Winter in Patagonia Tours

Winter is a special, unique and magic season in Patagonia. Short days and the sun that stays low in the horizon give special light to the landscape. Beside this, wind stops, silence appears, and frozen lagoons and waterfalls open to the visitor the door of a different world. Our Winter Trips visit the classic areas of Southern Patagonia, using snowshoes to hike to the viewpoints of each trail. In the afternoon we get back to our lodge to enjoy of a hot meal and a fireplace.

11 days - 10 nights (Moderate trek)

Season: July thru September
Starts at: El Calafate airport
Ends at: Ushuaia airport

A unique trip that allow discovering Patagonia in its more unknown season. Snow, frozen lagoons and waterfalls, short days and the special winter southern light open to the visitors the doors of a different world. This program visits Los Glaciares National Park, Fitz Roy & Cerro Torre, the Perito Moreno glacier and the legendary Tierra del Fuego and the city of the End of the World, Ushuaia, which is specially prepared for winter activities. We hike or snowshoe in each trail, depending on snow conditions, to reach the main viewpoints. By the evening, we get back to our lodge to enjoy a hot meal and a fireplace.

Day 1 El Calafate airport - El Calafate
Upon arrival we welcome you at El Calafate airport and transfer you to town. Check in at your lodge and spare time to visit this picturesque village.
Lodging in a Hostel room with shared bathroom
Alternative: Hosteria double or single room with private bathroom
No meals provided today.

Day 2 El Calafate – El Chaltén
After breakfast we drive 220 km across the steppe and around lakes Argentina and Viedma towards El Chaltén, at the foot of Fitz Roy. Stop over on route for coffee and home made cakes. Approaching town we will have spectacular views of the mountains and of Glacier Viedma. In the afternoon, we’ll have time to visit town and get used to winter conditions.
Lodging in a Hostel room with shared bathroom
Alternative: Hosteria double or single room with private bathroom
Meals we provide: Breakfast and dinner.

Day 3 El Chaltén – Fitz Roy trail
The trail starts in the north corner of the town. A gentle slope leads us to the first viewpoint over the River de las Vueltas valley, and we go on to Laguna Capri and the first sights of Fitz Roy. Laguna Capri should be frozen by this time of the year, giving us the chance to get a unique picture of the frozen lagoon with Fitz Roy spires and glaciers in the background. From Capri we already have full views over Fitz Roy. If conditions are OK, we go on towards Rio Blanco, Fitz Roy base camp for climbers. Once at the base camp and depending on weather and terrain conditions those who want can go on snowshoeing to Laguna de los Tres, spectacular viewpoint for Fitz Roy massif, spires and glaciers. During this trek we climb 500 mts to get to the first viewpoints and 400 more meters if we climb to Laguna de los Tres. We carry snowshoes and we use them when necessary. Walking time depends on the conditions of terrain but please consider a full day hiking.
Lodging in a Hostel room with shared bathroom
Alternative: Hosteria double or single room with private bathroom
Meals we provide: Breakfast, box lunch and dinner.

Day 4 El Chaltén - Cerro Torre trail
We visit today the Torre valley. This valley starts as a glacier valley in the Laguna Torre reaching town as a fluvial valley. Is shorter and with less gain of altitude than Fitz Roy trail. We get to a first viewpoint of the glacier part of the valley after a first hour of walking. Depending on conditions, we will go on to reach the lagoon, natural viewpoint for the group of ice-mushroom-covered spires of Cerro Torre massif. The lagoon should be frozen and we can cross it up to the front of Glacier Grande. Its blue colour and dimensions are breathtaking. Weather, conditions and time permitting we can try to make some basic ice climbing in the frozen waterfalls which hang in the sides of the lagoon. We hike back to El Chaltén in late afternoon.
Lodging in a Hostel room with shared bathroom
Alternative: Hosteria double or single room with private bathroom
Meals we provide: Breakfast, box lunch and dinner.

Day 5 El Chaltén – El Calafate
Morning at leisure to rest or to take different optional alternatives that the place offers: a walk to Cerro Pliegue Tumbado with beautiful sightseeing points over Fitz Roy, Torre and the glacier valley in between. Or to visit estancia Madsen (home of the first white settler of the valley) or the Chorrillo del Salto waterfall, that should be half frozen in this time of the year. In the afternoon we take our bus back to El Calafate where somebody will meet us and transfer to our lodge.
Lodging in a Hostel room with shared bathroom
Alternative: Hosteria double or single room with private bathroom
Meals we provide: Breakfast

Day 6 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 Ice field, a 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 in a Hostel room with shared bathroom.
Alternative: Hosteria or Inn, double or single room with private bathroom.
Meals we provide: Breakfast.

