Hiking Patagonia and Ushuaia

Fitz Roy, Cerro Torre, Torres del Paine, glacier Perito Moreno... those passionate for big space and beautiful mountains will be fulfilled. Tierra del Fuego and flames of stone, a land of superlatives.!

• Day 1/ Arrival in Buenos Aires
• Day 2/ Ushuaïa flight, sight seeing on Beagle Canal (private boat)
• Day 3/ Lapataïa national park
• Day 4/ Flight to El Calafate, visit
• Day 5/ El Chalten, trail to Pliegue de Tumbado
• Day 6/ Trail to lago Torre (view on Cerro Torre)
• Day 7/ Trail to Fitz Roy mirador
• Day 8/ Excursion to Perito Moreno
• Day 9/ Road to Paine National Park, camp
• Day 10/ Trail to Glacier Grey
• Day 11/ Trail to French valley, hosteria Las Torres
• Day 12/ Paine, trail to towers
• Day 13/ Paine - El Calafate
• Day 14/ Flight to Buenos Aires, tango show dinner
• Day 15/ Depart from Buenos Aires.

Fitz Roy, Cerro Torre, Torres del Paine: on both sides of the Argentina-Chile border, these mythical summits form a formidable granite barrier bordering the immense fields of ice of Hielo continental. More in the south, towards Ushuaia, the most southern city of the world, the mountains are lost in the Ocean in a chain of small islands and a maze of channels and fjords. Ground of fire and flames of stone, a blazing voyage!
In the south of the south, the magic is in the moment, unique when the glare of the sun ignites the extraordinary purged rock launched towards the still black sky: Cerro Torre.
In the south of the south, the magic is in the wind that gathers speed all around the world, to come and hit the impregnable towers of the granite fortress.
In the south of the south, the magic is in all things ("its cosas patagónicas"), which makes it impossible for the one who comes to ever escape from its destiny:  it will be necessary for him to return.

Day 1/  Arrival Buenos Aires
Arrival in Buenos Aires, transfer downtown, settle in at the (4/5 star) hotel. It is summer; the weather is hot... and wet. According to our arrival time, the possibility of heading out to discover the city. Buenos Aires is a swarming megalopolis, extremely interesting to visit: commercial streets around the "Florida axis", May square, the "Beaux Arts" museum, the San Telmo district, Boca and Caminito and the Recoleta cemetery.

Argentina :  Tierra del Fuego
Day 2/  Buenos Aires - Ushuaia
Approximately 5 hours of flight to Ushuaia. We drop off our luggage at the hotel, and then a private boat excursion on the Beagle channel to a small island covered with marine birds. At the end of the afternoon, we discover the most southern city of the world. Settle in at the hotel (4/5 stars) for two nights.

Day 3/  Ushuaia - Lapataia park - Ushuaia
Transfer (45 mn) to Lapataia park. Discovering the path of the Beavers (and their impressive constructions) and Lapataia bay, peat bogs, Beagle channel, uncivilized forest. Beautiful views on the Eastern summits of the Darwin cordillera.- there in vain, they hardly exceed 6,562 feet high, they are really impressive! A dip, reserved for the brave ones.  Return at the end of the day to the same hotel in Ushuaia.
5 H walk approximately.

Day 4/  Ushuaia - El Calafate
Flight for El Calafate. Settle in at the hotel (4/5 stars) and discovery of the city

Argentina : Los Glaciares National Park
Day 5/  El Calafate - El Chaltén
4 hours of track between El Calafate and El Chaltén, village- departure point for the Los Glaciares National Park, the Fitz Roy and the Cerro Torre mountain range. Settle in at the hotel (4 stars) for two nights. If time allows, stroll in the afternoon up to Pliegue Tumbado with a splendid view on the southern faces of Cerro Torre and Fitz Roy.
3 H  walk -Ascent/Descent = 984 feet

Day 6/  El Chaltén - laguna Torre
Very early, we leave the village of El Chaltén to go up in direction of the Laguna Torre and the Torre watchtower, from where we have a very beautiful prospect on Fitz Roy and Cerro Torre. Continuation to the Maestri view point, from where we approach Cerro Torre, certainly the most famous granite needle of the world. Lastly, descent to El Chaltén.
5 to 6 H walk - Ascent/Descent = 1,476 feet

Day 7/  El Chaltén - Fitz Roy watchtower - El Calafate
Ascent towards the Poincenot camp, at the foot of Fitz Roy. Hike to join the Hosteria El Pilar, where a bus picks us up to return to Chaltén then El Calafate.
Settle in at the hotel (4/5 stars) for two nights.
6 H walk - Ascent = 1,476 feet - Descent = 656 feet.

Argentina : Perito Moreno National Park
Day 8/  Perito Moreno
Excursion to the Perito Moreno glacier, one of the Wonders of the planet. The drainage channels of the large Patagonia icecap are gigantic, as long as 9-30 miles, wide of 2 to 5 miles; the glacier fronts are 130 to 250 feet high above the water level, as they have all thrown themselves into the water, some in the channels of the Chilean Patagonia archipelago, the others in the immense lakes of the Argentinean Patagonia. The glacier fronts move from several ten to several hundreds of feet per year, breaking permanently into blocks of ice slowly evacuated by the current. The Perito Moreno glacier is distinguished from its neighbors by an extraordinary phenomenon: its projection through the Argentinean lake ends up dividing the lake in two, insolating one branch upstream, raising the water level up tens of feet until the erosion and the pressure of water on the ice, break the front of the glacier, emptying the dam in an extraordinary flow. With balance restored, the glacier once again begins it advance, and the cycle continues (throughout approximately two to four years, until the next rupture. The last rupture occurred in March 2006. Possibility of boat excursion (not included in the price, approximately 30 pesos, to pay on the spot) right at the foot of the ice tours.

Chili : Torres del Paine National Park
Day 9/  El Calafate - Torres del Païne
Transfer to arrive at the park. First visions of this imposing park and its deep blue colored lakes. Arrive in Pudeto harbour and transfert direct to Pehoe "Paine Grande" camp. Instalation for two nights

Day 10/  Grey glacier
Round trip on foot to the Grey glacier, enormous drainage channels of Hielo continental which runs out in the immense  Grey Lake. This is sumptuous, like the Moreno glacier, but much wilder, far from motorized tourism.
7 to 8 H walk.

Day 11/  Valley del Francés - Hosteria Las Torres
Round trip, long and athletic, to the French valley. An immense amphitheatre of granite walls (among the largest verticals of the world, 3000 feet and more!). The trip is lengthy but at the end... the reward is at the height of the efforts: unforgettable! Settle in for two nights at the Mow Torres Estancia (hosteria).
8 H walk.

Day 12/  Lago de las Torres del Paine
Round trip excursion to Paine Towers. Long... but what a superb stage! Count on 7 hours. The lake is one of the most awesome sites that this voyage offers you. Return to the hosteria.
7 H walk

Day 13/  Laguna Azul - El Calafate
After breakfast and a last glance on the Paine Towers, return to Argentina and El Calafate via the Cerro Castillo border. On the return way stop for the lunch in an typical estancia to eat the famous "cordero patagonico" (lamb) and see demonstrations of gaucho with sheeps.
In the middle of the afternoon, we arrive at the hotel (4/5 stars), settle in and then some spare time for some last purchases.

Day 14/  El Calafate - Buenos Aires
Spare time until our airport transfer. Take-off for Buenos Aires. Settle in at the hotel (4/5 stars) in the downtown area. Tango dinner show.

Day 15/  Depart from Buenos Aires
Transfer to the airport for flight home.

- The walking time schedules are given only as an estimate.
- For different reasons involving trip organization, daily schedules and planned altitude gains (ascent or descent) may be modified without any prior  notice. 

During trekking each participant walks with a light back pack, carrying only the personal items necessary for the day (water bottle, camera, protective clothing, etc).
The remainder of the equipment is transported by horses, mules or vehicles to the camping site.

The guide
- an english speaking Argentinean professional Mountain World Travel guide/ or an American resident of Chile. In Chile, this guide is also assisted by a Chilean guide
The local team
- one or more drivers

Domestic Flights on Aerolineas or Lan Argentina.
Ground Transportation by private mini buses in Argentina and Chile.

Buenos Aires, El Calafate, Ushuaïa: 4/5 star (local standard) hotels, based on double occupancy
Paine: charming Hosteria Las Torres, Explora, based on double ocupancy.

The names of accommodations (hotels, lodges, etc...) when they are indicated, are only indicative.
Depending on availability, accommodations (hotels/Lodges, etc...) may be replaced by another equivalent type.
It is possible that accommodations may change without prior notice due to a number of factors.

Meals
- In cities, meals at restaurants
- Lunch is generally a picnic, sometimes at restaurants depending on the day.
Even if the voyages do not cross the production zones, you will have the opportunity to taste very good Chilean and Argentinean wines.
To note: in Argentina and in Chile, food is comparable with the United States. The meat is excellent in Patagonia. Ah, grills!

Although we are an experienced adventure travel company doing our best to respect the itinerary schedule as presented on this detailed itinerary, there is always the possibility that we may need to modify it for different reasons beyond our control. Please read the Registration Conditions: Terms and Booking conditions - Limitations of Liability.

• International flights in/out Buenos Aires
• All services mentioned in Services +/extensions /options
• Personal medical & Travel Insurance
• All items not expressively mentioned in "What's included".

• Drinks (except mineral water and tea/coffee during trekking)
• Personal expenses.
• Tips for guides and drivers
• Airport tax for international flight $30/personn
• Airport tax for domestic flights $5/personn/flight
• All items not expressively mentioned in "What's included".

As airfare is NOT included in our adventures, please check if your trip is "a guaranteed departure" before confirming your own airline travel arrangements. You can check your trip status at the website of Mountain World Travel or contact the Mountain World Travel office at 1 888-MWT-TREK (698-8735).

Our preferred airlines to fly to Buenos Aires:

• American in cooperation with Lan operates daily flights to Buenos from anywhere in the States through Dallas, Miami, New York.
• Continental operates daily flights to Buenos from anywhere in the States through Houston.
• Delta operates daily flights to Buenos from anywhere in the States through Atlanta.
• United operates daily flights to Buenos from anywhere in the States through New York, Washington.

Formalities for US, Canada, Australia, NZ passport travelers:
- for Argentina, a valid passport, no visa needed for up to 90 days
- for Chile, a valid passport and a visa; US citizens are admitted to Chile for up to 90 days.
For US citizens, please check with
US Government Travel Entry Exit Requirements (Argentina)
US Government Travel Entry Exit Requirements (Chile).
For other nationalities, please contact the Argentina and Chile embassy of your country.

Vaccines: No vaccine is obligatory. We however advise you, to be up date with traditional vaccinations: diphtheria, tetanus, polio, typhoid fever. Vaccination against hepatitis A and B recommended.
Visit:
Argentina:   US Department of Health
Chile:   US Department of Health
Physical Examination prior to your departure is recommended.

LEVEL 3
2 months prior:  Hike 9 to 10 miles every weekend or on two consecutive days OR if you are regularly committed, on an annual basis, to another sports activity for a cumulative duration of 1 hour to 1 hour 30 minutes per week, you should be up to speed.  

Basic equipment
- A warm fleece hat
- A cap or a hat to protect from the sun
- Sun glasses (minimum index 3 or 4 for high mountain)
- Thermal top and bottom, short and long) underwear (fast drying).
- Fleece turtle neck top
- A warm fleece jacket (light weight/well insulated).
- A waterproof/breathable shell jacket (Gore-Tex).
- A pair of gloves
- A rain poncho
- Hiking shorts
- Lightweight hiking long pants
- A Camelback or a water bottle.

Shoes and technical material
- Hiking socks
- Light ventilated hiking shoes with a good traction on different type of terrain, for people with fragile ankles: waterproof ankle hiking boots and a sole offering good traction.
- A pair of telescopic walking poles

Luggage
- A back pack equipped with broad straps, with an adjustable anatomical back reinforcement, and a capacity of 7 to 9 gallons, for your daily belongings
- A soft travel bag, which can hold between 18 to 23 gallons that will be transported by the porter team or by vehicle during the day.

Miscellaneous
- A change of clothes.
- A pair of replacement shoe laces
- A dop-kit and a bath towel.
- Toilet paper.
- A pocket knife (not in carry on luggage).
- Some plastic bags to protect your belongings.
- A bathing suit.
- A small pocket anti-theft protection device, to always keep on yourself, along with your identity papers, money, certificate of insurance. 

Some advice
During your flight your back pack should contain fragile and useful items that you might need while on the plane (camera, memory cards, jacket, books, magazines, medication, dop-kit etc).