When you book your flight, please keep in mind to the estimated times of arrival and departure of the Dutch participants. You should arrive prior to the Dutch travelers.
DJOSER MEANS “FREEDOM & CHOICE”
Our day-to-day program is not strictly regimented but is determined by collaboration between the guide and participants. The guide will organize and accompany many activities but will also make suggestions so that you can explore and dine, safely, on your own.
Santiago de Chile
Day 1 Hotel check-in (transit day for Dutch travelers)
Day 2 Santiago de Chile - morning (Dutch arrive 7 AM)
You can check in on day 1 and rest up for your trip. The land program will begin a couple hours after the Dutch travelers arrive the next morning. We will begin our tour in the busy Chilean capital of Santiago de Chile. This city of millions at the foot of the Andes has a dense colonial center. Out hotel is centrally located and the city has an excellent metro network so you will conveniently be able to visit all sites. Around the square in the center are interesting museums and important historical buildings, such as the renowned government palace Moneda, where president Allende died in 1973. If you want to take a break from culture you may find an outdoor café at one of the attractive plazas. Close to the beautiful Forestal Park is the “Mercado Central”, a big covered market. For lunch you may choose from several nice small restaurants. If you take the cog railway up to the Cerro San Cristobal you will have a vast view from this hill of the city and the surrounding valley and mountains. At night it will be nice to spend time in the section of Bellavista: there are many restaurants, bars and terraces, where you will already get to know some of the Chilean people. Also the area outside of the city has a lot to offer. Wine fanciers may go on a nice excursion to the famous orchards of Chile south of the city. If you prefer a sportive challenge you may choose to go rafting on the Rio Maipo or pay a visit to the nearby winter sport resort of El Colorado, an impressive scene at about 8,200 feet altitude and look up at snow topped mountains. In the Chilean winter from June to October you will be able to go skiing there, while in the summer months you may do some excellent hiking.
Viña del Mar
Day 3 Santiago de Chile - Viña del Mar
Day 4 Viña del Mar, optional excursion Valparaíso
Around noon we will drive by private bus for about two hours to Vina del Mar, a fancy and trendy seaside resort, comparable to the French Riviera due to the Mediterranean climate, the casino and the palm trees. This is where you will see the luxurious vacation homes of the rich South Americans often with magnificent yards. On a small carriage you may see the exquisite parks in the city or the Fonck Museum devoted to the mysteries of Rapa Nui, Easter Island, and the Mapuches, the original inhabitants of South Chile. You may also visit the harbor town of Valparaiso, which is proclaimed a world monument by UNESCO and easy to reach by bus or train. The old part of town is located on a narrow strip of land at the harbor and colorful houses are stuck to the steep slopes. You may take a tour on one of the fishing boats with a magnificent view from the bay or you may try a few of the no less than fourteen historical funiculars that provide transportation for pedestrians between the town beneath and the hills. Once you have tried two of those cable railways, you want to try them all. On top of some of those hills are surprisingly beautiful buildings with panoramic terraces. Make sure you visit the curious home of Pablo Neruda, the Chilean poet and Nobel Prize winner.
La Serena
Day 5 Viña del Mar - La Serena
Day 6 La Serena, night bus to San Pedro de Atacama
From the bus station of Vina del Mar we will leave for the six-hour trip to La Serena by “semi-cama”-bus partially along the coast. Because this bus will continue all the way to North Chile the chairs are made into half-beds, hence the name “semi-cama”, and there will be enough legroom. It is wonderful to see how the landscape changes dramatically in a matter of hours from European valleys full of cattle and orchards to desolate sand steppes.
In the seaside town of La Serena our hotel will be in the historical center. In the afternoon you will be able to explore the town or enjoy the beach. A nice place for lunch is one of the outdoor cafes on the second floor of La Recova, the restored market building. All kinds of handcrafts are for sale at the market. At night it will be fun to eat at the beach boulevard at one of many seafood specialty restaurants. You should really try the national dish once, a type of shrimp cocktail called “ceviche”. A nighttime excursion to the amateur observatory Mamalluca near Vicuna may be organized for people who want to observe the star-studded sky. In the hinterland of La Serena are several scientific observatories due to an average of 300 clear nights per year and the practical absence of light-pollution.
