This adventure tour takes in the best that Buenos Aires, and Southern Patagonia has to offer – Tango that will spark your passion for Latin music, the magic of the Moreno Glacier, mountain peaks and valleys so beautiful you’ll feel like you’re in a dream, and the Beagle Channel luring you to explore further. This is an active itinerary designed for the traveler who has 2 weeks to do and see as much as possible.
It also leaves open the possibility of venturing further on to Antarctica. Ushuaia is the departure point for Antarctic cruises and we can help you in getting some excellent last minute specials, subject to availability.
The trekking can be quite challenging due to the unpredictability of the weather, especially the strong winds, and you need to be in reasonably good shape. Except for the Pehoe to Refugio Grey hike of 3 to 4hrs, all the others are day hikes of 5 to 8hrs return to base camp. So how much you want to achieve on any given day is up to you. After all, its all about you, so you can do it how you please. Typically each day on the trail involves a minimum of 6-8 hours of hiking over altitudes of up to 1600m.
Tour Highlights:
- Tango show and dinner in Buenos Aires
- Half day excursion by train to Tigre and river delta near Buenos Aires
- Guided tour of Moreno Glacier
- Day hikes in Glacier National Park
- 4 Day guided camping excursion to Torres Del Paine National Park (all camping gear included except sleeping bags)
- Excursion to Otway Penguin Colony
- Half day Beagle Channel Cruise
- 2 hour boat cruise on Grey Lake, viewing glacier and icebergs
- Ice hiking excursion and optional ice climbing on Grey Glacier
Tour Itinerary:
Day 1: Buenos Aires, Arrival Day. You are free to arrive and check in at any time. There will be a briefing that night and a chance for you to meet your traveling companions and ask questions. The information will be awaiting you at the reception regarding that nights briefing. If arriving late in the evening, don't worry! You will be briefed in the morning and meet the group.
Day 2: Buenos Aires. Today we explore just outside of Buenos Aires, passing through the suburbs while heading out to the town of Tigre by local train. It sits on the edge of the largest river delta in Argentina where we’ll take a short canal cruise to see another side of life here, then there’s time for lunch before taking the scenic coastal train back into town. Tonight put your party shoes on and let’s go to Dinner and Tango!
Days 3-4: Calafate/Chalten. A morning flight will take us to El Calafate (watch out for that wind) and the next morning a breathtaking visit to the Moreno Glacier, a deep blue relic of the ice age and one of the few advancing glaciers in the world. Once you have torn yourself away from watching the ice plunging into the lake below, we jump on a bus out to the remote village of Chalten (population 250)
Days 5-6: Chalten & The Fitzroy Range. These next two days are spent hiking among the lakes and moraines of the Fitzroy range at the northern end of Glacier National park. These granite pinnacles are famous the world over to climbers and hikers. We have time for 2 day hikes. One to the base of Mount Fitzroy, Lago de Los Tres, and the other to Cerro Torre, both of which offer spectacular views of these jagged pinnacles, before returning by late afternoon bus to Calafate.
Day 7: Cross the border into Chile, Puerto Natales. After our crossing into Chile and the beautiful drive to the quaint town of Puerto Natales, we’ll get a briefing and a slide show on the days ahead in Torres del Paine National Park. Don’t forget dinner to sample that fresh salmon Chile is so famous for.
Days 8-11: Torres Del Paine National Park. We travel by van the 140km to the park, then it’s time to be at one with your boots, we’re off! The first day’s trek is to the namesake of the park, the Torres of Paine. It’s about a 7hr round trip stopping for a picnic lunch along the way before the last scramble up the boulder field to a view of the towers you will never forget. Camping at Torres campground. Early the next morning we drive from the East to the West side of the park to board the catamaran across to our campground at Lake Pehoe, relax have a cocktail and get ready for our hike tomorrow to French Valley, which is one of the most spectacular views as you walk around the base of the Horns of Paine, up the valley watching for the ice falling of the hanging glaciers on the surrounding mountains.
You’ll be back to camp in time for a cocktail and the next day we hike the 15km to the Grey Campground and take in the atmosphere while watching icebergs float by the beach! In the morning we are briefed on the technical aspects of the ice hike then we off on our adventure. Later that day we board the boat Grey II for our 2hr voyage on Grey lake along the face of the Grey Glacier and icebergs of brilliant blue. Arrive by van back in Puerto Natales late evening for a welcome rest and night out. Includes: (3B, 3L, 3D).
Day 12: Punta Arenas. It's a short public bus ride this morning to the historic port of Punta Arenas, former hub of the wool boom in the area. This evening we head off to the Seno Otway Penguin Colony and enjoy a few good laughs watching these comical birds as they come in from the ocean and take care of their chicks.
Days 13-14: Ushuaia. Today is bus, bus and more bus. It's a long, long day of varied scenery, a border crossing, a ferry crossing and a well deserved dinner in the world's southern most city, overlooking the Beagle Channel. In the morning we head out onto the Channel and explore Bridges Island with it's unique flora and fauna. We spend the last night overlooking the Beagle Channel, as a group of friends full of stories of our shared adventures in what truly was Amazing Patagonia.
Day 15: Departure Hasta Luego Amigos, Gracias y nos vemos pronto.
Accommodation is generally simple but comfortable. There may be some multi-share nights, with shared bathrooms, though typically the hotels have private facilities.
Notes:
Airfare is not included in the tour price.
Includes domestic flights, accommodaton & transport.
Tango show and dinner.
Excursion to Moreno Glacier.
4 day guided excursion to Torres Del Paine National Park.
Day hikes in Glacier National Park.
Half Day Beagle Channel cruise.
Excludes departure taxes and local payment of US$350 to be paid on day one of the tour as part of the overall tour cost.
Also see tour packages in:
South America
Argentina
Chile
Hiking & Trekking
Cultural Journey
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