Southern Patagonia Experience
Remember my blog on Patagonia? This comprehensive independent tour - 14 day/13 night trip - combines the best that Patagonian has to offer, in style.
Day 1 - Buenos Aires
The name, Buenos Aires, literally means "good airs" in Spanish. It is one of the largest cities in Latin America, with a wide range of cultural offers and stunning sights. Being the capital of the country makes it the starting point for most of the Argentinean Experiences. Let yourself be seduced by its busy and beautiful streets full of Tango aromas and football passion, a unique mixture that turns your stay into an exceptional urban adventure.
Arrival at Ezeiza International Airport (EZE) - Meet with your guide and private transfer to hotel. Mineral water included on board.
Activities:
Buenos Aires Sightseeing Experience - South area
Private Experience - Vehicle and English speaking guide at disposal. Duration: Half Day. Mineral water on board. The itineraries are liable to updates in order to provide a better service according to the day, and inclusions agreed for your tour.
Visit Plaza de Mayo, the city’s foundational site and witness of our country’s political history.
There we’ll visit the Pink House, our Presidential Palace, the Cabildo, our primitive town hall, and the Neoclassical-styled Metropolitan Cathedral, the final home of Argentina’s founding father, José de San Martín. We’ll then head for San Telmo, one of the oldest neighborhoods in Buenos Aires. It used to be the residential district favored by the upper class until late 19th century when a yellow fever epidemic caused the wealthier families to leave northwards. The area was marginalized until the 1970s when many artists and artisans came to San Telmo to install their workshops. Nowadays, thanks to its amazing architecture and hip atmosphere, this ancient neighborhood is really blooming. We’ll walk its cobbled streets, where the city’s Colonial past seems to come back to life, making a stop at Plaza Dorrego, best known for its traditional antiques fair, held every Sunday.
Leaving San Telmo behind, we’ll continue southwards to La Boca, one of the city’s most authentic and charming neighborhoods. It is a working class district, heavily shaped by Italian immigrants who came to our country in large numbers during the last quarter of the 19th century. Here, we’ll make a special visit to the mythical Caminito Street, which sums up everything that gives La Boca its distinctive spirit: the strong passion for soccer, the heavy presence of art and color, and the Tango-esque atmosphere.
At last, we`ll pass through Puerto Madero, the latest addition to the city’s barrios. In 1991, its huge warehouses and silos were remodeled and redesigned, to finally integrate the river to the city and to create a new corporative, residential, hotel and gastronomically district, which has become the playground for the pretty Porteños and the international jet-set.
Rojo Tango
3 course dinner & live Tango Show with private transfers and drinks included. Rojo Passion - A cabaret designed by Phillippe Starck, created to bring back nostalgic times that already passed, with the strength of a new show full of fantasy and sensuality. Rojo Tango is love, passion, madness and glamour in a history that ends transforming itself into a legend. Located inside the exclusive Faena Hotel, Rojo Tango is a fascinating proposal that seduces all the senses combining sounds, fragrances, colors, movements and flavors.
Accommodations:
2 nights accommodations at Park Hyatt Buenos Aires - Duhau Palace - Park Room King with breakfast included. Right in the heart of the French heritage district of Recoleta, Palacio Duhau - Park Hyatt Buenos Aires hotel is located on Alvear Avenue, close to MALBA (The Latin American Art Museum of Buenos Aires) and Puerto Madero. Palacio Duhau integrates into the eclectic Buenos Aires by combining stylish architecture with innovative design, comfort with technology and the renowned Park Hyatt luxury service. Check In: 03:00 p.m. Check Out: 12:00 p.m.
Day 2 - Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires Sightseeing Experience - North area
Private Experience | Half Day (4hs) | Vehicle and English speaking guide at disposal| Mineral water on board.
Buenos Aires is one of the most fascinating cities in both Latin America and the world. Be it for its splendid and varied architecture, with its old Colonial buildings, French palaces and state-of-the-art skyscrapers; for its vibrant nightlife and endless cultural options; or maybe just for the rich identity of the Porteños, who proudly bear the European heritage of their ancestors, more and more visitors are coming to visit.
