Customized Travel Planner
Southern Patagonia
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Day 1: Santiago – Punta Arenas
We recommend you take the early flight from Santiago to Punta Arenas (4
hours), flying over the Andes and observing incredible views of the
Patagonian Ice Fields. Upon your arrival in Punta Arenas, the most southern
city on the continent, a private transfer will be waiting to take you to your
hotel in down town.
Then we drive to the Estancia Otway, located 54 km north of Punta Arenas.
The ranch offers a complete vision of the whole breeding process of Rheas
(Nandu), a kind of ostrich native to the Patagonia. The surroundings of the ranch will give you a good
idea of the life on a working ranch, where you can admire and learn about the different aspects of this
beautiful species, such as their feeding, nesting and raising processes. You will also be able to see the
King Penguin, African Ostrich and the Emu, among other species natives from the area. For lunch we
enjoy a delicious Lamb barbecue, Patagonian style. We finish enjoying a sheep shearing presentation
before we drive back to the hotel.
(20 minutes by private transfer to the hotel, half day city tour, 2 hours by
private transfer to the ranch round trip) (B-BBQ) (Night at Hostel *** in
Punta Arenas)
Day 2: Punta Arenas - Ushuaia
Early in the morning we start our adventure to Tierra del Fuego island. We drive to the northern point
of the Magellan Strait, from where we cross the strait by ferry. If we are lucky, we might see
dolphins, penguins or sea lions from the boat. After crossing the strait we make our way to Ushuaia.
(30 minutes by ferry, 8-9 hours by private transfer) (B) (Night at Hotel*** in Ushuaia)
Day 3: National park trek & Canoeing
The minibus will leave from the hotel and drive towards the National Park.
Once at Ensenada Bay, we will have time to enjoy the view of the Beagle
Channel and later start trekking along the coast. These seven kilometers of
wild trail will render possible contact with native flora and wild fauna of the
channel besides the opportunity of discovering old
Indian middens left by the ancient dwellers of the
area, the Yamanas. In 3 hours we will reach Roca Lake where lunch will be
ready. After a hot meal we will start canoeing along Lapataia river, which will
take us to the end of the tour, Lapataia Bay in the Beagle Channel, precisely
where the Pan-American Highway and National Route 3 end. Return to
Ushuaia in minibus. (Length: 08/10 hours, 3 hours walking, 1, 5 hours
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canoeing) (B-L) (Night at Hotel*** in Ushuaia)
Day 4: Gable Island and penguin rookery
We leave by National Road No 3 and then take a side route
and after 75 km we stop to watch the “flag-trees”, we will
continue driving the “Estancia Harberton”. We visit the
manor house of the Estancia, the first farm in Tierra del
Fuego.
We will then board an inflatable semi-rigid hull boat with
room for 15 people and will navigate the Beagle Channel up to the Gable Island, the largest island in the
Beagle Channel. After a 3-hours hike with many “unforgettable” views of the
Beagle Channel trough the amazing topographic and environmental variety of
Gable Island, we will board the boat once again in order to visit one Martillo
Island (Hammer), the only island with penguin population in the Beagle. We will
stop the boat on a sand bank and will be surrounded by hundreds of Magellan
Penguins and several couples of other bigger species called “Gentoo penguin“.
Close to Martillo Island we will see flying around thousands of petrels, Skuas,
cormorants, terns and albatrosses, you will see them flying off beside the boat.
Then we will get back to Harberton once again and start our return trip to Ushuaia.
(Length: 10/11 h, difficult: easy, equipment: waterproof clothes and rubber boats, transport:
Kombi) (B-L) (Night at Hotel*** in Ushuaia)
Day 5: Ushuaia - Calafate airport - Chalten
Morning flight to Calafate, Argentina. Upon your arrival in Calafate a private
transfer will be waiting for you to Chalten (220 kms/138 miles). We drive on
isolated dirt roads across the pampas and along the northern end of Lago Viedma
and reach the settlement of El Chalten.
