Welcome to Argentina! Upon arrival at the airport in Buenos Aires, you will be greeted by a local representative and transferred directly to your hotel, for a smooth and comfortable start to your adventure. Get settled into your room, freshen up and enjoy your first evening amidst the lively streets of this colorful city! (This service is on a private basis.) (This service is on a private basis.)

Buenos Aires

The cosmopolitan city of Buenos Aires is the colorful capital of Argentina. Known as the "Paris of South America", Buenos Aires is steeped in culture, unique to this extraordinary country. Feel the rhythm with tango dancers in the streets of La Boca, discover the history behind Recoleta's neighborhood attractions and wake your senses up with delicious flavors in the Palermo district. Buenos Aires is a great base from which to explore a variety of iconic Argentine experiences.

Today, you will be picked up at your hotel in 4:00PM and transferred to the airport in good time to board your domestic flight to 4:00PM. Upon arrival in 4:00PM, you will be greeted at the airport by your driver and transferred to your hotel. (This service is on a private basis.)

Ushuaia

Ushuaia, the world’s southernmost city, is located in Argentina's Tierra del Fuego on the shores of the Beagle Channel, with the snow-peaked Martial Mountains spanning the horizon. The small port city of Ushuaia was a prison colony until the mid 20th century and today is the capital of Tierra del Fuego. The name Tierra del Fuego (Land of Fire) was given to the region by the Portuguese sailor Hernando de Magallanes, who saw the indigenous group Ona making fires on the coast while he was sailing through the Magellan Strait in 1520.

Full Day Gable Island & Penguin Excursion

Today's excursion takes you on a voyage to navigate, to walk and to make discoveries in one of the roughest and most beautiful places of the entire Beagle Channel. Once you have arrived at Lasiphashaj River, gear up with your rubber boots, over pants and life-jackets, which will be provided by your guide. You will then push off from the shore for a canoeing adventure down the river that leads into the sea. Once the gliding waters bring you to the Beagle Channel, you will set course to the ranch. Along the way, you are likely to encounter the resident wildlife. Keep your eyes out, especially for the many types of colorful sea birds. It is even common to admire sea lions sunbathing on little islands, as you continue your voyage towards Harberton Port.

After 2 hours on the rafts and a short stop on terra firma, you will continue your expedition on a motor boat towards Martillo Island. Here, you will have the unique opportunity to marvel at the penguins in their breeding lair. Afterwards, continue your motor boat journey to the main attraction of the tour at Gable Island. Stop to indulge in some tasty local snacks, good wine and a delicious lunch here. After a nice cup of coffee, you will head out for a hike to get to know more about this gorgeous island and see it for yourself. This leisurely trek will lead you crossing over beaver dams and through the forest, until you reach the Beagle Channel shore. There, a boat will be waiting for the return journey to Ushuaia. (This service is on a group basis.)

Tierra del Fuego Trekking & Canoe Excursion

Tierra del Fuego National Park is one of the most frequently visited places in Ushuaia. It is close to the city, is easily accessible and does not require to be approached in any particular way. It is said that it can be visited any way you might want, but the sure thing, is that it might not reveal its secret to those who do not truly explore the landscape or do not pay enough attention to the wonders hidden inside it. Today, you will get to discover the true nature of the secret within the Tierra del Fuego National Park. With your specialized and extraordinary guides, you will get to know this recovered paradise in detail, where the mountains are accessible from the sea, and the fresh water of rivers and lakes mixes with the sea.

On this tour, you get to walk through the forest, canoe down rivers and across lagoons, to reach the famous Lapataia Bay. You will take a trip around the National Park, immersing yourself in ornithology, geology, ecology, trekking, canoeing and photography. You will be guided along by expertise, service and attention to detail, for the most fulfilling excursion. This will allow you to concentrate on every attraction the area has to offer. It is not far from Ushuaia city, and getting there will be an easy trip. Lunch and the entrance fees to the National Park will be included during today's outing. (This service is on a group basis.)

Today, you will be picked up at your hotel in 4:00PM and transferred to the airport in good time to board your domestic flight to El Calafate. Upon arrival in El Calafate, you will be greeted at the airport by your driver and transferred to your hotel in El Chalten. (This service is on a private basis.)

El Chalten

El Chalten is nestled in the heart of the Southern Patagonian Andes, at the base of the iconic Fitz Roy Mountain. This destination is an adventure lover's paradise, with close proximity to the Los Glacieres National Park in the north. The region offers everything from leisurely walks that showcase epic lookout points, to expedition style trekking and even mountaineering. Other activities include camping, climbing, horseback riding, fishing, bird watching or visiting the legendary Estancias in Santa Cruz. No matter what you are here for, El Chalten promises to keep you captivated.

Full Day Cerro Torre Trek

Mount Torre, often known as Cerro Torre, is famous for its pristine beauty and notorious for the difficulty of its climb. Countless expeditions attempt to master its summit every year, with Cerro Torre widely considered to be one of the most challenging mountains in the world. With vertical walls, dramatic changes in weather and winds of more than 100 kilometers per hour, this is not a place for the faint hearted or inexperienced, if looking to reach the top!

Not to worry though, as your moderate hike adventure today, will be far less strenuous! The trail begins with a gradual and gorgeous ascent towards El Mirador. This scenic lookout point will be the perfect chance to catch your first unhindered glimpse of Mount Torre. From El Mirador, you will hike the short distance down to the Fitz Roy river valley along flat land, trekking among shrubs and other native flora, adapted to this pristine environment. The trail will lead you into an enchanting woodland and eventually, you will reach the last great glacial area surrounding the lake. Finishing up on the banks of Laguna Torre, you will be welcomed with a reward of the breathtaking view of Mount Torre and the Torre glacier. No photograph could ever do justice to this truly memorable sight, so take your time to admire it to the fullest!