In Retiro and Recoleta, we will learn about the dream of our local aristocrats in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, when they sought to build a small-scale Paris in the heart of Buenos Aires. After visiting the impressive Plaza San Martín, where Jorge Luis Borges used to take his walks, we’ll stroll down Avenida Alvear, chosen by the world’s most distinguished brands to install their exclusive boutiques, looking up to see the many wonderful French-style palaces which nowadays house a number of embassies.
Then we’ll visit the Basílica de Nuestra Señora del Pilar, one of the city’s oldest churches, which dates to the Colonial era. Finally, we’ll admire the celebrated Recoleta Cemetery, a true labyrinth of ornate mausoleums. We’ll make a stop at Eva Peron’s grave, one of the country’s most recognizable icons.
We’ll come across sumptuous French palaces again in Palermo Chico, the area of Palermo best known for its large parks designed by celebrated landscape architects, such as the illustrious Frenchman Charles Thays.
Dinner at La Cabrera Restaurant
3 course meal | Half a bottle of wine and one soft drink per person | Private transfers are included
The restaurant is a shrine to simple meat cookery and majors on exceptional steaks. It is located amongst the quietly superior boutiques and bars of Buenos Aires’s Palermo Neighborhood. La Cabrera is also known for the high quality of its starter plates and its side dishes.
Day 3 - Buenos Aires to Ushuaia
Private transfer from Hotel to Domestic Airport (AEP) with your English speaking guide. Mineral water included on board. Flight from Buenos Aires to Ushuaia
Arrival at Ushuaia (USH) Airport - Meet with your Argentina guide and private transfer to hotel. Mineral water included on board.
Ushuaia is the southernmost city in Argentina, located at more than 2,370 kilometers from Buenos Aires. Due to its location near the South Pole, it has approximately 18 hours of sunlight in the summer, whereas in the winter, it only has 7 or 8; however, this does not prevent tourists from visiting it. Its gastronomy and accommodation infrastructure meet all expectations of thousands of international visitors that have chosen this beautiful city for the most spectacular voyages along the Beagle Channel and Lapataia Bay in Tierra del Fuego National Park. Ushuaia offers you untouched places, waiting for you to discover them and live the adventure of being at “the world’s end”.
Accommodations:
1 night Arakur Resort & Spa- Superior Sea View room with breakfast included.
Inside Cerro Alarken’s natural reserve, Arakur Hotel offers a luxury five star accommodation. This beautiful property is at only 15 minute drive from Ushuaia’s city center and its design was based on sustainable architectural that merge perfectly with stunning landscape. The rooms at Arakur Hotel are decorated with contemporary details, equipped with state-of-the-art comfort technology and provided with amazing panoramic views.
Check in: 02:00 p.m. Check out: 10:00 a.m.
Day 4 - Ushuaia
Activities:
Tierra del Fuego National Park Tour
Private Service (Personalized) | Half-day vehicle and guide at guest disposal | National Park Fee and lunch are included
The National Park represents the southernmost natural area, being the only one that has maritime coasts. This tour will show you the main highlights of this unique environment.
It is reached by National Route No. 3 to the Southwest of Ushuaia, meeting on the road Río Pipo, Monte Susana, Ensenada Bay, sighting Redonda Island, Lake Roca, Casita del Bosque, Green and Black Lagoon, beaver dam, Lapataia Bay.
The topography of the Park is extremely varied; everything is a succession of rugged mountains, rivers, valleys, and lakes, giving rise to varied landscapes, from the picturesque and happy stream to the mole of imposing mountains, or the extraordinary spectacle of the majestic Beagle Channel. During the spring and summer, you can admire varied and colorful flowers, as well as the varied tree species. The most frequent mammals are the foxes and rabbits, also living in the Park the muskrat and the beaver.
Among the birds, it has the exclusivity of having birds from marine environments, such as the black-browed albatross, the oystercatcher overo, the white cauquén and also mammals, such as sea lions and sea otters.
> Optional (Not included - In addition): End of the World Train - Tourist Service (National Park Visit's Supplement)
Tourist Service: With three daily departures, you can travel in heated coaches built with comfortable seats and truly enjoy the view through large windows, a classic of the golden age of steam trains. At the same time, get to know more about history by means of a guided audio tour aboard the train – with native speaker’s voices in Spanish, English, and Portuguese.
