Travel to Argentina, Patagonia: Best of Patagonia

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Best of Patagonia

			DAYS: 10 GRADE: I define PRICE: $2795 per person * $1100 internal flights * HIGHLIGHTS: Buenos Aires Trelew Peninsula Valdes Punta Tumbo Ushuaia Tierra del Fuego Perito Moreno Glacier ACCOMMODATIONS: Hotels/Lodges MEALS: As noted  [B-Breakfast, L-Lunch,   D-Dinner] Prices, Departure Dates and Included Services Send to a Friend Print this Itinerary

This lodge-based natural history exploration takes you to the most impressive parks and wildlife reserves of Patagonia including Los Glaciares National Park, Tierra del Fuego National Park and the Peninsula Valdes, habitat of giant elephant seals, migrating whales and Magellanic Penguins. Cruise the Beagle Channel and hike on Gable Island, enjoy day hikes with local guides, observe wildlife and photograph spectacular Patagonian landscapes based from local inns and estancias. Optional extension to Iguazu Falls and Torres del Paine, Chile.

DAY 1 :  BUENOS AIRES
Buenos Aires airport reception and transfer to your hotel. Overnight at the Hotel Elevage or similar.

Note: Half-day tours of Buenos Aires are available on request including historical sites such as the Barrio Norte with its splendid old homes; San Telmo where the artist and musicians live and work; La Boca, a neighborhood of brightly painted Italian family homes and restaurants; and the Avenida 9 de Julio with its towering obelisk as much a symbol to Buenos Aires as the Eiffel Tower is to Paris. In addition to the standard tour, we have developed a special city tour called "The Four Balconies of Buenos Aires" in which a University scholar uses four parks and plazas to introduce visitors to the city, its history, its style, and the peculiar psychology of the Porteo (inhabitant of Buenos Aires). On your own free time you may also take in a tango show or visit some of the more than 150 art galleries and museums.

DAY 2 :  TRELEW/PUNTA TOMBO
Early morning transfer for the flight to Trelew on the Atlantic Coast. The local naturalist guide will meet us upon arrival in Trelew before we embark on a visit to Punta Tombo, the most important breeding colony of Magellanic penguins in the world. Walk on trails among thousands of penguins approaching within a few feet for excellent close-up photographs and observation. Kelp gulls, Skuas, Cormorants, Giant petrels, Dolphin gulls and Chubut steamer ducks are among the many birds that inhabit the reserve. On the way back to Trelew, visit Gaiman, a Welsh settlement for tea (not included). Overnight at the Posada Los Mimbres or similar. We suggest a visit (not included) to the interesting Paleontology Museum Egidio Feruglio. [B,BL,D]

DAY 3 :  PENINSULA VALDES
Full day excursion to explore Peninsula Valdes for the finest wildlife viewing in Patagonia. The plankton-rich Falkland Current provides food for the peninsula's large colonies of South American sea lions and Southern elephant seals. Visit breeding grounds of sea lions and elephant seals, observe flocks of migratory shore birds and watch for guanacos, rheas, maras, hairy armadillos, Elegant-crested tinamous and fox running freely across the plain. Overnight Posada Los Mimbres or similar. [B,L,D]

Note: You can plan your day to join a whale watching boat trip to sight Southern Right Whales during the season from July through December. The additional cost is around $25 per person.

	Penguins are among the most popular wildlife encounters.

DAY 4 :  USHUAIA
Your morning is free to walk the trails near the Posada or just relax in the hammock and enjoy the peaceful enviroment. Afternoon transfer to the airport and fly to Ushuaia, the southernmost city in the world. A 2-hour City Trek will afford amazing vistas of the town, surrounding peaks and Beagle Channel. Learn about the development of the city and its importance in maritime history. Overnight at the Hosteria Los Fuegos or similar. [B]

Note: Note: Airport tax of $6.50 (Argentine peso) must be paid by passenger in Trelew airport.

