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Best of Patagonia Tour - Argentina Highlights |
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Day 1 - Buenos Aires | Meals: -
Arrival at Buenos Aires, Private transfer from International Airport to Palo Santo Hotel. Accommodation for 1 night at hotel in standard room, breakfast and local taxes are included. City tour of Buenos Aires This exclusive tour serves as the perfect introduction to four of the city's most distinctive districts, offering a fascinating insight into its history, contrasts and culture. We will experience the highlights of Buenos Aires, including political centers, artist meccas and barrios rich in European architecture. We'll become acquainted with the foundation site of the capital at Plaza de Mayo, undisputedly Buenos Aires' political heart. Next, delve into one of the oldest districts, Parque Lezama and La Boca in the south, where artists' ateliers and brightly colored houses jostle for space; before moving on to Plaza San Martin and Retiro. Here, notice the transformation of Buenos Aires' architecture from the rambling style of the south of the city to the European-influenced residential quarters of the 19th century. Finally, we´'ll come face to face with the sophisticated neighborhood of Recoleta, whose buildings and avenues were inspired by the French; it is also home to the world famous Recoleta Cemetery and Evita Peron's Mausoleum, and we will get to make a stop here on this tour. Day 2 - Buenos Aires / Puerto Madryn | Meals: Breakfast Private transfer from hotel to the airport. Arrival in Trelew. Meet & greet at the airport and transfer to the Valdes Peninsula area and The Peninsula Hotel. The city of Puerto Madryn lies on the cliffs shaped by a small plateau that features an impressive perspective of the Atlantic Ocean. Founded in 1865 with the arrival of 150 Welsh immigrants, Puerto Madryn was named after Sir Love Jones Parry, Baronet of Madryn and one of the best-known dwellers of this city in the Welsh country. DAY 3 Valdes Peninsula This full day tour exploring the wildlife of the Peninsula will aim to seek out guanacos, lesser rheas, Patagonian foxes, Hairy Armadillos and some of the most important rookeries of protected South American Sea Lion and Elephant Seal colonies. Also common in this region are the Magellanic Penguins, Oystercatchers, Dolphin Gulls, Kelp Gulls, Cormorants and an abundance of varied native plants species. An early morning start takes us out of the city to the Valdes Peninsula Visitor’s Centre. This is a good place to start for general orientation, information of the native wildlife of the area and a general background to the Peninsula. From the Centre, we travel to Isla de los Pájaros lookout, a great stopping point to observe birdlife and take in the surrounding scenery. A 30km gravel road then takes us to Puerto Pirámides, a small coastal village and the starting point for whale watching tours in the region. Whale watching cruise - July 1 - Dec. 15 Every year between July and December the Eubalaena Australis, or Southern Right Whale, grace the calm waters of the Golfo Nuevo with their presence. Typically, this is the time of year in which the whales give birth to their calves. Pregnant females will arrive towards the end of the winter, with nursing calves then remaining close to their mothers for another ten months. This tour is a lovely way to experience the majesty of these ocean giants during an intimate time in their lives.Puerto Piramides is also home to a small Sea Lion colony which is well worth a visit, stop for lunch (not included). Next stop is Punta Delgada, the Southernmost tip of the Valdes Peninsula, known for its dramatic shoreline and an abundance of Elephant Seals. Having spent time exploring Punta Delgada, we head to Caleta Valdés. The prevalence of sea mammals here can rival that of any section of coastline. This afternoon we switch back and cut across the Peninsula, taking in the dramatically different Lowlands and salt beds in the heart of Valdes. Along the way there will be plenty of opportunity to stop, explore, take photographs and spot wildlife in this ecologically diverse region of Argentina. Note: During March and April, we may skip the visit to Punta Delgada and instead travel North towards Punta Norte. Here we can witness sea lions, elephant seals and Orca (Orcinus Orca) in high tide at this time of year. DAY 4 Puerto Madryn - Punta Tombo Punta Tombo is the largest breeding colony of Magellan penguins and other species in the world. The aim of this reserve is to protect one of the most diverse seabird colonies anywhere on Earth, which houses a total of almost one million birds. The reserve is a rocky 3-km-long, 600-metre-wide coastal land mass, covered in sand, clay, gravel, and surrounded almost entirely by beach. The colony is the most spectacular concentration of seabirds on the Patagonian coast, making it an essential stopping point for any trip to the region. First, we walk trails which cut deep into the colony as an excellent way to observe these fascinating birds up close. The whole area is peppered with self-made dugouts and mini caves, where the penguins lay their eggs and raise their young. The colony is a hive of hectic activity, whether it be the frantic digging of homes, fighting over territory, or the never-ending din of conversation between the birds. Punta Tombo is also a well-loved location for other species of seabirds looking to nest, including Kelp Gulls, Skuas, Dolphin Gulls, the Chubut Steamer Duck, two species of Cormorants, Snowy Sheathbills, Giant Petrels and more, all of which contribute to both the ecological diversity and the stunning sight. On the way back to Trelew we will enjoy a visit of the city and free time to visit the MEF (Egidio Feruglio Paleontological Museum) -entrance fees not included – or explore the city on own before returning to the hotel. Day 5 – Puerto Madryn - TRELEW - USHUAIA Morning at leisure until the time of the flight to Ushuaia, another part of La Patagonia Argentina. Arrival in Ushuaia, the southernmost city in the world. Meet & greet at the airport and transfer to the Alto Andino hotel. Balance of the day at leisure to explore the area on own. We suggest visiting: the interesting museums such as, The End of the World Museum and the Presidium. DAY 6 Ushuaia Tierra del Fuego National Park contains a summary of the landscapes in Patagonia: Sea, mountains and forest. Morning meet the guide in the lobby of the hotel. This will be a full day to visit this incredible National Park, one of the nicest in Argentina. Upon arrival in the park, we start a 7 km trek (3.5 hour walk) on a safe but uneven terrain with some slopes on the way, to a wonderful scenic point overlooking Lake Roca, Lagunas Verde and Negra, Rivers Ovando and Lapataia and Lapataia bay. Hiking through this beech forest we will be able to look for the Magellanic woodpecker, largest in South America, Austral parakeets, black-chested buzzard eagles and Andean Condors. We have lunch by the lake (Lago Roca) and in the afternoon we paddle in the National Park. 