Classic Patagonia - 8D/7N

photo of Puerto Madryn, Argentina, courtesy of Tourism Board of ArgentinaA comprehensive tour around Patagonia visiting its main attractions from the Atlantic Ocean to the Andes: Puerto Madryn and one of the most important wildlife reserves in the world for its wide variety of marine fauna: whales, sea elephants, sea lions, and penguins; Calafate and the wonder of the glaciers so incredibly at hand, Ushuaia and the magic of a visit to this enchanting land situated right at the end of the world.

Departures: Daily - All year round - Guaranteed Departure with 2 participants Minimum - Services: S.I.B. (Seat In a Bus).

Hotels: Rayentray - Las Hayas Resort Hotel - Esplendor Calafate OR Peninsula - Los Acebos - Park Plaza Unique OR Hotel La Posada - Los Nires - Hotel Cerro Calafate.

Included: Hotel accommodation with local hotel taxes - Meals where specified (B=Breakfast, L=Lunch or Box-Lunch, D=Dinner) - Transfers to and from the airport - English-speaking guide - Transfers and tours – Mentioned visits.

Not Included: Any airfares - Passport and visa expenses - Beverages - Any personal expenses and any items not specifically mentioned as included in the program.

Notes: Bilingual Guide. (Spanish and English). - in case of flying to / from Río Gallegos, optional bus transfer from El Calafate (316 km / 196 miles).

photo of Ushuaia, Argentina, courtesy of Tourism Board of ArgentinaDay by day Itinerary:

  • Day 1 Trelew / Puerto Madryn - Reception and assistance at Trelew airport. Transfer to Puerto Madryn (flight arrival must be before 9 am) Departure to Punta Tombo rookery to admire a magnificent colony of millions of Magellan penguins. Accommodation. Dinner.
  • Day 2 Puerto Madryn - Breakfast. Full day tour to the Valdés Península, passing by Ameghino Isthmus, located between the Nuevo and the San José gulfs. We will visit Puerto Pirámide and is a sea lion rookery. This is also a great opportunity to take the optional whale watching boat excursion that you cannot miss (available from June to November). We will continue to Punta Delgada for a view of its important colony of sea lions and to Caleta Valdés, where sea elephants seem to have found their ideal natural habitat. Lunch included. Return to Puerto Madryn.
  • Day 3 Puerto Madryn / Ushuaia - Breakfast. Transfer to Trelew airport (This transfer is provided without a bilingual guide due to operational reasons) to take a flight to Ushuaia. Reception at Ushuaia airport and transfer to the hotel. Accommodation. In the afternoon, city tour including a visit to the End of the World Museum. Dinner.
  • Day 4 Ushuaia - Breakfast. Departure to Tierra del Fuego National Park, located 12 km (7 miles) from the city. Return to the hotel. Dinner.
  • Day 5 Ushuaia / El Calafate- Breakfast. Transfer to Ushuaia airport to board a flight to El Calafate. Transfer to the hotel. Accommodation. Dinner.
  • Day 6 El Calafate - Breakfast. Departure from the hotel towards Puerto Bandera, 50 km (31 miles) from town, to board a catamaran to enjoy a full day lake excursion to Upsala Glacier and Onelli Bay, cruising among hundreds of icebergs that have detached from the glacier. Return to El Calafate. Dinner.
  • Day 7 El Calafate - Breakfast Trip by bus to Perito Moreno Glacier, one of the world’s largest active continental glaciers, declared World Heritage Site by UNESCO, because of its breathtaking beauty and its unusual behavior. Dinner.
  • Day 8 El Calafate - Breakfast. Transfer to El Calafate airport or departure for optional tours: Torres del Paine or Fitz Roy.

Option with Torres del Paine Chile:

photo of Torres del Paine, Chile, courtesy of Tourism Board of ChileThis tour takes you into Torres del Paine National Park. Located in southern Chile, this park is considered one of the most spectacular National Parks due to its towers and horns which seem like real columns sculpted by glaciers. Punta Arenas is also a very nice place to visit. It is the capital of the Magallanes Region and a center for commerce, culture and society, where it is still possible to feel in the air the majestic touch of its rich past.

