Amazing Patagonia (AR 083)

Departures: from October to March.
Guide: Spanish and bilingual (English - German - Italian - French)
Meals: according to itinerary. Air Fare: not included.

Patagonia, the land that will last for ever in the dreams of all those that have been here. A territory where history, art and time have left their indelible prints and where the ice rambles and the purest air in the planet can be breathed.
Stretching almost to the end of the world, Patagonia is an area of astonishing natural beauty. This is one of the few places on earth where it's possible to find incredible combined rookeries, cozy Welsh towns, millenary petrified woods, fascinating caves decorated with rupestrian paintings, magnificent glaciers and millenary lenga and ñire woods.

Day 1- Trelew / Comodoro Rivadavia (603 km)
Reception at Trelew airport and departure to Cabo dos Bahias Fauna Reserve, in Camarones, a tiny picturesque town located on the bay of the same name, surrounded by a very special landscape where the marine blue of the ocean contrasts with the multi-colored rocks. On the way, see some typical species of the Patagonic fauna such as: guanacos, ñandues, maras (Patagonic hares), and so on. Arrival at the spectacular Cabo Dos Bahias rookery, with its colony that gathers each year more than 1.500.000 penguins that arrive in this place apropriate to iniciate their reproductive cycle. An ideal place to appreciate the complex social behaviour of these birds. There is also a sea lions colony to visit. Box lunch. Continue to the city of Comodoro Rivadavia. Arrival and accommodation. Dinner.
(Optional: in case the paxs arrive in Trelew on a flight before 10.00 am the tour will start going to Punta Tombo Fauna Reservation. Lunch. Continue the visit to Camarones.

Day 2- Comodoro Rivadavia / Sarmiento / Los Antiguos (477 km)
Breakfast. Short visit to Chenque Hill, to reach a panoramic view of the city, founded in 1901, whose main activity is the petroleum exploitation. Continue to Colonia Sarmiento, founded by Welsh people and considered the southernmost artificially irrigated area in the country, located in a valley surrounded by mountains and in a watershed partially ocuppied by Musters and Colhue Huapi lakes. You will stop at Jose Ormachea Petrified Wood, product of a natural phenomenon produced 60 million years ago due to a volcanic eruption that covered these conifer woods (mainly) in ashes, turning, in time, the wood into rock. Lunch at leisure in Sarmiento city. Drive along the Patagonian steppe to Los Antiguos village, located in the southern margin of Buenos Aires Lake. Its microclimate allows it to be one of the most important areas devoted to fine fruit production, such as cherries, strawberries and raspberries. Accommodation at Antigua Patagonia Inn or La Serena Inn. Dinner.

Day 3- Los Antiguos / Perito Moreno / Lagos del Furioso (311 km)
Breakfast. Departure towards Bajo Caracoles, to continue to Pinturas River Gorge, formed by huge rocks. The superior course of the river of the same name, slithers between these upright rock walls, where along a path situated almost 90 metres over the sea level is the "Cueva de las Manos Pintadas" (Painted Hands Cave), 24 metres long, 15 metres wide and 10 metres high. These rupestrian paintings date back to 9,300 years ago, and were declared Humankind's Heritage Site by UNESCO.
The paintings are important due to the big variety of motives, in red, ocher, yellow, green, white and black colors and realistic silhouettes accompanied with schematic representations of human figures in movement. Lunch at leisure. After lunch continue to Posadas and Pueyrredon lakes to stay at Estancia Lagos del Furioso, on the southern margin of Pueyrredon Lake (185 mts. above sea level). Dinner at the estancia.

Day 4- Lagos del Furioso
Breakfast. Full day excursion. Early departure from the estancia westbound, to Oro River and on along its northern margin. Start the trekking along the Oro River gorge. We will walk along the valley covered in lenga and ñire trees. During the trek admire the incredible view of Mount San Lorenzo, the highest in Patagonia (3706 mts above sea level) and its glaciers. (Those who do not want to or feel they cannot do the excursion by foot can do it on horseback). Return to the estancia. Box-lunch and Dinner.

Day 5- Lagos del Furioso / El Chaltén (564 km)
Breakfast. Departure along the dusty gravel roads of the Patagonian steppe. Stop at Estancia La Angostura to rest a bit and have lunch (not included). Afterwards continue to El Chaltén (name given by the local aborigines to its highest mountain; which means 'mountain that smokes'), located in the northern end of Los Glaciares National Park. The mount called 'El Chaltén' by the former inhabitants of these lands was later on called Mt. Fitz Roy by the white men that explored the area at the beginning of the XIX century. A place to enjoy the breathtaking landscapes dominated by Mt.Fitz Roy and Mt. Torre, among others such as: Poincenot, and Egger peaks and Viedma Lake. The town developed almost exclusively as a base camping for worldwide climbers that arrived in the area, attracted by the challenging ascentions of Mt. Torre and Mt. Fitz with their impressive granite vertical wall, which gives the ice and rock climbing lovers, along with a high difficulty level, a unique opportunity to show their skills. Dinner and accommodation at El Pilar Inn.