(3 hours by private transfer) (B) (Night at Hotel**+ in Chalten)
Day 6: Fitzroy look at point
From our comfortable base with a spectacular view of Mt. Fitzroy and other
peaks, we will have the whole day to explore this section of the park. We start a
hike that takes us to the Fitzroy Base. While hiking in the park, the trails will
take us to places as Laguna Capri and Laguna Madre e Hija, Laguna de los Tres,
directly in front of Fitzroy and Piedras Blancas. The scale of the scenery, with
its jagged peaks and glimpses of glaciers suspended between them makes these
walks extremely rewarding.
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(5-6 hours hike) (B-BL) (Night at Hotel**+ in Chalten)
Day 7: Cerro Torre look at point - Calafate
After a good breakfast we hike to the Cerro Torre base camp and enjoy one of the most beautiful
views of Patagonia with the famous peak, and the lake with the same name. In the afternoon we hike
back to Chalten and we take a private transfer back to Calafate.
(5 hours hike, 3 hours by private transfer to Calafate) (B-BL) (Night at Hotel *** in Calafate)
Day 8: Perito Moreno Glacier
Early morning we take part in a guided excursion to the Perito Moreno glacier, a very active glacier on
the south arm of Lago Argentino. The Perito Moreno Glacier, a 60m-high relic of
the Ice Age, creates a unique geographic event approximately every three or four
years. As it advances, it pushes out across the surface of the lake, cutting the
lake into two separate sections. As water pressure builds up on one side over the
years, the glacier eventually explodes open with a torrent of water and a fury of
calving icebergs. Although this spectacular event no longer occurs as cyclically as it did during the past
50 years, the Moreno Glacier is constantly moving, calving, and crackling an incredible sight and sound
at any time. We enjoy a picnic lunch at a dining area. Then you will go on a walk to the area of balconies
that will enable you to see the imposing front of the glacier from the closest spot. In the afternoon
you will go back to El Calafate.
(2 hours by private transfer, 2 hours walk) (B-BL) (Night at Hotel *** in Calafate) (Optional Ice
Hike not included in Price USD 120)
Day 9: Calafate – Torres Del Paine
Early morning we take a private transfer all the way to Torres Del Paine. At the
entrance of Chile in the town of Cerro Castillo, we switch transfer and a Chilean
guide will be waiting for you. Upon entering the park we will have excellent
photographic and birding opportunities as we drive alongside lagoons frequented
by Chilean flamencos and black-necked swans. Today’s hike is on a gentle trail
following the border of the park and offers opportunities to see guanacos (Llama family) and the
Andean Condor.
(5 hours by private transfer, 2 hours hike) (B-D) (Night at Refugio Las Torres)
Day 10: Hike to Las Torres lookout point
We will start our first day trekking to the base of the Towers, following the Ascensio
River to enter the Ascensio Valley. Our walk will be uphill for one hour before
stopping to observe the first glimpses of the valley surrounded by unbelievable beech
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forests, glaciers and waterfalls. We’ll continue through the valley for another hour and a half before
ascending a huge terminal moraine to a lookout (900 M), excellent for picture taking. At this point we
will be surrounded by three giant granite towers (2850 M) and a lagoon with slurry waters due to
erosion produced by glaciers. This amazing view will be accompanied by lunch to add to the enjoyment.
After being awed by the towers we’ll start our descent, following the same path back to the lodge.
(7-8 hours round-trip hiking, 18 KM) (B-BL-D) (Night at Refugio Torres)
Day 11: Hike to Los Cuernos
We will start early morning to enjoy, weather permitting, a magnificent dawn filled with
orange-pink colors. As we leave the campground we will arrive at Inge lagoon. Chances
are, on this path, we may see the flight of an Andean condor or eagles hunting hares or
small rodents. We follow a well mark trail ascending around (200M) from the base of
Almirante Nieto Mountain (2750M), crossing the Bader River to arrive at Refugio Los
Cuernos where we will stay overnight.