Guided Fitz Roy Trek

Today, you will embark on a guided tour of the most sought after trek and viewpoint, with spectacular sights of the Fitz Roy massif. This is a private trek, however your transfers to and from your hotel, will be based on a shared service. This natural viewpoint is undoubtedly the most famous of all walks situated close to the imposing walls of Mount Fitz Roy and its surrounding granite peaks. A medium on the difficulty scale, this trek takes about 5 hours in each direction and will be at an elevation of 700 meters from El Chalten. The best time of year for this excursion is normally from October to May.

The headtrail begins at the end of Avenida San Martín, where El Chaltén town ends and your guide will be leaving the car. The slope is quite steep during the first hour, until you reach Del Salto stream valley, towards Mount Fitz Roy. You will notice that the Antarctic Beech trees become more and more visible along the path, and approximately an hour and a half further down the way, you will reach a well marked natural viewpoint. There, you will find a sign that interprets the whole landscape that lies before your eyes. Great photo opportunity!

The trail continues up along the Del Salto stream, until reaching the drainage of the Lagunas Madre e Hija. Four hours away from the starting point, you will arrive to Poincenot base camp (big free campsite) and after crossing the Río Blanco, you will arrive to Río Blanco base camp (only for climbers). From there, the path continues in ascent approximately 400 meters, until you reach Laguna de los Tres. Congratulations, you made it! The trail finishes at the old moraine ridge with an extraordinary view of the lagoon and De los Tres Glacier. This is the closest view to the granite wall of Mount. Fitz Roy and the peaks around that you can get. Heading down the moraine, you can take a trail that surrounds the lagoon until its outfall, where it is possible to admire the emerald waters of the Laguna Sucia and its hanging glaciers.

Note: Although the access to this viewpoint is possible during the months listed above, the access to this trek can vary depending on the accumulation of snow, especially in its last stretch. We always recommend to check the condition of the trail at the Visitors' Center of Los Glaciares National Park located just before the entrance to El Chalten. (This service is on a private basis.)

Today, you will be picked up at your hotel in El Chalten and transferred to your accommodations in El Calafate. (This service is on a private basis.)

El Calafate

The small town of El Calafate is located on the southern border of Lake Argentino, in the great Patagonia region of Argentina. This quiet little town is the gateway to Los Glaciares National Park, home of the famous Perito Moreno Glacier and the Cerro Torre. The Perito Moreno Glacier is the largest advancing glacier in the world. Due to its idyllic location, the opportunities for outdoor adventure are unparalleled. From hiking through snow capped mountain peaks and cycling around wide open lakes, to trekking the icy surface of glaciers and paddling past ice blocks in kayaks, you can find it all!

Mini Trekking Perito Moreno Glacier

Depart from the hotel towards Los Glaciares National Park entrance and Ventisquero Perito Moreno (westwards, 80km, 1 hr easy drive, paved route, no toilet on route).

This excursion begins in the embarking pier located in “Bajo de las Sombras” bay- about 6 km before the glacier Balconies- where you embark for 20 minutes navigation across the Rico Arm, enjoying the views of the glacier’s front walls and Icebergs Channel. You disembark on the opposite shore, where specialized mountain guides welcome you and lead you to a small shelter. After checking the last details, groups of 20 follow their guides along the lake’s shore towards the edge of the glacier. Once on the ice the guides put each participant a pair of crampons on, and explain how to use them.-

The two hours circuit that follows introduces you to the landscape of the glaciers: streams, small lagoons, gullies and plenty of ice formations of the most incredible blues. The trekking is moderate. The ice surface over which you walk is irregular, but firm and safe. You will receive explanations about flora, fauna and general glaciology of the region and also about the particular phenomenon that happens in the Perito Moreno Glacier and eventually produces its rupture. After the walk, a stroll through the forest brings you back to the shelter, and onto the boat, to head back to the port.

Slow drive along panoramic zigzag road for 15 km to visit to main vista point, boarding Lago Roca lake shores. Upon arrival, stop for 2-3 hrs for short walks in the area along the 3.5 km “pasarelas” vantage point in front of the glacier (up and down wooden and fenced loop-trail). The Perito Moreno glacier was declared a "Mankind Heritage Site" by the UNESCO.

During the short walks, you will be able to witness the ice detachment phenomena, with the hollow sounds of ice falling and becoming smaller floating glaciers. Periodically the glacier advances over the L-shaped Argentino Lake forming a natural dam which separates the two halves of the lake when it reaches the opposite shore. With no escape route, the water-level on the “Brazo Rico” side of the lake can rise by up to 30 meters above the level of the main lake. The enormous pressure produced by the height of the dammed water finally breaks the ice barrier holding it back, in a spectacular rupture event. This dam/rupture cycle is not regular and it recurs naturally at any frequency between once a year to less than once a decade.

Return to Calafate is by the same route.

*Please note park entrance fee cannot be included and must be paid directly (currently 500 pesos, approximately $28)

Duration: 8 hours
Driving time: 80 km / 1.5 hours
Difficulty: moderate / requires no special skills
Elevation: none
Restrictions for the minitrekking: + 10 years old and - 65 years old. Not advisable for pregnant women, people with overweight or some types of disability. (This service is on a group basis.)

Today, you will be met and transferred to the El Chalten Airport for your flight back to Buenos Aires. On arrival, you will check into your international departing flight. We hope you enjoyed your experience and we wish you a safe and pleasant flight home.