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ARGENTINA ADVENTURE:
JOURNEY TO PATAGONIA

T R I P  I N F O R M A T I O N

Depart virtually any day of the week

Note: For travelers wanting to visit southern Patagonia, the best season is between October and April. Other regions may be visited year-round.

One of the world’s largest countries, with an area 60% the size of Europe, Argentina plunges 2,300 miles from tropical jungle in the north to Antarctic-like glaciers in Patagonia. Many adventurous travelers have been enthralled with the land of romantic gauchos, haunting tangos, rolling pampas, towering mountains, and sparkling lakes. Highlights of your soft adventures and natural history adventure include a private tango lesson in Buenos Aires; phenomenally scenic glacier hiking on Perito Moreno glacier (easy); bicycling, whitewater rafting or horseback riding (easy) in the incomparably beautiful Lake District; visiting a huge penguin rookery in Punta Tombo; enjoying a cooking workshop, art tour or literary walking tour in sophisticated Buenos Aires; and taking an adventurous boat ride to Iguacu’s Devil’s Throat Fall. Upon your return, you'll agree that Argentina's culture and scenery are equally captivating!

This trip includes your choice of 1-2 lectures from the topics listed below. Delivered by a regional specialist, these lectures will supplement the information you receive from your top-notch guides. Some lectures may not be available on certain departures.

-- Overview of Argentine History
-- Introduction to Argentine Literature
-- History of Expeditions to Patagonia
-- Wine-tasting Seminar
-- Argentine Cuisine
-- Multicultural Argentina
-- Wildlife of Patagonia
-- History and Meaning of the Tango
-- Sub-aquatic Archaeology in Patagonia
-- Argentine Art

I T I N E R A R Y

Note: We will gladly customize an itinerary to meet your preferences.

Fly to Buenos Aires, arriving the next morning. You will be met and privately transferred to your hotel, where you may rest after your international flight.

Known as the “Paris of South America”, Buenos Aires is a marvelous city with wide boulevards, large parks, sidewalk cafes, tango parlors, and ornate buildings with roccoco and baroque decorations. This afternoon, enjoy a private tour of the city, led by a spirited guide who will use four of Buenos Aires' parks and plazas to introduce you to Argentina, its history, contrasts, contradictions, and even certain characteristics of the Portenos themselves! ! Loi Suites Recoleta

Note: You may upgrade to the Alvear Palace Hotel or you may downgrade to the 4 star Hotel Elevage.

This morning you may choose from several activities -- an Argentine cooking workshop, an art tour, a literary walking tour or a bicycling excursion. The cooking workshop, taught by a renowned Argentine chef, will teach you how to cook several Argentine specialties, which you will then savor with fine Argentine wine. The modern and colonial art tour will visit the Malba museum, a silver artist in San Telmo and Fernandez Blanco museum. The literary walking tour examines the works of Borges or Julio Cortazar, visiting places that appear in these authors’ novels. The bicycling tour will take you through the Costanera Sur Ecological Reserve and other scenic and safe areas of the city

This afternoon you may enjoy a private tango lesson with an accomplished instructor, an "Evita" walking tour or an educational wine-tasting session.

This evening, enjoy dinner and a Tango show at an authentic Argentine tango house.

Loi Suites Recoleta (B, D)

Note: Another option is to visit an authentic 19th century estancia, where you may experience the gaucho lifestyle, including a gaucho riding demonstration, a delicious “asado” meal (barbecue), horseback riding, and wildlife viewing.

Flight to Trelew, a small coastal town on the Atlantic. You'll visit Punta Tombo to observe a huge rookery of Magellanic penguins, estimated at over 500,000 birds. Also present are marine birds: petrels, skuas, three cormorant species, and gulls. Transfer to Puerto Madryn for overnight, stopping on the way at Gaiman, a picturesque Welsh village, for tea in a traditional tea-house. Hotel Peninsula (B, L)

Drive to the Valdez Peninsula, a desolate, sparsely vegetated wildlife preserve with a sub-desert climate and bleak shoreline that provides a home for a variety of animal species. At Isla de los Pajaros, you should see albatross, petrels, penguins, terns, sandpipers, cormorants, grebes, oystercatchers and even Chilean flamingo. At Punta Norte, you'll visit sea lion and elephant seal colonies (elephant seals are found no where else in South America). At Salinas Grande, Argentina’s lowest point (115 feet below sea level), you will look for rheas, armadillos, guanaco, and cavy. (Right whales are seen mainly in November). Hotel Peninsula (B, L)

Morning flight to Calafate, where you will be met and transferred to your hotel. Originally settled by British and Australian farmers, the entire area has a unique ambiance as well as wildlifeincluding wild geese, kestrel, caracara and spurwing lapwing. Calafate, on the scenic shores of Lago Argentino, is the gateway to Glaciers National Park. Imago Hotel & Spa - 5 stars (B, D)

Note: You may stay at Los Notros for a surcharge.