Dfferent categories of service are available: First Class Service | Premium Class | Special Service (VIP) | Charter (Private)
After the National Park tour, drop off at Australis Cruise Office to board your Luxury Expeditions Cruise
Australis Cruise: Patagonian Explorer - 5 days/4 nights (This will be your accommodation for nights 5, 6, 7 and 8)
Board the Australis Cruise at 18:00 (6 PM). After a welcoming toast and introduction of captain and crew, the ship departs for one of the most remote corners of planet Earth. During the night we traverse the Beagle Channel and cross from Argentina into Chilean territorial waters. The lights of Ushuaia disappear as we turn into the narrow Murray Channel between Navarino and Hoste islands.
Route: Ushuaia - Punta Arenas | 5 Days/4 Nights | Check in at 409 San Martín Ave. in downtown Ushuaia between 10:00 and 17:00 (10 AM-5 PM).
Explore Patagonia on an adventurous five-day, four-night journeys between Ushuaia (Argentina) and Punta Arenas (Chile) through some of planet’s most remote places and incredible scenery. Discover the wild beauty of Patagonia on an Australis cruise that showcases the region’s pristine landscapes, rich wildlife and fascinating human history aboard an expedition ship that brings an extraordinary level of comfort and service to the uttermost edge of the world. Leaving the twinkling lights of Ushuaia behind, the vessel calls on fabled spots like Cape Horn and Wulaia Bay before cruising down the Beagle Channel. Continuing through the maze of islands, we’ll visit a number of glaciers, frozen giants that guard the southern flank of the Fuegian Archipelago, before entering the legendary Strait of Magellan. Last stop is the Isla Magdalena and its boisterous Patagonia penguin colony before docking at Punta Arenas.
Day 5 - Cape Horn - Wulaia Bay
Around the break of dawn, the Australis cruise crosses Nassau Bay and enters the remote archipelago that comprises Cape Horn National Park. Weather and sea conditions permitting, we shall go ashore on the windswept island that harbors legendary Cape Horn (Cabo de Hornos). Discovered in 1616 by a Dutch maritime expedition -- and named after the town of Hoorn in West Friesland -- Cape Horn is a sheer 425-meter (1,394-foot) high rocky promontory overlooking the turbulent waters of the Drake Passage. For many years it was the only navigation route between the Pacific and Atlantic, and was often referred to as the "End of the Earth." The park was declared a World Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO in 2005. The Chilean navy maintains a permanent lighthouse on the island, staffed by a lightkeeper and his family, as well as the tiny Stella Maris Chapel and modern Cape Horn Monument (currently awaiting repair after being damaged by fierce winds).
Sailing back across Nassau Bay, we anchor at fabled Wulaia Bay, one of the few places in the archipelago where the human history is just as compelling as the natural environment. Originally the site of one of the region’s largest Yámana aboriginal settlements, the bay was described by Charles Darwin and sketched by Captain FitzRoy in the 1830s during their voyages on HMS Beagle. This area is also renowned for its mesmerizing beauty and dramatic geography. After a visit to the Australis-sponsored museum in the old radio station -- which is especially strong on the Yámana people and European missionaries in the area -- passengers have a choice of three hikes (of increasing degrees of difficulty) that ascend the heavily wooded mountain behind the bay. On all of these you stroll through an enchanted Magellanic forest of lengas, coigües, canelos and ferns to reach panoramic viewpoints overlooking the bay.
Day 6 - Pia Glacier - Garibaldi Glacier
Overnight we continue our Patagonia glacier tour around the western end of Tierra del Fuego via the very narrow Gabrial Channel, Magdalena Channel and Cockburn Channel. After rounding the remote Brecknock Peninsula, the Australis cruise tacks eastward and enters the Beagle Channel again. By morning we are entering Pia Fjord and boarding the Zodiacs for a shore excursion to Pia Glacier.After disembarking we take a short hike to gain a panoramic view of the spectacular glacier, which extends from the mountaintops down to the sea or a longer much more difficult walk up a lateral moraine of the old Pia Glacier. No one knows for certain how the hulking mass of snow and ice got its feminine moniker, but one theory says it was named for Princess Maria Pia of Savoy (1847-1911), daughter of the Italian king.
