| Day
1 - Sunday 8th February 2009
Depart Manchester and London Heathrow for Buenos Aires.
Day
2 - Monday 9th February 2009 - Buenos Aires
Arrive Ezeiza International Airport Buenos Aires. Met by our Agents and
transfer by private coach to our centrally-located Amerian Park Hotel.
Free time in the morning, followed by an afternoon sightseeing tour of
the city departing at 1400, to include Plaza de Mayo, Cathedral, Recoleta
and Palermo. Evening Welcome Reception, followed by dinner at the harbour-side
restaurant Cabana Las Lilas. Overnight at Amerian Park Hotel.
D
Day
3 - Tuesday 10th February 2009 - El Chalten
Transfer by private coach to the Domestic Airport for the flight to El
Calafate. Depart Buenos Aires on LA4430 at 1200. Arrive Calafate at 1518.
Met on arrival by our mini-buses and drivers for the journey to El Chalten
in the Fitz-Roy Massif area. This is a fascinating journey of 230km, much
of which is on unmetalled roads - desert at first and gaining altitude
as we approach the Steppes of the Andes and Los Glaciares National Park.
El Chalten is a tiny village close to the Andes. Check in for three nights
at La Casa De Piedra. Dinner at a local restaurant, Fuegia Bistro. BD
Day
4 - Wednesday 11th February 2009 - El Chalten
Meet up with our local guides with an option of either a Hard or Moderate
graded walk (two guides). A full-day hike to Cerro Torre Base-Camp. Cerro
Torre is at an elevation of 3143m, but our height gain is about 500m.
Our destination is Laguna Torre where you can expect to see magnificent
views of the lagoon and icefield. The area is fast becoming a Mecca for
rock climbers. 7/8 hours. Grade Hard.
The alternative
guided walk follows the same route towards Cerro Torre Base-Camp at a
slower pace to a view point about half-way with a great panoramic view
of the valley and Cerro Torre. 4/5 hours. Grade Moderate.
Packed lunch.
Dinner and overnight La Casa De Piedra. BLD
Day
5 - Thursday 12th February 2009 - El Chalten
Meet up with our local guides with an option of a Hard or Moderate graded
walk (two guides). Full day trekking to the base-camp of Fitz-Roy at Rio
Blanco. Steep to begin with, then levelling out across the valley before
steep elevation up the moraine with some scrambling to a magnificent view
point at Laguna de los Tres, a unique spot surrounded by glaciers and
granite peaks. 8 hours. Grade Hard.
The alternative
guided walk follows the same route as the other group, but at a more leisurely
pace, to a spot with a fantastic view of Fitz Roy, returning to El Chalten
via Laguna Capri. 5 hours. Grade Moderate.
Packed lunch.
Overnight at La Casa De Piedra. Dinner in local restaurant, La Casita.
BLD
Day
6 - Friday 13th February 2009 - El Calafate
After breakfast, depart at 0900 for the drive back to El Calafate and
transfer to Hotel Koi Aiken. Free time in El Calafate, a great little
tourist town with excellent cafés and shops. Dinner in local restaurant,
Barrica Del Enopio. Overnight Hotel Koi Aiken. BD
Day
7 - Saturday 14th February 2009 - El Calafate
Full day visit to the Perito Moreno Glacier. Drive to Lake Brazo Rico
(90 minutes) and then transfer by boat across the lake to meet up with
our local mountain guides, fit ice crampons (provided) to our boots and
then set off across the ice for an exciting adventure, walking on the
glacier. Picnic lunch. Grade Moderate. Return to El Calafate. Overnight
and dinner Hotel Koi Aiken. BLD
Day
8 - Sunday 15th February 2009 - Paine National Park, Chile
A long drive today (480km - 6 hours) mainly on dirt roads, crossing the
border into Chile at Cancha Carrera, where we change vehicles and stop
for optional refreshments before heading north to Torres del Paine National
Park. Towards the end of our journey we stop for a one hour walk to view
the powerful waterfalls at Salto Grande and Laguna Verde, where we can
also enjoy breathtaking views of Los Cuernos (The Horns). Look out for
wildlife, including guanacos, rheas, ostriches, condors and foxes. Check
into Hosteria Torres del Paine. Overnight and dinner at Hosteria Torres
del Paine. BD
Day
9 - Monday 16th February 2009 - Paine National Park, Chile
Drive to Refugio Pudeto and embark on the catamaran across the lake (one
hour) to Refugio Pehoe for a full day trek to Frances Valley. The grade
of this walk is determined by how far you want to walk, with a choice
of 5 hours, Grade Moderate, which means missing the last steep ascent
of the walk to the view point of Los Cuernos, or completing the whole
route 7 - 8 hours, Grade Hard. When we disembark from the boat, our route
takes us along an easy track through forest and along the lake for about
two hours to the Italian Campsite. Then just over an hour's scramble up
to the lookout point for picnic lunch overlooking Frances Glacier and
surrounded by a backdrop of Paine Grande, Cuerro Norte and Cuerro Principal
- a truly magnificent view. Return along the same route. Dinner and overnight
at Hosteria Torres del Paine. BLD
Day
10 - Tuesday 17th February 2009 - Paine National Park, Chile
Drive to Refugio Las Torres (about one hour). At Ouente Las Torres we
transfer to smaller minibuses to negotiate the narrow bridge and continue
to Hosteria Las Torres which is the start point for the two walks today.
