Read trip reviews from guests whom you can contact
Santhosh Kumar & Friends
(Sheboygan, Wisconsin, United States)
"We have been traveling for many years and dealt with various travel agents. Fred and Exploration Journeys has been the best ever. They have the art of travel arrangement to perfection!"
"Fred and Exploration Journeys must be 'cloned' to replicate the success internationally! You need to share your knowledge and passion!"
Santhosh visited: Buenos Aires, El Calafate, Peninsula Valdes, Ushuaia, Iguazu Falls and Rio de Janeiro.
This was their first trip to Argentina
TRIP REVIEW OF SANTHOSH KUMAR & FRIENDS
"I stumbled upon Exploration journeys and Fred through the web searching for travel itineraries to Argentina. We are a group of three couples in our 60s who took a two week trip from Orlando, USA to Buenos Aires to El Calafate to Puerto Madryn to Ushuaia to Iguazu falls to Rio de Janeiro and back to Orlando.
We have been traveling for many years and dealt with various travel agents. Fred and Exploration Journeys has been the best ever. They have the art of travel arrangement to perfection!"
SANTHOSH'S BOOKED TRIP ITINERARY
Flight arrival in Buenos Aires, Argentina! Welcome at the airport and transfer with private vehicle and guide to your hotel. |
You have an early check-in included, so you"ll get your room as soon as arrive, instead of having to wait until the check-in time. |
Images of Buenos Aires: European Heritage and Latin American Passion (private tour) The birthplace of Tango and Argentina’s vibrant capital, Buenos Aires is as captivating as the dance itself, an irresistible mix of elegance, passion, and culture. Commonly referred to as the âParis of Latin Americaâ, Buenos Aires is the best place in the world to enjoy a first-class tango show and to savor some of the tastiest steaks, accompanied by the celebrated Argentine Malbec wine. Our expert âporteñoâ (as locals are called) guide will take you on a cultural journey, where youâll visit the most iconic neighborhoods and learn about the highlights of the city; taking in its architecture, culture, history, and more! This tour is also a great opportunity to learn from your expert tour guide, the necessary information and useful tips to make the most of your free time in the city. This is a private 4-hour tour. The usual three stops we make on this tour and walk are downtown (Plaza de Mayo), La Boca, and the Recoleta neighborhood (to visit the cemetery). |
DAY 2: BUENOS AIRES |
Passion and Beauty: an Authentic World-class Tango Experience You are cordially invited to an evening of live music filled with passion, sensuality and dancing, at one of the best Tango venues in Buenos Aires: La Ventana. Located at the heart of the historic San Telmo neighborhood, youâll enjoy a world-class Tango show in a restored tenement building (or, âconventilloâ). This enchanting show also boasts unique features of Argentine folklore. As you step through the doors, youâll feel as though you have traveled back in time, with the interior of the building preserved in its original style. The show at La Ventana is a journey through the history of Tango, in which youâll experience different and authentic styles of this mesmerizing dance, each with its own particular set of music, dancing style, and costumes. Tango is a universe onto itself as it creates a multi-layered marriage of music, dance, singing and poetry. Private transfers to and from La Ventana are included, as well as dinner with non-alcoholic beverages & wine. |
DAY 3: LAST DAY IN BUENOS AIRES |
Transfer in private vehicle to Buenos Aires Airport. |
Flight arrival in El Calafate. Welcome at airport and private transfer to your hotel. Depending on your arrival time, you can relax at your hotel, enjoy your own explorations, or ask our local representative about suggested activities for your free time. |
DAY 4: EL CALAFATE |
