Seeing the Andes Mountains towering over a skyline was a memory one Binghamton University tourist might never forget.

During the winter break, 11 BU students and alumni, as well as two faculty chaperones from the theater department, toured Buenos Aires, Argentina, and Santiago, Chile.

Twice a year, the Alumni Association hosts trips open to BU alumni and students. Past groups have ventured through London, Dublin and Scotland.

“The trip went wonderfully,” said professor Tom Kremer, who chaperoned the trip with adjunct lecturer Carol Hanscom. “It was surprisingly fine, because we anticipated cons.”

The chaperones assumed there wouldn’t be intermingling between students and alumni, but that was not the case, according to Kremer, who’s been involved in the Alumni Association since 2004. They were very engaged with one another, Kremer said.

“It was very nice to have a mix of students,” he added.

Kremer said South America was a great place to go over the winter holiday because it was still summer.

“The dollar is also very strong down there,” he said. “So we got great meals for ridiculously cheap.”

The group also went on excursions at each city. One trip was a visit to a cattle ranch in Buenos Aires, where tourists watched a horse show.

They went to Vina del Mar, which is known as the Miami Beach of Chile. They also visited the house of Nobel Prize-winning poet Pablo Neruda.

“It was an amazing experience,” he said.

Kremer praised the location for its natural beauty and architectural magnificence.

“Buenos Aires is known as the Paris of South America, whereas Santiago was a newer, more metropolitan city,” Kremer said.

Kremer said he remembered a point when the group was surrounded by the enormous Andes Mountains, which nearly eclipsed the skyline.

This summer the Association will be going to Scotland to take part in the world’s largest performing arts festival. They are starting to promote the event now and encourage anyone interested to participate.

“We are looking to offer more to our alumni,” Dan Polhamus, the associate director of Alumni and Parent Relations, said.

According to Polhamus, apart from providing trips outside the United States, the Alumni Association also wants to host local activities. Some ideas that have been introduced are a Super Bowl event and a wine tour.

“We want people to come forth with their ideas,” Polhamus said. “We want to feed off of people’s passions and interests.”

The Alumni Association does not benefit financially from the events they organize, Polhamus said.

“We really just want to broaden the alumni horizons,” he said.

According to Polhamus, the Alumni Association is open to any suggestions. Polhamus encouraged alumni and students to share their ideas so the Association can provide new and exciting programs for all BU students to enjoy.