Southern Explorer - Mountains & Glaciers of Southern Argentina & Chile - Luxury overland Trip

Accommodation

12 nights accommodation – 8 nights in comfortable tourist class hotels and guesthouses, 4 nights fully serviced camping

Viva Expeditions aims to maximize your comfort throughout your journey with us. We use only good tourist class hotels and guest houses that are centrally located with ensuite bathroom facilities and good guest services. At times we will stay in traditional Haciendas or estancias that offer a fine standard of lodgings.

During the camping portion of our this tour we offer a fully services camping experience whereby a support vehicle carrying all of the camping equipment as well as an additional two crew members, a cook and a camp hand, travel ahead of the group to set up camp and prepare the evening meal prior to your arrival. Tents are spacious walk in tents with comfortable beds and bedding provided.

Kitty Notes

Local Payment is paid in cash to your tour leader on the first day of your tour in South America. It is part of your overall tour cost and is the easiest and most economical way for us to get hard currency to South America to help run your trip. It goes toward a variety of day to day local costs which cannot be pre-paid such as locally organised activities and meals at restaurants. Paying this money locally ensures tour leaders have a supply of money, as access to banking facilities can, at times be limited.

Itineraries (El Chalten - Ushuaia)

Day 1 – 4
After arriving into El Calafate airport you will be met at the airport and transferred to El Chalten, located in the stunning Parque Nacional Los Glaciares, and nestled quietly under the imposing peaks of Mount Fitzroy, named after the captain of the Beagle, who navigated Darwin’s Expedition of the area in 1834. We take a boat trip across the lake to the Viedma Glacier, the largest in Argentina, where we will have the opportunity to explore ice caves and take a walk atop this mighty ice sheet. After some time at leisure to explore the El Chalten region and its many walking tracks we take a short drive around Lake Argentina to the town of El Calafate, our base to visit the impressive Perito Moreno glacier, one of the earths most dynamic and accessible ice fields. Visiting the glacier we can witness from a series of walkways huge chucks of ice breaking free from the face of the glacier and crashing with a mighty roar into the water. A boat trip along the face of the glacier gives us the opportunity to admire its impressive height that reaches at points to 100 meters from the water level and stretches 5 kilometres from edge to edge.

Day 5 – 8
Crossing into Chile we arrive at Torres Del Paine National Park where we meet our support crew and vehicle. Camping on the edge of the picturesque Lake Pehoe under the constant watch of the towering granite peaks and circling condors this will be our base to explore what is to many South Americas finest national park. Enjoy day hikes through emerald forests, to magnificent glaciers, along alpine rivers and lakes, with picturesque mountain vistas while in this area of unparalleled beauty. Each day returning to comfort of our camp and a freshly prepared meal.

Day 9 - 13
Having spent four nights inside Torres Del Paine National Park we drive south to Punta Arenas stopping on the way to visit Seno Otway penguin colony, home to approximately 6000 breeding pairs. Continuing across the Straights of Magellan we will arrive into the most southerly city in the world, Ushuaia, and our final destination. Enjoy an afternoon boat trip on the Beagle Channel and a days walking in the Tierra Del Fuego National Park finally ending the tour with a meal at one of Ushuaia’s great port side seafood restaurants.

Itineraries ( Ushuaia - El Chalten)

Day 1 – 4
We begin our tour in the picturesque seaside city of Ushuaia, the most southerly city in the world, and will enjoy a lovely meal at one of Ushuaia’s great port side seafood restaurants. Enjoy a days walking in the Tierra del Fuego National Park and a boat trip on the Beagle Channel before we set off north and into Chile. Crossing the Straights of Magellan we arrive into Punta Arenas from where we will visit the Seno Otway penguin colony, home to approximately 6000 breeding pairs.

Day 5 – 8
Next we arrive at Torres Del Paine National Park where we will meet our support crew and vehicle and will enjoy our first night camping on the edge of the picturesque Lake Pehoe. Under the constant watch of the towering granite peaks and circling condors this will be our base to explore what is to many South Americas finest national park We spend four nights inside Torres Del Paine National Park and are able to enjoy wonderful day hikes through emerald forests, to magnificent glaciers, along alpine rivers and lakes, with picturesque mountain vistas, while in this area of unparalleled beauty. Each day returning to the comfort of our camp and a freshly prepared meal.

Day 9 – 13
We arrive in El Calafate, and the Parque Nacional Los Glaciares, our base visit the impressive Perito Moreno glacier, one of the earths most dynamic and accessible ice fields. Visiting the glacier we can witness from a series of walkways huge chucks of ice breaking free from the face of the glacier and crashing with a mighty roar into the water. A boat trip along the face of the glacier gives us the opportunity to admire its impressive height that reaches, at points, to 100 meters from the water level and stretches 5 kilometres from edge to edge. A short drive around Lake Argentina brings us to El Chalten, where we visit the Viedma Glacier, the largest in Argentina. Here we have the opportunity to explore ice caves and take a walk atop this mighty ice sheet.