Suggestions for Private Tours - Buenos Aires to Valparaiso

We are booked on Infinity for the December 17th cruise. Luckily enough we ended up with an aft cabin #9160.

I've always found the private tours better than the ship excursions, we are not into being herded around with a bunch of people........cruising yes, but tours no. It seems like we can see and do more if we aren't waiting around for a bunch of "lolly gaggers".

I realize you can't post the private tour information unless someone asks, so I'M ASKING!!!! :D

Our ports of call are:

• Buenos Aires, Argentina
  
• Montevideo, Uruguay
  
• Puerto Madryn, Argentina
  
• Ushuaia, Argentina
  
• Punta Arenas, Chile
  
• Puerto Montt, Chile
  
• Valparaiso, Chile

Thanks!!!

Laurie

Hope you find it!!!

Laurie,

We used Carlos of Private Tours in Buenos Aires and he was excellent. His email address is: info@privatetours.com.ar

We also used a different Carlos Galindo in Puerto Montt and his email address is: galindotour@hotmail.com

In Punta Arenas we used Payne Tours and their email is: payne@ctcinternet.cl

In Ushuaia we just used the local taxi driver and we were lucky as he spoke quite good English.

We missed the port of Puerto Madryn as it was too windy to dock unfortunately, but if you look back to previous threads you will be able to find private guides.

We used Victor of Enaturchile for our transfers from Valpariso to Santiago. It was a great day as he took us first around Valpariso, then around Vina del Mar, then we went to a winery and finally we had a tour of Santiago.

His website is: http://www.enaturchile.com

We did all our tours with another couple and we could not fault any of them.

With regards to Montevideo, there is not a lot to see there and we used the ship's excursion for this city.

I hope this helps you.

Jennie

If you like king crab, in Punta Arenas go to Sotitos. It's about 3 blocks from the dock.

http://www.chileaustral.com/sotitos/index.shtml

If you like king crab, in Punta Arenas go to Sotitos. It's about 3 blocks from the dock.

 

http://www.chileaustral.com/sotitos/index.shtml

Meribeth........

Now that's the kind of information I need!!! King crab is my favorite food above all others! Thanks for sharing you little tip :) Rest assured, I will be first in line.

Laurie

Oh no.......I just realized we are going to be Punta Arenas on Christmas Day! Probably no King Crab for me :(

Jennie,

Oh thank you so much for your list! I've read your prior posts, but I was confused about the 2 "Carlos"......I wondered if you packed him in your suitcase to take with you :)

We are cruising with another couple as well, and would sure like to avoid the mass transit with everyone else. I don't even mind paying a tad bit more if we get good service.

I can't tell you how much I appreciate your list!

Laurie

Oh no.......I just realized we are going to be Punta Arenas on Christmas Day! Probably no King Crab for me :(

Best King Crab is at Tante Nina's in Ushuaia.

Dileep.........

You saved my craving! I owe you one :) Next time you are in San Diego, I'll let you know a good Mexican Restaurant.......Laurie

We booked all our trips through http://www.southstartours.com They don't have these trips on their website, but will send you a copy of their cruise excursions if you call or e-mail them. We did some on our own (3 of us) with a guide, and were combined with another 2-4 people on some others. All were in vans instead of buses. We had great guides, and saw much more than the ship's tours, and for a cheaper price.

The only exception to using them was when we were in Puerto Montt where we booked through http://www.chile-travel.com/eureka.htm . We had a private guide in his own Mercedes SL, and had a wonderful day.

Here are the private guides we used while on our SA cruise on the Infinity.

Iguazzu Falls Argentina

Guide – Saulo Campos saulocampos@pop.com.br

Buenos Aires Argentina

Company – Defrantur Tours Owner – Ricardo Defranco Defrantur@fibertel.com.ar

http://www.defrantur.com

Falkland Islands

Falkland Islands Tours & Travel Owner – Andy fitt@horizon.co.fl

Puerto Madryn Argentina

Vanesa at whalespatagonia@infovia.com.ar

Montevideo Uruguay

R & P Owner / Driver Ricardo Palleiro Guide – Marta msmtaiz@hotmail.com

Punta Arenas Chile

Driver – Alberto Hutt Coleman (could speak English and had more knowledge than the guide Rod (Robert Marcus) find Alberto at http://www.vientosur.com or e-mail Agencia@vientosur.com

Puerto Montt

Company – Aqua Motion Tours http://www.aqua-motion.com info@aquamotion.cl

Ask for guide Paulina Acuna Meier acuameier@yahoo.es

Chile

Terracota Excursions – http://www.terracotachile.cl e-mail Maria Isabel Sagues at mabel@terracotchile.cl

For 1 company that will arrange all of your Chile tours use Terracota Tours

I hope the above helps

We were very happy with all of our private tours.

