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Argentina

Best of Patagonia / Hiking the Patagonia Classics / More Patagonia Treks / Discovery Tours
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Patagonia Ice Trail

Visiting the Southern Patagonia Andes is to see the Earth as it was 10,000 years ago, at the end of the last Ice Age. The region features a vast high plateau covered by steppe vegetation that lays down from the Atlantic Ocean to the foot of the Andes Range. Rising steeply above the steppe, the Andes show sharp shaped uneroded mountains due to the very recent receding of glaciers. They are still covered by the most extensive area of glaciers outside the world's polar regions. Mountains within these frozen plateaus appear as rock islands called nunataks. Huge glaciers spill off into enormous lakes. From the 350 glaciers sliding down from the Ice Field, the Perito Moreno Glacier is probably the most famous. As for mountains, names such as Mt Fitz Roy, Torre and Paine, known by climbers all over the world, offer the most spectacular, magic and beautiful mountain views of the world, with their outstanding granite walls.

DAY 01: BUENOS AIRES. Arrival in Buenos Aires. Meeting at the International airport and transfer to the hotel. Accommodation. Rest of the day at leisure. We suggest you join our exclusive FOUR BALCONIES VISIT OF BUENOS AIRES (extra cost)

DAY 02: BUENOS AIRES - USHUAIA. Transfer to the domestic airport to fly to Ushuaia. Arrival in Ushuaia, the Southernmost city in the world. Meeting at the airport and transfer to the hotel. Accommodation.
Tierra del Fuego contains all the different ecosystems, which typify Patagonia on a single island: South Atlantic coast, bushy steppe, Andes surrounded by glaciers, snow, lakes and forests. As if it weren't enough the island also has its unique sub-Antarctic rainforest. Unexpectedly lush beech forests are covered with a magic carpet of green mosses, lichens waving in the wind in this seemingly enchanted forest.

Afternoon city trek in the city of Ushuaia. The hike starts at El Mirador del Beagle area, a side neighborhood located in the highest part of the city and an example of the amazing development of Ushuaia in the last years and the smooth transition between the city and the natural surroundings.

Upon our departure and towards the forest, this trail will allow us to enjoy the amazing vistas of the city which picture the history of the development of the city through the years: the Presidium, then the Naval base, the Industrial area (when Ushuaia has been a duty free area) and the newly built neighborhoods.
From the very beginning all these vistas have the magnificent Beagle Channel and the islands beyond as a backdrop.

DAY 03: "LOS FILOS del FIN DEL MUNDO" (HIKING THE SUMMITS OF THE END OF THE WORLD) Morning meeting at the hotel and drive to the starting point of this hike -the Mirador del Beagle neighbourhood. We start our hike following an old trail, built by the prisoners of the Presidium at the beginning of the XXth century. We hike in an immense forest during two hours before arriving to the level where the vegetation ends. A couple of peat bogs are going to be crossed on the way to the edge of this unique subantarctic beech forest. Stop by a small stream, where we enjoy lunch and resume our trip to a lookout point -facing south- to enjoy an outstanding view of the city and the island beneath the channel. The hike then follows another guanaco trail leading to Margot Lagoon, a beautiful area located high in the mountain, which is the easiest access to the summit of Cerro del Medio (3000 ft), from where we will be able to observe the amazing view of the Tierra del Fuego geography: The Beagle channel, the city, the peninsula,.... everything as featured in a map.

We hike then to Cerro ROY (2700 ft), located behind Cerro del Medio. This Cerro stands out as a lookout point to observe the Andes in Tierra del Fuego to the North. After having hiked on the edge of Mt. Roy, we start our descent to the Club Andino´s mountain refuge at Martial glacier, where we will enjoy a tea in front of a giant firewood stove. Return to the hotel at about 6 PM.
Includes: bilingual mountain guide, exclusive vehicle max. 15 participants, box- lunch.
Duration of the Trip: 8 or 9 hrs.
Level of difficulty: Moderate
Meals: B - L.

DAY 04: TIERRA DEL FUEGO NP. TREKKING AND CANOEING
Full day visit to the Tierra del Fuego NP. Upon arrival in the park, we start a 2 km trek to a wonderful scenic point overlooking Lake Roca, Lagunas Verde and Negra, Rivers Ovando and Lapataia and Bahía Lapataia. Hiking through this beech forest you will be able to look for the Magaellanic woodpecker, largest in South America, Austral parakeets, black-chested buzzard eagles and Andean Condors. Lunch. After an instructive view in Lago Roca, kayak Ovando River, which flows, into the Green Lake, one of the most beautiful views of the Park. Landing in Lapataia you will be able to spot all sorts of local birds. (included in the cost of the excursion).
Meals: B- L

DAY 05: USHUAIA - EL CALAFATE - EL CHALTEN. Morning at leisure in Ushuaia to enjoy the city or visit the very interesting End of the World Museum. Transfer to the airport to fly to El Calafate. Reception and transfer in a private car to El Chalten, a small windswept town at the foot of Mt. Fitz Roy. Upon arrival, transfer to EL PILAR Lodge, a beautiful 8 room hosteria, 15 km out of El Chalten. The location, in the middle of an exuberant beech forest, gives access to the most important trails such as to Mt. Fitz Roy. From the hosteria, you will enjoy magnificent vistas of the huge granite walls of the daring Mt Fitz Roy and some other important peaks. Dinner.

