Best of Buenos Aires, Santiago & Easter Island Tour

Buenos Aires has often been referred to as the “Paris of South America,” due to the resplendent 19th-century streets framed with elegant architecture. Boulevards shaded with marvelous trees contain cafes and bakeries filled with the aromas of fresh espresso and buttery puff pastries. Your flight lands at Ministro Pistarini International Airport, and you meet your private transfer at baggage claim. The rosy hues of the façade at the presidential mansion of Casa Rosada adorn the 16th century Plaza de Mayo. The square extends for two full blocks and retains an important position in the history of the city dating back to the Spanish arrival, along with Argentina’s uprising against Spain in 1810.

The striking figure of Palacio Barolo, located near the end of Avenida de Mayo soars above the surrounding buildings, retaining its title as one of South America’s tallest structures. The palacio was completed in 1923 with the intention of serving as a symbol for Dante Alighieri’s Divine Comedy. The building has 22 floors to coincide with the epic poem’s 22 stanzas. The interior takes visitors on a journey through the far reaches of Dante’s imagination while climbing to the top of the tower to reach paradise, an observation deck offering a 360 degree view of the remarkable city from a height of 328 feet above the streets, allowing you the perfect introduction to the splendors of Buenos Aires’ culture, past and present.

In the morning, the sunlight filters through the doorway of El Ateneo Grand Splendid, a former stunning theater turned into a celebrated bookshop. Stacks of books line the walls encircling the open center beneath the dome. A café sits on the stage, packed with tables and locals eager to enjoy a creamy cappuccino amongst the swirling aromas of coffee, pastries, and pages. After breakfast, your guide meets you at the hotel eager to show you the highlights of the city, taking in the cobblestone streets of Recoleta and the colorful corrugated homes of La Boca. You make your way to the old quarters of San Telmo to view the colonial-style homes and narrow lanes showcasing quiet cafes and artist lofts.

Inside the Recoleta Cemetery, your guide leads you along the staggering display of 6,400 mausoleums adorned with statues and engravings crafted by internationally renowned sculptors. The sunlight glints off the marble fixtures. The wide avenues in the cemetery lead to narrow walkways before you reach the tomb of famous Argentine Eva “Evita” Peron. Brass plaques frame the doorway decorated with filigree. Admirers of the former First Lady leave fresh flowers on the step each morning. The unique grounds of the cemetery showcase the history of the city and the country. Your discovery of the city’s character continues with a private tango lesson taught by a professional.

The sunlight spreads across the city returning the rosy glow to the façade of Casa Rosada. Locals enjoy the refreshing morning air while sitting on the patio of a café in Recoleta, overlooking the grassy plaza and gorgeous cathedral. The scent of apple pancakes drizzled with dulce de leche emanates from the kitchen. After breakfast, you venture to an estancia located outside of Buenos Aires for a view of the ranch culture ingrained in the history of Argentina, similar to the American West’s iconic cowboy.

You reach the open plain connected to the ranch finding a mixture of cozy ambiance and untamed landscape spreading across nearly 3,000 acres. The ranch-style home is long and comfortable with a kitchen filled with the scent of fresh-baked empanadas and cookies. Horses parade around the corral. The short grass allows the horses to dig deep into the soil without fear of rocky or harsh terrain. A sporadic grouping of trees rises along the horizon. You see gauchos, cowboys, speeding across the plain with their circular brimmed hats billowing in the breeze.

The scent of fire and slow roasting beef fills the air. The gauchos showcase their riding skills, cutting back and forth with the horse, and even riding backward for short periods of time. Off the horse, the gauchos sip yerba mate tea, which has a herbaceous and slightly bitter aroma. Dancers perform bits of tango as musicians strum guitars and tap the drums, adding to the welcoming ambiance of the ranch, inviting you in to enjoy a traditional barbecue on the Argentinian plain.

In the morning, the artists return to the streets of the La Boca neighborhood to capture the sunlight spreading over the pastel-painted homes rising above the cobblestones. The museum of El Zanjon de Grandos stands within a 200–year-old mansion erected over tunnels dating back to the earliest European settlements of the city, revealing that Buenos Aires is filled with endless layers of wonder. After breakfast, board your private transfer to the airport for your flight to Santiago, Chile. Pass over the undulating snowcapped peaks of the Andes, the longest mountain range in the world, reaching a length of nearly 5,600 miles.

As your flight descends into Comodoro Arturo Merino Benitez International Airport, you have a view of the Andean foothills to the east, the Pacific Ocean to the west, and the picturesque skyline of Santiago’s central business district. Your private transfer meets you at baggage claim and escorts you to the comforts of a luxurious centrally located hotel. The city’s arts district thrives with inspirational exhibits on display in the Centro Gabriela Mistral, a stunning cultural and performing arts center named after the Chilean poet who was also the first Latin American woman to win the Noble Prize in Literature. Vaulted ceilings and cantilevers present a distinctive style, offering views of the bustling streets and little plazas where locals sip coffee and snack on el lomito, a classic steak sandwich.

In the morning, the scent of coffee sweetened with condensed milk spills out of a local café in the Lastarria neighborhood of the city, crafting specialty drinks made to the tastes of each guest. The cool mountain air sweeps down from the neighboring peaks and rushes through the streets rustling the leaves of the shading trees. You step out of the hotel with your guide ready to tour the contrasts of architecture and contemporary culture of Chile’s capital city. Fresh fish brought in from the port and popular seafood restaurants fill the wrought-iron frame of Mercado Central. Locals prefer the relaxed ambiance of the delicious seafood stalls positioned around the periphery, sampling the cuisine created using the fresh seafood brought to the market.

