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Patagonia Hiking & Iguazu Falls, combining tours to Argentina's most amazing natural landscapes

Compare the cool, crisp serenity of a Patagonia Hiking Adventure with the hot, humid, sub-tropical crash of Iguazu Falls

Duration: 12 days
2+ Travelers: $3,995 per person
In a country of such stark geographical contrasts as Argentina, here is a Patagonia hiking adventure trip that captures its extremes. You'll visit two of the continent's top attractions, from the southernmost region of Argentina Patagonia to witness the most famous glacier of all, Perito Moreno, to the vast Iguazú Falls on the northeastern border with Brazil. You'll visit three Argentina national parks, Iguazú, Los Glaciares and Tierra del Fuego. Experiencing nature in the glorious surroundings of Patagonia's glaciers and forests, you'll also learn about the history of Argentina's frontier here at the ends of the earth. This is an Argentina hiking adventure like no other.
Private departure hiking adventures can be arranged. If you'd like to learn more about this option, please regarding details and costs.

ABOUT ARGENTINA TRAVELING TO ARGENTINA ARGENTINA WEATHER

WHEN TO VISIT ARGENTINA
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PATAGONIA F.A.Q. MAP OF PATAGONIA RECOMMENDED READING

Patagonia Hiking & Iguazu Falls Itinerary

Day 1 (Fri): BUENOS AIRES View Buenos Aires accommodations picture gallery Your Argentina tour begins when you fly in to the Buenos Aires airport for international arrivals. From here, a Southern Explorations guide will take you into the city and transfer you to your hotel. You'll spend the rest of the day on your own enjoying the cosmopolitan amenities of this sophisticated city. While exploring the capital, called the "Paris of South America," we suggest adding our Four Balconies Tour to your trip for an excellent overview of the city's fascinating history. Overnight at a 4-star Buenos Aires hotel.Your Argentina tour begins when you fly in to the Buenos Aires airport for international arrivals. From here, a Southern Explorations guide will take you into the city and transfer you to your hotel. You'll spend the rest of the day on your own enjoying the cosmopolitan amenities of this sophisticated city. While exploring the capital, called the "Paris of South America," we suggest adding our Four Balconies Tour to your trip for an excellent overview of the city's fascinating history. Overnight at a 4-star Buenos Aires hotel.
View Optional Pre-Itinerary Tour Extensions
Day 2 (Sat): BUENOS AIRES - USHUAIA View Ushuaia accommodations picture gallery You'll enjoy breakfast at the hotel before traveling to the Buenos Aires domestic airport for your flight to Ushuaia, the southernmost city in the world, on the Isla Grande of La Tierra del Fuego. Transfer to your hotel. After checking in you'll begin your Patagonia trekking in nearby Tierra del Fuego National Park, exploring the park's highlights. You'll be returned to your hotel for a free evening to enjoy the delectable seafood of Ushuaia. (B,L)
Day 3 (Sun): CERRO CORTEZ HIKE View Ushuaia accommodations picture gallery After breakfast, you will be picked up at your hotel for today's Patagonia hiking, a moderate to difficult all-day guided trek to the top of Cerro Cortez. You'll reach the trailhead in a 4 x 4. The trail ascends steeply through a sub-Antarctic beech forest, crossing peat bogs before passing the tree line where you are rewarded with sweeping views below. The day's best photo opportunities await you at the crest, offering a breathtaking panorama that includes the Martial Range and the Andorra and Rio Chico valleys. Here you'll see Ushuaia and its landmark, Mt Olivia of the Andean range. To the west is Isla Navarino in Chile Patagonia and the historic Murray Pass leading to Cape Horn. You'll enjoy lunch in one of the most picturesque settings of the park before descending back to the quarry where the hike began. The Land Rover will be waiting to return you to Ushuaia. Overnight at your comfortable hotel. (B,L)
Patagonia Hiking Details:
6.1 mi; 2000 ft elevation gain: 5-7 hrs
Day 4 (Mon): HARBERTON RANCH - THE HISTORY OF THE PIONEERS View Ushuaia accommodations picture gallery On today's Patagonia tours, you'll explore Tierra del Fuego, with its magnificent vistas and a fascinating history. From Ushuaia, you'll travel east to Estancia Harberton. This estancia is owned by the descendants of early British missionaries, Rev. Thomas and Mary Bridges, and was overseen for many years by Natalie Goodall, a respected naturalist in the area. After visiting the estancia, you'll take a small boat through the Beagle Channel to Gable Island for lunch and a hike on the island. Then you'll visit the penguin rookery at Martillo Island, inhabited by Magellanic penguins and a few Gentoo penguins. The unique location of this island (close to where the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans meet) attracts petrels, skuas, cormorants, sea gulls and albatross as well as a rich variety of sub-aquatic life. You'll return to Harberton before heading back to Ushuaia. (B, L)
Day 5 (Tue): USHUAIA - EL CALAFATE - EL CHALTEN View El Chalten accommodations picture gallery Depending on the flight schedule you’ll have time for some on your own sightseeing in Ushuaia, with a visit to the fascinating End of the World Museum or the Presidium, before your transfer to the airport for your flight to El Calafate for your next adventure. When you arrive in El Calafate, you'll travel to El Chalten, a small remote town at the foot of Mt. Fitz Roy, and be taken to your hotel with dramatic views of the mammoth granite walls of the mountain and other important peaks. After getting settled, you may enjoy a short or long hike in preparation for the rest of your Patagonia hiking. The hour-long hike to Piedras Blancas Glacier goes through a beech forest where you may hear Magellanic woodpeckers at work. Reaching the gateway to the Continental Icecap, you'll view the Marconi Glacier. If you care to make a longer more rigorous hike, you may choose the five-hour trek of Cerro Polo which offers a panoramic view of Poincenot, Fitz Roy, Cerro Torre and the Continental Icecap. (B)
Day 6 (Wed): MT FITZ ROY View El Chalten accommodations picture gallery

