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July 2 – 13, 2010
From Easter Island's mysterious solitudes, where we pass among heads frozen in time and forever as inscrutable as their long-vanished makers, we journey in imagination to the star-studded entrails of the Southern Hemisphere sky. Then to the Patagonian steppes, fjords, and soaring peaks, we travel in the footsteps of Charles Darwin to view the total eclipse of the Sun.
Tour
includes:
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Roundtrip air from Los Angeles
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Inner South American air
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All airport/hotel/transfers
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First Class accommodations
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Meals: Breakfasts daily, 4 Lunches, 4 dinners
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All sightseeing as listed in the itinerary
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Wine included with dinners
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English speaking guides
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Astronomical lecturers
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Eclipse glasses
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Document packet
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
Friday/Saturday, July 2/3, 2010 —U.S.A – Santiago – Easter Island, Chile
Arrive Santiago, Chile. You will be met and transferred to the Holiday Inn Airport for day use.
After a rest, later in the afternoon you will visit the city of Santiago included lunch at the colorful Central Market.
Transfer back to the Santiago airport for your flight to Easter Island. Upon arrival on Easter Island, you will be transferred to the Hanga Roa Hotel. (L)
Sunday, July 4, 2010 —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. 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.
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. (B/L)
Monday, July 5, 2010 —Easter Island
Another full day to study and photograph Rano Kao, Orongo, Tahi, Ahu Akivi, Puna Pao, Te Pahu. 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.
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. (B/L)
Tuesday, July 6, 2010 —Easter Island – Santiago
Transfer to the airport for your flight to Santiago. You will proceed to the Holiday Inn Santiago Airport for overnight. (B)
Wednesday, July 7, 2010 – Santiago - Buenos Aires
Welcome to Buenos Aires. After claiming your luggage and clearing Customs, you are greeted and welcomed by our local representative and transferred to your hotel. The remainder of the day is at leisure. Buenos Aires is a city of contrasts with a variegated heritage that is reflected at every corner, creating a unique style. In this cosmopolitan city, the glamour and elegance of its European roots are interwoven with its undeniable Latin American essence. As a center of intense cultural activity, Buenos Aires offers the traveler innumerable opportunities for entertainment, visiting museums and historical sites, enjoying the best restaurants and traditional coffee houses and delightful shopping at the most important boutiques, antique shops and art galleries. This evening, enjoy dinner at La Cabrera, one of the best traditional parilla (Argentine steakhouse) in the trendy Palermo Viejo neighborhood. Overnight Dazzler Towers Hotel San Martin (D)
Thursday, July 8, 2010 – Buenos Aires
This morning, enjoy a city tour of Buenos Aires, which will allow you to follow the city's historical evolution through its most emblematic neighborhoods, visiting those special places that have become true icons of the city, and learning on the way about the life and customs of its inhabitants. Start at the historical Plaza de Mayo surrounded by the Government House (Pink House), the Metropolitan Cathedral and the ancient City Hall, seat of the former Spanish Viceroys. Continuation along May Avenue, of strong Spanish influence till you get to Congress Square facing the National Parliament. Drive along Callao Street till the intersection with Corrientes Avenue -- the never-sleeping avenue -- up to the most emblematic symbol of Buenos Aires: the Obelisk, passing by one of the widest avenues in the world, namely, 9 of July Boulevard as well as the famous Colon Opera House. Heading northeast, you will then reach the most fashionable districts of the city: Recoleta, with a scent of French charm and the spacious and oxygenating Palermo Parks for a relaxing stroll. Your tour will also include the bohemian and colorful neighborhood of La Boca -- of Italian immigrants -- and the elegant district of Recoleta, with a visit to its artistic cemetery, where Evita Peron's tomb is, among others of prominent local characters. Overnight Dazzler Towers Hotel San Martin (B/D)
Friday, July 9, 2010 – Buenos Aires
Enjoy a day at leisure to explore the city on your own and its European style, go shopping, visit its culturally inspiring museums and art galleries, or taking in optional excursions such as to immersing in history, culture and tradition and perhaps some horseback riding at an authentic estancia in the Pampas, an immense plain that covers the central area that surrounds the city of Buenos Aires across almost 1000 km. Here you can enjoy a delicious asado (barbecue) served with fine Argentine wines. Or venture to Tigre & the Delta, the northern exclusive resort of summer residences, yachting, rowing clubs and picturesque restaurants, or take in a day trip to Colonia, Uruguay located 45 minutes away by hydrofoil across the Plate River. Colonia is a UNESCO Manhood World Heritage Site founded by the Portuguese in 1680, and features wonderful old Portuguese colonial architecture and sycamore shaded streets.
