Visiting the Andes in Southern Patagonia is to see the Earth as it was 10,000 years ago, at the end of the last Ice Age. The region features a vast high plateau covered by steppe vegetation that lies from the Atlantic Ocean to the foot of the Andes. Rising steeply above, the Andes show sharp shaped uneroded mountains, following the recent receding of the glaciers. They are still covered by the most extensive area of glaciers outside the world’s polar regions. Of the 350 glaciers sliding down from the Ice Field, the Perito Moreno is probably the most famous. As for mountains, names such as Mt Fitz Roy, Cerro Torre and Paine, known by climbers all over the world, offer the most spectacular, magic and beautiful scenery in the world, with their outstanding granite walls. The tour is escorted locally, rather than from the UK and the small group of maximum 8 passengers may consist of several different nationalities. Should the departure dates not suit your requirements, the tour can be operated any time with a minimum of two passengers.

Season: October to March
Level of difficulty: Moderate (explanation)
Type: Trekking on trails
Group size: Between 2 and 8 passengers

Itinerary

12 days / 11 nights

Day 1: Buenos Aires
Arrive Buenos Aires and transfer to the Hotel Elevage or similar. Rest of the day at leisure. Optional exclusive tour of Buenos Aires, in which a swinging scholar, professor at the University, uses four parks and plazas of Buenos Aires to introduce visitors to Argentina, its history, its contrasts, its contradictions and the characteristic psychology of the “porteños”, the inhabitants of Buenos Aires.

Day 2: Buenos Aires, Ushuaia
(Breakfast)
Transfer to the airport for your flight to Ushuaia. Arrival at the southernmost city in the world and transfer to your hotel. Afternoon city trek of Ushuaia (2 ½ hours), starting at El Mirador del Beagle area and hiking on an old logging path, to reach the beech forest and a lookout point. The views of the city, Beagle Channel and the islands beyond are magnificent. Overnight at the Hosteria Los Fuegos or similar.

Day 3: "Los Filos Del Fin Del Mundo" (The Summits of the End of the World)
(Breakfast, Lunch)
Morning drive to the starting point of our hike, the Mirador del Beagle neighbourhood. We hike for 2 hours, crossing a couple of peat bogs, on the way to the edge of the unique sub Antarctic beech forest. We then follow a guanaco trail, which leads to Margot Lagoon, a beautiful spot high in the mountains. From here we will enjoy an amazing view of Tierra del Fuego’s geography: The Beagle channel, the city, the peninsula... all as featured on a map. We then hike to Cerro Roy (2700 ft) and start our descent to the Club Andino’s mountain refuge at Martial Glacier, where we will enjoy a cup of tea by a giant firewood stove. We return to the hotel and overnight. Duration: 8 or 9 hrs. Level of difficulty: Moderate.

Day 4: Tierra Del Fuego National Park - Trekking And Canoeing
(Breakfast, Lunch)
Full day visit of the Tierra del Fuego National Park. We start a 7 km trek (3 ½ hours) to a scenic point overlooking Lake Roca, Lagunas Verde and Negra, Rivers Ovando and Lapataia and Bahía Lapataia. Hiking through the beech forest we will look for the Magaellanic woodpecker, Austral parakeets, black-chested buzzard eagles and Andean Condors. Afternoon paddling in the National Park. After instructions, we kayak the Ovando River, which flows into the Green Lake, one of the most beautiful in the park. Landing in Lapataia we will be looking for a variety of local birds. Overnight at the Hosteria Los Fuegos or similar.

Day 5: Ushuaia, El Calafate, El Chalten
(Breakfast, Dinner)
Morning at leisure in Ushuaia to enjoy the city, then transfer to the airport for your flight to El Calafate. Transfer to El Chalten, a small windswept town at the foot of Mt Fitz Roy and overnight at El Pilar Lodge, a beautiful 10 room hosteria, 15 km from El Chalten. Once settled we suggest a short hike (about 1 hour) to Piedras Blancas Glacier. On the way, at a clearing in the forest, we will sight the Marconi Glacier, the gateway to the Continental Ice cap. Alternatively hike Cerro Polo (5 hours), with panoramic views of Poincenot, Fitz Roy, Cerro Torre and the Continental Ice Cap. Those who do not wish to hike on the first day, can enjoy a visit to Andreas Madsen’s House, today a Museum and teahouse.

