Program photograph
Upcoming Programs:

PATAGONIA: The Natural Wonders of Chile

October 31-November 12, 2008
U.Va. Faculty: Howard (Howie) E. Epstein, Associate Professor, Dept. of Environmental Sciences
Price: $6,695 Land Only, Per Person, Double Occupancy
Air fare will be determined from your gateway city
registration

Registration is Open

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Overview

For the traveler eager to explore South America, Patagonia with its pristine wilderness is undoubtedly one of this continent's top destinations. The University of Virginia is pleased to announce this remarkable 13-day tour to Chile, one of the most impressive, friendly, and comfortable destinations in all of Latin America.

The expedition begins in Santiago, the country's cosmopolitan capital. From there, we fly to Puerto Montt, gateway to Patagonia and the superb Chilean Lake District. We'll even have the opportunity to "sail the Andes" on the glacier-fed turquoise waters of Lake Todos Los Santos and visit the beautiful Petrohué Falls.

We continue to Punta Arenas, historic capital of the Magallanes region, a bustling port city at the bottom of the world. From Punta Arenas, we travel through the Patagonian pampas to Puerto Natales, the gateway to the major attraction in southern Patagonia, Torres del Paine National Park, a UNESCO biosphere reserve at the southernmost end of the Andes where we'll spend three nights. The park is named for the spectacular rocky spires that soar over a landscape of lakes, grasslands, and glaciers. Roaming freely in the park are rheas, Andean deer, puma, foxes, condors, eagles, and guanacos, a llama-like descendant of the camel.

Join us for a spectacular introduction to the natural wonders of Chile and Patagonia!

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Program Highlights

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Accommodations

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Meals

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Faculty

Howard (Howie) E. Epstein is an Associate Professor in the Department of Environmental Sciences and has been at U.Va. since 1998.  He received his Bachelors Degree in Computer Science from Cornell University, an M.S. degree in Rangeland Ecosystem Science and Ph.D. degree in Ecology, both from Colorado State University.  Before coming to U.Va., he worked as a Research Associate for the Institute for Arctic and Alpine Research at the University of Colorado in Boulder.  His research expertise is in the area of plant and soil ecology for dry grassland-shrubland ecosystems and cold arctic tundra ecosystems.  He has published over 50 journal articles and book chapters related to these topics.  Epstein has spent part of each of the past six summers in the Arctic of Alaska, Canada and Russia; the furthest north he has been is Cape Isachsen on Ellef Ringnes Island, Canada at approximately 79 degrees N latitude.

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Itinerary

Day 1 - U.S.A.

Depart the U.S. on an overnight flight to Santiago

Day 2 - Santiago

Arrive in Santiago early in the morning and transfer to hotel. An afternoon tour provides an introduction to this city at the foot of the Andes. Visits include San Cristóbal Hill and the excellent Pre-Columbian Museum, which chronicles 4,500 years of pre-Columbian civilization in the Americas. This evening we'll gather for an orientation and welcome dinner.
Plaza del Bosque (D)

Day 3 - Puerto Montt

This morning we'll fly to Puerto Montt, an important fishing port and gateway to the Lake District. We'll tour the vibrant, bustling fish and handicraft market. After lunch at the German Club, we transfer to nearby Puerto Varas, a charming German-style town known for its beautiful rose-lined streets. We'll enjoy breathtaking views of the snow-capped Osorno and Calbuco volcanoes reflecting off the clear waters of Lake Llanquihue. After settling into our hotel, we'll enjoy an afternoon at leisure.
Cabañas del Lago (B, L)

Day 4 - Andean Lake District

We'll explore the heartland of the Lake District as we travel along the shore of Lake Llanquihue, the fourth largest lake in South America. First, we visit Petrohué Falls, a succession of rapids against a backdrop of Andean mountains and Chile's magnificent Osorno Volcano. We will board a modern, enclosed catamaran and sail through the turquoise waters of Todos Los Santos Lake. This lake is universally acclaimed as one of the most beautiful in the world. We'll disembark at the remote hamlet of Peulla and enjoy time for walks and viewing the snow-capped Andes and emerald lakes.
Cabañas del Lago (B, L)