Today's hike is a challenging full-day excursion to Mt. Fitz Roy base camp and Laguna de los Tres

Today's hike is a challenging full-day excursion to Mt. Fitz Roy base camp and Laguna de los Tres. The mountain was named after Robert Fitzroy, the captain of Darwin's ship, the Beagle. The indigenous Tehuelche people have always called this granite pinnacle Chalten, meaning "God of Smoke," mistakenly believing the mists that enshroud the mountain to be volcanic eruptions. After breakfast, you'll hike north to the base of Mt. Fitz Roy where three glaciers drain into Laguna de los Tres. Breathtaking views of Lake Viedma and the vast steppe offer photographers on Patagonian tours a subject of endless fascination. (B, L)
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
Day 7 (Thu): CERRO TORRE HIKE View El Chalten accommodations picture gallery Today's classic Patagonia tour has as its destination beautiful 10,259-ft Mt. Torre. This tantalizing summit is the goal of many expeditions though few succeed in reaching it. On this full-day of trekking Patagonia, you'll descend through a forest to a lookout facing the Cerro Torre and the Adelas Range. The trail ends along the shore of Laguna Torre where you'll enjoy beautiful views of Mt. Torre and the Torre Glacier surrounded by the Egger and Standhard spires and the Adelas Range. A van will transport you from El Chalten back to your hotel. (B, L)
Patagonia Hiking Details:
Cerro Torre - 11 miles round trip, Altitude gain: 1,000 ft
Day 8 (Fri): EL CHALTEN - EL CALAFATE View El Calafate accommodations picture gallery After breakfast, you'll have time for more Patagonia hiking including a short trek from town to view Mt. Torre. In the afternoon, a private van will transfer you to El Calafate where you'll have the rest of the day and evening to tour this charming city on your own. Overnight at a local hotel. (B)
Day 9 (Sat): PERITO MORENO GLACIER HIKE View El Calafate accommodations picture gallery

To get to Perito Moreno Glacier you'll go by boat on Lake Argentino, seeing floating icebergs along the way

