Patagonian Estancias (AR 032)
Ranch Tour

A unique tour including the most typical ranches in the Patagonian steppe, from the Atlantic Ocean to the Andes. Share some time with the local people, getting to know their customs and to feel the solitude of this far southern regions.

Departures: daily from October 1st to April 15th
Guide: Spanish and bilingual (English - German - Italian - French)
Meals: according to itinerary. Air Fare: not included

Day 1 - Trelew
Reception and assistance at Trelew airport. Departure to Punta Tombo Rookery to admire a magnificent colony of millions of Magellan penguins. Transfer to Estancia San Guillermo, 17 km from Puerto Madryn, located in the area known as Cerro Avanzado. This traditional Patagonian ranch offers the visitor plenty of choices such as: close contact with the gauchos at work, minitrekking in the surrounding area and making your own anthrophological research.
Trekking or horse-back riding to Cerro Avanzado, only 4 km from the main house you will have the opportunity to identify the geological evolution of Patagonia and an important legacy of paleonthological interest. Also have a look at the private collection of fossils gathered at the hill by local people. Accommodation . Dinner.

Day 2 - Puerto Madryn
Continental breakfast. Full day tour to Península Valdés, passing by Ameghino Isthmus, located between the Nuevo and the San Jose Gulfs. Visit Puerto Pirámide, where there is a sea lion rookery and it's a great opportunity to take the optional boat excursion for an outstanding whale watch you cannot miss (available from June to November). Continue to Punta Delgada for a view of its important colony of sea lions and Caleta Valdés where sea elephants seem to have found their ideal natural habitat. Lunch included. During October and November there is an optional boat excursion from Puerto Pirámide to watch the whales. Return to Punta Delgada. Accommodation at Estancia Rincón Chico or Estancia La Elvira. Dinner .

Day 3 - Puerto Madryn / Ushuaia
Continental breakfast. Transfer to Trelew airport to board the flight to Ushuaia (*). Reception at Ushuaia airport and transfer the hotel. Accommodation. In the afternoon, departure to Tierra del Fuego National Park, located only 12 km from the city. It preserves typical species of the Andean-Patagonic Forest such as firebushes, beech trees, ñires, box leafed barberries and flowers, spread in an area of 63,000 hectares. Before entering the National Park, board the Train to the End of the World and enjoy an unforgettable trip along the original terreplain where the old prisoners train ran until 1947 for their expeditions into the National Park in search of wood for heating. The highlight of the park is Lapataia Bay, the southernmost tip of the continent, with a wonderful view of the Beagle Channel. Here, the old inhabitants of the area have left their testimony in the "concheros", incredible archeological deposits. Return to the hotel.

Day 4 – Ushuaia / Estancia Harberton
Continental breakfast. Departure from the hotel towards the Tourist Pier, where you will navigate along the Beagle Channel, beginning at Ushuaia Bay, which will amaze you with its small rocky islets very rich in the incredible local sea fauna. You will approach the Birds Island, with its important bird colony which includes: cormorants, seagulls, petrels, albatrosses, cauquenes and oyster birds. Then you will also approach the Sea Lions Island where you will be able to see a funny colony of one-hair and two-hair sea lions. A unique opportunity to see both species at the same time and to learn how to identify one from the other.
You will then continue towards Les Eclaireurs Island, where the lighthouse of the same name is placed. Afterwards, you will pass close to the estancias Punta Segunda and Remolino, approaching the abandoned ship “Monte Sarmiento”, partially sunk in 1911. You will sail very close to the enigmatic coast of Gable Island, with soft slopes where condors nest. You will finally arrive at Harberton Bay to disembark in front of the main house of Estancia Harberton, the oldest sheep cattle ranch in Tierra del Fuego, founded in 1886; and still working nowadays. You will visit the main house, the oldest orchard in the isle, the first shop, the first natural reserve, the carpentry workshop, the shearing shed, the cemetery and the garden.
Accommodation.

Day 5 – Estancia Harberton / Ushuaia
Breakfast. Departure towards Lakes Escondido and Fagnano framed by the extremely beautiful surrounding landscape, enriched by the enchanting lenga, coihue and ñire woods that 'get dressed' in different colors for each season. Fagnano Lake, located in the middle of the Patagonian steppe, is the largest in the island, and part of it belongs to Chilean territory. You will be able to see local sea birds such as albatrosses and petrels and you will gradually discover how the mountains start to loose height becoming hills and finally vanishing to let the steppe appears, as woods are replaced by small motes, coirónes and low bushes. Continue to Ushuaia. Accommodation.

Day 6 – Ushuaia / El Calafate
After breakfast, transfer to the airport to board the flight to El Calafate. Reception at El Calafate airport and transfer to the selected estancia. Dinner and accommodation.

Day 7 - El Calafate
Continental breakfast. Departure from the estancia towards Puerto Bandera, 50 km from the town, to board the catamaran to enjoy a full day lake excursion to see Upsala Glacier and Onelli Bay, cruising among hundreds of icebergs that have broken off from the glaciers. Upsala is the largest continental glacier in the Southern Hemisphere. The height of its walls varies between 60 to 80 meters and it has an area of 595 km2. Return to the estancia. Dinner and accommodation.

Day 8 - El Calafate
Continental breakfast. Overland trip to Perito Moreno Glacier, one of the world’s largest active continental glaciers, declared Universal Mankind´s Heritage Site by UNESCO because of its breathtaking beauty and its unusual behavior. Accommodation and dinner at selected estancia.

Day 9 - El Calafate
Continental breakfast. Transfer to El Calafate airport or departure for optional tours: Torres del Paine, Fitz Roy or Helsingfors.
Note: in case of flying from Río Gallegos, optional bus transfer from El Calafate (316 km) (*).

Important Note:
(*) This transfer is provided without bilingual guide due to operational reasons.