TravelDreamer75

I'm not in a wheelchair, but I am disabled and walk with a cane.  I have not done the Antarctica part of the trip, but I have done a South American cruise and spent 2 months in South America last winter.  

Santiago Chile

- I am not sure if you are spending time in the capital itself or just going to Valparaiso.  

- I do like Santiago, but I admit that there are not many "touristy things to do".  I enjoy the Central Market, the street art, the main square is pretty, the Presidential Palace.  There are a few "hill viewpoints" but when reading about the access it seems likes a lot of stairs. If you are there in the evening, my favorite place for dinner is in the Barrio Bellavista- there are lots of little restaurants and one food hall where you can choose your food while listening to live music or local performances.  

- Do not miss the wine country between Valpo and Santiago.  These are Napa quality looking vineyards and with tasty Pinot and Cabs.  Most are wheelchair accessible. 

-Valparaiso is a difficult town for the disabled.  Tons of hills.  When I was there last winter, most of the funiculars were not functioning.  I wondered later if they opened only on high tourist days.  So, that means very steep streets, lots of steps and lots of unusual buildings that are not accessible.  It is a gorgeous town so my advice would be to get a guided tour of the area and consider staying in the flatter Vina del Mar.  I love Valpo but my last trip there left me frustrated because wandering was so difficult.  

Punta Arenas Chile

It's been a few years, but my memory is that the town itself is pretty flat.  I hired a local taxi to take me to the penguin area and from my memory it seems that this area was mostly boardwalked, pretty easy loop and the penguins were very close.

Ushuaia Argentina.  I did a private taxi tour here to get out to the country side.  the town itself is cute but overly touristy, so not much to see.  enjoy some crab dishes.  I liked the restaurant "Volver".

Montevideo Uruguay.  Lovely town to stroll straight from the port.  The sidewalks aren't so bad in this town, so just head out onto the main road - Ave 18 de Julio and enjoy the architecture of this town.  Between the port and this boulevard are little artsy shops and cafes.  The Mercado is the touristy place to stop and have some grilled meats.  

One popular day tour is to Colonia, which is a nice and pretty town but I must say it would be much more difficult in wheelchair- giant cobblestones!

Wineries are also very nice in this area.  

Buenos Aires Argentina.  Love this town, so much to see and do. I spent 2 weeks here last winter. One complaint is that their sidewalks are horrible, and their drivers not so kind- so strolling is not so pleasant.  Of the things to do, The Caminito area is very touristy now, but the colorful buildings and shops, interesting characters and pedestrian streets would make it a must see.  Recolata Cemetery is another must, and from my memory it might be wheelchair friendly.  Unfortunately the upkeep in the cemetery is  not great, so there are broken paths ,but you can still get around.  I haven't done a recent tour of the "Casa Rosada" president house, but when I last did it was not handicap friendly.  

The Art museums are accessible, and pretty good- just depends on if they are open and if doing any renovations.  

If you are staying overnight, the Recoleta is a nice upscale area to stay, Puerto Madero area has some nice upscale restaurants otherwise, I like the artsy/ cafe areas of Palermo.  I've stayed in this neighborhood each time, I like the smaller streets and foodie places.  (but the sidewalks are still crap).  

You didn't mention Puerto Montt, but since I did spend a lot of time here, I would recommend heading to Puerto Varas for the day- a smaller town and lovely volcano views.  Puerto Montt itself is too trafficy and big town to enjoy strolling. 

I hope that was helpful.  Overall, I find South America less handicap friendly/ ready but people are very nice and helpful.  Private tours/ hiring a taxi for the day is great-  taxi only if you speak Spanish though.  

A few tips for you.  

As a disabled solo traveler that gets around with a cane, I am finding it increasingly difficult to cruise solo. 

For ship tours they often say that you just have a travel companion to accompany you if you have a wheelchair, I think a few require this.  My biggest limitation is usually getting on and off the buses- they are often steep steps and you have to get on and off a few times.  I’ve seen quite a few accidents from people getting off these buses. 

Anyways, specific to Iceland, I can tell you that the Blue Lagoon in Reykjavik has a handicapped dressing stall and staff will take you in a waterproof wheelchair down a ramp to get in the water.  Very helpful because otherwise you are in a large, wet, dressing room with shared shower area and lots of walking in between.  I’m not normally a hot springs person, but the atmosphere and landscape of Blue Lagoon is special, it is the most popular destination.  A ship tour is best because the location is far from the port and you need an appointment (which is often sold out). 

But, for your first time to Iceland, doing the Golden Circle tour is fantastic if weather is good.  I cannot recall exactly, but I’m pretty sure most of the stops involved well paved trails without much elevation change to see fantastic waterfalls, geysers, landscapes.  

