Patagonian Highlights

Those on the group flight will be met at the airport and transferred to our

hotel in Buenos Aires. Those on land only arrangements should make their own

way to the start hotel this afternoon. Our local leader will meet us today

for a briefing and take us on a short walking tour of the city, discovering

its wealth of history and culture. The evening is free for you to choose one

of the many excellent restaurants, most serving the legendary Argentine

steaks!

This morning we fly from Buenos Aires to El Calafate and transfer (approx.

3-4 hours) to the small mountain town of El Chaltén. The town enjoys a

beautiful location in Los Glaciares National Park with breathtaking views of

Mount Fitzroy and the Southern Patagonian Ice Field.

We set off amidst incredible mountains and valleys for a day walk. First we

hike to Cerro Fitzroy Base Camp with amazing views of the striking massif

ahead. In the afternoon we continue to the picturesque Laguna de los Tres, a

glacial lake whose still waters reflect the three main peaks of the range.

This is a full day of walking over fairly rough terrain, but with impressive,

rugged scenery along the way.

Today has been left free to enjoy an additional trek or an optional excursion

in this area. In the late afternoon we transfer (approx. 3-4 hours) back to

El Calafate.

Today we visit the Perito Moreno Glacier. This immense jagged sheet of ice

stretches over 3 miles across Lago Argentino and rises 200ft out if its cold

waters. It is the fastest moving glacier on the planet and the eerie creaks

and thunderous groans add a certain atmosphere of anticipation. Every so

often an office block sized chunk of ice calves from its face into the water

below before slowly floating down the lake as a giant iceberg. An optional

boat trip gives an even greater appreciation of the immense scale of this

wonder.

We will spend a second day here to allow exploration of the town's

surroundings. It is possible to take a gentle walk along Lago Argentina to

see birdlife (including flamingos), or a slightly more demanding hike for

some fantastic views stretching over the Patagonian Steppe and towards the

mountainous border with Chile. Alternatively, you can join an optional

excursion to a local Estancia or to Todo Glaciares - this navigation includes

Upsala Glacier, Bahia Onelli (where pieces of glacier are floating in the

water) and the Spegazzinni Glacier. Please ask your tour leader and they will

help you to arrange it.

After breakfast we have a long drive (approx. 8-9 hours) across the border

into Chile before we arrive in one of the world's most beautiful national

parks, Torres del Paine (please note that due to local regulations we must

change buses at the border). From here we will meet our Chilean guide and

drive around some of the park. We may have time after we check-in for a short

walk next to Laguna Amarga or Laguna Azul, which offer great panoramic views

of the Paine Massif and the striking granite Horns of Paine.

Without a doubt, one of the biggest highlights of the park is to hike up to

the base of the Towers of Paine. The walk itself is beautiful, trekking

through forests and offering some fantastic views across the park. This is a

reasonably difficult and long trek, and the last section is steep with rocky

terrain, so you need a reasonably good level of fitness and confidence. The

reward on reaching the small lake at the base of these sheer granite peaks

however, makes the long walk well worthwhile. Note that adverse weather

conditions can make this walk much harder - your group leader will give a

briefing the night before and answer any questions you may have on the

route. Once we finish the trek we will take the transfer (approx. 2 hrs) to

Puerto Natales.  

After breakfast we will have some free time before a fairly long transfer in

the afternoon, through dramatic scenery to Cerro Sombrero. This journey

involves a short ferry crossing over the Magellan Straits. We advise you to

take plenty of water and some snacks for the journey (approx. 7-8 hours). In

the evening we'll have dinner together at the hotel in the small town of

Cerro Sombrero.

Tierra del Fuego (The Land of Fire) is named after the original inhabitants

who used to light bonfires to ward off the winter chill. Crossing the island

we'll have views of the most southerly part of the Andes before catching our

first glimpses of Ushuaia at the end of the world! This is a long driving day

(approx. 7-8 hours) but we use a private bus to make the journey more

comfortable. We should arrive at our hotel mid-afternoon depending on weather

conditions and traffic.

We'll spend this morning in the stark wilderness of Tierra del Fuego National

Park, walking amongst the varied terrain, flora and fauna. In the afternoon

there is an optional boat ride along the Beagle Channel to see marine

wildlife including penguins, Sea lions and many species of water bird

including a flightless duck! We are also afforded fantastic views of Ushuaia

and its backdrop of often snow-capped peaks as we head out on the

boat. Please ask your tour leader and they will help you to arrange it.



For those wanting more adventure or not wishing to trek, an optional half-day

4WD excursion will be on offer which will take us deep into the wilds of

Tierra del Fuego where any more conventional transport would fail to reach,

including the remote Lakes Fagnano and Escondido (please note it is not

possible to see penguins on this tour).

Depending upon the flight time, we may have some free time this morning in

Ushuaia, the southernmost city in the world. There are great views from the

hills leading up to the Martial Glacier and some small shops to pick up

souvenirs. Ushuaia has just one museum, housed in the former prison, which is

definitely worth a visit. We fly back to Buenos Aires and usually arrive in

time to visit one of the excellent tango shows in the old quarter of San

Telmo (optional) and enjoy a last group meal together.

Depending on the time of your flight home you may have another chance to see

more of cosmopolitan Buenos Aires. After last night's tango show we might be

tempted to learn a few steps, or watch it in the streets and plazas -

particularly in the old quarter of San Telmo. A visit to the grave of Evita

in the remarkable Recoleta Cemetery, said to be the most expensive real

estate in the world, is possible. Those on group flights will leave today for

the flight back to London.