Day 7 El Calafate – Optional Boat Trip on Lake Argentino
This is a spare day and you can choose some of the options that El Calafate can offer. The most advisable is to go sailing in the catamarans that make the trip to the glaciers which calve in the west arms of Lake Argentino. Among them are glaciers Upsala, Spegazzini and Onelli, Bolados and Agassiz glaciers in the area of Laguna Onelli. Also 4 wheel drive excursions and horse riding is available at El Calafate.
Lodging in a Hostel room with shared bathroom.
Alternative: Hosteria or Inn, double or single room with private bathroom.
Meals we provide: Breakfast.

Day 8 El Calafate - Ushuaia (flight not included in price)
We fly today from El Calafate airport to Ushuaia airport, in the island of Tierra del Fuego, the legendary Land of Fire. We fly over the Magellan Strait and the snow covered mountains of the south end of the Andes range. Upon arrival, we check in our lodge and we can then visit the different museums of the City of Ushuaia, like the Navy Museum or the Old Presidium.
Lodging in a Hostel room with shared bathroom.
Alternative: Hosteria or Inn, double or single room with private bathroom.
Meals we provide: Breakfast.

Day 9 Tierra del Fuego - Tierra Mayor valley
We drive 17 km towards the Tierra Mayor valley. This area of the Island hosts most of the winter sport resorts of the island because its special geography. Today we will hike the valley towards cerro Alvear, combining snowshoeing and Nordic ski. After our outdoor activity we have a hot chocolate in a Mountain Refuge to drive back to Ushuaia in the evening. We provide snowshoes, skis and all the necessary equipment to perform the activity.
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 10 Tierra del Fuego National Park and Beagle Channel Boat trip
The Island of Tierra del Fuego is divided north to south by the border between Argentina and Chile. In the southwest corner of the argentinean side is Tierra del Fuego National Park, a place where the forest covered mountains meet the sea. In this spectacular location we will visit Lapataia bay. In the afternoon we take a boat to go sailing in the Beagle Channel. The goal is the view of Ushuaia and the mountains from the sea, as well as the many sea mammals and birds that lives in the Channel. We will also see the Faro (Light house) Les Ecleurs and we will have a good idea of the braveness of the first sailors of the Channel.
Lodging in a Hostel room with shared bathroom.
Alternative: Hosteria or Inn, double or single room with private bathroom.
Meals we provide: Breakfast.

Day 11 Ushuaia – Ushuaia airport
Visit the town in the morning by your own. Transfer to the airport to take our flight.
Meals we provide: breakfast

I want to book this!

2011-2012Price per person in US$: $1312 in hostel room, $1500 in double inn room, $1892 in single inn room with English-speaking guide.

Dates: 02-jul-1- 12-jul-11 , 09-jul-11- 19-jul-11 , 16-jul-11- 26-jul-11 , 23-jul-11- 02-aug-11 , 30-jul-11- 09-aug-11 , 06-aug-11- 16-aug-11 , 13-aug-11- 23-aug-11 , 20-aug-11- 30-aug-11 , 27-aug-11 -06-sep-11 , 03-sep-11- 13-sep-11 , 10-sep-11- 20-sep-11 , 17-sep-11- 27-sep-11 , 24-sep-11- 04-oct-11

INCLUDED:
Bilingual guide (Spanish – English) during the excursions.
10 nights lodging in Hostel room with shared bathroom (00) or Hosteria double or single room with private bathroom (01 – 02).
10 breakfasts, 3 box lunch y 3 dinners
Trek to Cerro Fitz Roy viewpoint
Trek to Cerro Torre viewpoint
Perito Moreno glacier excursion
Beagle Channel boat trip
Excursion to Tierra del Fuego National Park
Full day activity with snowshoes and Nordic skis in the Tierra Mayor valley.
The supply of the necessary equipment for this activity (snowshoes and shoes, Nordic skis and ski poles)
Transfer El Calafate airport – El Calafate - El Chaltén – El Calafate – Aeropuerto El Calafate
Transfers in Ushuaia as detailed in the program
We combine regular and private transfer in our tours.