The main square of Plaza de Armas was erected on a grid pattern decorated with historic structures dating back to the 16th century. Palm trees rise above the cobblestones in imitation of the cathedral spires. The fountain continues to trickle with water and once provided locals with the fresh water brought from the aqueduct. The present day cathedral was erected in the 18th century and contains a mixture of Spanish and Italian baroque façade. The true dimensions of the structure overtake the side street of Calle Catedral, from which you can see the large wooden doors set beneath the stunning archways and pediment. In the afternoon, you travel down to Maipo Valley to visit a local winery, happy to sample the varietals growing along the valley floor and rising foothills.

The morning light spreads across the city and over the ocean blue colors of Pablo Neruda’s custom-built home known as La Chascona. The poet’s words adorn the exterior while his flamboyant personality emanates from the seafaring décor. After breakfast, the day is yours to enjoy the splendors in and around Santiago at your preferred pace. The coastal town of Valparaiso easily connects to the capital city. The poetic streets of Valparaiso rise along the hills reaching away from the Pacific Ocean. Antique funiculars continue to travel up and down the hillsides carrying locals into the suburbs.

The bohemian ambiance swells in the streets alongside a glowing street art decorating the maze of steep streets and stairways. Historic mansions provide pristine views of the water and the dramatic blue hues of the palatial edifice of the Naval Command crowning Plaza Sotomayor. Atop the hill stands Pablo Neruda’s second residence. The poet’s love for the sea is evident in his choice of décor and preference in how his house is situated, with a view of the coastline from nearly every room. You can imagine the celebrated artist hosting parties, ducking into the hidden doorways to sneak into different rooms. A collection of ship figureheads and glasswork decorate the living and dining rooms.

In the morning, the images of Vina del Mar’s remarkable beaches linger in your thoughts. The scent of the sea reminds you of the light waves and relaxing ambiance sweeping across the sister city of Valparaiso before you find the mouthwatering aromas of chocolate and coffee emanating from the doors of a café in the Providencia neighborhood. After breakfast, your private transfer escorts you to the airport for your flight to Easter Island, the most secluded island in the world, located nearly 1,300 miles from the nearest inhabited land.

The mystical atmosphere draws you closer to shores, where you find turquoise waters splashing against smooth boulders, and short-grass plains blanketing hills and reaching upwards to the conical peaks of active volcanoes. Your flight lands at Mataveri International Airport. The tropical scenery surprises you as the verdant trees and grassland frames the runway. Your private transfer meets you and escorts you to a hotel situated atop a small hill, providing unbridled views of the various shades of blue glowing along the Pacific Ocean.

Easter Island resembles an open-air museum, from the breakwater providing pristine waves to protected coral reefs perfect for snorkeling. The ravenous beauty of the black sand leading to the volcanic peaks contrasts the pristine white sand beaches framing sapphire waters. After breakfast, you meet your guide and feel your heart racing with excitement due to the promises of the mysterious atmosphere and enchanting landscape. You drive to the south coast and reach the bay of Hanga Te’e. You can feel the island’s seclusion in the way the cliffs frame the ocean as the waves crash against the shoreline. Seven moai, the name for the Easter Island heads, once decorated the coast looking out to the distance.

The faces remain in place; however, they have fallen over, allowing the vegetation to bury much of the stone statues, leaving the backs of the heads protruding from the landscape like rocks. Ceremonial platforms stand beside a large circle of stones creating a Paina, named for the ceremony that once took place inside the sphere. You continue to Rano Raraku, where 900 stone statues once stood on the foothills of an extinct volcano leading to the shores of Crater Lake. The volcanic tuff stone is softer and more fragile than basalt, allowing the Rapa Nui to turn the area into a quarry. Nearly 400 statues remain standing on the hills, with horses grazing on the wild grass beneath the towering heads that reach a height of more than 42 feet.

The high plateau of reaches the Poike Peninsula along the foothills of extinct volcano Maunga Pu A Katiki. The crater reaches a height of more than 1,300 feet above sea level, overlooking the steep cliffs plunging into the sea. After breakfast, your exploration of the island’s majesty continues with a panoramic view of the landscape from the top of Rano Kau. The extinct volcano stands nearly 1,070 feet above sea level with sporadic pockets of basaltic rock peeking through the grass. A dip in the crater’s edge frames the distinct cobalt hues of the Pacific Ocean.

The cauldron-like shape of the crater creates a mini-ecosystem swarming with tropical heat, allowing oranges and pineapples to grow effortlessly. Caves form networks near the waters and along the foothills of the extinct volcanoes, opening to stunning views, along with providing unique insight into lingering images of the Rapa Nui culture. Ana Kai Tangata is one of the most accessible caves on the island and is known for the paintings located on the left back wall. The figures depict birds painted with pigments found in the earth and local animals. One of the birds even overlapped a European ship, placing the artistry of the work more recently than originally expected.

In the morning, surfers take out to the waters along Anakena in the northeast to enjoy the picture-perfect white sand shores. The opulent figures of seven moai with topknots rise above the coast. The waves splash down, spouting up refreshing mist in the South Pacific heat. Horses wander the hillsides enjoying the open space before traversing the trails with tours. The history of the island maintains it mysterious ambiance and enchanting scenery, both of which you experienced throughout your days traversing the shores and peaks. Your private transfer meets you at the hotel after breakfast and escorts you to Mataveri International Airport to board your flight home.