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& Iguazu Falls Luxury Patagonia Luxury Patagonia & Wineries Patagonia Hiking Panorama Australis Glacier Cruise
& Patagonia Hiking Australis Glacier Cruise
& Patagonia Hiking Plus Patagonian Lakes & Glaciers Full Patagonia

ARGENTINA TOUR EXTENSIONS

Day Argentina Tour Extensions Multi-Day Argentina Extensions

TRIPS BY ACTIVITY

HIKING TOURS AMAZON ECOTOURS RAINFOREST ECOLODGES MULTISPORT ADVENTURES GALAPAGOS SCUBA DIVING GALAPAGOS SEA KAYAKING GALAPAGOS SAILING CRUISES HIKING TO MACHU PICCHU FAMILY ADVENTURES SELF-GUIDED TOURS LUXURY TOURS RAFTING / KAYAKING TOURS CAMPING ADVENTURES PATAGONIA HIKING

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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: $7,840 per person
Triple Accommodations: $370 (2 Rooms at Explora Lodge)
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 contact us so we may explain details and costs.

ABOUT ARGENTINA TRAVELING TO ARGENTINA ARGENTINA WEATHER

WHEN TO VISIT ARGENTINA
= J F M A M J J A S O N D =

PATAGONIA F.A.Q. MAP OF PATAGONIA RECOMMENDED READING

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.
Begin Optional Pre-Itinerary Tour Extensions
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 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)
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, where we will gently kayak to enjoy the magnificent lakes. We will paddle close to the coast and in a relaxed way will be able to appreciate the exuberant vegetation and learn about the incredible environment. After an hour and a half paddling, we will stop in a secluded beach to relax and enjoy some snorkelling to observe trout, perches, clam beds and sunken forests. A rewarding box lunch will follow and some time to rest prior to returning to our 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, we start our hike through a coihue cane forest that will lead us to the Inacayal waterfall. We take time to admire the falls before continuing the trail up through Cajon Negron (Black Box) and around to Belvedere Point. We will ascend to 4,000ft above sea level we will enter a beautiful lenga’s forest that ends in the famous glacier valley called “Cajon Negro,” where we will stop for lunch. On our way back, we will follow a different path which will 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 great part of 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 most beautiful lakes such as Espejo, Correntoso, Escondido, Falkner, Villarino, Machonico, and then enters the town of San Martin for a short and panoramic visit. The way back will be driving along a different road (Paso Cordoba), a beautiful road which will take us all the way to Confluencia and from there to the Valle Encantado (Enchanted valley), an incredible place due to its capricious 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)
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)
BLUE ICE PATAGONIA HIKE UPGRADE - $100 Per Person To get a more in-depth look at the Perito Moreno Glacier, passengers in good physical condition may wish to take this tour option. Using crampons, you'll spend the day hiking deep into the glacier, exploring its caves with a local glacier guide. You'll practice safety techniques in the morning before setting out. (This is a very demanding seven-hour Patagonia ice hike on uneven terrain so it is ill-advised for anyone younger than eighteen or over forty-five.) You'll be returned to Los Notros at the conclusion of the excursion.
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) Begin Optional Post-Itinerary Tour Extensions
Key: (B)reakfast (L)unch (D)inner
More information about Traveling in Patagonia

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 Blue Ice Glacier Hike Upsala Glacier Cruise BUENOS AIRES DAY EXTENSIONS Four Balconies Of Buenos Aires Fine Arts Tour Jewish Heritage Tour Wine Tasting 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 Leal (2D) Iguazu Falls Tour (3D) Valdes Peninsula Tour (3D) Fitz Roy Tour (4D) Active Tierra Del Fuego (4D) Classic Tierra Del Fuego (4D) Mendoza Tour (4D) Active Bariloche Tour (5D) Classic Bariloche Tour (5D) Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (4D)

CHILE 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.
CHILE TRIP EXTENSIONS Santiago Arrival Package (1D) Santiago City Tour (½D) Sea Kayaking (½D-1D) Last Hope Sound Cruise (2D)	ARGENTINA (via Chile) EXTENSIONS Perito Moreno Glacier (3D) P.Moreno & Los Glaciares N.P. (5D)

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

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2009 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; - $1125 Airfare (Buenos Aires / Mendoza - Mendoza / Bariloche - Bariloche / El Calafate), subject to change; - $225 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 $2945: - 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.