PATAGONIA TOUR RUTA 40 WITH SIDE TRIPS



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8-days tour to the highlights of Patagonias Ruta 40 and much more. We drive through the southern lake district; come to cherry farms and huge tur laquiose-coloured glacial lakes; more than 9000 years old prehistoric cave paintings; we will stay on Estancias (sheep ranches) and drive through the immensity of the Patagonian Steppe along Route 40; visit the national park "Perito Moreno", the most untouched park in Patagonia; we see the most impressive mountains of Patagonia and the biggest glaciars in the national park "Los Glaciares".

Itinerary


Day 1

We drive through the most beautiful part of the national park "Nahuel Huapi" and enjoy the panoramic stretch going south. We stop in the hippy town of El Bolson for lunch, visit the famous handicraft market, and take a short walk to admire the surrounding area. Continuing south, we visit the Mapuche museum of Leleque and the southern-most town of the Lake District, Esquel. Accommodation in a Hosteria in Esquel. Lunch not included.

Day 2

We driver further in south direction on the famous Ruta 40. Thats th only road on the side of the Anden Range, constructed in north - south direction. Parts we drive on dirt road till to the small village Perito Moreno. An other 60 km to the West we arrive to Los Antiguos, directly on the chilen border. This small village lives from their cherry farms and is on the coast of the second biggest lake of South America, the lake Buenos Aires. Accommodation in a Hosteria in Esquel. Lunch not included.

Day 3

On the morning we drive back to Ruta 40 and further on to a Estancia where we will have picknick. We visit one of the most important cultural monuments of Patagonia, the "Cueva de las manos" (cave of hands), taking a picnic with us. The paintings are up to 9,000 years old. We see the magnificent canyon "Rio Pinturas", with its 250 metre-high stone walls. Accomodation and dinner on a Estancia.

Day 4>

We pass by a incredible moon valley to the typical Steppe setlement of Bajo Caracoles. Later we drive another 190 km along Ruta 40 (partly dirt road) and then west towards Andes and the mountain San Valentin (the second highest mountain in Southern Patagonia). We have the half day to explore the national park of Perito Moreno by minibus and on foot. This is the least-visited national park of Patagonia, with approximately 1,000 visitors every year. This is nature in its purest state and is a paradise for observing guanacos, ostriches and condors as well as other wildlife, as well as turquiose-coloured glacial lakes, istmos, canyons and untouched rivers, not forgetting the Andes with the mountain San Valentin in the foreground and its numerous glaciars. Picnic in the park, accommodation and dinner on an Estancia in the national park Perito Moreno.

Day 5

We drive back along the famous Route 40 and experience the loneliness and the freedom of Patagonia. Different landscapes in combination with clouds and turquoise-coloured lakes will fascinate us all day long. If we are in luck we will see guanacos, reahs (small ostriches), armadillos and hares (Steppenhasen**). A picnic stop will shorten the journey. For the last 90 kms we drive along the Viedma Lake with the glaciar of the same name. We come closer and closer to the Andes and can see from the distance the continental ice, and then we are in the naional park "Los Glaciares". We will stay in a hosteria in the small Andean village of El Chalten, at the foot of the Torre and Fitz Roy mountains. Dinner not included.

Day 6

We hike through the northern part of the national park "Los Glaciares". From the viewpoint of the Laguna Capri we have spectactular views over Mount Fitz Roy, which is the mountain which is the most difficult to climb in the Andes. The majestical view and the enchanting landscape take us into another world. A picnic will give us strength on this hike, which can be as long or short as you like. Those who are fit can hike on to the viewpoint over the second most famous mountain in the national park - Mount Torre. We stay in the Hosteria in El Chalten. Dinner not included.

Day 7

The drive to El Calafate will be shortened by a visit to the small restaurant "La Leona". In the afternoon we drive on into the national park "Los Glaciares" in order to look at the world-famous glaciar Perito Moreno from all sides, and we'll go along the glaciar in a cataraman and see the incredible dimensions of the ice walls, which are up to 60 metres high and 5 kms long. If we are in luck we will see enormous ice walls falling into the lake with a great splash. We will then visit the viewpoint, where you will have a lot of time to observe the glaciar. We will stay in a Hosteria in El Calafate. Lunch and dinner not included.

Day 8

On this long but spectacular day trip a catamaran will take you across Lake Argentino to the spectacular fjord-like northern arm. Passing icebergs, we will reach the biggest glaciar of the continental ice, the Upsala glaciar, and later the smaller Spegazzini glaciar. Hiking through beech woods, we will get to Lake Onelli with its hundreds of small icebergs. The glaciars Onelli, Agazzis and Bolados flow like enormous frozen streams into the lake. Accommodation in an Estancia/Hosteria in Calafate. Lunch and dinner not included.



Services included:
  • All accommodation includes breakfast: up to 4-star hotels, small family guest houses and ranches (double room with private bathroom)
  • Half board
  • All transfers und transportation
  • All excursions
  • All entrance fees for museums, national parks and nature reserves
  • English speaking guides
  • A lot of fun
    • Services not included:
  • International flight to Buenos Aires
  • Two domestic flights: Buenos Aires - San Carlos de Bariloche, El Calafate - Buenos Aires
  • Airport tax
  • health insurance
  • beverages
  • tips

    • Price:
     US$ / per person based on double occupancy, in a group of at least 6 people
    (extra charge of US$ for single rooms)

    Information:
     - Combination with all other tours of the Lake District or individual tours organized.
    - Optional tour to Ushuaia and national park "Tierra del fuego".
    - Depending on season times the tour can be organised in the opposite direction (from south to north)
    - Rooms with more than two beds can be booked in the hostels on demand to reduce costs