Tours & Cruises

CHILE

White-water river rafting in Patagonia

RIDE the rapids on the Futaleufu River on a weeklong women-only trip to Patagonia that begins March 10.

Besides river sports, the Chile adventure tour includes activities such as horseback riding and hiking with experienced guides, and yoga classes at a lodge and river spa in the Futaleufu Valley.

"This trip offers world-class whitewater rafting with the comforts of a lodge, wine tasting, gourmet meals, massage therapy and the riverside hot tub," said tour company owner Deb Cisco, who has rafted around the world.

Futaleufu is in the Andes near the border of Argentina. Because it's remote, it is mostly pristine wilderness.

The Gelves and Palenque canyons descend to the river, which features calm tributaries for kayaking as well as world-class rapids.

Cost: $3,800 per person, double occupancy ($700 single surcharge), including accommodations; meals; wine; internal airfare from Puerto Montt, Chile, to Futaleufu; excursions and equipment. International airfare to Argentina and tourist entry fees are not included.

Contact: Outdoor Beyond, Apache Junction, Ariz.; (888) 217-4287, www.outdoorbeyond.com.

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MEXICO

Gray whale science study

DOCUMENT migrating gray whales on research expeditions to Laguna San Ignacio, Baja California, Jan. 24 and Feb. 21.

Participants will spend 13 days helping research staff identify individual whales and record data. The group spends most of the time aboard small skiffs in the lagoon, photographing whales. On shore, they analyze photographs of whales and help compile a database for future research.

Cost: $2,395 per person, including meals, camping facilities, boats and instruction. Tents, sleeping bags and transportation to Loreto, Mexico, are not included.

Contact: Earthwatch International, Maynard, Mass.; (800) 776-0188, www.earthwatch.org.

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SOUTHWEST

Albuquerque, amid luminarias

JOIN in the holiday festivities of the Southwest on a bus trip that begins Dec. 21.

Participants on the eight-day trip to New Mexico and Arizona will visit Carlsbad Caverns and cruise the Pecos River in Carlsbad, N.M., on a pontoon boat, spend Christmas in Albuquerque -- a time when it is alight with luminarias -- and visit Santa Fe, N.M.

Participants will visit Santo Domingo Pueblo, N.M., for a Christmas Day Indian celebration and visit the Painted Desert Visitors Center in Phoenix on the way home.