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. During this easy- downstream ride, we will enjoy the crystal-clear, quite waters of Ovando River. We will run into Laguna Verde, one of the most wonderful spots in this part of the Park. As we go on, we will be amazed by the beauty of the scenery. Approaching Lapataia Bay, we may encounter sea birds flying over, looking curiously at us: sea petrels, albatross, and steamer ducks, among others. Lapataia Bay is our final destination. After we disembark, we just relax and enjoy the early, southern sunset behind the mountains. We are at the end of the southernmost reaches of the Panamerican Road, at the end of the world. We drive back to Ushuaia and hotel. This paddling is very easy and great fun! It is ideal for families and group of friends! Meals: Breakfast & Lunch DAY 7 Ushuaia Morning pick up for full day visit Harberton Ranch, with a navigation to observe The penguin colony at Martillo Island. This excursion is the perfect introduction to Tierra del Fuego, its history, its magnificent natural history and traditions. We start from Ushuaia driving east towards Estancia Harberton. This estancia belongs to the descendants of the first British Missionaries to reach the area - Rev. Thomas Bridges- and was managed for many years by Ms Natalie Goodall, a foremost naturalist in the area. We visit the estancia and then board a small boat to navigate to Gable Island (the largest in the Beagle Channel) where we stop for lunch. Our base will be a cabin that dates from the beginning of the 19th century, a picturesque shelter adapted to receive visitors preserving its original charm. After lunch we follow a 2,30 hs hike (between 3- 7 km hike depending upon the passengers physical condition) in the island to try to reach the opposite coast on the Beagle Channel to see the Gables, a rock formation by the coast and then resume our navigation to the Penguin rookery at MARTILLO ISLAND, the domain of the Magellan Penguin and some few Gentoo Penguins. The unique location of this island (close to the point where the Atlantic and Pacific Ocean waters merge) allows for an incredible variety of rich subaquatic life, making it an amazing spot for birdwatching (petrels, skuas, cormorants, sea gulls and albatross). Once in a while some king penguins have been seen there too. Return to Harberton and back to Ushuaia. IMPORTANT NOTE: For those who wish, you can do some canoeing before going to Harberton Ranch. You would just spend less time at the ranch than the others. Meals: Breakfast & Lunch DAY 8: USHUAIA - EL CALAFATE Morning at leisure in Ushuaia to enjoy the city or visit the interesting End of the World Museum. Transfer to the airport to fly to El Calafate. Arrival in El Calafate, meet and greet at the airport and transfer to the HOTEL de CAMPO KAU YATUN. Accommodation. Formerly part of the Estancia 25 de Mayo this beautiful, yet simple hotel, offers the best facilities for a relaxed and pleasant stay and a nice retreat after our exploration outdoors. It is only 7 blocks from city center, making it very convenient for a stroll and a quick visit to El Calafate. Meals: B. DAY 9: PERITO MORENO GLACIER Early morning pick up and transfer to the pier to start full day Perito Moreno Glacier tour in which the road leads to the most famous glacier in South America. Entrance fees are included. Perito Moreno glacier is the park's most famous and imposing glacier. It is permanently advancing along its 3-mile-wide front, which is a wall 200 feet high over Lake Argentino. Visitors invariably observe great blocks of ice breaking loose from this wall and falling thunderously into the lake, making huge waves, later surfacing to form icebergs. The first views of Moreno glacier are breathtaking vistas down a narrow arm of Lago Argentino with the imposing Andean Mountains as a backdrop. As spectacular as it is, it pales compared to a close approach where the constant sounds of this "living" glacier shake the air. Gigantic blocks of ice, frequently break away and crash into the lake, sending spray hundreds of feet into the air and sound like distant artillery fire. The startling contrast of color, sound, motion and size creates a continuously changing mosaic of indescribable beauty. We will enjoy spare time at the catwalks to simply enjoy, be mesmerized by the constantly calving of ice of this amazing glacier. Different blue colors, altitude, capricious formations, the roaring of the calving are all part of this experience. Afternoon return to El Calafate. Meals: Breakfast DAY 10: EL CALAFATE - BUENOS AIRES. Morning at leisure to explore El Calafate or do activities organized by the hotel Kau Yatun (panoramic 4WD explorations, horseback rides, etc.). Transfer to the airport to fly back to Buenos Aires. Meals. B. |
Sample 2021-2022 Rate per person in US$ (hotel rates vary during the season) 1 person in single = US$3608 2 people in double = US$2443 3 people in triple = US$2289 can quote with other hotels or with private day tours everywhere. can change day tours or add days The rates include:
The rates do not include:
BAGGAGE ALLOWANCE: For domestic flights is 15kg to check in and 5kg as carry on per person. Any luggage heavier than these limits is charged an additional cost which varies between U$S 1.5 to U$S 3.- per extra kilo. In our past experience the airlines not always charged these overweight, however they retain the right to do so.
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