online Forecast ?SP
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average climate as opposed to exact weather conditions. This means they serve only as general indicators of what can reasonably be expected. An extreme heat wave or cold snap could fall outside these ranges. As your departure approaches, we encourage you to go online to www.oattravel.com/myaccount for your 10-day forecast. Average Daily High/Low Temperatures (°F), Humidity & Monthly Rainfall

MONTH SANTIAGO, CHILE SAN PEDRO DE ATACAMA, CHILE

Temp. High-Low % Relative Monthly Rainfall Temp. High-Low % Relative Monthly Rainfall Humidity (am-pm) (inches) Humidity (am-pm) (inches) JAN 85 to 54 84 to 37 -- 76 to 50 -- -- FEB 84 to 53 86 to 38 0.1 75 to 50 -- -- MAR 80 to 49 89 to 40 0.2 73 to 48 -- -- APR 72 to 45 91 to 48 0.5 71 to 44 -- 0.2 MAY 64 to 41 94 to 62 2.3 66 to 38 -- 0.6 JUN 58 to 38 94 to 68 3.1 61 to 33 -- 0.1 JUL 57 to 37 95 to 68 3.0 62 to 33 -- -- AUG 61 to 39 95 to 64 2.1 64 to 35 -- 0.1 SEP 65 to 42 93 to 59 1.1 69 to 40 -- -- OCT 71 to 45 92 to 50 0.5 72 to 43 -- -- NOV 77 to 48 89 to 44 0.2 74 to 46 -- 0.5 DEC 82 to 51 86 to 39 0.2 75 to 48 -- 0.1

57 MONTH SALTA, ARGENTINA BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA

Temp. High-Low % Relative Monthly Rainfall Temp. High-Low % Relative Monthly Rainfall Humidity (am-pm) (inches) Humidity (am-pm) (inches) JAN 81 to 62 93 to 60 6.9 87 to 69 86 to 47 4.2 FEB 80 to 60 94 to 62 5.9 84 to 67 89 to 52 4.0 MAR 77 to 59 95 to 65 4.3 80 to 63 90 to 54 4.0 APR 73 to 59 94 to 62 1.2 73 to 57 91 to 59 3.3 MAY 69 to 45 93 to 55 0.3 66 to 51 89 to 60 3.1 JUN 66 to 39 90 to 48 0.1 60 to 46 89 to 62 2.1 JUL 68 to 38 86 to 43 0.1 59 to 45 89 to 62 2.3 AUG 73 to 41 83 to 39 0.2 63 to 48 88 to 57 2.3 SEP 74 to 44 80 to 39 0.3 66 to 50 87 to 53 2.4 OCT 80 to 53 81 to 40 1.0 73 to 55 88 to 56 4.0 NOV 82 to 58 87 to 48 2.4 78 to 61 86 to 53 3.6 DEC 82 to 59 91 to 53 5.0 83 to 65 86 to 48 3.3

MONTH EASTER ISLAND, CHILE MONTEVIDEO, URUGUAY

Temp. High-Low % Relative Monthly Rainfall Temp. High-Low % Relative Monthly Rainfall Humidity (am-pm) (inches) Humidity (avg) (inches) JAN 78 to 70 87 to 70 3.6 83 to 62 68 2.9 FEB 79 to 71 88 to 71 3.4 82 to 61 69 2.6 MAR 78 to 70 88 to 71 3.4 78 to 59 73 3.9 APR 76 to 68 86 to 73 4.6 71 to 53 75 3.9 MAY 73 to 66 84 to 74 5.0 64 to 48 78 3.3 JUN 70 to 64 84 to 73 4.0 59 to 43 82 3.2 JUL 69 to 62 84 to 73 3.7 58 to 43 80 2.9 AUG 68 to 62 84 to 73 3.4 59 to 43 77 3.1 SEP 70 to 62 85 to 72 3.3 63 to 46 74 3.0 OCT 71 to 62 86 to 70 2.9 68 to 49 71 2.6 NOV 73 to 65 87 to 70 3.2 74 to 54 71 2.9 DEC 76 to 67 87 to 70 3.6 79 to 59 67 3.1

58 ABOUT YOUR DESTINATIONS

:,??]T[0c[P]TPYNP7PLOP]^%,BZ]WOZQ/TʬP]PYNP During your adventure you’ll be accompanied by one of our local, expert Trip Experience 7PLOP]^
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Culture & Points to Know

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Chile’s world-famous grapes are the foundation of its three most popular drinks. First, of course, is wine itself. Grapes are also used to make chicha, a brownish beverage somewhat reminiscent of apple cider with added punch. The last, and most powerful, is aguardiente, bSTNS
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Argentinean wines of excellent quality are currently available. You will want to try a Malbec, the local grape. And if you celebrate with the “bubbly” in South America, why not do it with Argentina’s superb, inexpensive champagne? Just a note of precaution: Argentines thoroughly salt almost everything, particularly meats and salads. If you dine out, you may want to request unsalted food. When you order, simply tell the waiter no use (oo-say) sal, por favor. You may also want to try dulce de leche (“sweet milk”), a caramel topping that Argentines eat with everything.

