From the White Desert to the Red Desert: An Intense Argentina & Chile Route

Tour details

SAMPLE HOTELS

Buenos Aires

Gran Hotel Buenos Aires 3*

Hotel Kenton Palace 4* Vb

Purmamarca/Salta

Las Terrazas Hotel Boutique Vb

Hotel Dazzler Salta 4* Vb

Calama

Hotel Casa Don Tomas 4* Vb

Santiago De Chile

Novapark Hotel 3*

Hotel Nh Ciudad Santiago 4* Vb

PARTICIPATION REQUIREMENT

This tour is organized with a minimum participation requirement of 20 people.  If sufficient participation is not achieved, the final cancellation notice date is 20 days before the tour start date. The canceled tour due to insufficient participation will be communicated to you through your agency.

VISA

Ordinary Passport               -            No visa required               

Green Passport                    -            No visa required

Service Passport             -           No visa required

You must have a passport valid for 6 months from the end date of the trip and not older than 10 years. 

For destinations requiring a visa, the visa application must be made with the documents specified in the “Documents Required for Visa” list that your agency will provide to you for the visa application.

In order to avoid problems with customs police at the border of the country to be visited due to passports that are torn, worn, wet and/or otherwise damaged; such passports must be renewed, and if it is a country that applies visas to T.C. citizens, the relevant visa must be in the new passport. Otherwise, responsibility belongs to the passenger. 

HEALTH

We do not think there will be any health-threatening problems with the meals to be taken in the region’s good restaurants and hotels. However, when you are not with the group, we recommend that you be careful about food and drink, definitely consume only sealed bottled water, avoid ice, milk and dairy products, eat meat and fish products that you are sure are well cooked, and when it comes to fruit, eat fruits that can be peeled such as bananas and pineapples. Current vaccination/PCR rules must be followed at country entry points and upon return to the home country.

FLIGHT DURATIONS

Istanbul                       -    Buenos Aires      13 hrs 15 min

Santiago De Chile      -      Istanbul              15 hrs 20 min

There is a 1.5-hour technical stop in Sao Paulo on the outbound and return flights. It is prohibited to disembark from the plane during this time.

EXTRA TOURS & ACTIVITIES

Optional tours and activities are organized by the local agency we work with with a minimum participation requirement of 20 people, and participation is not mandatory. If the required number is not reached, the trips cannot be carried out, or the prices, content, and vehicle to be used for optional tours/activities may vary depending on the number of participants. In addition, the days and times of the extra tours/activities may be changed by the guide according to the opening/closing status of museums, archaeological sites, or venues at the places to be visited and according to weather conditions.

ACCOMMODATION

During fairs, congresses, concerts, events, sports tournaments, etc., hotels may be used at distances greater than the stated km. 

3-person rooms may be assigned depending on hotel availability, and the bed provided for the 3rd person in such rooms may be smaller than standard beds. 3-person rooms consist of 1 large bed and 1 extra bed. Since extra beds are foldable and called coach beds, participants are deemed to have accepted the possible crampedness in the rooms and the bed type in reservations for the 3rd person and/or children. 

Child discounts are valid for only one (1) child staying with 2 adults and matching the age group specified in the pricing section. 

Breakfasts taken at the hotel among the services included in the tour program are served in accordance with the breakfast culture of the country visited and usually with a limited menu called continental breakfast, consisting of butter, jam, bread, tea, or coffee, and may be served in a separate hall allocated to the group for groups.

CURRENCY

The currency of Argentina is the Argentine Peso (ARS).

The currency of Chile is the Chilean Peso (CLP).

It is advisable to have US Dollars (USD) with you

TIME ZONE

It varies between 6 and 8 hours between Latin American countries and Turkey.  Depending on the country visited, when it is 12:00 in Turkey, it is 04:00 or 06:00 in the morning in the country.

CLOTHING and NECESSARY ITEMS

We recommend bringing T-shirts that you can easily put on and take off, short- and long-sleeved shirts, shorts and cotton trousers, comfortable walking shoes, and a light jacket for the evenings, as well as beachwear. In addition, you can also bring a hat, sunglasses, sunscreen, earplugs for possible noise, a camera, a video camera, and their chargers and spare memory cards.

FOOD CULTURE

In Argentina, there are culinary cultures where meat dishes, especially, and grain products are prominent. In Chile, there are culinary cultures similar to Mediterranean cuisine, especially fish products.

SHOPPING - ELECTRICITY

Electrical outlets are the same as in Turkey.

There are shopping opportunities at shopping centers in city centers and small stalls selling souvenirs.

