Classic Patagonia

A comprehensive tour around Patagonia visiting its main attractions from the Atlantic Ocean to the Andes: Puerto Madryn and one of the most important wildlife reserves in the world for its wide variety of marine fauna: whales, sea elephants, sea lions, and penguins; Calafate and the wonder of the glaciers so incredibly at hand; Ushuaia and the magic of a visit to this enchanting land situated right at the end of the world.

Day 1: Arrive in Trelew - Puerto Madryn
Reception and assistance at Trelew airport. Transfer to Puerto Madryn (flight arrival must be before 9 am), on the way visit to Punta Tombo rookery to admire a magnificent colony of millions of Magellan penguins. Dinner.

Day 2: Puerto Madryn - Valdés Península - Punta Delgada
Breakfast. Full day tour to the Valdés Península, bordering Ameghino Isthmus, located between the Nuevo and the San José gulfs. We will visit Puerto Pirámide, a sea lion rookery. This is also a great opportunity to take the optional whale watching boat excursion which you cannot miss (available from June to November). We will continue to Punta Delgada for a view of its important colony of sea lions and to Caleta Valdés, where sea elephants seem to have found their ideal natural habitat. Lunch included. Return to Puerto Madryn.

Day 3: Trelew - Puerto Madryn - Ushuaia
Breakfast. Transfer to Trelew airport (*) to take a flight to Ushuaia. Reception at Ushuaia airport and transfer to the hotel. In the afternoon, city tour including a visit to the End of the World Museum. Dinner.

Day 4: Ushuaia - Beagle Channel
Breakfast. Departure to Tierra del Fuego National Park, located 12 km (7 miles) from the city. It preserves typical species of the Andean Patagonian forest such as fire-bushes, beech trees, ñires, box leafed barberries and flowers, spread over 63,000 hectares. Before entering the National Park you will board the Train to the End of the World and enjoy an unforgettable trip along the original terrain where the old prisoners’ train ran until 1947 for their expeditions into the National Park, in search of wood for heating. The highlight of the park is Lapataia Bay, the southernmost tip of the continent, with a wonderful view of the Beagle Channel. Here, the old inhabitants of the area have left their testimony in the ‘concheros’, incredible archaeological deposits. Return to the hotel. Dinner.

Day 5: Ushuaia - El Calafate
Breakfast. Transfer to Ushuaia airport to board a flight to El Calafate. Arrival at El Calafate and transfer to the hotel(*). Dinner.

Day 6: El Calafate - Puerto Bandera
Breakfast. Departure from the hotel towards Puerto Bandera, 50 km (31 miles) from town, to board a catamaran to enjoy a full day lake excursion to Upsala, Onelli and Spegazzini Glaciers. Return to El Calafate. Dinner.

At present, due to the detachment of a huge piece of the Upsala frontal wall, the access to the Upsala Channel is blocked by drifting icebergs. It renders impossible also to access to Onelli Bay. As compensation the navigation company provides an extension of the navigation to the Perito Moreno northern front wall.

Day 7: El Calafate - Perito Moreno Glacier
Breakfast Trip by bus to Perito Moreno Glacier, one of the world’s largest active continental glaciers, declared World Heritage Site by UNESCO, because of its breathtaking beauty and its unusual behavior. Dinner.

Day 8: Fly out from El Calafate
Breakfast. Transfer to El Calafate airport.

Winter (departures between May1 - Sep 30)
Within this season, this tour is offered but by the mid of April there are hardly any penguins left in the colony. Therefore, instead we offer an excursion to Chubut River Valley, visiting Gaiman, a typical Welsh colony enclosed in a beautiful landscape. Discover another impressive natural wonder, the Southern Right Whale, as every winter, 600 of these enormous mammals (the total world population totals no more than 5,000 specimen) make their way into the waters around Puerto Piramide, and enjoy a fascinating boat trip to appreciate this unique scenary. We suggest you spend one additional night in Ushuaia as the winter season is ideal to enjoy its ski centers. Also, visit the Huskies Valley and sail along the waters of the Beagle Channel. At El Calafate, you will spend just two nights, because the Upsala Glacier navigation is not available during this season.