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Patagonia Land and Sea
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12
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We begin our journey by connecting through Buenos Aires
to EL Calafate in Argentinas Southern Patagonia. Explorer chic" is the only way I can describe this very
remote boomtown gearing up for the sophisticated adventurer. The visit to the glaciers in southern Patagonia rivals my visit to Iguazu Falls in terms of ecology
and the sheer size of seeing Gods work at his or her best. There is a definite moon-like scenescape east of El Calafate reminiscent of parts of New Zealand; huge
open landscapes with desert like vegetation, and in contrast, just turn west and everything changes facing Chile and the Andes, with beech trees, snow capped
mountains and remarkable glaciers. Weather you're a hardcore trekker looking for a glacier hike or just a sightseer yearning to see glaciers from the comfort of a
vip suite from a tour boat while sipping a fine Malbec, Calafate is a great 2-3 day excursion. The Southern Patagonian Ice corresponds to Argentina and Chile and
the glaciers, of which the easiest to access are the Perito Moreno and the Upsala, 2 of 365 glaciers in the national park. Next we fly to Ushuaia to board the
Cruceros Australis for a 3 night vogage crossing to Punta Arenas, Chile; an Expedition Cruiseship that sails through the Strait of Magellan and the Beagle Channel
and explores one of the wildest and most beautiful regions of the world: Patagonia and Tierra del Fuego, at the southernmost tip of the South American
continent. We depart the ship where you will be met by the staff of Explora Lodge for scenic transfer to Torres del Paine for four night stay at the
Hotel Explora. Here all meals and drinks are included, well where else would we eat?, we are in the center of a National Park. Each night the resident guides will
discuss the options for activities the next day - they range from half day, easy excursions to full day, difficult excursions and include walks, hikes, treks,
horseback riding and motorlaunch excursions. The excursions are designed to give you ample time to explore the beauties of the park. Explora also has its own
stables and offers a variety of horseback excursions in the park. This is an excellent tour for couples or small groups of friends enjoying culture, wines and
Patagonia in style.
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VIP Tours has no fixed departure dates. We plan One-of-a-Kind Luxury Travel completely designed for you. Call our travel planners now to see how easy it
is... 800.772.9188.
Day 1 - Buenos Aires / El Calafate
Meeting at EL Calafate airport and private transfer to the hotel.
Accommodation.
Day 2 - El Calafate / Glaciers
Breakfast at the hotel. Depart from the
hotel towards the stunning Los Glaciares National Park, where we will take a 30 minutes boat trip to the southwest margin of ‘Lago Argentino’. Upon arrival,
expert guides will assist us to put on crampons and will show us how to walk on ice. In this one-of-a kind adventure, we will enjoy one of the most thrilling
experiences on a 2 hour walk on the surface of Perito Moreno Glacier, exploring the huge masses of ice, crevasses, cascades and caves, a world that seems to
have been held back in time. Return to the Refuge. Free time for lunch (we suggest bringing your own box lunch). The afternoon, at leisure to hike, horseback
ride and explore the charming woods, its flora, lush vegetation and the most incredible sights of the National Park. Accommodation.
Day 3 - El Calafate / Glaciers
Breakfast at the hotel. The Upsala Glacier is one of the most important within Los
Glaciares National Park. A journey to Estancia Cristina is the perfect chance to see the Glacier and approach the lifestyle of this remote area’s first inhabitants.
The Estancia Cristina program is a balanced combination of nature, history and leisure. It starts by sailing the Lago Argentino, surrounded by impressive icebergs
and mountains, all the way up to the front of the Upsala Glacier. From there we sail to the Estancia arriving at lunchtime. Once in the Estancia visitors can
choose between 2 different programs. One involves a relaxed afternoon around the Estancia and another one includes a beautiful hike to a nearby mountain.
Upon arrival the program starts with a delicious and traditional patagonic lunch in the restaurant, which has been built on the base of an old wool drying spot and
has a fabulous 360 degrees view. It continues with a visit to the main house, the chapel and the museum. We will discover the lifestyle of the first settlers of
the Estancia, and their relation with legendary explorers of the last century. Another alternative is to reach a panoramic point by hiking to the Carnero Mountain.
From there we can admire the mountain chain and its glaciers. The activity includes a lunch box. Accommodation.
Day 4 - El Calafate / Ushuaia / Australis Cruise / Beagle Channel
Breakfast at the hotel and check out. Private transfer to the airport and flight to Ushuaia. Arrival in Ushuaia, Private transfer to day use hotel until time to embark(from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.). And embark on the “Mare Australis” expedition cruiseship from 5:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. The crew headed by the
Captain will welcome you aboard for cocktails with your cruise companions. We will set sail to Punta Arenas navigating through the Beagle Channel and the
Patagonian channels. This adventure should be an add-on to a longer itinerary in Chile and/or Argentina.
Day 5 - Strait of Magellan / Australis Cruise / Beagle Channel & Cape Horn
Navigation through the Beagle Channel and Murray
Channel to disembark at the Cabo de Hornos (Cape Horn) National Park, weather permitting. We will visit Horn Island to get a panoramic view of the famous and
mythical Cape Horn, the place where the Pacific and Atlantic oceans merge and the last promontory of South America. Disembark at Wulaia Bay, a historical
indigenous settlement with places of high archeological value. Additionally, this place offers a very beautiful visual spectacle due to its vegetation and
geography.
