iExplore Patagonia Experience

Tour Description

At the very end of the South American continent lies the land that Magellan and his chronicler Pigafetta, while grounded on a desolate coast during the winter of 1520, named Patagonia. This wild and isolated place has figured prominently in the exotic fantasies of armchair adventurers through the ages. Even though the area is large and comprises about a third of Argentina, one is still surprised by the wide range of spectacles contained here. It has some of the hemisphere's highest peaks, forests of strange primeval trees, several of the world's noteworthy glaciers, and fossil rich coastal cliffs that were explored by Darwin. The abundance of rare and entertaining wildlife is astounding!

Itinerary

Day 01- BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA

Today after clearing customs & immigration formalities at Buenos Aires Airport, you will be met by an iExplore Representative and transferred to your hotel for check-in.

Buenos Aires continues to be a wonderful combination of sleek skyscrapers, ornate friezes and turn-of-the-last-century grandeur - at once ultrachic and tumbledown, up-to-date and firmly planted in the past. Even before the recent financial troubles, there was always a spirit of malaise in B.A., as it is affectionately known locally, which may help explain the devotion to that bittersweet expression of Argentine popular culture, the tango. Performed in the streets, on stages, in cafes, the sorrowful and romantic nature of the dance is integral to the city.

Located in the heart of Recoleta, the most refined quarter in Buenos Aires, Etoile Hotel is surrounded by magnificent French architecture, museums, shops and restaurants. The hotel boasts the most incredible view of Iglesia del Pilar, the Gardens of Recoleta, Rio de la Plata and Buenos Aires. The hotel consists of 96 spacious rooms, featuring private balcony, Jacuzzi, mini-bar, and cable TV.

Etoile Hotel- Standard Room

Day 02 - BUENOS AIRES

Breakfast at hotel. This morning enjoy an interesting city tour by private vehicle.

This tour will take you to all the major sights; the Teatro Colón Opera House, the Metropolitan Cathedral, the Government Palace (Casa Rosada), the colorful La Boca district, the tough port barrio and colorful working class heart of Buenos Aires, and San Telmo, home and birthplace of the sultry tango.

 

The legacy of "Peronismo" is not only the subject of books or mere memories. It has left its mark in the very buildings, squares and neighborhoods that grace this fine city. The second part of your tour includes a visit to the Recoleta Cemetery, where Evita Peron is buried. You will also visit the Palermo neighborhood, located in the north side of the city. With nearly 350 acres of parks, wooded areas, and lakes, Palermo provides a peaceful escape from the rush of downtown.

This evening, meet your driver in the lobby and transfer to an exciting Tango show and dinner. Return to your hotel this evening.

Breakfast, Dinner

Etoile Hotel- Standard Room

 

Day 03 - BUENOS AIRES - PUERTO MADRYN

After breakfast at the hotel you will be taken to the airport for the flight to Trelew. Please note: the domestic flight Buenos Aires to Trelew is not included in the tour price.

When you arrive you will have a shared transfer from the airport to the hotel in Puerto Madryn, with a bilingual guide. The rest of the day is at your leisure.

You will be confirmed for two nights at the Rayentray Hotel. This 5-Star hotel is on the Atlantic Coast only 30 meters from the beach. All 182 rooms have a direct view of the gulf, and are equipped with private bath and WI-FI Internet connection. The hotel also boasts a health club with swimming pool, two restaurants and lobby bar.

Breakfast

Rayentray Hotel- Standard Room

Day 04 - PUERTO MADRYN

Today you will have a full day shared tour of the Peninsula Valdes.

The Peninsula Valdes is one of the most important wildlife reserves in Argentina. It is the breeding ground for southern right whales, elephant seals and sea lions, and the nesting site for thousands of shore birds, including pelicans, cormorants and oystercatchers. Guanacos, rheas and maras can all be spotted with a sharp eye.

The tour starts at the Flora & Fauna Interpretation Center where you will be able to observe the Birds Island. During the tour you will be in touch with an extraordinary amount of wildlife and marine fauna: Southern Elephant Seals and penguins at Caleta Valdes, Southern Elephant Seals at Punta Delgado and South American Sea Lions at Punta Norte. You will also be able to see the colossal Southern Right Whales as well as the playful Fitz Roy's Dolphins from a Zodiac.

