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Argentina Tours and Travel

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Argentina Lake District Tours

Together with Chile this area is much more developed than the southern part (usually referred to as the " End of the World"). The unparalleled beauty of the Lake District, with famous mountain resorts such as Bariloche offer a wide range of activities such as hiking, climbing, rafting, cannoning, mountain bike, horse riding and more during the summer. The most scenic golf course in Latin America is "hidden" in this area, close to the famous LLAO LLAO Hotel.

Though we can customize anything in this area, below are some special options.

Estancia Huechahue

Pampa Linda Multisport

Bariloche Mountain Bike

Here are some sample itineraries:

Bariloche Classic

Day 1 - arrive Bariloche, where you will be met and transferred to your city hotel. In the afternoon you will be picked up to do the Circuito Chico - During this tour you will visit the city of Bariloche and its surroundings, including the nearby Cerro Otto, Llao Llao area and a panoramic drive along the Nahuel Huapi Lake. Optional: chairlift at Cerro Campanario stop.

Day 2 - today you have a choice of tour options:

1/2 day Villa la Angostura - this is a small charming village, located on the northern margin of the Nahuel Huapi lake. Surrounded by lakes and forests, the village combines this spectacular landscape with the warmth and beauty of the typical mountain architecture. Some of the activities you can enjoy during summer time are the following: trekking, mountain bike, horse rides, navigation in the lakes, fishing and more. During winter, the main attraction is Cerro Bayo, a ski resort, ideal for local people and for those who want to enjoy a peaceful skiing.

full day Circuito Grande - The tour leaves from Bariloche along National Route 237. It crosses the Ñireco Creek, the Ñirihuau River, Lake Nahuel Huapi in its eastern end, the Limay River, and the border of the Río Negro and Neuquén Provinces. The Limay River is bordered up to Rincón Grande, where the so-called Amphitheatre is located. The shape of this place resembles a great Roman circus. The tour continues into the Valle Encantado (Enchanted Valley), where strange figures may be spotted in the rocks. Some of them are called: God's finger, the sentry, the express train and the siamese twins. A few kilometers ahead stands Confluencia, where the Traful and the Limay rivers join. Before crossing the bridge over the Traful River, the vehicle turns left into National Route 65, a rubble road that gets deep into mountain ranges and valleys where the Cuyin Manzano and the Minero River may be observed. Lake Traful is bordered across beautiful cohiue forests. 4 km before reaching Traful Village, the road presents an abrupt curve where the Traful vantage point stands, bordered by a rustic log handrail, over a 70-meter high cliff overlooking the lake. After crossing the village, the tour gets to Puerto Arrayán and later to the El Portezuelo stop, where the road joins the Seven-Lake Route. Immediately afterwards, the place called Quintupuray is crossed and, after bordering Lake Correntoso, Ruca Malen is accessed. Following the road southwards and crossing thick forests, the fantastic Lake Espejo is bordered. Then the road outlines the shores of Lake Correntoso. After 6 Km, the Villa la Angostura crossing is reached. The tour follows along National Route 231 and then passes by Puerto Manzano. The Huemul Arm is bordered and the road goes across several hills when it gets to the Huemul Peninsula. Then, the excursion takes National Route 237 to get back to Bariloche.

Day 3 - Full day combination of a very relaxed navigation to reach Puerto Blest, with some free time for a short hike and a visit to Cascada Los Cantaros (Los Cantaros fall). Leaving Puerto Pañuelo, you will sail the Blest lake branch until Puerto Blest, on the western end of the lake. You will pass near the famous Sentinel islet where Dr. Perito Francisco Moreno is buried. After visiting Puerto Blest area you will take a bus through a wooded area till Puerto Alegre, where you will board a catamaran to navigate the Frías Lake and pass in front of the Echo Wall, a high rock formation that invites you to scream to confirm that its name is not only a picturesque fact. Return to Puerto Blest and arrival at Puerto Cántaros, to visit Cascada Los Cántaros, following the falls by a 60 m. high stairway where you will be able to appreciate several waterfalls of great beauty. The area presents a thick vegetation and is one of the most humid points of Patagonia due to the influence of the Valdivian jungle. Return to Puerto Pañuelo.

