Argentina/Chile Shore excursions for less by booking directly or renting a car

which date in MArch - we're on the 26th Thanks Jerry

Lari - As so many others, I thank you for your work obtaining the information you posted.

Today I just Booked NCL SUN March 2th and would greatly appreciate all the tour information between Buenos Aires and Santiago. Though I did read your posting I could not determine which cruise you will be on? Jerry

Dear Lari,

My wife, son & I are cruising on NCL Sat March 26, 2016 and would greatly appreciate receiving your list of excursions. We also are not big fans of booking excursions through the cruise line.

Thank you so much for your time,

Mark

What a generous enough person you are to share your information. I would love to receive a copy at sykelly@hotmail.com. Thanks

Hye Lari,

We start in Valparaiso next week with Royal Caribbean I would also like to get your information, my email droopy1967@hotmail.com

Hello Lari,

I am traveling on NCL Sun March 26. I've signed up for only one ship excursion and one private tour so far. I would appreciate it if you would forward information to me about private travel on the ports. Thank you.

My email address is clo6216@yahoo.com

Carol

I too was surprised to see how expensive are the shore excursions. This will be my third NCL cruise this year. After my first sticker shock, I decided I could probably find better deals myself with some research; and I did. I'll be pleased to share my findings with others who like to save money to use at the casino, at the Champagne bar, or at the nice NCL shops. I am saving a LOT and doing it ALL.

 

What I have done is to write directly to local excursion providers and asked for their excursions. i also asked if they would be willing to pick-up and drop off cruise passengers or identify an easy place nearby to meet. I also found additional low-cost options which in my opinion may even be better.

 

I have drafted a list of superb alternative excursion deals for each port. The difference is that you deal directly wit the excursion providers and remove the ship from the arrangement; thus much cheaper. The excursions are in English or Spanish. I will be coming along and can help anyone who does not speak Spanish.

 

I have also reserved an automatic transmission rental car in Puerto Montt for only app. $60 and designed an easy driving itinerary using the NCL excursions and other guidance from tour books; I will do more than the expensive excursions. I will be pleased to share it with anyone. And if you would like to join me and make it really cheap, let me know. I am tons of fun. It is a Fiat 500 automatic so cannot take more than a couple of friends. I booked the car on Orbitz and even earned Orbitz rewards; and it includes insurance.

 

As an example, the excursion in Puerto Madryn (Argentina) to Punto Tombo which s the penguin colony is US$167 if you book it with NCL. I have two local companies that serve Argentine tourists who would do the SAME excursion for AR$ 800 which is app. US$57 if you exchange your USD for the $15 peso (the blue dollar rate) rate in Buenos Aires before you board. Imagine your savings!

 

I will be pleased to send anyone their flyers and you can reach out to them directly. I have done all the leg-work and will share it with anyone who wants to save over US$100 each for this excursion.

 

The mark-ups for the other excursions are equally unconscionable. In Puerto Arenas the boat ride to the Penguin colony and transfers from the NCL dock to the departure dock is only US$80 (compared to US $167 with the cruise).

 

In Montevideo I found a superb Hop on and Off Bus with multiple language descriptions that stops with near the cruise port. I have taken this tour before and it is great. It costs only US$ 25 which is significantly less than the NCL excursion. Montevideo is a great small city with plenty of safe, cheap and nice places to eat along the Ramblas. I am taking the bus, so come along.

 

I also learned how to get from Valparaiso to the main bus terminal in Santiago for less than US$20, including a taxi ride from the Valparaiso cruise port to the Valparaiso bus terminal. The buses are very clean, safe, and very efficient. Chile is quite developed.

 

Let me know if any of the above interests you and I'll post more information or send it to you directly.

 

I am traveling SOLO on this cruise so please say HI when you see me! I am in stateroom 8073 (AFT). I am a recently retired American diplomat and enjoy doing things like this and saving my dollars to shop and eat.

 

Lari

Will be cruising in 2017, any tour suggestions would be appreciated.

Will be cruising in March 2017, any tour suggestions would be appreciated

Disagree with earlier poster that this is not proper place to post.

 

We did Around the Horn on Celebrity and saved on excursions using SouthExcursions private tours.

 

If you rent a car and drive to Punto Tombo how are you going to find the location of the animal sanctuaries? Will you have a navigation system or GPS? I can see how easy it would be to get lost.

 

Also, the gravel roads over much of the peninsula would be a tough ride in a small vehicle.

 

I think taking a private tour with a minibus would be the best.

It is a SIMPLE easy drive to Purto Tombo. I have done it twice. You go through an admission gate- you just WALK to the "animal sanctuaries", not sure what you are thinking??

It looks like Lari has moved on? Is anyone getting a response?

Not me

Hi Lari

I am very interested in your list of alternative excursions.

