ARGENTINA: PATAGONIA TRAILS (09 Days, 08 Nights)
DAY 01: BUENOS AIRES / EZEIZA INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
Upon arrival to Ezeiza International airport, you will be greeted by your ActiveSinglesTravel and transferred to your hotel. Lunch will take place at a walking distance restaurant.
Our sightseeing starts at the historic Plaza de Mayo square. It is surrounded by the Government House, best known as the "Pink House", which serves as the Government seat; the Cabildo (the old City Hall) and the Cathedral. The Avenida De Mayo is an interesting set of buildings of varied styles that reflect the diversity of its inhabitants. Through this avenue, we reach the Congress Palace. Wide avenues and green areas appear constantly trying to slow down the rhythm of this vibrant city. A sample of this is the 9 de Julio Avenue, with its eight lanes divided by small green squares with old leafy trees and enriched by sculptures and fountains. In the middle of this avenue, in the Plaza de la Republica, the Obelisk arises as a symbol of the city. Heading south, we reach the picturesque neighbourhood port of La Boca with its famous colored street, "Caminito", whose characteristics reflect the culture of the Europeans that landed on these shores at the end of the 19th century, specially the Genovese sailors.
Our visit continues towards San Telmo, one of the oldest neighborhoods in Buenos Aires, which served also as a center for immigrant settlers and which still keeps most of its architectonic patrimony untouched: its colonial houses & cobbled streets. Every Sunday an antique fair is held in Plaza Dorrego. The area has also a lively nightlife as there are many tango houses, restaurants and pubs.
Our visit proceeds towards the modern district of Puerto Madero Docks; Palermo neighborhood distinguished by its elegant residences framed by wide green areas. Finally, we will reach the district of Recoleta, the most sophisticated neighborhood in Buenos Aires. Dinner and overnight at the hotel
Accommodation: Hotel Dazzler Tower (Meals: D)
DAY 02: EL CALAFATE
After breakfast, we will be transferred to the domestic airport (15 mn away) for our flight to El Calafate. Upon arrival in El Calafate, you will be met by your ActiveSinglesTravel's Argentinean Trip Leader and taken to your hotel. The rest of the day is free at leisure. A restaurant is located within a walking distance of your hotel.
Accommodation: Hotel Esplendor de Calafate (Meals: B, D)
DAY 03: EL CALAFATE / LOS GLACIERS NATIONAL PARK / EL CALAFATE
After breakfast at the hotel, we will depart for Los Glaciares National Park, located about 50 mi / 80 km away from El Calafate. At Bajo de las Sombras Bay, we will embark on a catamaran to cross the Rico Arm of Lago Argentino, a 20-minute sail across the lake along the south wall of Perito Moreno Glacier.
Upon arrival at the refuge, you will be welcomed by our expert trekking guides who will brief you about glacier behavior and the particularities of the local forest. A short hike through a dense lenga forest takes you to the glacier edge. Here you will be provided with crampons and instructed about how to walk on the ice. The hike over the glacier, about two hours long, is particularly attractive since it allows you to be in close contact with the millenary ice, its peaks, fissures, small inner lagoons and deep blue drains. Another highlight includes the excellent view of the lake and the land across the lake.
Once you are back at the refuge, enjoy some free time for lunch (box lunch included) fully admiring this amazing wonder of nature. Then, we will cross the lake again and drive towards the parking area with walking paths in front of the massive glacier, allowing you to view the glacier from another perspective before returning to El Calafate along the same road.
Dinner and overnight stay at the hotel.
Accommodation: Hotel Esplendor de Calafate (Meals: B, L, D)
Note: This excursion does not require of any special physical fitness level. It is recommended that you wear trekking boots or tennis-shoes with rubber sole, sweaters, water-proof jackets or rain coats, sun glasses, sun-tan and gloves.
DAY 04: EL CALAFATE / EL CHALTEN
After breakfast at the hotel, we will enjoy a morning drive to the mountain village of El Chalten, located about 125 mi / 200 km away. We will drive around Lago Argentino and Lago Viedma, one of the biggest lakes in South America, with gorgeous views of the mountain ranges, glaciers and blue lakes. The road is almost fully paved now so the trip should take about 4 hrs maximum, including short stops. Upon arrival in El Chalten, we will check-in at our hotel and pick-up our box-lunch for our first walk.
Laguna Torre:
After about 4 hrs of walking, we will reach our first stop. Here, we will be able to see Mount Torre and part of Mount Fitz Roy, as well as the valley that runs along the Fitz-Roy River. We will then continue our trek following this river for another 1.5 hr until we reach De Agostini base camp which offers incredible views of Mount Torre, Egger, Standard and Bífida, as well as the Adelas range, with its magnificent glaciers. Return to our hotel in late afternoon for dinner and overnight stay.
Accommodation: Hotel Lunajuim (Meals: B, D)
DAY 05: EL CHALTEN / RIO BLANCO / LAGUNA DE LOS TRES / EL CHATEN
This morning, we will begin our trail to Fitz Roy which starts at the end of the village through wooded beech trees. After some steep climbing, we will make stops at various viewpoints. We will then arrive at Camp Poincenot and cross the Rio Blanco.
From here the trail goes about 400 m steep up to Laguna de los Tres. The path ends on the older edge of the glacier moraine, with a wonderful view of the lagoon and glacier. This is a close view of the granite wall of Mt. Fitz Roy and its surrounding peaks. You can continue walking along the lake's shore and look down at the emerald green waters of Laguna Sucia and its hanging glaciers.
Once we are back at Rio Blanco base, we walk along this river and visit the Piedras Blancas Glacier before we continue for about one hour until we reach a road at Electrico River, where our vehicle will be waiting for us. Transfer to our hotel. Dinner and overnight stay.
Accommodation: Hotel Lunajuim (Meals: B, L, D)
DAY 06: EL CHALTEN / PLIEGUE TUMBADO HILL / EL CHATEN
After breakfast, get ready for our 9-hr trek to Pliegue Tumbado Hill. You won't regret the sweat because Pliegue Tumbado Hill offers breathtaking scenery of Viedma Lake, Mount Huemul, Del Viento pass, Tunnel River Valley and Toro Lagoon. From the lookout point of Pliegue Tumbado hill, you will enjoy the best panoramic views of the area, including Mounts Fitz Roy and Torre. Dinner and overnight stay.
Accommodation: Hotel Lunajuim (Meals: B, L, D)
DAY 07: EL CHALTEN / BUENOS AIRES
After breakfast, we will be transferred from El Chalten to Calafate airport for our flight to Buenos Aires. Arrival and transfer to your hotel in Buenos Aires. The rest of the day is free for you to explore on your own.
Accommodation: Hotel Dazzler Tower (Meals: B, D)
DAY 08: BUENOS AIRES
Breakfast. Free day at leisure.
Accommodation: Hotel Dazzler Tower (Meals: B)
DAY 09: BUENOS AIRES DEPARTURE
Breakfast. Group Transfer to Ezeiza International airport. End of our services.
