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• Duration of journey: 21 days, 20 nights
• Total drive distance: about 4500 km
• Best months to travel: September to April
Intinerary:
Day 01: Arrival in Buenos Aires
Arrival at Buenos Aires airport, private transfer to hotel. Overnight in a 4 star-hotel in the city of Buenos Aires. Optional: in the evening tango-show in San Telmo.
Day 02: Peninsula Valdez - Puerto Piramides
Flight to Trelew, where your driver/guide will pick you up. Drive to Valdés Peninsula. From May to December this is the place where the southern Right Whale arrives and remains to mate and give birth. A boat cruise allows us to enjoy those animals from a very short distance. Overnight in Puerto Pirámides at a 3 star-hotel. Drive distance: 150 km on paved road.
Day 03: Peninsula Valdez exploration
Full day tour around Península Valdés, visiting the most important sea elephant colony at the east cost, than, in the north a fur seal colony and marine birth reserve. Along our drive we will see a lot of other animals as Guanacos, Nandues, Maras and an endless number of birds in the steppe. Overnight as day before. Drive distance: 240 km gravel road.
Day 04:Cabo Dos Bahias - Bahia Camarones
Our trip leads us toward south, where we visit Cabo Dos Bahías. Hundred thousands of penguins arrive at this cost to mate and give birth. We can watch them running just around us. Continuing to Bahía Camarones we overnight at nice bungalows. Drive distance: 390 km paved road.
Day 05: Bahia Camarones - Sarmiento
Today the road we follow turns toward west to Sarmiento, in the middle of a green and fertile region next to the biggest lakes of the Patagonian "meseta", the Musters and Colhue Huapi lakes. We visit the amazing Petrified Forest reserve enjoying the wonderful sunset over that very special scenery for photographers. Overnight in Sarmiento at a little hotel. Drive distance: 395 km on paved road and 60 km on gravel road.
Day 06: Ruta 40 - Bajo Caracoles
Our drive continues to the west until we reach the legendary Ruta 40, Argentinean's longest road (4600 km), where we will really be impressed by its wildness. Overnight at a little hotel in the midst of the steppe, Bajo Caracoles, south of Perito Moreno.
Drive distance: 380 km paved and gravel road.
Day 07: Cuevas de las Manos - Estancia Oriental
Drive to the Cuevas de las Manos (prehistoric cave paintings). The Cuevas were a sacred site for the Tehuelches and their ancestors so that we can find about 9000 years old paintings, mainly hands. In the afternoon we continue our trip southwards and than to the west, approaching the Andes and the huge snow covered Cerro San Lorenzo. Overnight at Estancia Oriental very close to the Belgrano lake, located in the Perito Moreno National park. Drive distance: 300 km gravel road.
Day 08: Perito Moreno National Park - Estancia Oriental
A wildlife safari through the National park, deep into the wilderness, where we can easily observe guanacos, choiques, red and grey foxes, Patagonian hares, flamingos, cauquenes and condors, visiting the Belgrano peninsula to observe hundreds of guanacos hanging around the hilly peninsula. If weather conditions are good, trekking as alternative program, to the huge Cerro San Lorenzo, along the Lácteo river. Overnight as night before.
 Day 09: Condor Colony - El Chalten
Horseback riding or trekking to the Condorera (condor colony). Our trip continues in the afternoon. Overnight at a beautiful estancia half way to El Chaltén. Drive distance: 200 km gravel road.
Day 10: Ruta 40 - El Chalten
After breakfast and once again along the Ruta 40, we head southward to El Chaltén. This part of our trip leads us through the (by far) vastest and loneliest region in Patagonia, only interrupted by some huge estancias, without seeing a single vehicle on our way. In the evening arrival at El Chaltén, where the legendary Mount Fitz Roy and Mount Torre are part of one of the most amazing mountain regions in the world. Overnight at a hostel.Drive distance: 290 km gravel road.
Day 11: Laguna de los Tres - El Chalten
Hiking to Laguna de los Tres, enjoying an incredible view of Mount Fitz Roy along the whole trek. After 3 to 4 hours we reach the lagoon which lies at the feet of Mount Fitz Roy, offering a breathtaking close up view of huge granite peaks soaring above us. Overnight as night before.
