2 - 21 Feb 2025 (19-Days) Patagonia Chile Argentina & Iguazu Brazil
Final Trip Ground Cost RM14,900 per pax for group 16-17pax
EXCLUDES ALL FLIGHTS (based on USD1=Rm4.5325 Maybank rate 26 Nov 2024)
We will make final adjustment on the cost based on the USD exchange rate in Dec 2024 and any price increases from our ground operators due to high inflation rates for these countries.
BEFORE YOU SIGN UP - APOLOGIES BUT THIS TRIP IS NOT FOR EVERYONE. Please read through the notes & detailed itinerary below. Once we receive your trip deposit, it is understood that you have read through all the details and have accepted the terms and conditions.
NOTE 1 - Trip cost exclude six (6) domestic flights estimated at USD1,000 all-in fares. A non-refundable deposit of Rm3000 will be collected to purchase domestic tickets. Any excess will be given back to member. Any shortfall, members to up. Once flight tickets are purchased, no refunds will be extended and members are advised to start their travel insurance to cover any travel cancellations.
NOTE 2 - Trip cost exclude Emirates international flight tickets. Group fares quoted is RM7200 + estimated taxes Rm261. To secure group flight fares, we require a minimum of 10pax travelling out & back to KUL. An additional deposit of RM2,500 is payable for Emirates group flights booking.
NOTE 3 - It is essential that members travel light. Baggage Limit for several domestic flights is 15 kilos check-in baggage & 7 kilos handcarry.
NOTE 4 - To economise on accommodation, there will be several places where members will be sharing from 2pax-5pax within the same apartment unit. Some places will not have lifts, so you have to manage your own baggage up and down stairs.
Update 26 Nov 2024 Updated trip itinerary for the final ground trip costs and entrance fees.
Update 23 Oct 2024 Updated trip itinerary for the internal flights bought for group members.
Update 30 June 2024 Please be aware that accommodation, transport and meals in Chile, Argentina & Brazil are expensive, Also take note inflation, especially in Argentina is very high. Stated below are estimate for entrance fees based on 30 June 2024. Members top up difference in the entrance fees, if any.
IMPORTANT NOTICE: This is meant to be a "free and easy" adventure trip. Participants should be relatively fit, with a good sense of humor, and above all, have the right attitude for close travel with others through possibly some trying times. Most definitely, this is not a trip for prudes, whiners, fuss-pots, and other similarly assorted types! We had a couple of those before and it wasn't pleasant for us or them. Although every effort will be made to stick to the given itinerary, ground conditions may change and cause some disruption and/or deviation from the norm. Otherwise, have fun.
Mountainscape at El Chalten / Perito Moreno Glacier width 5km length 30km
This will be a small group backpack trip using 6 domestic flights, local buses and airport taxis. We stay in decent clean guesthouses, apartments and budget hotels ranging from 2 to 5 pax sharing units. It is essential that members travel light as several of the domestic flights have 15 kilos check in baggage limit. Participants must be able to manage their own luggage and light medium trolleys are acceptable. Like most Yongo trips, you pay for your own meals. We have included most of the main entrance fees on this trip. Tours/entrances not mentioned below will be payable by members. You also pay within-the-town taxis and other activities not specifed below.
DAY 0 KLIA. Gather by 11.00 PM SUN 2 FEB 2025 for Emirates flight early next morning.
DAY 1 KLIA to Sao Paulo. Take Emirates flight EK343 to Dubai departing 145AM, arriving 505AM. Transit Dubai 4 hr before reconnecting on EK261 at 905AM to Sao Paulo airport GRU arriving 535PM. Clear immigration and check-in for our next flight is using LATAM flight LA8030 departing early next morning. (Flight timings adjusted by airlines as at 6 Dec 2024)
DAY 2 Santiago. Depart on LATAM LA8030 leaving 1:00AM, arriving 5:25AM to Santiago airport. Santiago, as the capital city of Chile, was established by the Spanish in 1541 and now home to about 5.5 million people. Taxi to downtown for two nights stay in centrally located hotel with good Metro access. Rest of day free & easy to recuperate. Or join the many free walking tours available. Overnight (O/N) Santiago Chile hotel.
Day 3 Valparaiso Day Trip. It is about 1hr 40min by convenient public bus to Valparaiso, a UNESCO listed port city. Valparaiso is known for its steep old, still-in-use funiculars and colourful houses built around its many hills. We have a local guide to uncover the many hidden gems around this bohemian town. Return to Santiago with local bus by late afternoon for our 2nd night stay. O/N Santiago. Regular bus fare CLP5,800 two ways included.