Today you'll come upon the famed blue Perito Moreno Glacier, the crown jewel of Patagonia tours and one of South America's top natural wonders. To get there, you'll go by boat on Lake Argentino, seeing floating icebergs along the way. There you'll make a beach landing and walk on the edge of an ancient beech forest that meets the glacier. After hiking an hour or so, you'll embark on a brief glacier hike with a local guide (equipment provided), enjoying the extraordinary surroundings. With luck, you'll witness an ice wall thundering into the lake. In the afternoon, enjoy a picnic lunch, hearing the distinctive creaking of shifting ice. At the conclusion of the day's Patagonia tour, you'll return to your hotel for another comfortable night's stay. (B,L)
BLUE ICE UPGRADE - $100 Per Person This extension to traditional Patagonia tours is for those who wish to explore the Perito Moreno Glacier further. Using crampons, you'll enjoy a full day of hiking deep into the glacier and its caves accompanied by a local glacier guide. The excursion includes a review of safety techniques and plenty of time to photograph this surreal place. (Because this is a very demanding seven-hour excursion on uneven terrain, it is advisable only for hikers between eighteen and forty-five years old who are in good physical condition.)
Click here to see the Blue Ice Glacier Hike picture gallery
Day 10 (Sun): EL CALAFATE - BUENOS AIRES - IGUAZU View Iguazu accommodations picture gallery You'll be taken from your hotel to the airport for the flight back to Buenos Aires for your connecting flight to Puerto Iguazú. Upon arrival in Puerto Iguazú you will meet your guide and driver at the airport for the 12 km drive to the Sheraton International Iguazú Hotel. The Sheraton is located within the Iguazú National Park and rooms overlooking the magnificent complex of falls are available. After checking in at your hotel and dropping off your luggage you will head out on your first adventure in the national park. Iguazu Falls are not just one cascade but a series of many beautiful cataracts stretching for several miles along the river. These trails provide access to the forest and the falls, a wonderful place to view tropical birds, flowers and butterflies. Today, your guide will lead you through the lower trail of the falls complex, which is a 1650 meter loop with eight viewing platforms. The platforms sit near the river allowing you to appreciate the size of the falls and experience the rushing water crashing into the river. At the end of the trail there is a small pier where you board a zodiac to get even closer to the falls and onto Isla San Martin, which is perched perfectly between the San Martin and Escondido falls. You can explore this small island and take the short, but steep, trail to an upper view point. You will return to the pier and walk back up to the hotel in time for dinner and a relaxing evening. (B)
Today's Iguazu Falls tour takes you along the upper and lower paths that border the falls

Day 11 (Mon): IGUAZU View Iguazu accommodations picture gallery After a hearty breakfast you will head back out to the trails for a full day exploring the upper trails. The primary path is fairly short, 650 meters, but the view from each of the six platforms found along the trail offer stunning panoramic views of the entire falls complex. You will then board the “Tren Ecologico de la Selva”, which is a small, custom built tram that connects three main areas of the national park. You board the train at the Cataratas Station, which is located at the trailhead to the upper path, and take it out to the Devil’s Throat Station. The fifteen minute train ride takes you to a wonderful walking path along the Iguazu River which ends in a massive view point overlooking the greatest of the falls, Devil’s Throat. Half of the river flowing through the entire Iguazu complex falls down the U-shaped Devil’s Throat chasm creating the largest waterfall at 270 ft tall and 492 ft wide! (B)
Optional Upgrade: Iguazu Falls Brazil, $100 per Person Iguazu straddles the border between Brazil and Argentina and you can take an optional tour to the Brazilian side of the falls. The Brazilian side offers a direct view of the entire falls complex that simply cannot be seen from the Argentinean side. The Brazilian national park also has an extensive network of bridges and platforms going over the river and right up to the falls, an exhilarating and wet experience. Entering Brazil requires a Visa, so please inquire about the Visa process before confirming this option.
Day 12 (Tue): IGUAZU - BUENOS AIRES - HOME You'll enjoy breakfast at the hotel before returning to Iguazú Airport for a return flight to Buenos Aires. You’ll be transfer to the Buenos Aires International Airport for your flight home, ending your vacation of Patagonia tours. We offer many tour extensions if your schedule allows you to remain here. (B) View Optional Post-Itinerary Tour Extensions
Key: (B)reakfast (L)unch (D)inner
More information about Traveling in Patagonia

KEY TO MAP

Itinerary Map

ARGENTINA EXTENSIONS

Have more time to spend? Why not customize your trip with some of these trip extensions? Add extensions to the beginning or the end of your trip, or add to both ends.

ARGENTINA DAY EXTENSIONS: Estancia Cristina; Upsala Glacier Cruise
BUENOS AIRES DAY EXTENSIONS: Four Balconies Of Buenos Aires; Buenos Aires Walking Tours; Fine Arts Tour; Jewish Heritage Tour; Wine Tasting; Biking Buenos Aires; Cooking Workshop; Kayaking In Buenos Aires; Bicycle Tour - Tigre & San Isidro; Tango Shows; The Real World Of Tango; Tigre & Delta Of The Parana River

