Discovering Patagonia

ITINERARY

DAY 01: BUENOS AIRES

Arrival and meeting at the airport. Private transfer to your hotel. In the afternoon, you will enjoy a tour of this wonderful cosmopolitan city, capital of Argentina. Lodging at Hotel Intersur Recoleta or similar.

DAY 02: BUENOS AIRES – PUERTO MADRYN

Flight to Trelew and welcome to Patagonia! Drive to Puerto Madryn, a charming coastal city on the Golfo Nuevo shores (private transfer). Lodging at Hotel Península Valdés for three nights. Rest of the afternoon and evening at leisure.(B)

DAY 03: PUNTA TOMBO

Visit to Punta Tombo rookery, the most important breeding colony of Magellan penguins in the world. (Full day private excursion). You will walk through a trail that cuts deep into the colony to observe closely these fascinating birds. Other species such as kelp gulls, skuas, cormorants, giant petrels, dolphin gulls, the Chubut steamer duck, and Patagonian foxes also inhabit the area and may be seen here. On the way back you will visit GAIMAN, a traditional small town that was settled by Welsh immigrants in the 1870s. There you may enjoy a cup of tea and pastries (not included). In the evening, drive back to your hotel in Puerto Madryn. (B,L).

DAY 04: VALDES PENINSULA

Full day visit to Valdes Peninsula (private excursion). On your way you will stop to see the wildlife of the area: guanacos, lesser rheas, Patagonian foxes, hairy armadillos, maras and the most important rookeries protecting large colonies of Southamerican sea lions, and Southern elephant seals. At Puerto Piramide, a village on the south side of the Peninsula, you may enjoy a boat excursion (optional) NOTE: whales remain in the area from June until the first weeks of December. Lunch during the excursion. Lodging in Puerto Madryn.(B, L)

DAY 05: TRELEW- USHUAIA

Transfer to the airport and flight to Ushuaia.  Arrival and private transfer to your hotel.  Rest of the day at leisure to enjoy this beautiful city on the shores of the Beagle Channel and its interesting End of the World Museum. Lodging for three nights at Hotel Tolkeyen or similar. (B)

DAY 06: USHUAIA

Full day private excursion to Tierra del Fuego National Park, hiking through the beech forest where you will likely see the Magellanic woodpeckers, largest in South America, Austral parakeets, black-chested buzzard eagles and Andean Condors.  You will visit Ensenada and Lapataia Bay and be able to see two remarkably different ecosystems: the seashore and the sub-Antarctic forest which occur together only in a few places on earth and are unique in Argentina. Lunch at the park. Lodging in Ushuaia. (B,L)

DAY 07: USHUAIA

In the morning you will enjoy a boat excursion on the Beagle Channel (transfers included).  You will reach Les Eclaireurs Lighthouse, and pass in front of the Cormorants’ Island and the Sea Lions’ Island.  Rest of the afternoon and evening to explore the area. (B)

DAY 08: USHUAIA – EL CALAFATE

Private transfer to the airport to fly to El Calafate, a small village located close to the shores of Argentino Lake.  During the evening, you will be free to explore the region and take advantage of the beautiful sights, or you can rest in the cozy hotel.  Dinner.  Lodging for two nights at Hotel El Galpón del Glaciar or Hotel Mirador del Lago or similar. (B,D)

DAY 09: LOS GLACIARES NATIONAL PARK

After breakfast you will depart to visit Los Glaciares National Park.  This park of 600.000 hectares (2,300 square miles) has thirteen glaciers that flow into the Argentino and Viedma Lakes.  Perito Moreno Glacier, is one of the few glaciers in the world that is believed to be still progressing.  It is only 500 ft above sea level, which makes it very accessible, allowing one to stand in front of a mountain of ice that measures 60 m (180 ft) by 5 km (2.5 miles).  The constant fall of huge towers of ice from its walls and into the lake is an unforgettable spectacle.  Trekking Expedition: You will board a boat to cross the lake and land on an isolated beach to start trekking on the glacier. During the two hours walk you will enjoy a magnificent landscape of ice formations in different shades of blue, crevasses, streams and small lagoons. (Age restriction: 10 to 65 years old. Not additional equipment, or previous experience required.).  Picnic lunch at the park.  In the evening, return to your hotel in El Calafate.  Dinner at the hotel. (B,L,D)

NOTE: We may replace the ice trekking excursion for a boat excursion to get closer to the Southern Wall of the Perito Moreno Glacier.

DAY 10: EL CALAFATE – BUENOS AIRES

Private transfer to the airport and flight back to Buenos Aires. Arrival, meeting at the airport and private transfer to your hotel. Rest of the evening at leisure.(B)

DAY 11: BUENOS AIRES

Morning and afternoon at leisure to relax, shop and enjoy the city. In the evening private transfer to the international airport and flight back to the U.S. or…(B)