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Argentina

Best of Patagonia / Hiking the Patagonia Classics / More Patagonia Treks / Hidden Argentina
Buenos Aires / More Patagonia / Iguazu Falls / Lake District / Salta / Mendoza / Ibera / Valdes Peninsula
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Torres del Paine + Ushuaia Adventure
9 days – 8 nights (Moderate trek)

Departures: Guaranteed All Fridays
Season: October to April
Starts at: El Calafate Airport
Ends at: Ushuaia Airport

This program allow the passengers to explore and discover the Torres del Paine National Park in Chile.
To do it we take advantage of our strategically located Full Camps in the Park’s central points. We visit the Ottway Penguin Colony and cross the Strait of Magellan. We travel the fantastic natural environment of the Tierra del Fuego Island, and the picturesque Ushuaia, that names itself the world’s southernmost city.
We lodge in a typical Patagonian Mountain Refuge in the Tierra Mayor Valley, and we spend our last night in the Ushuaia City to discover her secrets and beauties. We walk the Tierra del Fuego National park and navigate the Beagle Channel where the waters from Atlantic and Pacific Ocean melt them.

Day 1 El Calafate airport – El Calafate
We welcome you at Calafate airport and transfer to town to check in at your hostel. By 7 pm the group meets in the lobby of the Hostel del Glaciar Pioneros, street Pioneros 251, El Calafate, to meet your guide, discuss details of your program and enjoy your welcome dinner together with your fellow travellers.
Lodging in a Hostel room with shared bathroom.
Alternative: Hosteria or Inn, double or single room with private bathroom.
Meals we provide: Dinner.

Day 2 El Calafate – Torres del Paine National Park
Early start for a 6 hs drive to our camp in Paine. We drive across the steppe, still following by parts the legendary route 40, to get around Sierra de los Baguales, an impressive range in between Calafate and Paine. We cross the Argentinean Chilean border at Cancha Carrera/ Cerro Castillo. After the border crossing, we start our final sprint to Paine National Park, World Heritage by the UNESCO (United Nations Education, Science and Culture Organization). Approaching the Park, we start to see the different mountains that feature the area: Paine Grande, the Horns, Admiral Nieto and the Towers. We enter the Park by Porteria Sarmiento. A rich wildlife: guanacos, lesser rheas, condors and all types of wetland and buzzard birds, will be available for our eyes and cameras. We’ll stop in the Lake Nordenskjöld and in Salto Grande viewpoints for short walks. In the afternoon we continue to visit the westernmost side of the National Park, lake Grey area, where a short and easy hike along the south shore of the lake allow us to enjoy the blue icebergs that calving from the glacier in the northern side of the lake are pushed by the wind to this side.
Lake Pehoe Full Camp keeps the style of Laguna Capri and Cerro Torre Full Camps, but combined with the first class facilities provided by the campsite: good and clean bathrooms and hot water showers, water and electricity in each camping site.
Lodging at Camping Pehoe Full Camp in double or single tent (area with sanitary services)
Meals we provide: Breakfast, box lunch, dinner.

Day 3 Paine Towers – Ascensio River Valley
We drive an tour to get to Estancia Cerro Paine, headtrail for the world famous Paine towers. We “warm up” hiking a steep one hour slope, to get inside the Ascensio river valley, a narrow “V” shape alpine valley coming from inside the Paine massif. A gentle downhill leads us to Refugio Chileno, a cozy and comfortable mountain lodge, which can be a good turnaround point for those not willing to make a full day hike. We then walk in a gentle slope along the river side and inside beech forest. A final climb on moraine take us to the Towers viewpoint: a glacier origin lagoon and the three towers rising vertically 1000 mts from the glacier. The lack of breath will be either because the climb and the sight!!!! We go back to our camp on the same way we came. Walking time: 7 to 8 hs.
Lodging at Camping Pehoe Full Camp in double or single tent (area with sanitary services)
Meals we provide: Breakfast, box lunch, dinner.

Day 4 Lake Pehoe crossing – French Valley
Early in the morning a short drive takes us to Port Pudeto to board the catamarán that cross lake Pehoe twice a day. We carry only the necessary stuff to be 2 days and 1 night away from our Camping Pehoe Full Camp, where the rest of our luggage will stay. One in the far side of the lake, we leave unnecessary items in our tents and we set out to the French Valley trail. The trail skirts Paine Grande south slopes and lake Skottberg, to take us after 2 hs and a half of continuous ups and downs, to the hanging bridge upon the French River. This breathtaking location is at the foot of both the 2700 mts south east face of Paine Grande (to the west) and the Horns, with its characteristic black sedimentary topping, to the east. Keen hikers can go on and reach the upper viewpoints of the valley, from where you see the whole group of spires that feature the high valley: Hoja (Blade), Máscara (Mask), Espada (Sword), Catedral (Cathedral), Aleta de Tiburón (Shark Fin) and the magnificent Fortaleza (The Fortress).
Walking time for those who reach the upper viewpoints: 8 to 9 hs. For those reaching the lower ones: 5 to 6.
We retrace our steps back to Refugio Pehoe Full Camp.
Lodging at Refugio Pehoe Full Camp in double or single tent (area with sanitary services)
Meals we provide: Breakfast, box lunch, dinner.

