CONTACT US
CALL 877.784.5400 TOLL FREE
(outside USA call +1.206.784.8111)

SELECT ARGENTINA TOUR

CHILE TOUR EXTENSIONS

ARGENTINA TOUR EXTENSIONS

TRIPS BY ACTIVITY

CURRENT LOCAL WEATHER

Provided by The Weather Channel

 
© 2005-2010
World Wide Explorations, Inc.
 
Website design and programming
TerraRhythm
Media for Vibrant Change

Luxury Patagonia & Wineries, pairing Patagonia with a tour of the Lakes and Mendoza wine country

Sample some of the best "Grape Juice" Mendoza wine country has to offer

Duration: 14 days
2 Travelers: $7,790 per person
This fabulous trip pairs highlights from our Luxury Patagonia trip with a gourmet tour through the Lakes District and an exotic Mendoza wine tasting tour, sampling the best that Argentina has to offer. Anyone traveling to Buenos Aires and the countryside of Argentina in search of quality varietal wines, both red and white, accompanied by superb cuisine, will find it in abundance on this very special Argentina tour. Argentina's top wine country of Mendoza is located within view of the Andes, making a picturesque setting for your Argentina travel and tastings and the perfect stopover on your way to the Lakes District. Overnight in luxury on the shores of beautiful Nahuel Huapi Lake and tour Victoria Island and the surrounding areas. While Patagonia may seem too remote for your vacation tastes, on this tour you travel in extreme comfort to explore this beautiful region of the world, staying in historic estancias and other distinctive lodgings with Patagonian mountain views in two of the region’s most famous national park: Argentina’s Los Glaciares and Chile’s Torres del Paine. This Argentina adventure gives you the great outdoors in the lap of luxury.
This Luxury Patagonia & Wineries tour can also be arranged on a private departure basis. Please so we may explain details and costs.

Luxury Patagonia & Wineries Tour Itinerary

• Day 1: ARRIVE BUENOS AIRES View Buenos Aires accommodations picture gallery Southern Explorations guides pick you up at the Buenos Aires International Airport and get you settled in your Junior Suite at the Sofitel located in a neighborhood of art galleries and antique shops. If you arrive early for your travels with us, optional tours of the city and surrounding areas can be arranged to make the most of your stay.
  View Optional Pre-Itinerary Tour Extensions
• 
  

  Sample wines at the source across Chilean and Argentinian wine country

  Day 2: BUENOS AIRES - MENDOZA - CAVAS WINE LODGE You'll be transferred to the city's domestic airport for your flight to Mendoza. On your arrival, you'll be taken to your hotel and spend the afternoon with a guide touring the many sights of this charming city. Mendoza is a city of shade trees, parks and open spaces with the high-caliber cuisine you would expect in the center of a fine wine region. Travel to the luxurious Cavas Wine Lodge, your lodgings during your stay in Mendoza wine country. To begin your Argentina tours, you’ll have the opportunity to explore the area this afternoon. You may select a visit to Mendoza’s colonial center and General San Martín Park as well as Independence Plaza, España Avenue and its tiled plaza, Plaza San Martín and Cerro de la Gloria. Alternatively, the Lodge has ample half day Mendoza winery tours you can select from. (B,L,D)
• Days 3-4: CAVAS WINE LODGE
  
  

  Enjoy incredible views of the Andes overlooking the vineyards

  Cavas Wine Lodge is located in the heart of Mendoza wine country, with over 25 wineries nearby. You have the opportunity to visit the best wineries in the area at your choosing. The Lodge has detailed information on all of your options. On your Argentina tours, we suggest visiting two wineries in the important Lujan de Cuyo wine region south of Mendoza. The area is famous for its Malbec, and it also produces high quality Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Chardonnay. You may decide to stop first at the picturesque winery of Fabre Montmayou, owned and operated by vintners from Bordeaux who use traditional growing and production methods without herbicides. The next tasting takes place in the modern Ruca Malen Winery, operated by a long-time Argentine winemaker with a French vintner from Burgundy. It is here where you'll enjoy a gourmet lunch accompanied by regional wines, with a view of the vineyard and the Andes. You'll return to your lodgings and spend another restful night before continuing your Argentina tour. (B,L,D)
• Day 5: MENDOZA - BARILOCHE - VILLA LA ANGOSTURA View Villa La Angostura accommodations picture gallery Today you leave the central Andes region to begin your Patagonia travel. After breakfast, you will fly to Bariloche, Argentina and travel fifty miles north to Villa la Angostura. This charming city is surrounded by dense forest and snow-capped peaks. It is a popular ski resort in winter and a hiker's summer paradise. Villa la Angostura is set on the shores of Lake Nahuel Huapi at the foot of Mts Bayo, Icayal and Belvedere. You'll spend the night at the lakeshore Hosteria Las Balsas. (B,D)
• Day 6: VILLA LA ANGOSTURA View Villa La Angostura accommodations picture gallery Depending on what interests you, today you'll enjoy one of the following activities:

  LAKE ESPEJO KAYAKING

  Today your excursion starts at Lake Espejo, to enjoy a gentle kayak on these magnificent lakes. On this relaxing paddle close to shore you will be able to appreciate the prolific vegetation and learn about the incredible environment. After an hour and a half paddling, you will stop at a secluded beach to relax and enjoy some snorkeling to observe trout, perch, clam beds and sunken forests. A rewarding box lunch will follow and some time to rest prior to returning to the starting point. Return to Las Balsas for a relaxing evening. (B,L,D)