Day 4 Fly Puerto Natales. Morning domestic flight SKY airlines H2 421 7:43am 12:18noon to Puerto Natales. Transfer from airport to our guesthouse. Free rest of day to wander this small pretty town overlooking the Señoret Channel. This small town was founded back in 1911 for sheep ranching. Stay Puerto Natales for 2 nights. O/N Puerto Natales guesthouse
Day 5 Torres Del Paine National Park. A full day bus tour of Chile's Patagonia region, known for its soaring mountains, high glaciers and golden pampas (grasslands). View the iconic three granite towers which gives the park its name (Towers of Paine). Tour includes a short trek to Lake Grey, fed by the massive Glaciar Grey. Back to Puerto Natales for second night. O/N Puerto Natales (Tour cost CLP50,000 and Park entrance fees CLP31,200 is covered. Other entrances not covered).
Colourful street art around Valparaiso / Land's end at Ushuaia
Day 6 El Calafate (Argentina). We take the morning public bus 6hr to El Calafate, located in Argentina Patagonia. El Calafate is the gateway to the Los Glaciares National Park. Short rest before our next late afternoon bus 3hr to El Chalten. O/N El Chalten with breakfast provided.
Day 7 El Chalten HIking. We begin our full day hike around national park in El Chalten. The most popular trail takes hikers to view Cerro Fitz Roy (3,405m) and its majestic glaciar lakes of Laguna de los tres. The walk is 12.5km one way and estimate to take 4hr. Another trail heads towards Cerro Torre which summits at 3,102m. Laguna Torre can be reached at 9km one way. We regroup for our evening bus 3hr back to El Calafate. O/N El Calafate for 2 nights.
Day 8 Perito Moreno Glacier. We spend most of the day exploring the majestic Perito Moreno glaciar located 80km or 1.5hr from El Calafate. The huge glaciar is believed to be the 3rd largest fresh water reserve in the world. Bus starts at 830AM and depart from the park at 230PM. Group will have a full day at the Park and packed lunch is suggested. There are proper walkways to many viewing spots. Optional boat trips to get nearer to the Glacier are available at own expenses. We arrive El Calafate by 4pm and have rest of afternoon free & easy. O/N El Calafate. (Return Bus fare to Perito Moreno ARS54,000 is covered. NP Entrance ARS45,000 is also covered).
Day 9 Fly Ushuaia. We take afternoon flight Aerolineas Argentinas AR1894 1510 1630 to Ushuaia flight time 1.5hr (By comparison, El Calafatre-Ushuaia 880km is 16hr travel by bus). Ushuaia is the jumping off holiday town for Antartica Cruises and also known as the 'End of the World'. Rest of afternoon free & easy. Members can scout out the many boat tours available along the Beagle Channel departing 9am or 4PM. O/N Ushuaia hotel for next 2 nights. Ushuaia is also the place where members can enjoy good value king crabs.
Day 10 Ushuaia. Today is free day for members to choose their own activities. This include the popular 5hr boat tours along Beagle Channel, bus to Terra del Fuego (translated to Land of Fire) for hiking options or to enjoy the End of the World Train ride. Another hiking option is the 4-5 hours in and out to Lago Esmeralda. O/N Ushuaia
La Boca with its colourful murals & houses
Day 11 Fly Buenos Aires. Morning free & easy. Take Flybondi FO5043 1035 1405 towards the capital city of Buenos Aires. This cosmopolitan capital of Argentina feels more European than Latin America due to the many Italian immigrants who settled here. We stay in centrally located hotel with many surrounding restaurants and shops. Free rest of day to explore or join various free walking tours starting at 3pm. O/N Buenos Aires budget hotel for 3 nights.
Day 12 Buenos Aires city tour We will organise a half day morning city tour of Buenos Aires with transport included. This include the many city highlights including La Boca, Plaza de Mayo and Recoleta Cemetery. La Boca, home to the colourful Caminito Calle. It is a photogenic area with narrow alleys flanked by brightly painted zinc shacks that evoke the district's early immigrant days. Cementerio La Recoleta is famous for its much visited tomb of Eva Peron, know affectionately as Evita. Rest of afternoon free & easy to enjoy the city sights. Option to enjoy dinner with tango show. O/N Buenos Aires.