Winter at Los Glaciares - 8 days - 7 nights (Moderate trek)

Season: July thru September
Starts at: El Calafate airport
Ends at: El Calafate airport

This is the first 8 days of the program above. It visits Los Glaciares National Park, Fitz Roy & Cerro Torre and the Perito Moreno glacier.

Day 8 El Calafate - El Calafate airport
After breakfast we transfer to El Calafate airport where our services end.
Meals we provide: Breakfast

I want to book this!

2011-2012Price per person in US$: $956 in hostel room, $1096 in double inn room, $1370 in single inn room with English-speaking guide.
$881 in hostel room, $1043 in double inn room, $1315 in single inn room with Spanish-speaking guide.

Dates: 02-jul-11- 09-jul-11 , 09-jul-11- 16-jul-11 , 16-jul-11 -23-jul-11 , 23-jul-11-30-jul-11 , 30-jul-11- 06-aug-11 , 06-aug-11- 13-aug-11 , 13-aug-11- 20-aug-11 , 20-aug-11- 27-aug-11 , 27-aug-11- 03-sep-11 , 03-sep-11- 10-sep-11 , 10-sep-11- 17-sep-11 , 17-sep-11- 24-sep-11 , 24-sep-11- 01-oct-11

INCLUDED:
Bilingual guide (Spanish – English) during the excursions.
7 nights lodging in Hostel room with shared bathroom (00) or Hosteria double or single room with private bathroom (01 – 02).
7 breakfasts, 2 box lunch and 3 dinners
Trek to Cerro Fitz Roy viewpoint
Trek to Cerro Torre viewpoint
Perito Moreno glacier excursion
Transfer El Calafate airport – El Calafate - El Chaltén – El Calafate – Aeropuerto El Calafate
We combine regular and private transfer in our tours.

Ushuaia In White

5 days - 4 nights (Low physical demand)
Departs: All days in season
Season: July thru September
Starts at: Ushuaia airport
Ends at: Ushuaia airport

Ushuaia, as the City of the End of the World, gives a unique environment to this tour that takes us to enjoy winter activities in the Island of Tierra del Fuego. We will visit the Tierra mayor valley, Tierra del Fuego National Park and the Beagle channel. We practice Nordic ski, snowshoeing and enjoy the winter look of the Patagonian mountains and forest.

Day 1 Ushuaia airport - Ushuaia
We welcome you at the Ushuaia airport and transfer to town. Check in at your lodge. Visit to the Navy Museum and the Old Presidium of Ushuaia. In the afternoon an optional excursion is available: Snowshoeing at the Tierra Mayor valley. It features a 1 and a half hour snowshoeing and a 7 km circuit in snow cats.
Lodging in Hosteria Double room or Single room with private bathroom.
Optional Excursion: Snowshoeing in the Tierra Mayor valley
Meals we provide today: none

Day 2 Ushuaia – Nordic Ski
After breakfast we drive 17 km up to Solar del Bosque, a beautiful lodge in the middle of the forest. We meet our guide, we get our equipment and an hour instruction about how to use the skis. Afterwards we go sking in the forest, at the beginning in marked circuits and then cross country, discovering the best sites and views of the valley. Back to the lodge, a hot chocolate and we drive back to town.
Lodging in Hosteria Double room or Single room with private bathroom.
Meals we provide: Breakfast and box lunch.

Day 3 Ushuaia – Lakes Fagnano y Escondido
After breakfast we drive up north along Route # 3 heading to Lakes Fagnano and Escondido, crossing the mountains across Garibaldi Pass. From the Pass, those who want can go on the old route towards Lake Escondido, a 30 minutes hike up to Hosteria Petrel. Those not willing to hike can go on the 4 wheel drive vehicle up to the Hosteria, where we meet hikers group. From Hosteria Petrel we continue driving on an old timber trail around the lake up to the panoramic viewpoint. Here we have some hot drink that our guides brought in their flasks. By noon we drive back across Garibaldi Pass to Tierra Mayor valley, where we get to a winter resort where we will have for lunch “cordero al asador”, which is lamb roasted Patagonian style.
In the afternoon we will have time here to make optional activities, as snow cats, dog pulled sleds, Nordic ski, ice skating o just relax and contemplate the snow covered valley from the cozy lodge.
We drive back to town in the afternoon.
Lodging in Hosteria Double room or Single room with private bathroom.
Meals we provide: Breakfast and lunch.