IMPORTANT NOTES

Having a valid passport and/or a visa obtained (for a visa-required destination/passport) does not mean that entry into the country is guaranteed. The passport police have the authority to prevent you from entering the country. The Agency is not responsible for this situation; responsibility belongs to the passenger.  The Agency is an intermediary institution between the airline and the passenger and is subject to the Hague Protocol of 28.09.1955. There may be a risk of delays on scheduled and special flights, or times may change before the current trip and flight. The Agency is obliged to notify these changes as soon as possible. Our passengers have purchased the tour knowing and accepting that flight details may change. Children aged 0-2 do not pay airport tax or airport service fees. The panoramic city tours included in the tour package are tours organized for the general introduction of the cities, conducted panoramically from inside the vehicle with guide narration, lasting at most 2-3 hours and not including entrance fees to museums or archaeological sites. The Agency is not responsible for the inability to carry out the panoramic tours, including the other tours specified in the program, if they are not carried out on the day and time of the tour due to being closed to visits by local authorities, not allowing entry, or because of closed roads due to any event, or when it becomes impossible to conduct the tour due to weather conditions. Some tours may be conducted by public transportation or on foot where possible in areas with closed roads or where vehicle access is not permitted.

What's included
  • Economy class airfare and airport taxes with Turkish Airlines for Istanbul – Buenos Aires - Istanbul / Santiago de Chile - Istanbul,
  • Economy class airfare and airport taxes for Buenos Aires – Salta / Jujuy and Calama – Santiago de Chile on local airlines
  • 9 nights bed and breakfast accommodation in 3- and 4-star and boutique hotels
  • Airport-hotel-airport transfers
  • Buenos Aires city tour
  • Tigre & Delta tour with lunch
  • Purmamarca and Salta excursions
  • Salinas Grandes (Salt Flats) tour
  • Atacama Desert excursion
  • Santiago city tour
  • Vina del Mar & Valparasio excursion
  • Vineyard visit with lunch (including wine tasting)
  • Professional Turkish-speaking guide services
  • Hotel and tourist city taxes
  • All excursions specified in the program
  • TURSAB mandatory professional liability insurance
  • Travel and health insurance (surcharge applies for those over 65).
Not included
  • Fees for personal and official items such as the international departure tax, visas, etc.
  • All kinds of personal expenses and hotel extras
  • All services not clearly stated in the program and included services
  • Optional excursions / activities, if any, in the program
  • Entrance fees to museums and archaeological sites not clearly stated as “visited” in the program
  • Alcoholic / non-alcoholic beverages taken during included meals, if any, in the program
  • Domestic connecting flights and domestic transportation fees
  • Due to local conditions, some entrance/landing fees, local services, and tips can only be paid in cash; therefore, these items are collected at once by your guide at the start of the tour. ( USD 160 per person )
Tour Program
Istanbul - Buenos Aires
We meet our guide at the Istanbul Airport International Terminal and, after completing our baggage, ticket, and passport procedures, we begin our scheduled Turkish Airlines flight to Buenos Aires. After landing in Buenos Aires in the evening, we proceed to our hotel with our private vehicle waiting for us. Overnight at our hotel.
Buenos Aires
After breakfast at our hotel, we begin our Buenos Aires tour. Although it is one of the largest cities in South America, its architecture, its cuisine full of delicious dishes, and of course the tango that overflows from its heart will make you feel as if you are touring an important European city. Our first stop in this unique city, which shows us why it is called “the Paris of South America,” will be the Recoleta District. In this elegant area, one of the city’s most exclusive neighborhoods, we will visit Recoleta Cemetery, where Eva Perón’s grave is also located. The La Boca district is among the other important points of our tour. After our tour, there will be free time for you to explore the city as you wish. In the evening, those who wish may join the optional evening event organized by our guide, the Dinner and Tango Night (140 USD). In this excursion, where we will also have dinner, we will witness a completely different tango experience at one of the city’s best tango venues. Overnight at our hotel.
Buenos Aires
After breakfast at our hotel, we set out to explore the Tigre Delta region, renowned for its water channels and green islets. Upon arriving at this unique delta area near Buenos Aires, we are greeted by a different atmosphere with natural habitats stretching between river branches, wooden piers, and settlements on the water. During our tour, we enjoy a pleasant boat trip through the delta canals. Along the way, we have the opportunity to observe the region’s summer houses, small islets, and lifestyle intertwined with nature. Accompanied by our guide, we learn about the formation of the region, its settlement culture, and daily life. We will have lunch during our tour. After the excursion, we return to Buenos Aires and transfer to our hotel. The rest of the day is free for leisure. Overnight at our hotel.
Buenos Aires - Salta (Salt Flats)