Making our way further west along the Beagle Channel, we enter another long fjord and drop anchor near Garibaldi Glacier for another shore excursion. Garibaldi is one of only three glaciers in Patagonia gaining mass rather than staying the same or slowly shrinking. This time we hike through virgin Magellanic forest to a glacial waterfall, a towering wall of ferns and moss, and spectacular viewpoints looking down on the glacier and fjord. The walk is demanding -- very steep, negligible trail, rough footing -- and not for everyone. For those who choose to stay onboard, our captain will point the bow towards the beautiful sky blue Garibaldi Glacier so everyone can enjoy the panoramic view from the upper decks.
Day 7 - Agostini Sound - Aguila Glacier - Condor Glacier
Early in the morning, we will sail through the Cockburn Channel and enter Agostini Sound. From there it is possible to see the glaciers that descend from the middle of the Darwin Mountain Range -- some of them reaching the water. This morning, we will disembark and go for an easy walk around a lagoon, which was formed by the melting of the Águila Glacier. We will reach a spot right in front of that glacier with stunning views. In the afternoon, we will approach the Condor Glacier via Zodiac -- and hopefully see some of the abundant Andean Condors in the area.
Day 8 - Punta Arenas - Torres Del Paine
After an overnight cruise through Magdalena Channel and back into the Strait of Magellan, we anchor off Magdalena Island, which lies about halfway between Tierra del Fuego and the Chilean mainland. Crowned by a distinctive lighthouse, the island used to be an essential source of supplies for navigators and explorers and is inhabited by an immense colony of Magellanic penguins. At the break of dawn, weather permitting, we go ashore and hike a path that leads through thousands of penguins to a small museum lodged inside the vintage 1902 lighthouse. Many other bird species are also found on the island. In September and April -- when the penguins dwell elsewhere -- this excursion is replaced by a ride aboard Zodiacs to Marta Island to observe South American sea lions.
After a short cruise south along the strait, disembarkation at Punta Arenas is scheduled for around 11:30 AM. Arrival at Punta Arenas Pier and transfer to Torres del Paine National Park (Shuttle provided by Explora Patagonia Lodge)
Torres del Paine is one of the biggest and most important protected parks in Chile. It is located between Punta Arenas y Puerto Natales, at 1,983 kilometers to the south of Santiago. If any of the Chilean destination has a high international profile, it's Torres del Paine National Park; which has been recognized as a UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve. The slender granite needles that pierce the sky above the grassy steppes are an unforgettable symbol of Patagonian majesty. Torres del Paine gives you the opportunity to enjoy the diversity of this unique landscape with the comfort and luxury that this isolated Chilean destination is able to provide you.
Accommodations:
Explora Patagonia - 4 nights; Salto Chico room with full board and activities included
Anchored like a ship by Lake Pehoé, at the heart of Torres del Paine National Park, Explora Patagonia has a privileged location from where to go out and explore the park. All our programs include accommodation, transfers from and to the airport, meals and beverages, and a menu of more than 40 exploration routes designed by our outdoors team.
Our treks and horseback rides include mountains, turquoise lakes, glaciers, lenga tree forests, viewpoints, prairies and rivers, in addition to the most iconic spans of the trekking circuit known as “W”.
Explora program includes:
- Accommodations.
- Full board. 3 Meals per day & Bar.
- Daily explorations with bilingual guides and equipment; boats, horses and vehicles (max group size: 8 travelers per guide).
Subject to weather conditions.
- Entrance fee to Torres del Paine National Park
Day 9 to 11 - Torres Del Paine
Free days for explorations.
Walking in lenga tree woods, getting to the base of Paine Towers, riding a horse through the Park’s prairies and rivers with horses specifically trained for Patagonia’s geography or cruising along the turquoise waters of Lake Pehoé are some of the experiences suggested by Explora Patagonia.
