Day 1: The Patagonian Adventure Starts!
Calafate, Argentina
Today we arrive in El Calafate, a small town set on the edge of Los Glaciares National Park amid dramatic scenery and natural beauty. We have the whole day free to explore the town and enjoy its attractive restaurants, tango bars, and handicraft markets. We stay overnight in town.
Overnight Hostel Kosten Aike 4*, El Calafate
Day 2: Glacier Perito Moreno
Los Glaciares NP, Argentina
We have breakfast early and take a bus from our hotel. Our destination this morning is the imposing 60m tall Perito Moreno glacier, a phenomenon which delights photographers and nature lovers alike! Our cruise of approximately one hour takes you across Lake Rico. We embark at the “Bajo de las Sombras” bay, about 6 km before the glacier Balconies. Once we reach the Icebergs Channel, we’ll sail past the Perito Moreno’s dramatic front wall, to view and photograph it from a safe distance. The excursion provides an interesting perspective on what is both a beautiful and very tragic natural phenomenon - the falling of the glacial ice into the lake. A spectacular sight but a reminder to all of us of our changing climate.
After the boat ride, we continue to the lake’s footbridges, where we’ll take a break to soak up our astounding surroundings. Apart from providing an additional interesting perspective on the glacier, these bridges also bring us close enough to hear the powerful cracks in this living mass of ice as it shifts and moves. After this experience, you will be transferred back to your hotel.
Overnight Hostel Kosten Aike 4*, El Calafate
Day 3: River Channels
Los Glaciares NP, Argentina
Today we’ll travel through the National Park’s river channels and continue spotting Argentina’s ethereal glaciers. We’ll depart El Calafate, heading towards Puerto Punta Bandera where we’ll board our catamaran bound for Argentino Lake. Here, our boat journey through Argentine Patagonia’s winding river channels begins. The first glacier we’ll see today is the powerful Upsala glacier, visible from the Upsala canal at a 10-15km distance depending on the arrangement the glaciers take today (remember, they are moving entities!). After taking in Upsala Glacier, our catamaran continues through the Spegazzini Channel en route to Spegazzini Glacier. Following this, we’ll continue back through the river channels to Puerto Punta Bandera and transfer to El Calafate.
Overnight Hostel Kosten Aike 4*, El Calafate
Day 4: Adios!
Calafate, Argentina
This morning we say goodbye and continue our onward journeys through Argentina or Chile. After having breakfast, a transfer will take us to the airport.