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Complex, multi-layered cultural traditions and stunning natural geography make South America a fascinating destination. To get the most enjoyment out of your trip, remember that many South American countries are still considered developing nations, and be aware that you may be approached to buy crafts or solicited by children to take photographs.

In restaurants, hotels, and at cultural sites, everything works according to a slower sense of time than what you are used to. It’s best to wind down and adjust to the local pace and philosophy.

60 Language Barrier You can have some great “conversations” with local people who do not speak English, even if you don’t speak a word of the local language. Indeed, this non-verbal communication can be a highly rewarding part of travel. To break the ice, bring along some family photographs, or a few postcards of your hometown.

Your attire is a key part of your non-verbal presentation. Your clothing should show a respect for local tradition. In South America, this means you should dress in a relatively modest style.

Taking Photographs The etiquette of photographing most people in the countries on your itinerary is about the same as it would be on the streets of your hometown. You need permission to take a close-up, but not for a crowd scene. Be especially polite if you want to photograph an older woman. If you want to shoot a great portrait, show interest in your subject, try to have a bit of social TY_P]LN_TZY
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Safety & Security Common Sense and Awareness

As you travel, exercise the same caution and awareness that you would in a large American city. Don’t be overly nervous or suspicious, but keep your eyes open. If you are venturing out after dark, go with one or two other people, and always by taxi.

Pickpockets

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The next step is to limit what you have on you. Instead of carrying all your money, all your credit cards, and your passport in your pocket or purse, stick to what you’ll need for that day—a one-day supply of money and one or two cards. (You won’t need your passport, so our ]PRTZYLW
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Lastly, know that pickpockets may create a sudden distraction. In any sort of puzzling street situation, try to keep one hand on your valuables. If an encounter with a local turns out to be long and complicated and involves money or your valuables, it might be a scam.

61 Regional Flights in South America 4Y
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Shopping There may be scheduled visits to local shops during your adventure. There is no requirement to make a purchase during these stops, and any purchase made is a direct transaction with the shop in question, subject to the vendor’s terms of purchase. O.A.T. is not responsible for purchases you make on your trip or for the shipment of your purchases.

Returns If you discover an issue with an item, you should contact the vendor directly and expect that any resolution will take longer than it would in the U.S. We recommend that you keep a copy of all your receipts, invoices, or contracts, along with the shop’s contact information. Keep in mind, local practice may vary from U.S. standards, so don’t assume that you have a certain number of days after the purchase to speak up or that you are guaranteed a refund.

Crafts & Souvenirs

Chile Among Chilean goods, the excellent textiles are worth perusing. For “typical” items, colorful hand-woven ponchos are a good buy, as well as vicuna rugs, and—although perhaps a little heavy for air travel—there is excellent artisan copper work. Chilean stones have achieved much popularity abroad, and there are many “rock shops” in the city and suburbs selling quality work in lapis lazuli, Chilean jade, amethyst, agate, onyx, and others. Salmon, canned and smoked, is also a good buy.

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62 accessories. Top-quality jewelry is also sold, with the best buys being items made with Inca Rose or rhodochrosite. Argentina is one of the few places in the world where this is found and T_
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U.S. Customs Regulations & Shipping Charges For all things related to U.S. Customs, the ultimate authority is the U.S. Bureau of Customs & Border Protection. Their website, www.cbp.gov has the answers to the most frequently asked questions. Or you can call them at 1-877-227-5511.

The top three points to know are:

• At time of writing, your personal duty-free allowance is $800 for items brought with you. Items totaling more than $800 are subject to duty fees.

• Items shipped home are always subject to duty when received in the U.S. Even when _SP
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shipping to the nearest customs facility and payment of the export duties—not door-to- door shipping or payment of the import duties. All additional duties or shipping charges would be your responsibility. Unless an item is small enough to send by parcel service (like FedEx), chances are you will need to arrange shipping or pick-up once the item is in the U.S. and will need to pay customs duties.

• It is illegal to import products made from endangered animal species. U.S. Customs & Border Protection will seize these items, as well as most furs, coral, tortoise shell, reptile skins, feathers, plants, and items made from animal skins.

