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Classic Patagonia, tour highlights including Los Glaciares National Park
Duration: 7 days
2+ Travelers: $2,295 per person
Explore the highlights of famed Los Glaciares National Park of Argentine Patagonia on this classic adventure. Unlike more extended Patagonia tours, this itinerary is designed specifically for travelers with a limited timeframe. Begin in elegant Buenos Aires, where you will spend a full afternoon exploring the capital before flying to the heart of Patagonia. Enjoy a full day of exploration on the pristine Perito Moreno glacier, with an option to don crampons and hike on the glacier. Experience Patagonias stunning mountains, crystal clear lakes and hike two classic treks to Mt. Torre and to Mt. Fitz Roy. Our Classic Patagonia Adventure is an excellent introduction to all that the region has to offer.
Private Departures can be arranged. Please contact us regarding details and private departure costs.
Classic Patagonia Tour Itinerary
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Day 1 (Sat): ARRIVE BUENOS AIRES
View Buenos Aires accommodations picture gallery
Upon arrival in Buenos Aires, a Southern Explorations guide will meet you and take you to your hotel. Spend the rest of the day at your leisure, enjoying the many sights and sounds of this sophisticated metropolis. If you like, add in our Four Balconies tour extension for an excellent guided overview of the capital.
View Optional Pre-Itinerary Tour Extensions
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Day 2 (Sun): BUNEOS AIRES - EL CALAFATE - EL CHALTEN
View El Chalten accommodations picture gallery
Morning transfer to the aiport for your flight to El Calafate and El Chalten, the gateway town of Fitz Roy. If the weather is clear, this three to four hour drive is a beautiful part of your Patagonia tour, filled with vistas of the Fitz Roy mountain range. Upon arrival in Chalten, transfer to your hotel. After getting settled, enjoy an hour's hike to Piedras Blancas glacier on your own, an ideal warm-up for some of the Patagonia trekking ahead. You'll travel through a beech forest where you may see the amazing Magellanic woodpecker and view the Marconi glacier, the gateway to the Continental Icecap. Alternatively, you may choose a five-hour roundtrip hike to Cerro Polo on your own instead, which offers a panoramic view of the Poincenot, Fitz Roy, Cerro Torre and the Continental Icecap. Overnight at your charming hotel. (B,D)
Patagonia Hiking Details:
Piedras Blancas (optional) – 2.5 miles, Altitude gain: 550 ft
Cerro Polo (optional) – 3.1 miles, Altitude gain: 2,200 ft
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Day 3 (Mon): FULL DAY HIKE FITZ ROY & LAGUNA DE LOS TRES
View El Chalten accommodations picture gallery
Today's segment of trekking Patagonia includes a full-day hike to the Laguna Capri base camp (Fitz Roy base camp). The hike north towards Fitz Roy begins with spectacular views of the massif ahead. The peak was sacred and venerated by local Tehuelche groups who believed the mists enshrouding it were volcanic ash, calling it Chalten (God of Smoke). Reaching Laguna Capri, where the image of Mt. Fitz Roy is reflected, you'll stop en route for lunch and then resume the hike to Laguna de los Tres, at the base of Mt. Fitz Roy. Three glaciers drain into this emerald lagoon with majestic Mt. Fitz Roy towering above. You'll enjoy spectacular views of Lake Viedma, the sweeping Patagonian steppe and unrivaled Fitz Roy, highlights of any Patagonia tours. If you choose to continue down the steep trail to the natural balcony onto Laguna Sucia, you'll also gaze on the Saint Exupery and Poincenot spires. Return to your hotel for a good meal and night's sleep. (B,L,D)
Patagonia Hiking Details:
Start to Laguna Capri - 2.6 Miles, Altitude gain: 1200 ft
Laguna Capri to Laguna de los Tres - 2.7 miles, Altitude gain: 1800 ft
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Day 4 (Tue): FULL DAY CERRO TORRE HIKE
View El Chalten accommodations picture gallery
A full day of hiking another Patagonian classic: Mt. Torre, famous for its beauty but also for its climbing difficulty. This is the pinnacle of trekking Patagonia. Every year, countless expeditions attempt to reach the summit, but only a few succeed. After a forty-five minute climb, you will reach a level area surrounding an old lagoon where vegetation is starting to grow again. The trail enters a forest with a slight descent leading to a lookout facing the Cerro Torre and the Adelas ranges. The trail ends on the shores of Laguna Torre, offering a stunning view of Mt. Torre surrounded by the Egger and Standhard spires and the Adelas range as a backdrop together with the glacier Torre. (B,L,D)
Patagonia Hiking Details:
Cerro Torre - 11 miles round trip, Altitude gain: 1,000 ft
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Day 5 (Wed): EL CHALTEN - EL CALAFATE
View El Calafate accommodations picture gallery
Morning transfer from El Calafate to El Chalten, the gateway town of Fitz Roy. If the weather is clear, this three to four hour drive is a beautiful part of your Patagonia tour, filled with vistas of the Fitz Roy mountain range. Upon arrival in Chalten, transfer to your hotel. After getting settled, enjoy an hour's hike to Piedras Blancas glacier on your own, an ideal warm-up for some of the Patagonia trekking ahead. You'll travel through a beech forest where you may see the amazing Magellanic woodpecker and view the Marconi glacier, the gateway to the Continental Icecap. Alternatively, you may choose a five-hour roundtrip hike to Cerro Polo on your own instead, which offers a panoramic view of the Poincenot, Fitz Roy, Cerro Torre and the Continental Icecap. Overnight at your charming hotel. (B,D)
Patagonia Hiking Details:
Piedras Blancas (optional) - 2.5 miles, Altitude gain: 550 ft
Cerro Polo (optional) - 3.1 miles, Altitude gain: 2,200 ft
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Day 6 (Thu): PERITO MORENO GLACIER - EL CALAFATE
View El Calafate accommodations picture gallery
On today's portion of your Patagonia tour, you will go by boat on Lake Argentino to reach the Perito Moreno glacier and get an unforgettable view of its massive front wall of blue ice, looking out for icebergs along the way. There you'll make a beach landing and walk along an ancient beech forest that meets the glacier, a great location to photograph this impressive natural wonder. After hiking an hour or so, you'll embark on a short glacier hike (equipment provided) and perhaps witness an ice wall calving into the lake. In the afternoon, enjoy a picnic lunch within earshot of melting and popping glacial ice. In the evening, return to your hotel for another comfortable night's rest. (B,L)
The Blue Ice Glacier Hike extension gives you the opportunity to see Perito Moreno Glacier close up
BLUE ICE GLACIER HIKE UPGRADE - $100 Per Person
This additional Patagonia tour is designed for those interested in a more in-depth exploration of the Perito Moreno glacier. Grab your crampons for an adventure of hiking deep into the glacier accompanied by a local glacier guide. After practicing safety techniques, you'll spend the rest of the day exploring the glacier and its ice caves, with plenty of time for photos.
