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Argentina Package 5
Patagonia, Glaciers, Alpine Lakes & Bariloche
10 days/ 9 nights
(click on photos to enlarge)
This tour is best taken between October and April. Due to its extreme southern locale, temperatures in El Calafate may remain chilly even during these summer months, necessitating the use of plenty of warm layers of clothing.
What's Included
9 nights accommodations in 4-star or 5-star hotels
All airport transfers in private vehicle
Air tickets for 3 domestic flights
Buenos Aires - El Calafate - Bariloche - Buenos Aires
All breakfasts
All excursions described below in private vehicle. Only boat trips will be with other tourists.
All admissions to sites and parks
What's Not Included
International airfares
Meals other than those mentioned above
Local airport taxes
Frequently Asked Questions
Day 1
You will be picked up at Ezeiza, the international airport of Buenos Aires, and driven to your hotel. Since most international flights arrive in the morning, you will probably want to rest up for a while and get settled in your room. Today is a free day, but if you want to go out to explore on your own, we can make suggestions about what you can do. Checking out some of Buenos Aires' premier shopping locations such as Patio Bullrich or Galerias Pacifico might be a possibility. These beautiful shopping plazas, built on the sites of historic structures, offer high-quality European and local products at prices far lower than those found in the U.S. or Europe. Taxis in BA are inexpensive and are probably the easiest way to get around to do some shopping on your own.
You might also consider visiting the large number of antique stores on Calle Defensa in San Telmo. San Telmo will be a stop on your city tour of Buenos Aires, but you might choose to spend even more time in this fascinating district. We can help you accomplish this.
If you plan your trip in such a way that your are free in Buenos Aires on a Sunday, then you should definitely visit the large street fair and antiques market that takes place every Sunday at the Plaza Dorrego in San Telmo. The merchandise sold at the market is generally not of the same quality as that found at the nearby shops, but the Sunday market is a lot of fun and well worth a visit.
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|  | Day 2
In the morning, after breakfast, we will start a city tour including lunch, visiting the most important sites in Buenos Aires.
Among them are the Plaza de Mayo, La Boca, San Telmo, 9 de Julio Avenue (said to be the widest street in the world), the Obelisk, Puerto Madero and Recoleta Cemetary, where you can see the mausoleum of Eva Peron.
This tour runs around 3 hours and will still leave you some time in the afternoon for more shopping or plain relaxing.
In the evening, you will again be picked up at your hotel and taken to one of the most famous tango houses of Buenos Aires, Esquina Carlos Gardel, named after the famous tango singer, Carlos Gardel, who was tragically killed in a plane crash in 1939 and whose photograph still graces almost every coffee bar in Buenos Aires. You will be treated to an excellent dinner and a great tango show. Return to hotel and overnight. |
| Day 3
A full-day trip to a typical "estancia" (ranch) in the pampas outside of Buenos Aires. At the estancia you'll be treated to an asado - an Argentinian barbecue. In addition, there is a gaucho show, with cattle-handling and horseback riding skills demonstrated. Return to hotel and overnight. |  |
|  | Day 4
After breakfast, transfer to the airport for the short flight to El Calafate, on the Pacific coast of Patagonia. From the airplane, you should get a good view of the magnificent glaciers and mountains which you will be seeing up close during the next few days. Rest of the day is free to explore the town of El Calafate. El Calafate is a small town with one main street which is full of shops and restaurants. It looks more like a European ski town than a resort in South America. Overnight at hotel. |
| Day 5
Drive to Lake Argentino for one of the highlights of this tour - a visit to the Perito Moreno Glacier. The glacier is part of Los Glacieres National Park and is listed as a Unesco World Heritage Site. Los Glaciares National Park is an area of exceptional natural beauty, with rugged, towering mountains and numerous glacial lakes, including Lake Argentino, which is 160 km long. At its farthest end, three glaciers meet to dump their effluvia into the milky grey glacial water, launching massive icebergs into the lake with thunderous splashes.
At first sight, you may be taken aback at the magnitude of the Perito Moreno Glacier. It towers 240 feet high, the height of a 15-story building, and is over three miles long. An unusual feature of Perito Moreno glacier is that it is dynamic, that is, it is changing all the time. Unlike other glaciers, which are slowly receding, the Perito Moreno is actually growing day by day. At the same time, large chunks of ice and snow are constantly falling off the walls of the glacier into the lake. This is known as "calving". The pieces fall into the water with a loud crash, making the viewing experience quite exciting as well as unpredictable. If you observe the glacier for a few minutes, you are likely to see this take place and, if you are patient, you can get a good photo or video of the calving process. The glacier will be seen in two ways. First, upon arrival, you will take a short walk (around 1/3 of a mile) to a series of 7 panoramic viewing balconies. These balconies are strategically placed to offer you unique views of the glacier. All of these balconies but the lowest are easily accessible. The lowest balcony, which brings you closest to the glacier, involves going down and then back up a flight of stairs. But most people are able to do it without much difficulty.