Your boat launch to Perito Moreno glacier will offer panoramic and close-up views of the 180 foot high, 3 mile wide, and 20 mile long glacier. Perito Moreno is considered by many to be the most beautiful glacier in the world. Upon reaching the glacier, you will then embark on a phenomenally scenic and easy glacier trek (2 hours; you will be given crampons). Periodically, you will hear the thunderous sound of 100 foot stalactites breaking apart from the glacier and plunging into the lake, pushing huge waves toward shore.

Imago Hotel & Spa - 5 stars (B, L, D)

This morning you will be transferred to the tiny port of Puerto Bandera, where you will board a comfortable modern catamaran for cruise on Lago Argentino.  You'll cruise past icebergs of different shapes and colors to the 100-foot high Upsala glacier.  Covering an area of 500 square kilometers, Upsala is the largest glacier in South America.  You'll then proceed along the Spegazzini arm of the lake to the Estancia Cristina, which is surrounded by towering ice-capped mountains and glowing ice-blue bergs.  Established in 1918 and originally dedicated to sheep breeding (25,000 species), this Estancia is only accessible by boat and has, therefore, remained one of the most pristine places in Patagonia.  Upon arrival at the Estancia, you will have a choice of two activities. 

Imago Hotel & Spa - 5 stars (B, L)

Note: You may extend your stay in Patagonia by visiting Mount Fitzroy and/or staying at Hosteria Helsingfors.

Fly to Bariloche, a delightful lakeside town nestled in the Argentine Lake District. You will be met and privately transferred to the spectacularly beautiful Llao Llao peninsula. This region, called “Little Switzerland”, is world-renowned for its snow-capped volcanoes, glittering emerald lakes, imposing waterfalls, deep woodland meadows, and navigable blue rivers. Free time to stroll around. Llao Llao Resort (B)

Note: Depending upon air schedules, you may need to overnight in Buenos Aires, flying to Bariloche early next morning.

Today you may choose between two activities. First, you may travel to a beautiful area of Nahuel Huapi National Park for an exciting, low-intensity whitewater rafting trip (class 2-3 rapids) down the Rio Manso. Scenery is spectacular and the excursion is very safe. Observe the park’s rich wildlife, including river otters, condors, woodpeckers, deer, foxes, and mountain lions and cats. Also enjoy impressive views of Tronador volcano (11,722 ft).

Your second option is a very scenic drive (Small Circuit) through Nahuel Huapi National Park, skirting Lake Nahuel Huapi and proceeding on to Llao Llao peninsula. You’ll then ascend through a forest of evergreen coihue trees for wonderful views of Lake Moreno, Victoria Island, and several snowcapped Andean peaks, including Tronador. Then take a chairlift (elective) to the summit of Campanario Hill for panoramic views. You may also rent bicycles and follow a portion of the Small Circuit described above. Llao Llao Resort (B)

First, you may take an exceptionally scenic full-day lake tour from Bariloche to Peulla (on the Chilean border), traveling by launch across Lake Nahuel Huapi and Lake Frias. (This excursion constitutes the first half of the Lake Crossing to Puerto Montt, Chile.)

Your second option is an easy horseback riding excursion along the very picturesque western steppes of Lake Nahuel Huapi. Escorted by a guide, you’ll traverse portions of the beautiful Jones ranch, still owned by the pioneering American family who arrived here at the turn of the century. Midway through your ride, enjoy an “asado criollo”, or Argentine barbecue. The horses are easy-to-ride and very well-maintained. Total time on horse: 2 1/2 hours. Llao Llao Resort (B, L)

Today you’ll head for the Tronador Volcano region via an exceptionally scenic road that parallels the entire length of Gutierrez and Mascardi lakes. Macardi is known as the “seven-colored lake.” At Tronador, you will explore Ventisquero Negro, or the Black Glacier, a mass of ice descending directly from Mount Tronador. A day of tremendous scenery. Llao Llao Resort (B, L)

Note: If time allows, you might consider adding two nights to explore the incredibly scenic Villa La Angostura region which also offers upscale accommodations (Relais at Chateau), kayaking, bicycling, horseback riding and hiking. Call for more information.

