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16 Nights & 17 Days.
City Landmarks, Wine, and Dance Performance
Montevideo, Uruguay
Admire the architectural landmarks in downtown Montevideo and then enjoy a sampling of local wines while watching a
culturally significant dance performance.
After departing from the pier, you will soon arrive in the heart of downtown, passing architectural gems such as the Solis Theatre, Uruguay’s oldest theatre. Nearby, you will pause for photos of Independence Square, where a statue of General José Gervasio Artigas, the father of Uruguay, stands by his mausoleum.
Another photo stop awaits you at the Legislative Palace. This glorious neo-classical building was constructed nearly 100 years ago with more than 50 types of marble.
You will also pass through the Obelisk of Montevideo, which celebrates the 100-year anniversary of the country’s first constitution, and Batlle Park, a lovely urban greenscape named for Jose Batlle y Ordóñez, a former president of Uruguay. Here, you will see Centenario Stadium, the site of the first World Cup soccer championship, and a photo stop at “La Carreta,” a bronze sculpture that depicts the area’s 19th-century oxcart drivers.
Then, head for the district of Cuchilla Pereira called” The Wine Land”, about 20 minutes away from the city’s downtown area, to Bodega Spinoglio, a real winery full of history funded in 1898. Following a tour of the grounds and old machinery museum, you will be treated to a tasting of national wines and delicious local snacks.
To enhance your enjoyment, you will watch a performance that recreates the era in which the tango emerged in the Rio de la Plata. Dancers and singers will make you feel like you are being transported back in time, and that is part of the Uruguayan history of the late 1800s. After this uniquely Uruguayan experience, you will return to the pier. During the photo stops. There will be some uneven and gravel surfaces to negotiate, as well as a few steps at the winery. The tour is available to wheelchair guests who have a collapsible wheelchair, are able to make their own way on and off the coach, and have an able-bodied companion to assist them. Those with mobility concerns are cautioned to carefully evaluate their personal level of stamina and ability. Weather-appropriate clothing, a sun cap, sunglasses, and flat, comfortable walking shoes are recommended. Guests must be at least 18 years of age to take part in the wine tasting.
The Great Patagonian Adventure Puerto Madryn, Argentina
Enjoy this adventure and nature experience in Patagonia. You’ll spend time at a penguin reserve, see wildlife, and enjoy a lunch of roasted Patagonian lamb in the rustic setting of Estancia San Lorenzo.
Peninsula Valdez is one of the finest wildlife reserves in South America and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It provides an outstanding natural habitat for sea lions, sea elephants, seals, and birds. Enjoy a brief stop at the small Visitors Centre to view exhibits on the flora and fauna and drive to Punta Norte to see a colony of sea lions and elephant seals.
Visit Estancia San Lorenzo, home to a huge penguin rookery. Here you’ll transfer to Golfo San Matias to see a large colony of Magellanic penguins. You’ll have time to observe them, learn about their habits, and take photographs. You might even encounter other wildlife here. Enjoy a hearty lunch at the estancia before or after your penguin experience.
Patagonian Estancia Experience Punta Arenas, Chile
Enjoy Patagonian hospitality and an exciting day of country living at one of the most important local estancias. A scenic drive across the endless pampa (treeless grassland) brings you to this 100-year-old cattle ranch. It was established by sheep farmers in the middle of the vast Patagonian pampas, and today, the estancia has opened its doors to a limited number of visitors to demonstrate the art of living of these staunch farmers.
Upon arrival, you will be welcomed by the hospitable, expert sheep farmers who have made this region famous, and they will show you the different activities of the farm. You’ll be amazed to see machinery used by the first colonists of the area still in use, in addition to the well-trained dogs. You’ll be taken into the barn for a demonstration of sheep shearing.
Try the traditional welcome drink, a Pisco Sour, as well as baked empanadas. Enjoy a barbecue of tasty Patagonian lamb, which has been grilled slowly for hours, accompanied by vegetables and salad. After lunch, you’ll have free time to enjoy the farm and get to know more about the lives of the inhabitants of the Patagonian pampas.
Penguin Rookery Navigation: Ushuaia, Argentina
Observe the bountiful wildlife in Tierra del Fuego while cruising the Beagle Channel in a catamaran that will take you to islands full of seabirds, sea lions, and Magellanic penguins.
After departing from the pier, you will soon board a catamaran and sail into the Beagle Channel, the strait that separates Argentina from Chile. The waterway is named for the HMS Beagle, in which Charles Darwin explored the area in 1833–1834.
