2011 OFA STUDY TOUR TO SOUTH AMERICA
Featuring
Chile and Argentina, with Optional 3-day Extension To Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Estimated
Price: US$6,000 per person, double-occupancy,
including round trip airfare
from Miami
I T I N E R A R Y
Sun.
Jan. 9. Depart U.S. Depart our U.S. Gateway for Santiago, Chile. Dinner and overnight in-flight.
Mon. Jan 10. Arrive Santiago. Mid-morning arrival in Santiago, Chile's capital city.
We meet our Chilean representative and transfer to our hotel in the modern residential and commercial district
of Providencia. This afternoon we enjoy an introductory tour of the historical city center, returning to the hotel in
time for a cocktail and light dinner before turning in for a much-needed sleep. (D)
Tue. Jan 11. Santiago. Today's excursion takes us south of the city to the prime
fruit producing area. We visit an important producer of table grapes who is also adding wine grapes on more marginal
areas, and a cooperative farm that produces a variety of fruit and tomatoes for export. We lunch at the historic Vina
Santa Rita, followed by a visit to the winery and a tour of the process. We return to Santiago in the
evening.. (BL)
Wed. Jan. 12. Santiago - Valparaiso - Lakes District. This morning
we travel through the Curacavl and Casablanca Valleys to Chile's main seaport on the Pacific Ocean and its legislative capital,
Valparaiso. On the way we visit smaller farms that supply fresh fruit and vegetables to Santiago. We have lunch
in a seafood restaurant overlooking the coast before returning to Santiago for our evening flight to Temuco,
the entrance of the southern Lakes District for a two-night stay. (BL)
Thu. Jan. 13. Temuco.
After breakfast, we depart the hotel on the way to visit a lovely farm that specializes in top alpaca and llama genetics
to learn about these exotic animals on their home turf. Later, we meet with the local farmers' association, the SOFO,
to take a look at some top grain producers (wheat, oats, barley). (BL)
Fri. Jan. 14. Temuco - Puerto
Varas. Today we travel south along the main road, observing how the climate changes as we go. We enter into
the southern temperate zone, where the weather permits almost year-round pasturage grazing. We visit a good dairy and
beef farm for discussions with the owners on their costs and projections, and to enjoy a spit barbequed lamb lunch.
We arrive in the early evening at the lakeside resort town of Puerto Varas for another two-night stay. (BL)
Sat.
Jan. 15. Puerto Varas. After breakfast we visit the nearby port of Puerto Montt, to take
in the views on the sound to the south, where the Andes Mountains drop straight into the ocean. Then we visit the local
fish and shellfish market to see the daily catch and experience the local version of the clambake for lunch. The afternoon
is free for us to explore Puerto Varas on our own. (BL)
Sun. Jan. 16. Chilean Lake Crossing to Bariloche.
Today we cross the Andes Mountains through the "Switzerland of South America", a world-renown day trip
by bus and catamaran through Andean Lakes into the heart of the mountains. Our cameras will be working overtime as we
try to capture the spectacular scenery. Evening arrival in San Carlos de Bariloche, Argentina, where we meet our Argentine
guide. Bariloche is one of the largest cities in Patagonia, on the shore of Naheul Huapi Lake. Bariloche
is located between the glacial lakes and forests at the foot of the Andes, with almost 4000 mm annual rainfall, and a huge
desert area with less than 200 mm rainfall, swept by dry winds. We arrive at our hotel in the heart of the city in time
for our "Welcome to Argentina" dinner. (BLD)
Mon. Jan. 17. Bariloche. Driving
south we travel through a spectacular scenic area to the town of El Bolson. Here we visit two properties dedicated to
fine fruit production. The area of El Bolson is a low altitude valley (250 mets) and is, therefore, well suited for
the growing of strawberries, raspberries, apples, and peaches. After a short briefing by the managers of these
farms, they will guide us through the processes used to produce various fruit products sold on the retail market. After
lunch on one of the farms, we return to Bariloche.. This afternoon is a good time to shop for sweaters and chocolates
for which Bariloche is famous. (BL)
Tue. Jan. 18. Bariloche - Mendoza. This morning
we drive around Lake Naheul Huapi and Lake Moreno, and ride the chair lift to the top of Campanario Mountain for a breathtaking
view of the Andes and the forest. Later we visit Fortin Chacabuco Ranch, located in the eastern part of Nahuel Huapi
National Park. Fortin Chacabuco Ranch has 5000 hectares of land,carrying some Merino sheep, but these days the ranch
is mainly dedicated to agro-tourism, including horse back riding, forestry, fishing and hunting. Its origins go back
to 1883, when General Villegas ordered the construction of Chacabuco Fort, in the struggle against the Indians during the
colonization of Patagonia. Lunch on the farm includes discussions with the owners regarding farming in the region and
tourism and management practices. Later this afternoon we board our flight to Mendoza. Mendoza sits at the foot of the highest
mountains in the American continent, - 760 meters above sea level - and is one of the oldest cities in Argentina, founded
in 1561. Mendoza is the capital of the province by the same name and its largest city, with a population of around 800,000.
Mendoza was destroyed by an earthquake in 1863, after which lots of trees were planted and irrigated by a channel system that
covers the whole city. We spend the next two nights in Mendoza. (B/L)
Wed. Jan. 19. Mendoza.