Day 12: Laguna Torre - Lago Argentino - Calafate
Hiking to Laguna Torre, the base camp for the ascents to Mount Torre, one of the most difficult summits in the world. The view we get while having lunch is just overwhelming over all of those ice covered peaks and huge glaciers. Late afternoon drive to Calafate on Lago Argentino and overnight at an estancia next to Calafate. Drive distance: 220 km gravel road.
Day 13: Perito Moreno Glacier - Calafate
Full day excursion to the famous Perito Moreno Glacier, one of the highlights in Southern Patagonia.Being the only glacier in the world which is permanently advancing, it has been declared by UNESCO a world heritage. We shall wait for the sunset, because the scenery of its amazing shapes and colors is the best during this hours. Overnights as night before. Drive distance: 180 km gravel road.
Day 14: Puerto Natales - Refugio las Torres
After crossing the vast Patagonian steppe we reach Puerto Natales, where we can purchase some food supplies and then we continue to Torres del Paine National park.
The Paine massif is the most impressive mountain wilderness region in the Patagonian Andes, breathtaking rock spires, tumbling glaciers, milky green lakes, beech forest and windswept grasslands, which supports an amazing variety of geese, ducks and black necked swans, guanacos, foxes and nandús. Overnight at Refugio Las Torres, a comfortable rustic mountain cabin with bunk beds and shared bathroom. Drive distance: 390 km, mostly on gravel road.
Day 15: Torres del Paine - Refugio las Torres
Hiking to Torres del Paine. After a challenging hike through rolling grassland, then crossing beech forests and finally steeply up along the moraine we shall approach the base of the vertical rock face towering more than 1000 meters directly upward. Overnight as night before.
Day 16: Grey Lake - Grey Glacier
Short transfer to Grey lake, with unforgettable views of the Paine Horns (Cuernos del Paine) and the Paine Massif, as well as Lago Grey and the Grey Glacier. If weather permits there is an optional boat excursion to get closer to the glacier with its huge dimensions flowing from the vast Patagonian icecap. On our way we shall observe lots of house-sized chunks of ice broken form the glacier. Overnight as night before.
Day 17: Punta Arenas - Magellan channel
Again toward south and crossing the endless steppe, we reach Punta Arenas in the afternoon, an important city on the Magellan channel and base for the Antarctic expeditions. Overnight in a 3star hotel. Drive distance: 340 km, on paved and gravel road.
Day 18: Ushuaia
Today we have a long day driving mostly on paved and gravel road, crossing the border to Argentina and reaching Ushuaia in the evening. The unspoiled and wild nature of Tierra del Fuego consists of vast grasslands, old beech forests, snow covered peaks and deep green valleys. Overnight at a bungalow with a panoramic view over the Beagle channel and Ushuaia, the southernmost city in the world. Driving distance: 450 km.
 Day 19: Lapataia National park
Short hiking through Lapataia National park and along Roca lake. Overnight as night before
Day 20: Beagle Channel - Isla de los Lobos - Flight to Bueno Aires
Boat excursion on Beagle Channel (duration: 3 hours in the morning), visiting the Isla de los Pájaros with colonies of cormoranes and other sea birds, the Isla de los Lobos crowded with sea lions. In the afternoon flight to Buenos Aires, private transfer into town and overnight at a 4 star hotel.
Day 21:
In the morning city tour with guide, visiting San Telmo, Recoleta, the new harbor and some other important places of this huge city. In the afternoon private transfer to the international airport and departing flight. End of our services.
Prices 2008:
USD 3.685.-Per Person
Single Supplement: 650.-
Minimum 4 People.
In the price included:
All overnights with breakfast, all private transfers with bilingual guide in Buenos Aires, city Tour in Buenos Aires with guide, van with German and English speaking driver / TC, gasoline during the whole tour, boat excursion and whale watching on Valdés, boat excursion on Beagle Channel, all entrance fees in national parks and reserves, horseback riding at estancia La Oriental, ferry to Tierra del Fuego.
Not included in the price:
flights, airport taxes, optional excursion and activities, insurance, medical insurance, extras, meals, extras tips and gratitude to the guides.
If you need any additional information please write us:
- Adventure in the South of Chile & Argentina -
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