Both walks start off along the valley of the Ascencio River to the Base-Camp
of the Central Towers, regarded by many as one of the best walks in Patagonia.
The first hour is a steady up hill climb, an elevation of some 500m, before
heading along and above the river to the Chilean Camp, which is the destination
for the moderate walk - 5 hours, Grade Moderate. This is a good place
to linger awhile.
The other
group continue from the Chilean Camp for two hours up a steep path with
some scrambling. Their reward is the view of the Central Towers from the
top. 8 hours. Grade Hard.
Packed lunch.
Overnight and dinner at Hosteria Torres del Paine. BD
Day 11 - Wednesday 18th February 2009 - Ushuaia, Tierra
del Fuego
Early start today as we drive across the Andes, through Puerto Natales
heading south for Punta Arenas for our flight to Ushuaia (260km, 7 hours).
Picnic lunch. Depart Punta Arenas on LA997 at 1400, arriving at Ushuaia
at 1450. Transfer to Hostal Del Bosque for two nights. Free time to explore
the fascinating frontier town of Ushuaia. Dinner in local restaurant,
Mosuthocio. Overnight Hotel Lennox, Ushuaia. BLD
Day
12 - Thursday 19th February 2009 - Tierra Del Fuego
Full day trek to Tierra del Fuego National Park and Lapataia Bay, Grade
Moderate, 5 hours. The 7km walk is through forest and along the shores
of Lapataia Bay and the Beagle Channel. We are then taken by zodiac to
Redonda Island for lunch in a rustic setting, followed by exploration
of the island, before returning by zodiac. Dinner in local restaurant.
Overnight Hotel Lennox, Ushuaia. BLD
Day
13 - Friday 20th February 2009 - Ushuaia/Buenos Aires
Morning private charter boat cruise to explore the Beagle Channel. The
cruise includes visiting the lighthouse, Sea Lion Island, Bird Island
and an hour's nature walk on Bridges Island. Look out for penguins, steamer
ducks, skua, cormorants, stormy petrals, fur seals, sea lions and many
other species in their natural habitat. Lunch in a local restaurant. Transfer
to the Airport at Ushuaia for the flight to Buenos Aires. Depart Ushuaia
on AR4031 at 1750. Arrive Buenos Aires Domestic Airport at 2229. Transfer
to Amerian Park Hotel. BL
Day
14 - Saturday 21st February 2009 - Iguazu
Transfer by private coach to the domestic airport for the flight to Iguazu,
on Argentina's northern border with Brazil, departing on LA4028 at 1645.
Arrive Iguazu at 1830. Transfer by private coach, crossing the border
into Brazil, to the Continental Inn, located in the small town of Foz,
Brazil. Cabaret dinner at the Plaza Force Restaurant. Overnight Continental
Inn. BD
Day
15 - Sunday 22nd February 2009 - Buenos Aires
Guided tour of the falls in Iguazu National Park to enjoy the panoramic
views from different levels. This is followed by a zodiac ride on the
Iguazu River and the Devil's Throat. An optional helicopter ride over
the falls can be arranged on request. Free time in the afternoon. Dinner
and overnight at the Continental Inn. BD
Day
16 - Monday 23rd February 2009 - Buenos Aires
Free time in the morning or optional visit to the falls from Argentina.
Afternoon transfer to the airport for the return flight to Buenos Aires,
departing Iguazu on LA4031 at 1405. Arrive Buenos Aires at 1555. Transfer
to Amerian Park Hotel. Dinner and Tango Cabaret at Senor Tango. Overnight
Amerian Park Hotel. BD
Day
17 - Tuesday 24th February 2009 - Buenos Aires/Travel
Free time in Buenos Aires. Afternoon transfer by private coach for Ezeiza
International Airport for our flight back to the UK. B
Day
18 - Wednesday 25th February 2009
Arrive back in the UK.
B
= breakfast L = lunch D = dinner |
