Trans-Andean adventure between Argentina and Chile

Trip Description

Accomodation

Stay program

• day 14

  Bariloche - Circuito Chico by electric bike

  

  Electric bike rental for the day Discover the "Circuito Chico" where the most beautiful viewpoints of Bariloche are located on electric bikes, starting from the roundabout at km 17 on the Llao Llao road. You head towards the Llao Llao peninsula where one of the largest and most luxurious hotels in Argentina is located. Along the way, you can stop at several panoramic points and observe the beauty of the area. You then continue into the Llao Llao forest. You enter a wilder area along Bahia Lopez and Lake Moreno, then the small El Trebol lagoon. You can have lunch at Colonia Suiza or at the Panoramic Point. About 25 km. Private round-trip transport between your hotel and the start of the "Circuito Chico". Night at Hosteria Costas Del Nahuel in a "lake view" room.

• day 15

  Bariloche - Encantado Valley - Villa Traful - Villa La Angostura - Bariloche

  

  You set off in a private vehicle to explore two of the most beautiful natural sites in Bariloche: Valle Encantado and Lake Traful. You venture into the steppe and observe an increasingly arid landscape. The play of light here is unique. You then arrive at the panoramic viewpoint of the Amphitheater, a meander of the turquoise Limay River, a prime spot for fly fishing. You then enter the "enchanted valley," characterized by pink rock formations. You make several photo stops in this unique natural setting. Then, you take a track to reach your midday stop, Lake Traful. Stop at a small restaurant to enjoy some delicious trout. Relaxation by the lake. You then continue on the road of the 7 lakes, skirting the Correntoso and Espejo Grande lakes, then arrive at Villa la Angostura, with its white and black sand beaches. Take advantage of the setting to enjoy an ice cream or a hot chocolate depending on the season. Return to Bariloche at the end of the afternoon. Note: lunch not included. About 4h30 of driving in total, 250 km. A French-speaking guide will accompany you throughout your excursion. Night at Hosteria Costas Del Nahuel in a "lake view" room.

• day 16

  Bariloche - Buenos Aires

  

  Private vehicle transfer from your hotel to Bariloche airport. Domestic flight Bariloche - Buenos Aires Private vehicle transfer from Buenos Aires domestic airport to your hotel. Overnight at Selina hotel in a standard room.

• day 17

  Buenos Aires - Ezeiza International Airport

  

  Departure from your hotel and transfer by private vehicle from Buenos Aires to EZE international airport.

• day 1

  Buenos Aires - El Calafate

  

  Reception at Buenos Aires International Airport and transfer to the domestic airport in a private vehicle. Transfer carried out with a French-speaking guide. Domestic flight Buenos Aires - El Calafate. Shuttle transport from the airport to your hotel in El Calafate. Free time in El Calafate, some suggestions: The city of El Calafate offers you many activities: - The Interpretation Center: this is an information center focused on paleontology, geology, anthropology, and history. - The Laguna Nimez Nature Reserve: here you can observe flamingos, among other things. - The Glaciarium: this museum is dedicated to the study of ice and glaciers in Patagonia, one of the few glaciological interpretation centers in the world. Overnight at Roble Sur in a standard room.

• day 2

  Cerro Mayo, Cerro Negro and Perito Moreno Glaciers

  

  Departure to the port of Punta Bandera. You will sail on the Canal de los Témpanos of Lake Argentino. Here, you will disembark at Bahía Toro, accompanied by a Spanish-English speaking guide. You will walk for about 15 minutes through the Patagonian Andean forest, where you can observe a huge limestone rock formation. You will get back on board the boat to continue sailing towards the glaciers of Cerro Mayo and Cerro Negro. You will disembark at the foot of the glaciers for a 25-minute walk. You will be just a few meters from these magnificent hanging glaciers and enjoy panoramic views. You will return to the boat, which will take you to the majestic Perito Moreno glacier. For 2 hours, you will disembark to walk along the glacier's walkways. Finally, you will return to the boat, which will take you back to the port of Punta Bandera to return to the city of El Calafate. Entrance to Los Glaciares National Park included. Overnight at Roble Sur in a standard room.