I've also been to Akureyri port.  The first time I did this port I did the long trip that includes Goddafoss Falls and a stop at the gorgeous lake for lunch- with great weather I thought this drive and tour was fantastic. I remember the falls having a nice paved walk that I took, though other people took more adventurous paths.   In the afternoon went through some geothermal areas- but if you have been to Yellowstone, this doesn't compare.  With bad weather for my second time, I planned to walk through the village and get coffee but freezing rain and strong winds kept me from that.  Fortunately, across the parking lot from the cruise port is a small but interesting museum, and it is very accessible and a nice diversion. 

Isafjordur was a cute port.  I did a ship tour to an island to see puffins.  Despite it being an "Easy tour" the rocky ground at the island was very difficult.  With some help from one of the farmers on the island I was able to make it to more stable ground but not follow the people on the tour.  I was still able to see some puffins, watch the gorgeous seabirds and sealions.  I think the people on the tour felt it was a pretty easy walk through a mostly flat high grassy area, but I enjoyed my time on my own.  The boat trip there and back was also gorgeous and I saw some whales or dolphins.  It is definitely a smaller town and without a tour you will not see much.  Also, because it is so small, you have to book with the ship or check early for a private guide- most local guides are busy doing ship tours.  

Uber is pretty cheap in Santiago.

It's easy because you can pay with credit card and they have your destination so you don't have to speak Spanish.

One quick in Chile is that one passenger has to sit up front

Uber is very good in Lima, though never went too far after midnight in one.  Some Uber cars were better than taxis, some were more worn

Valpo is more colorful, with views of the sea, and has the unique hills with elevators.  

However the hills can be exhausting for wandering and not all of the elevators are functional, so you never know exactly how you will get your a place.  But, it has unique little artistic shops, good food.

Santiago is a big city but has a neighborhood for everything- hip, trendy, traditional.  Main sites would be the Plaza de Armas, the Central Market, viewpoints like Cerro Cristobal.  If you are there in the evening check out Patio Bellavista- an open air mix of restaurants and bars.

I've been to both cities twice, the first time I loved Valpos colors and seafood but the second time around liked Santiago because it's easier to stroll and less tourists.

I just bought a ton of yarn in Chile, mostly very rough local wool.  

If you stop in Puerto Montt, go to the Angelmo Market, and on the streets on the way to the fish market.  They also had some alpaca, which is not local, but was cheap.

In general, in my 2 months in Peru, Chile, and Argentina I find the tourist markets have the rough wool, the local yarn shops sell acrylic from China because the locals want cheap and durable for their knitting.  Chile has tons of wool, but for blending they ship it to Argentina and the price goes up for blends.  I learned to search for patterns using handspun materials and also ask and look to see what the locals are making with it.  Usually they are sitting there knitting so you can ask questions, though I doubt they speak English.  Chatting with them and telling them I knitting, they were very helpful in advising needle size, weight, etc.  

I just bought a ton of yarn in Chile, mostly very rough local wool.  

If you stop in Puerto Montt, go to the Angelmo Market, and on the streets on the way to the fish market.  They also had some alpaca, which is not local, but was cheap.

In general, in my 2 months in Peru, Chile, and Argentina I find the tourist markets have the rough wool, the local yarn shops sell acrylic from China because the locals want cheap and durable for their knitting.  Chile has tons of wool, but for blending they ship it to Argentina and the price goes up for blends.  I learned to search for patterns using handspun materials and also ask and look to see what the locals are making with it.  Usually they are sitting there knitting so you can ask questions, though I doubt they speak English.  Chatting with them and telling them I knitting, they were very helpful in advising needle size, weight, etc.  

Just went to Chile, no fee for USA.  I believe Australia was the only country I saw on the sign

I am curious about your overall thoughts on your mobility problems. Were steps provided to get onto carts/ tuc-tucs? Getting on and off the boat a problem?

I have a condition with muscle weakness and use a cane for balance and strength. Walking long distances is not a problem, but steps are more difficult, especially without handrails

I was in Olden on September 10 and the local bus to Brikdsal did not run that day.

The Taxi people tried to tell us that at 7 am, but I did not believe them, and a bunch of us lined up at 9, waited until 10, then someone else came by to tell us it was not running this month and we all gave up and took the taxi.

The taxi people disguise this as a "tour", but it is really just 350 kroner for a ride to and from. I think these people are really ripping people off.

Some people I was with did prebook the Troll Car, and when we got there late because of the lake of public bus, they gave them a new booking, no problems. I did not prebook, and initially I was given a reservation for the car that was much later- I was concerned then about getting back to the taxi in time- but somehow I got on sooner and it was not an issue.

I highly recommend the Troll Car unless you are in excellent condition and you have lots of time. The footing would be my main concern, as even the last bit after the Troll Car was pretty difficult for me.