Patagonia Tours, Glacier Adventure (11 days)

Day 1

Reception at International Airport.
Free Day. Optional Buenos Aires City Tour, Argentina`s Capital is one of the largest cities in the world. Gateway to the country, this metropolis is proof of the Argentinean heterogeneous essence. With its own taste of bars and restaurants and a mixture of architectural styles, Buenos Aires is a city of multiple contrasts. Melancholy is breathed in every neighborhood and, as you walk and explore it, you may perceive the spirit of tango. The tourist is marveled by Buenos Aires`s charm. Hotel Lodging (down-town Buenos Aires).

Day 2

Transfer to J.Newbery Airport in private.
Flight to Calafate.
We receive you at El Calafate Airport and transfer to hotel. You meet your guide, and you enjoy a dinner with your adventure partners while chatting on the program details for the next day.

Day 3

After breakfast we travel by bus to El Chalten, a little and colorful town next to Mount Fitz Roy. To arrive to El Chalten we will cross 190 km of gravel road through the Patagonia steppe and we will stop at La Leona, a picturesque inn to enjoy his homemade cakes. From here, the views on the Viedma Lake are superb. When we arrive to the town, carrying only the necessary for this three days trip, in wich we will lodge in a Full Camp. A beautiful trail next to ¨Las Vueltas¨ river will take us to the first panoramic views of the Mount Fitz Roy. From now on, we will be approaching to De los Patos Lagoon. And finally we will arrive to our camp next to the Capri Lagoon. (3 hours approx.)
The Camp has been previously mounted, featuring spacious dome tents, used in double or single base. Each tent has sleeping bags, inner sheet and insulating mattresses. The camp has a large dining tent with table, benches, dishes and kitchenware. The sanitary services are provided with chemical bathrooms.

Day 4

Early in the morning and carrying only your coat and the photo camera we overcome the Chorrillo Salt, always with the impressive needles of the glacier in front of us. The first 2 hours are mainly flat, through forest and open glade and bog areas, with diverse bird life, lead us to Fitz Roy base camp. From here it is a 400 meters/1300 ft climb to the De los Tres lagoon on a steep trail that takes us around one hour and a half at gentle pace. This walk is one of the highlights in the National Park Los Glaciares; the views of Cerro Poincenot, Monte Fitz Roy and the other peaks surrounding these are splendid. We return to Capri Lagoon Full Camp. (5 hours approx.)

Day 5

This morning we hike surrounding Capri Lagoon down by the trail to Madre e Hija Lagoons through a dense forest following the Fitz Roy River. We reach the Mount Torre Valley to glacier-fed Laguna Torre where Fitz Roy river begins. This lagoon contained between moraines, generally piles floes that come off of the Grande Glacier that falls in its west extreme. The impressive group of Mount Torre needles with its slender 3128 meters/10262 ft height, frame the landscape.

Day 6

In the morning we walk the area near Torre Lagoon, with nice views of the Solo Mount and the Adela Glacier. Optionally, you can choose to do a trek on the Torre Glacier, the Holiday On Ice Excursion. We put on our crampons (provided) and trek on the glacier`s surface and develop our ice climbing skills (harness and ice axes provided).
We return on the same trail to El Chaltén, where the passenger will lodge that night.

Day 7

In the morning each participant can opt to explore the town of El Chalten freely, with the possibility of visiting The Climbers Chapel; or the Matzen family country, one of the pioneering families in the area; the Del Desierto Lake located 45 Km out of town or to visit the Interpretive Center of National Parks. Around 5 pm we move toward El Calafate retracing the same road we did, arriving to El Calafate around 21 hs.

Day 8

After breakfast we depart by bus to the Magallanes peninsula, where is located the entrance of The Glaciers National Park. Its centerpiece is the Perito Moreno Glacier, which, because of unusually favorable local conditions, is one of the world`s few advancing glaciers. Huge icebergs from the glacier wall collapse into the De los Tempanos Channel. The roar of the gigantic ice rocks falling and crashing into the waters of the channel is a unique experience. Our bus will lead us just in front of the Glacier, allowing us to walk the gangplanks to view the Glacier from different viewpoints.

Then we go down to the lakeside to board a ship that carries us very near the Glacier ice walls. We return to El Calafate using a different route that we used to arrive.

Day 9

Free day in El Calafate. Optional : Upsala Glacier Sailing. (Leaving from our port at Puerto Punta Bandera at 8.00 a.m., the excursion begins with navigation along the northern arm of the Lake and later on the Upsala Arm of the Lake where we find impressive icebergs until we reach the imposing views of the Upsala Glacier. The adventure continues with navigation of the Cristina Arm of the lake until we reach the Estancia. This privileged spot prides itself on being the best access by land to the Glacier as well as the Ice Cap.)

Day 10

Transfer to El Calafate Airport. Flight to Buenos Aires. Free day. Reception and tranfer to Hotel. Free Afternoon. This big city is often called "The Paris of South America". Drive down the widest boulevard on earth, 9 de Julio, past the Obelisk commemorating 400 years of history, past the Colon Opera House and many other places of interest in this sophisticated European style city. Afternoon at leisure to explore at your own pace. There is an outdoor antique flea market in historic San Telmo and a street artisan fair in fashionable Recoleta.

Day 11

Transfer to International Airport. End of our services. B

This Includes:

" Domestic airfares.
" Mentioned Meals (B: Break-fast/ L: Lunch/ D: Dinner)

In Buenos Aires:

" Airport/Hotel/Airport transfers
" 02 nights in selected hotel or similar with breakfast included.

In Calafate:

" Airport/Hotel /Airport transfers.
" 04 nights in Calafate City in selected hostel or similar with breakfast included.
" A full day tour to Perito Moreno Excursion. Regular service.

In El Chalten:

" 01 night in El Chalten town in selected hostel or similar with breakfast included.
" 03 Nights in Full Camp-site. Exclusive Service.
" Expedition to Mount Fitz Roy and Mount Torre in private service. All in National Park Los Glaciares.

Not Included:

" International flights
" Airport and/or port fees
" Excess baggage
" Entrance fees to places mentioned
" Tips
" National local or international phone calls
" Personal expenses and extras not mentioned.