ARGENTINA FIXED DEPARTURES – 15 days & 14 nights

Today we continue our exploration of the city and visit the posh-chic municipalities in the north of Buenos Aires. The well-kept parks and splendid neoclassical buildings of the districts of Palermo and Recoleta tell us that the landowning aristocracy of Argentina has always been at home here. At the central cemetery, we marvel at baroque mausoleums and visit the world-famous tomb of Evita Perón. In one of the sprawling parks in Palermo we take a break in the afternoon in the shade. Anyone who wants can feel like a “Porteño” when drinking mate. The afternoon is at your free disposal. Discover the city on your own or go shopping in one of the many shopping malls.
Our insider tip for this evening – wine tasting in ”La Choza de Gascón”:
Argentina is known for its good wines. Five course steak and wine dinner at 20.30pm. In addition to Argentine grills and other regional dishes, you can taste very exclusive wines from small, high-quality wineries. (B, D)

Breakfast. Free day! Today you can visit the city on your own rhythm. Go shopping or stroll through the typical streets of Buenos Aires.
OPTIONAL: you can book a tango show including dinner tonight. (B)

Transfer to the airport and flight to Trelew. Reception by your local guide and excursion to the penguin colony of Punta Tombo, the world’s largest nesting site for Magellan penguins. Even before you reach the beach, you hear them and then suddenly they are everywhere! Hundreds of thousands of penguins on the hills, on the road and in the sea. From September to April, you can experience all the stages of a penguin life: from courtship, nesting, rearing, until the full-grown penguin swims back to the cold south. Then transfer to Puerto Madryn, located directly on the Atlantic Ocean. Then transfer to Puerto Madryn.

Breakfast in the hotel. Today, a full-day excursion to the Valdés peninsula is on the program. The journey first leads along the Golfo Nuevo to the Golfo San José, from which one sees the ’bird island’ from a short distance. Throughout the year, you can see sea animals roaming ashore or in the sheltered bays north and south of the Valdés peninsula. The entire Valdés peninsula is a nature reserve and provides shelter for countless species of birds, as well as sea lions and elephant seals roaring on the beaches and cliffs overlooking the ocean. The whales will come to near the coast from April and stay until mid-December. During the season, a boat tour for whale watching can optionally be booked through our local office. Overnight at the accommodation as the night before. (B)

After breakfast, transfer to the airport to fly to the end of the world, to Ushuaia, the southernmost city on earth.
Flight Buenos Aires – Ushuaia
Once there, the first highlight awaits us, because what would a visit to Tierra del Fuego be without a detour to the national park of the same name? Our adventure starts with a drive to a viewpoint where we can enjoy the wonderful panoramic view of the Beagle Channel. Then we trek off the tourist routes through beautiful landscapes, until we finally reach our destination, the Lapataia bay. Here we are at the end of the famous Panamericana road and to the south is only the Antarctic. (B)

Live an unforgettable journey in a picturesque village by the sea. You will feel like a local sailing, catching your own crab and cooking it in a family house. All while learning the culinary secrets to make it in a Patagonian style!
Nathan wakes early to a bright sunrise. He looks out the window and feels this will be a great day for crabbing. Our adventurous traveler and his family came to visit one of the most remote corners of the world in search of the best fishing. We will pick you up from your hotel and drive you along the National Route 3. Upon reaching the intersection with “J” Route, they take a gravel road through a dense native forest. We see “turbales” in formation, which are rare ecosystems containing dead organic material derived from plants that have adapted to certain conditions of this region.
As we reach the coast, we head east and start walking into the woods to a tumbling waterfall. It falls from the narrowing of the Lasifashaj River’s Valley. After this enjoyable and healthy one-hour hike, we take some time for good conversation accompanied with comforting coffee and snacks.
Back in our vehicle we take our travelers to Puerto Almanza, the southernmost fishing port in Argentina. Located on the coasts of the Beagle Channel in the Almirante Brown Bay, this port lies in the surrounding area at the mouth of the Almanza River. From there, we take another gravel road 15 kilometers until we arrive to a lovely small fishermen village. Here our Belgian guests will have one of the most unforgettable fishing experiences.
Nearly everyone in this village is dedicated to specialized fishing, catching crab, centollones, mussels, cholgas and other typical mollusks of this area. We meet Ana and Benito, who were born and raised in this town and for whom fishing is a big part of their everyday routine. They show us around, sharing the history of this place and the way they live. Every house and every craft seem to have fallen asleep in time in this wonderful setting.
Later, our local couple invites us to board on their boat. We begin rowing offshore up to find a good spot. We stop, cast the nests and wait… A deep-blue clear sky seems to be observing us. In the distance, the snow-capped peaks of the mountains dazzle us with its beauty. Everything is perfect here.
Suddenly we feel pressure on the nets, and we push together to raise it. To our surprise, it is good amount of crab! Nathan is exhilarated and proud of his team. He knows this exciting experience would not be the same without the local guidance of Ana and Benito.
As they return to their house, they share a laugh and begin planning the meal. Ana knows a bit about cooking and teaches us how to prepare a crab in a Patagonian style. We gather the spices directly from the garden and together we cook one of the richest gourmet dishes in memory. (B, L)

After breakfast fly to El Calafate. After arriving there back to the highway. We will head to the Ruta 40. Later we will be accompanied by a spectacular view over Lake Viedma, behind which the most important mountains of Patagonia (Fitz Roy, among others) appear majestically, until we finally reach El Chaltén, the mecca for mountaineers and trekking fans.

