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Argentina
Best
of Patagonia / Hiking
the Patagonia Classics / More
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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.
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