Places covered: | BUENOS AIRES, Bariloche, Calafate, Ushuaia |
---|---|
Duration: | 11 Nights / 12 Days |
Category: | POPULAR VACATION |
ARGENTINA, the second largest country in South America, is a vast, diverse and stunning nation known best for its romantic tango and political heroine Eva Perón. The country today offers a wealth of rich experiences imbued with the same spirit of generous hospitality that has characterized its people. From the Spanish and Latin immigrants who brought their customs and music to Buenos Aires, to the native Wichi and Toba communities in the North or the Welsh villages in Patagonia. The country’s capital, Buenos Aires, is one of the world’s most sophisticated cities with excellent theatre and art, fine restaurants and wide, elegant boulevards that give the city a decidedly European feel. Arrival in Buenos Aires, meet and greet by local staff and transfer to the hotel. Overnight in Buenos Aires
Buffet breakfast at the hotel. You will discover Buenos Aires most traditional neighborhoods. The first stop will be the Plaza de Mayo (May Square), historical scenery of the main political events of our country. Site where the city was founded in 1580, centre of the political, religious and social life of Buenos Aires, surrounded by the Government House, the old city hall, the cathedral, the Central Bank and Economy ministry, the Plaza de Mayo has been witness of the most dramatic and joyful days of Argentina. Taking the historical Avenida de Mayo, to get to the mythical Café Tortoni, the oldest caffé in the Buenos Aires. Throughout the years, it has received the most distinguished vistors, writers and musicians, local and foreigners among them, such as Jorge Luis Borges, Julio Cortazar, Federico García Lorca, Carlos Gardel. Continue the tour in San Telmo, a picturesque area that still preserves its cobbled stone streets, as well as some colonial constructions and of the turn of the century; nowadays there are many antique shops and artist’s ateliers. On Sundays there is a Flea Market, bustling with unique artisans and antiques. Continue the tour, to southern La Boca, where you will visit the famous Caminito street open air museum and characteristic colourful tin houses and Boca Juniors Stadium. The neighborhood has its own strong identity, the Italian immigrants that have settled in this area, close to the port, building colorful houses. The neighborhood has retained much of its original character, a mixture of popular culture, tango, street art and soccer. We will continue towards Puerto Madero, the newest and most contemporary district of Buenos Aires, where modern real estate and high-rise office buildings form a new kind of skyline, towering above an upscale promenade of riverfront bars and restaurants. You will then experience the contrast with areas visited the prior day. Start the tour with a drive along 9 de Julio Avenue, the widest one, which features the famed Obelisk.
Take a guided tour inside the Colon Theatre, which sublime architecture stands out in every single detail, amazing and captivating its visitors with its flight of stairs, sculptures and stained-glass windows. Visiting the Colon Theatre and feeling the magic of its mystical atmosphere in every step is an extraordinary experience that makes visitors feel privileged. You will enjoy lunch at Local Restaurant.Explore Recoleta district, The Recoleta neighborhood is the hub of the city’s aristocracy, where upscale families live in pricey apartments along avenues with soaring French architecture. Discover the Parisian air of Alvear Avenue, the most exclusive fashion shops, luxurious French palaces and the legendary Recoleta Cemetery. Recoleta cemetery is the final resting place of many of the wealthiest and most important Argentine historical figures. Once the garden of the adjoining church, the cemetery was created in 1822 and is among the oldest in the city. It covers 4 city blocks, full of tombs adorned with works by local and international sculptors. More than 6,400 mausoleums form an architectural free-for-all, including Greek temples and pyramids. The most popular site is the tomb of Eva "Evita" Perón, which is always heaped with flowers and letters from adoring fans. And finally, visit Palermo district, so diverse that allow completely different areas to coexist: you will tour the green area of Buenos Aires, the most traditional Palermo Chico housing beautiful French style palaces, Palermo Soho & Hollywood, the trendy and fashionable districts featuring bars, restaurants and hip stores. Return to the Hotel in the afternoon and Overnight in Buenos Aires
Buffet breakfast at the hotel. Not far from Buenos Aires, we will find the outskirts residential neighbourhoods in the north area, near the River Plate and surrounded by spectacular vegetation. You will arrive to Tigre in the Delta, to board a typical motorboat and sail for 1 hour along the Delta (private service), among beautiful green islands, leafy vegetation and characteristic fauna. This section of the delta is characterized for its natural semi-wild condition and the beauty of this natural environment. Return to the Hotel by midday, and balance of the afternoon at leisure
Evening program: Dinner & Tango Show at Esquina Carlos Gardel
We will enjoy a Tango Show and dinner at La Esquina de Carlos Gardel. This Tango House opens its doors in the original site of the restaurant and hotel where Carlos Gardel, Argentinean popular idol, gathered with his friends to dine and sing. It recreates the sophistication and luxury of the old salons. We will be able to see a top-quality show, with professional tango singers and dancers together with an excellent cuisine in one of the most exclusive atmospheres of Buenos Aires’ nightlife.