Day 6- El Chaltén
Breakfast. Walking to Laguna de los Tres. This is a most spectacular walking as it takes you to the base of the mythic Mt. Fitz Roy. Start at El Pilar inn up to Blanco River, which will be bordered up to a woody area. Climb slowly, enjoying the different views of the Fitz Roy chain. Approximately one hour and a half away from the estancia, bordering the Blanco River, you will reach a fabulous panoramic view of the Piedras Blancas Glacier and Mt. Fitz Roy, with the impressive Pilar Cassarotto, named after the Italian climber that first climbed it. After another hour and a half trekking along the Blanco River you will arrive at Poincenot camp, located in the middle of a lenga and ñire wood. Then continue for another hour until Laguna de Los Tres where you will have a wonderful panoramic view of Viedma Lake, the Fitz Roy chain and the endless Patagonian steppe. If you continue southwards you will find a balcony of more than 150 metres high, from where you will be able to appreciate laguna Sucia (Dirty Lagoon), which owes its name due to the icebergs coming from the glacier that float on it (those who don't feel in shape or don't want to take this excursion by foot will have the option of ascending to Laguna de Los Tres on horseback from the inn - Optional).

Option 2:
walking to Los Troncos post. Departure from the inn and start going up the Electrico River and along a dense transition wood until Los Troncos post (a 1 hour and a half soft trekking). From there, those who wish to continue will walk for one hour to Piedra del Fraile, panoramic point from where you can appreciate a wide area of the continental ice field. Box lunch included. Dinner at the inn.
(The same itinerary can be done on horseback – Optional.)

Day 7- El Chaltén / El Calafate (217 km)
Breakfast. Half day trekking to Chorrillo del Salto. Leave the inn by car or minivan for a 5 km drive before starting your trek through lenga and ñire trees wood. After one hour and a half you will reach this beautiful spot where Chorrillo del Salto cascade can be appreciated. A natural 15 metere high thaw waterfall. Then return to El Chalten. Lunch at leisure. In the afternoon, departure to El Calafate by regular bus line, the largest city in the area located by the side of the Argentino Lake. Arrival and accommodation at hotel. Dinner.

Day 8- El Calafate
Breakfast. Departure from the hotel to Puerto Banderas to board the catamaran that will pierce the Northern Arm of the Argentino Lake until reaching the western front of the Upsala Glacier, after an interesting navigation among icebergs. After a 2-hour navigation along Cristina Arm, the boat will arrive at Estancia Cristina. The second part of the excursion is done by 4WD vehicles that run across rivers and woods and an immense variety of landscapes, to reach Upsala Glacier, the entrance gate to the Southern Patagonic Ice Field. The way upwards finishes some 600 metres before Upsala Refuge. Follow a short 10-minute upward trail along a rocky path up to the Upsala Glacier lookout, from where you will have an amazing view of the main glacier and its tributary glaciers: Bertacchi, Murallón and Cono (the adventure lovers will have the chance to do the same trail on horseback upon request when making the reservation since there is limited availability.) Also enjoy a great Patagonic lamb barbecue, visit the Main House to get in touch with the history of the intrepid pioneers that settled in this uninhabited land. Return to the hotel. Dinner.

Day 9- El Calafate
Breakfast. Departure from the hotel at 9.00 am to Perito Moreno Glacier (195 sq mts.), located inside Los Glaciares National Park. It's an impressive ice river with a 4 km front and 60 metres high, that descends from the continental ice, provoking loosenings and exploitions as it advances. It was declared Mankind's Heritage Site due to its spectacular beauty and strange behavior. Walk along the paths for an outstanding view of this imposing glacier. It will be possible to take a nautical safari to enjoy a different sight of the glacier's southern or northern walls (Optional – 1 hour navigation). In the afternoon, return to El Calafate and transfer to the airport (departure after 19.00 hs is required).

Notes:
Weather depends on the geographical area and the meteorological systems, which may change every day. During summer, Southern Patagonia is usually sunny, with dry air and a minimum temperature 10ºC and a maximum of 30ºC, with an average temperature of 20ºC. Higher altitudes make these temperatures decrease almost 1 degree every 100 metres, and wind makes people feel even colder.
Suggested equipment to be carried by the passenger: 2 pairs of trainers or comfortable trekking boots, overcoat, waterproof jacket, daypack for short hikings, sunglasses, sunblock, extra clothes, water bottle, hat or cap.

–This tour can also be done the other way round, from El Calafate to Trelew.

