Argentina Flavor

Incredible value for the world's premier hotels - fantastic views, impeccable service, superior ammenities, priceless memories

Day 1: Buenos Aires
Upon arrival at Buenos Aires' National Airport you will be met and assisted to the Hotel Alvear Palace. Fruit basket and flowers upon arrival. This deluxe French and European-style hotel is located in the heart of the city in the elegant La Recoleta neighborhood, five minutes from the financial district. You’ll enjoy the finest buffet breakfast in Buenos Aires every morning. Each guest accommodation features individually controlled air-conditioning, international direct-dial telephone, cable television, PC and fax connection, a personal butler and Hermes de Paris toiletries.

Day 2: Four Balconies of Buenos Aires
Set off on a half-day, privately-guided tour of Buenos Aires in which a professor of the University uses four parks and plazas of Buenos Aires (Plaza de Mayo, Parque Lezama and La Boca, Plaza San Martin and Recoleta) to introduce visitors to Argentina, its history, contrasts, contradictions and the peculiar psychology of its inhabitants. This tour is a great way to introduce you to the different, colorful districts of Buenos Aires and determine where you may wish to return. (B)

Day 3: Buenos Aires
Day at leisure. We suggest a Tango Show & Dinner. (B)

Day 4: Buenos Aires - Ushuaia
Fly down to Ushuaia and transfer to Las Hayas Hotel. The hotel offers a breathtaking sunrise and sunset over the Beagle Channel. Las Hayas Hotel has 92 guest rooms with modern amenities such as cable TV telephone, climate control hairdryer and hot water. Your accommodations are in a junior suite with either a forest or bay view. Daily buffet breakfast and one king crab dinner for two included at the restaurant. Cross a suspended glass bridge with a wooden ceiling connecting the hotel with the Health Club, featuring a complete gym, sauna, jacuzzi, massage cabin. This afternoon, make your way to the port for a navigation on the stormy waters of the Beagle Channel. The Beagle Channel is located south of Ushuaia and Tierra del Fuego, overlooking the islands that extend all the way to Cape Horn. It was first discovered by the Fitzroy expedition of 1830, and later again by Charles Darwin in 1833. The first Anglican settlers arrived in 1860. You'll cruise close by several islands, including Seals Island where you may witness petrels, cormorants and sea lions at close quarters. Port tax is included. (B,D)

Day 5: Tierra del Fuego National Park
You'll be picked up at your hotel for a full day visit to the Tierra del Fuego National Park. Upon arrival in the park, start a 2-mile trek to a wonderful scenic point overlooking Lake Roca, Lagunas Verde and Negra, Rivers Ovando and Lapataia and Bahía Lapataia. Hiking through this beech forest you will be able to look for the Magaellanic woodpecker, largest in South America, Austral parakeets, black-chested buzzard eagles and Andean Condors. Reaching a clearing near the water, embark on a 15-passenger zodiac boat and head toward Isla Redonda for lunch. You'll have time to take a short walk on the island while your guide prepares lunch. Don't forget to send a postcard from the island which has the southernmost post office. On the way back to Lapataia Bay, watch for cormorants and sea lions, albatross and petrels. From there, hike an old trail to Laguna Verde, where you will board the vehicle back to Ushuaia. (B,L)

Day 6: Harberton Ranch/Yamaning Gable
You'll be met at your hotel and begin your scenic drive east along the Beagle Channel to Puerto Almanza (75 km) a small fisherman´s village. The estancia at Harberton belongs to the descendants of the first British Missionaries to reach the area - Reverend Thomas Bridges - and was managed for many years by Ms. Natalie Goodall, a foremost naturalist in the area. You'll visit the estancia and then board zodiac boats to navigate to Gable Island, the largest in the Beagle Channel, where a short but steep climb brings you to a refuge where you will have lunch. After lunch, guests may wish to remain at the refuge and relax or go for a strenuous 3-hour hike around Gable Island. When the hikers return, the group continues in the zodiac to the Penguin rookery at Martillo Island, the domain of the Magellanic and Gentoo Penguins. The unique location of this island, close to the convergence of the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans allows for an incredible variety of rich subaquatic life, making it an amazing spot for birdwatching. The penguin colony will not have a large amount of penguins because most arrive in November when they make their nests and breed. Look for petrels, skuas, cormorants, sea gulls and albatrosses. Return to Harberton for tea by the Larsiphasak River and then back to your Ushuaia hotel (B,L)

