We tour the wilds of Patagonia for penguins in their millions, Condors over the Andean glaciers, Southern Right Whales and Elephant Seals on their breeding grounds, the seabirds and forests of Tierra del Fuego, and some of the world's most awe-inspiring scenery. Along with an extension to the mighty, bird-rich Iguazu Falls, this must be one of the most varied tours we operate!
Patagonia is one of the world's wildest and most biologically fascinating areas. Forming the closest continental land mass to the Antarctic, connected to the supreme diversity of the South American tropics, and isolated from the rest of the world's temperate zones, it has a unique assemblage of wildlife, first described in any detail by Charles Darwin.
It is a rugged, wild country. We begin our journey in the harsh, windswept deserts of the Valdes Peninsula where we immediately get a flavour of the astonishing contrasts as we inspect flowering cacti and watch offshore for Magellanic Penguins and Southern Right Whales!
Further south, we travel down to Tierra del Fuego, with its array of Southern Ocean seabirds and evocative ancient forests, before heading up into the Andes, where Andean Condors vie for attention with some of the most stunning glacial scenery on Earth.
Finally an extension will take us, in startling contrast, right up into the tropical forests of Iguazú, for a feast of tropical birding, and what many describe as the most spectacular waterfalls in the world!
Accommodation will be in hotels and lodges with all rooms en suite.
Transport is by minicoach with driver. Boat trips last about two hours at Valdes and four hours on the Beagle Channel (with coach back).
Walking: Mostly easy walks (steps down with handrails at Iguazú Falls), all taken at a slow pace. Trails can be rocky and uneven in places.
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Prices:
Main tour:
2010 - £ 4,995
2011 - £ 5,295
Single supps**.:
2010 - £ 495
2011 - £ 575
Deposit: £ 500 per person
Iguazú Extension:
2010 - £ 995
2011 - £ 995
Single supps**.:
2010 - £ 155
2011 - £ 155
Deposit: £ 300 per person
The price includes scheduled return flights London/Buenos Aires*, airport taxes, internal flights as outlined above, ground and boat transportation as outlined above, accommodation on a full-board basis, admissions, incidental tips, local taxes, and the services of the leaders.
The price excludes holiday insurance, drinks, optional tips to the local guides and drivers, and other personal expenses.
*For an ex-international flight cost (Buenos Aires/Buenos Aires), please deduct £595 from the tour cost.
Please note that we can quote for tailor-made extensions for two persons or more to many places within Argentina and Chile - we have even run tailor-made extensions to Easter Island.
Principal Leaders: Luis Segura (Patagonia), Miguel Castelino (Iguazu)
Numbers: Max. 14 clients
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Outline Itinerary
Please note that the precise itinerary may change depending on flight schedules |
| Day 1 | We take an evening flight from London Heathrow to Buenos Aires, arriving the next day.
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| Day 2 | We arrive in Buenos Aires in the morning, with time for a visit to the excellent Costanera Sur reserve later.
Overnight Buenos Aires |
| Days 3-5 | We fly south to Ushuaia, which claims to be the most southerly town in the world, on the southern coast of Tierra del Fuego. In a spectacular setting beside the Beagle Channel, surrounded by forests, mountains and glaciers, Ushuaia has a real frontier-town feel.!
Three nights Ushuaia |
| Days 6-8 | We take a short flight to Calafate, in the foothills of the Andes.
Three nights Calafate |
| Days 9-11 | We fly to Trelew, arriving in the late afternoon. We travel to the tip of the Valdes Peninsula at Punta Delgada, and stay for three nights at a converted lighthouse in a superb setting.
Three nights Punta Delgada |
| Day 12 | We drive back to Trelew, with a final chance of seeing Southern Right Whales before we catch a return flight back to Buenos Aires.
Overnight Buenos Aires |
| Day 13 | We have a morning free in Buenos Aires before catching our return flight back to London, arriving on Day 14.
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Iguazú Extension
Days 13 - 15
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A morning flight will take us north-east, to the Brazilian border. We are heading for the renowned Iguazú Falls, perhaps the most exciting in the world. The falls are surrounded by humid subtropical forest, a habitat more common in adjacent Brazil and offering some superb tropical birdwatching.
Three nights Iguazú Falls |
| Day 16 |
We fly back to Buenos Aires to connect with the afternoon flight back to London, arriving on Day 17. |
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