(500M difference of level, 6 hours, 17KM) (B-BL-D) (Night at Refugio Los
Cuernos)
*Optional upgrade to Cabanas Los Cuernos (Private Cabin with a double bed, free access to a
hot-tub, and sharing bathrooms in between the cabanas only USD $ 35 per person)
Day 12: Hike to French Valley and Pehoe Lake
We will start our day with a 2-hour walk going to an undulating path until reaching
the French River for our first glimpses of the hanging glacier. Then we will ascend
(300M) for one hour through a surreal Japanese garden landscape, crossing beech
forests, to reach the French valley viewpoint gifting us with a magnificent view of
both mountains and lakes. We will lunch here with good possibilities of seeing
avalanches from the hanging glacier or simply observe the west side of the
Cuernos (2600M), Espada (2400 M) and Fortaleza (2800M). Our way back will be the same until we
reach the entrance of the valley where we will continue on a different path around the South-West
side of Paine Grande, the highest peak in the Park, through native forests of Chilean fire bush and
evergreen beech (Nothofagus Bethuloides), up to the shore of the Pehoe Lake.
(6 hours hiking, 18 KM). (B-BL-D) (Night at Refugio Paine Grande)
Day 13: Hike to Glacier Grey – Sailing in front of the Glacier – Transfer to Puerto Natales
We will begin early morning with our hike to the Grey Glacier. Initially ascending
200mts up a winding narrow path leading us to Laguna Negra, a place where we will
observe the first glimpses of the South Patagonia Ice Field with its many
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Customized Travel Planner
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unclimbed mountains. We will advance through forests and rivers, with possible sightings of spectacle
and flying steamer ducks, up to the glacier viewpoint. We will have lunch at this place to see, if we are
lucky enough, ice calving from the huge glacier wall. Right after lunch we start an exciting adventure
by boat. We will navigate for a while in front of the glacier in the hope of seeing icebergs calve. Our
return journey offers views of Paine Grande with its impressive ice mushrooms and we sail through
icebergs of different tones of blue. Then we will take a transfer back to Puerto Natales.
(4 hours walking, 12 KM, 2 hours by boat on Grey Lake, 2 hours by transfer) (B-BL) (Night at
Hostel*** in Puerto Natales)
Day 14: Transfer Puerto Natales – Punta Arenas
Early in the morning we take a private transfer to Punta Arenas airport to connect with flight back to
Santiago. End of services.
(3 hours by private transfer) (B)
REGARDING THE SCHEDULE
The schedules indicated above are subject to change due to weather conditions or
unexpected circumstances beyond our control, but we will try our best to keep them
unaltered
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INCLUDED
-All the private transportation indicated in the schedule
-All meals indicated in the schedule (B: breakfast, L: Lunch,
BL: box lunch, D: dinner, BBQ: barbecue)
-Two nights in Punta Arenas at Hostel **
-Three nights in Ushuaia at Hotel***
-Two nights in Chalten in a Hotel **+)
-Two nights in Calafate Hotel**
-Entrance fee to Los Glaciares National Park in Argentina
-Argentinean Guide (English-Spanish languages) for the hikes
in Ushuaia - Chalten and Perito Moreno glacier
-Entrance fee to Torres del Paine National Park
-Four nights lodging in mountain lodges (Refugios)
(comfortable rooms with 6 beds and shared bathroom) (we
include a bed with sheets, blankets and a pillow) (Optional
upgrade to a Cabin at Los Cuernos)
-Boat on Grey Lake
-One night at Hostel*** in Puerto Natales
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NOT INCLUDED
-Flight to Santiago, Chile
-Flight from Ushuaia to Calafate
-Any additional nights
-Medical expenses
-Insurance of any kind
-Personal expenses
-Alcoholic and non alcoholic
drinks at the restaurants
-Meals not indicated
-Gratuities for guides & drivers