Islands dot the channel, and the rocky coast is wild and wonderful, with forests to the water’s edge and the southern Andes in the far distance. Few places on earth are so pristine and unaffected by what little civilization there is.
Seabirds are abundant in almost every direction. You may spot black-capped albatrosses, flocks of seagulls, and greyish skuas, an aggressive bird that often attacks other birds in mid-air to steal the fish they have caught.
Approaching Sea Lions’ Island, you will see dozens of the namesake mammals clustered on the rocks. The males are typically twice the size of the females and weigh nearly 800 pounds. While pausing for photos at nearby Bird Island, you will notice that the main inhabitants are Imperial Cormorants and Magellanic Cormorants.
Les Eclaireurs Lighthouse is another photo-worthy site, as is the colony of Magellanic penguins on Martillo Island. These highly social birds will often come up to the catamaran as they hunt for cuttlefish and squid. It’s the perfect opportunity for a close-up shot, after which you will return to the pier.
Seal Bay Penguins: Stanley, Falkland Islands
Drive off the road in a 4×4 vehicle to several colonies of penguins, where you will have time to photograph them and observe their fascinating behavior. After departing from the pler, you will set off on an exhilarating ride in a 4×4 vehicle, the last 12 miles or so off-road. Upon arriving at Port Louls Farm, a member of the family that owns the property will accompany your small group to Seal Bay.
Your first stop will be a colony of Rockhopper penguins. These birds are easy to identify by their spiky yellow and black head feathers. Unlike most penguins that waddle, rockhoppers bound along the rocky shoreline. They are among the world’s smallest penguins and are amusing to watch in their natural habitat.
Continuing on, you will drive through the shallow waters of Swan Pond, where lunch will be set up on the beach. While dining, you can expect to see all sorts of indigenous birds, such as oystercatchers, grebes, and kelp geese.
You might also see sea lions and a variety of penguins, including Magellanic penguins. They are named for Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan because the birds were spotted in his attempt to circumnavigate the world in 1520.
You will also pause for photos at a nearby colony of Gentoo penguins. These charismatic birds have red-orange beaks and peach-coloured feet, so they clearly stand out against the coastal rocks. Being streamlined with strong flippers, Gentoos are the world’s fastest diving birds.
Pencarrow Station and the Storm Coast Wellington, New Zealand
Follow the harbour past Petone, where Wellington’s first settlers landed, and then travel along a coastline dotted with shipwrecks, quaint villages, and quiet bays. As you sit back and enjoy the passing scenery, a narrative will be provided that relates the many stories that are now etched into the folklore of this dramatic piece of New Zealand coast.
Arriving at Pencarrow Station, a nearly 2,000-acre sheep and cattle farm that is also home to New Zealand’s oldest lighthouse, you’ll have the opportunity to visit one of Wellington’s best-kept secrets, Pencarrow Lodge. This remote, isolated cottage originally housed a farm worker and was built during a period of local cattle rustling as a security measure to protect against cattle thieves. The view from this location, which stretches across the Cook Strait to the snow-capped Kaikoura Ranges in the South Island, is simply spectacular. Here, enjoy a refreshment of tea and cakes.
Cape Kidnappers & Gannet Safari Napier, New Zealand
Board a 20-seat safari vehicle, sit back, and enjoy a scenic drive along the coast as you make your way to Te Awanga and Cape Kidnappers Station. Arriving at Cape Kidnappers Station, a privately owned country farm, you’ll be driven over the rich farmland to within a few feet of the gannet sanctuary at Cape Kidnappers. As you cross river beds, broad rolling pastures, steep gullies, and breathtaking inclines, your guide will provide commentary about the area and life on this 4,500-acre farm.
Cape Kidnappers itself is a dramatic peninsula at the southern end of Hawke’s Bay and is the largest and most accessible mainland nesting place for gannets in the world. This is an excellent opportunity to view the gannets in their natural habitat. Enjoy a spectacular view of the rugged coastline from Hawke’s Bay all the way north to Mahia Peninsula, from the brink of a cliff that rises 328 feet above the beach. For your enjoyment, afternoon tea will be served.
You’ll once again cross the countryside as you retrace your path back to Napier. Approaching the city, your route will take you along the Marine Parade, seeing the stately Norfolk Pines and travelling past such sites as the bronze statue of Pania of the Reef, the Tom Parker Fountain, Floral Clock, Soundshell, and Marineland.
