Category: El Calafate

Explore the thrilling and unspoiled vastness of the Patagonia region on this journey to the end of the world. Starting in the lively capital city of Santiago, jump right into the fun of this tour by heading to Santa Rita Winery, where you’ll learn about the wine – making process and taste, blend, and bottle your own wine to take home with you! On your tour of Santiago you’ll be surprised at how a city of so many people can be so well kept and vibrant—a city packed with local parks, artwork at every turn, and European – style squares. On to Puerto Natales for a night before staying inside scenic Torres Del Paine National Park for two nights. Jagged peaks, glistening green waters, glaciers, and powerful falls set the stage. You’re sure to glimpse some of the wildlife here, like guanacos, foxes, birds, and if you’re lucky, the elusive puma. Cruise on Lago Grey to see famous glaciers and floating icebergs; visit the famous sites of Chile’s largest natural reserve; and even trek through a rugged and unspoiled rainforest to see cascading waterfalls on these two days of unspeakable scenic beauty.

Planning your holiday is easy, Contact Us and speak to your friendly Consultant.

Day 1: Arrive In Santiago, Chile

Welcome to Chile, South America’s longest and narrowest country, with more than 4264 kilometres (2,650 miles) of beautiful Pacific coastline. Depart at 2 pm and enjoy a tour of Santa Rita Winery, founded in 1880 with the finest of French vine stocks. See the beautiful vineyards and learn about the wine – making process. You will get the chance to taste, design, blend, bottle, cork, and label your own wine during your visit. Wrap it up with a wine tasting and bring home the bottle that you created.

Hotel: Hyatt Centric Las Condes, 2 nights

Day 2: Santiago

After breakfast, embark on a City Tour with a Local Guide who will show you the highlights of this great city of colonial and contemporary contrasts. See the the famous Alameda, Santiago’s colourful main avenue, San Francisco Church, and Santa Lucia Hill. After lunch at a local restaurant, visit La Vega Central Market to learn about typical food in Chile, including steaming pots of cazuela and humitas, similar to tamales! Top off your sightseeing with a terremoto drink at a local pub and a visit to Cerro San Cristobal for a stunning view of Santiago and the Andes.

Day 3: Santiago – Punta Arenas – Puerto Natales

Depart Santiago and fly to Punta Arenas on the Straight of Magellan, gateway to Chile’s Patagonia. Head to Puerto Natales on a scenic drive through the Patagonian steppe passing rivers, forests, mountains, and ranches. Enjoy dinner at the hotel tonight.

Hotel: Hotel Remota

Day 4: Puerto Natales – Torres Del Paine National Park

Visit the legendary Milodon Cave, where prehistoric fossils dating back 14,000 years ago, including those of a saber – toothed tiger and a gigantic sloth weighing over a ton, have been found. Venture into Torres Del Paine, one of the most spectacularly scenic regions in the world. Spanning a massive area, it was named a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in 1978. Cascading waterfalls, roaring creeks, shimmering lakes, and jagged mountains are just a part of what Paine offers. During your visits to see the famous sites, including Los Cuernos, Lago Pehoe, and Salto Grande, you are guaranteed to get a glimpse of some of the park’s fauna, such as herds of guanacos, foxes, swans, and birds. Also stop at Lago Grey to see the imposing Grey Glacier, floating icebergs, and the beautiful views and rugged landscapes! Arrive at your hotel where you will be treated to an organic Cocktail Demonstration which includes a walk through the garden to pick the ingredients followed by a lesson to learn how to make popular drinks from the region. Dinner is at the hotel this evening.

Hotel: Hotel Las Torres, 2 nights

Day 5: Torres Del Paine National Park

Today, enjoy a full day exploring the park. See Los Cuernos, or “the horns,” the iconic jagged granite peaks that loom over the windswept plains. Next, view the spectacular waterfall, Salto Grande in the park’s lake district. After lunch at the hotel, head to the Laguna Azul where you have a good chance of seeing some of the park’s wildlife, including guanacos and condors. End the day at Cascada Paine, a beautiful waterfall surrounded by rugged vistas.

Day 6: Torres Del Paine National Park – El Calafate, Argentina

After breakfast, take an easy guided hike to Laguna Inges in search of an array of birds and other wildlife that can be found here. Next, depart for El Calafate, a lovely village on the southern shores of Lake Argentino. Originally a simple sheltering destination for wool traders, today El Calafate serves as the entry point for the UNESCO Natural Heritage Site of Los Glaciares National Park.