Day 5 Glaciar Grey viewpoints
Lake Grey trail leads from Pehoe Valley across ridges to reach Grey valley. This magnificent valley flows down somewhat of 60 km from the Patagonian Icefield, featuring the huge glacier calving down in the grey colour lake. Our trail skirts the lake, going up and down the westerns slopes of Paine Grande, offering some of the most impressive sights of the Park. From the high sections of the trail, many different viewpoints allow us to see the south end of the lake where the blue icebergs gather, the mountains rising far in the distance above glaciers Grey and Tyndall, and of course lake and glacier Grey. The trail reaches a close up point to the front of the glacier. We come back along the same trail, crossing bogs, shrublands and forest. In the evening we take the boat to cross lake Pehoe back and then we go to our accommodation in Puerto Natales, a picturesque fishermen town located in the shores of the Ultima Esperanza (Last Hope) fiord.
Lodging in a Hostel room with shared bathroom.
Alternative: Hosteria or Inn, double or single room with private bathroom.
Meals we provide: Breakfast & box lunch

Day 6 Puerto Natales - Río Grande
Long drive today, though quite worthwhile. We continue south to reach the legendary Magellan Strait, which we will keep on sight up to Primera Angostura, where we board the Ferry in which we will cross the Strait. This Pass, discovered by Hernando de Magallanes in 1520, was the natural and logical way to all vessels until de Panama Channel was open at the beginning of the XXth century. You will find yourselves wondering how those brave men dare to sail those waters in such fragile caravels!!!
Once in Tierra del Fuego (literally, Land of Fire, due to the fires seen by the first white sailors in the coast, done by the local Indians to cook and heat) we enter back Argentina through Paso San Sebastián. A couple more of hours to reach Estancia Las Hijas, where our Full Camp will be waiting for us, as well as a lamb cooked in the classical Patagonian barbecue style. A dinning saloon, toilettes and showers are available tonight.
Lodging at Full Camp in double or single tent (area with sanitary services)
Meals we provide: Breakfast, box lunch, dinner.

Day 7 Río Grande - Tierra Mayor valley
In the morning we learn about the ranch activities and how dogs deal with the sheep. By mid morning we continue south to Solar del Bosque, a small and cozy mountain refuge located in the Tierra Mayor valley, where we’ll spend the rest of the day. After lunch, those who wish to can by their own visit Laguna Esmeralda, a beautiful lagoon with Glacier Ojos del Albino in the background (a quite easy trail). On the way back to our lodge across terrain that has been modified by the beavers, which were introduced in the area from Canada by middle of the last century.
Lodging in Mountain Lodge with shared bedrooms and bathrooms
Meals we provide: Breakfast, box lunch, dinner.

Day 8 Ushuaia – Tierra del Fuego National Park – Beagle Channel boat trip
We leave behind the valley and a half an hour drive leads us to Ushuaia, the southernmost city of the World. We leave our luggage in our hostel or hotel (we will not check in, as it is still early in the morning) and continue to Tierra del Fuego National Park. This National Park is in the south west corner of the argentinean side of the Island, thus in the border with Chile. The main attraction of the Park and the whole Island actually are the mountains coming down to the sea. We make a short hike in this area. In the afternoon, a boat trip in the Beagle channel allows us to see the different species of sea birds and mammals that leave in this corner of Earth.
Lodging in a Hostel room with shared bathroom.
Alternative: Hosteria or Inn, double or single room with private bathroom.
Meals we provide: Breakfast and box lunch.

Day 9 Ushuaia – Ushuaia Airport
Morning at your own to visit the town, which is located in the north coast of the Beagle channel. Then town features interesting museums and its typical architecture. In the afternoon we are transferred to Ushauaia airport to take our flight to Buenos Aires. Our services end at the airport.
Meals we provide: Breakfast.

INCLUDED:
Bilingual tour leader during all the trip.
Mountain guides while on trek.
Lake Pehoe boat trips (in and out).
Beagle channel boat trip.
All transfers El Calafate airport – El Calafate – Torres del Paine – Puerto Natales - Río Grande – Ushuaia – Ushuaia Airport.
During the trip we combine private and regular buses.
2 nights in hostel or inn, 5 nights in Full Camp double base, 1 night in Mountain Refuge with shared room and bathroom.
8 breakfasts, 7 box lunch and 7 dinners .

