Overland to Tierra del Fuego - 7 days
A 7 days escape to Tierra del Fuego – the archipelago famous for it's remote and extreme landscapes at the world's end. By night you’ll stay in historic estancias and cozy lodges, while by day you’ll drive across the sweeping landscapes that this final stretch of the continent is known for. Choosing between horseback riding, mountain biking, and hiking options on key days, this is a program that allows you to be as active as you would like, while still finding ample time to relax and soak in the scenery.
Trip highlights • Navigate the Strait of Magellan • Visit the King Penguins in their natural habitat • Hike to the Summit of Cerro Pietro Grande • Full Day Activities in Lodge Deseado • Ride Horseback or Mountain Bike through the Pampas • Experience a Sheep Shearing Demo at an Authentic Ranch • Stay in Unique Estancias & the Casa Museum Alberto Baeriswyl • Discover Incredible Scenery in the Comfort of a Private Vehicle • All Trip Logistics, Transportations, and Activities Reserved! |
Day 1 - Cross to Tierra del Fuego by Ferry - Walking City Tour - Scenic Drive to Caleta Josefina
Early in the morning you will be picked up at your Punta Arenas hotel and travel by ferry across the Strait of Magellan to Tierra del Fuego Island. Arriving to Bahia Chilota, the place the first boats disembarked in 1883 that took gold diggers to Tierra del Fuego, we will enjoy a comfortable walking tour of the city of Porvenir. Later, we will drive to Estancia Caleta Josefina, a stately 18th Century Patagonian ranch located below the open skies and scrubby pampas of Caleta Josefina, once an extremely important region for Patagonia’s sheep-farming industry and gold rush era. Here, we will settle in and enjoy a tasty dinner while relaxing along the seashore of this grand island. Night at Estancia Caleta Josefina (Snack-BL-D) Day 2 - Scenic Drive to Estancia Puerto Yartou -OR- Alternative Sheep Shearing Demonstration, Visit to King Penguin Colony & Gold Mining Ranch After a hearty breakfast, we will set off along the road following the coast of the island facing the Strait of Magellan. On the way we will stop to observe “pools” made by the Indigenous Selknam people (Tierra del Fuego’s first inhabitants), to trap fish during high tide. Lunch will be a picnic en route to the Caleta River, which we must cross during low tide along a bridge. Soon after, we arrive at Estancia Yartou and our destination for the next two nights, Casa Museo Alberto Baeriswyl. Rather than a hotel, Casa Museo Alberto Baeriswyl is a living museum that intertwines the concepts of museum and home, featuring 1920s decor and allowing guests to spend the night in a traditional early 19th Century abode. Named for Alberto Baeriswyl Pittet, the Swiss pioneer who was instrumental in the region, the house was once the main home at Puerto Yartou, the region’s first timber factory, in a time in which that what was once an extremely lucrative initiative and necessary for heating and housing at the harsh pre-modern end of the world. At Casa Museo Alberto Baeriswyl bathrooms are shared and there are a number of common areas and dining room to enjoy. As an alternative to today's normal itinerary: Before departing Caleta Josefina in the morning, we’ll enjoy a sheep shearing demonstration at the ranch before continuing on to the King Penguin Reserve to come close to the Kings in their natural habitat. Once we spent some time at the king penguin reserve, we will pass by some of the gold mining spots in Tierra del Fuego (Ruffins area) after which we’ll arrive to our lodging destination for the night: Las Lengas cabins. Night at Casa Museo Alberto Baeriswyl, (double queen room) (B-BL-D) Day 3 Free Day at Puerto Yartou: Choice of Horseback Ride, Mountain Bike, or Coast Walk - OR- Free Day in Lago Blanco Today there are a number of options to choose between to explore the landscapes around Estancia Yartou and the neighboring ranch and dairy farm, Estancia Miguelito. A day’s horseback or mountain bike ride are both available. Or, we can take a simple morning walk along the coastline to search for dolphins and other marine life followed by a short afternoon scenic ride in vehicle. Alternative itinerary allows for guests to enjoy a free day in the Lago Blanco area to visit the sawmill and beaver’s dams and stay the evening in a lakeside cabin. 4-5 Hour Horseback Ride, 3-4 Hour MTB, 3 Hour Walk Night at Casa Museo Alberto Baeriswyl, (double queen room) (B-BL-D) Day 4 - Drive to Lodge Deseado – Hike Cerro Pietro Grande -OR- Drive to Lakeside Cabins at Lake Fagnano
