Santiago to Buenos Aires: Volcanos, Valleys & the Lake District

Arrive at any time. Santiago is special for its unique blend of lively city life and easy access to nearby natural wonders. Get to know the area on your own and simply enjoy being nestled between the towering Andes and mighty Pacific Ocean. Later attend a Welcome Meeting to mingle with your fellow travellers and grow excited for the adventures to come. Snap some photos and get those playlists queued up.

Included Experiences

• Connect With New Friends: Connect with new friends on your first night out in a new destination. Only available on 18-to-Thirtysomethings tours.
• Meet Your CEO and Group: Your opportunity to meet your CEO and fellow travellers, and learn more about your tour. Opt to join the group for a local meal afterwards. Don't forget to see the notice in the lobby (or ask reception) for the official time and place to meet up with the group.

Enjoy the day in Santiago, Chile’s capital. From delicious local cuisines to interactive museums and cable car rides, this is a wonderful city to get lost in for the day. Choose to check out the street art in Barrio Bellavista, explore the city by bike, enjoy historic parks with gardens, pathways, and viewpoints, or perhaps book a day trip to Valparaíso for a visit to the nearby cold-climate wineries. Later meet back up with the group for a quick briefing and time to grab dinner on your own and buy some snacks before your overnight bus ride to Pucón. Get ready to fully embrace South American local transportation and enjoy the company of your new travel family.

Included Experiences

• Free Time: Spend the entire day exploring Santiago at your own pace. From gorgeous city parks to day trips to nearby wineries, there are plenty of options to choose from to get you out of your comfort zones and into the gorgeous surrounding landscapes. Make sure to leave some time to try delicious local food staples like empanadas de pino, pastel de choclo, sopaipillas, and of course, fresh ceviche.
• Overnight Bus: Enjoy time with your new travel family, swapping stories and playing games. Then curl up and catch a snooze en route to the next stop.

Arrive to Pucón as the day begins to shed its light on this quaint, adventure town in central Chile’s Lake District near Lake Villarrica and the snow-capped Villarrica volcano. Walk from the bus station to the nearby hostel and get settled. Then, it’s time to enjoy yourselves in a place renowned for its access to hiking trails, water sports, and natural hot springs. Choose to go for a soak and sooth those muscles after the long bus ride, or perhaps try rafting on the Trancura River. From laid back vibes to adrenaline pumping adventure, the day belongs to you.

Included Experiences

• Free Time: Spend the entire day exploring Pucón at your own pace. From hot springs to hikes, to community visits, and water sports, this town is a fantastic place to enjoy the spirit of adventure. The scenery is breathtaking and you can choose to try a variety of optional activities, creating the exact paced day you desire after a night of travel.

Take advantage of another free day in Pucón to try one of the many different optional activities available in the area. Head out onto the lake for a kayak ride, chill out down town with stunning views of the snow-capped volcano in the distance, or if you’re seeking out more of a challenge, consider the Villarrica Hike to the top of the volcano for epic vistas of the surrounding landscape and lakes. It’s the perfect reel in the making.

Included Experiences

• Free Time: A second chance to enjoy all Pucón has to offer during a full free day. Choose to visit and soak in another one of the nearby hot springs, go for a boat ride, try sailing on the lake, or visit Huerquehue National Park. Opt to enjoy a leisurely kayak ride, or simply relax on the black sand beach of Lake Villarrica. From shopping to hiking, or sipping a coffee at a local café, there are so many different options to choose from to make your time here rewarding and memorable.

Optional Experiences

• Kayaking Pucon: Pucon is a paddler's paradise of world renown. There's numerous opportunities for both whitewater kayaking and scenic lake kayaking, ask your guide where your best options are located.
• Guided Huerquehue Park Visit: Explore the lagoons and lush forests of Chile's Lake District in Huerquehue National Park with a guide.

Hit the road today to Puerto Varas. Opt to grab one final breakfast in Pucón with your travel pals and then walk to the bus station in town to board the local bus. Then, sit back, relax, and enjoy the scenery as you travel further south through Chile. Arrive in the late afternoon and enjoy free time to get settled before choosing to find a cool spot to share some appetizers with the group.

Included Experiences

• Free Time: Spend a free evening in Puerto Varas getting to know the area and take in your surroundings. Remember to take pictures and videos for your family and friends at home.
• Local Bus: Climb aboard, grab a seat, and enjoy the ride.

Another beautiful day to explore on your own. Think stunning natural landscapes and a variety of outdoor activities. Located on the shores of Lake Llanquihue, you will be able to enjoy views of the Osorno and Calbuco volcanoes. It’s a place that offers a unique blend of European charm and Chilean culture. Options to choose from during your time here include, a visit to Chiloe Island and its colourful stilt houses known as palafitos, or its UNESCO Churches. You could also challenge yourself and trek the Osorno volcano for some bragging rights upon returning home. Later, opt to reconvene with the group and pick a place for an optional dinner together.

Included Experiences

• Free Time: From hiking to island visits there's no time to waste! Fall in love with the outdoor haven of Puerto Varas and choose from a variety of activities that will get you out into the stunning landscape of Chile's southern lake district.