The second way you will observe the glacier is from the lake itself. Upon finishing the balcony walk, you board a boat for a cruise which sails right up to and along the glacier. You will be seated in the exclusive VIP section, on the upper deck of the boat. This section will provide you with better views, more comfortable seats and an exclusive guide, who will interpret the fantastic sights you will be viewing.
Then return to the hotel in El Calafate for a relaxing evening and, perhaps, some shopping. El Calafate has a number of good restaurants, with especially good seafood. |  |
|  | Day 6
Drive to Puerto Bandera for a full-day boat tour, taking you into the North Arm of Lake Argentino to navigate among icebergs and to the front of the imposing Upsala Glacier. You will be in the VIP section of the boat.
From there you continue on to the Onelli Channel and disembark in Onelli Bay. After a short and easy walk through a forest, you reach Onelli Lagoon, where glaciers Onelli (18 square miles), Bolado (6 square miles) and Agassiz (12 square miles) meet. At noon you have free time for lunch at a nearby restaurant. Then you re-embark to see still more glaciers and icebergs.
The Spegazzini glacier was named after the botanist Carlos Spegazzini, who made the first studies of the local flora. It is the highest glacier within the National Park.
After a long day on the waters of the Lake, return to your hotel to relax and enjoy dinner at a good local restaurant and a good night's rest. |
| Day 7
Bariloche is a fairly short flight from El Calafate. Located on the shores of Lake Nahuel Huapi, in an unbelievably beautiful area, the mountain resort of San Carlos de Bariloche is surrounded by dense forests, alpine lakes and high mountains. It is some of the most remarkable scenery in Argentina. With its chalet-style houses, ski slopes and chocolate shops, you might think that you are actually in the Swiss Alps and not in the heart of South America.
Upon arrival and transfer to your hotel the rest of your day is free. You can stroll around this beautiful tourist city, with its many attractive shops, restaurants and cafes. You can also walk along the shore of the lake, with the high Andes surrounding it. Or if you arrive in Bariloche early enough, we can schedule some extra activity for your first day there. This would be your choice from such diverse activities as hiking, horseback-riding, a ride up the ski-lift or biking, among others. This could be decided upon and arranged before your arrival or on the spot. |  |
|  | Day 8
We start on what is known in Bariloche as the "small circuit" or "circuito chico". This is a half-day, 65-kilometer circuit providing visitors with some of the most beautiful scenery in Argentina. The small circuit mainly along the coast of Nahuel Huapi Lake.
Stops are made at Bonita beach, Companario Hill (Bell Tower Hill), Llao Llao Peninsula, and the beautiful Lopez Bay. A trip up the Cerro Campanario chairlift allows for one of the most breathtaking views in the area.
The final destination is scenic Panuelo Port, from which all sailing tours and lake crossings to Chile depart.
Back to your hotel to relax before going out to dinner on your own in one of the many great restaurants in Bariloche. We can make some recommendations in this regard. |
| Day 9
Today's full-day sightseeing includes a boat trip through the waters of the Nahuel Huapi National Park.You will enjoy being at the exclusive VIP section of the boat. This section is located above the boat standard section, has a privileged view, more ample and comfortable seats, and some complimentary drinks and snacks are served.
Set sail from Puerto Pañuelo on the shores of the picturesque Llao Llao Peninsula.
An hour later, the boat reaches Puerto Cántaros. A footpath leads through the Valdivian rain forest and climbs up to Lake Los Cántaros, whose waters feed the Cantaros Falls.
Several lookouts along the path offer vantage points from which to admire the beauty of the Falls.
Leaving Puerto Cantaros you will head for the milky-green glacial waters of Lake Frias, right at the very western edge of Argentina, on the border with Chile.The scenery throughout the navigations is spectacular. You are actually sailing through the Andes. Leaving Lake Frias you sail back to your departure point, Puerto Pañuelo and are driven back to your hotel. You will probably be ready for a good dinner at one of Bariloche's many fine restaurants. |  |
|  | Day 10
After breakfast you will be driven to the airport for your flight to Buenos Aires.
