We created this itinerary with a simple idea in mind: find our favorite spots in Patagonia and then connect the dots. The result is an itinerary that will introduce you to some of the most exciting wilderness on earth, and also give you in-depth local knowledge about the environmental and economic issues that are integral part of these places. This is a unique journey in many ways. You'll have the opportunity to explore three main bioregions of Patagonia in one trip: the steppe, the Atlantic coast and the mountain forests. No other guiding company offers this trip: we are inviting you on an exclusive discovery journey!
Our first destination, Monte Leon National Park, is home to thousands of Magellanic penguins, pink flamingos, sea lions and herds of guanacos. We'll visit the penguin colony and get a close but respectful look at them. (Monte Leon National Park was recently created thanks to the efforts of the Patagonia Land Trust, a nonprofit organization that focuses on restoring Patagonia wildlands). We'll stay at the historic Monte Leon Estancia which has a perfectly maintained shearing barn and a museum that are worth the visit alone.
Across the semi-arid steppe, the Perito Moreno National Park awaits. This park is the hidden treasure of Patagonia, with less than 1,000 visitors a year. Located in the heart of Patagonia, the beauty of its emerald and blue lakes are rivaled only by the majestic Mount San Lorenzo and its neighboring mountains. We'll be staying in another historic estancia, La Oriental, and we'll do some day hikes, or we'll climb Mount Volcan to enjoy a breathtaking view of the park.
Further south we'll stop at Estancia La Maipu. Resting on the shores of San Martin Lake, this is another working estancia. We'll hike to the condoreras, an incredible cliff where dozens of condors nest. A horseback ride to Cerro Astillado is included in this visit. Finally we'll transition back into civilization in El Chalten, a small town of 200, and gateway to Cerros Fitz Roy and Torre. The short hikes that lead to incredible viewpoints offer excellent opportunities for bird watching and outdoor photography. We'll visit the base camps from where some of the best alpine climbers in the world initiate their attempts on these steep granite towers. Our last day will take us to El Calafate International Airport, via bus, to catch our flight out to Buenos Aires.
Your Itinerary:
Day 1: Arrive at Buenos Aires, hotel night arranged for your convenience, in Palermo, a traditional neighborhood in downtown. This day is self guided.
Day 2: Meeting with your guide in Rio Gallegos International Airport. Transfer to Monte Leon National Park.
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Day 3: Visit magellanic penguin rookeries, marine mammals and cormorants.
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Day 4: Visit estancia historic buildings. We'll also visit the neighboring estancia Dor Aike, a Patagonia Land Trust holding. We'll meet some gauchos and talk about the efforts for converting this estancia into a sustainable one.
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Day 5: Transfer to Estancia La Oriental, 280 miles northwest of Monte León. We'll cross the incredible Patagonian steppe. It's common to see herds of guanacos and lesser rheas, and sometimes condors. We'll arrive in the afternoon at the estancia.
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Day 6: Hike to Península Belgrano, with views to Lago Belgrano, a beautiful turquoise lake, and home to hundreds of guanacos. This is one of their reproductive summer grounds. In the afternoon we can do a short hike to the Mie Lagoon, home to the Maca tobiano, an endemic species from Patagonia.
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Day 7: Hike to the top of Cerro Volcán, which boasts panoramic views of the park and its mountains.
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Day 8: Transfer to Estancia La Maipú, located in the southern shores of Lago San Martín. This lake actually drains to the Pacific Ocean and shared in part with Chile. The estancia is very close to the lake, and in contrast to the estancias we visited before, this one is still active. On this day we'll appreciate the magnitude of distances in Patagonia, since we'll cover 300 miles to reach the estancia through mostly unhabitated landscapes.
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Day 9: Hike to the Condoreras, a cliff chosen by dozens of condors to make their nests. We are usually rewarded with the sight of several condors at this place. We'll visit the working quarters of the estancia and a small museum.
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Day 10: Horseback ride to the base of Cerro Astillado, the tallest mountain in the area. This is a place where gauchos take the sheep to feed during the summer, so we have a good chance of seeing them in action
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Day 11: Transfer to El Chalten, about 160 miles south. This small community was created in 1985 by the Argentinean government to prevent Chile from claiming these lands. Today it is the gateway for the northern section of the Glaciers national park. In the afternoon we'll get onboard a boat excursion to visit the Viedma Glacier, which drops into the lake of the same name.
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Day 12: Hike to the Fitz Roy base camp, and, weather permitting, we'll continue to Laguna de Los Tres, the best viewpoint for the Fitz Roy.
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Day 13: Hike to Laguna Torre, and its base camp, also known as "De Agostini base camp". If the weather is generous we'll be able to see the Cerro Torre, Egger and Standhart, three of the most beautiful mountains in Patagonia.
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Day 14:
Transfer to El Calafate to board flight to Buenos Aires.
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Notes:
Airfare is not included in the tour price.
Internal airfare from/to Buenos Aires is optional. International airfare is not included.
Also see tour packages in:
South America
Argentina
Chile
Nature & Wildlife
Ecotourism
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