63 Agricultural Statement for Chile Like some parts of the U.S. such as California and Hawaii, Chile severely restricts the entry of agricultural products to protect against the accidental transport of pests. Chile’s requirements L]P
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64 DEMOGRAPHICS & HISTORY

Chile

Facts & Figures • Area: 291,933 square miles

• Capital: Santiago

• Languages: Spanish

• Location: Chile is bordered by Bolivia, Peru, and Argentina

• Geography: One third of Chile is covered by the Andes. Five distinct geographical regions make up the country: the Northern Desert, the Central Valley, the Lake District, ;L_LRZYTL
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• Government Type: Republic

• Population: 17,508,260

• Religions: Roman Catholic 66.7%, Evangelical or Protestant 16.4%, Jehovah’s Witness 
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• Time Zone: From roughly mid-September to mid-April, though it can vary year to year, Chile is on Chile Summer Time (CLST), two hours ahead of U.S. Eastern Standard Time (EST). When it is 6am in Washington D.C., it is 8am in Santiago. The rest of the year, Chile is on Chile Standard Time (CLT), 1 hour ahead of EST, and the exact same time as Eastern Daylight Time (EDT). Chile’s seasons are opposite to those in the U.S., so just as bP
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09/18 National Day out if you will be traveling during these holidays, please visit www.timeanddate. 09/19 Army Day com/holidays. 11/01 All Saints’ Day 01/01 New Year’s Day 12/08 Immaculate Conception Day 05/01 Labor Day / May Day 12/25 Christmas Day 05/21 Navy Day

65 Historical Overview of Chile Evidence shows that Native Americans moved into Chile’s fertile valleys between the Andes LYO
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climate too harsh. Ferdinand Magellan arrived on southern Chilean shores in 1520 by way of the strait that was later named for him. In 1535, Spanish conquistadores moved in from Peru in search of gold, led by Diego de Almagro. But hundreds of thousands of indigenous people VP[_
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Chile began. Francisco Pizarro’s lieutenant, Pedro de Valdivia, made his capital at Santiago and claimed the region under the Viceroyalty of Peru.

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the central valleys resisted the colonial front coming from the north, successfully pushing the Spanish border back several times. With the Mapuche to the south, the Andes to the east, the OP^P]_
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self-sustaining and homogenized. Soon, the Mapuche were not their only concern; the Dutch and English moved in from the ocean, including Sir Francis Drake, who raided Valparaiso in 1578. But the invaders were up against the most militarized Spanish colony on the new continent.

In 1808, when Napoleon took Spain and placed his brother on the throne, colonists began talking of independence from Spain. Diplomatic and military struggles followed for the next ten years until Bernard O’Higgins and Jose de San Martin crossed the Andes with their troops and defeated the royalists. Chile declared its independence in 1818 under the leadership of O’Higgins.

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between industrialists and bankers and Chile’s government evolved into an oligarchy. By the 1920s, the growing working class was large enough to elect a reformist president, but a NZY^P]aL_TaP
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By 1970, after decades marked by exchanges of power between liberals and conservatives, Chile was looking at many social and economic reforms. And with the election of Salvador Allende, a member of Chile’s Socialist Party and uncle to famed Chilean-American novelist Isabel Allende, many of them began to take shape. But it wasn’t enough to raise the country out of L
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since Allende was moving to nationalize all foreign-owned companies that operated in Chile, including those owned by the U.S. A military coup overthrew him—and Augusto Pinochet stepped in. Allende took his own life.

So began 17 years of darkness for Chile. Pinochet’s dictatorship was one of the bloodiest of the 20th century, marked by killing, torture, and other human rights violations. More than 3,000 people died or went missing. Chile eventually rid itself of the Pinochet regime by electing a new president in 1989. In 2006, Michelle Bachelet Jeria was elected President, becoming the

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earthquake that occurred of the coast on February 27, 2010. Fortunately, Chile has used knowledge gained from previous events towards earthquake preparedness. In stark contrast with Haiti, which was also hit with an earthquake in the beginning of 2010, the preparation [LTO
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Yet just as Chile was getting back on its feet, a mining accident in August of 2010 brought international attention back to the normally quiet country. A cave-in at the San Jose mine in the Atacama Desert left 33 miners trapped underground for a record 69 days. It is estimated that nearly one billion people worldwide tuned in for the daring and successful rescue operation, which was televised live around the globe.

Recent events in Chile have centered on the economy, education, and equal rights. In 2011, two large demonstrations (trade unions in May, students in July) caught the public attention, as did the passing of a landmark anti-discrimination law in 2012.

Argentina

Facts & Figures • Area: 1,073,518 square miles

• Capital: Buenos Aires

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tourist centers.

• Location: Argentina is bordered by Bolivia, Paraguay, Brazil, Uruguay, and Chile

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• Government Type: Republic

• Population: 43,024,374

• Religions: Roman Catholic 92%, Protestant 2%, Jewish 2%, other 4%.

67 • Time Zone: Argentina time (ART) is 3 hours behind Coordinated Universal Time. Generally Argentina is 1 hour ahead of Eastern Time in the U.S. So usually, when it is 6am in Washington D.C. it is 7am in Buenos Aries. But Argentina doesn’t use daylight ^LaTYR
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05/25 National Day/May 1810 will be traveling during these holidays, Revolution please visit www.timeanddate.com/ holidays. 06/20 Flag Day

01/01 New Year’s Day 07/09 Independence Day

03/24 Memorial Day 12/08 Feast of the Immaculate Conception 04/02 Day of the Veterans 12/25 Christmas Day

Historical Overview of Argentina Little is known about societies that occupied prehistoric Argentina, though fossil records indicate a presence here as early as 11,000 B.C., in today’s Patagonia. Millennia later, as _SP
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conquering the northwestern region and incorporating it into their empire. Central and southern Argentina remained nomadic.