• day 3

  El Calafate - Dickson, Cubo and Grande Glaciers

  

  Departure around 8am in a small Spanish-English speaking group via the Estancias Route to reach the Los Pioneros boarding point. You will navigate for 1 hour on Lake Argentino, then begin a 2 km trek to Lake Frías through the Patagonian forest. Your guide will explain the different typical plants of the region. You will cross the lake aboard zodiacs and start the second trek of 4.5 km. You will walk through a forest of century-old lengas, then an ancient glacial valley to finally reach Lake Frías Superior. From there, you can admire the Dickson, Cubo, and Grande glaciers, which are located in a natural amphitheater. After lunch, return journey to El Calafate. Your guide will take the opportunity to tell you about the many adventures of the region's explorers. Night at Roble Sur in a standard room.

• day 4

  El Calafate - CHILE - Puerto Natales

  

  A private vehicle will take you from your hotel to the El Calafate bus terminal. Departure by bus at 07:30 to reach the city of Puerto Natales in Chile. On the way, you will observe the typical landscape of Chilean Patagonia. You will arrive in Puerto Natales, where you can appreciate the Andes mountain range with its snow-capped peaks and glaciers. Arrival at 13:00 in Puerto Natales, a small town located at sea level, on the edge of the Senoret Channel. Note: 362 km and about 5 hours of travel (depending on the border crossing). Your driver will welcome you at the Puerto Natales bus station and take you to your hotel. Overnight at the Andes Patagonicos hotel.

• day 5

  Torres del Paine National Park

  

  Getting started with your rental vehicle: Category G vehicle, type Toyota Rav4 or similar, manual transmission, unlimited mileage and CDW insurance included. Suggested itinerary: Departure towards Torres del Paine National Park. First stop at the Milodon caves, a natural monument where you can see the archaeological remains of the ancient inhabitants of the area. The site's interest lies in the discovery, in 1896, of the remains of a prehistoric animal, a giant herbivore that inhabited the region and disappeared 10,000 years ago. Then head towards Torres del Paine Park, declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1978. You have a choice between 2 park entrances: towards the Amarga lagoon in the East or the Rio Serrano in the South. You will enjoy a panoramic view of the famous Paine towers, impressive long blocks of granite. Along the way, you will discover the most beautiful lakes in the park: Nordenskjold, Pehoe, the Salto Grande waterfall (the walking tour of the site lasts about 45 minutes). Continue to Lake Grey to see the glacier. Panorama of the Paine massif and its glacier, as well as the Paine horns. This park will amaze you with its massif and turquoise-colored lakes. Entrance to Torres del Paine National Park not included, to be paid on site. Journey to Torres del Paine Park: about 1h30 drive. Overnight at Konkashken hotel**, private cabin.

• day 6

  Torres del Paine National Park

  

  Suggested itinerary: Today, you set out for another day discovering Torres del Paine Park. Many trails remain to be explored. Take the time to stop at viewpoints (miradors) you didn't see the day before, such as the Mirador Cuernos or the walk to the Salto Grande waterfall, right in front of the massif. Overnight at Konkashken Hotel**, private cabin.

• day 7

  Torres del Paine National Park - Puerto Natales

  

  Suggested itinerary: You continue the visit of Torres del Paine park. Many hikes are possible, with different durations and levels of difficulty: * Grey Beach: Difficulty: Moderate - Duration: 1h30 * Mirador del Condor: Difficulty: Easy - Duration: 45 min to the viewpoint * Mirador Cuernos: Difficulty: Easy - Duration: 1h00 to the viewpoint * Laguna Azul: Difficulty: Easy - Duration: 1h30 * Mont Ferrier: Difficulty: Difficult - Duration: 4h00 - 5h00 * Base Las Torres: Difficulty: Difficult - Duration: 7h00 - 8h00 Exit the Torres del Paine National Park and drive to Puerto Natales. Journey to Puerto Natales: About 1h30 drive. Return your rental vehicle at the end of the day. Night at the Andes Patagonicos hotel **

• day 8

  Puerto Natales - Navimag Ferry

  

  Free day in Puerto Natales Puerto Natales is a small peaceful town located in the fjords of Patagonia. Take a walk along the canal, enjoy the restaurants, or visit the Patagonian crafts at the Ether Aike market. Visit the small Museo Histórico to learn more about the region, from the first inhabitants, such as the Yaghan people, nomads known for living in canoes throughout the island of Tierra del Fuego, to more recent settlers. Check-in from 9am to 6pm at the Navimag agency. You can leave your luggage there, which will be taken care of by the crew. Passenger boarding takes place at 9pm. Once on board, there will be a welcome briefing and details about the navigation. 1st night on board. AAA Cabin - 2-person cabin with porthole and private bathroom.