Hotel: Kosten Aike, 3 nights

Day 7: El Calafate – Glacier Cruise & Estancia Visit

Today, a Cruise on Lago Argentino takes you up close for views of icebergs and Upsala Glacier, one of the longest in South America at over 56 kilometres (35 miles) long. Disembark at a historic ranch, Estancia Cristina, on the shores of Lago Argentino. Whether you prefer a quiet day of touring and history or more adventurous activities, like trekking or exploring by 4 – wheel – drive vehicle – the choice is yours during your ranch visit.

Day 8: El Calafate – Excursion to Perito Moreno Glacier

A must for all visitors to Argentina is a visit to Perito Moreno Glacier in Los Glaciares National Park. Forming part of the Patagonian Continental Ice Field, from which 13 glaciers descend on the Atlantic side to flow into the Viedma and Argentino Lakes, this glacier is one of the few in the world that is still advancing. During your walking tour along the catwalks, marvel at the breathtaking glacier views and with some luck, see the ice calve into the waters below.

Day 9: El Calafate – Ushuaia

After breakfast, fly to Ushuaia, Argentina – the end of the world! You’ll have the opportunity to see the Andes Mountains from a Cruise along Beagle Channel. Bask in the feeling of being in the southernmost city in the world, and watch for sea lions, albatrosses, skuas, and other interesting Patagonian fauna. Arrive at Martillo Island, where you have the chance to see a colony of Magellan penguins!

Hotel: Cilene del Faro, 2 nights

Day 10: Ushuaia – Tierra Del Fuego National Park Excursion

Today, discover Tierra Del Fuego National Park, the southernmost national park in the world. Hike around the park, escorted by an expert Naturalist. With stops at Bahia Lapataia, Lago Roca, and Bahia Ensenada, you’ll gain a deeper appreciation for the delicate ecosystems here.

Day 11: Ushuaia – Buenos Aires

Fly to Buenos Aires today, the “Paris of South America” and capital of Argentina. Fabulous food, shopping, and architecture all converge here to create a distinctly Latin vibe. Tonight, enjoy a Wine Tasting led by a local sommelier at an exclusive Cava, where you will try some famous Argentine wines, followed by dinner in this intimate setting.

Hotel: Hilton Buenos Aires, 2 nights

Day 12: Buenos Aires

Your guided sightseeing starts at Plaza de Mayo to see La Casa Rosada (the President’s Pink House) and the Metropolitan Cathedral, housing San Martin’s Mausoleum. Drive past the ornate Teatro Colon opera house before reaching Recoleta Cemetery, burial site of Eva Peron. Next, in La Boca, a colourful district and site of the city’s first port, take a short walking tour of this unique neighbourhood, then continue to San Telmo, famous for its late – colonial buildings and a popular gathering spot for artists. Top off the evening at a famous Tango Club, where instructors are ready to lead a Tango Lesson, followed by a farewell dinner of Argentine steaks and other local specialties. End the night with a show featuring flawless performances of Latin America’s most sensuous dance – the Tango!

Day 13: Depart Buenos Aires

Your tour ends with breakfast this morning.

2020 Dates & Prices	Twin Share	Solo Traveller
February: 04, 25	$8.648.00	$10,678.00
March: 10	$8.648.00	$10,678.00
November: 03	$8.648.00	$10,678.00
December: 01	$8.648.00	$10,678.00

Inclusions
Meals:	12 breakfasts, 7 lunches, 5 dinners
Transport:	Deluxe air-conditioned coach
Flights:	Air Ticket: Santiago - Punta Arenas / El Calafate - Ushuaia - Buenos Aires
Accommodation:	12 nights accommodation
Guide:	Professional Tour Director
Entrance Fees & Touring:	Entrance fees & activities as per itinerary

* Tour departure dates are subject to availability at time of booking.
* Prices and itinerary are correct at time of publication and are subject to change without notice.

Travel to the ends of the earth, from the flamboyant capital of Buenos Aires to the land of giants, roaming solitary steppes, the rugged Andes mountainscape and pristinely beautiful glacial lakes.

Planning your holiday is easy, Contact Us and speak to your friendly Consultant.