Fly to Iguacu Falls. Eleanor Roosevelt once remarked that Iguacu Falls make Niagara look like a dripping faucet. Indeed, Iguacu Falls are 60 feet higher than, and twice as wide as, Niagara Falls. On the Argentine side of the falls, you'll take a short train ride before hiking the catwalks over, under, and into the falls. You'll enjoy wonderful views of “Devil’s Throat” fall, the world’s most voluminous waterfall in terms of flow per second. Then explore San Martin Island for more lovely views of the falls. International Sheraton (B)

Note: Depending upon the latest flight schedule, it might be necessary to overnight in Buenos Aires before continuing on to Iguacu Falls.

Your walking tour of the Brazilian side of the falls will provide you with phenomenal panoramic views of the falls. You may also take an optional helicopter ride over the falls or go kayaking along the Ocoi River, where you may enjoy birding (not included). International Sheraton (B)

Fly to Buenos Aires on day 15 and connect with your evening international flight to the U.S., arriving home on day 16. (B)

Land Cost (per person) includes:
o All elective "soft" adventures (glacier hiking, horseback riding, bicycling, rafting)
o 22 meals
o Accommodations for 13 nights in first class and deluxe hotels
o Supplemental lecture(s)
o Mostly private and some small group touring with local bilingual guides
o Entrance/park fees
o All transfers and land transportation

Land Cost per person:

With mostly value priced 4 star hotels (one 3 star hotel): $4,750 (check) or $4,900 (credit card)

With mostly 5 star & 4 1/2 star hotels (one 3 star hotel): $5,280 (check) or $5,445 (credit card)

G E N E R A L  I N F O R M A T I O N

Trip Grade: Easy to Moderate. Emphasis is on "off the beaten track" experience. All included adventures are elective and low-intensity. Activities include hiking, glacier hiking, nature walks in windy and sometimes rainy conditions, rafting, bicycling, horseback riding, boat excursions, and some long driving days. Accommodations are in mostly first class and deluxe hotels. Because the trip travels into remote areas, some discomfort may result from the elements, cultural differences, rough roads and schedule changes.

Land Cost Includes: All vehicle transportation and transfers as stated in the itinerary; accommodations in first class hotels (13 nights) and based on double occupancy; 22 meals; entrance/park fees; service and handling charges; mostly private touring (some small groups); supplemental lecture.

Land Cost Does Not Include: Airfares (quoted separately); meals not included in itinerary; excess baggage charges; alcoholic beverages; laundry, passports, personal insurance, other personal items; airport departure taxes; hotel nights en route or return.

Accommodations: Accommodations are based on double occupancy in mostly first class and deluxe hotels. Singles who sign up will incur a single supplement charge.

Reservations and Payments: A deposit of $400 with the completed reservation form will ensure you a place on this trip. Departures are guaranteed with a minimum of 2 travelers. Final payment is due 60 days prior to departure.

Cancellations and Refunds: The initial deposit for the trip is refundable up to 90 days before departure, less a $200 handling fee. Any cancellation occurring between 60 and 89 days will result in a cancellation penalty of $400 (the full deposit) based on nonrecoverable deposits and expenses. Any cancellation occurring between 30 and 59 days will result in a cancellation penalty of 50% of trip cost. Unless a suitable replacement can be found, there will be no refunds for any cancellation within 29 days of departure. There are no refunds for any unused meals, accommodations or othertrip activities. In certain cases, the cancellation policies of NEI's subcontractors will supersede NEI's policy.

Insurance: Trip cancellation, accident and baggage insurance are recommended and will be offered to all participants. Trip cancellation insurance is strongly advised; this will protect you in the case of cancellation due to personal or family illness.

Responsibility: Nature Expeditions International is responsible for conducting this trip as outlined in the published itinerary. It reserves the right, however, to cancel the trip should it become affected by conditions beyond the company’s control. In such an event, NEI will return all monies paid to it by the affected participants as full and final settlement.

NEI also reserves the right to substitute other lodging during the trip or to change the trip leader(s), itinerary, or travel arrangements if the staff believes it is in the best interest of all participants. In addition, NEI may decline to accept or retain any member or prospective member of an announced trip. Full refund for the unused portion of the trip will be paid to the affected participant in such an event.

Airline Clause: All arrangements for airline transportation are made by the respective airlines, which companies shall not have or incur any responsibility or liability to any person taking an trip except their liability as common carriers. Nor shall such carriers be or be held responsible for any act, omission, or event occurring after the passenger has disembarked from the conveyance. The usual passage contract in use by the carrier, when issued, shall constitute the sole contract between said carrier and the passenger. All rates are based on tariffs currently or those tariffs to be placed in effect and are subject to adjustment in the event of changes therein. The air transportation services of any IATA/ARC member may be used.