Seven Panoramic Boardwalks of the Mighty Perito Moreno Glacier (private tour) Prepare to visit one of the worldâs most awe-inspiring and unique glaciers: The Perito Moreno. This bright white ice giant showcases its mighty glory in the Patagonian Glaciers National Park, which has been declared Mankindâs Natural Heritage site by UNESCO. The parkâs vast size not only gives it the distinction of being the largest ice mantle in the world, after Antarctica, but also the third largest fresh water reserve on the planet. The Perito Moreno is of the few glaciers in the world actually growing and advancing, as opposed to the majority of the worldâs glaciers, which are retreating and melting due to the effects of global warming. The ice that serenely sits above the water measures an impressive 262 feet (80 meters), which is just about the height of a 25-story building! And while thatâs an incredibly large size for the human eye to take in, consider that this measurement is only 15% of the glacier’s total height. Five times more ice is hidden underwater. Our destination is the panoramic boardwalks which overlook the Perito Moreno Glacier. Here, amidst the backdrop of the majestic, snow-capped Andes, youâll find yourself immersed in an unforgettable glacier experience, while enjoy amazing picture-taking opportunities from the seven panoramic balconies facing the front of the glacier. While the glacier itself is definitely the main attraction, the park also boasts remarkable scenery as well as glacial streams, small lagoons, crevasses, gullies, and plenty of ice formations thatâll dazzle the eye, surrounded by the scenic beauty of the Andes Mountain range, lakes and forest areas. This is a full-day private tour. |
The Mighty Perito Moreno Glacier Close-up Navigation Experience Take in the sheer size and beauty of the Perito Moreno Glacier as it towers before you, from an exciting close-up perspective, as we cruise across the pristine waters of the Rico Branch of the Argentino Lake, which borders the Southern wall of the Perito Moreno Glacier. The sheer magnitude of the southern wall alone is a humbling and inspiring sight. Weâll be stopping about 985 feet (300 meters) away from the southern wall of the glacier for some epic picture-taking opportunities that will showcase the grand scale and beauty of the glacier. This will be definitely a different perspective from what you experience on the panoramic boardwalks. This navigation is a 1-hour group tour done on the same day you do the Perito Moreno Glacier tour. |
DAY 5: LAST DAY IN EL CALAFATE |
Transfer in private vehicle to El Calafate airport. |
Flight arrival and transfer in private vehicle to your hotel. Depending on your arrival time, you can relax at your hotel, enjoy your own explorations, or ask our local representative about suggested activities for your free time. |
DAY 6: PENINSULA VALDES |
An Up Close Encounter with the Cute Magellanic Penguins of Patagonia (private tour) Get ready for a delightful encounter with some of the cutest and most charismatic creatures on the planet: the Magellanic penguins! Punta Tombo Reserve is home to the worldâs largest colony of Magellanic penguins, giving you the unique opportunity to get up close and personal with over a hundred thousand of these adorable creatures, which are only found on the Falkland Islands and the coasts of Argentina and Chile. This is a full-day private tour. |
Navigating to Discover the Dazzling Acrobatics of the Panda Dolphin Prepare to embark on a navigation adventure in the Patagonian Sea, to discover the beautiful black-and-white Panda Dolphins. Known for their playful behavior and electrifying speed, this super cute dolphin is very rare to see, as it is found in two spots on Earth: Patagonia, and near a very remote island in the Indian Ocean. The Panda Dolphin is very active, and is frequently seen swimming rapidly on the surface and leaping from the water, while surfing the waves created by the fast-moving boats. As they love swimming close to the surface, itâs easy to see them very clearly. They love to surf on breaking waves when very close to the shore, and can perform a variety of acrobatics, including spins and twists.