Hop on a local bus from Puerto Varas to San Carlos de Bariloche. Gaze out at the gorgeous Chilean scenery, download your favorite podcast, play those travel vibe playlists on repeat, swap stories, and share laughs with your friends. You will cross the border into Argentina today, so have those passports handy. Arrive in the evening and get settled in your new destination.

Included Experiences

• Local Bus: Climb aboard, grab a seat, and enjoy the ride.
• Border Crossing (Chile - Argentina): Cross the border between Chile and Argentina at Paso Cardenal Antonio Samoré. Have your passports handy.

Get ready to encounter more epic scenery in Bariloche! Home to a unique blend of European and Argentinian culture, the town is situated on the shores of Nahuel Huapi Lake and surrounded by the mighty Andes. It’s known fondly as the “Switzerland of Argentina” and boasts a strong chocolate and craft beer scene. After breakfast enjoy an introductory stroll through the beautiful Patagonian landscapes. Encounter viewpoints along the Small Circuit and ride the chairlift to Cerro Campanario for panoramic views. Then, spend the remainder of the day falling in love with the town’s charm and pursuing one of the many outdoor optional activities available. From horseback riding to rafting, there’s no time to waste! Make sure those phones are charged up for epic selfies.

Included Experiences

• Small Circuit & Cerro Campanario: Enjoy a captivating introduction to Bariloche amid the town's stunning landscapes as you stroll along the Small Circuit. Then, take the chairlift up to Cerro Campanario for the perfect vantage point and panoramic views of the area.
• Free Time: The afternoon belongs to you. Choose from a wide variety of outdoor adventure optional activities in the area like horseback riding, rafting, biking, or hiking. You can also choose to visit Isla Victoria and Bosque de Arrayanes.

Rest is for when you get back home! Enjoy a full free day in Bariloche’s outdoor paradise to do as you please. Adventurous activities await, or you could choose to stroll around town, find a cute cafe and people watch. Though, if you’re asking us, we think a chocolate tasting or brewery hopping could make for an ideal day by the lake.

Included Experiences

• Free Time: Spend a full free day at your leisure in beautiful Bariloche. From hiking and biking, to getting out on the lake, or checking out cool shops in town, there are plenty of options to fit whatever vibe you are going for.

Take advantage of a slow morning to recover from the busyness of the last few days. Take in the serene beauty of Bariloche and collect the supplies you will need for the next leg of the adventure. Part of South America’s charm resides in the affordable and crazy long bus rides between destinations and countries. Get ready to experience one for yourself as the group boards a local bus from Bariloche to Buenos Aires. Download some podcasts, playlists, and tv shows, grab a deck of cards or other fun group games and get ready for a memorable ride north. While it will be a long 24hrs of travel, the experience will certainly leave an impression, and it’s worth partaking it at least once during your South American escapades. Prepare for authentic local, long-distance travel, you’re going to love it!

Included Experiences

• Overnight Bus: Curl up and catch a snooze en route to the next stop.
• Free Time: Rest up for the journey ahead on a free morning in Bariloche. Watch the sun rise in the sky over the lake, and simply enjoy being present. From local shops to quaint cafés, there are still so many places left to discover during your time here.

Awake today with the satisfaction of having travelled from one side of South America to the other. Arrive in Buenos Aires in the early afternoon and take in the sights, sounds, and smells. The choice is yours. Opt to visit La Boca neighbourhood, go on a city tour, or book dinner and a tango show; pretty spot on in the birthplace of tango. After a long travel day it will be refreshing to stretch those legs and embrace the vivid energy of Argentina’s capital.

Included Experiences

• Free Time: Enjoy a free afternoon in Buenos Aires, the home of tango. Choose to visit La Boca neighbourhood to see the barrio’s brightly coloured buildings and El Caminito (a cobblestone street lined with artist studios that’s often used as an impromptu setting for tango performances). Or book dinner and a tango show for this evening. The choice is yours and there are so many different options to pick from.
• Big Night Out: Whether it’s a pub crawl, drink specials or a tango performance, celebrate late into the night with your new best friends.

Optional Experiences

• Tango Dinner Show: Discover the passion of tango. Watch the pros step and slide around the dance floor while you dine on a traditional Argentine dinner. Get lost in the music, savour the sensuality, and see why this traditional dance continues to ignite the senses of locals and visitors alike.
• Buenos Aires Guided City Tour: Enjoy a guided tour exploring beautiful, vibrant Buenos Aires. Be introduced to historic sites and districts, including Plaza de Mayo where Eva Peron's famed balcony presides over the square. See La Boca and San Telmo's colourful street life, painted houses, and the famed Recoleta Cemetery.
• La Boca Neighbourhood Visit: Visit La Boca to soak in the vibrancy of the barrio’s brightly coloured buildings and El Caminito (a cobblestone street lined with artist studios that’s often used as an impromptu setting for tango performances). Or, if lucky, catch a match at fabled La Bombonera, the home stadium of the Boca Juniors’ fútbol club (the crowd's excitement is electric!).

Depart at anytime. Or perhaps consider spending a few extra days in the lovely Buenos Aires. Before you go make sure you swap information with your newest travel family because someday maybe you'll meet up in another part of the world.