After breakfast at the hotel, we transfer to the airport. Following our pleasant flight to Salta on local airlines, we arrive in this unique city of Argentina, enchanting with its colonial architecture, impressive mountain views, and authentic atmosphere. We explore Salta, known as “La Linda,” meaning “The Beautiful.” We stroll through the historic center, where colonial architecture and vibrant culture intertwine; have the opportunity to see the magnificent Salta Cathedral, the striking San Francisco Church, and the main square, the heart of the city. Afterwards, there is free time and overnight accommodation at our hotel.
Purmamarca & Salinas Grandes
After breakfast at our hotel, we set off toward the heart of the Humahuaca Gorge, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Our first stop is Purmamarca. In this village, where local people preserve traditions inherited from their ancestors, we stroll through streets surrounded by mountains, witnessing a burst of colors ranging from deep reds and greens to purples among the adobe houses. The Seven Colors Mountain rising just behind the village offers the most striking example of this colorful palette. We visit the historic church and the local market filled with colorful textiles, ceramics, and handmade jewelry. Then, climbing the winding mountain road, we reach the Salinas Grandes (Great Salt Flats), located at an altitude of 3,450 meters above sea level. We take our photo break in this surreal landscape, with its vast white salt surface stretching as far as the eye can see and framed by the Andes. In the evening, we return to our hotel. Overnight at our hotel.
Purmamarca / Salta - Atacama Desert / Calama (Chile)
After breakfast at our hotel, we depart early for our long and visually spectacular journey. (Breakfast may be provided as a packed meal.) The road begins to ascend along Argentina’s Puna plateau. As we navigate winding mountain passes, the altitude gradually increases; around us are endless plains, volcanic mountains, and a vast sky where Andean condors glide. About 3 hours after Purmamarca, we reach the Jama Border Crossing at an altitude of 3,800 meters. Here we complete the Argentine exit and Chilean entry procedures. Border formalities take approximately 1 hour. Once the procedures are completed, we are now on Chilean territory. The road gradually descends and we enter the Atacama Desert, the driest desert in the world. Passing through reddish-brown plains that resemble the surface of Mars, giant cacti, and snow-capped volcanic peaks in the distance, we continue for about 3.5 more hours and arrive in Calama in the afternoon, where we check in to our hotel. Overnight at our hotel. (At the Chilean border, passport control and vehicle document checks are conducted, and it is strictly prohibited to carry food items such as meat, dairy products, and fresh fruits and vegetables.)
Calama - Santiago, Chile
After breakfast at our hotel, we transfer to the airport for our flight to Santiago. Following our flight with local airlines, we arrive in Santiago, a city nestled at the foothills of the Andes where modern life and historical heritage blend in perfect harmony. Upon arrival, we take a cable car up to San Cristobal Hill to enjoy panoramic views of Santiago. With our guide’s commentary, we get to know the city more closely, and after some free time at this spot where we can photograph both Santiago and the Andes, we transfer to our hotel to rest. Overnight at our hotel.
Santiago de Chile - Valparaíso - Santiago de Chile
After breakfast at our hotel, we head to Valparaíso, waiting on the Pacific coast 115 kilometers west of Santiago. This city, where Nobel Prize-winning poet Pablo Neruda lived for many years, has always held a special place for artists, bohemians, and romantics. Until the end of the 19th century, Valparaíso was a critical port where ships traveling from the Atlantic to the Pacific stopped over, and where Chile’s rich copper mines were opened to the world; however, it lost this strategic importance with the opening of the Panama Canal in 1914. Today, with its colorful houses, steep hills, and vibrant street art, it has transformed into an open-air museum and earned its place on the UNESCO World Heritage List. After our tour of Valparaíso, we take a short drive to the neighboring city of Viña del Mar. This city, where the first vineyards in Chile were established, gradually changed as the cold nights of the Pacific shifted viticulture inland; today, it has taken on the identity of an elegant coastal city with its summer villas, palm-lined boulevards, and casinos. We will take our lunch break in the vineyards of this city, world-famous for its wines, and experience these unique flavors with a wine tasting. After our visit to Viña del Mar, we begin our return journey to Santiago. Overnight at our hotel.
Santiago de Chile
After breakfast at our hotel, we begin our city tour to deeply explore Santiago’s historical and cultural fabric. Our first stop is Plaza de Armas, the heart of the city. This historic square, framed by magnificent colonial-era buildings, carries Santiago’s centuries-old memory. We take a close look at the Metropolitan Cathedral and the old National Congress building surrounding the square. Then we move on to Bellavista, the city’s most colorful and artistic neighborhood. In this district, home to Pablo Neruda’s iconic house, La Chascona, we wander among street art, lively restaurants, and boutique shops. From there, we head to Barrio Italia to discover its antique shops, local designers’ ateliers, and the neighborhood’s unique atmosphere. Overnight at our hotel.
Santiago, Chile - Istanbul
After breakfast at our hotel, we transfer to Santiago Airport. After completing our baggage check-in and passport procedures, we board our flight to Istanbul. Overnight on the plane.
Istanbul
We are landing at Istanbul Airport toward noon, and this marks the end of our tour. We hope to see you on your next tour.