Senast uppdaterad: 2011-10-25
Itinerary
Day 1
Gathering at the Hotel in Buenos Aires.
Day 2-3 Buenos Aires
You have a couple of days to discover Buenos Aires, the home town of the vibrating tango. Buenos Aires has seen many great historical personalities throughout the times; the freedom fighter José de San MartÃn, the tango legend Carlos Gardel, the first lady Evita Perón, the author Jorge Luis Borges, the revolutionary Ernesto "Che" Guevara, the soccer legend Diego Armando Maradona amongst others.
Buenos Aires is a beautiful city with buildings from the colonial era, many leafy avenues and an innumerable variety of cafés and restaurants. The pink equivalence to the White House, Casa Rosada, is situated in the town centre. If history tickles your fancy, you can visit Evita Peróns grave at the cemetery at JunÃn 1760, in the Recoleta quarters. Experience the people and the atmosphere of Buenos Aires by wondering through one of the parks, along Paseo Florida. Bring your pick-nick and enjoy it in a park or try a local café, like; Café Biela at Quintana 600 or the legendary Café Tortoni at Avenida de Mayo 825, see the world pass by in slow-motion, while you try, some of the local culinary specialities. This is the city of soccer, with famous arenas such as Estadio Monumental and La Bombonera, the home of two world known teams, River Plate, respectively Boca Juniors. You should not miss the opportunity to visit one of the many tango bars. After the deep economical crisis duringBuenos Aires has now become a metropolis, which has attracted creative people from all over, from filmmakers to authors, architects and artists.
Day 4 El Calafate
Flight to El Calafate in the Argentinian part of Patagonia.
Day 5-7 Los Glaciares
By bus to the village El Chaltén where you hike during three days in the national park, Parque National Los Glaciares, with the little village as base. The national park offer some of Argentina's best hiking with spectacular views towards the 3445 m high granite massif, Monte Fitz Roy. The trails go through the mountains and the valleys, though forests, past waterfalls and glaciers, all the time with breathtaking views over barren (karga) landscapes and pointy mountains. The easiest form of accommodation is to stay over night in the village, El Chaltén, and make daily excursions in the national park. If you want to explore larger areas of the national park you need to camp at different sites. Talk to the tour leader if you are interested in this option. Both options of accommodation are included in the price, and regardless of which you choose, you will get a good first taste of the unique landscape of Patagonia.
Day 8 Perito Moreno
The opportunity to admire one of the most spectacular sights in all of Argentina is to see the white glacier Perito Moreno slowly give birth to large ice blocks down into the cold water. It is said that the sounds of the ice blocks can be heard all the way to El Calafate, 80 km away. The best chance to see the glacier give birth is a sunny afternoon, but early morning light also provides a beautiful setting.
Day 9 Puerto Natales
Your first stop on Chile's side of the boarder is the little harbor town, Puerto Natales. It lies perfectly situated by the water, surrounded by mountain tops.
Day 10-14 Torres del Paine
You leave by bus early in the morning to the national park, Parque Nacional del Paine, the name refers to the three impressive granite cones rising 2600 meters. Glaciers, primeval forests and turquoise lakes surround the cones. Parque Nacional del Paine offers advanced hiking. However, the landscape in-between the cones is rather flat. You have five days to explore Parque Nacional del Paine, where Scandinavians have set their mark by leaving remains such as lakes called Nordenskiöld and Upsala. Apart from the extra ordinary nature there is an extensive wildlife in the national park. Parque Nacional del Paine, is home to 150 different bird species of which one is the South American condor, the worlds biggest flying bird; the black necked swan; wild hares; the Patagonian fox; guanacos, wild lamas; rhea, the South American ostrich and many more animals. The weather is mostly rather cold and windy, even during summer heavy rains and storms can occur. But sunny days are not too rare either. And when the sun shines through and the wind abates (mojnar), the distinctive landscape truly gives you its most spectacular sight. Our tour is a long and very rewarding trek of 4 nights and 5 days. You will spend the nights at different campsite. You will be equipped with tents at the campsites. On the second, third and fifth day you will have to carry everything you brought to the national park. Therefore it is recommended to leave as much luggage as you can in Puerto Natales before you go to the park. Take only the absolutly necessary things with you. During the days in Torres del Paine you will be accompagned by a local park guide. Expect to hike aproxamatly 8-9 hours per day. There is an option of sleeping in small cottages called "refugios" during the hiking in Torres del Paine, depending on availability. However this option is at your own cost. The last day you return to Puerto Natales, where you spend the night.
Day 15 Ushuaia
You continue with bus from Puerto Natales over Tierra del Fuego to Ushuaia. Prepare yourself for 12-14 hours on the bus, depending on the customs at the Chilean-Argentine border. The reward is crossing over to Tierra del Fuego by ferry and driving through the harsh landscape. Ushuaia is commonly regarded as the southernmost town in the world and situated dramatically by the Beagle canal with high mountains around.
Day 16 Puerto Williams, Isla Navarino
At the present the options of flying to Isla Navarino are limited and therefore you will cross over the Beagle Canal from Ushuaia by boat. You will arrive at Puerto Williams in Chile, the southernmost permanent settlement on earth. The winds over the Beagle Canal are often very strong so be prepared for a bumpy boat ride. The journey can take 1-4 hours depending on the weather. If it is too stormy the ports might even be temporarily closed.
Day 17-18 Isla Navarino
The island Isla Navarino, a 4000 km² of wilderness, with very few visitors, is a small paradise for nature enthusiast. During three days you will hike in the unique landscape, with the possibility to see, guanacos (wild lamas) and condors. The trails, that are said to be made by lamas, not men, will take you to mountains tops, beech (bok) forests and lakes. Isla Navarino is the former homestead to the Yamana culture, which can be witnessed by the 3000 year old ancient remains. Here you will experience the true essence of Patagonia - the silence, stillness, widths, the capricious (nyckfulla) weather and the feeling of being at the end of the world. If the previously mentioned weather allows you will camp during the hiking on Isla Navarino, otherwise daily excursions will be made from Puerto Williams. Hiking on Isla Navarino is demanding due to the rough weather conditions and often muddy trails. If you go hiking and camping be prepared to leave as much things as possible in Puerto Williams to eliminate unnecessary weight. On Isla Navarino you hike approxamatly 6 hours per day.
Day 19-21 Ushuaia
Cross the Beagle Canal by boat to Ushuaia in Argentina. This will give you an opportunity to get better acquainted with this special town and its beautiful surroundings. You will make an excursion to a penguin colony outside Ushuaia. If you have extra time you could visit Parque Nacional Tierra del Fuego, just outside town.
Day 22
Flight to Buenos Aires and a last chance to experience Argentina's capital during this journey.
Day23
The journey is finished.
