Patagonian Odyssey

ABOUT TOUR

General Information about Patagonia

Patagonia is a sparsely populated region located at the southern end of South America, shared by Argentina and Chile. The region comprises the southern section of the Andes mountains as well as the deserts, pampas and grasslands east of this southern portion of the Andes. Patagonia has two coasts: western facing the Pacific Ocean and eastern facing the Atlantic Ocean.

Argentine Patagonia is for the most part a region of steppelike plains, rising in a succession of 13 abrupt terraces about 100 metres at a time, and covered with an enormous bed of shingle almost bare of vegetation. In the hollows of the plains are ponds or lakes of fresh and brackish water. Towards Chilean territory the shingle gives place to porphyry, granite, and basalt lavas, animal life becomes more abundant and vegetation more luxuriant, consisting principally of southern beech and conifers. The high rainfall against the western Andes and the low sea surface temperatures offshore give rise to cold and humid air masses, contributing to the ice-fields and glaciers, the largest ice-fields in the Southern hemisphere outside of Antarctica.

The overall climate is cool and dry. The east coast is warmer than the west, especially in summer, as a branch of the southern equatorial current reaches its shores, whereas the west coast is washed by a cold current. However, winters are colder on the inland plateaus east of the slopes and further down the coast on the south east end of the Patagonian region. For example, at Puerto Montt, on the inlet behind Chiloé Island, the mean annual temperature is 11 °C and the average extremes are 25.5 and −1.5 °C, whereas at Bahía Blanca near the Atlantic coast and just outside the northern confines of Patagonia the annual temperature is 15 °C and the range much greater, as temperatures above 35 °C and below −5 °C are recorded every year. At Punta Arenas, in the extreme south, the mean temperature is 6 °C and the average extremes are 24.5 and −2 °C. The prevailing winds are westerly, and the westward slope has a much heavier precipitation than the eastern in a rainshadow effect; the western islands close to Torres del Paine receive an annual precipitation of 4,000 to 7,000 mm, whilst the eastern hills are less than 800 mm and the plains may be as low as 200 mm annual precipitation.

Tourism

In the second half of the 20th century, tourism became an ever more important part of Patagonia’s economy. Originally a remote backpacking destination, the region has attracted increasing numbers of upmarket visitors, cruise passengers rounding Cape Horn or visiting Antarctica, and adventure and activity holiday-makers. Principal tourist attractions include the Perito Moreno glacier, the Valdés Peninsula, the Argentine Lake District and Ushuaia and Tierra del Fuego. Tourism has created new markets locally and for export for traditional crafts such as Mapuche handicrafts, guanaco textiles, and confectionery and preserves.

A spin-off from increased tourism has been the buying of often enormous tracts of land by foreigners, often as a prestige purchase rather than for agriculture. Buyers have included Sylvester Stallone, Ted Turner and Christopher Lambert, and most notably Luciano Benetton, Patagonia’s largest landowner. His Compañia de Tierras Sud has brought new techniques to the ailing sheep-rearing industry and sponsored museums and community facilities, but has been controversial particularly for its treatment of local Mapuche communities.

ITINERARY

DAY 01: BUENOS AIRES

Arrival in Buenos Aires. Reception at the Airport. Transfer to your Hotel. Rest of the day at leisure

DAY 02: BUENOS AIRES (City Tour – Tango Show with dinner) | INC: B/D

After breakfast pick up from your hotel lobby to see Buenos Aires.We will see the symbol of our city – The Obelisk, visit different city squares such as Plaza de Mayo, Plaza San Martín, and Plaza Congreso, and ride along several avenues such as Corrientes Ave., May Ave, 9 of July Ave., among others. The tour will take you to such historical neighborhoods as La Boca, San Telmo, and Montserrat, as well as the elegant neighborhoods of Palermo and Recoleta, and the modern Puerto Madero. We will visit some parks such as Lezama and Tres de Febrero, as well as the famous Football Stadium. After the tour return to the Hotel to rest and later get ready to go and enjoy of a beautiful Tango show at Complejo Tango which is located in the traditional neighborhood of Balvanera, an old place of poets and compadritos: Complejo Tango lodges 1200m that breathes Tango in every corner. Built in 1895 and following the age details, the house amazes with its huge lounge of oak floors, the blocksmithing of its conventillo balconies and the luxury of its academic rooms. Accompanied by an orchestra of renowned maestros, every evening a distinguished cast of professional dancers and singers employ their art to narrate the history of tango in five memorable scenes that provide the perfect after-dinner entertainment.

You’ll enjoy an optional and free tango lesson, a great 03 course dinner with beverages. Then Transfer to the Hotel.