Day 5 - Punta Arenas & Puerto Natales

We'll fly to Punta Arenas, Chile's southernmost city, on the Strait of Magellan opposite Tierra del Fuego. Founded in 1848, in its golden age Punta Arenas served as a port-of-call for all ships circumnavigating the world. After a city tour, we visit the Braun Menéndez Regional History Museum. Located in a 1904 mansion built by one of the city's wealthiest families, the museum contains displays of regional history as well as palatial rooms with original furnishings. An exclusive lunch has been arranged at the Sara Braun House, another mansion turned museum. We'll relive an elegant bygone era as we dine among exquisite paintings and antiques. This afternoon, we transfer north through expansive Patagonian pampas to Puerto Natales, gateway to the most spectacular sights in southern Patagonia.
Hotel Costa Australis (B, L)

Day 6 - Day 9- Torres del Paine National Park

By far the most impressive sight in southern Chile is Torres del Paine National Park. Hidden at the southernmost end of the Andes, Torres del Paine is one of the newest nature reserves in South America. The dramatic mountain formations of towering rock, the windswept pampas, the ice fields and glaciers make this park an impressive sight that few can forget. We'll look for herds of guanacos and rheas, flamingoes, condors, foxes, geese, and black-necked swans. Lakes and lagoons of different hues of blues, green, and gray abound. The park is surrounded by impressive mountains including the famous Cuernos del Paine (Paine Horns), twisted pillars of gray granite dusted with snow that rise from the flat Patagonian plain. We can hike, ride horses, or relax in the park individually or with one of the expert guides.
Hostería Pehoe (4B, 4L, 4D)

Day 10 - Punta Arenas

We depart this morning for Punta Arenas, traveling through Chile's expansive Patagonian pampas, home to rheas, condors, and eagles. We'll drive along the shoreline of the Strait of Magellan to an area that is home to a large colony of Magellanic penguins. We can enjoy the antics of these delightful creatures at close range. We arrive in Punta Arenas in the late afternoon.
Hotel Cabo de Hornos (B, L)

Day 11 - Punta Arenas & Santiago

A morning in Punta Arenas offers activities in this city near the end of the world, including a visit to the fascinating Salesian Museum, one of the most unusual in South America. Afterward, we fly to Santiago. Our afternoon flight will offer, weather permitting, magnificent views of the Andes Mountains, its snow-capped peaks, glaciers, and ice fields as they stream downward, feeding the lakes below. Upon arrival we'll transfer to our hotel. The rest of the evening is at leisure.
Hotel Plaza del Bosque (B, L)

Day 12 - Chile's Wine Country

We'll enjoy a morning visit to the Palacio Cousino, a 19th-century mansion built for a coal baron. Learn how this prominent family once lived and how their descendants made their fortune. Then we depart for the nearby wine country. Chileans have been making fine wines for more than a century. Many of Chile's vineyards are close to Santiago in the fertile Central Valley. We visit the Via Santa Rita, where a special farewell lunch has been arranged. We then return to Santiago and in the evening transfer to the international airport for the flight home.
Overnight Flight (B, L)

Day 13- Arrive in the U.S.

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Program Fees

$6,695 per person, double occupancy, land only*. A limited number of single rooms are available for a supplement of $1,147 per person.

Sample Coach Airfare from JFK $1,030*

*As of May 2007 and subject to change.

Price includes:
Accommodations; in-tour airfare*; meals specified in the itinerary; land transportation by private motor coach; airport transfers for group flights; entrance fees; baggage handling; leadership; basic gratuities to guides and drivers; coordination and administration.

Price does not include:
International airfare; Chile reciprocity entrance fee; passport fees; meals not specified in the itinerary; personal items such as laundry, fax or telephone calls, liquor, room service, excess baggage charges, individual transfers, medical expenses, travel insurance, optional extensions or deviations from the scheduled tour. *Any increase in the in-tour airfare (included as part of the program cost), airport taxes, security, or fuel surcharges imposed after the initial pricing of this program are not included and will be passed on to participants.

*Please note that the land program cost of $6,695 includes the in-tour airfare in Chile based on an air pass with LAN Airlines when you have flown American Airlines or LAN Airlines or internationally into Santiago (sample coach airfare shown above). If you do not fly LAN Airlines or American into Santiago, the airfare for the in-tour flights with LAN Airlines may increase substantially as you will not be eligible for the air pass with LAN Airlines and each in-tour flight will be charged on an individual basis. You can fly any airline you choose into Santiago, but please be aware that you may be charged any increment over the LAN pass price for the in-tour flights if you do not fly LAN or American Airlines internationally.