ARGENTINA MULTI-DAY EXTENSIONS: Crucero Santa Cruz (3D); Punta del Este - Uruguay (3-4D); Iguazu Falls Tour (3D); Valdes Peninsula Tour (3D); Fitz Roy Tour (4D); Punta Tombo + Valdes Peninsula Kayaking (4D); Torres del Paine Lodge-Based (4-5D); Active Tierra Del Fuego (4D); Classic Tierra Del Fuego (4D); Mendoza Tour (4D); Active Bariloche Tour (5D); Classic Bariloche Tour (4D)
EXTENSIONS TO BRAZIL: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (4D)
EXTENSIONS TO URUGUAY: Punta del Este Tour, Uruguay (3-4D)

ARTICLES & INFORMATION ABOUT ARGENTINA
TOURS AND TRAVEL

About Argentina's National Parks: The National Parks of Argentina: An Overview; The National Parks of Argentina by Region
The national parks of the northwest: Baritu National Park; Calilegua National Park; (Finca) El Rey National Park; Los Cardones National Park; Copo National Park; Campo de Los Alisos National Park
The national parks of the northeast: Rio Pilcomayo National Park; Chaco National Park; Mburucuya National Park; Iguazu National Park; Pre-Delta National Park; El Palmar National Park
The national parks of the central Andes: San Guillermo National Park; Talampaya National Park; El Leoncito National Park; Sierra de la Quijadas National Park; Los Venados de las Pampas National Park; Quebrada del Condorito National Park
The national parks of the pampas: Lihue Calel National Park
The national parks of northern Patagonia: Laguna Blanca National Park; Lanin National Park; Los Arrayanes National Park; Nahuel Huapi National Park; Lago Puelo National Park; Los Alerces National Park
The national parks of Southern Patagonia: Monte Leon National Park; Los Glaciares National Park; Perito Moreno National Park; Tierra del Fuego National Park

Regions of Argentina: Buenos Aires & the Pampas Region; The Northwest Region; The Northeast Region; The Central Andes Region; The Northern Patagonia Region; The Southern Patagonia & Tierra del Fuego Region
About Buenos Aires & Argentina: An Introduction to Sightseeing in Buenos Aires; Sightseeing in Buenos Aires: The Recoleta Cemetery; Sightseeing in Buenos Aires: Las Madres de Plaza de Mayo; Sightseeing in Buenos Aires: El Teatro Colon; The Neighborhoods of Buenos Aires: Downtown Buenos Aires; The Neighborhoods of Buenos Aires: Palermo; The Neighborhoods of Buenos Aires: The Recoleta; The Neighborhoods of Buenos Aires: San Telmo; The Neighborhoods of Buenos Aires: Puerto Madero; The Neighborhoods of Buenos Aires: La Boca; The Suburbs of Buenos Aires; Clothes Shopping in Buenos Aires; Getting Around in Buenos Aires; Mate, the national drink of Argentina
About Tango: Watching tango in Buenos Aires; Learning to tango in Buenos Aires; The Styles of Argentine Tango; Tangomania around the World; It takes two to tango: The Fundamentals; Tango in film; Carlos Gardel, Tango Superstar; The Films of Carlos Gardel
Whale Watching Around Argentina and Uruguay: Baleen Whales on Argentina and Uruguay Tours; Toothed Whales on Pacific Tours
Penguin Watching Around Patagonia: Adding Penguins to Your Itinerary

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2012 SCHEDULED TRIP DATES

Friday Departures
2 person minimum / 8 maximum

Feb 10-21 6 spaces left
02/24-03/06 6 spaces left
Mar 02/24-03/06 6 spaces left
09-20 2 spaces left

Private Departures can be arranged. Please regarding private departure costs.

INCLUSIONS / EXCLUSIONS

Included in tour cost: Professional, English-speaking local guides; All hotel accommodations (twin shared basis including continental breakfast); Meals as indicated; All transfers in private van; Entrance fees for all scheduled tours, national parks, archaeological sites and boats; Southern Explorations pre departure services
Excluded in tour cost: International round-trip airfare USA/Buenos Aires/USA; Airfare: Buenos Aires / Ushuaia - Ushuaia / El Calafate - El Calfate / Buenos Aires | Buenos Aires / Iguazú - Iguazú / Buenos Aires, $1,150 (subject to change); Reciprocity Fee $141; Lunches and dinners in the cities (unless otherwise noted); Hiking boots and other personal gear; Personal expenses (tips and gratuities, alcoholic beverages, medical or travel insurance, laundry, airport taxes, etc.).

PHYSICAL RATING

Moderate - Difficult

ARGENTINA ACCOMMODATION

Patagonia Hiking & Iguazu Falls:: 11 nights hotels

SINGLE SUPPLEMENT

Additional $1,380: 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.