Return to the hotel by midnight, Overnight in Buenos Aires
Breakfast at the Hotel, Pick up at the hotel and transfer to the airport in order to take the flight that will take you to Bariloche (BRC) Estimated flight duration 2hs 15min and Met upon arrival to be transferred to the Design Suites Bariloche Hotel. Before you check in at your Hotel, you will enjoy a scenic drive by the shores of Nahuel Huapi Lake Nature will be the main actor of our trip, which can be done in the morning or in the afternoon. We recommend it for the day of arrival or departure due to its short length plus its comfortable access that contributes to get an ample overview of Bariloche, its environment, lakes and history. The objective of this activity is to personally enjoy one of the main attractions of the region: The Southern Beech Forest. We take a very low intensity hike (40 minutes approx.), with one of our Tour Guides, perceiving the sounds of the forest, the song of the Chucao or the regular tapping of the Woodpecker together with tasting some of the wild herbs. We will visit the most relevant attractions, walking around town and Bariloche CHARACTERISTICS Level of difficulty: Low
Includes: English speaking guide, hike through the forest and private transfer.
Requirements: Personal equipment for outdoor activities: Trekking shoes, synthetic jackets, small backpack for personal belongings, sunglasses, cap.
After the tour, check-in at the Hotel and enjoy the rest of the free afternoon. Overnight in Bariloche.
Breakfast at the Hotel and We meet at the Hotel at 9:30pm. We ride to Bahía López (35min Center / Hotel Llao Llao 5min) where we will have our safety talk and we will learn about the kayaking activity. We shall sail the waters of the Lago Nahuel Huapi and Lago Moreno, discovering its shores and crystal waters. After placidly paddling for about 2 to 3 hours we arrive to one of the beaches of the Lago Moreno and return to the Hotel. Circuits: Lago Nahuel Huapi. Lago Moreno. Lago Gutierrez. The circuits are selected by length, weather conditions and customer’s expectations. CHARACTERISTICS and Level of Difficulty: Low
Includes: English speaking guide. Private transfers and snacks
Overnight in Bariloche.
Breakfast at the Hotel. We pick guests up at the Hotel at 9:30 am, to arrive early at Puerto Pañuelo. We will sail the waters of Lago Nahuel Huapi to the ancient Isla Victoria in regular transport service. We dock at Puerto Anchorena, then trek deep into the silence of the forest and its history. This increases the chance of seeing some of the deer, pheasants or other animals that inhabit the place. Taking internal paths to isolated beaches (Bahia Totoras) where a picnic lunch by the lake indicates, the time for relax and contemplation of the different scenes this mythical place has. We return to Puerto Anchorena, to sail back to the Arrayanes Forest. A new hike on the walkways, we learn about this special place accompanied by the Guide. Then we board the ferry once again, arriving at Puerto Pañuelo after sailing for 1 ½ hours.
CHARACTERISTICS
Level of Difficulty: Low
Includes: English speaking guide, transfer and meals. Regular boat navigation and National Park
Overnight in Bariloche.