Accommodations Description

Full Camp is a camp previously mounted with wide igloo type tents we use in double or single base. Inside it each passenger has high mountain sleeping bags, individual sheets and insulating mattresses. The Full Camp comes with dining room tents, table, benches and complete kitchen with a cook in charge. Sanitary services in Capri Lagoon are solved with chemical bathrooms and Camp Pehoe has bathroom facilities.

Mountain Refuge: It is used in Tierra del Fuego. It is very similar to a hostel, but the beds are "cuchetas" (two superimposed simple beds). They provide sheets but not towels. The refuge is a cabin immerse in the forest with the aspect of a children´ story house. Almost all travelers will love to stay there. The refuge has two plants, the superior plant is the bedroom, where 20 beds are located in a single room. The lower plant is a warm and cozy dining room. The heating is obtained through a firewood kitchen, which is lit almost the whole day and has always a recipient with hot water on it. Over the kitchen there is also a wooden grill that is used to dry the shoes after each walk. There are also two individual bathrooms with plenty of hot water. People can take a hot water shower once a day, and one person at a time. A generator provides the electric light, therefore lights at night are on until 12 PM.

Hostel Bed: It's a bed in a hostel room. It has rooms with individual beds. It has complete bathrooms with sanitariums to share (there are bathrooms for ladies and bathrooms for gentlemen). They provide sheets but not towels. They have facilities to heat water or to cook something if you want. The hostels meet the standards of all the Youth Hostels, which assures a level of hygiene and appropriate comfort corresponding to your demands.

Hostel Room Double Base: It's a room in a hostel we reserve for only two passengers. We use it in El Chaltén with shared bathroom and in El Calafate with private bathroom.

Inn: It's a room at Inn with private bathroom. It can be double or single base, depending your choice.

Details of Foods
During the periods that we lodge in camp the four foods are served in abundant form achieving a menu that contemplate the tastes of the passengers but also their energy necessities, based on fresh foods.
Breakfasts: We provide hot water and options to choose like tea, coffee and milk; accompanied by cookies, sweet, fruits and cereals.
Lunches: They consist on a main plate and dessert or a lunch box that is enjoyed in a panoramic point; always accompanied with juices. The lunch box is compound by a potent salad or a sandwich, accompanied by a fruit and a candy or chocolate.
Snacks:Infusions to election with cakes or cookies They are served when people return of the walks.
Dinners: It includes Entrance (salads or soups), Main Plate (pasta, rice with squids, meats, stews, etc.), and Desserts as Pears with chocolate, Fruits, Fondue, accompanied by juice, wine and later the coffee.
During the periods when passenger lodges at hostel or hotel the beverages are not included.

Group's Size
Usually our groups are between 8 to 14 people, with a maximum of 20.

Guides and Coordination
All groups have assistance from their arrival to El Calafate.
In Usuahia the Guide receives the groups at the Airport and it accompanies them during the whole program and back to the Airport.
All the groups will be guided by a professional Mountain Guide, who belongs to the Argentine Association of Mountain Guides and authorized by National Parks, in the journeys that requires it.

Activities
You will walk along a unique landscape, among lakes, mountains and glaciers, and the idea is to enjoy the journey, so there are no rush or hurries, no difficulties neither risky steps.
When trekking in the El Chalten zone, where people spend two nights in Full Camp in Capri Lagoon, each person will carry his/her light backpack, only with personal equipment necessary for those two nights. The rest of the luggage will be stored in individual bags in the place where lodging in El Chalten, where we return after those two nights.
We always walk slowly with some rests, enjoying the landscape and the environment while walking, with time to discover the flora and the fauna of the area.
Although it's a mount region, the average altitude of our trekking will be 450 meters, with a maximum possible altitude to reach of 1500 meters, which should not negatively affect reasonably fit hikers.

Security
The trip doesn't include medical assistance. The guides will carry a basic first-aid kit along the walks and VHF communication equipment for any emergency that could take place.

Transports
Transports will be done combining private and regular services.

2008-2009 Prices per person in US$:

Perito Moreno Pre-Tour Extension

Day 1 El Calafate airport – El Calafate
We welcome you at El Calafate airport and transfer to town, where we check in at our lodge. The rest of the day is free for us to enjoy this lovely town or just chill after the flight.
Lodging at Hosteria or Inn, double or single room with private bathroom.
Meals we provide: none

Day 2 El Calafate – Perito Moreno glacier
We dedicate this day to one of the World’s Natural Wonder: the Moreno glacier. This ice field- type glacier flows down from the Patagonian Icefield, and big sheet of ice that with its 22.000 square kilometres is the third largest glacier area in the world, after Antarctica (14 M sq km) and Greenland (1 M sq km). Because unusual favourable local conditions, this glacier is the only one in the world that shows a closure and rupture process. The road leads to the very front of the glacier, which will be only meters away from your eyes. A beautiful, short trail, will lead us from the shores of the lake to the upper viewpoints. The roar of the chunks of ice falling inside the glacier or from the glacier into the lake, the frequent collapse of the front seracs into the turquoise water, makes out of this day a very special and unique experience. We will drive 80 km (1 and a half hour) to get and come back from the glacier across the steppe, watching a wide variety of birds.
Lodging at Hosteria or Inn, double or single room with private bathroom.
Meals we provide: Breakfast