Full day visit to San Martin de Los Andes -a cozy village located amid an incredibly beautiful landscape by Lake Lacar, a paradise of peace and quietness, immersed in an environment of rivers, waterfalls, mounts and magical forests.One of the options to get to San Martin de los Andes from Bariloche is to take the "Seven Lakes Route". World-wide known for the matchless beauty of its landscapes, with panoramic natural vantage points, lakes, rivers and countless attractions, the route connects the lakes Machónico, Falkner, Villarino, Escondido, Correntoso, Espejo and Nahuel Huapi.

Day 4 - transfer to airport

2009 Price per person for transfers and tours: US$188 for 1 person, US$163 for 2 people (subtract $15 if you choose San Martin option). We can also arrange hotels for any level.

Bariloche Multisport

Day 1 - you will be met at the Bariloche Airport and transferred to your city hotel. In the afternoon you will be picked up to do the Circuito Chico - During this tour you will visit the city of Bariloche and its surroundings, including the nearby Cerro Otto, Llao Llao area and a panoramic drive along the Nahuel Huapi Lake. Optional: chairlift at Cerro Campanario stop.

Day 2 - full day biking from Mt. Catedral - You will be driven to Mt Catedral base, one of the most important ski resorts in Northern Patagonia. The excursion starts going up Mt Catedral on one of the ski lifts till 1400m. After a brief instruction you will get on the bikes and start a smooth descent to then get into an amazing trail that crosses brooks, small cascades and offers great vistas. The end of the ride is at a small beach by Lake Gutierrez with a gorgeous view of the South wall of the Catedral. Super panoramic!

full day biking from Cerro Otto - You will get to Cerro Otto by car. Once at the summit (1400m), and after a brief instruction, you will start the ride through an incredible lenga forest till "Piedra Hasburgo" (Hasburgo promontory) with one of the best views of the area. You will have a snack and then start the descent to Lake Gutierrez, a very nice and fun one. The ride ends by lake Gutierrez while enjoying the view and some "mates" prior to returning to Bariloche.

Day 3 - class III or IV rafting full day -
class III (easy)- Starting from Bariloche, you will be driven towards the Steffen lake driving past Lakes Gutierrez, Mascardi and Guillelmo, making it an unforgettable beautiful drive. You will get ready to attempt the first rapids and sight the amazing fauna and flora of the area. In a deserted beach you will stop for lunch.
The rafting is resumed in the afternoon, dodging the exciting rapids to the Manso Inferior River valley, where you will stop for tea and start the way back to the hotel.
class IV (moderate) - Starting from Bariloche, you will be driven to the southern limit of the Nahuel Huapi National Park. Following the border to the Rio Manso you will reach John's Ranch base camp to have breakfast and get the rafts and equipment ready. You will raft in the last section of the Manso River in Argentina. After a soft beginning, the river turns more challenging and the raft dodges exciting rapids through narrow canyons and impressive gorges all along the course until the frontier. After lunch, you will hike back to John's Ranch and return to Bariloche.

day 4 - transfer to airport

2009 Price per person for transfers and tours with class III rafting: US$202 for 1 person, US$177 for 2 people. Add US$29 per person for class IV rafting. Add $67 for extra day to be able to do both bike tours
We can also arrange hotels for any level

Bariloche Adventure

Can start any day, October-April CA

Bariloche is the head city for the Lake District and the gateway for Nahuel Huapi National Park, second largest National Park of Argentina and the first National Park of the country (1903). The area features a broken mirror puzzle of lakes, forest, mountains and rivers running along sharp fluvial valleys and dominated by Cerro Tronador (“Thunderer”), an inactive volcano that rises 3554 mts above sea level, with 3 glacier covered summits and 8 glaciers falling to either sides of the mountain which make it a reference mountain in Patagonia. Other mountains such as López, Catedral, Capilla and Negro, all above 2000 mts high, are visible from town and from the different viewpoints along local roads.

