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January
20-30, 2007
Tour
includes:
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Roundtrip airfare from Los Angeles or Miami on LAN CHILE
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Roundtrip internal flights: Santiago/Easter Island & Santiago/Patagonia
- Accommodations
as indicated in the itinerary
- Meals
as indicated (B-Breakfast/L-Lunch/D-Dinner)
-
Guided tours inclusive of entrance fees
- Service
of an expert English speaking guide(s) during all excursions
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Airport Meet/Greet and transfers
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Porterage at airports and hotels provided within Chile for one
large checked bag
Distinguished
Lecturers
Dr.
Frank Drake, Dennis Mammana, Dr. William Sheehan
For
a general interest form, and registration, please contact MWT Associates
at tours@melitatrips.com
or visit their website at www.melitatrips.com
Please
note, individuals who sign up for a trip with reference to
the ASP will be added to our mailing list unless you email
us with a request to be removed. You can also view our
privacy policy for additional
information.
ITINERARY
January
20/21 — U.S.A. - Santiago, Chile
Board your flight for Santiago, Chile and begin the search for Darwin's
Exploration. Upon arrival in Santiago, you will be met at the airport
and transferred to the Diego de Almagro Hotel for a dayroom use.
After a rest, lunch will be taken to the colorful Central Market
with a city tour of Santiago to follow before your flight to Easter
Island for the next four nights. (L)
January
22 — Easter Island
After breakfast, a full day tour is planned to Rano Raraku, Tongariki,
and Anakena to visit the ancient ruins of Vaihu temple. It is preserved
just as it was left after the ancient wars and is situated next
to the Vaihu fisherman's wharf. Continue towards Ahu Akahanga, a
large ahu (platform) with four big fallen statues. Several phases
of construction are visible: 4 platform 12 moais and 8 pukao, feature
a boat ramp, houseboats and stone-lined fire pits (umu pae). One
of the most well-preserved villages can be observed inland from
the ahu. Later, visit Rano Raraku quarry, classic symbol of the
island and original factory of the moais. The gigantic statues cover
the inner and outer slopes of the volcano; they can be admired from
carvings in the rock to upright position to lying face down on the
road.
After
lunch, we continue to Tongariki, formerly the biggest platform on
the island, destroyed by a tidal wave in 1960 and now reconstructed.
This is the largest ahu on the island. It has 15 moai and the axis
of the platform faces the rising sun of summer solstice. Beyond
the main plaza, there is an important petroglyph site called Papa
Tataku Poki with figures such as tunas, turtles, Make Make, Bird-Man.
The tour continues along the North Coast to visit Ahu Te Pito Kura.
From there, you will drive by La Perouse Bay to the beautiful archeological
site of Anakena. This is a beautiful beach with white coral sands
chosen for the arrival of Ariki Hotu Matu'a and his sister, Avareipua.
(B/L)
January
23/24 — Easter Island
Another full day to study and photograph Rano Kao, Orongo, Tahi,
Ahu Akivi, Puna Pao, Te Pahu. Astronomical lecture and sky photography
tonight. The route ascends the slopes of the Rano Kao volcano to
the summit to reveal the impressive crater noted for its 1.6km diameter
and more than 200m depth. Along the crater is Orongo, a magnificent
ceremonial city where the majority of the island's petroglyphs are
concentrated, representing mainly images of the bird-like man Tangata
Manu, Make-Make, god of creation, and Komari, a fertility symbol.
From the edge of the cliff, observe the three islets Motu Iti, Motu
Nui, and Motu Kao Kao. Their ceremonial village of Orongo is made
up of 53 oval-shaped houses with stone walls and small square entrance
facing the sea. The houses are laid out in two rows, one of which
ends at the sacred site called Mata Ngarahu, center for the Bird-Man
rituals and the most richly decorated area of the Island displaying
a wide variety of petroglyphs.
The
afternoon excursion is to Ahu Akivi, cave and quarry. The excursion
visits Ahu Akivi site called The Seven Moais. These are the first
Ahu to be scientifically restored on the island by William Mulloy
and Gonzalo Figueroa in 1960. The platform with seven moai, faces
the rising sun of the equinox. According to recent folklore, it
represents seven young explores sent before the arrival of Hotu
Matu'a in reconnaissance of the island seen by the spirit of Haumaka
from Hiva the Banana's Cave and Puna Pao quarry. Red scoria apparently
represents hair that was dyed using red earth. Since only 50moai
have these cylinders, and there are 31 more at Puna Pao, it is believed
that this addition was a late development related to increased strength
of the tribes. (B/L)
January
25 — Easter Island - Santiago
With new insights to an enigmatic land, transfer back to the airport
for the flight back to Santiago and overnight before continuing
to Patagonia. (B/In-flight meals)
January
26 — Santiago - Southern Patagonia
After the flight to Puerto Arenas. Transfer through vast stretches
of treeless Patagonian steppe, where thousands of wild sheep feed
on grassy hills. Overnight at Puerto Natales. (B)
January
27 — Southern Patagonia
Today's thrilling cruise along the Ultima Esperanza Fjord will take
us to the icy edges of the massive Balmaceda and Serrano Glaciers.
Feel the rumble of the gigantic blocks of ice crashing into rivers
of ice; hear hoarse bark of seals and seal lion colonies along the
rocky outcrops; search for porpoises and black neck swans in the
icy sea. The cruise allows photography of spectacular scenes from
a variety of perspectives, sailing within arm's reach of the glaciers.
Enjoy the fascinating colonies of sea birds along with the amazing
mountain ranges. (B/L)
January
28 — Torres Del Paine National Park
Travel amid some of the greatest mountain scenery in the world,
Torres Del Paine National Park. The park covers 181,000 hectares
and is situated in the Ultima Esperanza Inlet. There are several
types of pampas, thick Magellanic forests, and lagoons filled with
ice floes. The highlight are the Towers and Horns of Paine; it has
multitude of multi colored lakes such as: Nordeskjold, Pehoe, Toro,
Sarmient and Grey; Laguna Azul with its snow capped peaks Grey and
Dickson and the Serrano River, holds large salmon. We will see glaciers
surrounded by gigantic rocks that characterize the silhouette of
the Horns of Paine. (B/L)
January
29/30 — Torres Del Paine/Punta Arenas/Santiago/U.S.A
Transfer back to Punta Arenas today in time for your flight back
to Santiago, where you connect with the overnight flight to the
U.S.A. (B/In-flight meals)
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