Also during the day several excursions are possible. For example, subject to the weather, you may take a boat tour to the Von Humboldt Reservation, which consists of some small rock islands in the Pacific where there are penguin, sea lion and pelican colonies. With some luck dolphins can be seen as well. In the Valle del Encanto you may get acquainted with the pre-Columbian cultures. There you may view rock paintings of the Moll Culture or take a hike through the unique rainforest in the Fray Jorge Reservation. This forest gets its water from the daily sea fog. If you are more interested in mountains and orchards you may go on an excursion to the Valle del Elqui, where the villages of Vicuna and Elqui are located with irrigated green valleys in the midst of mountains dry as dust. On a visit to a pisco bottling plant you may find out where the national drink of “pisco sour” comes from. In the course of the evening we will leave for San Pedro de Atacama by comfortable night bus so-called “semi-cama”.
San Pedro de Atacama
Day 7 Arrival San Pedro de Atacama
Day 8 San Pedro de Atacama
Day 9 San Pedro de Atacama
After some brief stops in the port town of Antofagasta and the mining town of Calama, we will reach the lively desert village of San Pedro de Atacama sometime in the afternoon. On the way you will already become familiar with the imposing desert landscape. At 8,000 feet San Pedro is situated at the foot of the almost 19,685 foot high Licanca Volcano. In our common hotel you will be able to rest from the bus trip before choosing one of the many pleasant restaurants. San Pedro is a natural oasis in the Atacama Desert, the driest desert in the world. This oasis has been inhabited for many thousands of years and the village of less than 2000 people has a rich past. San Pedro has a real colonial atmosphere with buildings grouped around a central square, built with the natural building material of adobe, including the white chalked church. Also worthwhile is a visit to the archeological museum with Indian mummies founded by a Belgian missionary and you may hike or bike to the Inca ruins just outside the village.
The surroundings of San Pedro are impressive. On an optional excursion you will be able to go deep into the Atacama Desert. On the way you will see vast salt lakes against a background of partly smoking, snow topped volcanoes and we will search for small oases hidden in deep gorges such as Tocanao and Jeri. You will pay a visit to the magnificent mountain lake of Lago Miscanti at 13,123 feet. Those who are interested may do a brief slightly descending hike on the highlands, the Altiplano.
On an optional excursion to the El Tatio Geysers you will reach the highest altitude of the trip at 14,763 feet. It is most beautiful there shortly after sunrise when the geysers are most active and you can see them bubble and spray. Despite the initial freezing cold it will be nice to relax in one of the steaming warm water ponds, especially when the sun rises from behind the mountains. On the way back you will see the herds of lamas and alpacas against a distant backdrop of smoking volcanoes. Towards sunset you may take a fun trip to the nearby Moon Valley, one of the few places on earth where there is not one single life form. The region is very photogenic with sand dunes, rugged rock formations formed by wind erosion and long shadows.
Salta
Day 10 San Pedro de Atacama - Salta
Day 11 Salta
Day 12 Salta
Late morning we will get on the scheduled service bus to Salta. We will reach the border with Argentina on a brand-new blacktop road between volcanoes and salt lakes, after crossing an icy Andes pass at more than 13,123 feet. Lunch will be served on the bus and in Susques. This is the first place on the Argentine side. There you will get a gratis sandwich with tea or coffee. We will travel partly on gravel roads through impressive Andes sceneries and make a long descent. We won’t arrive in Salta, the city of eternal spring, until after midnight. The attractive town of Salta has the best-preserved colonial cit center of Argentina and there are many cafes and restaurants. When you are recovered from the long bus trip you may stroll around the center and view the charming colonial buildings and churches. You may take the real Swiss cable lift on the San Bernardo hill for a grand panoramic view of the city and the surrounding mountains. You will also have time for a day excursion to the Humahuaca Canyon, a splendid mountain trip full of surprises on the way such as the Indian market of purmamarca (also look for the mountain with seven colors!), the pre-Columbian ruins of Tilcara with archeological museum and a replica of a “pucara”, an Inca fort. The canyon itself is 105 miles long with colorful rock formations and Candelabro Cactuses several yards high. In the past the train would “ride to the clouds” in this region. To get an impression of the overpasses, U-turns, tunnels and zigzags of the railroad track, a miracle of engineering art, you may follow the railroad on a gravel road by special 4WD-truck with panoramic deck. Those of you who wish to go rafting may go to a nearby valley. It is also possible to go on a day excursion to the countryside to become familiar with the gauchos style of life. See the gauchos throw the bola, go horseback riding and enjoy a delicious gaucho meal.
