A South American Adventure

Written by Harold McNeill on November 9th, 2017. Posted in Travelogue, Adventure

South America

South America: From the Pampas of Argentina to the Peruvian Andes and
Machu Picchu: A tour of south central, South America
For a representative series of photos,  Link Here)
(Note: The Falklands Islands is included on the tour, but was not included in the above map – reference the photo series for a second map)   

Update:   February 25, 2019.  We are now back in Canada and the process of writing several short posts about our experience is underway.  The post will not be written in chronological order.  A list of links will be added here:

Peru, A Different Perspective: Includes 12-minute slideshow of photos taken through the windows of planes, trains, and automobiles.
Peru and the Inca: Back to the Future: Compares the science of the Inca to that taking place in the University of Victoria today.
South America: A Long Day, a Hard Life:  Comparisons between South America and Canada
The Falkland Islands: Our Perceptions of the Islands.

Original 

Looking for something exciting to kick off the New Year in 2019? Yes? Well, we invite you to join Garth and Esther Dunn, Lynn and Harold McNeill and a host of like-minded adventurers on a 3-4 week air, sea, coach, and rail tour of south-central South America and the Falklands. Highlight – Machu Picchu!

We kick off our travels with a few days in Buenos Aires , a 15th-century Spanish city providing a limitless array of tourist attractions. It is your choice of how long you wish to spend in the city and surrounding area before joining Princess Cruise Lines – Star Princess on January 31, 2019, as we begin a 14-day jam-packed cruise which will take us from the Atlantic to the Pacific via Cape Horn (see tour itinerary in the footer below).

During our time at sea, our first stop will be Montevideo, followed by the Falkland Islands, site of the 1982 dust-up between Argentina and England. Departing the Falklands, we will make several stops and Island water tours, as we round the Cape – that infamous stretch of water that has defeated so many sailors and ships over the past 500 years.

Upon entering the south-easternmost reaches of the Pacific, we cruise north along the West Coast of Chile, arriving in Santiago on February 14. Here, we bid farewell to our fair Princess and, following lunch and a short site-seeing tour of Santiago, board our flight to Lima, Peru.

Overnighting in Lima, a new day beckons as we make our way to the Lima airport and our flight to Cusco, Peru, where our land tour will begin. Following two days of acclimatization amidst the mystique and beauty of the Sacred Valley, we depart by coach, then rail, to Machu Picchu that famous 15th-century Incan Citadel named a World Heritage site in 1983. Set high atop an Andean mountain, above the Urubamba River valley, much about Machu Picchu remains a mystery to this very day.

Machu Pichu

Our tour draws to an end as we embark on our return flight to Lima, departing for home on February 20th (unless,that is, you extend your stay in Chile or complete your adventure with a visit to the awe-inspiring Galapagos Islands). This incredible cruise/tour promises an unforgettable journey, as you revel in this unique and rivetting destination – host to much of the world’s raw and natural beauty.

It will be mid-summer in the southern hemisphere, as we travel from the sub-tropical regions of Argentina and Peru to the chillier climes of Cape Horn, an area heavily influenced by the Great South Sea of Antarctica. As a point of orientation, Ushuaia, the southernmost town in the world, at 54.80S, shares a similar latitude with Fort Simpson and Fort Saint James in British Columbia, both of which are situated at 54.40N,.

Join us on this adventure of a lifetime.  Celebrate 2019 as your year of discovery!

Star Princess

Star Princess Itinerary: South America, 2019

Jan 28. Three Day Pre-Cruise Tour of Buenos Aires and area (optional)
Jan 31 Buenos Aires
Feb 2 Montevideo
Feb 4 Puerto Madryn At Sea
Feb 6 Falkland Islands (St Tender Required Wheelchair Access
Feb 7 Cape Horn
Feb 8 Scenic Cruising Ushuaia
Feb 9 Punta Arenas
Tender Required Wheelchair Access Limited
Feb 10 Amalia Glacier Scenic Cruising
At Sea
Feb 12 Puerto Montt
Tender Required Wheelchair Access Limited At Sea
Feb 14 Santiago (San Antoni Vendor Information Luggage Information Coach: Ship To Airport Santiago Sightseeing Lunch
Feb 14 Air: Santiago To Lima
Transfer: Airport To Hotel
Dinner
Lima Accommodations – 1 Night Breakfast
Feb 15 Transfer: Hotel To Airport Air: Lima To Cusco
Lunch
Coach: Cusco To Urubamba Pisac Market
Dinner
Feb 15 Sacred Valley Accommodations – 2 Nights
Breakfast
Ollantaytambo Tour
Coach: Ollantaytambo To Chincheros Chincheros Sightseeing
Lunch
Coach: Chincheros To Urubamba
Dinner
Breakfast
Rail: Ollantaytambo To Aguas Calientes Coach: Aguas Calientes To Machu Picchu. Machu Picchu Sightseeing
Lunch
Dinner
Feb 18 Machu Picchu Accommodations – 1 Night
Breakfast
Machu Picchu Sightseeing
Walk: Machu Picchu To Aguas Calientes
Rail: Aguas Calientes To Ollantaytambo Coach: Ollantaytambo To Cusco
Lunch
Cusco Sightseeing
Dinner
Feb 18 Cusco Accommodations – 1 Night Breakfast
Transfer: Hotel Feb 19 To Airport
Air: Cusco To Lima
Transfer: Airport To Hotel
Lima Sightseeing
Farewell Dinner
Lima Accommodations – 1 Night Breakfast
Feb 20 Transfer: Hotel To Airport
We may add a four day G Adventure tour to the Amazon River (available as a separate tour).