Breakfast

Rayentray Hotel- Standard Room

Day 05 - PUERTO MADRYN- USHUAIAM

This morning enjoy a shared half-day excursion to Punta Tombo. We depart early in order to travel the 115 miles. Once there, you will have an opportunity to watch one of the world's largest assemblies of Magellanic Penguins, hosting more than 250,000 couples of these fascinating birds. The penguins arrive in September and stay until March. In this colony you can literally walk among thousands of these comic birds as they come and go along the well defined "penguin highways" that link their nests with the sea across the tourist path; and see them fish near the coast for their meals!

After the tour, you will be transferred to the Trelew Airport for the flight to Ushuaia. Please note: the domestic flight Trelew to Ushuaia is not included in the tour price.

Located on the shores of the Beagle Channel, the southernmost city in the world and gateway to the Antarctic Continent, Ushuaia sits in a picturesque bowl on the southern side of the mountains. The high peaks of the majestic Cordillera of the Andes appear golden colored and contemplated from the center of the city; they look like crowns that decorate the end of the snowed mountains. This bronzed tonality that the heights acquire in the late afternoons of Ushuaia, together with the intense blue of the sea, is one of the unforgettable postcards that you will incorporate in your memory forever.

When you arrive in Ushuaia, you will be met and transferred to your hotel. You will be confirmed for two nights at the Albatros Hotel. Just a short distance from the airport, the centrally located Albatros Hotel is the perfect place to refresh and unwind during a stay in Ushuaia. Close to the picturesque bay and snow-capped mountain peaks, this bright and modern hotel offers 4 star accommodations and state of the art amenities.

Breakfast

Albatros Hotel- Standard Room

Day 06 - USHUAIA

Today you have a full day visit to Tierra del Fuego National Park.

Departing from the hotel towards the southwest, after about 12 kms you arrive at the national park, which represents the southernmost protected natural area of Argentina, apart from being the only one with a coast. On this tour you will marvel at the environment and take in panoramic views over the Beagle Channel, passing between peat bogs and beavers dams arriving at the River Lapataia and the Laguna Verde.

After this excursion you will have a shared transfer to the port where you will board a catamaran that will navigate through the Bahia de Ushuaia and the Beagle Channel up to Les Eclaireurs Lighthouse. On the way back, you will pass by the islands of the Lobos Marinos and the Parajaros, watching cormorants, petrels and albatross, the complex of Islas Bridges, to Paso Chico.

Breakfast

Albatros Hotel- Standard Room

Day 07 - USHUAIA- CALAFATE

This morning you have a shared transfer to the airport for your flight to Calafate. Please note: the domestic flight Ushuaia- Calafate is not included in your tour price.

 

When you arrive you will have a shared transfer with bilingual guide, to your hotel. Enjoy the remainder of the day as you please.

You will be confirmed for three nights at the Alto Calafate, built on a hill facing Lago Argentino with a panoramic view through the beautiful Patagonian landscapes. The 103 well appointed rooms feature mini-bar, TV, and WI-FI Internet.

El Calafate is the gateway to Glaciers National Park, and is situated in the southwest of Santa Cruz Province. Its important attractions are the Perito Moreno Glacier and the Fitz Roy Peak. The richness of this wild and difficult terrain makes it one of the most unusual national parks in the world. It is part of the Patagonian Continental Ice Field from which 13 glaciers descend on the Atlantic side to flow into the Viedma and Argentino Lakes. It combines the arid plateau of southern Patagonia and its particular fauna (Nandus, Guanacos, hares, armadillos, etc.) with abundant Andean nires and Lengas forests. There you will see Andean Condors, Gray Eagle Buzzards, Magellanic Woodpeckers and Chilean Flamingos, foxes and huemuls. UNESCO has declared the park a part of the Natural Heritage of Humanity.

Breakfast

Alto Calafate- Standard Room

Day 08 - CALAFATE

Today take part in a shared, full day tour to Los Glaciares National Park.

32 miles west of El Calafate brings you to Parque National Los Glaciares, one of the most spectacular parks in Argentina. Here you will admire the Perito Moreno Glacier, an imposing river of ice 3km wide and 60m high, descending from the Patagonian Continental ice Field, provoking thunders and ice cracks during its advance. You will also make a "mini-trek" over the glacier to explore the incredible Perito Moreno up close.