Cafayate and Tucuman
Day 13 Salta - Cafayate
Day 14 Cafayate - Tafí del Valle
Day 15 Tafí del Valle - Tucuman, night bus to Posadas
We will continue the tour going south by private bus through incredibly beautiful valleys and rock gorges to the wine village of Cafayate, where we will arrive around noon. The best wine of Argentina is from here, so a visit to some “bodegas” is part of the plan. You will also be able to visit many artist studios for ceramics, woodcarving, tapestry and other arts. At night there will be folklore dance and music in the restaurants, often around a fire in the courtyard, the ideal scenario to try out a “parillada”, an Argentine barbecue. Early in the morning we will get back on our bus that will take us to San Miguel de Tucuman. On the way we will stop in Quilmes at one of the most important Inca ruins of Argentina. Then the road will climb through a dry landscape to the 9,975-foot high Infiernillo Pass. On the other side lies the green valley where we will spend the night before we descend further to Tucuman. There you will have time to have lunch at the modern bus station or to send an e-mail home. At the end of the afternoon we will get on the night bus, semi-cama, to Posadas. On the way a simple supper and a breakfast will be served.
Encarnación, San Ignacio
Day 16 Arrival Posadas - Encarnación
Day 17 Encarnación - San Ignacio
On a private bus with guide we will travel a short distance (passing two customs checkpoints) from Posadas to the Paraguayan side of the Rio Parana, where we will spend the night in the town of Encarnacion. It will be nice to relax in our hotel with pool and sun terrace after the bus trip. And it will be nice to observe the local trading business of Encarnacion. The town lives primarily of the sale of toys and electronic knickknacks from China and all kinds of counterfeit brand products, mainly to Argentines. The next morning we will pay a visit to the ruins of the 18th century Jesuit missions Jesus and Trinidad, where the movie “The Mission” was filmed about the Christianization of the Huarani Indians and the fight against the slave drivers. The mission post Trinidad was founded in 1706 and had about 4,000 inhabitants around 1728. The most important church, the living units and a number of workplaces are still there to visit. In the nearby farming village of Hohenau, a German colony from the beginning of the 20th century, we may stop at an outdoor café for a German beer or to order an “Eisbein mit Sauerkraut”. In the afternoon we will return from Encarnacion to Argentina where we will spend the night in a common “pousada” in Capiovi, near San Ignacio. San Ignacio is the famous Jesuit mission post, which has been declared world heritage by UNESCO. When the weather is nice, you can enjoy dinner in the garden. The central point of the mission is the sandstone red church from 1696. In the small museum you will be able to find out everything about the history of the mission. At night you may attend a light and sound show.
Foz do Iguaçu
Day 18 San Ignacio - Foz do Iguaçu
Day 19 Foz do Iguaçu
In the morning you will have time to photograph the ruins by morning light, then we will head for Brazil by private bus. On the way we may stop at a “yerba-mate”-plantation. “Yerba-mate”, the most important drink in Argentina, Paraguay and the south of Brazil, where it actually is called “chimarrao”, is a very strong tea made of the leaves of the Ilex Paraguayensis. The drinking of the tea from a gourd goes hand in hand with all kinds of important rituals. We also might stop at a day mine of volcanic stones filled with colorful crystals. On the way to the Brazilian border we will already be able to go and see the Argentine side of the spectacular waterfalls of Iguacu. On this side you may get the closest to the waterfalls and you will realize how violently the water plunges down. These waterfalls, which are among the largest in the world, cover with no less than 275 large and small waterfalls a width of more than 2 miles and a 230-foot drop. We will spend the night on the Brazilian side in Foz do Iguacu. The atmosphere is very European, because in this region live many descendents of immigrants who often have a hard time distancing themselves from their European roots. On the Brazilian side you will have the nicest overview of the waterfalls. From the many paths and bridges along the river you will get a comprehensive impression. The most beautiful and also the most expensive way to admire this force of nature will be by helicopter. You may also go on a safari with jeeps and boats in the fairytale-like densely forested environment. Not far from Foz you may get a tour of the Itaipu Dam, the largest water power station in the world and famous as one of the Seven Wonders of the World. Itaipu supplies electricity for a large part of Brazil and all of Paraguay. It will also be possible to visit the place where the three countries meet and where the rivers of Parana and Iguacu merge.
