Travel to Southern Patagonia National Park, Los Glaciares. The tour starts at the airport of the city of Comodoro Rivadavia, in the San Jorge Gulf on the Atlantic coast of Patagonia, crosses overland the Patagonia steppe from east to west, and follows the legendary Route 40, which runs all Argentina from north to south at the foot of the Andes mountains, approx. 5000 km of roads. The highlights of the trip are visiting the Cuevas de las Manos (literally Cave of Hands - 10.000 years old paintings) and the lakes Buenos Aires, Pueyrredón and Posadas. We will have the chance in good weather conditions to see Mounts San Lorenzo and San Valentín (the two giants of Southern Patagonia). Later we arrive to El Chalten in order to visit Los Glaciares National Park. Our trip ends with a visit to Perito Moreno Glacier. This is a group travel departure with a minimum of 2 travelers.

Departures 2016/2017:
 
  10 days - 9 nights

    Season: October to April

    Begins: Wednesdays

    Starts at: Comodoro Rivadavia Airport (CRD).

    Ends at: El Calafate Airport (FTE).


Itinerary
Day 1: Comodoro Rivadavia Airport (CRD) – Los Antiguos
Our trip begins 2 PM at the restaurant of Comodoro Rivadavia airport, which will be our meeting point. We travel southbound along the Atlantic coast skirting the San Jorge Gulf for 70 km to enter Caleta Olivia, main oil producing city in Patagonia. From here we turn west to leave the Atlantic behind and start our approach to the Andes mountains. After 350 km (paved road) across the Patagonia steppe we reach Los Antiguos, on the shores of Lago Buenos Aires, the second largest lake in America after Titicaca. We are 2 km away from the Chilean border.
Lodging at Hosteria or Inn, double or single Room with private bathroom
Included meals : dinner (D)

Day 2: Los Antiguos – Lago Posadas
From Los Antiguos (famous for its cherry production) we travel south along Route 40 to get to the Pinturas River Canyon and visit the “Cueva de las Manos” (Cave of the Hands, literally), 10,000 years old ancient paintings made by the first inhabitants of Patagonia. We travel then west to Lago Posadas, small and picturesque town and gateway to Lakes Posadas and Pueyrredón on the Argentinean side. We drive this day approximately 360 km, 60 of them paved.
Lodging at Hosteria or Inn, double or single Room with private bathroom
Included meals: breakfast (B), box lunch (BL) and dinner (D)

Day 3: River Oro Canyon – Lake Pueyrredón
Lake Posadas (blue) and Lake Pueyrredón (green), separated by a narrow stripe of land, are probably two of the most beautiful lakes of southern Patagonia. They lay in a large glacier valley, separating the Highlands of Lake Buenos Aires from Cerro San Lorenzo massif. We use this day to visit this beautiful valley and the surroundings of both lakes. We will see strange and colourful rock formations, wetlands and birds. We also visit the River Oro Canyon, which comes from Cerro San Lorenzo to Lake Pueyrredón.
Lodging at Hosteria or Inn, double or single Room with private bathroom
Included meals: breakfast (B), box lunch (BL) and dinner (D)

Day 4: Lago Posadas – El Chalten
After breakfast we get on the bus for the final part of our overland Patagonia steppe crossing to El Chalten, 550 km south. On our way, different birds and flowers will give life to the desert-type landscape. We have lunch in a Patagonian style stop-over place. The final 100 km westbound features lake and glacier Viedma and the spires of Fitz Roy massif and Cerro Torre group. Arrival to Chalten is scheduled around 7 PM where the coordination of the tour leader ends.
Lodging at Hosteria or Inn, double or single Room with private bathroom
Included meals: breakfast (B)

Day 5: El Chalten – Free Day
From this day, the tour will be coordinated by our receptive services; these will allow to the traveler to take different excursions and activities. Since this is a free day, you can choose between a trek to the view point of Cerro Torre or to the Mt. Fitz Roy viewpoint or just chill out in the nearby of the town.
Lodging at Hosteria or Inn, double or single Room with private bathroom
Included meals: breakfast (B)