Breakfast

Alto Calafate- Standard Room

Day 09 - CALAFATE

Today you will continue discovering the imposing sceneries of Los Glaciares National Park.

 

You'll be driven to Puerto Bandera to board a catamaran for navigating the northern arm of Lago Argentino. We'll navigate among icebergs that fall from several glaciers such as the Spegazzini. You'll disembark at Onelli Bay so you can enjoy lunch at a charming restaurant in the park (not included).

Then, take a short hike through the Patagonian beech forest for spectacular views of the Agassi, Bolado and Onelli Glaciers. On the return the zodiac navigates towards Upsala Glacier... a calm setting for you to relax a bit before returning to Calafate.

Breakfast

Alto Calafate- Standard Room

Day 10 - CALAFATE- BUENOS AIRES- DEPART

This morning you will be transferred to the airport for your flight to Buenos Aires. Please note the domestic flight Calafate- Buenos Aires is not included in the tour price. When you arrive in Buenos Aires Domestic Airport, you will be met by a local iExplore Representative and taken to the international airport for your departure flight.

We hope you return home with fond memories of your trip to Argentina!

Departures

Depart any day! Contact an iExplore Adventure Consultant for details.

Pricing Information

2011 Prices:

May to September:

$2,809 per person double occupancy.

$769 Single room supplement.

October to December*:

$3,189 per person double occupancy.

$1,139 Single room supplement.

* Holiday Surcharges may apply.

Prices for your dates of travel may vary- please contact iExplore for an exact quote. Quoted prices are based on current rates of exchange, tariffs and taxes as of February, 2011. iExplore reserves the right to increase tour prices to cover increased costs, tariffs and taxes received after prices are published, and to reflect fluctuations in foreign exchange rates. iExplore is under no obligation to give breakdown costs involved in any package.

Included:

· Two nights accommodations in Buenos Aires at the Etoile Hotel in a standard room including breakfast.

· Two nights accommodations in Puerto Madryn at the Rayentray Hotel in a standard room including breakfast.

· Two nights accommodations in Ushuaia at the Hotel Albatros in a standard room including breakfast.

· Three nights in Calafate at the Alto Calafate Hotel in a standard room including breakfast.

· Private transfer service in Buenos Aires for all airport transfers.

· Shared transfers with English-speaking guide in Patagonia.

· Private city tour in Buenos Aires.

· Dinner and Tango Show at Esquina Carlos Gardel with all beverages and shared transfers to and from included.

· All excursions in Patagonia by shared service with an English-speaking guide, as per the itinerary.

· Internal taxes.

Not included:

· International Air and taxes.

· National Park and Nature Reserve entrance tickets.

· Gratuities.

· Cost of a visa, if necessary.

· Domestic flights: Buenos Aires/ Trelew/Ushuaia/Calafate/Buenos Aires (currently $690 per person, subject to change).

· Airport taxes.

· Travel insurance.

· Items of a personal expense.

· Any/all items not specifically mentioned in inclusions.

Effective December 28, 2009, a Reciprocity Fee will go into effect for passengers with Australian, Canadian or USA passports. Upon arrival at Ezeiza Buenos Aires International Airport, travelers are required to pay a reciprocity fee on entry into Argentina. Fees for Australians are US $100, Canadians US $70 and USA is $131. Payment in US Dollars or major credit cards are accepted.

All prices are in US dollars and do not include international airfare, unless otherwise noted.

Prices displayed are based on the lowest season base price and assume double occupancy. Prices are shown in U.S. dollars and may or may not include administrative fees, taxes, meals, airfare (where applicable) and Single Supplements. Cancellation penalties, blackout dates and other restrictions may apply.

Options and Extras

Tour Notes

Notes:

- Whale Season is from August to November.

- Penguin Season is September to March.

- Tierra del Fuego excursion is apt for people from age 10 to 65, depending on physical condition, but does not require any special training or preparation. It is advisable to bring sports clothing, trekking boots or tennis shoes with rubber soles, sweater, water-proof jacket, sun glasses, sun-tan lotion and gloves.

- Currently it is not possible to disembark at Onelli Bay and get closer to Upsala Glacier because the area is full of icebergs. When this condition is present, the catamaran goes to visit the north wall of Perito Moreno Glacier.