Exploring Patagonia - 15D/14N

photo of 65 million years petrified wood, Argentina, courtesy of Tourism Board of ArgentinaSouthern Patagonia is a vast and wild region ideal to explore in small groups willing to trek among mountains and lakes. You will drive along deserted roads and stay in small typical estancias (ranches) and camp, where at all possible, in order to appreciate the local culture. This will give you a different perspective of Patagonia and its people than when travelling in large groups and staying at hotels. Most places we stop include 2 or 3 days trekking, which in many cases is the only way to explore these regions. Highlights: Hand painted caves at Rio Pinturas Canyon, Perito Moreno National Park, Fitz-Roy area, Perito Moreno Glacier, Torres del Paine National Park.

Departures: Fixed. 2008: October 25, November 15, December 13.
2009: January 10 and 31, February 21.

Hotel: Hotels, Estancias, and Camps.

Notes:
Season: All year round. Minimum 6 passengers.

Included: Hotel accommodation with local hotel taxes - Meals as indicated in this itinerary (B=Breakfast; L=Lunch or Box-Lunch; D=Dinner) - Argentinean English-speaking Tour Leader throughout (will usually start in Comodoro Rivadavia) - Local guides where necessary. Entrance fees to National Parks - Private transportation. Accommodation is in Tourist Class hotels, estancias, hosterías and camping in Chalten & Paine (they will be on a twin share basis; estancias on a multi-share basis (some rooms up to 4 beds)) - Transfers and tours.

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

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

  • Day 1 Saturday Buenos Aires - Arrive to Buenos Aires and make your own way to the hotel. There will be a group meeting with your Tour Leader or a local guide at the hotel at 18.00 hrs. Overnight in Buenos Aires.
  • Day 2 Sunday Buenos Aires / Comodoro Rivadavia - Transfer to the domestic airport for our flight to Comodoro Rivadavia. Arrival transfer to the hotel. Overnight in Comodoro Rivadavia. (B)
  • Day 3 Monday Comodoro Rivadavia / Petrified Forest - Early morning start to commence our drive to the 65 million years old Petrified Forests at Colonia Sarmiento. After short walks in the area, we have lunch and continue driving past Perito Moreno town to the typical Patagonian Estancia Telken or similar. Overnight at Estancia Telken or similar. (B, L, D).
  • Day 4 Tuesday Estancia Telken / Perito Moreno National Park - After breakfast we start driving south to the impressive Rio Pinturas canyon where we stop and walk down a few hundred meters to find the 9000 years old paintings at the “Cuevas de las Manos” (Hand painted caves). After admiring these paintings for a few hours, we continue driving south to the Perito Moreno National Park (do not mistake with the Perito Moreno Glacier which is within Los Glaciares National Park). This National Park is probably the least known and least spoiled in Argentina. There are only a couple of Estancias (ranches) and the Park Ranger’s house within the thousands of hectares it comprises. Abundant in wildlife, we will enjoy two incredible full day walks to admire the rich flora and fauna, the blue lakes, as well as spectacular views of the highest peak in southern Patagonia, the San Lorenzo Mount (3706 mts). Overnight at Estancia La Oriental or similar. (B, L, D).
  • Day 5 Wednesday Perito Moreno National Park - Explore the Park on foot. Many different trekking options are available. Depending on weather conditions, we will choose the best possible one each day. Overnight at Estancia La Oriental or similar. (B,L, D).
  • Day 6 Thursday Perito Moreno National Park - Explore the Park on foot. Many different trekking options are available. Depending on weather conditions, we will choose the best possible one each day. Overnight at Estancia La Oriental or similar. (B,L, D).
  • Day 7 Friday Perito Moreno / El Chalten (Fitz-Roy) - Early morning start for a long drive south along the unpaved National Road 40. Arrive to the Andean village of El Chalten late afternoon. Camp. (B, L, D).
  • Day 8 Saturday El Chalten (Fitz-Roy) - El Chalten is a town which is base for the most impressive treks, rock climbing and ice expeditions in Patagonia. Some of the most well known peaks, Fitz-Roy Mount (3375 mts.) and Cerro Torre (3128 mts.), attract the very best rock climbers from around the world. Our two full days will include trekking to Laguna de Los Tres, which faces Fitz-Roy Mount, and Laguna Torre, which faces Cerro Torre. Camp. (B, L, D).
  • Day 9 Sunday El Chalten (Fitz-Roy) - Trek to Laguna de Los Tres or Laguna Torre. Camp. (B, L, D).
  • Day 10 Monday El Chalten / El Calafate - Morning for short walks. Lunch at El Chalten and continue south (220 km) to the town of El Calafate, base to Los Glaciares National Park, with its impressive Perito Moreno Glacier. At leisure to explore the town or bird watch at Nimes Lagoon. Overnight at Hotel in Calafate. (B,L).
  • Day 11 Tuesday Perito Moreno Glacier - We will spend this day exploring the Perito Moreno Glacier. After driving along Lago Argentino for about an hour, we arrive to Los Glaciares National Park. Continue driving through this winding road, with views of the Glacier and its surrounding lakes and peaks, until we reach an area from where we will appreciate the immensity of this glacier. We get closer to its front wall (about 50 mts. high) as we walk the easy paths. If we are lucky enough, we might even watch and listen to the huge ice cracking that plunge into the lake. We suggest you take your own lunch from Calafate. Return to Calafate in the afternoon. Overnight at Hotel in Calafate. (B).
  • Day 12 Wednesday El Calafate / Torres del Paine - Continue driving along the Patagonian Steppes, this time towards Chile. As we approach the border, some of the peaks within the Torres del Paine National Park appear upon us. Time for lunch (no fruit, vegetables or raw food allowed into Chile) at the border and continue our way until we reach the Park. Depending on where we set our campsite, we may need to trek today for a few hours but this would mean less hours the following day. The landscape has gradually changed to a greener one, with a wide variety of fauna like guanacos, foxes and condors. The Park is surrounded by lakes, glaciers and snowed mountain peaks, some of which we will visit during our stay here. Camp. (B, D).
  • Day 13 Thursday Torres del Paine National Park - Trek to the Paine Towers (about 7 hrs return journey or less, depending where our camp is set, including a last 45 minute steep walk to reach the lagoon). The scenery all along the way is amazing, with lakes and lagoons behind us, the Ascencio River valley on one side, and mountains on the other. Camp (B,L,D).
  • Day 14 Friday Torres del Paine / Punta Arenas (Chile) - Early morning departure to visit other parts of the Park (Grey Lake, Administration Centre, Pehoe Lake) including some short walks. Continue to the fishing town of Puerto Natales where you can have a late lunch. We then keep on driving along a paved road to Punta Arenas, the biggest city in southern Patagonia. Arrive late afternoon. Overnight at Hotel in Punta Arenas. (B).
  • Day 15 Saturday Punta Arenas - Trip concludes after breakfast. (B).

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Also tagged with: Adventure Expeditions, South America, Argentina, Chile, Special Destinations, Patagonia, Trekking, Active Travel, Educational, Cultural, Bird Watching, Estancias, Private Tour, South


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