OPTIONAL POST TOURS
Torres del Paine

Day 1- El Calafate
Breakfast. Departure from the hotel at 9.00 a.m. to Perito Moreno Glacier (195 km2), located inside the Los Glaciares National Park. Perito Moreno Glacier is an imposing ice river that descends from the Southern Patagonian Ice Field causing, during its slow advance, ice cracks and thunderous bursts that turned the glacier into a marvel in constant movement. A show that is impressing not only for its beauty but also for the continuous roars that are heard from its innermost recesses.
Because of its breathtaking beauty it was declared a Mankind´s Heritage by Unesco.
A walk along the paths placed in front of its western wall will let you admire this impressive wonder of nature from different points of view.
Take a short boat trip to enjoy a different view of the glacier wall from the water level, what makes it possible to get a better idea of the height of its peaks and towers (Navigation length: 1 hr).
Return to El Calafate after visiting Perito Moreno Glacier. Accommodation. Dinner.

Day 2- El Calafate / Torres del Paine
Breakfast. In the morning, departure to Torres del Paine, crossing the Cancha Carrera/Cerro Castillo pass by regular line bus. Arrival and accommodation at one of the typical inns within the park. This National Park of approximately 242.242 hectares, situated in the Ultima Esperanza cove was declared a Biosphere Reserve in 1978 by UNESCO. It counts with, among its unique features, the Grey and Dickson glaciers, the Nordenskjold, Pehoe, Toro, Sarmiento and Grey lakes and a great diversity of flora and wildlife. Lunch at leisure on route.

Day 3- Torres del Paine
Breakfast. Full day excursion to admire this wonderful flora and fauna reserve, with the impressive Andes Range as the perfect backdrop. Some of theflora species that can be found are those which usually live in desertic areas such as "mata barrosa", "mata negra", "senecio" and "calafate" and among the shrub-like "arbustinas" and "estepas" among the herbaceous. It is also possible to find "olivillo" and beautiful flowers (orchids, for example) within the little lenga woods. This is also a natural paradise in regard to its fauna, as approximately 21 mammary species live in the park, such as pumas, guanacos and huemules; the birds found are ñandu, black neck swams and eagles among others. You also have the opportunity to admire huge lakes, strong rivers, cascades and impressive millenial glaciers. Return to the inn.

Day 4- Torres del Paine
Breakfast. Early in the morning, departure to El Calafate airport by regular bus line.

Ushuaia

Day 1- El Calafate
Breakfast. Departure from the hotel at 9.00 a.m. to Perito Moreno Glacier (195 sq. km), located inside the Los Glaciares National Park. Perito Moreno Glacier is an imposing ice river that descends from the Southern Patagonian Ice Field causing ice cracks and thunderous bursts as it advances slowly, that turned the glacier into a marvel in constant movement. An impressive show not only because of its beauty, but also for the continuous roars that are heard from its innermost recesses.
Because of its breathtaking beauty it was declared a Mankind´s Heritage by Unesco.
A walk along the paths, found in front of its western wall, will allow you to admire this impressive natural wonder from different perspectives.
Take a short boat trip to enjoy a different view of the glacier's wall. Being at sea level makes it possible to get a better idea of the height of its peaks and towers (Navigation length: 1 hr).

Day 2- El Calafate / Ushuaia
Breakfast. Transfer from the hotel to El Calafate airport to board the flight to Ushuaia. Reception and transfer to the hotel. Visit to the southernmost city in the world, capital of Tierra del Fuego, located in the Beagle Channel border, with the Mt. Martial chain in the back.
Today you will enjoy a citytour of this renowned city at the end of the world. Visit the old area, the deep waters pier, the steep streets that climb the mountain, and of course, the End of the World Museum, with its collection of objects that belonged to the aborigine cultures of the area: the yamanas, selkham and alacauf peoples and elements related to the island history most of them belonging to the first pioneering settlers and its first explorers. Return to the hotel. Dinner.

Day 3- Ushuaia
Breakfast. 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 you will board theTrain to the End of the World and enjoy an unforgettable trip along the original terreplain where the old prisoners' train run 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 from where you will get 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 Ushuaia.
In the afternoon, departure from the tourist pier on a two and a half hour cruise along the Beagle Channel, to sail from Ushuaia Bay to Les Eclaireurs Lighthouse Island, passing by near the Birds Island on the way, with its abundant colony of marine birds and the Seawolves Island, a large rookery really corwed by this huge marine mammals. Return to the hotel. Dinner.

Day 4- Ushuaia
Breakfast. In the morning, departure to Ushuaia airport to board the flight that will take you to your next destination.

Important Note:
–Day 1 in these post tours replaces Day 9 in the main programme 'Amazing Patagonia'.
–The 'Amazing Patagonia' package can be done the other way round. Please check the corresponding departure dates in the chart on top. In this case, the post tour will operate as pre tours.