My email address is debmeredith14@gmail.com

Thanks

Deb

Lari,

We would be very interested to see what you have put together for this South America cruise. Please email me at mstone165 at gmail dot com. Thanks.

Mark

Hi Lari,

You have done so much ground work and it is most appreciated. We are sailing with NCL in 20917 visiting all the ports that you've mentioned. Would you be kind enough to send me details of the information in particular on Puerto Madryn and Ishuaia.

Thanking you once again for your efforts. I can be contacted at

bluebirdgrpj-research@yahoo.co.uk

I received his outline of the itinerary including ports, maps and photos.

I received his email in May he was in and out of the country.

One local agency which he used in Puerto Madryn to go to Punta Tombo is not a reputable and licensed agency that has had a major accident in March which has left a 5 year old in a coma and has had major head injuries.

The agency is Alora Viaggio which is actually out of Buenos Aires.

You can check the comments under the agency on FB

Please check that companies are sanctioned and have permits and insurance for your safety.

Going to such a remote area was also a problem since there is no radio nor phone signal to communicate any injuries or accidents and hospitals are 1 & 1/2 hours away with ambulance care with minimal supplies.

Yikes! Thanks for the warning! Its definitely important to research companies you'll be using!

I too was surprised to see how expensive are the shore excursions. This will be my third NCL cruise this year. After my first sticker shock, I decided I could probably find better deals myself with some research; and I did. I'll be pleased to share my findings with others who like to save money to use at the casino, at the Champagne bar, or at the nice NCL shops. I am saving a LOT and doing it ALL.

 

What I have done is to write directly to local excursion providers and asked for their excursions. i also asked if they would be willing to pick-up and drop off cruise passengers or identify an easy place nearby to meet. I also found additional low-cost options which in my opinion may even be better.

 

I have drafted a list of superb alternative excursion deals for each port. The difference is that you deal directly wit the excursion providers and remove the ship from the arrangement; thus much cheaper. The excursions are in English or Spanish. I will be coming along and can help anyone who does not speak Spanish.

 

I have also reserved an automatic transmission rental car in Puerto Montt for only app. $60 and designed an easy driving itinerary using the NCL excursions and other guidance from tour books; I will do more than the expensive excursions. I will be pleased to share it with anyone. And if you would like to join me and make it really cheap, let me know. I am tons of fun. It is a Fiat 500 automatic so cannot take more than a couple of friends. I booked the car on Orbitz and even earned Orbitz rewards; and it includes insurance.

 

As an example, the excursion in Puerto Madryn (Argentina) to Punto Tombo which s the penguin colony is US$167 if you book it with NCL. I have two local companies that serve Argentine tourists who would do the SAME excursion for AR$ 800 which is app. US$57 if you exchange your USD for the $15 peso (the blue dollar rate) rate in Buenos Aires before you board. Imagine your savings!

 

I will be pleased to send anyone their flyers and you can reach out to them directly. I have done all the leg-work and will share it with anyone who wants to save over US$100 each for this excursion.

 

The mark-ups for the other excursions are equally unconscionable. In Puerto Arenas the boat ride to the Penguin colony and transfers from the NCL dock to the departure dock is only US$80 (compared to US $167 with the cruise).

 

In Montevideo I found a superb Hop on and Off Bus with multiple language descriptions that stops with near the cruise port. I have taken this tour before and it is great. It costs only US$ 25 which is significantly less than the NCL excursion. Montevideo is a great small city with plenty of safe, cheap and nice places to eat along the Ramblas. I am taking the bus, so come along.

 

I also learned how to get from Valparaiso to the main bus terminal in Santiago for less than US$20, including a taxi ride from the Valparaiso cruise port to the Valparaiso bus terminal. The buses are very clean, safe, and very efficient. Chile is quite developed.

 

Let me know if any of the above interests you and I'll post more information or send it to you directly.

 

I am traveling SOLO on this cruise so please say HI when you see me! I am in stateroom 8073 (AFT). I am a recently retired American diplomat and enjoy doing things like this and saving my dollars to shop and eat.

 

Lari

Hi Lari

We are going on the cruise from Santiago to BA in November 2017 and would very much like to benefit from some of your knowledge in booking local tour operators. Would it be possible to send some of the links to the excursions you found. Also we will be in Santiago a week before the cruise do you think it will be easy to book longer excursions around chiles north or wine districts. My email address is lpride@optusnet.com.au

In case the OP doesn't reply:

I did this cruise earlier this year on NCL. Here are a couple of recommendations:

Sentir Patagonia offers excellent tours in Puerto Madryn. Mine was to Peninsula Valdes. It cost about $80 pp.

South Excursions offered an excellent tour from Valparaiso to Santiago.

Juan Sunkel Cerro is highly recommended in Puerto Montt. He was the best guide we had on the entire cruise. That tour was fantastic. Book him early, though. He's in high demand.

