South American shore excursions-

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sail

Guest
I am going on the Buenos Aires to Santiago cruise in March, 2008. Would like to know about the shore excursions: which to take and which to avoid. Mondeveo, Port Stanley, Ushuaia, Punta Arenas and Puerto Montt. Did anyone take the catamarran sail at Ushuaia? Feedback would be great. Thanks!
 
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CruiseAholic

Guest
Hitting the memory banks on this one, did Rio to Santiago in March 2002.

Now, Ushuaia, we stolled around town a bit then took a tour out to Tiera del Fuego, absolutely beautiful.

We were in Punta Arenas and Puerto Montt and one of them we took a rather long excursion to a penguin rookery, quite interesting.
 
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bvfrenchknitter

Guest
We did a S. America and Antartica cruise on Princess last year.

We saw the penguins in Port Stanley. It was great. You ride out to the colony in a jeep and boat. You are close enough to touch them (you can't but you could). They just have a hose sort of thing on the ground you can't cross, but the penguins come right up to you if you crouch quietly.

I think we did the drive to the end of the world tour in Ushuia. It was OK, nothing really special. It isn't a very long ride.

I recall the penguin trip in Punta Arenas - I didn't go - but I heard it was a long ride down there and a long walk to the penguins with not much time to see them. We did Punta Arenas City Tour & Fort Bulnes. It was interesting but not fantastic.
 
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Tim95th

Guest
Penguins can be best seen from Port Stanley or from Punta Arenas.

Puerto Madryn is a long drive to see the penguins, but does have the least required walking once there. Overall, other options are better in Puero Madryn.

Port Stanley offers some intersting options from nature to history/military. Or you can walk around independently in Port Stanley. Note it is a tender ride ashore and you may find port is cancelled or cut short if weather conditions are not conducive.

Ushuaia - Tierra del Fuego is worth it, as is the catamaran, but would consider avoiding the train option.

If you are intersted in more exploration and flexibilty you could consider booking programs independent of the cruise line. Rates are higher privately in small groups than on the coach tours, but offer a greater experience.

You may want to reveiw myexcursions.com for private programs if your interests are towards more personalilzed options and better use of time ashore.
 
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