An early morning start (around 7AM) allows us to cross back over Rio Caleta during low tide. Today we’ll drive all the way to the central and south areas of Tierra del Fuego, taking moments to stop along the way to take in historical and natural sites of the island. The first stop is at Russfin, where the “Golden Dredge” is located, a reminder of the atmosphere of the early 20th Century gold rush that called those from around the world to test their luck in the earth. Along the way we’ll also observe a wide variety of indigenous birds, such as Bandurias, Caiquén, and if we are lucky, Chilean Flamingos. Finally, we’ll complete a 4 hour round-trip hike to the summit of Cerro Pietro Grande (495 m), from where can see the stark change in landscapes between the pampas to the north of the island and Antarctic forest to the south. After descending, we’ll drive to the beautiful Lodge Deseado located in a perfect, tranquil spot at the shore of the lake of the same name. Alternative itinerary includes a hike to Pietro Grande and then driving to the lakeside Cabins of German Genskowski, a pioneer of Tierra Del Fuego, on the shores of Lake Fagnano. 5 Hour Private Scenic Drive, 4 Hour Hike Night at Lodge Deseado (B-BL-D) Day 5 Zodiac Navigation & Waterfall Hike -OR- Scenic Drive to Caleta Maria with Navigation to Seal Lion Colonies & Glaciers
After a hearty breakfast, we will cross Lago Deseado by zodiac to see the border between Argentina and Chile which lies across it. Following this, we’ll go on a short but steep hike to see waterfalls and have a picnic surrounded by ancient lenga forests. Alternatively, guests may choose to enjoy a scenic drive to Caleta Maria via Lago Fagnano. Here, you’ll be able to go on a short navigation to see sea lion colonies, other marine life, and glaciers for an extra cost. In any case, we’ll come back to the lodge in the early evening to give you ample time to continue to soak in the area's wonderful surroundings and beautiful cozy cabins. Night at Lodge Deseado(B-BL-D) |
Day 6 - Visit to the King Penguin Reserve - Scenic Drive to Estancia Caleta Josefina
After breakfast we’ll drive 4.5 hours through the vast terrain of forest and pampas that cover the middle section of Tierra del Fuego until we arrive at the King Penguin National Reserve. At Estancia Tres Hermanos, a working sheep station, we’ll receive a short briefing on how to behave at the reserve among the penguins and their habitat. This is a private nature reserve, aiming to preserve the small king penguin colony that visit the area and remains year-round, attracted by the excellent feeding conditions in the surrounding waters. We’ll have ample opportunities to observe and photograph the penguins from a reasonable distance behind the infrastructure. Following our time with the penguins, we'll take a short 15 minute drive back to Estancia Caleta Josefina where we’ll spend our last night. Night at Estancia Caleta Josefina (B-BL-D) Day 7 - Return Drive to Punta Arenas Today we’ll return to Punta Arenas once again crossing the Strait of Magellan by ferry, though via a different route so as to show you other memorable Tierra del Fuego landscapes. We’ll share a final meal together en route before dropping you back at your Punta Arenas hotel for you to continue your onward journey. 2 Hour Private Scenic Drive - 20 Minute Ferry Crossing - 2 Hour Private Scenic Drive to Punta Arenas (B-BL) 2021 price per person in double occupancy: with 2 people = USD 4995 with 3-4 people = USD 4595 with 5-6 people = USD 4295 Single Supplement = USD 520 Can add on hotel nights in Punta Arenas and extension to Torres del Paine INCLUDED
Reservation Payment – To formally reserve for this trip, each person must provide:
-An initial deposit of 10% of the trip cost -Completed contact and health form and liability waiver Final Payment –The balance of the trip cost is due 45 Days before the trip start. When booking a trip with less than 60 days before the trip start, it is considered a last minute booking and 100% of the trip cost must be paid in full within 48 hours to confirm your reservation. Until the payment is received the trip cannot be guaranteed and any changes to the itinerary may occur or be subject to additional fees. Cancellations Fees & Refunds All requests for cancellations and applicable refunds must be made in writing. Depending within the cancelling dates; the following are the amounts that will be refunded to you.
Operator is entitled to cancel services up to 75 days in advance prior to trip start date if: -The minimum number of full paying members is not met. -Cancellation or compensation payments do not apply due to “Force Majeure,” that is, unusual events and unforeseeable circumstances beyond the control of operator or its sub-contractors for events that occur such as war, pandemics, strikes, riots, terrorist activity or threats, natural disasters, climate conditions or fire, environmental emergencies, transport changes in airline companies, boaters and land carriers, changes in providers, etc. Operator is not responsible for expenses incurred in preparation for any cancelled trip. For this reason we strongly recommend trip cancellation insurance |