This is a group tour done on the same day you do your Punta Tombo’s Magellanic Penguins tour. |
DAY 7: LAST DAY IN PENINSULA VALDES |
Transfer in private vehicle to the airport. |
Flight arrival in Ushuaia. Welcome at airport and private transfer to your hotel. Depending on your arrival time, you can relax at your hotel, enjoy your own explorations, or ask our local representative about suggested activities for your free time. |
DAY 8: USHUAIA |
Iconic Images of Ushuaia: Navigating the Beagle Channel in a Small Yacht Get ready to navigate the same waters that famous naturalist Charles Darwin did aboard the HMS Beagle in 1833, while enjoying some of the most iconic sights in Ushuaia. You’ll hop aboard the Kams Yacht - a small and more exclusive boat that will allow you to get a closer view of the tour’s main highlights; and better than the views you get from the larger catamaran boat trips. As you navigate away from the harbour, youâll feel the Patagonian wind through your hair as you take in the panoramic view of Ushuaiaâs picturesque shoreline, with the backdrop of snow-peaked mountains. Weâll see Les Eclaireurs Lighthouse, the Sea Lion’s Island, and the Isla Los Pajaros (Birds Island). After observing the birds, we will navigate to the Bridges Islands. If the weather is not too windy youâll be able to disembark and hike on the island to see archaeological remains of the Yamana tribes. This is a group tour. |
DAY 9: LAST DAY IN USHUAIA |
Transfer in private vehicle to Ushuaia airport. You will take a flight to Buenos Aires and from there you will take another flight to Iguazu. |
Flight arrival in Iguazu. Welcome at airport and private transfer to your hotel. Depending on your flight arrival time, you can relax at your hotel, enjoy your own explorations, or ask our local representative about suggested activities for your free time. |
DAY 10: IGUAZU |
Witness the Unique Power & Might of the Iguazu Falls from the Argentine Side (private tour) âYou might have seen the photos. Even read about it. You might have visited other great waterfalls before. But you probably still have no idea what to expect when you come face to face with the almighty Iguazu Falls,â stated CNN in their article âIguazu Falls: Why this natural wonder should be on everyoneâs bucket list". To put that into perspective, Iguazu Falls is nearly twice as tall as Niagara Falls and nearly three times as wide. The late U.S. First Lady, Eleanor Roosevelt, was reportedly so impressed by the sight of Iguazu Falls that she exclaimed âPoor Niagara!â In 1984, Iguazu Falls became a UNESCO World Heritage Site; and in 2011, it was selected as one of the 7 winners of the âNew Seven Wonders of Natureâ worldwide competition in which more than 100 million votes were cast. Their size and scale are unlike any other waterfall on Earth. Made up of a system of 275 waterfalls, they have a staggering water flow of up to almost 3.5 million gallons (13 million liters) per second â enough to fill five Olympic swimming pools! Unlike Niagara Falls, which is surrounded by developments such as casinos, a revolving restaurant, and coffee shops, Iguazu Falls are located within one of the few remaining inland rainforests in South America, the Atlantic rainforest, which is a haven for more than 2,000 plant species, about 400 birds species, and 80 types of mammals! This is a full-day private tour. |
A Speedboat Adventure Up-Close the Iguazu Falls Get ready for a thrilling speedboat adventure, enjoying a unique, up-close perspective of the majestic Iguazu Falls and experience a different viewpoint of the falls from what you’ll see from the panoramic boardwalks. Our speedboat will zip the waters of the Iguazu River and approach the falls getting thoroughly splashed by their mist as you hear their loud roar! This ride provides a unique and extremely close-up view of the San Martin and Three Musketeers falls with the opportunity to take outstanding close-up photos. The high point of this experience will be without a doubt, being showered under the mist of the San Martin Falls; the second strongest falls in the Iguazu system. Now itâs time to hop on board and begin our waterfall adventure! This is a 12-minute group tour and is done on the same day you do the Argentinean side of the falls tour. This tour has an age restriction (click on tour name above for details). |
DAY 11: LAST DAY IN IGUAZU |
Behold the Breathtaking Panoramic Views of Iguazu Falls from the Brazilian Side (private tour) With 80% of the falls located on the Argentine side, it is only from the Brazilian side that one can see almost all of them at once, in full, breathtakingly panoramic views. The Brazilian side offers majestic scenic views of the beauty and entirety of the falls; this is because the Brazilian footbridge lies across the river from the falls, offering a unique perspective and epic scenic views, making the Brazilian side different and absolutely complementary to the experience from the Argentine side. This is a half-day private tour. |