Day 1: Arrive Buenos Aires

It’s time to Tango your way through beautiful Buenos Aires-your launch pad to the other-worldly southern frontier of Patagonia. On arrival, your local host will welcome you and transfer you to your hotel. Relax or explore the grand boulevards and colorful barrios of Argentina’s vibrant capital on your own. This evening, join your Travel Director and fellow expeditioners for a Welcome Reception.

Hotel: InterContinental Buenos Aires

Day 2: Buenos Aires Sightseeing

Walk in the footsteps of the porteños on your exploration of the exquisite sights of the “Paris of South America”. Wind your way through the city, past the grand pink Casa Rosada, and bold, bright La Boca. View the ornate Teatro Colon and pay homage to Eva (Evita) Peron in the final resting place of Buenos Aires’ most noteworthy residents, Recoleta Cemetery. Embrace Argentinian culture at a Be My Guest experience this evening as you ‘Connect with Locals’, joining a local family in Palermo Soho who’ll share their homemade family recipes, the secrets of kneading bread and the art of the passionate Tango.

Day 3: Buenos Aires – Tierra del Fuego National Park – Ushuaia

An expedition through the extraordinary landscapes of Patagonia begins today as you fly to the world’s southernmost city, Ushuaia. On arrival, explore the dramatic landscapes of Tierra del Fuego National Park, Argentinian’s southern-most national park on the border of Chile. Join a Local Specialist to delve deep into its natural splendor. Admire its beautiful waterfalls, forests and snow-capped mountains in which the wildlife of this area find sanctuary. Keep a keen eye out for red foxes, condors, eagles and beavers. Come face to face with the biological richness of Tierra del Fuego Island and its incredible scenic beauty, enjoying views over the Beagle Channel at Ensenada Bay, the glacial waters of Roca Lake and the deep Bay of Lapataia Bay. This evening, dinner is served at your hotel on the Beagle Channel, so named for the famous HMS Beagle on which Charles Darwin once sailed the southern seas and saw glaciers for the first time.

Hotel: Los Yamanas, 2 nights

Day 4: Ushuaia

This morning, join a Local Specialist and your fellow travellers for a tour of Ushuaia including a visit to the Museo Maritimo y Del Presidio, where you’ll explore the history of the Prison at the End of the World and learn about the famous prisoners who were incarcerated there. Later, delve into its history as a former penal colony and missionary base on your own, or consider joining an optional cruise excursion on the Beagle Channel focusing on the scenic archipelago, wildlife and history. Learn about the great shipwrecks of the region, as well as the dogged determination of the first European explorers, who in the 19th century navigated this inhospitable region which has since had a turbulent history. Consider taking a longer excursion that includes views of lazy colonies of sea lions and Magellanic penguins, which Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan first saw in the early 16th century.

Day 5: Ushuaia – El Calafate

Leave the “end of the world” and fly to El Calafate on the shores of Lake Argentino, the gateway to Los Glaciares National Park with its spectacular Perito Moreno Glacier. You’ll have a rare opportunity to explore the otherworldly landscape of massive glaciers, interconnected fjords and mountainside glacial lakes over the next few days, but not before perhaps tucking into the Calafate berry after which the town is named to secure your return to this mystical region.

Hotel: Kosten Aike, 2 nights

Day 6: Los Glaciares National Park Excursion

The day is dedicated to a deep exploration of the striking UNESCO-listed Los Glaciares National Park. Touring with a Local Specialist, you’ll come face-to-face with its arctic blue and white glaciers that are fed by the massive South Patagonian Ice Field, milky colored glacial lakes and towering snowcapped peaks. Discover the magnificent Perito Moreno Glacier, which towers above the icy waters of Lake Argentino. You could perhaps witness massive igloo icebergs plunging into the lake with thunderous force. Experience the rugged solitude of the windswept steppe and the quiet southern beach forests, before heading back to El Calafate for an evening spent at leisure. Consider indulging all your senses savouring the town’s famous Patagonian lamb paired with a delectable glass of Argentina’s Malbec, or pop into the glaciarium for a chilly encounter that will warm your polar heart.