Day 7: Ushuaia - El Calafate - Los Notros Lodge
Transfer to the airport for your flight to El Calafate. Upon arrival you will be met and transferred to the Los Notros Lodge, a comfortable guesthouse with a fantastic panorama of the glaciers. Your stay at Los Notros includes superior accommodations, all meals (buffet breakfast, box-lunch and dinner) and daily guided excursions with expert bilingual guides. The lodge offers room service, bilingual staff, restaurant, sauna & Jacuzzi, swimming pool, laundry services. (B,D)

Days 8 & 9: Los Notros
During your stay here you may choose from a wide variety of guided excursions offered by the lodge. Activities include day hikes in the surrounding beech forest, horseback riding, various boat navigations and a half-day expedition to Los Glaciares National Park described below. The Los Glaciares National Park is located in the sub-Antarctic Continental ice-cap, known as the "third pole", which extends over 23,000 sq. miles and gives birth to several major glaciers along the Patagonian Andes. During your stay here you may choose from a wide variety of guided excursions offered by the lodge. Activities include day hikes in the surrounding beech forest, horseback riding, various boat navigations and a half-day expedition to Los Glaciares National Park described below. Los Glaciares National Park, in the sub-Antarctic Continental Ice-cap, is known as the "Third Pole" and extends over 60,000 sq.km (23,000 sq. miles), giving birth to several major glaciers along the Patagonian Andes. Pay the Los Glaciares National Park entrance fee ($8US paid in pesos). Perito Moreno Glacier is one of the few advancing glaciers in the world, and statistics are mind-boggling. The main wall is over 200 feet tall and almost 3 miles wide. Every now and then enormous pieces of ice break down and fall with thunderous noise into the lake. This area was declared a World Heritage site by UNESCO. The wildlife of the area includes Andean condors, buff-necked ibis, black-chested buzzard eagles, ashy-headed geese, etc. You'll land on an uninhabited beach and hike onto the glacier. (No additional equipment or previous experience needed.) The wildlife of the area includes Andean condors, buff-necked ibis and black-chested buzzard-eagles. Return to the lodge in the afternoon. (B,L,D)

Day 10: El Calafate - Bariloche
Transfer to the El Calafate airport for your flight to Bariloche. Airport reception and transfer to Hotel Llao-Llao. Accommodations at the Hotel Llao-Llao in a Lakeview superior room, breakfast buffet and activities included. The Llao Llao Hotel & Resort is located within Nahuel Huapi National Park, about 22 miles outside Bariloche. It is surrounded by majestic mountain peaks, crystal blue lakes, snow-covered mountains, rivers and colorful forests of Larch, Cypress, Coihue and Arrayanes. The Hotel was built in 1940 by well-known architect Ezequiel Bustillo and renovated in 1993. Its Canadian style is in harmony with the breathtaking landscape. Activities that are included in your stay are boat trips from the pier (operates December-March), Windsurfing, Archery, Rappelling, various hikes, use of Canadian Canoes and Mountain bikes, Health Club, Gym, Sauna, Daily health walk, tennis, and swimming pools. The Nahuelito Kids Club is open year round and organizes activities such as water games, puppets, and kite flying. Golfing on the 18-hole course and boat rentals are additional. (B)

Days 11 & 12: Llao Llao
Days at leisure. (B)

Day 13: Bariloche - Buenos Aires - Int'l Departure
Transfer to the Bariloche airport for your flight to Buenos Aires. Upon arrival, you will be met and transferred to the International airport for your flight home. (B)