  • Day 8 El Calafate / Torres Del Paine - Breakfast. Departure to Chile, by regular bus line (*), via Mina 1 or Cancha Carrera. We will cross the border, continuing to Puerto Natales and later to Torres del Paine National Park. Arrival and accommodation. (If accommodation in Torres del Paine is not available, passengers may be lodged in Puerto Natales).
  • Day 9 Torres Del Paine - Breakfast. Full day excursion to Torres del Paine National Park to admire its marvelous flora and fauna within the magnificent frame of the Torres del Paine Massif. A unique chance to admire the wonderful scenery of its lakes, rivers and glaciers. Return to the hotel.
  • Day 10 Torres Del Paine - Breakfast. Day at leisure to enjoy any of the optional tours offered in the park. Accommodation.
  • Day 11 Torres Del Paine / El Calafate - Breakfast. Early departure to El Calafate by regular bus line (Guide not included). Transfer from the Bus Terminal to the hotel. Accommodation.
  • Day 12 El Calafate - Breakfast. Transfer to the local airport to board the return flight.

Hotels: Río Serrano / Alto Calafate.

Option with Fitz Roy:

photo of Fitz Roy, Argentina, courtesy of Tourism Board of ArgentinaTake this chance to visit El Chaltén, a tiny Andean town located at the foothill of Mount Fitz Roy (3,405 mts or 11,170 ft) and Mount Torre (3,102 mts or 10,177 ft ). This is a destination highly appreciated by andinists all over the world due to the challenge posed by its steep slopes, especially enticing for risk lovers. This tiny town was founded in 1985, its population reaches 300 inhabitants and it has been declared the National Trekking Capital. This is the perfect place to enjoy the solitude of these enchanted lands, where nature reigns and where man has left very few traces.

  • Day 8 El Calafate / El Chaltén - Breakfast. Early transfer by regular bus line to El Chaltén. Reception and accommodation. We will go trekking to Pliegue Tumbado, the only place in the area where there is a complete sightseeing of the most important mountains of Patagonia: Mt. Torre and Mt. Fitz Roy. A wonderful, unforgettable image that will be printed in your heart forever. Return to the hotel.
  • Day 9 El Chaltén - Breakfast. Full day trekking to Río Blanco lacier, passing by Mt. Rosado and Mt. León. We will border Chorrillo del Salto River, where we will appreciate a breathtaking view of the Fitz Roy and Saint Exupery massifs. Walk to the Capri Lagoon, enjoying a stroll along the mountains, rivers and forests, all of this part of the beautiful scenery of Patagonia, known worldwide for being a good place for trekking. We will continue to Río Blanco up to the camp site to initiate the ascension to Laguna de Los Tres, at the foothill of Mt. Fitz Roy (8 hours).
  • Day 10 El Chaltén / El Calafate - Breakfast. In the morning, optional trekking to Torre Lake, skirting the Fitz Roy River, and through a lenga wood where it’s common to see red head woodpeckers and flocks of parrots. Arrival at the camp site, base of the climbing expeditions and continuing to Bridwell Camp for an excellent panoramic view of Torre Lake, Las Adelas Glacier, Torre Glacier and Mt. Torre (6 hours). Return to the town and in the afternoon, transfer to El Calafate by regular bus line. Reception at the bus station and transfer to the hotel. Accommodation.
  • Day 11 El Calafate - Breakfast. Transfer to El Calafate airport to board a flight to Buenos Aires.

Hotels: La Aldea / Alto Calafate.

Optional: Transfer by regular bus line to Río Gallegos airport (316 km / 196 miles).

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Also tagged with: Adventure Expeditions, South America, Argentina, Patagonia, Join-In Tour, Hosted Tours, South


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