Walking Among Exotic Birds in the Iguazu Rainforest (private tour) Youâre about to enter a one-of-a-kind bird sanctuary! Here youâll find the largest colony of toucans on display in the world, as well as the largest colony of parrots on display in South America, along with 150 different bird species from Brazil and all over the world, many of them endangered. Located in the midst of the lush tropical rainforest, Foz Tropicana Bird Park is an internationally-recognized rescue and preservation center for endangered birds; and itâs among the most important ones in South America. Youâll find yourself side by side a myriad of exotic birds, in the three walk-in aviaries, where youâll have the opportunity to have an up-close and personal experience with amazingly colorful parrots and Toco Toucans, among many other birds⊠all of them right next to you or even flying over your head! In addition to the diversity and beauty of the birds youâll see, the park itself presents itself as a unique location. It covers nearly 40 acres (16 hectares) of rainforest, so youâre quite literally going to find yourself in the middle of nature as you make your way along the trails! This visit lasts from an hour and a half to 2 hours and is done on the same day you do the Brazilian side of the falls tour. |
Transfer in private vehicle to Foz do Iguaçu airport. |
Flight arrival in Rio de Janeiro. Welcome at the airport and transfer to hotel with private vehicle and guide. Depending on your arrival time, you can relax at your hotel, enjoy your own explorations, or ask our local representative about suggested activities for your free time. |
DAY 12: RIO DE JANEIRO |
The "Christ the redeemer" Statue, Tijuca Tropical Forest, Rio’s Historic Center and Off-the-Beaten-Path Explorations (private tour) Get ready to marvel at the most important icon of Rio de Janeiro and one of the winners of the "New 7 Wonders of the World" worldwide competition, in which more than 100 million votes were cast: the Corcovado Mountain and its âChrist the Redeemerâ statue. Our expert local guide will not only take you atop the Corcovado Mountain, where the colossal statue stands, but heâll also help you discover the off-the beaten-path panoramic viewpoint âDona Marta,â which most travelers do not get to see. This road less traveled offers amazing and unobstructed clear views to almost the entirety of the city (even on cloudy days when the views from the top of Corcovado Mountain are practically non-existent!).
We’ll also see the Tijuca Tropical Forest, one of the main reasons why Rio was designated a World Heritage Site by the United Nations. Weâll later visit Rioâs historic quarters and appreciate the urban beauty that has earned Rio the honor of having been declared the first World Capital of Architecture by the United Nations and the Council of the International Union of Architects, as a recognition to the architectural treasures that show the cityâs culture and history since the 16th century. Our final experience as "Cariocas" (as locals from Rio are known) will be hopping aboard a "bondinho" (a very cute local tramway) that runs from the beautifully-preserved, historic neighborhood of Santa Teresa to the hip and bohemian Lapa neighborhood. This visit will include witnessing the largest sculpture in the world made by a single man, according to National Geographic: the Selaron Tiles staircase.
This is a full day private tour. |
DAY 13: RIO DE JANEIRO |
A Cable Car Ascent to the Sugarloaf Mountain and its Astounding Panoramic Views (private tour) Get ready to behold some of the most eye-popping panoramic views of Rio de Janeiro, embarking on a ride in a cable car to the mountaintop of one of the cityâs most recognized icons: Sugarloaf Mountain. This is one of the main highlights that made Rio de Janeiro the #1 destination in South America, as voted by millions of travelers on Trip Advisor in 2017. Once we reach the top of Mount Sugarloaf, weâll feast our eyes upon a stunning 360-degree panoramic view, including Rioâs beaches, mountains, and the Tijuca forest (itâs the largest tropical forest in the world in an urban setting). Also, in a leisurely walk across the newly renovated Olympic Boulevard, we’ll see the largest graffiti on the planet, a colorful and detailed depiction of Brazilian faces. To top the day off, we’ll end this tour relaxing at Arpoador peninsula, a beach that boasts one of the best views of Rio’s beaches and coastline.
This is a half day private tour. |
DAY 14: RIO DE JANEIRO |
Transfer in private vehicle and guide to the airport. We look forward to welcoming you again in Argentina and Brazil! |
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