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How To Register

Ready to register? The best way to do this is by phone so that we can ensure we are meeting all of your needs. Please call us toll free at 866-765-2646. Or e-mail cavaliertravels@virginia.edu with your contact information and the best time to reach you.

A deposit of $500 per person is required to reserve your spot. Final invoicing will be done approximately three months prior to departure. Final payment by check is due August 1, 2008.

Deposits can be made via Visa, MasterCard, or American Express.

Early registration is encouraged as space is limited.

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General Terms & Conditions

TRIP INSURANCE

Your tour operator will include information on obtaining trip insurance in your confirmation letter. Please note that there is a time frame for securing trip insurance. The University of Virginia will cancel its endorsement of and faculty and staff participation in any program destination for which a Travel Warning is issued by the U.S. Department of State. Vendor Terms of Agreement will specify under what circumstances the vendor will cancel a program and/or under what circumstances participants might receive some reimbursement if they cancel their travel with the vendor themselves. U.Va. strongly recommends that all participants purchase trip cancellation insurance which includes protection in the face of political unrest, natural disasters, and personal emergencies and participants should discuss this insurance directly with the vendor or other travel services with whom they deal. You will find more useful travel information by going to the Travel Resources link on this website.

DEPOSITS AND FINAL PAYMENT
Deposits may be charged to a credit card. Final payment is due August 1, 2008, and must be paid by check payable to the operator, Royal Adventures. Royal Adventures handles all bookings, ticketing, and invoicing. CST #2009579-40

CANCELLATIONS AND REFUNDS
Refunds, less a cancellation fee of $350 per person, are made if we are notified in writing on or before August 1, 2008. No refunds are made after that date. All cancellations must be made in writing. There are no refunds for unused meals, accommodations, or other trip features.

INSURANCE
We highly recommend the purchase of trip cancellation insurance. An application for trip cancellation insurance will be available upon confirmation. Neither the University of Virginia Alumni Travel Program nor Royal Adventures accept liability for any airline cancellation penalty incurred by the purchase of a non-refundable airline ticket or other expenses incurred by tour participants in preparing for the tour.

QUESTIONS
Please call or e-mail the University of Virginia Alumni Travel Program toll free at 1-866-765-2646 or 434-243-4984; E-mail cavaliertravels@virginia.edu; or call Briana Gerot, Royal Adventures (925) 820-6260 or 1-800-453-4754.

RESPONSIBILITY
Royal Adventures (CST #2009579-40), its owners and employees act only as agents for the various independent suppliers and contractors providing transportation, hotel accommodations, restaurant and other services connected with this tour. Such travel and services are subject to the terms and conditions under which such accommodations, services, and transportation are offered or provided, and the University of Virginia and Royal Adventures and their respective employees, agents, representatives, and assigns accept no liability therefor. The University of Virginia and Royal Adventures assume no liability for any injury, damage, loss, accident, delay, or other irregularity which may be caused by the defect of any aircraft or vehicle or the negligence or default of any company or person engaged in carrying out or performing any of the services involved. Additionally, responsibility is not accepted for losses, injury, damages or expenses of any kind due to sickness, weather, strikes, local laws, hostilities, wars, terrorist acts, acts of nature or other such causes. All services and accommodations are subject to the laws of the country in which they are provided. The University of Virginia and Royal Adventures reserve the right to make changes in the published itinerary whenever, in their sole judgment, conditions warrant, or if they deem it necessary for the comfort, convenience, or safety of the tour participants. They reserve the right to withdraw this tour without penalty. The right is also reserved to decline to accept or retain any person as a member of the tour, or to substitute another qualified leader or special guest. Baggage and personal effects are the sole responsibility of the owners at all times. The price of the program is given in good faith based on current tariffs and rates, and is subject to change. Any tariff, exchange rate, security surcharge or fuel increases will be passed on to participants. Neither the University of Virginia nor Royal Adventures accept the liability for any airline cancellation penalty incurred by the purchase of a nonrefundable airline ticket. The air ticket when issued shall constitute the sole contract between the passenger and the airline concerned. As part of the consideration and right to participate in this tour, each participant will be asked to sign a liability release.

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