Patagonia & Wineries

Arriving in Buenos Aires, you will be met by a Southern Explorations representative at the international airport. After we get you to your hotel, you'll have the remainder of the day to explore this world-class city on your own. There is much to do in Buenos Aires, from the museums to the markets to the divine cuisine. Many of our travelers enjoy our informative Four Balconies Tour of the city during their short stay here. You'll spend the night at a hotel in one of the capital's interesting neighborhoods.

After breakfast, you'll be taken to the domestic airport for your flight to Mendoza where your driver will transfer you to your hotel to relax for the next segment of your Argentina tour. Take the evening to enjoy a bottle from a local Mendoza winery with dinner. (B)

There will be time in the morning to see the Mendoza sights you may have missed. The city is known for its many parks so you may wish to visit the colonial center, Independence Plaza, Plaza San Martín, Cerro de la Gloria or General San Martín Park or explore unique España Avenue and plaza with its impressive mosaics. After lunch on your own, you'll be transferred to the airport for your midday flight back to Buenos Aires and connecting flight to the resort town of Bariloche, Argentina to begin your Patagonia hiking adventure. Bariloche is set on the shores of scenic Lake Nahuel Huapi. The rest of the day is yours to relax and get acquainted with this pleasant mountain town and its surroundings. (B)

Breakfast will be served at your hotel before you embark on one of two possible outings. Those looking for adventure may enjoy an exciting day of Patagonia river-rafting on the legendary Manso River. A private van will get you to the start of the trip in Nahuel Huapi National Park. At John's Ranch, you'll enjoy coffee on the riverbank, change into your wetsuit and have a safety briefing from your guide. During the thrilling ride through the canyon, you'll pass lush forests. The trip ends at the border with Chile Patagonia where you will change clothes and head back to the ranch for a traditional barbeque. If hiking is your sport, you may choose instead to take one of the gorgeous Patagonia hikes through the mountains surrounding Bariloche. You will be picked up by your guide who will discuss your Patagonia trekking options for the day, to help you select one that suits your interests and physical condition. You'll spend the evening back in Bariloche and enjoy another restful night at your hotel. (B)
*Rafting is only available on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday during the months of October/November/March and available every day of the week during December, January, and February

After breakfast at the hotel, you'll travel to the launching beach for today's excursion on Nahuel Huapi Lake. Regardless of your fitness level or previous kayaking experience, this full day of paddling makes a very pleasurable outing in a heavenly setting. You'll enjoy a delightful picnic lunch on the lake shore. The trip ends at the renowned lakefront Llao-Llao Hotel, where you will transfer back to your hotel in time for dinner. You'll enjoy an evening on your own and another comfortable night in your lodgings. Patagonia Hike & Kayak Option If your group prefers, we can arrange instead to combine relaxed trekking with kayaking. Enjoy breakfast before starting out on this exciting Patagonia tour. From Lopez Bay, you will hike to Tristeza's granite lookout with impressive views of the Lakes Region. Here you will enjoy a tasty lunch before hiking back. You will travel to Moreno Lake and receive a safety briefing. The rest of the afternoon is spent paddling this beautiful lake before returning to your Bariloche hotel. (B,L)

Today's hike begins after breakfast. After two to three hours in this beautiful wilderness, you'll reach the alpine zone for a well-earned rest and to enjoy a superb picnic lunch. On the remaining three to four hours of the hike, you'll continue to be surrounded by pristine lakes and impressive peaks. You'll return to your Bariloche hotel in time for one last pleasant evening. (B,L) Multi Sport Upgrade ($75 Per Person) A perfect option for an adventurous traveler, this unique Patagonia tour mixes hiking, rappelling, and kayaking. In the morning head to the trailhead of a tranquil hike to the natural balconies of Brazo Tristeza. This lookout highlights a brilliant view of the nearby mountains. You can access another balcony by a short ascent aided by a fixed rope, rewarded with breathtaking views of Cerro Tronador and its seven glaciers. A treat for the daring traveler, you rappel down 130 ft to the base of the granite wall where you enjoy a nice meal. Energized after lunch, you travel to Moreno Lake to receive a safety briefing and slip into kayaks. You will tour the beaches of this well-known lake and return to your Bariloche hotel in the late afternoon. (B,L)

