SOUTH ANDEAN HORSE
RIDING 
(8 Days/ 7 Nights)
Season: December to March. FB. Beautiful and wild Patagonian
scenery.
Day 1: Arrival in Neuquen, bus to Zapala
and to the Paso Ancho base camp at 1900 m altitude.
Day 2: Ride to the Mapuche Indian community in Mallin Chileno,
and further to the Litran river. Camp.
Day 3: Ride crossing the pampa Lonco Luan (Guanaco Head).
Watching guanaco herds. Arrival in the Cullen gorge, camp in Araucarias
forest near the river.
Day 4: Ride up to Cerro Las Lajas (2700 m), passing by turquoise
volcanic lakes. Climb to the summit of Palau Mahuida volcano. Ride
to Arroyo Blanco river. Camp.
Day 5: Ride crossing the pampa Cañete to the Manzano
lake and to the Salto de las Tres Cascadas waterfall. Camp.
Day 6: Ride back to Paso Ancho base camp.
Day 7: By car to Cordon Cuchillo Cura to visit the Caverna
del Leon cave, with very
interesting underground fauna and flora. In the afternoon, river
rafting in the Agrio river. Return to base camp.
Day 8: Transfer to Zapala and to Neuquen for flight out.
(Daily departures)
Season: October to April. The best known attractions in Patagonia
with the most interesting and appealing trekking tours.
Day 1: Arrival in Trelew, transfer to hotel
in Puerto Madryn.
Day 2: CB. Full day regular visit to the Punta Tombo penguinrookery,
where about one million magellanic penguins come to nest every year.
Day 3: CB. Regular Tour to the Peninsula Valdes natural reserve,
to watch sea- elephants, sea-lions and birds. Optional Boat tour
for close-up whale-watching (June to December). Peninsula Valdés,
declared world Heritage by UNESCO in 1999 contains very important
and significant natural habitats for the in-situ conservation of
several threatened species of outstanding universal value. It is
a site of global significance for the conservation of marine mammals,
sheltering an important breeding population of the endangered Southern
Right Whale as well as of Southern Elephant Seals and Sea Lions.
The killer whales here have developed a unique hunting strategy
to adapt to local coastal conditions.
Day 4: CB. Transfer to the airport for flight to Rio Gallegos
(air ticket not included). Transfer in regular bus to Calafate,
hotel.
Day 5: CB. Regular Minitrek excursion on the spectacular
Perito Moreno glacier. Crampons for normal shoes provided. An unforgettable
experience on ice. Late afternoon transfer to Estancia El Galpón
for patagonian gaucho show, ecological tour along the shores of
Lago Argentino, and barbecue dinner. Return to Calafate. Hotel.
The Los Glaciares National Park, declared world Heritage by UNESCO
in 1981is an area of exceptional natural beauty, with rugged, towering
mountains and numerous glacial lakes, including Lake Argentino,
a hundred miles long; at its farther end three glaciers meet, calving
huge icebergs into the milky grey glacial lake.
Day 6: Regular Bus to Chalten, Patagonia’s most famous
trekking area. Hosteria Fitz Roy, lodging in dormitories.
Day 7: CB. Trekking to Laguna de los Tres facing magnificent
and challenging Mount Fitz Roy (Chalten) mount. Box lunch.
Day 8: CB. Trekking to Laguna Torre facing the vertical granite
walls of jagged Cerro Torre. Box lunch. Return to Chalten, regular
bus to Calafate. Hotel. (200km, 4 hours).
Day 9: CB. Free in Calafate, optional Upsala/Onelli glaciers
boat excursion, navigating among fascinating blue icebergs.
Day 10: Regular bus to Rio Gallegos airport for flight to
Ushuaia (air ticket notincluded). Transfer to Hotel in Ushuaia.
Day 11: CB. FD Trekking tour in National Park Tierra del
Fuego with spectacular view of Beagle Channel, Lapataia Bay and
snow covered mountains. Box Lunch.
Day 12: CB. HD boat tour, navigating to the Lobos and Sea
bird Islands in the Beagle Channel.
Day 13: Transfer to the airport.
Season: December to March. Grading: easy trek. FB.
Day 1: Departure from Calafate in regular
bus. Arrival in Chalten. Lodge.
Day 2: Trekking along Rio de las Vueltas
and crossing the Blanco River to the best view point to see the
Fitz Roy Mount (3.375 mts; “Chalten” in Tehuelche language),
going as far as Laguna de los Tres. Back to Lodge. Los Glaciares
National Park was declared world Heritage by UNESCO in 1981 It is
an area of exceptional natural beauty, with rugged, towering mountains
and numerous glacial lakes, including Lake Viedma, a hundred miles
long.
Day 3: Crossing woods of lengas and ñires,
trek towards Lago Torre. Cerro Torre is the most difficult and spectacular
mountain in the area. Great view of Torre and Grande Glaciers. Return
to Lodge. Regular bus to Calafate.
Season: December to March. Grading: intermediate trek. FB
during Ice trek.
Day 1: Departure from Calafate in regular
bus. Arrival in Chalten. Lodge.
Day 2: Trekking across Pliegue Tumbado
Mount and along Tunel river. Excellent view of Fitz Roy going as
far as Laguna Toro. Camp in the subantartic forest.
Day 3: After crossing Tunel Glacier arrival
to Paso del Viento, dramatic views of the Ice Shelf. Campsite near
Ice Shelf.
Days 4 & 5: Exploration of Ice Shelf
with snow shoes and crampons.
Day 6: Trek back to Laguna Toro.
Day 7: Trek back to Chalten, Overnight
in Lodge.
