Description
Day 1:
Reception at El Calafate airport and transfer to hotel. Accommodation. Free time.
Day 2:
At early morning, breakfast and departure for full day excursion to Perito Moreno Glacier: This is one of Patagonia’s most extraordinary excursions. Some moments etch themselves into memory, and seeing the grandeur of the Perito Moreno Glacier is undoubtedly one of those life-defining experiences.
The departure from the hotel is due at 8 am. You will start the way bordering Bahía Redonda of the Argentino lake, from where you’ll observe the Solitaria Island. After a short while you’ll be touring around the steppe, in which you will get to visit several interesting locations such as: Comisión or De Los Elefantes hill, the Centinela river, Frías hill; some Patagonian estancias, ‘Alice’, among the famous ones.
Once you crossed the Mitre river, you will enter the Glaciers National Park. Thence a 35 km passage begins, it goes through the coasts of Rico branch of the Argentino Lake found in the middle of abundant vegetation. You will find this passage in the middle of the forest amazing. There are many immense tree specimens such as ñires, lengas, notros and sour cherry trees. The famous Curva de los Suspiros, along the road, will show you the first panoramic view of the Perito Moreno Glacier, thus making it a must stop (in order to take photographs). A short while after, you will reach the viewpoint of the glacier and there will be a new chance of getting amazing shots of the landscape with your camera.
Towards the end of the tour, you will come across the footbridges which are very close to the ice wall. There will be enough time for you to enjoy the spectacle of the glacier, and you will also get to witness the famous ice detachment phenomena, hear the hollow sounds of ice falling and thus becoming smaller floating glaciers.
The approximate time you will spend in the footbridges is two hours.
Note:
Even though the visit to the footbridges is unrestricted, it is important to point out that a big part of the bridges have steps, so people with reduced mobility can tour through the balconies and the parts with ramps, but not the whole structure of the footbridges.
The departure may vary from 8 am in summer, to 10 am in winter and depending on climate conditions. The return is due approximately at 5 pm. Lunch is not included. Near the footbridges area there is a small bar where you can buy a light snack, and there is also a restaurant offering more complete menus. You could also ask us for the inclusion of a boxed lunch at a small charge.
It allows you to observe, from a completely different perspective, the stunning walls of the glacier and the permanent detachments of blocks of ice, which later become icebergs and float by, very close to the boat, tingeing the reflexes of the channels and lakes with that peculiar blue color they have had since immemorial times.
The craft, which offers room for up to 70 people, takes a prudential position, close enough to the wall as to be able to cover its whole extension.
Duration: 1 hour.
Day 3:
In the morning departure to port to embark on the outstanding Gourmet Glaciers Experience: This fabulous excursion consists of a full day aboard the María Turquesa Cruise. Two pleasures are combined: to sail between glaciers and to enjoy excellent cuisine in the same navigation with incredible views.
The departure starts early in the morning from your hotel where we pick you up to take you to Punta Bandera where at 09:00 hs. you embark on the Private Port La Soledad. This tour of the majestic Lake Argentino allows you to "live" unique landscapes of Los Glaciares National Park, from another perspective, almost in contact with the glaciers. Crossing the Escuadra Bay and the Wall of Condoreras, the first two glaciers found on the slopes and mountain tops appear and this feature is called "hanging": Seco Glacier and Heim Glacier. Then, we continue through the Argentino lake heading south so as to take the Canal Spegazzini to reach the glacier of the same name. The navigation allows a striking approach to this glacier that has front walls between 80 and 135 meters above the level of the lake. We later continue to Puesto de Las Vacas - an extremely calm bay in the Spegazzini Canal, where the Captain silences the engines to allow passengers to share an interesting walk coordinated by our team of guides.
Later, the ship will stop in front of the barrier of icebergs that prevents the entrance to the Upsala Channel, and if the weather conditions allow, we admire the Upsala and Bertacchi glaciers in the distance. Lunch time with unforgettable panoramas (Gourmet lunchbox with non-alcoholic beverages included). Then we navigate through Los Témpanos Channel towards the north wall of the Perito Moreno Glacier where the boat also stops to watch and listen to the constant detachments of huge blocks of ice.
Return to Port is set to 6PM, from where we take you back to your hotel.
NOTE: When booking you can request access to the Premium sector of the María Turquesa Cruise (capacity only 20 passengers max.), which includes full lunch with alcoholic beverages plus cafeteria services without cost during the entire navigation. Ask us for this option.
Day 4:
After breakfast, transfer to the El Calafate airport.
In Puerto Iguazú, reception at the airport and transfer to hotel. Accommodation and free time.
Day 5:
In the morning, after breakfast, depart to Full Day Excursion Argentine Waterfalls: It is a full-day excursion that will take you on various walks through the Iguazú National Park. Departure is scheduled for 8 in the morning and return is at 5 in the afternoon. A guide will be with you all the time.
Upon arriving at the park, you will take part of the excursion on the Jungle Train, a circuit of ecologic trains that goes through ecological wonders of the park and borders the river, allowing visitors to walk through the park and access different footbridges. This train makes two stops: the Falls and the Devil’s Throat (*), the latter being the farthest situated, and giving access to the footbridge from where you can observe the impressive fall of the same name. From the station, it is a 1,000 m. walk winding through islands, until you arrive at the balconies in front of the Devil’s Throat. The total duration of this walk is two hours. It is an easy walk, without stairs.
Cataratas stop gives access to two trails: Superior and Inferior.
Even though the order in which you take them may vary, they are generally taken in that order.
Paseo Superior (Upper Path)
The path covers 1.1 km. This path has no climbs but it allows visitors to access the highest footbridges above the main waterfalls. You will enjoy a panoramic view of the falls as well as the delta of the Iguazú River, with its islands and lush vegetation. This path is the one that requires the lowest level of effort of the three main paths.
Paseo Inferior (Lower Path)
This circular path covers 1.2 km in total, and allows you to observe the majority of the falls, from different perspectives: including from the front and from below the falls themselves; with wide views or in direct contact with the water. You can even feel the spray from the Bossetti waterfall. These footbridges also allow you to experience the jungle up close. Keep in mind that there are many stairs to climb, the equivalent to 8 floors.
From this Paseo Inferior you get to the Safari Gran Aventura, which you can choose to take, meeting with the group at the entrance of the park afterwards.
Note:
The entrance fee to the park is not included.
There is some free time given for lunch. You may either eat at the food court of the place, or take your food from the hotel.
Optional:
Those who wish to visit San Martín Island, may do so during lunch time. There is no access fee, and it has a self-guided trail. There is a free boat service leaving from the Paseo Inferior. The view point of the island offers a marvelous view.
(*) access to Devil's Throat is currently closed due to works in progress.
Day 6:
In the morning, after breakfast, depart to Half Day Excursion Waterfalls on the Brazilian side: This excursion is shorter than the one on the Argentinian side, as it consists of only one path, which allows a panoramic view of the Falls.
You will be able to observe the Argentinian Falls, as well as to get a side view of the Devil’s Throat and to observe the four falls that belong to Brazil (Benjamin Constant, Deodoro, Floriano and Santa María).
Note:
- This excursion can be done either during the morning or the afternoon. Please ask us about the timetables.
- The Visa entry requirements in Brazil are different than in Argentina. Please, check your country’s situation.
End of our services.
Please ask us if you wish to extend your stay in this destination or continue your trip elsewhere in Argentina!