DAY 03: BUENOS AIRES (Full day tour to Fiesta Gaucha) | INC: B/L

After breakfast join the gaucho fiesta at the Estancia Santa Susana, a typical gaucho ranch located in the district of Campana, just an hour from Buenos Aires. The Estancia’s 1200 Hectares (2965 acres) are dedicated to agricultural activities and have been a popular tourist destination for the last 20 years. During your camp day at Santa Susana ranch you will be able to enjoy a tour with the magnificent landscape of the Argentinean Pampas, just beyond Buenos Aires. Experience the real gaucho lifestyle, Argentinian folklore and understand how the cowboys of Argentina, who made up the majority of the rural population, made a living from hunting and herding cows. During this full day tour you will have the most authentic experience by horse riding into the enchantment of the endless landscape of the remote Pampas. Be amazed by the true tradition of the cowboys and their typical gaucho skills, enjoy a folkloric performance of typical gaucho dances, Tango and other traditional rhythms, and delight in a full gaucho barbecue that includes the best Argentine beef, salads, drinks and as much quality Argentinean wine as you can take!

Late afternoon return to your hotel.

DAY 04: BUENOS AIRES / USHUAIA | INC: B

Breakfast. Transfer to the airport for your flight to Ushuaia. Reception at the airport. Transfer to your Hotel.

DAY 05: USHUAIA (Tour Tierra del Fuego National Park including Train of the End of the World) | INC: B

After breakfast, early in the morning, pick up from your hotel lobby. Departing Ushuaia, you’ll immediately begin to see a change in scenery as you drive past picturesque Patagonian lakes, lagoons, and rivers, all of which are bodies of water that exit through the famous Beagle Channel. Passing Mt. Susana, you’ll arrive at the old prison, now the site of the Southern Fuegian Railway (also known as the End of the World Train). Then, continue through the valley towards Ensenada Bay, where you’ll be able to contemplate the Redonda and Estorbo Islands as well as the snow-white Mountains of the Sampaio Chain on the other coast of the Channel of Beaglein in Chile. You’ll also discover Roca Lake and do a long walk by the lake coast and along the Lapataia River. From this point we can see the Cóndor Hill natural border with Chile. The tour finishes with the Green Lagoon and the Black Lagoon just before heading to Lapataia Bay.

DAY 06: USHUAIA / EL CALAFATE | INC: B

Breakfast. Transfer to the airport for your flight to El Calafate. Arrival and transfer to your hotel. Rest of the day at leisure.

DAY 07: CALAFATE (Tour Perito Moreno Glacier) | INC: B

Breakfast. The tour guide will pick you up at your hotel in the morning for a full day tour of the Perito Moreno Glacier. On the way to the park they will explain the importance of the glacier and share interesting details and facts about the park and Perito Moreno. You will first stop at a series of walkways for views of the glacier and a moment to take photos. From there the bus will continue and you will get to see the amazing views and natural beauty that the park has to offer. You will get to walk along the walkways to see the glacier and watch as chunks of ice as large as buses break off and crash into the water. At the end of the day the bus will take you back to your hotel

DAY 08: CALAFATE / PUERTO NATALES | INC: B

Early breakfast and transfer to Puerto Natales (Chile), one of the most beautiful and breathtaking locations in the world.

DAY 09: PUERTO NATALES (Balmacena and Serrano Glaciers) | INC: B/L

After breakfast weigh anchor to visit The Serrano and Balmaceda glaciers from the wharf in Puerto Natales, sailing next to the coast to go into in the sine surrounded by hills and forests, where if the conditions of the climate allows it, the sea elephants can be seen resting on the rocks and hundreds of cormorants ventilating their extended wings. After 3 hours of navigation you arrive at Balmaceda hill (2,035 ms), with its summit covered with ice that falls in colossal snowdrifts to the sea. The boat comes near the Balmaceda snowdrift and stops in the Serrano snowdrift, where you land for a walk in the forest until the border of the lagoon full of icebergs and with a wonderful view of the hills and the Ultima Esperanza sine. The return to the wharf is made bordering the opposite shore of the sine. (Arrival to the wharf at about 16:30 hrs.)

Daily Navigation during the months of September to March.
From April to September only on Sunday and depending on the climatic conditions.