OPTIONAL (limited spaces- Maximum 8 pax): In the evening Greet and Eat experience. G&E is a 2 to 3 hours experience at a local resident’s home, sharing a homemade dinner. Included meal is a specialty of the hosts, but also something representative of the destination. It includes an entrance, main course, dessert, soft drinks and a glass of an alcoholic drink. (B)

From El Chaltén we start our hiking day with a tour to the Fitz Roy and the Laguna de los tres. Next to ours, we are accompanied by a qualified mountain guide of the National Park. Through fabulous forests and beautiful landscapes, we walk to the first lookout point, where a great first view of the pinnacles of the Fitz Roy massif awaits us. After crossing the river, we reach the idyllic Rio Blanco Camp just in time for our lunch break. Strengthened, we then begin the ascent to Laguna de los 3, from where we will have a fantastic view of the surrounding mountains and of course the Fitz Roy. If you want, you can finish the hike at Rio Blanco Camp and return with the tour guide to El Chaltén. The summiteers will have the opportunity to continue trekking with a trekking guide. (B)

After the dusty and adventurous kilometers on the Ruta 40, a few fantastic hiking days are waiting for us, which will cope with all clichés of Patagonia. El Chaltén has a variety of trails to offer. One thing you all have in common, you can feel how far away from any civilization you are and with every step you can enjoy the raw wilderness and dreamlike silence. Today we walk with our guide to the lookout point Loma del Pliegue Tumbado. This hike is moderately strenuous and easy to do at a reasonable pace (6-7 hours walk). Our path leads us first through the plain and then between Lengawäldern steadily uphill until we reach the lookout point to about 1,100 m. If the weather plays along, then you can expect a magnificent panoramic view of the mountain range ahead with Fitz Roy and Cerro Torre.
Attention: In El Chaltén you can also move flexibly independently of the group. If a hike seems too strenuous or you are looking for a bigger challenge, you can choose from a variety of different hikes. Just ask our guide. (B)

This morning is at your free disposal. You can just have a good night’s sleep, but also have plenty of time to do a little hike on your own before we make our way to El Calafate in the afternoon.
Alternatively to the hikes, you can also take part in a trip to the Lago del Desierto with or without a boat trip (optional, not included in the price).
In the afternoon transfer to El Calafate. Arrival and check in at the hotel. (B)

Today is time for another top highlight of the journey. In the morning we drive with our private minibus to Los Glaciares National Park, where the overwhelming sight of the Perito Moreno Glacier awaits us. This 35 km long, 6 km wide and sometimes over 80 m high ice mass has been named one of the most spectacular natural wonders in the world and a World Heritage Site. From the balcony-like lookout points, we observe how larger (partly house-high) and also small chunks of ice break off from the glacier with great noise by the pressure of the side walls and fall into the lake. Here is a really good picnic spot to watch the spectacular spectacle. Optionally you have the opportunity to book a boat tour to the glacier. (B)

After breakfast fly to Puerto Iguazú (with one scale). Arrival and transfer to the Hotel in Puerto Iguazu (Argentinian Side) and check in. Rest of the day at your leisure. (B)

After breakfast we will visit the waterfalls from the Argentine perspective. The Argentine side of the National Park is a very large and sprawling area. On miles of walking paths and jetties meandering through a beautiful tropical forest, you will experience a unique atmosphere with breathtaking views of countless waterfalls. Behind every corner hides another paradisiacal view that leads us to take hundreds of pictures. Especially close to the waterfalls in rubber boats. If you want, you can join an international group and enjoy this special experience.
In the late afternoon we return to our hotel. (B)

Morning at leisure. In the afternoon we visit the Brazilian part, where a first impressive view of the waterfalls awaits us. From here you have the best view of Panomara’s ”Devil’s Maw”, the largest and certainly the most impressive waterfall in Iguazú. At the end of the tour transfer to the hotel.
After the tour it is time to say goodbye. Our tour guide will escort you to the airport and help with check-in so you can start your journey home. Departure through the airport of Foz do Iguaçu: IGU (Brazil) or return to Buenos Aires through Puerto Iguazú Airport: IGR (Argentina) to take your international departure flight. (B)