2016 - 2017 BROCHURE pag.74-99.qxp_6478 Vel Brochure 2-33 amended 12/04/2016 15:41 Page 87 PATAGONIA EXPEDITION CRUISES web veloso.com/australis CHILE Cruise through the icy waters and remarkable fjords of Tierra del Fuego, via the Straits of Magellan and the Beagle Channel. Admire breathtaking landscapes of snowcapped mountain peaks, glaciers and Patagonian forest, to visit the most inaccessible reaches of South America. Punta Arenas to Ushuaia • 4 nights PUNTA ARENAS - USHUAIA Stella Australis Fjords of Tierra del Fuego Cruise • 4 nights Every Saturday Day 1 Board the ship in the afternoon for entire glacier. Later we sail through the a cocktail reception with the captain, before majestic "Glacier Alley". the evening departure for Tierra del Fuego. Day 4 Visit Cape Horn National Park, a Day 2 In the morning arrive at Marinelli UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, and land Glacier, where we enjoy a walk to a beaver (weather permitting). To visit this mythical dam in the midst of the Magellanic forest place known as the "End of the Earth" is a and see a colony of elephant seals. Later we rare privilege. Later, we go ashore at visit Tucker Islet’s colonies of Magellanic historic Wulaia Bay, once the site of one of Penguins and Cormorants. the region's largest indigenous settlements, and walk through Magellanic forest Day 3 Sail through the Beagle Channel to USHUAIA - PUNTA ARENAS Pia Glacier. We take a short hike to a Day 5 Arrival in Ushuaia in the morning. lookout point with a spectacular view of the Stella Australis - Discover Patagonia Cruise • 3 night Departs Every Wednesday Day 1 Board the ship in the afternoon for a Day 3 We sail through small channels to cocktail reception with the captain, before the enter the spectacular De Agostini Sound, in evening departure for Tierra del Fuego. the heart of the Darwin Mountains. In the afternoon we visit the Águila Glacier where Day 2 Visit Cape Horn National Park, a we will take an easy walk. It is the perfect UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, and land opportunity to enjoy the beauty of (weather permitting). To visit this mythical Patagonia's cold rainforest. place known as the "End of the Earth" is a rare privilege. Later, we go ashore at historic Day 4 We go ashore early to Magdalena Wulaia Bay, once the site of one of the Island to see a colony of Magellanic region's largest indigenous settlements, and Penguins during our walk to a historical walk through Magellanic forest. lighthouse. Disembark in Punta Arenas. 2016 - 2017 BROCHURE pag.74-99.qxp_6478 Vel Brochure 2-33 amended 12/04/2016 15:42 Page 88 CHILE Few South American countries boast a landscape and LAUCA NATIONAL PARK climate as diverse as Chile. Although on average only ARICA 180 kilometres wide, it stretches over 4,000 kilometres from north to south which, in European terms, represents a distance and range of climates TATIO GEYSERS from Norway’s icy northern tip to the barren sands of the Sahara Desert in Africa. In between, Chile offers ANTOFAGASTA SAN PEDRO DE ATACAMA fertile valleys well-known for their high quality wines, LA SERENA and serene lakes with a backdrop of snowcapped volcanoes and the Andes mountain range. VALPARAISO & VIÑA DEL MAR SANTIAGO Photographs and information: web veloso.com/chile LA CASCADA SANTA CRUZ CHILLAN CONTENTS PUCON Desert SANTIAGO 89 SERENO TOUR 90-91 Mummies and treasures of the SAN MARTIN Atacameño culture lie hidden in EASTER ISLAND 91 PUERTO VARAS BARILOCHE SELF-DRIVE LAKE DISTRICT 92 the vast stretch of arid desert that PUERTO MONTT ATACAMA LODGES 94-95 makes up northern Chile. This CRUISE FJORDS 96 area of supreme natural beauty CHILOE CRUISE TIERRA DEL FUEGO 87 encompasses salt lakes, the AZUL TOUR 97 stunning Tatio Geysers and TERMAS DE PUYUHUAPI TORRES DEL PAINE 98-99 picturesque villages. SKORPIOS CRUISES BALMACEDA Lake District SAN RAFAEL GLACIER Fertile countryside punctuated by snow-capped volcanoes and brilliant emerald lakes provide the visitor with a variety of excursions and activities, such as walking, horse riding, skiing or camping TORRES DEL PAINE under the stars in the Andes. Patagonia Southern Chile embraces the romantic wilderness of Patagonia, PUERTO NATALES a land of glaciers, immense granite massifs, and the barren, windswept tip of South America where the PUNTA ARENAS Andes sink into the icy waters. Place names given by early navigators tell the story of their experience: Desolate Bay, East and AUSTRALIS CRUISES Flamingos at Lauca National Park West Furies and Useless Bay. 88 2016 - 2017 BROCHURE pag.74-99.qxp_6478 Vel Brochure 2-33 amended 12/04/2016 15:42 Page 89 Magnificent mountain views in the high Andes at Cajon del Maipo, two hours from Santiago Santiago & Surroundings web veloso.com/santiago Lastarria Boutique Hotel The conquistador Pedro de Valdivia founded Santiago de Chile in 1541 at Lastarria Deluxe Boutique the point where the Mapocho and This handsome townhouse, built in Maipo Rivers meet. Surrounded by 1927, has