Day 8: Free until departure in regular
bus to Calafate.
Season: November to March. No meals except breakfast in
hotels & lodges.
Day 1: Arrival in Rio Gallegos. Regular
bus to Calafate, transfer to hotel. (325 km, 5 hours).
Day 2: Excursion to the spectacular Perito
Moreno glacier. Optional Minitrek on glacier. Return to Calafate,
hotel (160 km, 5 hours). The Los Glaciares National Park, declared
world Heritage by UNESCO in 1981, is an area of exceptional natural
beauty, with rugged, towering mountains and numerous glacial lakes,
including Lake Argentino, a hundred miles long; at its farther end
three glaciers meet, calving huge icebergs into the milky grey glacial
lake.
Day 3: CB. Bus drive to Chalten. Hosteria
Fitz Roy, dormitories (180 Km, 5 hours).
Day 4: CB. Trekking to Laguna de los Tres
facing magnificent Mount Fitz Roy (Chalten) mount.
Day 5: CB. Trekking to Laguna Torre facing
the vertical granite walls of jagged Cerro Torre. Return to Chalten,
bus to Calafate. Hotel. (200 km, 4 hours).
Day 6: CB. Departure to the magnificent
Paine National Park in Chile. Paine are impressive steep rock mountains
surrounded by beautiful lakes and forests. Guanaco herds, Greater
rheas (ñandu) and several wild animals can be easily seen.
Hosteria Las Torres. (470 km, 9 hours).
Day 7: Trekking to the Torres del Paine.
Return to Lodge.
Day 8: Trekking Laguna Verde, great view
of Paine Horns. Drive to Puerto Natales (130 km., 3 hours). Hotel.
Day 9: Return to Argentina, arrival in
Rio Gallegos. Hotel. (370 Km, 7 hours).
Day 1: PUERTO NATALES.
Check in Pto. Natales Htl. Meeting with group and local guide.
Day 2: PUERTO NATALES - PAINE (4-5hrs trek,
approx. 10kms)
Transfer to Torres del Paine National Park. The park, created in
1959 is a "Humanities Heritage" as declared by UNESCO.
It is a paradise for both flora and fauna lovers. We take the boat
across Lake Pehoe to Pehoe camp. Trekking (4-5hrs) to Grey refuge.
Overnight in the refuge. (L, D).
Day 3: GREY REFUGE - PEHOE CAMP (4-5hrs
trek approx. 10kms
Trekking to Grey glacier. Extraordinary scenery awaits us as we
see the huge icebergs coming from the Patagonian icecap. In the
afternoon, we walk back to Pehoe camp (4-5hrs) where we spend
the night. (B, L, D)
Day 4: PEHOE CAMP-FRENCH VALLEY-CUERNOS
REFUGE (10hrs trek approx. 20kms).
Full day trekking (8-10h) into the French Valley, between the
impressive granite walls. In the afternoon we trek to Cuernos
refuge where we spend the night. (B, L, D)
Day 5: CUERNOS - REFUGE-TORRES CAMPING
(5hrs trek approx. 10kms) Trekking (4h) along Lake
Nordenskjoeld to reach Torres ranch. Common camping equipment
will be transported by boat and car to Torres camping. (B, L,
D)
Day 6: TORRES CAMPING - TORRES DEL PAINE
-PUERTO NATALES (8hrs trek approx. 15kms)
Full day hike (8h) to the foot of the Torres del Paine, granite
pinnacles standing over 1000m high. At the foot of the towers
lies a beautiful lake. Transfer back to Puerto Natales. Hotel.
(B, L)
Day 7: PUERTO NATALES - CALAFATE
Transfer to Puerto Natales' Bus station. Bus to argentine town
of Calafate by the shores of Lake Argentino (6 hrs by bus). Reception
and transfer to hotel. (B)
Day 8: CALAFATE - CHALTEN
AM Regular excursion to world famous Moreno glacier. Late afternoon
transfer to Bus Terminal for bus to Chalten; herds of guanacos,
rheas and armadillos can be seen on the drive. Drive alongside
Lake Viedma, seeing Fitz Roy, Torre Mts. Arrive at Chalten, within
Los Glaciares National Park. Reception and transfer to Hotel.
(230 kms driving, 4 hrs.) (B)
Day 9: CHALTEN - FITZ
After breakfast, a short drive takes us to Blanco River where
we start our trek at the northeast face of Fitz Roy Mt. From across
a fantastic sub-antartic beech tree forest we glimpse Piedras
Blancas glacier. After the last climb, the most incredible view:
Laguna de los Tres set against Mt. Fitz Roy. Descend and walk
to Camp. (10 hrs walking) (B, L, D)
Day 10: TORRE GLACIER ICE TREK
The mythical Mt. Torre (3,128 mts) is one of the most difficult
peaks to climb due to its shape and the weather conditions at
the summit. We are by Torre Lagoon, a vantage point for seeing
both the legendary pinnacle and its glacier, over which we organise
a breathtaking ice trek. Our guides will provide all the necessary
equipment such as crampons, ice-picks and harnesses. (6 hrs walking)
(B, L, D)
Day 11: TORRE LAGOON - CHALTEN
Free morning to rest and stroll by the lagoon, after lunch we
trek to Chalten following the Fitz Roy River. Reunited with rest
of our luggage, and a shower is provided. Transfer to bus terminal
in Calafate. (4 hrs walking, 4 hrs driving). Transfer to Hotel.
(B, L)
Day 12: CALAFATE - END
Tour ends after breakfast. (B)
ARGENTINA
Patagonia
: