Buenos Aires, Ushuaia & Tierra del Fuego, Los Glaciares National Park
9 days / 8 nights
From $2,092 per person, double occupancy for 2009

Day 1: Buenos Aires
Welcome to Argentina, the second largest country in South America. Upon arrival at Ezeiza International Airport in Buenos Aires, you will be met and assisted by our local representative and transferred to your hotel. Accommodations at the four-star Elevage Hotel in an executive room, breakfast included. The hotel is located just one block away from Florida Street a main shopping area. The hotel offers a pool, spa and massage services, fitness center, restaurant and bar and laundry service. Rooms have Cable TV, air conditioning, direct dial phones. - 2 nights.

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 - Ushuaia
You will be picked-up and transferred to Buenos Aires' National Airport (Aeroparque). Check in at airline ticket counter to depart. Flight times to be advised Airport reception and transfer to your Ushuaia hotel. Accommodations at Hosteria Los Fuegos. The Hosteria, surrounded by lengua woods, has nine rooms, each equipped with central heating, phone, security box, and hair dryer. Rooms are decorated with craft furniture and have views of the Young Nires, Lengas and Coihues Woods and to the Olivia River. The hotel also has a restaurant, wide video room, internet service, fax and massage services available. Breakfast included. - 3 nights. (B)

Day 4: 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 (at least the stamps that cancel postage!). On the way back to Lapataia Bay, watch for cormorants and sea lions, albatross and petrels. Upon arrival hike an old trail to Laguna Verde, where you will board the vehicle back to Ushuaia. (B,L)

Day 5: 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 penguins arrive in November when they make their nests and breed; they inhabit the colony until around February. 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 6: Beagle Channel - El Calafate
In the afternoon, make your way to the port (some hotels provide complimentary shuttle service) 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 Fitz Roy 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. Afterward, you'll be picked up at your hotel and transferred to the airport. Check in to depart. Flight times to be advised. Airport reception and transfer to your hotel. Accommodations at Hotel Kau Yatun, superior room with breakfast included. The hotel is located a few blocks from downtown El Calafate, on almost 4 hectares of land. The hotel features a bar and restaurant offering typical Patagonia BBQ and local specialties. - 3 nights. (B)

Day 7: Perito Moreno Glacier
From El Calafate, the journey continues across the last portion of the plateau, a landscape of glaciers and enormous snowfields stretched out across the mountains. 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 ($20US 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 your overnight accommodations in the afternoon. Box lunch included. (B,L) *Ask about our 'Big Ice Trek'

Day 8: Estancia Cristina & Upsala Glacier
An early start takes you to the tiny port of Puerto Bandera. You board a comfortable modern catamaran for a cruise on Lago Argentino. The navigation first stops in front of the Upsala Glacier for wonderful views and then enters the channel leading to Estancia Cristina, surrounded by towering ice-capped mountains and glowing ice-blue bergs floating in the lake. Once at the Estancia you can choose between 2 different programs: a lamb barbeque and relaxed afternoon around the Estancia or a beautiful hike to panoramic Cerro Carnero (description below), from where you can admire the Andes and its glaciers. The hike departs the estancia upon arrival and includes a box-lunch. For those staying at the estancia, you will enjoy a delicious and traditional Patagonic lamb barbeque lunch at the restaurant, which has been built on the base of an old wool drying spot and has a fabulous 360 degree view. Afterward, you will visit the main house, the chapel and the museum. You will discover the lifestyle of the first settlers of the Estancia and their relation with legendary explorers of the last century. This afternoon, you will return by catamaran to Puerto Bandera pier and from there to your hotel. (L) Hiking Cerro Carnero: Mirador de la Cordillera The hike starts from the Estancia's main house towards the southeast, approaching the lower peak of Cerro Carnero. The route is the original estancia path. The workers conducted the sheep and goats across these paths towards the pasture areas. While ascending you will gain a full view of the Estancia, the Cristina channel and the valley. After crossing through a forest of native trees, such as Ñires and Lengas, and passing many waterfalls, you arrive at the lower peak of Cerro Carnero. From here you will have a splendid view of the Andes Mountains and the glaciers that fall from it, such as Glacier Norte, del Cerro Mayo, part of glacier Onelli, glacier Heim Norte, glacier Bertrand, Bertachi and Cono. The most outstanding view is of the Continental Ice Cap and the Mariano Moreno mountain chain. If the weather permits, lunch will be served at this amazing place. Otherwise, in a more protected and lower spot. The return will be by an alternative route, along the Cristina Channel. Duration: 3 - 4 hours

Day 9: El Calafate - Buenos Aires - Int'l departure
Hotel pickup and transfer to the airport for your flight to Buenos Aires. Upon arrival at Buenos Aires' National Airport (Aeroparque) you will be met and assisted by our local representatives and transferred approximately 45 minutes to the International Airport (Ezeiza). (B)

*Domestic air not included - from $403, per person, subject to change.