European explorers arrived in the early 1500s, and Spain established Buenos Aires as a colony in 1580. Spanish immigrants and their descendants, indigenous people, and descendants of slaves developed the area over the next 200 years. Many colonists settled in Buenos Aires while others took to the surrounding pampas to live as gauchos. The Viceroyalty of the Rio de la Plata, consisting of today’s Argentina and several surrounding countries, was created in 1776.

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in 1811).

Investment and immigration after 1870 bolstered Argentina’s economic strength, industry, and agriculture. Through 1929, both its population and its economy grew at an alarming rate, but often to the detriment of the working class. Juan Perón, who was elected president in 1946, recognized this and sought to empower workers, increase union membership, and expand

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working class. Her Eva Perón Foundation provided basic needs to the poor and built schools, orphanages, and hospitals throughout Argentina. She died at the young age of 33, a national heroine. President Perón, having been pressured to increase industry more than support its workers, was overthrown in a violent coup in 1955.

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and labor protests against an increasingly oppressive regime. But his next term was short- lived; he died in 1974, leaving his third wife, Isabel (also his vice president), to take his place. However, she was loyal to Perón’s more fascist advisors, which led to social unrest and ʭYLYNTLW
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But what followed was far from an improvement. From 1976 to 1983, a series of military WPLOP]^
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historians, that term also covers the human rights violations started under Perón). Opposition and left-leaning groups were oppressed. Many dissidents disappeared, as did ordinary citizens who were suspected of having ties to dissidents. A policy of wage-freezing was frequently put in place. Living standards plummeted, foreign debt soared, and the peso collapsed. Finally, when Argentina lost the Falklands War (in Spanish, the Guerra de las Malvinas) to the British in 1982, the military’s credibility languished, leading to the next free elections.

It took Argentina 20 years and seven presidents to dig out of this dire economic and social instability. Administrations through the ‘80s and ‘90s were marred by corruption, the freezing ZQ
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Other recent controversies in Argentine politics have included the mounting tension over the possible oil reserves under the Falkland Islands, which have rekindled the debate on whether the islands should belong to Argentina or Great Britain. There have also been a number of ]PNPY_
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Uruguay

Facts & Figures • Area: 68,037 square miles

69 • Capital: Montevideo

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• Government Type: Presidential Republic

• Population: 3,360,148 (estimate)

• Religions: Roman Catholic 47.1%, non-Catholic Christians 11.1%, non-denominational 23.2%, Jewish 0.3%, atheist or agnostic 17.2%, other 1.1%

• Time Zone: Uruguay time (UYT) is 3 hours behind Coordinated Universal Time. Generally Uruguay is 1 hour ahead of Eastern Time in the U.S. So usually, when it is 6am in Washington D.C. it is 7am in Uruguay.

National Holidays: Uruguay

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Historical Overview of Uruguay Early History and Colonization

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Rio Negro. In 1680, the Portuguese established Colonia del Sacramento across the coast from Buenos Aires. Due to the competition between the Spanish and the Portuguese, the Spanish tried to limit Portuguese colonization extending past the borders of Brazil. The Spanish settled

70 Montevideo in 1726 and sought to capture Colonia del Sacramento. In 1750, Spain and Portugal signed the Treaty of Madrid which gave control to Spain, though a local government was established and land was given to the settlers.

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1806 was successful but the city was quickly liberated by the Spanish and the second attempt was unsuccessful.

Independence

In 1810, following the abdication of the Spanish throne to Napoleon, the May Revolution took place which resulted in the end of the Spanish Viceroyalty and the creation of the United Provinces of Rio de la Plata, though the people remained divided between those who sought independence and those who remained loyal to the Spanish crown.

In 1811, Jose Gervasio Artigas Arnal, sometimes called “the father of Uruguayan nationhood,” called for a war against Spanish rule and, with the help of Buenos Aires, defeated the Spaniards on May 18, 1811 at the Battle of Las Piedras. They began the Siege of Montevideo, at which point the Spanish viceroy sought help from the Portuguese by asking them to invade the Banda Oriental from Brazil. Buenos Aires feared they would lose the territory to the Portuguese and made peace with the Spanish. When the Portuguese withdrew, Montevideo was left under the control of the Royalists, which Artigas and his followers saw as a betrayal by Buenos Aires.

Artigas successfully led the second Siege of Montevideo in 1813 and took part in the formation of the League of the Free People, a group of several provinces which sought freedom from Buenos Aires dominance. Artigas was named the Protector of the League of the Free People and proceeded to conduct land reforms which divided the land between small farmers.