DAY 5 :  ESTANCIA HARBERTON / MARTILLO ISLAND
This excursion is the perfect introduction to Tierra del Fuego and its magnificent natural history and traditions. Drive east towards Puerto Almanza, a small fishing village to reach Estancia Harberton. This estancia belongs to the descendants of Rev. Thomas Bridges, one of the first British Missionaries to reach the area. Following an overview visit of the estancia, board a zodiac boat (15 passengers) for a hike and lunch at Gable Island, the largest in the Beagle Channel. Navigate to the Penguin rookery at Martillo Island, the domain of the Magellanic Penguin and a small population of Gentoo Penguins. The unique location of this island (close to the point where the Atlantic and Pacific Ocean waters merge) allows for an incredible variety of rich subaquatic life, making it an amazing spot for birdwatching (petrels, skuas, cormorants, sea gulls and albatross). Return to Harberton for tea and then back to Ushuaia for overnight at the Hosteria Los Fuegos or similar. [B,L]

Note: The visit to Martillo Island operates beginning Nov. 1 to Mar. 30. During other months activities this day may be altered.

DAY 6 :  TIERRA DEL FUEGO NATIONAL PARK
Full day visit to the Tierra del Fuego National Park in a private vehicle. Upon arrival at the National Park, hike 8 kms (about 3.5 hrs on uneven terrain) to reach Ovando River. Hiking through the beech forest offers opportunities to spot the Magaellanic woodpecker (the largest in South America), Austral parakeets, black-chest buzzard eagles and Andean Condors.  At a breathtaking over-look the panoramic view includes Lago Roca, Lagunas Verde and Negra, Rio Ovando and Rio Lapataia and Bahia Lapataia. Embark on a zodiac navigation to Isla Redonda, enjoy lunch and wildlife viewing before returning to Lapataia Bay to disembark. Return to Ushuaia. Overnight at the Hosteria Los Fuegos or similar. [B,L]

DAY 7 :  EL CALAFATE
Morning free to explore Ushuaia on foot or visit the interesting End of the World Museum. Transfer to the airport and fly to El Calafate. El Calafate is the base for explorations of the Patagonian Continental Ice Cap and Los Glaciares National Park. The ice cap runs 560 miles from North to South between the 48 and 51 parallels. It is the origin of 47 major glaciers, including the famous Perito Moreno Glacier. Overnight at Hosteria El Galpon del Glacier in El Calafate and enjoy a traditional asado. [B,D]

Note: Airport tax of $18 (Argentine peso) must be paid by passenger in Ushuaia airport. (if flights to El Calafate are not available, then fly to Rio Gallegos. Drive 3-4 hours across the steppe to the Andean town of Calafate near Lago Argentino).

Gear up for ice trekking on Perito Moreno.

DAY 8 :  PERITO MORENO GLACIER WALK
Drive to a spectacular lookout of Perito Moreno Glacier in Los Glaciares National Park. Permanently advancing along its 3-mile-front, columns of ice over 20 stories high peel off the face and crash into Lago Argentino creating massive icebergs. We cross Lago Argentino by catamaran along the front wall of the glacier to the edge of the Patagonian Ice Cap.  Watch and listen as the glacier calves enormous shards of ice into the lake. We disembark, walk through the beech forest and have a safety briefing before strapping on crampons and hiking up onto the ice pack! Watch for Andean condor and Buff-necked Ibis. Overnight at the Hosteria El Galpon Del Glaciar or similar. [B,BL,D]

Note: This tour is conducted as a group. You will be asked to pay a $20 (Argentine peso) park fee upon entering the Los Glaciares National Park.

DAY 9 :  BUENOS AIRES
Transfer to El Calafate airport for late afternoon or evening flight to Buenos Aires. Transfer in and overnight at the Hotel Elevage or similar or begin your post-trip extension. [B]

Note: Airport tax of $18 (Argentine peso) must be paid by passenger in El Calafate airport.

DAY 10 :  DEPARTURE
Airport transfer for your return flight home or begin your post-trip extension. [B]

Questions? Ask Our Program Directors.

. C o n t a c t Breanne Stovall 1(800)345-4453