Day 12 - Torres Del Paine to El Calafate
Shared transfer from Torres del Paine National Park to Cancha Carrera, Argentinean border (Provided by Explora Patagonia Lodge), in order to exchange vehicle to continue to El Calafate with your English speaking guide.
El Calafate is a small town in the Argentinean Patagonia, situated in the southwest part of the Santa Cruz Province, at 2,083 kilometers from Buenos Aires. It is an important tourist destination as the hub to visit different parts of the Los Glaciares National Park, including the Perito Moreno Glacier (one of the most visited Glaciers in the world), the Cerro Torre and Cerro Fitz Roy. Its name is derived from a little bush with yellow flowers and dark blue berries that is very common in Patagonia.
Accommodations:
Eolo Patagonia's Spirit - 2 nights - Superior room with full board included.
Eolo Hotel is a unique place that embodies the spirit of Patagonia: its indigenous roots and the legacy of the first Europeans and Criollo settlers. This five star property is located at 30 minute drive from El Calafate’s downtown and it was conceived as a place of quiet charm and understated elegance inspired in the historic estancias of the area. Its 17 rooms were designed in a way that guests can enjoy a profoundly restful sleep and are also able to relish in the contemplation of the scenery from the intimacy of their room.
Check in: 02:00 p.m. Check out: 12:00 p.m.
Day 13 - El Calafate
Minitrekking Adventure, Walking on the Glacier Perito Moreno
Private Transfer (Personalized) | Full day activity | Transfer to/from Hotel in private vehicle with English speaking guide assistance | Shared Trekking activity | National park tickets, mineral water and Lunch boxes are included.
The Perito Moreno Glacier is a glacier located in the Los Glaciares National Park in the southwest of Santa Cruz province, Argentina. It is one of the most important tourist attractions in the Argentine Patagonia. The 250 km2 (97 sq mi) ice formation, and 30 km (19 mi) in length is one of 48 glaciers fed by the Southern Patagonian Ice Field located in the Andes system shared with Chile. The Perito Moreno glacier, located 78 kilometers (48 mi) from El Calafate.
The excursion begins in the embarking pier located in “Bajo de las Sombras” port, about 6 km before the glacier Balconies- where you embark for 20 minutes navigation across the Rico Arm, enjoying breathtaking views of the Perito Moreno glacier’s front wall.
You disembark on the opposite shore, where specialized bilingual mountain guides welcome you and lead you to a small shelter. After checking the last details, groups of not more than 20, follow their guides along the lake’s shore towards the edge of the glacier. Once on the ice, the guides put each participant a pair of crampons on, and explain how to use them. The two hours circuit that follows introduces you to the fascinating landscape of the glaciers: streams, small lagoons, gullies, crevasses and plenty of ice formations of the most incredible blues. The trekking is moderate. The ice surface over which you walk is irregular but firm and safe. You will receive explanations about flora, fauna and general glaciology of the region and also about the particular phenomenon that happens in the Perito Moreno Glacier and eventually produces its rupture.
After the walk, a stroll through the forest brings you back to the shelter. Finally, the program includes 45 minutes free to enjoy Glacier’s catwalks.
What to bring:
Outfit: Warm clothes, raincoat jacket, waterproof trousers, hiking boots, sunglasses, sun screen, gloves, hat, backpack (40lts).
You will always be accompanied:
All services are conducted daily and have bilingual mountain guides.
Important:
Restrictions: Due to the difficulty of this excursion, this trip is not appropriate for pregnant women, overweight people, those with disabilities, or those with health problems.
Appropriate for ages: Between 10 and 65 years old.
The complete tour with transportation from El Calafate takes around 10 hours.
Day 14 - El Calafate
Private transfer to El Calafate (FTE) Airport with English speaking guide. Mineral water included on board.
Flight from El Calafate to Buenos Aires - priced separately based on market fares.
Private transfer from Domestic Airport (AEP) to International Airport (EZE) for your flight back home. Mineral water included on board.
It is recommended to arrive a day prior to the start of this journey to enjoy the full service offerings in Buenos Aires. Any flight delays that affect your activities in Ushuaia and beyond will not result in a refund of services you couldn't participate in, due to your delayed flight. Travel insurance is required with a minimum of $300,000 USD medical emergency evaluation insurance.
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