Fearful that these revolutionary ideas would spread to Brazil, the Portuguese invaded the Banda Oriental in 1816 and occupied Montevideo on January 20, 1817. Artigas and his troops were defeated in 1820 at the Battle of Tacuarembo and the Banda Oriental was incorporated into Brazil as the Cisplatina province.

In 1825, the Thirty-Three Orientals, a militant revolutionary group led by Juan Antonio Lavalleja, landed in Cisplatina with the support of Buenoes Aires and reached Montevideo on May 20. By June, a new provisional government was formed and on August 25, the newly elected assembly declared secession of the Cisplatina province from Brazil. Brazil declared the Cisplatine War which ended on August 27, 1828 with the Treaty of Montevideo. The treaty ^_T[`WL_PO
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though not guaranteed. During the Paraguayan War, Uruguayan independence was secured and the Constitution of 1830 was approved.

The Guerra Grande

71 Soon after achieving independence, political scene in Uruguay became split between two parties, both led by the former Thirty-Three, the conservative Blancos (“Whites”) and the WTMP]LW
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and represented the business interests of Montevideo; the Blancos were headed by the second President Manuel Oribe, who looked after the agricultural interests of the countryside and promoted protectionism.

Parties became associated with warring political factions in neighboring Argentina. The Colorados favored the exiled Argentinian liberal Unitarios, many of whom had taken refuge in Montevideo, while the Blanco president Manuel Oribe was a close friend of the Argentine strongman Juan Manuel de Rosas.

Oribe took Rosas’s side when the French navy blockaded Buenos Aires in 1838. This led the Colorados and the exiled Unitarios to seek French backing against Oribe and on June 15, ##
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years and become known as the Guerra Grande (the Great War).

In 1840, an army of exiled Unitarios attempted to invade northern Argentina from Uruguay but had little success. In 1842 Argentinian army overran Uruguay on Oribe’s behalf. They seized most of the country but failed to take the capital. The Great Siege of Montevideo, which began in February 1843, lasted nine years. The besieged Uruguayans called on resident foreigners for help and a French and an Italian legions were formed. The latter was led by the exiled Giuseppe Garibaldi, who was working as a mathematics teacher in Montevideo when the war broke out. Garibaldi was also made head of the Uruguayan navy.

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Buenos Aires, while Brazil joined in war against Argentina. Rosas reached peace deals with Great Britain and France in 1849 and 1850 respectively. The French agreed to withdraw their legion if Rosas evacuated Argentinian troops from Uruguay. Oribe still maintained a loose siege of the capital. In 1851, the Argentinian provincial strongman Justo José de Urquiza turned against Rosas and signed a pact with the exiled Unitarios, the Uruguayan Colorados and Brazil against him. Urquiza crossed into Uruguay, defeated Oribe and lifted the siege of Montevideo. He then overthrew Rosas at the Battle of Caseros on February 3, 1852. With Rosas’s defeat and PcTWP
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A ruling triumvirate consisting of Rivera, Lavalleja and Venancio Flores was established, but Lavalleja died in 1853, Rivera in 1854 and Flores was overthrown in 1855.

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72 territorial claims north of the Río Cuareim, thereby reducing its area to about 176,000 square kilometers, and recognized Brazil’s exclusive right of navigation in the Laguna Merin and the Rio Yaguaron, the natural border between the countries.

In accordance with the 1851 treaties, Brazil intervened militarily in Uruguay as often as it deemed necessary. In 1865, the Treaty of the Triple Alliance was signed by the emperor of Brazil, the president of Argentina, and the Colorado general Venancio Flores, the Uruguayan head of government whom they both had helped to gain power. The Triple Alliance was created to wage a war against the Paraguayan leader Francisco Solano López. The resulting Paraguayan War ended with the invasion of Paraguay and its defeat by the armies of the three countries. Montevideo, which was used as a supply station by the Brazilian navy, experienced a period of prosperity and relative calm during the war.

The Uruguayan War

The Uruguayan War was fought between governing Blancos and alliance of Empire of Brazil, Colorados who were supported by Argentina. In 1863 the Colorado leader Venancio Flores WL`YNSPO
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The Uruguayan civil developed into a crisis of international scope that destabilized the entire region. Even before the Colorado rebellion, the Blancos had sought an alliance with Paraguayan dictator Francisco Solano López. Berro’s now purely Blanco government also received support from Argentine Federalists, who opposed Mitre and his Unitarians. The ^T_`L_TZY
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through Uruguayan territory, eventually surrounding Montevideo. Faced with certain defeat, the Blanco government capitulated on February 20, 1865.

The short-lived war would have been regarded as an outstanding success for Brazilian and Argentine interests, had Paraguayan intervention in support of the Blancos (with attacks upon Brazilian and Argentine provinces) not led to the long and costly Paraguayan War. In February 1868 former Presidents Bernardo Berro and Venancio Flores were assassinated.

The Batlle Era

José Batlle y Ordóñez, President from 1903 to 1907 and again from 1911 to 1915, set the pattern for Uruguay’s modern political development and dominated the political scene until his death in 1929. Batlle was opposed to the co-participation agreement, because he considered division of departments among the parties to be undemocratic. Blancos feared loss of their power if proportional election system was introduced and started their last revolt in 1904, which ended with Colorado victory at the Battle of Masoller.