been renovated and mountains, the city is an ideal base to converted into a luxury boutique explore both the Andes and Pacific hotel, with all its original Ocean coastline. Valdivia marked the architectural splendour. Filled with centre of colonial Santiago with the European style and sophistication, the Plaza de Armas and his house was 14 rooms were designed to make located where the central Post Office guests feel at home. The hotel retains now stands. This clean, tree-lined the back garden of the original house, square is now a focal point for local complete with a small pool. The hotel people, with artists in Bohemian has a simple snack bar, but there are Bellavista and lovers at Santa Lucia. many bars and restaurants nearby. Santiago de Chile with the backdrop of Cordillera PRICES SHARING 3 NIGHTS 2 EXTRA INCLUDING NIGHT SEASONS* TRANSFERS Valparaiso Excursions available: Su Merced Hotel First LASTARRIA BOUTIQUE 01Jan-30Apr; 1Oct-31 Dec £446 £122 Valparaiso is a city of character and • Cajon del Maipo Lodge for walks in Su Merced is a renovated townhouse, 01May -30 Sep £385 £103 culture, whose wealth and Andean mountains (top of this page) small boutique hotel with only 9 SU MERCED BOUTIQUE importance was established by its • Santa Rita Country House and Canvas rooms. Its location in the Lastarria 01Jan-30Apr; 1Oct-31 Dec £303 £75 port in the days before the Panama de Maipo area opposite the park in the heart of 01May -30 Sep £277 £67 Canal. The downtown area is • Concha Y Toro Vineyard Santiago making it ideal for visiting Prices are per person in a Standard Room for double occupancy including accommodation and surrounded by hills covered in houses • Undurraga & Veramonte Vineyards the artistic, bohemian area of Breakfast, tax, service charge and transfers. of different colours, its steep and • Wines of the Casablanca, Maipo, Bellavista, the main square Plaza de *Prices for Triple room, Single Room on request. winding streets are ideally explored Aconcagua Valleys Armas, Presidential Palace and Santiago’s Presidential Palace on foot, or by riding the funicular • Isla Negra & Pablo Neruda's Museum downtown. The rooms are railways which connect the hillside • Horseriding the Andes comfortable and modern though neighbourhoods. Many of the grand • Folkloric Night Tour & Dinner rather small, and the hotel has a houses have been converted into • Handicraft Market & Santa Lucia Hill restaurant and bar on which doubles boutique hotels, with terraces and • Valle Nevado( skiing possible) as the reception. views out over the Pacific Ocean. • Viña del Mar & Valparaiso 2016 - 2017 BROCHURE pag.74-99.qxp_6478 Vel Brochure 2-33 amended 12/04/2016 15:42 Page 90 HIGHLIGHTS OF CHILE Days 7-9 Our journey continues farther south, as we take a flight to Punta Arenas and transfer to Torres del Paine National Park where we stay for 3 nights at a comfortable lodge within the park for ease of access and the best walks and scenery. Our days are spent walking in this awe- inspiring area, where dramatic granite massifs rise from the earth, surrounded by glaciers, lakes and gnarled Magellanic beech trees. The walks vary from six 1 Days 1-4 Depart any day of the week hour treks, to 1 /2hr strolls. Whichever you for Santiago, arriving the next morning. choose, the scenery will be unforgettable. (B) Afternoon tour of the city, surrounded by the Andes stretching into the distance. Day 10 Transfer to Punta Arenas for Santiago offers bohemian areas, large your afternoon flight to Santiago. craft markets, grand central squares and Overnight in Santiago near the airport. (B) the Cerro San Cristóbal, a hill which can Tatio Geysers, Day 11 be reached by funicular railway, for Day 11 Flight to Calama and transfer superb panoramic views of the city. (B) through the driest desert in the world to Discover the magnificent landscapes that lie within this Optional excursions to Valparaíso and San Pedro de Atacama. Stroll in the village. Viña del Mar on the coast, the vineyards Witness the sunset at Pucará de Quitor, the thin ribbon of land between the Andes and the Pacific. of Santa Cruz or the surrounding valleys. ruins of a 700-year-old Indian fortress, with the Andes mountains stretching north and This tour which will lead you through three extremes - Day 5 Fly to Puerto Montt, capital of south as far as the eye can see. (B) the lush Lake District and transfer to the mountainous Atacama desert, silent and timeless; Puerto Varas. Afternoon free to explore Day 12 Tour of San Pedro village the city and surroundings at leisure. (B) including the ancient church. There is an the jade green lakes and mighty volcanoes of the Lake Archeological Museum, which houses District; and Southern Patagonia, a wild, windswept Day 6 A full day excursion to the fascinating examples of indigenous emerald green waters of Lago Todos Los Atacameño artefacts including ceramics, land of mountains and glaciers framed by the majestic Santos, visiting Petrohué Falls that flow metalwork and textiles.