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Argentina Package 6
Argentine & Chilean Patagonia, Torres del Paine
15 days/ 14 nights
(click on photos to enlarge)
This tour is best taken between October and April. Due to its extreme southern locale, temperatures in Patagonia may remain chilly even during these summer months, necessitating the use of plenty of warm layers of clothing. The tour includes Buenos Aires and the two highlights of Argentine Patagonia - Tierra del Fuego and Calafate. In addition, it includes a visit to the spectacular scenery of Torres del Paine National Park in Chilean Patagonia. At the end of the trip you will fly to Santiago, Chile, from where you can fly home.
What's Included
14 nights hotel accommodations in 4-star or 5-star hotels
All airport transfers by PRIVATE vehicle
All tour-related road travel by PRIVATE vehicle.
Four domestic flights within Argentina and Chile
PRIVATE professional English-speaking tour guide
All breakfasts
Dinner at tango house
Lunch at estancia (ranch)
All admission to sites, museums, parks
All excursions described below
All taxes
What's Not Included
International airfare
Meals not listed in tour description
Drinks and beverages
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. |  |
|  | 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 will be treated to an asado - an Argentinian barbecue. In addition, there will be a gaucho show, with cattle-handling and horseback riding skills demonstrated. Return to hotel and overnight. |  |
|  | Day 4
After breakfast you will picked up at your hotel for transfer to Aeroparque (also called Jorge Newbury Airport). This is the airport for domestic flights and it is only around a 15-minute ride from most hotels.
you will be flying to Ushuaia, the southern-most city in the world, in Tierra del Fuego. Flight time is around 3 hours. Upon arrival you will be met at the airport there and driven to your hotel. Rest of the day is free to settle in and walk around the town. |
| Day 5
Drive to Tierra del Fuego National Park, around 7 miles from Ushuaia. The wildlife within the park is as varied and remarkable as the natural landscape. Such animals as beaver, red foxes, guanaco, and muskrats are commonly sighted, as well as the rare magellanic sea otter. There are also several non-indigenous mammals such as rabbits, musk rat and beaver, which are all thriving.
Tierra del Fuego is also a bird-watcher's paradise. On the various lakes and the seashore is an enormous range of birds, many of which are easy to identify and which do not seem to fear people. The region is home to such species as Austral parakeets, black-chested buzzard eagles, Andean condors, and South America's largest woodpecker, the Magellanic.
After stopping for lunch, you return to Ushuaia for a navigation of the Beagle Channel. The trip is on a specially designed catamaran with large domed windows offering excellent views. You can sit in enclosed comfort or wander on the outside deck. You travel along the channel as a naturalist guide narrates throughout.
The catamaran will cruise close to small islands known for their bird life and seals. The narrated tour takes you past the Isla de los Pajaros (Bird Island), where many species of birds congregate, including a large colony of cormorants. Further along, the ship cruises around Isla de los Lobos (Sea Wolves Island), a rocky outcrop that is home to a large population of seals and sea lions.
The catamaran manages to get quite close, offering great photo opportunities. We also view the Light House at the End of the World and more spectacular coastal scenery before returning to the pier. Then return to your hotel for a well-deserved rest and dinner.
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|  | Day 6
A scenic drive takes you northeast of Ushaia into the mountains to Lake Fagnano and Lake Escondido, in the heart of the Tierra del Fuego range. On the way, you pass the mountains known as the Five Brothers.
