The tour It starts at the airport of the main city of Comodoro Rivadavia, in the Gulf de San Jorge, in the Atlantic coast, crosses Patagonia from east to west, and follows the legendary route 40, which runs all from north to south of Argentina at the foot of the Andes, something like 5000 km of road. The highlights of the trip are visiting the Cuevas de las Manos (literally Cave of Hands - ancient paintings), lakes Buenos Aires, Pueyrredón and Posadas, we will have the chance in good weather conditions to see mounts San Lorenzo and San Valentín (the two giants of Southern Patagonia).
Later we arrive to El Chalten in order to visit the Nacional Park of Los Glaciares. Our trip end with a visit to the Glaciar Perito Moreno
Day 1 Comodoro Rivadavia – Los Antiguos
Our trip begins 2 pm at the restaurant of Comodoro Rivadavia airport, which will be our meeting point. We travel southbound along the Atlantic coast skirting the Gulf San Jorge for 70 km to enter Caleta Olivia, main oil producing city in Patagonia. From here we turn west to leave the Atlantic behind and start our approach to the Andes. After 350 km (paved road) we reach Los Antiguos, on the shores of Lago Buenos Aires, the second largest lake in America after Titicaca. We are 2 km away from the Chilean border.
Lodging at Hosteria or Inn, double or single room with private bathroom.
Meals we provide: Dinner
Day 2 Los Antiguos – Lago Posadas
From Los Antiguos (famous for its cherry production) we travel south along route 40 to get to the Pinturas River Canyon and visit the “Cueva de las Manos” (Cave of the Hands, literally), ancient paintings 10,000 years old. We travel then west to Lago Posadas, small and picturesque town and gateway to Lakes Posadas and Pueyrredón on the Argentinean side. We drive this day approximately 360 km, 60 of them paved. Lodging at Hosteria or Inn, double or single room with private bathroom.
Meals we provide: Breakfast, box lunch, dinner
Day 3 River Oro Canyon – Lake Pueyrredón
Lakes Posadas (blue) and Pueyrredón (green), separated by a narrow stripe of land, are probably two of the most beautiful lakes of southern Patagonia. They lay in a large glacier valley, separating the Highlands of Lake Buenos Aires from Cerro San Lorenzo massif. We use this day to visit this beautiful valley and the surroundings of both lakes. We’ll see strange and colourful rock formations, wetlands and birds. We also visit the River Oro Canyon, which comes from Cerro San Lorenzo to Lake Pueyrredón. Lodging at Hosteria or Inn, double or single room with private bathroom.
Meals we provide: Breakfast, box lunch, dinner.
Day 4 Lago Posadas – El Chalten
Alter breakfast we get on the bus for the final sprint to El Chalten, 550 km south. On our way, different birds and flowers will give life to the desert-type landscape. We have lunch in a Patagonian style stop-over place. The final 100 km westbound features lake and glacier Viedma and the spires of Fitz Roy massif and Cerro Torre group. Arrival to Chalten is scheduled around 7 pm where the coordination of the tour leader ends. Lodging at Hosteria or Inn, double or single room with private bathroom.
Meals we provide: Breakfast.
Day 5 El Chalten – Day Off
From this day, the tour will be coordinated by our receptive services; these will allow to the passenger to take different excursions and activities. Since this is a free day, you ca choose between a trek to the view point of the Torre Mount or the one of the Fitz Roy mountain or just chill in the nearby of the town. Lodging at Hosteria or Inn, double or single room with private bathroom.
Meals we provide: Breakfast.
Day 6 El Chalten – Viedma lake boat trip
Alter breakfast, we leave in bus to the Bahia tunel Port where the slip that will take us to the Viedma Glacier departs. The amazing glacier has a one front superior to the Moreno Glacier will show us its colours. Later we’ll be able to descent the ship and take a small trek over it. Lodging at Hosteria or Inn, double or single room with private bathroom.
Meals we provide: Breakfast.
Day 7 El Chalten – El Calafate
The morning will be free to enjoy different activities or just to rest. Among the different activities, we can visit the Balcones Del Cerro Pliegue Tumbado with its wonderful and panoramic views of the National Park. Another option is to visit the Estancia Madsen (one of the first inhabitants of the area) in the nearby of the town.
In the afternoon we’ll be transferred in our bus to el Calafate, where we’ll be taken later to our accommodation. Lodging at Hosteria or Inn, double or single room with private bathroom.
Meals we provide: Breakfast.
Day 8 El Calafate – Perito Moreno glacier
We dedicate this day to one of the World’s Natural Wonder: the Moreno glacier. This ice field- type glacier flows down from the Patagonian Ice field, and big sheet of ice that with its 22.000 square kilometres is the third largest glacier area in the world, after Antarctica (14 M sq km) and Greenland (1 M sq km). Because unusual favourable local conditions, this glacier is the only one in the world that shows a closure and rupture process. The road leads to the very front of the glacier, which will be only meters away from your eyes. A beautiful, short trail, will lead us from the shores of the lake to the upper viewpoints. The roar of the chunks of ice falling inside the glacier or from the glacier into the lake, the frequent collapse of the front seracs into the turquoise water, makes out of this day a very special and unique experience. We will drive 80 km (1 and a half hour) to get and come back from the glacier across the steppe, watching a wide variety of birds. Lodging at Hosteria or Inn, double or single room with private bathroom.
Meals we provide: Breakfast
Day 9 Optional: boat trip in the Argentine lake
This day is free, with the possibility to choose between the optional proposals that the city of the Calafate offers.
They stand out among them, the boat trip of the Argentinean Lake. It starts in the banderas harbour, from where the ship will take us to the most impressive glaciers of the National Park: The Upsala and the Spegazzini. It’s also possible to have lunch in the Onelli Bay alter visiting it.
In the afternoon we go to the Upsala glacier (which is the biggest one in the National Park).the town also has other options such us rides in 4 x 4 and more. Lodging at Hosteria or Inn, double or single room with private bathroom.
Meals we provide: Breakfast
Day 10 El Calafate airport
After breakfast we take our transfer to El Calafate airport where our services end.
Meals we provide: breakfast.
Bilingual guide (Spanish - ingles) in all the programmed excursions
Billingual Tour leader from the day 1 to the day 4 (arrival to El Chalten)
All excursions as shown in the itinerary.
All transportation as shown in the itinerary combining private and regular buses.
Transfer Comodoro Rivadavia Airport - Los Antiguos - Lago Posadas - El Chalten - El Calafate.
9 breakfasts, 2 box lunch y 3 dinners as detailed below.
9 nights lodging in Hosterias double or single room with private bathroom
Meeting Point The Meeting Point for the Group on Day 1 is at 2 pm at the Restaurant of the Comodoro Rivadavia Airport. This Meeting Point can be modified and will be confirmed upon booking confirmation of the passenger.
Not included:
Entrance fees to National Parks.
Medical and life insurance.
Tips.
Drinks and beverages (all foods are without alcoholic or non alcoholic drinks).
Flights or airport taxes.
Optional excursions.
Services not shown or detailed in the program.
List of suggested personal equipment:
Backpack, 40 lts or so
Trekking shoes or boots
Thermal underwear
Trekking pants
Fleece
Parka and overpants
Gaiters
Gloves
Termal socks
The necessary spare cloth
Wool hat
Sun hat
Sun glasses
Sun screen (UV is very strong during the southern spring, from september thru december)
Personal items
Lamp
Trekking poles (recommended, if you are use to them)
Personal medication
Personal documents to cross the border between Argentina and Chile.
Weather in Patagonia is unpredictable. Not very cold, but it is usually windy. To dress in layers is the best advice.