Mendoza is responsible for over 90% of the wine production of Argentina. We visit a couple of wineries and
follow the processing of the grapes, and, of course, we'll have a chance to taste the wines. We will also inspect the
different grape varieties on the plantations. Mendoza is also responsible for a big part of the fruit and vegetable
production in the country, and some of the main crops are apples, peaches, quince, onions, potatoes, tomatoes, garlic, and
olives. Mendoza is a dry area, and all of the crops are grown with irrigation from the melting snows of the Andes.
We'll visit one of these farms for a tour and lunch. (BL)
Thu. Jan. 20 Mendoza -
Buenos Aires. Before we leave Mendoza, we visit a plant nursery that supplies plants for all the crops in the area,
including different grape varieties for wine making, and a farm that produces olives, grapes, and has a small winery.
We enjoy lunch on this farm. Later this afternoon, we fly to Buenos Aires, capital city of Argentina. Buenos Aires
is one of the largest and one of the most cosmopolitan and fashionable cities in the world, with a population, including the
suburbs, of 14 million. The city is located on the shores of the Rio de la Plata, an estuary formed by the Parana and
Uruguay Rivers. We stay in Buenos Aires for the next three nights. (BL)
Fri. Jan. 21 Buenos
Aires, Rural Argentina. Early morning visit to a huge livestock market, which is located inside Buenos Aires
city limits. Here, 8-12 thousand head of cattle are sold daily to abattoirs around the city for processing and for domestic
consumption. We see the simultaneous auctions that take place in the different areas of the market, and we inspect the cattle
from above, which gives us a pretty good idea of the cattle herd of Argentina. The dominant breeds are Aberdeen Angus
and Hereford. Later, we leave the city and drive south across the southern pampas, through an area that is suitable
for crops such as maize, soybeans and wheat. We visit the properties owned by the Turienzo family. The family
has 2 farms, with a total of 800 hectares, where they produce no-till maize, soybeans and wheat, and run a full cycle cattle
operation based on a Hereford-Angus herd. We have lunch and then inspect the property with the one of Turienzo family
members. Return to Buenos Aires. (BL)
Sat. Jan. 22. Buenos Aires. We tour the
city this morning, visiting the Palermo and Barrio Norte districts, with the expensive houses and classic architecture; La
Boca: San Telmo (in the old part of the city, with its flea markets); the recycled area of Puerto Madero, old warehouses which
were converted into fancy offices, restaurants and cinemas; Recoleta, including the cemetery to see Eva Peron's mausoleum;
the Plaza de Mayo, to take a look at the Cabildo (municipal building during the colonies and now a museum), and the Casa Rosada
(home of the Executive). This square is where Eva and Juan Peron used to address the crowds during their political rallies,
and where the Madres de Plaza de Mayo, relatives of the people who disappeared during the last military government, gathered
to claim for their missing. Today we lunch in one of the finest restaurants in Buenos Aires. In the evening we
go out for dinner to a place where we'll see Tango being played and danced by experts. Tango, a mixture of European
and African music was born in the southern neighborhoods of Buenos Aires. (BLD)
Sun. Jan. 23. Buenos
Aires - Iguazu Falls. Today we fly north to Puerto Iguauz, Argentina, on the border with Paraguay and Brazil.
This small town is located at the confluence of the Iguazu and Parana rivers, natural borders between the three countries.
Our hotel is the Sheraton International, the only hotel in the National Park, a sub-tropical rain forest where pumas, jaguars,
alligators and many colorful birds live. The hotel is only steps away from the falls where 275 separate waterfalls join
into one thundering cataract., only a few steps away from the falls. We have time to walk on the walkways through the
falls and use the swimming pool before dusk (B)
Mon. Jan. 24. Iguazu Falls - Buenos Aires - Depart for
the USA. This morning is free for sightseeing on our own. Later we fly to Buenos Aires in time to catch
our overnight flight back to the United States. (B)
Tue. Jan. 25. Welcome Home.
We arrive at our international gateway city, clear U.S. Immigration and Customs, and connect with flights to our home cities.
Optional Two Night, Three Day Extension to Rio de Janiero, Brazil
Mon. Jan.
24. Iguazu Falls - Rio. After breakfast we cross the border into Brazil and catch our flight to
Rio de Janiero. This afternoon we enjoy a city tour, including a cable-car ride to the top of Sugar Loaf Mountain for
a breathtaking view of the city. After dinner we experience the excitement of the native rhythms of the Samba. (BD)
Tue.
Jan. 25. Rio. This morning we visit the statue of Christ the Redeemer on Corcovado Mountain, the Tijuca
Forest, and the principal beaches of Rio - Copacabana, Ipanema, and Leblon e Sao Conrado. The afternoon and evening
is free to enjoy on our own.
Wed. Jan. 26. Rio de Janeiro - Depart for Home. Today is free
to shop in the beautiful boutiques or walk the world famous beaches that exemplify Rio. Evening transfer to the airport
for our overnight flight to the United States.
Thu. Jan. 27. Welcome Home. We arrive at
our international gateway city, clear U.S. Immigration and Customs, and connect with flights to our home cities.