  HIKE INACAYAL WATERFALL

  Today will be spent hiking to the Inacayal Waterfall. From just outside of downtown Villa La Angostura the hike starts by going through a coihue cane forest that leads to the Inacayal waterfall. After taking time to admire the falls you continue along the trail up through Cajon Negro (Black Box) and around to Belvedere Point. Ascending to 4,000ft above sea level you will enter a beautiful lenga forest that ends in the famous glacier valley called “Cajon Negro,” where we will stop for lunch. On the way back a different path takes us to Belvedere Viewpoint to observe the incredible panoramic view of the Nahuel Huapi and Correntoso lakes together with the Correntoso river (the shortest in the world) and the Andean range. Return for one last night in Villa La Angostura. (B,L,D)

  Upgrade: SAN MARTIN DE LOS ANDES - SEVEN LAKES ROAD

  This scenic trip - a landmark in the region - follows Route 234 and links some of the region's most beautiful lakes such as Espejo, Correntoso, Escondido, Falkner, Villarino, Machonico, before entering the town of San Martin for a short and panoramic visit. The return drive travels along a different road (Paso Cordoba), all the way to Confluencia and from there to the Valle Encantado (Enchanted valley), containing unusual formations of volcanic origin. Return to Villa La Angostura and Las Balsas. (B,D)

• Day 7: ISLA VICTORIA & ARRAYANES CRUISE View Villa La Angostura accommodations picture gallery Today you'll cruise to Lake Nahuel Huapi's Victoria Island, a magical world of Centennial Cypresses and Coigues. You'll travel to Villa La Angostura’s nearby port to board the private yacht. Once on the island, you'll follow one of its many trails, observing the varied flora and fauna and visiting isolated beaches and shorelines. You'll learn about the ancient arrayán, a myrtle variety with its distinctive cinnamon-colored bark and white flowers. You may spot some deer (such as the pudu pudu, the smallest deer in the world). It is on this island that South America's first training school for park rangers was established. You will also have the opportunity to explore the unique Arrayanes forest the region is known for. At the end of the trip, you will be transferred to Las Balsas for a final relaxing evening and overnight. (B,L,D)
• Day 8: VILLA LA ANGOSTURA - BARILOCHE - EL CALAFATE - LOS NOTROS View Los Notros accommodations gallery Early in the morning, depart your hotel to travel south along the shores of Nahuel Huapi to the airport for your flight to El Calafate to begin the next portion of your Patagonia tour. Travel through El Calafate, a charming resort town, before continuing the drive to Los Glaciares National Park where the Perito Moreno Glacier is located. One of the world's few advancing glaciers, the terminus of Perito Moreno is more than three miles wide and over twenty stories high. Your lodging for the next two nights is Los Notros Hotel with views of the glacier from every room. You'll enjoy dinner at the hotel before a restful night. (B,D)
• Day 9: LOS NOTROS - PERITO MORENO TOUR View Los Notros accommodations gallery Today, you'll go by boat on Lake Argentino to get a closer look at the glacier's massive front wall of blue ice, passing icebergs along the way. Landing on the beach, you'll walk along an ancient beech forest that meets the glacier, providing ample opportunities for photographs. If you like, you can choose to do a little glacier hiking. One of the most memorable moments here is when a huge ice wall drops from the glacier face into the lake. From the afternoon's picnic lunch location, you'll hear the melting, popping, shifting sounds of ice. In the evening, you'll return to Los Notros for dinner and another comfortable night. (B,L,D)
• Day 10: LOS NOTROS - EXPLORA LODGE View Explora accommodations gallery Today is a long travel day, but the views and destination are well worth it. You'll travel across the Argentina Patagonia border to Chile to reach world-renowned Torres del Paine National Park. On entering the park, you'll stop to view the summer grazing grounds of the now endangered guanaco surrounded by scenic mountains. You'll be taken to the lovely Explora Lodge, your accommodations for the next four nights. Over cocktails in the lodge's comfortable bar, the guide will discuss the full range of hiking, riding and sightseeing opportunities that Explora offers. (B,L,D)
• Day 11-13: EXPLORA LODGE - TORRES DEL PAINE NATIONAL PARK View Explora accommodations gallery You'll be able to spend entire days exploring the magnificent Torres del Paine National Park, choosing your own adventure, from a hike to Gray Glacier floating in the middle of an iceberg-choked lake or a more challenging climb to the base of the peaks that give the park its name. You may choose short exploratory walks, horseback rides or full day hikes. You'll enjoy dinners and relaxing evenings back at Explora Lodge. (B,L,D)
• Day 14: EXPLORA LODGE - SANTIAGO Early in the morning, you'll be transferred to the Punta Arenas Airport for the flight to Santiago and your connecting flight home, marking the end of Southern Explorations' services and your Patagonia tour. If you prefer, we can arrange for you to return via Buenos Aires. We offer a full range of tour extensions in both Chile and Argentina if you have time for a longer South American tour. (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

CHILE EXTENSIONS

ARTICLES & INFORMATION ABOUT ARGENTINA
TOURS AND TRAVEL

SOUTHERN EXPLORATIONS
IS A PROUD
MEMBER / SPONSOR / AWARDEE OF THE FOLLOWING ORGANIZATIONS

CONTACT US

CALL
1.877.784.5400
TOLL FREE
OUTSIDE
THE U.S.A. CALL
1.206.784.8111

2010 PRIVATE DEPARTURES

2 person minimum / 8 maximum

INCLUSIONS / EXCLUSIONS

Included in tour cost

Professional, English-speaking local guides and camp staff

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 Airfare to Buenos Aires / from Santiago

$925 Airfare (Buenos Aires / Mendoza - Mendoza / Bariloche - Bariloche / El Calafate), subject to change

$325 Airfare (Punta Arenas / Santiago), subject to change

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

PATAGONIA ACCOMMODATION

Luxury Patagonia & Wineries:

1 night hotel
12 nights luxury lodges

SINGLE SUPPLEMENT

Additional $2,195

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