Breakfast at the Hotel. Transfer to Bariloche Airport (BRC), to take the flight to Calafate (FTE) Estimated flight time: 1:30 hours Met upon arrival, to be transferred to your Hotel. You will enjoy the rest of the afternoon at leisure to explore Calafate city on your own. Overnight in Calafate
Breakfast at the Lodge. Full day excursion to Perito Moreno Glacier & Minitreking over the glacier Drive (1:30 hours, approx.) to Los Glaciares National park, 6km before the glaciers balconies, for the Minitrekking over the Glacier. The excursion begins in the embarking pier located in “Bajo de las Sombras” port, about 6 km before the glacier Balconies- where you embark for 20 minutes navigation across the Rico Arm, enjoying breathtaking views of the Perito Moreno glacier’s front wall. You disembark on the opposite shore, where specialized bilingual mountain guides welcome you, put you a pair of crampons on, explain how to use them, and start the adventure! The two hours circuit that follows introduces you to the fascinating landscape of the glaciers: streams, small lagoons, gullies, crevasses and plenty of ice formations of the most incredible blues. The trekking is moderate. The ice surface over which you walk is irregular, but firm and safe. You will receive explanations about flora, fauna and general glaciology of the region and also about the particular phenomenon that happens in the Perito Moreno Glacier and eventually produces its rupture. After the walk, a stroll through the forest brings you back to the shelter. Sail back to Puerto Bajo Las Sombras, and after a short drive, arrive to the Glacier balconies. There are seven balconies or viewpoints, located at different heights and distances from the glacier, connected by paths and stairs. From the highest balcony, you will see the amazing surface of the glacier, the northern and southern face. As you go down, you will find the second balcony, closer to the ice. This is the place where on occasions the ice dam is formed.
Overnight in Calafate
Breakfast at the Lodge. Met at the Hotel to be transferred (shared transfer) to Puerto Bandera (1 hour), to start a 3-hour navigation in Argentino lake, among icebergs, towards estancia Cristina. Estancia Cristina is located in Los Glaciares National Park, in the Northwest end of Lake Argentino. It was founded by an English family (the Masters) in 1914. Upon arrival, ride the 4WD along 9.5 km through mountainous roads, to reach Upsala View Point. View of Lake Guillermo and of the stunning oriental front of Upsala Glacier, Southern Patagonian ice and hills Murallón and Don Bosco. Then, descend through the Cañadon de los Fosiles, a landscape that, until recently was covered by glaciers and has a great geological interest, where we can find fossils, remains of the last marine ingression which has been covered by glacial action. We will stop for lunch (box lunch) along the hike. Upon arrival back to the estancia, board the boats again, and navigate back to Puerto Bandera (1:30 hours). Transfer to the Hotel (shared transfer), arriving at 7: 30pm (approx.)
Return to the hotel in the afternoon & Overnight in Calafate
Breakfast at the Lodge. Transfer to Calafate Airport (40 minutes) to take the flight to Ushuaia (1:20 hours).Met upon arrival to be transferred to your Hotel. After check in your guide will pick you up for your afternoon tour. In the afternoon, we will navigate the Beagle Channel. We will see the extraordinary geography and wildlife of Tierra del Fuego on board modern boats that tour around the surroundings islands and bays. Afterwards, the boat approaches Isla de los Pájaros (Birds’ Island) where we will see cormorants and imperial shags. Finally, we will reach Isla de los Lobos (Sea Lions’ Island) to spot specimen of these mammals, both sea lions and fur seals. On our way back, we will admire the symbolic Les Eclaireurs Lighthouse.
Overnight in Ushuaia
Breakfast at the Hotel We will visit Tierra del Fuego National Park, located 11 km from Ushuaia. The Park protects 63.000 hectares of the southernmost portion of the Sub Antarctic Forest. Unlike other Andean Patagonic parks, the forest lies close to the sea cost. The mountain ranges, parallel to one another, cross the park and divide it into valleys which are quiet and hard to access. While we will visit Lapataia Bay and the shores of Beagle Channel, we will admire the flora and fauna of this area, such as small red fox, beavers, and a large variety of birds such: Andean Condors, eagles and Magaellanic woodpecker. Then, we will be able to enjoy a ride in the historic End-of-the-World Train, within the National Park. This rail road was originally used by the convicts, to transport firewood from the forest to the prison, former centre of Ushuaia. After an hour ride, we will arrive to our final stop, the National Park Station, where we will start the guided visit through its nature wonders, either by vehicle or by a soft hike. Overnight in Ushuaia
Breakfast at the Hotel, At time to be advised, transfer to Ushuaia (USH) airport to take your flight to the following destination