El Calafate

You’ll be warmly greeted at the airport and escorted by private car to your choice of hotel in the charming lakeside village of El Calafate.

Your private car, driver and guide will be waiting this morning to take you on a thrilling full day excursion into Los Glaciares National Park. The scenic drive, punctuated by photo stops en route, transports you through the pristine Andean forests of Patagonia to the celebrated “Curve of Sighs”, where you’ll catch your first glimpse of the enormous Perito Moreno Glacier. This incredible moving wall of ice stretches nearly 3 miles across and soars more than 250 feet above the pristine waters of Lake Argentino! From specially constructed viewing platforms and balconies in front of Perito Moreno, you’ll have unforgettable views of the glacier’s immense face.  If you prefer a more active excursion, embark a boat to Lake Argentino where you’ll join fellow walkers for easy explorations on foot through the lake’s Seno Mayo with Andean forests.  You’ll see the region’s flora and fauna and the Mayo and Negro Hill’s glaciers.  Your return boat ride brings you close to the glacier’s northern face, followed by disembarkation at the viewing platforms in front of the glacier. For the truly adventurous, trek on the glacier itself.  Shared with other trekkers, your adventure begins with a drive and boat ride across the Brazo Rico before hiking to reach the Moreno Glacier.  Don crampons and walk on glacier ice, with its peaks, and interior lakes of unique blue, surrounded with incredible views of the glacier walls and lake.  Afterwards, enjoy lunch in a Magellanic forest before returning to shore and your hotel. This option is at an additional cost. Clients must be 10-65 years old.  Meals B

A full-day adventure unfolds with your transfer to the pier where you board our sightseeing vessel in the port of Punta Bandera. A 3-hour cruise takes you across the pristine waters of Lake Argentino, often strewn with icebergs, to view the immense western face of the Upsala Glacier. Make your way through the Cristina Canal and disembark at Estancia Cristina, a 54,000-acre ranch founded in 1914 by an immigrant Englishman and once home to 27,000 sheep, 30 cows and 50 horses. Surrounded by Andean peaks and glaciers on the shores of Lake Argentino, the Estancia Cristina continues to offer visitors a fascinating glimpse into Patagonia’s rich history of intrepid explorers and pioneers. During your sojourn on the Estancia, you’ll enjoy a 4WD excursion through the spectacular scenery for another view of the Upsala Glacier and the ice fields of southern Patagonia. There will also be plenty of time to just enjoy the Estancia’s setting and lunch in the lovely dining room. The Estancia’s kitchen prepares outstanding regional cuisine including Patagonian lamb. Fine Argentine wines are also available. Late in the afternoon, you’ll cruise back to Punta Bandera and transfer to your hotel.  Meals B+L.

You’ll be escorted to the airport by private car for your onward journey.  Meals B