Day 3 Optional: boat trip in the Argentine lake
This day is free, with the possibility to choose between the optional proposals that the city of the Calafate offers.
They stand out among them, the boat trip of the Argentinean Lake. It starts in the banderas harbour, from where the ship will take us to the most impressive glaciers of the National Park: The Upsala and the Spegazzini. It’s also possible to have lunch in the Onelli Bay alter visiting it. In the afternoon the excursion continues to the Upsala glacier (which is the biggest one in the National Park).
If not this option, he town also has other options such us rides in 4 x 4 and more.
Lodging at Hosteria or Inn, double or single room with private bathroom.
Meals we provide: Breakfast

Day 4 El Calafate airport
After breakfast we take our transfer to El Calafate airport where our services end.
Meals we provide: breakfast.

Included:
Incoming services
Bilingual guides (Spanish English) during all the excursions
3 nights lodging in Hosterias double or single room with private bathroom
Excursion to the Perito Moreno Glacier
All transportation as shown in the itinerary combining private and regular buses.
Trasfer Calafate Airport – Hotel – Calafate Airport

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

Valdes Peninsula Extension

Can start on any day of the year - CA

Day 1 Trelew Airport – Puerto Madryn
We arrive to Trelew flying 1200 km/745 miles to the south from Buenos Aires. We transfer by Bus to Puerto Madryn, where we spent the day enjoying this historical town. Populated from 1886 as a railway junction, immigrant workers flooded in from Europe as the railway network expanded. Both Welsh and Italian language and traditions are still very strong here.
Lodge at Inn double base with private bathroom
Included meals: none.

Day 2 Puerto Madryn, Peninsula Valdes
After breakfast, you will be driven to Peninsula Valdes, a paradise for wildlife lovers with World Heritage status. We start our journey visiting the Interpretation Centre, located in the Florentino Ameghino Isthmus, from where we have a panoramic view of both gulfs, Nuevo and San Jose. We continue to Puerto Piramide, a village on the south side of the Peninsula. Here you may enjoy a whale watching boat expedition (optional) to observe the magnificent Southern Right Whales that remain in the area from June through December. We visit Caleta Valdes, a natural canal with great variety of marine and terrestrial wildlife; a sea lion colony, and the landscape at Punta Delgada lighthouse. We continue to the Salinas Chica and Grande, the biggest depressions in South America, and to Isla de los Pajaros (Birds’ Island) with their impressive birdlife variety.
We return around 6 pm to Puerto Madryn.
Lodge at Inn double base with private bathroom
Included meals: Breakfast, lunch.

Day 3 Punta Tombo Magellan Penguin Colony. Gaiman.
You will be driven to Punta Tombo, the biggest continental breeding ground of Magellan penguins. There, you will have the opportunity to walk along the park trails and see over 200 thousand live nests, and more than 600 thousand penguins. In the afternoon, you will visit Gaiman, a picturesque small town settled by Welsh immigrants in the 1870s, and that still maintains much of its original architecture. We may savor a delicious Welsh tea with pastries at one of the traditional teahouses of Gaiman (optional). In the evening you return to Puerto Madryn.
Lodge at Inn double base with private bathroom
Included meals: breakfast.

Day 4 Transfer to Puerto Madryn Bus Station or Trelew Airport
After breakfast we transfer you to the Bus Station, if you are going by bus from Puerto Madryn to Comodoro Rivadavia, where you meet at 2 pm the group to continue our adventure traveling the Route 40; or to Trelew Airport, if you are flying from Trelew Airport to El Calafate, where you meet at 7 pm the group to continue our adventure.
Included meals: breakfast.

2008-2009 Price in US$ $521 per person double, $641 single. $26 supplement for departures Nov.1-Jan 31

Included Services
Bilingual Spanish-English receptive services.
Bilingual Spanish-English guides during excursions
Transfer Trelew Airport – Puerto Madryn – (Puerto Madryn Bus Station or Trelew Airport)
The program includes 3 breakfast and one lunch.

Services Not Included
Bus transfer Puerto Madryn - Comodoro Rivadavia for start of 18 day tour
Air flight ticket Trelew to elsewhere if not doing other tour
Whale Watching Navigation at Peninsula Valdes
Welsh Tea at Gaiman
Medical and Life Insurance
Tips
Air flight tickets and Airport fees and taxes
Services not detailed in the program