Day 6: El Chalten – Viedma lake navigation
After breakfast, we leave in bus to the Bahia tunel Port where the slip that will take us to the Viedma Glacier departs. This amazing glacier, which has a frontal face greater than the Perito Moreno Glacier, will show us its colours. Later we will be able to descend the ship and take a small trek over the Viedma glacier.
Lodging at Hosteria or Inn, double or single Room with private bathroom
Included meals: breakfast (B)

Day 7: El Chalten – El Calafate
The morning will be free to enjoy different activities or just to rest. Among the different activities, we can visit the Balcones Del Cerro Pliegue Tumbado with its wonderful and panoramic views of the National Park. Another option is to visit the Estancia Madsen (one of the first inhabitants of the area) in the nearby of the town or the National Park Interpretative Center. In the afternoon we will be transferred in our bus to el Calafate, where we will be taken to our lodge.
Lodging at Hosteria or Inn, double or single Room with private bathroom
Included meals: breakfast (B)

Day 8: Perito Moreno Glacier
We dedicate this day to one of the World’s Natural Wonders: the Perito Moreno glacier. After breakfast we travel by bus, on a road that allows us to go through the folds left on the steppe by the glaciers, to the Magallanes peninsula where the southern entrance of Los Glaciares National Park is located. Its major attraction is the Perito Moreno Glacier which, because of unusually favorable local conditions, is one of the world’s few advancing glaciers. This ice field-type glacier flows down from the Patagonia Icefield, a big ice surface that with its 22.000 square kilometres is the third largest glacier area in the world, after Antarctica (14 M sq km) and Greenland (1 M sq km). The Perito Moreno Glacier is the only one in the world that shows a closure and rupture process. Huge icebergs from the glacier wall collapse into the De los Tempanos Channel. The roar of the gigantic ice rocks falling and crashing into the waters of the channel is a unique experience. Our bus will lead us just in front of the Glacier, allowing us to walk and view the Glacier from different viewpoints. We return to El Calafate using a different route. We will drive 80 km (1 and a half hour) to get and then again to come back from the glacier across the steppe, watching a wide variety of birds.
Lodging at Hosteria or Inn, double or single Room with private bathroom
Included meals: breakfast (B)

Day 9: Optional: Navigation in Lake Argentino
This day is free, with the possibility to choose between the optional proposals that the town of the Calafate offers. Among them you have the navigation of Lake Argentino. It starts in the Port Banderas, from where the ship will take us to the most impressive glaciers of the National Park: the Uppsala and the Spegazzini. It’s also possible to have lunch in the Onelli Bay after visiting it. In the afternoon we go to the Uppsala glacier (which is the biggest one in the National Park). The town also has other options such as 4 x 4 rides to Calafate Balcony and horseback riding tours.
Lodging at Hosteria or Inn, double or single Room with private bathroom
Included meals: breakfast (B)

Day 7: El Calafate - El Calafate airport
After breakfast we transfer to El Calafate Airport. End of the Discovery Trip.
Included meals: breakfast (B)

Price (u$d):

Included services: Incoming services , Bilingual tour leader (Spanish – English) from the day 1 to the day 4 (arrival to El Chalten), Bilingual guide (Spanish - English) in all the programmed excursions, 9 nights hosterias or inn double or single room with private bathroom, 9 breakfast (B), 2 box lunch (BL) and 3 dinners (D), all transfers in Patagonia and trekking activities, All transportation as shown in the itinerary combining private and regular buses, All excursions as shown in the itinerary. More information

Not included services: international and domestic flights, airport taxes, transfers in Buenos Aires, nights in Buenos Aires, drinks, foods not detailed, tickets entrance to 2 National Parks (5/10 u$d ea.), Lago Argentino Navigation, medical covering, tips, optional excursion Holiday On Ice, services not detailed in the program. More information

List of suggested personal equipment:
• Backpack, 40 lts
• Trekking shoes or boots
• Thermal underwear
• Trekking pants
• Fleece
• Breathable parka and over pants
• Gaiters
• Gloves
• Thermal socks
• Swim suit & towel (for a warm bath at Atacama geysers)
• The necessary spare cloth
• Wool hat
• Sun hat
• Sun glasses
• Sun screen / block (UV is strong)
• Personal items
• Lamp
• Trekking poles (recommended, if you are used to them)
• Water bottle
• Photo camera & batteries
• Personal medication
• Garbage bags (we Leave No Trace)