Once you have settled we suggest that you make a first try to enjoy a short hike (about an hour) to PIEDRAS BLANCAS Glacier. Following this trail you will enjoy a very interesting beech forest and if you are lucky you may see the amazing Magellanic Woodpecker at work. On the way, on a clear in the forest, and after about 20 minutes hike you will be able to sight the MARCONI Glacier, the gateway to the Continental Ice cap to your right. This hike is an ideal warm up and the perfect place for a nap in the sun! Or hike CERRO POLO (5 hours) which offers a panoramic view of the Poincenot, Fitz Roy, Cerro Torre and the Continental Ice cap.

DAY 06: Mt FITZ ROY. Full day hike to Mt Fitz Roy base camp and Laguna de los Tres. After breakfast hike north towards Fitz Roy with spectacular views of the massif ahead. Sacred and venerated by local tehuelche groups and believed to be a volcano, they called it "Chalten" (exhaling fumes mountain). Further hike to Laguna de los Tres, at the base of Mt. Fitz Roy. Three glaciers drain into this greenish lagoon with majestic Mt. Fitz Roy towering above. Enjoy breathtaking views to SE Lake Viedma and the endless Patagonia steppe. Approx. hike: 8 hours. Dinner.

DAY 07: TREK TO CERRO TORRE. Full day hiking another Patagonian classic: Mt Torre, famous for its beauty but also for its difficulty to climb. Countless expeditions attempt every year to reach the summit, but only a few succeed. After a 45 minutes climb you will find an even area surrounding an old lagoon where, vegetation is starting to grow again. The trail enters a forest with a slight descent leading to a lookout facing the Cerro Torre range and the Adelas Mt. The trail ends in the coast of Laguna Torre, which offers a beautiful view of Mt Torre surrounded, by Egger, Standhard, spires and the Adelas range as a backdrop together with the glacier Torre. Hike back to El Chalten where a van will be waiting for you to drive you back to the hosteria. Approx. hike: 10 hours Dinner.

DAY 08: EL CHALTEN- EL CALAFATE. After breakfast, free time for a further hike in the area or drive to town and enjoy a short hike to a scenic point overlooking the famous Mt Torre. Afternoon board a bus to El Calafate (about four hours bus ride). Arrival. Accommodation at EL GALPON (Estancia Alice). B
(Between the 48 and 51 South parallels, the Andes Range is covered by a large extension of permafrost known as the Patagonian continental icecap, which stretches for 560 miles from north to south. So large it is, that it is also called "the third pole" after its huge concentration of ice. It is the origin of 47 major glaciers, such as the famous Perito Moreno glacier. )

DAY 09: EL CALAFATE. Day at leisure. There are many possibilities to enjoy this day (not included in the rate).
El Galpon offers: Day horseback ride to Mt Frías (easy and panoramic),
Full day hike the surrounding mounts (this is new and highly recommended for trekkers!)
Or enjoy the new UPSALA EXPLORER Navigation and reach Estancia Cristina.

DAY 10: LOS GLACIARES NP. Transfer to Los Glaciares NP, in the sub-Antarctic Continental Ice-cape, known as the "Third Pole", which extends over 60,000 sq.km (23,000 sq. miles) and gives birth to several major glaciers along the Patagonian Andes. We will board zodiac boats to cross Argentino Lake in front of towering ice walls of the Perito Moreno glacier and will navigate around the ice blocks, which are constantly calving from it. We will land on an uninhabited beach and hike on the glacier. (Neither additional equipment nor previous experience needed). The wildlife of the area includes Andean condors, buff-necked ibis, black-chested buzzard eagles, ashy-headed geese, etc. B, B-lunch.

DAY 11: EL CALAFATE - BUENOS AIRES. Transfer to the airport to fly back to Buenos Aires. Arrival transfer to the hotel. Accommodation. This night we suggest a Farewell dinner and Tango Show.

DAY 12: BUENOS AIRES. Transfer to the International airport.

Rate per person based on double accommodation: U$S 1740 each for 2 people
Single supplement: U$S 707(based on a minimum of 2 people travelling together)
domestic airfare is extra.

The rate includes:

Accommodation in a combination of 4 star and superior 3 star hotels (all with private bathrooms) with breakfast and taxes included throughout the itinerary
Transfers and tours in seat in basis (bus to/from El Calafate to El Chalten)
Private services in Buenos Aires
Assistance of bilingual mountain guides
3 dinners as described on the itinerary without beverages
entrance fees to parks and reserves

The rate does not include:

Airline tickets, airport taxes and local taxes
Personal expenses and extras
Tips for baggage handling and optional tips for guides/ drivers
Meals (except the ones mentioned) and beverages

Level of difficulty: Moderate
Minimum / Maximum: 2 / 16 passengers
Departures: any day Oct.-April with a minimum of 2 people or
2007: JAN 14 & 28, FEB 11 & 25, MAR 11 & 25

Notes:
All passengers must be covered with a travel and health insurance.
Meals are basically based on meat and fresh vegetables. Vegetarians or any other special diet must be informed at least 15 days prior to departure.

PACKING LIST: - Day pack , Trekking shoes (that have been broken in) , Comfortable gym shoes for resting , 1 or 2 pants , Warm parka and windbreaker , Polar wear / warm sweater , Light pullover / sweatshirt , Gloves, hat / cap, bandanna, sunglasses , Sunscreen / sunblock, soap and towel , Camera and lots of film.

TEMPERATURE - Weather is highly unpredictable. Particularly in spring or early summer, fine weather may deteriorate almost without warning, as violent westerly storms sweep in from the Pacific Ocean. Strong westerly winds are usually at their worst from November to January, but typically continue through the end of April. Temperature can vary a lot too, ranging from -5C to 25 C, averaging 15 C.