Day 13 Buenos Aires Free day to explore beautiful Buenos Aires colonial architecture and enjoy wonderful cafes and good restaurants serving good Argentinian beef and wine. Members have the option to join the regular day trips across to Montevideo, capital city of Uruguay or visit Tigre Delta and enjoy boat trip there. Last early night in Buenos Aires for early flight departure tomorrow.
Iguazu Falls Argentina / Iguacu Falls Brazil
Day 14 Fly Puerto Iguazu Argentina. Early morning Aerolineas Argentinas AR1770 5:25AM 7:20AM 2hr flight into Iguazu. The entrance fo Iguazu National Park Argentina is 20 min from the airport. We use taxis to get there and store our baggage at lockers located at the entrance. Full day at Iguazu Falls to enjoy many scenic spots by walking and also short tram ride. Afternoon we travel by local bus to Puerto Iguazu, our overnight stay. O/N Puerto Iguazu. (Iguazu Park entrance ARS45,000, baggage lockers and all transport cost is covered).
Day 15 Fox Iguacu Brazil - Rio de Janeiro. We cross the border into Brazil by local transport towards the Iguacu National Park Brazil side. There are baggage lockers at the entrance. We visit the Park until late afternoon. We also visit the nearby Parque das Aves Bird Park, home to many colourful birds and plants. The Fox Iguazu Airport is 15 min away for our 2hr flight into Rio de Janiero. We take late afternoon flight GOL Airlines G31939 1720 1915. We have private transfer from GIG airport to Rio hotel in Copacabana. Overnight Rio de Janeiro budget hotel for 3 nights. (Iguacu Park Entrance BRL100, Bird Park entrance BRL80, baggage lockers and transfers is covered).
Day 16 Favela Tour & Ipanema/Copacabana Beach. We have a half day guided tour around the famous hill Favela (slum), to understand more of the culture and people in Rio. Rest of the day free to explore Ipanema & Copacabana beaches. These are the perfect places for watching locals enjoying the beach, and there are also good short walks along the rocky coastline popular for watching sunset. Our stay in Rio is close by to many shops and restaurants. O/N Rio. (Favela Guided Tour and local transfers are covered).
Day 17 Sugarloaf & Christ the Redeemer-Airport. We have a city tour by chartered bus including the iconic 30m Christ the Redeemer on top of Corcovado 704m. We also visit the colourful Selaron Steps and nearby Lapa Arches (disused Portuguese water aquaducts). And finally Pao du Azucar or Sugarloaf for a scenic views of the city and sharelines. O/N Rio. (Tour cost is covered, including entrance Christ the Redeemer and cable car up/down Sugarloaf). Late night airport transfer for our early morning Emirates flights next day. Late check out included in the trip costs.
Day 18 Plane. We take Emirates flight EK248 departing 345AM towards Dubai. (Emiratres flight timings updated 21 Dec 2024)
Day 19 Home. Arrive in Dubai 00:30AM. Transit 3hr before flight EK346 to KUL departing at 3:40AM. Arrive home 2:45 PM FRI 21 FEB 2025
Seleron Steps / locals at Ipanema Beach
TERMS AND CONDITIONS
- Cost cover Yongo trip leader, accommodation, airport transfers, town-to-town travel and tours specified in the itinerary as included.
- Not covered are 6 domestic flight tickets about USD1,000. Non refundable flight deposit of Rm3,000 per pax is collected and any excess will be given back to member. Any shortfall, members to up.
- Not covered is Emirates group international flights. Group fares qouted is Rm6,400 plus estimated RM250 for taxes. Deposit of Rm2,500 is collected for securing the group Emirates flights
- Not covered are meals estimate Rm150 x 16 days = Rm2,400, and any entrances which are not specified above.
- Not covered are In town taxis except for transfers to and from bus stations to our place of stay.
- Entrance and transport fees shown above updated on 26 Nov 2024. Members top up for any increases.
- Accommodations will be in guesthouses, apartments and budget hotels between 2pax - 5pax sharing in 1 unit.
- Cost is subject to change depending on fluctuations in exchange rates (Maybank rate USD1=MYR 4.5325 as at 26 Nov 2024) and increases to ground costs from our operators.
- A total non refundable deposit of Rm8000 (Rm5000 trip deposit n Rm3000 domestic tickets deposit) is payable to confirm your place. Another deposit of RM2,500 for those on group Emirates flights
Email yongo123@gmail.com or wyeyim@gmail.com
Phone/whatsapp Lee Min: 016 220 9033.
Phone/whatsapp Wye Yim: 012 233 4717