Day 6 - Strait of Magellan / Australis Cruise / Günter Plushow
Glacier
Disembark at the the Bay of the Günter Plushow Glacier and hike near the glacier. After this unforgettable experience, we will continue
navigating through O’Brien and Ballenero Channels, Bahía Desolada, Paso Aguirre and Cockburn Channel.
Day 7 - Saturday - Strait of Magellan / Australis Cruise / Disembark / Paine Towers National Park
Early in the morning, in the
Strait of Magellan, we will disembark in Magdalena Island, the home of an enormous penguin colony with over 120,000 specimens in different stages of
development. We will take a walk to the lighthouse, which was used to guide the exploring sailors on their way across the Strait of Magellan. After our visit we
will arrive to Punta Arenas, passengers disembark at 11.30 am met by the staff of Explora for five hour transfer to Paine Towers National Park for four night stay
at the Hotel Explora. (C/L/D). During your stay you will enjoy all meals, an open bar and a daily menu of excursions. Each night the resident guides will discuss
the options for activities the next day - they range from half day, easy excursions to full day, difficult excursions and include walks, hikes, treks, horseback riding
and motorlaunch excursions. The excursions are designed to give you ample time to explore the beauties of the park. Explora also has its own stables and offers
a variety of horseback excursions in the park.
Day 8 - 10: Paine Towers National
Park
The purpose of explora is to provide its guests with the unforgettable experience of exploring the natural and cultural environment of remote
regions at the Southern tip of America. It is a vital experience. A feast for the senses, and repose for reason. It is not irrational, but poetical. It is done just for
the sake of it. Out of passion for beauty. Almost every discovery is anticipated by a certain knowledge. Action begins the moment one thinks about it. The rest
is only the consequence of the idea, or the dream. Explora has designed a complete program of explorations aiming at providing in-depth contact with the
marvels of Torres del Paine National Park in Torres del Paine. Guests will be able to choose from a menu of 5 to 6 programs each day. There are a total of 16 hikes or excursions and
6 explorations by horseback. Each exploration is classified according to duation and fitness requirements. These explorations are designed for persons of normal
physical conditions that carry city-like lifestyles. Each evening before dinner the guides get together with the guests in the bar of the hotel to explain in detail
the next day's explorations. There are generally five explorations from which to choose.
Hiking exploration contemplates a maximum of 10 guests. All
travel is accessed via Ford Club Wagon vans for 12 persons. Appropriate clothing for explorations include a parka or waterproof windbreaker, good quality walking
or hiking shoes preferably leather or waterproof fabric, gloves, hat, sunglasses and protection from the sun.
Explorations include:
Hike
to the Peninsula Lago Grey (easy; half day)
Hike to Glaciar de Grey (difficult; full day; picnic)
Hike to Laguna Azul (medium, half day, snack)
Hike to
Las Alturas del Toro (Medium; full day; picnic)
Excursion to the north of the park with stop at Laguna Azul and barbecue luncheon at the Quincho (easy; full
day; lunch)
Hike to Mirador de Nordenskjold (easy; half day; snack)
Hike to Mirador del Toro (easy; half day; snack)
Hike through Las Cornisas
(Medium, half day, snack) Hike to the base of
Torres del Paine. Hike to Glaciar del Valle del Frances (medium, full day, picnic)
Archaeological hike between Guarderia Sarmiento and Guarderia Laguna Amarga (easy; half day)
Hike to Lago Sarmiento (easy, half day, snack)
Laguna La Cal & Sarmiento Walk (Medium, full day, picnic)
Rio Pingo Walk (easy, half day with snack or full day with picnic)
Mirador Condor Walk
(medium, half day, snack)
Horseback riding Mirador Donoso (medium, full day, picnic)
Horseback riding Rio Serrano (easy, half day, snack)
Horseback
riding Laguna Linda (easy, half day, snack)
Horseback riding to Refugio Pehoe (medium, full day, lunch)
Horseback riding at the Quincho (easy, half day,
before or after Quincho lunch) Horseback riding at 2 de enero estancia (Easy, half day; trail snacks)
Day 11 - Paine Towers National Park - Punta Arenas - Santiago
Morning departure by Hotel Explora van or five hour drive
south along the rolling steppes of Patagonia to Punta Arenas airport where you catch your flight north along the Andes to Santiago where you make connections
to your international departure flight home.
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Land Only - Price per person based on double occupancy
Includes: Accommodations include breakfast. Some lunches & dinners. Guides, transports, entrance fees and airport transfers. Hotel accommodations with hotel taxes and service charges, Meals as indicated in this itinerary, 5-day/4-nights Explora en Patagonia portion of the program includes all meals, open bar and all activities and excursions. Accomodation in double occupancy. All meals on the cruise ship and taxes. Ground transfers to & from airports in Chile and Argentina.
Not Included: International and Domestic Air transport and airport taxes; personal expenses.
Important Notice: Cruceros Australis reserves the right to modify the cruise rates and departure date published without prior notice. The excursions/day trips described in the itineraries above can normally be, and are frequently, carried out. Without prejudice to the aforesaid, Transportes Marítimos Terra Australis S.A. y Transportes Marítimos Via Australis S.A. reserve the right to reschedule shorten or alter all or part of itineraries and/or excursions without previous notice, in order to safeguard the well being and safety of passengers, preserve the environment or due to the extraordinary circumstances, acts of god or force majeure. In view of the same reasons, the hours of departure or arrival of the vessels may be subject to change.
Customize this Trip: This is a general itinerary, which does not necessarily incorporate the special interests that you may have personally. Please contact our specialists to customize this trip for you. Call us at 800.772.9188 to speak with an expert now.
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