This evening, you will get in close contact with the sensual music and dance of the Tango, Argentina's major cultural export, accompanied by dinner. For all its diversity, the elusive spirit of Argentina as a country is present everywhere in Buenos Aires. The national dance, the tango, is perhaps the best expression of that spirit--practiced in dance halls, parks, open plazas, and ballrooms. It is a dance of intimate separation and common rhythm, combining both an elegant reserve and an exuberant passion. Your seating is in the VIP section. The production features a large cast of dancers, along with a big orchestra of musicians and singers. It manages to strike a nice balance between "real" tango as it is danced in the salons or milongas, with the more spectacular, staged version that is bound to wow any audience. The space replicates a theater, with its decor reminiscent of the sophisticated elegance of the twenties. Overnight Dazzler Towers Hotel San Martin (B/D)
Saturday, July 10, 2010 – Buenos Aires / El Calafate
You are transferred to the airport for your flight to El Calafate, the premiere destination for travelers aching to experience the Southern Patagonia and the Los Glacieres National Park. In the southwestern tip of Patagonia, in the Province of Santa Cruz, the southernmost Argentine continental province rises a frigid plateau, 1500 meters above sea level, which gives birth to immense ice rivers: the glaciers. Declared a Natural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO in 1981, Los Glaciares National Park is the principal attraction of the El Calafate area. The park protects a vast area covered by glacier tongues coming down from the Southern Patagonia Ice Cap. The 47 plus glaciers flow into the Argentino and Viedma Glaciers creating a magnificent backdrop of ice tongues and turquoise water lakes crowned by snow-capped mountains. On arrival, you are met and transferred to your hotel. In the southwestern tip of Patagonia, in the Province of Santa Cruz, the southernmost Argentine continental province rises a frigid plateau, 1500 meters above sea level, which gives birth to immense ice rivers: the glaciers. Declared a Natural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO in 1981, Los Glaciares National Park is the principal attraction of the El Calafate area. The park protects a vast area covered by glacier tongues coming down from the Southern Patagonia Ice Cap. The 47 plus glaciers flow into the Argentino and Viedma Glaciers creating a magnificent backdrop of ice tongues and turquoise water lakes crowned by snow-capped mountains. Dinner will be a local restaurant tonight. Overnight Xelena Deluxe Suites (B/D)
Sunday, July 11, 2010 – El Calafate
This morning you visit the Calafate Balconies. This is an activity in 4WD vehicles where you can feel both the adrenaline that off-roading generates as well as the quietness created by the silence in that place. Moreover, you have the possibility of gazing at the immensity of a landscape where the steppe’s dryness gives way to civilization until it blends into the Argentino Lake and the mountains. The trip sets off from El Calafate to ascend to about 1050 mts above sea level. Here we arrive to the first balcony where you enjoy a panoramic view of El Calafate and the Eastern side of the Argentino Lake. With no clouds in the sky, you may also be able to see both the Chaltén and Torre mounts as well as the condor’s flight. You continue to another balcony, the Stones’ Labyrinth, an 85 million year-old Cretacic formation where our vehicles start descending towards the “Sombreros” stones. Here we enjoy a snack and something to drink. Without leaving the Argentino Lake’s image behind, we return to Calafate where you will enjoy a traditional lunch. Enjoy the gastronomy of Patagonia at a typical restaurant. Afterwards a visit to the Regional Museum, where you will learn about the first settlers and the difficulties they had to sort out in the region in the mid XIX century.
Then in the afternoon, go to the site for the best Solar Eclipse viewing. Return to El Calafate after eclipse viewing and enjoy dinner at your hotel. Overnight Xelena Deluxe Suites (B/L/D)
Monday, July 12, 2010 – El Calafate
El Calafate is the gateway to the famous Perito Moreno Glacier, known worldwide for its features. The Perito Moreno glacier has a height of 200 feet and an edge of 2 ˝ miles. Be seduced by the fascinating landscape of Argentina's Perito Moreno glacier on a full day tour from El Calafate. Explore glacier streams, small lagoons, gullies, crevasses and plenty of ice formations on this one of a kind South American experience. Learn about the different flora, fauna and general glaciology of the region. Perito Moreno Glacier is an impressive natural wonder and due to its extension and height, it has become world famous for its easy access, continuous advance and the loud loosening of huge icebergs. From your hotel, you will be transferred to the embarking pier located in "Bajo de las Sombras" bay- about 6 km before the Glacier Balconies. Here you first take the Safari Nautico excursion, a 1 hour sailing tour along Argentino Lake bordering the walls of the Perito Moreno Glacier, the best way to approach the glacier and appreciate its colors and size. The excursion consists of navigating in Rico Lake and this lets us watch the ice floes made of Perito Moreno Glacier ice. Reaching the south extreme of the Ice floes Channel, the ship stays at a safe distance away from the glacier's wall. The vessel sails along the side of the wall and we will be able to see the detachments produced. This excursion offers the possibility of watching the amazing Glacier's walls and the falling of the pieces of ice into Rico Lake's waters from a totally different perspective. You then travel to the balconies where you have time to walk around and take pictures. Follow the paths that lead you to face the glacier and get different impressive views, all while continuous detachments and constant ice breaking noises echoes in your surroundings. Return back to your hotel later in the afternoon. Our farewell dinner will be at a local restaurant. Overnight Xelena Deluxe Suites (B/L/D)
Tuesday, July 13, 2010 - El Calafate / Buenos Aires / Depart
Transfer to the airport for your flight back to Buenos Aires. Transfer from domestic to international airport to board your international flight onward. (B)
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