Edgardo in Ushuaia customized a tour for me. I got a group together on my roll call board.

All of these tours cost about half the amount the ship was charging.

The HOHO bus in Montevideo wouldn't take US currency, so plan ahead. Also, there was only one bus, so it took about an hour to come back around.

Sent from my iPad using Forums

Many thanks Reebster, we have just started the planning stage and you tips for the shore excursions are very much appreciated

I also forgot to mention Patrick Watts in the Falklands. His is an excellent tour.

Sent from my iPad using Forums

In case the OP doesn't reply:

 

I did this cruise earlier this year on NCL. Here are a couple of recommendations:

 

Sentir Patagonia offers excellent tours in Puerto Madryn. Mine was to Peninsula Valdes. It cost about $80 pp.

 

South Excursions offered an excellent tour from Valparaiso to Santiago.

 

Juan Sunkel Cerro is highly recommended in Puerto Montt. He was the best guide we had on the entire cruise. That tour was fantastic. Book him early, though. He's in high demand.

 

Edgardo in Ushuaia customized a tour for me. I got a group together on my roll call board.

 

All of these tours cost about half the amount the ship was charging.

 

The HOHO bus in Montevideo wouldn't take US currency, so plan ahead. Also, there was only one bus, so it took about an hour to come back around.

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Forums

We are doing a South America cruise this January. Is renting a car possible in Punta Arenas? Do you have contact emails for some of these guides? South Excursions has numerous bad reviews. I would love the private tour info as well.

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

I too was surprised to see how expensive are the shore excursions. This will be my third NCL cruise this year. After my first sticker shock, I decided I could probably find better deals myself with some research; and I did. I'll be pleased to share my findings with others who like to save money to use at the casino, at the Champagne bar, or at the nice NCL shops. I am saving a LOT and doing it ALL.

 

What I have done is to write directly to local excursion providers and asked for their excursions. i also asked if they would be willing to pick-up and drop off cruise passengers or identify an easy place nearby to meet. I also found additional low-cost options which in my opinion may even be better.

 

I have drafted a list of superb alternative excursion deals for each port. The difference is that you deal directly wit the excursion providers and remove the ship from the arrangement; thus much cheaper. The excursions are in English or Spanish. I will be coming along and can help anyone who does not speak Spanish.

 

I have also reserved an automatic transmission rental car in Puerto Montt for only app. $60 and designed an easy driving itinerary using the NCL excursions and other guidance from tour books; I will do more than the expensive excursions. I will be pleased to share it with anyone. And if you would like to join me and make it really cheap, let me know. I am tons of fun. It is a Fiat 500 automatic so cannot take more than a couple of friends. I booked the car on Orbitz and even earned Orbitz rewards; and it includes insurance.

 

As an example, the excursion in Puerto Madryn (Argentina) to Punto Tombo which s the penguin colony is US$167 if you book it with NCL. I have two local companies that serve Argentine tourists who would do the SAME excursion for AR$ 800 which is app. US$57 if you exchange your USD for the $15 peso (the blue dollar rate) rate in Buenos Aires before you board. Imagine your savings!

 

I will be pleased to send anyone their flyers and you can reach out to them directly. I have done all the leg-work and will share it with anyone who wants to save over US$100 each for this excursion.

 

The mark-ups for the other excursions are equally unconscionable. In Puerto Arenas the boat ride to the Penguin colony and transfers from the NCL dock to the departure dock is only US$80 (compared to US $167 with the cruise).

 

In Montevideo I found a superb Hop on and Off Bus with multiple language descriptions that stops with near the cruise port. I have taken this tour before and it is great. It costs only US$ 25 which is significantly less than the NCL excursion. Montevideo is a great small city with plenty of safe, cheap and nice places to eat along the Ramblas. I am taking the bus, so come along.

 

I also learned how to get from Valparaiso to the main bus terminal in Santiago for less than US$20, including a taxi ride from the Valparaiso cruise port to the Valparaiso bus terminal. The buses are very clean, safe, and very efficient. Chile is quite developed.

 

Let me know if any of the above interests you and I'll post more information or send it to you directly.

 

I am traveling SOLO on this cruise so please say HI when you see me! I am in stateroom 8073 (AFT). I am a recently retired American diplomat and enjoy doing things like this and saving my dollars to shop and eat.

 

Lari

Hi, I'm doing slot if research as well. Which tour operators do you recommend for Puerto Madryn?

Also Buenos Aires on our own?

We're on Celebrity Jan 2018.

Hi, I'm doing slot if research as well. Which tour operators do you recommend for Puerto Madryn?

Also Buenos Aires on our own?

We're on Celebrity Jan 2018.

Also, any particular Montevideo bus?

Thanks