WOW,

I couldn't be more pleased with all your suggestions! I know have to find one of them that's willing to work over the Christmas holidays....

You all have been SO helpful, I really do appreciate your posts!

Laurie

Agree with AussieGal on the two Carlos' .

In Iguazu Oliver Brasil -Turism - Brazil Turism

Falklands france@horizon.co.fk Graham France--email

Valparaiso/Santiago -- victor.aballai@enaturchile.com

SQ

By businesses I travel to Chile 2 or 3 times per year, always I make adjustments with enaturchile. They are very responsible. Victor Aballai, responds all the questions and its attention is customized

we used Portcomapss.com for all of our tours. We booked everything in advance and they were great. We booked tours through them for every port except Montevideo.

They have a website that list all their tours and prices

JOYCE....... Thanks for the link to PortCompass SA; they seem to offer exactly what we are looking for: transfer from hotel (Santiago) to ship (Valparaiso) and transfer from ship (BA) to airport.

Originally, we were reluctant to attempt this adventure (South America!!) arranging our own flight schedule; but honestly, all the information, assistance, guidance, and help here has indeed made me very much look forward to the trip :D

I agree with the suggestions for Carlos of Private Tours in Buenos Aires.

He's terrific.

Tours from Santiago to Rio (including Iguazzu)

Santiago to Valparaiso-Vina del Mar. http://www.enaturchile.com Victor Aballai was very good. See my post on Rotterdam--Jan 11 to see comments. victor.aballai@enturchile.com $45 pp.

Puerto Montt GV Tours http://www.gvtours.com Fantastic. Veronica and Gail Stein are the guides. gvstein@surnet.cl $50 pp. incl lunch

Punta Arenas Turismo Viento Sur http://www.vientosur.com I worked with Francesca Baldecchi agencia@vientosur.com She was very attentive and we had Paulina and a driver as our guide. College student who was excellent.

Took Penguin colony tour and 1/2 day city tour. $94 pp

Ushuaia, Argentina Used the HAL tour to the National Park & Beagle Channel. Was OK, but would rather be with just our small foursome rather than the large bus. $109 pp

Falkland Islands---we did our own thing in the town. Was raining anyway!!!!

Buenos Aires Carlos Vitro at Private Tours Fantastic guide http://www.privatetours.com.ar $80 pp incl lunch and tango demo---all day tour

Montivideo We had planned to just do our own thing, but there were lots of taxis outside the ship, so we used one of them and had a fantastic tour for about 4 hours---even got to go into the presidents house! $17 pp.

Rio Peter Novak We saw so much of Rio, I can't even imagine. He picked us up at 8:00 and we returned to the ship at 8:00--4 of us. Approx. $165 pp. Took us places a bus could never find!!!! He was our personal guardian for the day. http://www.privatetours.com.br I was a little concerned about the cost at first---but it was well worth it.

Iguazzu Oliver Daizi www1.fallsbrazil.com.br met us at the airport and took us on a tour of the Brazil side before taking us to our hotel. He was excellent, even doing all our paperwork at immigration.We toured the Argentine side by ourselves the next day.

Highly recommend individual tour guides rather than the ship. I used this board to find recommendations and glad we did.

you know where to find it!

I was so happy to find this thread! We have just booked for a Jan 20 cruise and this will cut out hours and hours of reseach on my part.

I especially appreciated the post where the prices were included. That really helps!

Thanks to all of you,

Carol

We made arrangements with: enaturchile.com, they responded our questions quickly. We are happy with your supplies.

We will have a car and a private guide. We cannot make arrangements with a group; by my husband has difficulties to walk.

It was exactly what we needed.

I hope that you they have a good trip.

Marilyn.

We will be visiting Santiago Chile in early Feb. What type of clothing is the norm. I krow the weather will be warm. Do people wear shorts, sneakers. Do women dress nicer for dinner.

My husband and I will use enataturchile. For our transference to Valparaiso, in our trip we will visit a vineyard, what do you recommend Vina Mar or Indomita

Hotel Orly . What is your appreciation of this hotel

Any helpful suggestions will be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

Becky and Donald :)

We will be visiting Santiago Chile in early Feb. What type of clothing is the norm. I krow the weather will be warm. Do people wear shorts, sneakers. Do women dress nicer for dinner.

My husband and I will use enataturchile. For our transference to Valparaiso, in our trip we will visit a vineyard, what do you recommend Vina Mar or Indomita

 

Hotel Orly . What is your appreciation of this hotel

 

Any helpful suggestions will be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

Becky and Donald :)

 

Becky/Donald,

We are also doing the transfer. Do you know where you are having lunch? I can't find any recommendations for lunch and have searched. Also, did you decide on a winery? We're going in January and were wondering about the clothes too!

Carol