Exploring Patagonia | An Argentina Adventure

Board the flight for Argentina.

Arrive at the Ministro Pistarini de Ezeiza International Airport and meet your Holbrook representative in the arrivals hall. Transfer to the hotel with free time until lunch. Later, take a field trip to the towering seven story Teatro Colón, a world-class center for opera, ballet, and classical music since 1908. The current building replaced the original Teatro Colón in front of the Plaza de Mayo from 1857 to 1888. At 6:45pm you will be picked up for the transfer to a local cellar/bar and learn about some of Argentina's famed regional wines. Enjoy a wine tasting and dinner. Check-in time 2pm.

This morning enjoy a walking tour of the area. Visit and walk through Mayo Square, the main plaza, then continue into the oldest neighborhood in town, San Telmo. This neighborhood is home to many local and international artists because of its unique energy and rich history. Have lunch at a traditional restaurant in San Telmo before some time to explore on your own. Before dinner, attend a 6pm lecture on the History of Argentina through Tango. At 8:00pm you will be picked up for this evening's dinner and a tango show at a local restaurant.

Transfer to the airport for a flight to El Calafate. Upon arrival, meet your local guide for transfer to the hotel and check-in. In the afternoon, take a guided bird walk at Laguna Nimez Nature Reserve to observe birds from the Patagonian wetland. During the visit you'll experience different environments, including the shrub steppe, the reeds, and the grasslands. Among them, there is the possibility of observing a large number and variety of bird species, both resident and migratory species such as Patos, Macaes, Flamingos, Swans, Gallaretas, Gavilanes, Bandurrias, Calandrias, just to name a few. Additionally, along the path access different viewpoints, from which you get a panoramic view, observing all of the Reserve, Lake Argentino, Solitary Island, Cordillera of the Andes and the locality of El Calafate with the hills Huiliche and Calafate framing it. Dinner at local restaurant.

Spend the day at Perito Moreno Glacier including a boat ride, short hikes and footbridges. The Glaciers of the Cerro Mayo and Cerro Negro are located within Seno Mayo of the Argentino Lake and the National Park Los Glaciares, the only way to access them is by lake. Starting from Puerto Bandera, sail through the Témpanos Channel and enter the Seno Mayo of Lago Argentino. Disembark in Bahía Toro for a guided interpretive walk through the Patagonian Andean Forest composed of guindos, canelos, lengas and ñires until arriving at a specimen of guindo centenario that presents a trunk more than 9-feet in diameter. Continue through the forest to a stream and observe a formation of calcareous rocks whose palisade is about 600 feet high and 328 feet wide, Return to the ship, and sail to the north wall of the Perito Moreno Glacier. Enjoy a boxed lunch during the visit. Dinner at hotel.

This morning, transfer approximately 3-hours to El Chalten with boxed lunch. Check-in at the hotel and then head out on a hike at Cerro Torres. Return to your hotel for dinner.

This morning departure to Río de las Vueltas, which is a part of the Santa Cruz river basin, for kayaking. An important portion of the waters of the Río de las Vueltas are of glacial origin, partly coming from the melting of the glaciers in the northern area of the Los Glaciares National Park. It rises in Lago del Desierto, at an altitude of 1803 feet above sea level, and flows into Lago Viedma at an altitude of 820 feet above sea level. Upon arrival to the base, there will be an introduction to the equipment, instructions and safety orientation. Continue to the starting point of Mirador Laguna Condor to finish putting on the clothing which includes a jacket, waistcoat and helmet and start kayaking aboard two seat sit-on-top kayaks from the right bank of the Laguna Condor. This section of the river is shallow and meandering. We will travel about 8 miles, which will take between one and a half to two hours (depending on the river flow and wind conditions) to reach our landing point, Estancia Bonanza. Once there enjoy a delicious lunch at Estancia Bonanza. After lunch transfer back to El Chalten. The rest of the afternoon is at leisure, dinner at hotel.

This morning after breakfast, transfer to Lago del Desierto with amazing views and stops along the way including, glaciers such as Eléctrico, Piedras Blancas, and Cagliero. Witness the Marconi glacier, the gateway to the Southern Continental Ice Field as the journey continues through the dense forest, driving over streams that turn into rivers and that run under historical bridges. Stop at the beautiful Cóndor Lake to do some bird watching. There are also waterfalls along the way including the El Salto del Anillo. Next visit Salto Argentino where torrent ducks can be observed. Arriving at Lago del Desierto, prepare to go up to the Huemul Glacier and lagoon and marvel at the forest and flora in the area, as well as get a chance to view a hanging glacier, a walk of 2.5 miles, that takes 2 hours, with an elevation of 720 feet. At the lake head down to the viewpoints and prepare a "Picada Argentina" and enjoy a nice lunch accompanied by good wine. Then, board the boat and sail to the North End of Lago del Desierto to admire the beautiful lake surrounded by the Andes mountain range, the main protagonist being Mount Vespignani. From the North End enjoy a unique view of the north face of Mount Fitz Roy in the distance. Return to the South End and then disembark and return to the hotel. Dinner at hotel.

This morning at leisure, then transfer approximately 3-hours back to El Calafate, with stops along the way for photos and to enjoy the outdoors. Lunch along the way. This afternoon visit to the Glaciarium Interpretation Center. The building architecture represents the front of a glacier. Two pavilions house the exhibit with the most modern museology resources. Also part of the visit is a unique connection with the Perito Moreno Glacier, which forms a natural dam that then collapses with a great break. Return to the hotel. Farewell dinner at hotel.

Transfer to the airport for flight to Buenos Aires domsetic airport where you will be met and then transferred to the international airport.

Arrive back in the US.