Day 4 Tierra del Fuego National Park and Beagle Channel Boat trip
The Island of Tierra del Fuego is divided north to south by the border between Argentina and Chile. In the southwest corner of the argentinean side is Tierra del Fuego National Park, a place where the forest covered mountains meet the sea. In this spectacular location we will visit Lapataia bay.
In the afternoon we take a boat to go sailing in the Beagle Channel. The goal is the view of Ushuaia and the mountains from the sea, as well as the many sea mammals and birds that lives in the Channel. We will also see the Faro (Light house) Les Ecleurs and we will have a good idea of the braveness of the first sailors of the Channel.
Lodging in Hosteria Double room or Single room with private bathroom.
Meals we provide: Breakfast.

Day 5 Ushuaia – Ushuaia airport
Visit the town in the morning by your own. Transfer to the airport to take our flight.
Meals we provide: breakfast

I want to book this!

2011-2012Price per person in US$: $551 in double inn room, $707 in single inn room with English-speaking guide .
INCLUDED:
Bilingual guide (Spanish – English) during the excursions.
4 nights lodging in Hosteria double or single room with private bathroom (01 – 02).
4 breakfasts, 2 box lunch/ lunch
Nordic Ski Excursion & the necessary equipment for this activity (shoes, nordic skis & ski poles)
Excursion to lakes Fagnano and Escondido
Excursion to Tierra del Fuego National Park
Beagle Channel boat trip
Transfer Ushuaia airport – Ushuaia – Ushuaia airport
We combine regular and private transfer in our tours.

Winter in Bariloche

4 days - 3 nights (Low physical demand)
Departs: All days in season
Season: July thru September
Starts at: Bariloche airport
Ends at: Bariloche airport

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”), and 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 as López, Catedral, Capilla and Negro, all above 2000 mts high, are visible from town and from the different viewpoints along local roads.

In our program, we will perform different activities, as Nordic skiing, hiking and horse riding to give a first look to this beautiful National Park.

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 Challuaco valley - Nordic ski
The idea today is to visit this beautiful valley to learn basic skills on Nordic skis to be able to ski in the forest and the surroundings of the Neumeyer mountain hut. We pick you up at the hotel and head to the valley. The road might be snow covered so we go in a 4 wheel drive vehicle. Once in the lodge we meet our Instructor and we get our equipment. We receive 2 hours of class and basic skills and get out and make a short traverse around the lodge. The lodge is comfortable, hot drinks and home made cakes are available. The valley is forest covered, and offers the typical winter landscape of the Lake District. In the late afternoon we get back to our lodge in town.
Lodging in a Hosteria double or single room with private bathroom.
Meals we provide: Breakfast and box lunch

Day 3 Lake Gutiérrez - Horse Riding
We pick you up at your lodge and drive south to Lake Gutiérrez, a beautiful blue water lake at the foot of Cerro Catedral. We reach the south end of the lake where guides and horses are ready waiting for us. The ride is around the lake, under the forest, and will be designed regarding the terrain conditions and group capacities. We get back to town in the afternoon.
Lodging in a Hosteria double or single room with private bathroom.
Meals we provide: Breakfast and box lunch

Day 4 Transfer to 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

I want to book this!

2011-2012 Price per person in US$: $420 in double inn room, $529 in single inn room with English-speaking guide

INCLUDED:
Bilingual guide (Spanish – English) during the excursions.
Excursions as in the program
Transfer Bariloche airport - Bariloche – Bariloche airport
We combine regular and private transfer in our tours.
3 breakfast, 2 box lunch.
3 nights lodging at Hosteria Double room (01) or Hosteria Single room (02), as shown below

The following 2 extensions are a perfect complement for our Winter Trips:
Península Valdez (4 days) - We highlight this option because is the time of the year in which you can be sure to meet the right whales in the coast of mar Argentino. Penguins and elephant seals are also easy to watch.

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

Notes
operator holds the right of changing the itinerary or to cancel any of the activities when any natural cause (or any other cause of any type) justifies it in order to look after the group safety.

List of suggested personal equipment
Backpack, 50 liters or so
Thermal underwear
Trekking shoes or boots
Trekking pants
Fleece
Parka and over pants
Gaiters
Gloves
Thermal socks
Necessary spare cloth
Wool hat
Sun hat
Sun glasses
Sun screen
Personal items
Lamp
Trekking poles (recommended, if you are use to them)
Personal medication