Extending your stay in Bariloche
Extending your stay in Bariloche
For those who want to add more to their visit to Bariloche, we can easily arrange some excursions or activities other than those outlined in our basic tour above.
Scenic hikes or horseback riding are certainly good options. There are several interesting areas for daylong or half-day rides around Bariloche.
Fishing can also be a great choice. Fishermen fly to the Bariloche area from all over the world for this one activity alone. There are some exclusive fishing lodges or "estancias" offering private stretches of riverfront. .
Fishing can be done on a day-trip basis, since some of the best spots are fairly close to Bariloche. Or, we can book you into an exclusive fishing lodge where you can enjoy your own stretch of water.
Golf is also available. Bariloche now has three courses.
Llao Llao Hotel and Resort has a great golf course. It is one of the more demanding courses because of its windy conditions. The artificial lake and interesting landscaping have made it an ideal course for high-level golf. Llao Llao (pronounced show show and with the 'o' as in 'chow') is a luxury resort on the outskirts of Bariloche. If this fabulous place is your preference we can book you in there for your entire stay or transfer you there after your three nights in town.
Villa Arelauquen, from where one has beautiful views of the surrounding forest and lake Gutierrez, has a nine-hole course. Finally, 9 miles outside Barilcohe, Los Pinares Golf has a difficult five-hole course.
Hotels for 10-day/9-night Tour
Please note that the hotels listed below for each city are the most likely to be used. However, in some cases, other hotels, similar in quality, may be utilized because the hotels indicated below may be fully booked. In any event, we will notify you of the hotel you will be booked into in each city along your tour route. We will do our best to get you the best hotels and the best rooms in those hotels available at any given time.
You may check reviews of these hotels on websites such as tripadvisor.com.
Superior Category Hotels
Buenos Aires:
Hotel Pestana
Dazzler Tower
El Calafate:
Hotel Kosten Aike
Calafate Parque
Bariloche
Hotel Cacique Inacayal
Deluxe Category Hotels
These are among the top hotels in each city.
Buenos Aires:
Four Seasons Hotel
El Calafate
Posada los Alamos
Bariloche
Design Suites
Deluxe Category with Llao Llao Hotel and Resort
Llao Llao Hotel and Resort
The Llao Llao is a member of Member of The Leading Hotels of the World. It is considered one of the most luxurious hotels in South America. The Llao Llao is also a golf resort and a spa. You may well be tempted to extend your stay at the Llao Llao. Or you might decide to stay at the Hotel Cacique Inacayal (see deluxe category above) and then transfer to the Llao Llao for a few days at the end of this tour.
Trip Price per Person
Please bear in mind that our prices include four domestic flights within Argentina for this tour. Due to the sharp rises in fuel costs, the cost of these flights has gone up as well, and this is reflected in the total price of our tours.
This tour is offered in two basic price categories, superior and deluxe. Plus, there is a "super-deluxe" option featuring the world-famous Llao Llao Resort.
The difference is in the hotels. The tour itself - the vehicle, the guide, the places visited - is exactly the same in each category. Both categories of hotels are quite nice and you will be staying in clean comfortable surroundings whichever category you decide upon. The only difference is that the deluxe category hotels are, as you might expect, more luxurious. If you click on the website addresses for the various hotels, you should get an idea of what they are like. You'll see that even in the less expensive "superior" category, we are still providing you with very fine hotels. The deluxe hotels are a step up in terms of luxury and the hotels offered in this category are among the best available in any given location.
Prices are per person based on double occupancy. If you are traveling in a group of four or more, then the price per person would, of course, go down. Please call or write us to get those prices. Please note that due to fluctuations in the U.S. Dollar, these prices may fluctuate as well.
If you would like to travel solo, then, of course, the price would be higher. Please contact us for solo pricing.
Superior Category Hotels: $3495 per person
Deluxe Category Hotels: $4195 per person
Deluxe Category Hotels with Llao Llao Resort (low season): $4695
Low season is March 1 to June 30 and from September 1 to December 20.
Deluxe Category Hotels with Llao Llao Resort (high season): $ 4995
High season is December 21 to February 28, excluding Christmas vacation period of December 23 to January 3. (For that period the price is $5195 per person )
The winter ski season of July and August is also considered high season.
- International air tickets to and from Argentina are not included in the price.
- View details and photos of the hotel options for each destination.
- Prices displayed may vary with availability and during special holidays such as New Year and Christmas.
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