(This ice hike is very demanding and is advisable only for eighteen to forty-five year old participants who are in good physical condition. The hike takes about seven hours on ice and includes uneven terrain.)
Click here to see the Blue Ice Glacier Hike picture gallery
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Day 7 (Fri): EL CALAFATE - BUENOS AIRES - HOME
Your tour of Patagonia ends with a morning departure for El Calafate in time to connect with your flight to Buenos Aires. Upon arrival transfer to the international airport. (B)
View Optional Post-Itinerary Tour Extensions
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Key:
(B)reakfast (L)unch (D)inner
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More information about Traveling in Patagonia
Itinerary Map
ARTICLES & INFORMATION ABOUT ARGENTINA
TOURS AND TRAVEL
CONTACT US
CALL
1.877.784.5400
TOLL FREE
OUTSIDE
THE U.S.A. CALL
1.206.784.8111
2010 SCHEDULED TRIP DATES
Saturday Departures
2 person minimum / 8 maximum
Feb
06-12
13-19
Mar
06-12
20-26
Private Departures can be arranged. Please contact us regarding private departure costs.
INCLUSIONS / EXCLUSIONS
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Included in tour cost
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- Professional, English-speaking local guides
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- All hotel accommodations (twin shared basis including continental breakfast)
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- Meals as indicated
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- All transfers in private van
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- Entrance fees for all scheduled tours, national parks, archaeological sites and boats
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- Southern Explorations pre departure services
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Excluded in tour cost
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- International round-trip airfare USA/Buenos Aires/USA
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- Airfare: Buenos Aires/ El Calafate - El Calafate/Buenos Aires $350 (Subject to change)
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- Lunches and dinners in the cities (unless otherwise noted)
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- Hiking boots and other personal gear
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- Personal expenses (tips and gratuities, alcoholic beverages, medical or travel insurance, laundry, airport taxes, etc.).
PHYSICAL RATING
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Moderate
AGE LIMIT
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- We can accept clients between the ages of 12 and 70. Younger hikers need to be hardy and accompanied by a capable and experienced adult. Older hikers are welcome to join us on the completion of a medical suitability questionnaire.
ARGENTINA ACCOMMODATION
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Classic Patagonia:
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6 nights hotels
SINGLE SUPPLEMENT
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Additional $650
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- Single Supplement is the additional cost of a single traveler not sharing a room in double occupancy. We will match you with another same gender traveler unless you request single accommodations.
Prices based on 3% cash discount
Duration: 7 days
Today's segment of trekking Patagonia includes a full-day hike to the Laguna Capri base camp (Fitz Roy base camp). The hike north towards Fitz Roy begins with spectacular views of the massif ahead. The peak was sacred and venerated by local Tehuelche groups who believed the mists enshrouding it were volcanic ash, calling it Chalten (God of Smoke). Reaching Laguna Capri, where the image of Mt. Fitz Roy is reflected, you'll stop en route for lunch and then resume the hike to Laguna de los Tres, at the base of Mt. Fitz Roy. Three glaciers drain into this emerald lagoon with majestic Mt. Fitz Roy towering above. You'll enjoy spectacular views of Lake Viedma, the sweeping Patagonian steppe and unrivaled Fitz Roy, highlights of any Patagonia tours. If you choose to continue down the steep trail to the natural balcony onto Laguna Sucia, you'll also gaze on the Saint Exupery and Poincenot spires. Return to your hotel for a good meal and night's sleep. (B,L,D)
A full day of hiking another Patagonian classic: Mt. Torre, famous for its beauty but also for its climbing difficulty. This is the pinnacle of trekking Patagonia. Every year, countless expeditions attempt to reach the summit, but only a few succeed. After a forty-five minute climb, you will reach a level area surrounding an old lagoon where vegetation is starting to grow again. The trail enters a forest with a slight descent leading to a lookout facing the Cerro Torre and the Adelas ranges. The trail ends on the shores of Laguna Torre, offering a stunning view of Mt. Torre surrounded by the Egger and Standhard spires and the Adelas range as a backdrop together with the glacier Torre. (B,L,D)