Curitiba
Day 20 Foz do Iguaçu - Curitiba
Day 21 Curitiba
On a private bus with bathroom facitlities, we will travel for about ten hours through rolling landscapes to Curitiba, where we will stay in a hotel in the center of town. Curitiba may very well be the most European city of Brazil and is quite a contrast with most of the other large chaotic cities in Brazil. Curitiba has already won multiple international awards for the well functioning public transportation system the city has. In the center the pedestrian rules, not the car. Bus stops are seeing through tubes in which you buy your ticket at the entrance in order to speed up the boarding. Therefore the bus is the ideal mode of transportation to see the sights in the city. In the colonial heart near the Rua Claudino dos Santos you will find beautiful churches as well as attractive outdoor cafes. In the many parks students enjoy their leisure time. A real must is the optional excursion by train through the Serra do Mar Mountains to Morretes and the port town of Paranagua, a tour with a number of bridges, tunnels and waterfalls and breathtaking views. The 70-mile long train track from 1885 begins at an altitude of 2,950 feet and ends at the shore in a much warmer climate. From Morretes, a colonial jewel, famous for the delicious “barreado”, a hash-like stew served with cassava flour and bananas, you will travel at the end of the day by bus back to Curitiba, where you will be able to go out at night in the “24 Horas”-street.
Parati
Day 22 Curitiba - Sao Paulo - Parati
Day 23 Parati
In about ten hours we will travel by private bus via Sao Paolo, where we will switch busses to the historical port of Parati. This trip will take us through the magnificent Serra do Mar Mountains as well as the Brazilian Riviera. Parati is also called the pearl of the Costa Verde and still has a colonial center in perfect condition with Portuguese architecture and romantic cobblestone streets, attractive outdoor cafes and intimate restaurants. The “pousada” where we will spend the night is situated right near the old center. The best way to enjoy the beautiful beaches and tropical islands in front of the coast will be by a schooner tour on the bay. The ship will moor at some of the tropical islands to eat, to snorkel or to feed bananas to little monkeys.
Rio de Janeiro
Day 24 Parati - Rio de Janeiro
Day 25 Rio de Janeiro
Day 26 Rio - depart
We will travel by scheduled service bus along a picturesque coast filled with bays and islands to the smashing end of the trip: Rio de Janeiro. Our hotel is situated in Copacabana five minutes from the beach by foot. On the beach and on the boulevard some “Cariocas”, the so-called people of Rio, will always be showing off either running, doing fitness activities, or playing soccer or volleyball. Naturally you will visit the famous Sugar bread, “Pao de Açucar”, and the Corcovado with the Christ image, which both offer a magnificent view of the city. In the center are some old monuments such as the former imperial palace, the opera, the national library, but also the futuristic round cathedral. You may also take the famous trolley to Santa Teresa, Rio’s most beautiful section. An interesting optional excursion is a guided visit to the “favela” Rocinha, which with 200,000 people is the largest slum area of Brazil, where you will get to see the other face of the city. You might have the opportunity to attend a soccer match in the largest soccer stadium in the world, the “Maracana”. Nightlife in Rio is famous and a visit to Brazil is really not complete without an impression of how the Brazilians celebrate carnival: For example during a visit to one of the tourist variety shows that stage the various dances of Brazil. Of course you will also be able to enjoy the beach and sun a while before we depart.