For tour reservations, contact Lynn McNeill at  Expedia Cruise ShipCenters, Sidney, B.C.  Cell: 250-893-1033 or 250-656-5441 or email: lynnmcneill@cruiseshipcenters.com.

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Comments (2)

  • lynnmcneill
    November 19, 2018 at 1:02 pm |

    Hi Harold – looks great!

    Reply
    • Harold McNeill
      November 19, 2018 at 4:38 pm |

      Thanks, Lynn. It appears there was a problem with the comment system. Cheers, Harold

      Reply

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  • Mike Fedorowich

    September 1, 2023 |

    I have gone through the above noted text and have found it quite informative.
    I am a former member with several law enforcement agencies from across Canada.
    I worked in the First Nations service under the authority of the RCMP with the over sight of the OPP. My law enforcement service was conducted under the authority of the Nishnawbe – Aski Police Service in North West Ontario the Louis Bull Police Sevice in Hobbema AB, the Kitasoo Xaixais Police Service in Northern in side passage on Swindle Island, the Lac Suel Police Service North West Ontario and the Vancouver Transit Authority Sky Train Police Service. I’m presently dealing with an RCMP member for falsifying a report against me for a road rage event. Court case is finished and the charge was dropped but I have an on going complaint with the member and have forwarded to the WATCH DOGS IN OTTAWA FOR the RCMP review and consideration. I believe the said officer is in violation of his oath of office and should be held accountable for falsifying his RTCC all the while dragging me through the court system here in Nanaimo. RCMP continue to stonewall the appeal but Ottawa and the crowns office are still looking into the matter. if your able and find the time or the interest in this very brief introduction, I would very much like to speak with you and would be grateful to hear any wisdom that may come across from your end. I served with First Nations Police Services for ten years in isolation and six years with Transit Police out of New West Minster. I do value and appreciate any time you could spare to chat for a bit on this particular subject matter. Respectfully with out anger but an open mind, Mike Fedorowich Nanaimo BC 250 667 0060

  • Harold McNeill

    February 28, 2022 |

    Hi Robert, I do remember some of those folks from my early years in Cold Lake (Hazel was my aunt and our family spent many fond times with Uncle Melvin, Aunt Hazel and Family. I knew Lawrence and Adrian. Having read a half dozen accounts it is clear their were many false narratives and, perhaps, a few truths along the way. I tried my best to provide an even account from what I read. Cheers, Harold. (email: Harold@mcneillifestories.com)

  • Robert Martineau

    February 25, 2022 |

    Its been a long time since any post here, but its worth a shot. My Grandfather was Hazel Wheelers brother Lawrence, and son to Maggie and Adrien. Maggie Martineau (nee Delaney) is my great grandmother. The books and articles to date are based on the white mans viewpoint and the real story as passed down by the Elders in my family is much more nefarious. Some of the white men were providing food for the Indians in exchange for sexual favors performed by the Squaws. Maggie was the product of one of those encounters. Although I am extremely proud of my family and family name, I am ashamed about this part of it.

  • Julue

    January 28, 2022 |

    Good morning Harold!
    Gosh darn it, you are such a good writer. I hope you have been writing a book about your life. It could be turned into a movie.
    Thanks for this edition to your blog.
    I pray that Canadians will keep their cool this weekend and next week in Ottawa. How do you see our PM handling it? He has to do something and quick!
    Xo Julie

  • Herb Craig

    December 14, 2021 |

    As always awesome job Harold. It seems whatever you do in life the end result is always the same professional, accurate, inclusive and entertaining. You have always been a class act and a great fellow policeman to work with. We had some awesome times together my friend. I will always hold you close as a true friend. Keep up the good work. Hope to see you this summer.
    Warm regards
    Herb Craig

  • Harold McNeill

    November 26, 2021 |

    Hi Dorthy, So glad you found those stories and, yes, they hold many fond memories. Thanks to social media and the blog, I’ve been able to get in touch with many friends from back in the day. Cheers, Harold

  • Harold McNeill

    November 26, 2021 |

    Well, well. Pleased to see your name pop up. I’m in regular contact via FB with many ‘kids’ from back in our HS days (Guy, Dawna, Shirley and others). Also, a lot of Cold Lake friends through FB. Cheers, Harold

  • Harold McNeill

    November 26, 2021 |

    Oh, that is many years back and glad you found the story. I don’t have any recall of others in my class other than the Murphy sisters on whose farm my Dad and Mom worked.

  • Harold McNeill

    November 26, 2021 |

    Pleased to hear from you Howie and trust all is going well. As with you, I have a couple of sad stories of times in my police career when I crossed paths with Ross Barrington Elworthy. Just haven’t had the time to write those stories.

  • Howie Siegel

    November 25, 2021 |

    My only fight at Pagliacci’s was a late Sunday night in 1980 (?) He ripped the towel machine off the bathroom wall which brought me running. He came after me, I grabbed a chair and cracked him on the head which split his skull and dropped him. I worried about the police finding him on the floor. I had just arrived from Lasqueti Island and wasn’t convinced the police were my friends. I dragged him out to Broad and Fort and left him on the sidewalk, called the cops. They picked him up and he never saw freedom again (as far as I know). I found out it was Ross Elworthy.

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