Patagonia
Special Galapagos Best departures
October 21 – November 2, 2010
Tour Cost $ 4,435.00 per person (double occupancy)
Plus domestic airfare $ 665.00
Also in October - November 2011 - Contact us for exact dates and prices.
We are looking for old friends and new friends that would like to take a journey of a lifetime and discover the natural beauty of Patagonia. We will be a small private group of about 14 – 18individuals. We will experience the unique landscapes and wildlife of one of the Earth’s wildest regions. Patagonia spans Argentina and Chile from the Andes to the Antarctica. Our journey will take us from the nightlife of Buenos Aires to the glaciers and lakes. Guiding us through this special region of South America will be Fausto Rodriguez, a naturalist and owner of Galapagos Best.
Day 1 BUENOS AIRES
Arrive to Buenos Aires Ezeiza airport where you will be personally greeted by Galapagos Best owner Fausto Rodriguez. Then we drive to the city and check into our Hotel. Lunch is on your own. This afternoon we visit La Boca where we walk famous Caminito Street, flanked with multicolored tin houses and home of the famous Boca Juniors Soccer Stadium. Next pass by the Plaza de Mayo to see the Casa Rosada, the Cabildo and the Cathedral. We also get to see the renovated Puerto Madero area and the elegant and frequented Recoleta District. 4 *Hotel (such as Dolmen Hotel, 525 Nogaro, Regente Palace Hotel) D (welcome dinner)
Day 2 PENINSULA VALDES
This morning we transfer to the domestic airport for our flight to Trelew Airport. Our naturalist guide will meet us at the airport. Later drive Puerto Piramides which is the only small town on the Peninsula Valdes. This Peninsula, barren to the untrained eye, is bursting with wildlife. Here we will board an open boat to observe Right Whales. (approximately 2 hour boat tour with guide.) Continuing into Peninsula Valdes, we will arrive to Estancia La Ernestina (estancia means a working ranch), bought at public auction by Don Santiago Copello on April 10th, 1907. Almost 100 years later, the fourth generation decided to share the natural beauty and abundant wildlife within the property’s 30,000 acres. The estancia has private beaches where very few other tourists go. This afternoon we will be able to walk among thousands of Magellanic penguins that every year, between September and March, mate and nest on these beaches. Full board with drinks is offered at this lodge. Estancia La Ernestina B – D
Day 3 PENINSULA VALDES
We enjoy another morning at La Ernestina. Visit Punta Norte Nature Reserve, the most famous animal observation point of the Peninsula, right in the middle of La Ernestina. Here we will observe a sea lion colony, also the graceful guanacos (a South American camelid), a big rodent locally named “mara”, the fast rheas and some elephant seals. We might alter these activities according to the tides, as it is better to go to Punta Norte with high tide. Estancia La Ernestina B – L – D
Day 4 PUERTO MADRYN
Today we drive to Caleta Valdes, a particular inlet that encloses the largest variety of sea fauna in Peninsula. This thin strip of land with a length of 22 miles is propitious for the development of a great population of sea mammals, sea and shore birds and some typical species from the Patagonian steppe. The beach, protected from the sea and the wind, is the ideal scenery for elephant seals. Early in August, the first adult males begin to arrive in order to seize an area of the beach and gather the females that will be part of their harem. Lunch is available at this place at your own expense. After that, we continue our drive to Puerto Piramide, the only small town on the Peninsula Valdes, on the way to Puerto Madryn, our next destination. Along the way, we will have plenty opportunities to watch maras, guanacos, rheas and terrestrial birds. Check in at the Puerto Madryn waterfront. B (Lunch is on your own) D
Day 5 EL CALAFATE
Today we transfer to Trelew Airport to fly to El Calafate. This town is situated on the shores of Lago Argentino and is the gateway to Los Glaciares National Park. We check in to a small Hosteria (inn) on the shores of the lake, where many birds congregate to feed in this round Bay. Upon arrival, we will look for birds around El Calafate, such as Laguna Nimes, to search for the Magellanic Plover, Andean Ruddy Duck, Cinerious Harrier, Upland Geese, Blackfaced Ibis, and coots. Hosteria Los Hielos. B