DAY 10: PUERTO NATALES (Tour Payne Tower and Milodon Cave) | INC: B/L

After breakfast depart Puerto Natales to travel into Torres del Paine National Park, a mountain wonderland of gorgeous valleys, glaciers, lakes and rivers. As the Park central piece Los Cuernos del Paine arises, extremely popular among hikers, trails lead throughout Torres del Paine’s awe inspiring scenery. We will start visiting Milodon Cave, a natural monument notable for the 1896 discovery of a giant ground sloth inside called Mylodon darwini. A life size replica of the prehistoric creature, resembling a large bear, stands at the entrance. Several caves are accessible for us to visit with incredible stalactite formations as well as the rock formation Silla del Diablo, Spanish for “Devil’s Chair.” Next we arrive at Castillo Hill (Castle Hill) where we’ll stop at a lovely villa before entering the park, traveling along Sarmiento Lake with its breathtaking natural beauty. We then continue along Nordenskjold Lake, Salto Grande and the Grey Lake. We will stop at Hosteria Grey Lake where we will enjoy lunch and visit the enormous Grey Glacier that feeds the lake. We will head back toward Puerto Natales through Amarga Lagoon along a route with great views of the Paine Towers (weather dependent). It’s the perfect end to a pleasant day journeying through this enchanting Chilean icon.

DAY 11: PUERTO NATALES / PUNTA ARENAS / SANTIAGO DE CHILE | INC: B

Breakfast. Transfer to Punta Arenas for your flight to Santiago de Chile. Arrival and transfer to your hotel, rest of the day at leisure.

DAY 12: SANTIAGO DE CHILE (City Tour) | INC: B

Breakfast. Discover the classic attractions of Santiago, the Chilean capital on a 3-hour guided tour. Situated in the country’s central valley, and home to 7 million people, Santiago’s rapid economic growth has made it one of South America’s most developed cities. Its unique urban environment artfully unites classic and modern. Experience Chile´s rich cultural heritage through the city’s monuments, including the Plaza de Armas (the main square), Santa Lucia Hill, La Moneda (the Government Palace), the Post Office, Club Hipico (Riding Club) and the Santiago Metropolitan Cathedral. Head to Cerro San Cristobal, a hill rising nearly 1,000 feet above Santiago in the city’s largest park. Atop the hill you’ll find a church as well as a stunning 72-foot-tall statue of the Virgin Mary. Visit the Orient Sector, the most modern part of Santiago, and see its impressive high-rise buildings and classy boulevards. During the tour you’ll have time enjoy lunch at a choice of locations, such as the Central Market, where you might choose to try some fresh seafood, or the Shopping Center, where you can combine a quick lunch with some shopping at the more than 300 well-known International stores. Please note that the cost of lunch is not included in the tour price.

DAY 13: SANTIAGO DE CHILE (Tour Coastal Viña del Mar & Historic Valparaiso) | INC: B

Breakfast. You’ll depart from Santiago on this full-day excursion to the Pacific Coast. Pass through the beautifully groomed vineyards of the Curacavi and Casablanca valleys before arriving in Valparaiso. Valparaiso, Spanish for Paradise Valley, is a cultural hotspot that serves as one of the country’s most important seaports. The entire city is recognized as an UNESCO World Heritage Site for its intriguing cobblestone labyrinth of streets, historic buildings, and ancient funiculars along steeply sloping hills. From the 21 de Mayo lookout, you’ll enjoy spectacular panoramic view of the city and harbor. Your guide will point out some of the more interesting sights and will be happy to answer any questions you may have. Next, you’ll visit the garden city, Viña del Mar, home to the most-visited beach on Chile’s central coast. The city boasts beautiful parks and gardens, and miles of sparkling beaches. See the Presidential Castle, Liberty Avenue, the 1930s Casino, and various classic century-old mansions. As a part of the experience, you may want enjoy lunch at a delightful Viña del Mar restaurant (optional, not included).

DAY 14: SANTIAGO DE CHILE – END OF THE TOUR | INC: B

Breakfast. Check out and transfer to the airport.

AVAILABILITY

We at Global Bee Holidays provides tailor-made tours for you. You can contact us anytime to get the best deals for yourself.

Duration: 14Days / 13Nights

Price: Price starts from Rs. 1,78,750

ADDITIONAL INFO

OUR RATES INCLUDE:

3 nights in Buenos Aires
2 nights in Ushuaia
2 nights in El Calafate
3 nights in Puerto Natales
3 nights in Santiago de Chile
Accommodation at selected hotels with breakfasts.
All transfers, visits and excursions on regular basis.
Local English-speaking guides are included on the tours.
Meals mentioned.

OUR RATES DO NOTI INCLUDE:

National Parks Entrance Fees
Domestic air tickets.
International departure airport tax
Personal expenses, beverages in meals.
Tips for transfers, guides or waitress.
Services not mentioned.