73 After the victory over Blancos, Batlle introduced widespread political, social, and economic reforms such as a welfare program, government participation in many facets of the economy LYO
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companies and created a modern social welfare system. Under Batlle electorate was increased from 46 000 to 188 000. Income tax for lower incomes was abolished in 1905, secondary schools established in every city (1906), right of divorce given to women (1907), telephone YP_bZ]V
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working day introduced (1915), Uruguay proclaimed a secular republic (1917).

To prevent Presidential dictatorships, in 1913 Batlle proposed to introduce a collective Presidency (colegiado), based on the Swiss Federal Council model. His idea was defeated in a referendum of 1916, but he managed to get support from Blancos and the Second Constitution was approved in referendum of November 25, 1917. Under the new Constitution a split PcPN`_TaP
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and Defense. And the new nine-man National Council of Administration, which consisted of six Colorados and three Blancos, controlled ministries of Education, Finances, Economy and Health.

The Great Depression & World War II

Batlle’s split executive model lasted until 1933, when during the economic crisis of the Great Depression, President Gabriel Terra assumed dictatorial powers.

The new welfare state was hit hard by the Great Depression, which also caused a growing [ZWT_TNLW
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agreement from the Blanco leader Luis Alberto de Herrera in March 1933 suspended the Congress, abolished the collective executive, established a dictatorial regime and introduced a new Constitution in 1934. The former President Brum committed suicide in protest against the coup. In 1938 Terra was succeeded by his close political follower and brother-in-law General Alfredo Baldomir. During this time state retained large control over nation’s economy and commerce, while pursuing free-market policies. After the new Constitution of 1942 was introduced, political freedoms were restored.

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1945 it formally joined the Declaration by United Nations.

Post-War

In 1946 a Batlle loyalist, Tomás Berreta was elected to Presidency, and after his sudden death, Batlle’s nephew Luis Batlle Berres became the President. To cover the British debt for the beef deliveries during WWII, in 1949 British owned railroads and water companies were YL_TZYLWTePO
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caused troubles for the country. Because of a decrease in demand in the world market for

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mass unemployment, and a steep drop in the standard of living for Uruguayan workers. This led to student militancy and labor unrest. The collective ruling council was unable to agree on harsh measures that were required to stabilize the economy. As the demand for Uruguay’s export products plummeted, the collective leadership tried to avoid budget cuts by spending Uruguay’s currency reserves and then began taking foreign loans. Uruguayan peso was OPaLW`L_PO
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to improve the economy they advocated the return to a strong Presidency. Once again, after a constitutional referendum the Council was replaced by a single Presidency by the new Constitution of 1967. Elections of 1967 returned Colorados to power, who became increasingly repressive in the face of growing popular protests and Tupamaros insurgency.

Military Dictatorship

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Uruguayan police and intelligence in policing and interrogration techniques. The Uruguayan Chief of Police Intelligence, Alejandro Otero, told a Brazilian newspaper in 1970 that the OPS, especially the head of the OPS in Uruguay, Dan Mitrione, had instructed the Uruguayan police how to torture suspects, especially with electrical implements.

President Jorge Pacheco declared a state of emergency in 1968, and this was followed by a further suspension of civil liberties in 1972 by his successor, President Juan María Bordaberry. President Bordaberry brought the Army in to combat the guerrillas of the Movement of National Liberation (MLN), which was led by Raúl Sendic. After defeating the Tupamaros, the XTWT_L]d
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even regular citizens. Torture practices extended until the end of Uruguayan dictatorship in 1985. Uruguay soon had the highest per capita percentage of political prisoners in the world. The MLN heads were isolated in improvised prisons and subjected to repeated acts of torture. Emigration from Uruguay rose drastically, as large numbers of Uruguayans looked for political asylum throughout the world.

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by Alberto Demicheli. Subsequently a national council chosen by the military government elected Aparicio Méndez. In 1980, in order to legitimize their position, the armed forces proposed a change in the constitution, to be subjected to a popular vote by a referendum. The “No” votes—against the constitutional changes totalled 57.2% of the votes, showing the unpopularity of the de facto government, that was later accelerated by an economic crisis.

75 In 1981, General Gregorio Álvarez assumed the presidency. Massive protests against the dictatorship broke out in 1984. After a 24-hour general strike, talks began and the armed forces announced a plan for return to civilian rule. National elections were held later in 1984. Colorado Party leader Julio María Sanguinetti won the presidency and, following the brief TY_P]TX
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administration implemented economic reforms and consolidated democratization following the country’s years under military rule. Nonetheless, Sanguinetti never supported the human ]TRS_^
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engaged in repression and torture against either the Tupamaros or the MLN. Instead, he opted for signing an amnesty treaty called in Spanish “Ley de Amnistia.”

