Louis Family Patagonia Vacation Detailed Itinerary
Day 1 Buenos Aires – Calafate
You will be met by a Knowmad Adventures representative and picked up at the lobby of your hotel and taken by private van to the Buenos Aires airport in accordance with your onward flight to Calafate in the Patagonia. Upon arrival you will be met by your guide and taken to your accommodations on the banks of Lago Argentino.
Day 2 Perito Moreno Glacier
Today you will have time to explore the massive glacier Perito Moreno. Walk the seven balconies and walkway system that gives a variety of different views and opportunities to photograph huge chunks of ice breaking from the glacier. In addition the group will have a half day walking atop the glacier (shared group service)*. We ship at “Bajo de las Sombras” bay, navigate Lake Rico enjoying the impressive views of the southern wall of the Perito Moreno Glacier, and the “Canal de los Témpanos”. We disembark to begin a short walk towards the glacier, where we put on the crampons and begin our adventure on ice. We enjoy magnificent natural views and listen to a talk about the flora, fauna and glaciology. We visit the Glacier’s Observation Point and trails accompanied by our guide.
- B, box L – Alto Calafate
Day 3 Patagonian Estancia and Glacier Adventure
After breakfast you will head out with your guide to the pier where you will be be picked up by a boat from Estancia Cristina *(your private guide will join you, however this excursion is in a shared service with up to 14 people per 4×4). Estancia Cristina is the former ranching outpost of the Masters family, early-20th-century British pioneers. A 3-hour navigation on a comfortable expedition boat, among impressive icebergs, will take you to Estancia Cristina, placed in an isolated valley at the Northern end of Lago Argentino. Upon arrival at the Estancia, you will enjoy an exciting drive in all terrain vehicles, up to the viewpoint of the Upsala glacier. After a delicious lunch, you will visit the main house and learn the history of the pioneer family who arrived to Cristina, at the beginning of the 20th century. In the afternoon you will board the boat back to return to El Calafate.
- B, L – Alto Calafate
Day 4 Argentina – Chilean Patagonia and Explora Lodge
In the morning you will be picked up by your driver (no guide) and taken to the boarder between Chile and Argentina. After passing through customs you will be met by an Explora Lodge representative and continue on through the Patagonian pampa and into amazing Torres del Paine National Park. Upon arrival and settling in you will enjoy a delicious meal and chart out your time and adventures while at Explora.
- B, box L, D – Explora Salto Chico Lodge
Day 5 Torres del Paine National Park
Continue enjoying your adventures in the national park returning to the lodge in the evening.
- B, L, D – Explora Salto Chico Lodge
Day 6 Torres del Paine National Park
Continue enjoying your adventures in the national park returning to the lodge in the evening.
- B, L, D – Explora Salto Chico Lodge
Day 7 Torres del Paine National Park
Continue enjoying your adventures in the national park returning to the lodge in the evening.
- B, L, D – Explora Salto Chico Lodge
Day 8 Torres del Paine National Park – Buenos Aires
You will be taken by Explora back to the border and be met by a Knowmad driver on the Argentine side continuing on to the Calafate airport in accordance with your onward flight to Buenos Aires. Upon arrival you will be met by your guide and taken to your hotel in Buenos Aires on one of the most emblematic corners of the Palermo neighborhood, a bohemian and avant-garde area of the city close to great shopping and restaurants.
Day 9 Buenos Aires – Iguazu
Your guide will meet you in your hotel lobby and you will be taken to the airport to catch your onward flight to Iguazu. After arriving to your hotel and settling in, you will take an afternoon hike through the jungle with a guide specializing in the biology of the area.
Day 10 Iguazu Falls
After breakfast head with your guide to the majestic Argentine falls and the Iguazú National Park, declared a UNESCO World Heritage Natural site. Walk on the upper trails above the waterfalls, and the lower trails, at the feet and among the waterfalls. Visit the “Devil’s Throat” up to its balcony, appreciating it in its full splendor.
In the afternoon you’ll enjoy a Great River Adventure (shared service with a group)* which combines a jungle trip with boating to the base of the falls. We drive through the rainforest of this National Park in a 4×4 open truck. After a 5-mile drive we arrive at Puerto Macuco. There, we ship on a zodiac boat in the lower Iguazú River and head upstream, discovering the falls little by little, until we finally a achieve a panoramic view of the Iguazú Falls; we finish with a nice shower under the falls. At the end of this exciting boat trip, our zodiac docks at the base of the lower circuit, in front of San Martin Island.
Suggestion: You should bring a bag with some extra clothes because you are going to get wet. (B – Loi Suites Iguazu)
Day 11 Iguazu Falls – Buenos Aires – Home
Enjoy a leisurely morning at your hotel before being transferred and flying back to Buenos Aires. You will have a van and guide available to take you into the city for a meal, shopping, etc while you await your onward international flight home, which will be an overnight flight.
Follow the link for more information to get you started on your very own Patagonia vacation!
Big Views, Jordan
Jordan is a Co-Founder of Knowmad Adventures, a company dedicated to creating unique, private and custom trips in South America. He was recently honored by Travel & Leisure as an A-List Top Travel Specialist for South America.
“Travel brings me incredible experiences and challenges, highlighting the world’s natural beauty while connecting me with inspiring people. I am convinced that travel makes us better people, and better people make a better planet.” Read Jordan’s biography and more about the Knowmad team.