Day 7: El Calafate – Torres del Paine National Park

The Patagonian Steppes give way to the granite spires of Paine, otherwise known as Cleopatra’s Needles, the main features of the UNESCO-listed Torres del Paine National Park. We’ll join a Local Specialist to delve behind the scenes of this extraordinary frontier land that few have explored. Connect with the inspiring natural landscape, celebrating one of the world’s last true wilderness areas. Wander past cascading waterfalls, roaring creeks, shimmering lakes and jagged mountain spires. Your afternoon in the park will feature the Torres towers seen from the eastern region. Observe cyanobacteria with stromatolites formations at the Laguna Amarga caldera before stopping at Blue Lagoon with its distinct cerulean blue waters. Dinner with wine awaits at your hotel.

Hotel: Hosteria Las Torres, 2 nights

Day 8: Torres Del Paine National Park Sightseeing

Continue your in-depth exploration of Torres Del Paine, venturing deep into the heart of the park with a Local Specialist. Embark on a short hike to see natural landmarks up close and view stunning landscapes from scenic outlooks especially chosen to showcase the surrounding beauty of the area. See Puente Negro (Black Bridge) crossing the Paine River, Nordenskjöld Lookout, Sarmiento Lookout, Lake Pehoé and Salto Grande waterfall. After enjoying an alfresco gourmet box lunch, join a narrated boat trip across the length of the lake to imposing Grey Glacier, which tumbles down from the massive Southern Patagonia Ice Field. This evening is yours to relax and enjoy dinner with wine served at the hotel.

Day 9: Torres Del Paine – Puerto Natales

Follow your Local Specialist on the famous “W” Trail that stretches from the northern shores of Lake Nordenskjöld, named after a Scandinavian explorer who probed much of the region in the early 20th century. Head to the snowcapped Monte Almirante Nieto, which anchors the southeastern extreme of the Paine Massif. Wander past pebbled beaches, rugged steppe landscapes and Andes shrublands on your journey. After lunch, visit the Milodon Cave, where evidence of a giant prehistoric ground sloth was found by German Explorer Hermann Eberhard. There is also evidence of prehistoric human habitation within Cueva del Milodón, dating back as early as 6000 BC. Your base is the colourful fishing town of Pueto Natales on the Seno Ùltima Esperanza where one of Trafalgar’s Stays with Stories is your home-away-from-home for the next two nights. This warm, ecologically sound building, set against the backdrop of Patagonian steppes that lead up to the mountainscape beyond, lets the rugged outdoors Patagonian landscape inside.

Hotel: Remota Patagonia Lodge

Day 10: Puerto Natales, Balmaceda and Serrano Glaciers Excursion

Today’s exploration takes you by boat up the Rio Serrano, passing the Southern Icefield (Campo de Hielo Sur) toward the icy turquoise sheets of the Serrano Glacier. Take some time with a Local Specialist to explore the impressive glacier with a hike through unspoiled, cool rainforest landscapes to Seno Ultima Esperanza (“Fjord of the Last Hope”) where you will see the rest of the Southern Patagonian Icefield. Continue through the fjord by boat with views of the Balmaceda Glacier and Serrano Glaciers in the background. This evening, join your Travel Director and new friends for a Farewell Dinner and toast to an unforgettable expedition to the ends of the earth.

Day 11: Puerto Natales – Punta Arenas – Depart Santiago

Depart this morning for the peninsula town of Punta Arenas to board your flight to Santiago International Airport, where your Patagonia adventure ends or extend your holiday with an extension to Easter Island.

2020 Dates & Prices	Twin Share	Solo Traveller
January: 04	$6.895.00	$8,890.00
February: 01, 08, 29	$6.895.00	$8,890.00
March: 21, 28	$6.895.00	$8,890.00
April: 04	$6.795.00	$8,790.00
September: 26	$6.795.00	$8,790.00
October: 10, 24	$6.895.00	$8,890.00
November: 07, 21	$6.895.00	$8,890.00
December: 26	$6.895.00	$8,890.00

Inclusions
Meals:	10 breakfasts, 4 lunches, 7 dinners
Transport:	Luxury air-conditioned coach
Flights:	Air Ticket: Buenos Aires – Ushuaia - El Calafate / Punta Arenas - Santiago
Accommodation:	10 nights accommodation
Guide:	An expert Travel Director and separate Driver
Entrance Fees & Touring:	Entrance fees & activities as per itinerary

* Tour departure dates are subject to availability at time of booking.
* Prices and itinerary are correct at time of publication and are subject to change without notice.