Around 180 Uruguayans are known to have been killed during the 12-year military rule from 1973-1985. Most were killed in Argentina and other neighbouring countries, with only 36 of them having been killed in Uruguay. A large number of those killed, were never found and the missing people have been referred to as the “disappeared”, or “desaparecidos” in Spanish.

Modern History

Sanguinetti’s economic reforms, focusing on the attraction of foreign trade and capital, achieved some success and stabilized the economy. In order to promote national reconciliation and facilitate the return of democratic civilian rule, Sanguinetti secured public approval by plebiscite of a controversial general amnesty for military leaders accused of committing human rights violations under the military regime and sped the release of former guerrillas.

The National Party’s Luis Alberto Lacalle won the 1989 presidential election and served from 1990 to 1995. President Lacalle executed major economic structural reforms and pursued further liberalization of trade regimes, including Uruguay’s inclusion in the Southern Common Market (MERCOSUR) in 1991. Despite economic growth during Lacalle’s term, adjustment LYO
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referendum.

In the 1994 elections, former President Sanguinetti won a new term, which ran from 1995 until March 2000. As no single party had a majority in the General Assembly, the National Party joined with Sanguinetti’s Colorado Party in a coalition government. The Sanguinetti government continued Uruguay’s economic reforms and integration into MERCOSUR. Other important reforms were aimed at improving the electoral system, social security, education, and public safety. The economy grew steadily for most of Sanguinetti’s term until low NZXXZOT_d
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1999, which continued into 2002.

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76 The Colorado and National Parties continued their legislative coalition, as neither party by itself won as many seats as the 40% of each house won by the Broad Front coalition. The formal coalition ended in November 2002, when the Blancos withdrew their ministers from the cabinet, although the Blancos continued to support the Colorados on most issues.

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of Argentina. Unemployment rose to close to twenty percent, real wages fell, the peso was devalued and the percentage of Uruguayans in poverty reached almost forty percent.

These worsening economic conditions played a part in turning public opinion against the free market economic policies adopted by the Batlle administration and its predecessors, leading to popular rejection through plebiscites of proposals for privatization of the state petroleum company in 2003 and of the state water company in 2004. In 2004 Uruguayans elected Tabaré Vázquez as president, while giving the Broad Front coalition a majority in both houses of parliament. The newly elected government, while pledging to continue payments on Uruguay’s external debt, has also promised to undertake a crash jobs programs to attack the widespread problems of poverty and unemployment.

In 2009, former Tupamaro and agriculture minister José Mujica, was elected president, subsequently succeeding Vázquez on March 1, 2010.

77 RESOURCES

Suggested Readings

Chile By Night in Chile: A Nostalgic Journey Through Chile by Roberto Bolano (Literature) A highly imaginative story that takes place over the course of a single night when a priest, believing himself to be dying, recalls some of the crucial events and personages of his life.

Clandestine in Chile: The Adventures of Miguel Littin by Gabriel Garcia Marquez (Memoir) The _]`P
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documentary.

Deep Down Dark
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reports of 33 miners trapped for 69 days below the surface—this is their story.

Easter Island by Jennifer Vanderbes (Fiction) This novel had two intertwined stories—one set in 1913 just before the outbreak of World War I and one in the 1970s—both featuring a heroine of her time.

My Invented Country by Isabel Allende (Memoir/History) Written by an accomplished novelist who is related to Salvadore Allende (the Chilean President assassinated in 1973), this book mixes recent history (the assassination, the 9/11 attacks) with the author’s personal journey as a writer.

The Dictator’s Shadow: Life Under Augusto Pinochet by Heraldo Munoz (Biography/History) Recounts the many terrifying acts of Chile’s former dictator, his rise to power, and what it took to be rid of him.

The House of the Spirits, Daughter of Fortune, and Portrait in Sepia by Isabel Allende (Literature) Three books by one of Chile’s most famous authors. The House of the Spirits follows the passionate ups and downs of four generations; Portrait in Sepia is a novel about memory and secrets as a woman attempts to trace her family history; and Daughter of Fortune is about a young woman from Chile who follows her heart to the California gold rush.

Miracle in the Andes
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crash disaster that inspired Alive, told from the point of view of one of the survivors who went for help.

Travels in a Thin Country: A Journey Through Chile by Sara Wheeler (Travel Narrative) The author recounts her solo, 2,600-mile trip from the top of Chile to its southernmost tip.

Hinchey Report published by the CIA (History/Politics) Although somewhat dry, this report OZP^
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during the 60s and 70s. The report is sometimes available online. For travelers interested in

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The Essential Neruda by Pablo Neruda (Poetry) Chile’s famous poet printed several volumes during his lifetime—all worthwhile—but this edition is a good introduction to his best- known works.

Argentina And the Money Kept Rolling In (and Out) by Paul Blustein (Economics/History) An interesting and thought-provoking account of the 2001 collapse of Argentina’s economy.