Day 6: Mt Fitz Roy
(Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
Hike north towards Mt Fitz Roy, with spectacular views of the massif ahead, then continue to the Laguna de los Tres, at the base of Mt Fitz Roy. Three glaciers drain into this greenish lagoon with majestic Mt Fitz Roy towering above. Enjoy breathtaking views of Lake Viedma and the endless Patagonia steppe. Elevation gain: 1100 m.
Approximate hiking time: 8 hours. Alternatively, hike to the Huemul Glacier (moderate) from the Southern tip of Lago del Desierto. After a 45 minutes’ hike, we reach the Glaciar Huemul Lagoon, where we enjoy a great view of the Rio de las Vueltas Valley, with Lake Viedma as a backdrop. Overnight at the Hosteria El Pilar.

Day 7: Trek To Cerro Torre
(Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
Full day hiking to another Patagonian classic: Mt Torre, famous for its beauty but also for its difficulty to climb. The trail enters a forest with a slight descent leading to a lookout facing the Cerro Torre range and the Adelas Mt. The trail ends on the bank of Laguna Torre, which offers a beautiful view of Mt Torre surrounded by Egger, Standhard, Spires and the Adelas range as a backdrop, together with the Torre Glacier. Elevation gain: 600 m. Approximate hiking time: 10 hours. Overnight at the Hosteria El Pilar.

Day 8: El Chalten, El Calafate
(Breakfast, Dinner)
Free time for a further hike in the area or drive to town and enjoy a short hike to a scenic point overlooking the famous Mt Torre. In the afternoon board a bus to El Calafate (4 hours). Overnight at the Estancia Alice or similar.

Day 9: El Calafate
(Breakfast, Dinner)
Day at leisure. There are many optional activities to enjoy this day, such as self-guided natural history trails and sheep shearing exhibitions with trained dogs (included), the new Upsala Explorer Navigation, a horseback ride to Mt Frías or a full day hike to the surrounding mountains, which is highly recommended for trekkers. Overnight at the Estancia Alice or similar.

Day 10: Los Glaciares National Park
(Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner)
We will transfer to the park and board zodiac boats to cross the Argentino Lake, in front of the towering ice walls of the Perito Moreno Glacier. We will land on an uninhabited beach and hike on the glacier (no equipment nor previous experience required). The wildlife of the area includes Andean condors, buff-necked ibis, black-chested buzzard eagles, ashy headed geese, etc. Overnight at the Estancia Alice or similar.

Day 11: El Calafate, Buenos Aires
(Breakfast)
Transfer to the airport for your flight back to Buenos Aires. Arrival and transfer to your hotel.
Optional farewell dinner and Tango Show. Overnight at the Hotel Elevage or similar.

Day 12: Buenos Aires
(Breakfast)
Transfer to the international airport for your flight back home.

Prices

Please enquire for prices.

Prices include:

Accommodation in superior tourist class (combination of 4 and superior 3 hotels) all with private facilities and breakfast
Round trip transfers between airport and hotels at every destination
Private services in Buenos Aires and full day visit to Tierra del Fuego National Park with a naturalist guide
Services on a shared basis in El Calafate, El Chalten and Ushuaia
Assistance of expert naturalist guides
Trekking gear if necessary
Meals as stated on the itinerary (lunch may be a box lunch)
Entrance fees to parks and reserves

Prices do not include

International and domestic air tickets
Argentine departure taxes of US$18 per person for international flights and US$5 per person for domestic flights from El Calafate
Tips for luggage handling and optional gratuities for guides and crew
Extras and personal expenses

Notes

Participants must be prepared to hike on uneven terrain and cope with harsh weather. Moderate level of difficulty.

Meals are based on meat and fresh vegetables. Vegetarian or any other special diet must be requested at least 15 days prior to departure

Optional tours

Four Balconies Tour of Buenos Aires. £6 per person shared or £43 per person private.
Upsala Explorer Navigation with Estancia Cristina. Price on request.
Half Day Mount Frias Horseback Ride or Hiking Trail. £35 per person shared. Includes full equipment, lunch and assistance of qualified bilingual guides.
Farewell Dinner & Tango Show. £32 per person shared. Includes: dinner, show and return transfers.

Suggested extensions

El Calafate: additional nights in this charming small village with good facilities.
Mare Australis Cruise: an expedition cruise ship exploring Patagonia and Tierra del Fuego. Embark in Ushuaia, Argentina and sail to Punta Arenas, Chile. From here you may visit the Torres del Paine National Park and then return by bus to El Calafate in Argentina.
Torres Del Paine National Park: magnificient national park across the Chilean border, easily reached from El Calafate via bus links to Puerto Natales.

Weather conditions:

The weather in Patagonia is highly unpredictable. Particularly in spring or early summer, fine weather may deteriorate almost without warning, as violent westerly storms sweep in from the Pacific Ocean. Strong westerly winds are usually at their worst from November to January, but typically continue until the end of April. Temperatures can also vary considerably, ranging from -5°C to 25°C, averaging 15°C.