You'll have the morning to relax before departing for the airport to catch your flight south 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. Overnight at your charming hotel. (B)  
Patagonia Hiking Details: Piedras Blancas (optional) - 2.5 miles, Altitude gain: 550 ft Cerro Polo (optional) - 3.1 miles, Altitude gain: 2,200 ft

After breakfast, you will start a full day of hiking a 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 half hour of hiking, you reach the viewpoint of the Fitz Roy River and Margarita waterfall. Continue for another 30 minutes until you reach the Mirador del Cerro Torre, a lookout facing the Cerro Torre and Adelas ranges. From this point, the trail descends into the valley. 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. You will have time to enjoy the view, eat lunch, and rest before returning on the same trail to the town of El Chalten. (B, L)  
Patagonia Hiking Details: 11-12 miles / Elevation gain: 1,000-1200 ft / Average time: 7 hours

Today's segment of trekking Patagonia includes a full-day hike to the Laguna Capri base camp (Fitz Roy base camp). The hike towards Fitz Roy features spectacular views of the massif. 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). You will begin hiking south from El Pilar, passing Laguna Piedras Blancas on the way 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. Stop en route for lunch and then resume the hike to Laguna Capri, where the image of Mt. Fitz Roy is reflected. You'll enjoy spectacular views of the sweeping Patagonian steppe and Fitz Roy, highlights of any Patagonia tour. After a full day of hiking, return to your hotel for a good meal and night's sleep. (B, L)
Patagonia Hiking Details: 13-14 miles / Elevation gain 2200-2300ft / Average time: 9 hours

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)

Optional Self-Guided Tour: Glacier Museum Approximate Fees: Museum - $20 (80 Argentine Pesos); Roundtrip bus - $6 (25 Argentine Pesos) For those interested in learning about the formation and recession of glaciers during their Patagonia tours, a visit to the Glaciarium is a must. This one-of-a-kind ice museum is located six miles outside El Calafate. To get there, every hour on the hour, buses leave from the center of town. After exploring the history of the Patagonian ice fields, you may cap off this memorable experience with a drink at the museum’s Glacio Bar. The entire bar including the drink cups, tables and chairs are made entirely of ice.

After breakfast, you will be picked up from your El Calafate hotel. An hour long bus ride takes you to the Bajo de las Sombras port on the shore of Lake Argentino. From there, you will board a comfortable boat for a 20 minute navigation across the lake. The cruise offers incredible views of the Perito Moreno glacier with its massive front wall of blue ice and surrounding field of icebergs. Following a beach landing, you’ll stop at a small shelter where the trekkers will be divided into groups of less than twenty. A short walk along an ancient beech forest takes you to the edge of the glacier, a prime location for photographing this spectacular natural wonder. You will be fitted with crampons and receive a safety briefing from your guides before beginning an unforgettable two hour trek on the glacier, with time for photos and a lunch break. This moderate trek will take you past small streams, lagoons, crevasses, and other ice formations as you explore the fascinating landscape of the Perito Moreno glacier. After completing the trek, you will embark on the boat for the return trip across the lake. A short bus ride brings you to an elaborate boardwalk system located across the lake from the glacier. From here you will be able to view and photograph the glacier from many angles, and possibly witness icebergs calving thunderously into the lake. In the late afternoon, you will return to your hotel for another comfortable night's rest. (B,L)
**The upper age limit for the mini-trek portion of this trip is 65, regardless of fitness level.  Click here for the alternative tours available.**

Your tour of Patagonia ends with a transfer to the El Calafate airport in time to connect with your flight to Buenos Aires. Upon arrival transfer to the international airport. (B)