Argentina, 1516-1987: From Spanish Colonization to Alfonsin by David Rock (History) A thought- provoking history that does much to explain why a country with such potential regressed from a major world power to a developing nation.

Evita: The Real Life of Eva Peron by Nicholas Fraser and Marysa Navarro (Biography) Although written in 1996, this book is still considered to be one of the best-researched and most balanced accounts of the woman behind the myth.

In Patagonia by Bruce Chatwin (Travel Narrative) A masterpiece of travel, history and adventure. This engaging book captures the spirit of the land, history, wildlife, and people of Patagonia.

Natural Patagonia: Natural Argentina & Chile by Marcelo D. Beccaceci. (Field Guide) A natural history guide to Patagonia’s incredible wildlife and plants.

Night Flight by Antoine de Saint-Exupery (Literature) Follows a pilot alone in a storm over the Andes en route from Punta Arenas to Buenos Aires. In this wonderfully evocative novella by the author of The Little Prince
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courage of the pilots.

The Buenos Aires Quintet by Manuel Vazquez Montalban (Mystery) A Spanish detective travels _Z
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political. One of the popular Pepe Carvalho crime series.

The Motorcycle Diaries: Notes on a Latin American Journey by Ernesto “Che” Guevara (Memoir/ Travel Narrative) The true-life story of Che Guevara’s attempt to see South America from the back of an old motorcycle at the age of 23. Later in life, he would claim that it was this journey that started to form his political beliefs.

The Whispering Land by Gerald Durrell (Travel Narrative/Nature) An account of the author’s eight-month odyssey in pursuit of Patagonian wildlife from seals to parrots.

Tierra del Fuego by Francisco Coloane (Short Stories) These nine stories of adventure, exploration, and voyage are peopled with ravenous explorers, fortune hunters, foreign revolutionaries, ill-fated seafarers, intrepid ships’ captains, and ruthless smugglers.

79 Uruguay The Invisible Mountain by Carolina De Robertis (Historical Fiction) The story of three generations of women against the backdrop of Uruguay during the violent guerrilla movement of the late 1960s.

Lands of Memory by Felisberto Hernandez (Short Stories) A beautiful compilation of short stories and novellas by a well-known Uruguayan writer.

The Book of Embraces by Eduardo Galeano (Memoir) A collage-like memoir by Uruguayan journalist and author Eduardo Galeano, including recollections of his exile during the military dictatorship in the 1970s and other observations and remembrances.

Alive: The Story of the Andes Survivors by Piers Paul Read (Memoir) In October 1972, Uruguayan Air Force Flight 571 crashed into the Andes Mountains carrying an Uruguayan rugby team, along with their family and friends. Alive tells the story of the crash and how sixteen of the passengers managed to survive in sub-zero temperatures.

Suggested Movies

Chile Missing (1982, Drama). When an expat writer living in Chile during the 1973 coup goes missing, his wife and father-in-law must navigate complex and dangerous political waters to search for him.

The Battle of Chile (1975-1979, Documentary). A three-part documentary series about the 1973 coup d’etat that deposed President Salvador Allende and raised General Augusto Pinochet to [ZbP]
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No (2012, Drama). Set in the 1980’s and based on an unpublished play by Antonio Skarmeta, this Chilean drama explores the role of advertising tactics in General Augusto Pinochet’s campaign for re-election.

Argentina Blessed by Fire
 
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as told from the point of view of an Argentinean soldier looking back at his experiences two decades later. In Spanish with subtitles.

Down Argentine Way (1940, Musical) A light musical about a blossoming romance between an American heiress and an Argentine horse breeder. Features the feisty Carmen Miranda in her ʭ]^_
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detailed sets, period costumes, and real-life Argentine locations convey the glamour of Buenos Aires in the 1930s. Travelers interested in documentaries should look for Evita: The Woman Behind the Myth from A&E or Evita (The Documentary) directed by Eduardo Montes-Bradley.

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a strange love triangle: the casino kingpin, his lieutenant, and the sultry beauty that they can’t trust.

The Motorcycle Diaries (2004, Biopic) Follows a 23-year-old Che Guevara and his friend Alberto Granado on a motorcycle journey across South America.

?SP:ʯNTLW>_Z]d (1985, Drama) As Alicia searches for more information about her adopted daughter’s birth mother, she begins to uncover the history and extent of “the Disappeared”— political prisoners held captive by Argentina’s ruling military government. In Spanish with subtitles.

The Secret in Their Eyes (2009, Drama/Thriller) Part murder mystery, part love story, this Argentine thriller follows a retired cop who is revisiting a haunting case from the 1970s as ^Z`]NP
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Tetro (2009, Drama) Two brothers reunite in Buenos Aires after one disappeared from his family for ten years.

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Anina (2013, Animation) A Uruguayan children’s tale about a young girl who gets into an altercation on the playground. As a punishment, she is given a sealed envelope and instructed not to open it for a week. As Anina anxiously waits to discover the contents of the envelopes, she ends up on a journey of her own.

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