• day 9

  Navimag Ferry Puerto Natales

  

  The ferry lifts anchor at 6 a.m.: that's it, the journey to Puerto Montt through the Patagonian fjords has begun. You head towards Seno Unión and Angostura White, the narrowest channel of the trip. You then reach Paso Sobenos to finally arrive at the Santa María Channel. 2nd night on board. AAA Cabin - 2-person cabin with porthole and private bathroom.

• day 10

  Navimag Ferry: Bernardo O'Higgins National Park - Gulf of Penas

  

  At dawn, you drop anchor in the locality of Puerto Edén, located on Wellington Island, one of the largest in Chile, which is part of the Bernardo O'Higgins National Park. It is in this village that the last native Kawéskar population of the country lives. You continue the journey north and arrive at Angostura Inglesa, a narrow passage that allows only one boat to navigate at a time. Next, you will pass through the Messier Channel, where you will see the Capitan Leonidas ship, wrecked since the 1970s on a small half-submerged island called Bajo Cotopaxi. It is currently used as a navigation lighthouse and reference point for sailors. At nightfall, you begin the oceanic part of the journey in the Gulf of Penas, which lasts about 12 hours and where it is possible to observe different species of whales (depending on the season and weather). 3rd night on board. AAA Cabin - 2-person cabin with porthole and private bathroom.

• day 11

  Navimag Ferry: Gulf of Penas - Moraleda Channel

  

  At dawn, the Captain reviews the maritime and weather conditions and, based on these, chooses the most appropriate route to continue the journey and return to the fjords, among the following three options: the Pulluche Channel, the Ninualac Channel, or the Boca del Guafo. If the Pulluche Channel is accessible, the most exuberant in terms of vegetation (Tierra del Fuego beech forest and cypress), and if you are lucky, you may spot Commerson's dolphins, sea lions, and woodland birds. You continue through the Errazuriz Channel to reach the Moraleda Channel after lunch. If you have taken the Nunualac Channel, you arrive at Tuap Island before venturing into the Moraleda Channel. Finally, if the choice was the Boca del Guafo, you sail through the Chonos archipelago before continuing towards Puerto Montt. 4th night on board. AAA Cabin - 2-person cabin with porthole and private bathroom.

• day 12

  Navimag Ferry: Moraleda Channel Disembarkation Puerto Montt Puerto Varas

  

  You end your adventure by sailing inside the Gulf of Corcovado, the Gulf of Ancud, and the Seno de Reloncaví, and you drop anchor at Puerto Montt in the morning. Expected arrival between 7:00 and 8:00. Your driver will pick you up at the port of Puerto Montt and take you to Puerto Varas, on the shore of Lake Llanquihue. Free day in Puerto Varas. You enjoy your day in this charming town with its surprising architecture and breathtaking view of the Osorno volcano. Puerto Varas stands out for its early 20th-century colonial-style architecture. Follow the Paseo Patrimonial, a walking tour of the historic houses listed as National Monuments. The Iglesia del Sagrado Corazón, in particular, imposing and colorful, dominates the city center from a promontory where you can admire the whole city. If you are curious to discover Mapuche crafts from the region, we recommend the Fundación Artesanías de Chile for art crafts, where you can find Mapuche textiles as well as high-quality jewelry and ceramics from all over southern Chile. Overnight at the Mero Gaucho hotel**, standard room.

• day 13

  Puerto Varas - Argentina - Bariloche

  

  Your driver will take you from your hotel to the Puerto Varas bus terminal. Departure from Puerto Varas to Argentina, destination San Carlos de Bariloche. You will travel along the lakes and volcanoes of Chile and then Argentina, each more beautiful than the last. Scheduled bus from Puerto Varas to Bariloche. Reception at the Bariloche bus terminal and transfer to your hotel in a private vehicle. Enjoy your free time to discover the center of Bariloche. - Visit the chocolate museum, a specialty of the city. In fact, don't hesitate to take a break in one of the city's best chocolate shops. - Take a walk along Lake Nahuel Huapi to enjoy the view with the mountains as a backdrop. - Discover local handicrafts (leather, wool, ponchos, silversmithing, rosehip cosmetics, etc.). Overnight at Hosteria Costas Del Nahuel in a "lake view" room.