Day 1 Bariloche airport - Bariloche
We welcome you at Bariloche airport and transfer to your Hosteria. Time at leisure in the afternoon to visit this European-style city, known as the South American Switzerland because its alpine environment and its European immigration. Dinner is at your own. You can choose one of the several good restaurants that the town offers.
Lodging in a Hosteria double or single room with private bathroom.
We provide no meals today.

Day 2 Rafting River Manso
We pick you up by 9 am at your Hosteria.
River Manso begins in the glaciers of Cerro Tronador, and following a winding itinerary forms different lakes and eventually flows out to the Pacific Ocean. Is one of the emblematic rivers of the Lake District.
We drive south along route 258, following the lakes Gutiérrez, Mascardi and Guillelmo valleys. We arrive to river Manso, where guides will prepare the equipment and address us about the activity. Up in the rafts and start the fun. In this section, the water is turquoise and clear enough to see the bottom of the river. A picnic lunch in one of many sand shores along the river, which flows in the middle of the Patagonian forest. In the afternoon, another section of rafting leads us to the end of our traverse. A hot drink and our dry clothes are waiting for us. We drive back to Bariloche and to our lodge.
Lodging in a Hosteria double or single room with private bathroom.
Meals we provide: Breakfast and box lunch.

Day 3 Excursion to Cerro López
Cerro López is one of the most characteristic, beautiful mountains that you see from the streets of Bariloche.
We start our drive in 4 wheel drive vehicles towards “Circuito Chico”. On our way to the mountain, we will have many panoramic views of the puzzle of lakes and mountains that features the area. A steep mountain road let us climb high in the mountain offering us spectacular views. We leave vehicles and a short hike leads us to the Cerro López mountain hut, one of a dozen mountain huts spread out in the area. The original 1933 hut was swept away by an avalanche and today we enjoy the new facilities built up by 1959. We have lunch in the hut. After lunch, a steep hike takes us from the hut to Pico Turista, one of the summits of the mountain, from where you see the whole National Park, including Lake Nahuel Huapi and mount Tronador. Down to the hut, and to our vehicle. We drive back to Bariloche.
Lodging in a Hosteria double or single room with private bathroom.
Meals we provide: Breakfast and lunch.

Day 4 Bariloche – Bariloche Airport
After breakfast we have time at leisure to visit the town. We pick you up at the hotel and transfer to the airport in time to catch your flight.
Meals we provide: Breakfast

Price in US$: $500 per person double, $632 single. High season supplement of $29 for departures Nov 1-Jan 31.

INCLUDED:
All transfers as detailed in the program
We combine regular and private transfer in our tours
Bilingual guide (Spanish – English) during the excursions
Rafting river Manso (Full Day)
Excursion to Cerro López (Full Day)
3 breakfast, 2 box lunch
3 nights in Hosteria double or single room

NOT INCLUDED:
National Park fees
Medical and life insurance
Tips
Drinks
Optional excursions
Air tickets and airport taxes
Services not detailed in the program

Tours and Excursions from Bariloche

FULL DAY LAKE CROSSING - Oct / April
Includes transfers from hotels in town + tickets for crossing to Chile. Operates from Monday to Saturday on a daily basis except for Dec 25th, Jan 1st) and from Sep 1st to April 30th.
$217. Children under 02 years old: Free of charge - From 02 to 12 years old: 50% of the rate

2 DAY LAKE CROSSING - Overnight in Peulla 2d/1n
Includes transfers from hotels in town + tickets to crossing to Chile and overnight at Peulla with dinner. Operates from Monday to Fridays on a daily basis year round except for Dec 25th & Jan 1st. Superior room = $385 + $71 single supplement. Children under 02 years old: Free of charge - From 02 to 12 years old: 50% of the rate