From the Garibaldi Pass, you climb higher --a spectacular drive culminating in an awesome view of Lake Escondido. Then continue to Lake Fagnano, straddling the border between Argentina and Chile, 100 km. north of Ushuaia. Both Lakes, Escondido and Fagnano, offer opportunities for walks around their shores or inland. You then return to your hotel for your last night in Ushaia. |
| Day 7
After breakfast, transfer to the airport for the short flight to El Calafate. 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 8
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 9
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. |  |
|  | Days 10-11
You'll be met by your private car and driver to take you across the border to Chile and into the Torres del Paine National Park. The road trip, which is quite scenic, should take around 4 hours, including a stop on the border for customs. The Torres del Paine National Park in Chilean Patagonia is justly famous as one of the most magnificent mountain regions on earth. The sheer scale and grandeur of the scenery are spellbinding. Covering nearly 600,000 acres, the park is a breathtaking wilderness of glaciers, snow-capped peaks that pierce the clouds, brilliantly colored lakes and forested valleys. Hosteria las Torres, where you will be staying, is set on a vast 4,000-acre private ranch. Nearly 250 km of trails make the entire area a hiking paradise. Riding, cycling, walking, or even just being driven through this unspoiled natural glory are perfect ways to appreciate the spectacular panoramas that unfold one after another.
Another feature of this region is that it offers a good opportunity to see wildlife. You will almost definitely come across herds of guanacos. Guanacos are the largest mammal found in South America and are related to llamas. You are also likely to come across tame foxes in the Park. They can usually be approached for close inspections and photographs. Another animal you are likely to see is the rhea, a South American ostrich.
We are purposely not laying out a firm program for you in Torres del Paine, since different travelers will have different interests there. For many, hiking or walking in the Park may be the activity of choice. Since you will have the use of your car and driver while you are there, you can be dropped off at one trailhead and then picked up at the end of a trail.
For others, photography may be the attraction. There, again, the use of a private vehicle within the Park will be of great use. Still others may want to go horseback riding. This activity is available at the hotel at an extra charge. Torres del Paine is a UNESCO International Biosphere Reserve and is considered a top location for birdwatchers worldwide.
Have a close look at Hosteria las Torres where you will be staying, to get an idea of what the Park is like and what is available there. |
| Day 12
After breakfast at the hotel, you will be driven to the nearest airport, In Punta Arenas, a scenic drive of around 3-31/2 hours. You will fly to Santiago the capital of Chile. There you will be met at the airport and driven to your hotel. |  |
|  | Day 13
A city tour of Santiago which includes the main attractiions of this lovely city - the Santa Lucía hill, the Civic District and Historical Santiago. Also included are the Club Hipico, one of the most beautiful racetracks in Latin America, the Presidential Palace and the National Museum. |
| Day 14
Today is set aside for an all-day tour to the cities of Valparaiso and Vina del Mar, on the Pacific coast of Chile.
Just about 100 miles west of Santiago the two neighboring cities of Vina del Mar and Valparaiso are like opposite sides of the same coin. Vina del Mar, the 'Garden City,' is one of Chile's premier beach resorts, with excellent hotels and shopping.
Valparaiso, a world heritage site, is one of Chile's most charismatic and historic ports, with its charming "ascensores" (funiculars) and colorful hillside houses.
You'll be back in Santiago in time for a good dinner, unless you have already eaten in one of the fine restaurants on the coast. |  |
|  | Day 15
You will be picked up at your hotel and driven to the airport for your flight home. |
| What else can you do now?
You might want to extend your stay and fly to Easter Island, which is part of Chile.
Neither Peru nor Bolivia is very far away from Santiago by air. We can arrange any other destinations you decide to visit or advise on what we recommend in the way of further travel.
Hotels for 15-day/14-night Argentine & Chilean Patagonia 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
Ushuaia:
Fuegino Hotel
El Calafate:
Hotel Kosten Aike
Torres del Paine National Park:
Hosteria las Torres
Santiago, Chile:
Fundador
Deluxe Category Hotels
These are among the top hotels in each city.
Buenos Aires:
Four Seasons Hotel
Ushuaia:
Las Hayas Hotel & Resort
El Calafate:
Posada los Alamos
Torres del Paine National Park:
Hosteria las Torres
Santiago, Chile:
Ritz Carlton
Trip Price per Person
Please bear in mind that our prices include a total of four domestic flights within Argentina and Chile 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 price categories, superior and deluxe. 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.
Price per Person
Superior Category Hotels:
$4395 per person double
Deluxe Category Hotels:
$5595 per person double
- 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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