DAY 6, EL CALAFATE LOS GLACIARES NATIONAL PARK
We have a full day excursion at Perito Moreno Glacier. We will depart from the pier Bajo de Las Sombras to enjoy the Nautical Safari. This excursion takes us on a cruise across Brazo Rico, passing beside icebergs which have calved off the south front of the Perito Moreno Glacier. Reaching the Icebergs Channel, our boat will stop at a safe distance from the glacier, continuing to sail down its entire front, allowing spectacular views of the high wall of ice. The excursion lasts approximately one hour and provides a totally different perspective of the Perito Moreno Glacier, one of the best known glaciers of all for its impressive 90 ft. tall wall and the closeness to the mainland, with almost constant falling walls of ice from its front. This stable glacier is named after the creator of Argentina ’s National Parks, who maped this area in the 19th century It’s a unique opportunity for photographers and nature lovers alike. Hosteria Los Hielos. B BL
Day 7 TORRES DEL PAINE
Today we drive across the Andes, through low valleys towards Torres del Paine. Most of the drive is along the flat windy Patagonian steppe, and we will have great panoramic views. On the drive we will be looking out for birds such as Tawnythroated Dotterel, Chocolatevented Tyrant, Least Seedsnipes and Blackchested Buzzard Eagle. Darwin Rheas, Crested CaraCaras and foxes are usually spotted on this route. We clear Argentine customs, then Chilean customs at Cerro Castillo, to head north towards Cerro Guido Ranch at the foothills of the Sierra Baguales. We spend the afternoon looking for rare birds found in this area such as Yellowbridled Finch, Ochrenapped and Cinnamonbellied Ground Tyrant, Greater Yellow Finch, Greybellied Seedsnipe and the mighty Andean Condors. We will stay overnight at Cerro Guido Lodge which is situated at the foot of the Sierras Baguales which has the best panoramic views. Cerro Guido Lodge B D
Day 8 TORRES DEL PAINE
Today we drive into Torres del Paine National Park, passing by Laguna Amarga where we view the best views of the Paine Towers. In this area many guanacos will have small “chulengos” (as their young are called), we search the Paine River for Torrent Ducks until we reach the beautiful waterfall Azul where if it is not windy we can enjoy a picnic lunch. We next head South West passing by Lake Nordensjold, visit the Salto Grande and continue on to Lago Grey where we check in to the Hosteria Lago Grey for the next 2 nights. We will be looking for Austral Blackbird, Silvery Grebe, maybe a Shrike tyrant or Canastero or 2, and the beautiful Spectacled Duck. Along the drive the French Valley and the Paine Grande complete the scenery, so have your cameras ready. Hosteria Lago Grey. B – L D
Day 9 TORRES DEL PAINE
Today we stay in the area of Lago Grey, where we walk across the Pingo River where we again search for Torrent Ducks, once in the Lenga woods we look out for Austral Parakeets, Thorntailed Rayadito, Darkfaced Ground Tyrant, Patagonian Sierra Finches and with much luck an Austral Pygmy Owl. After a half mile trail in the woods we reach the shores of the Grey Lake where many icebergs have been drifting with the wind and they hit the frontal moraine. There are huge icebergs that have calved off the Grey Glacier. In the afternoon we may take another short hike along the Pingo River or go to the Administration of the Park area to look for water birds such as Flying Steamer Duck, Whitetufted Grebe, Plumbeous Rail and keep your eyes open for snipes hiding in the grasses. Over night at Hosteria Lago Grey. B – L D
Day 10 BUENOS AIRES Today we transfer to El Calafate airport to fly back to Buenos Aires. We arrive at Buenos Aires and transfer to the centrally located 4* Hotel. Tonight we will experience a Farewell Dinner Tango Show with the best quality singers and dancers. B – D
Day 11 BUENOS AIRES This day is our last opportunity to shop for gifts for friends and family and tour the city on our own before we transfer to the airport for the flight home. B (lunch and dinner is on your own)