Patagonian Explorer

Itinerary

Day 1: Fly to Buenos Aires

Fly from London to Buenos Aires with British Airways. (N)

Day 2: Buenos Aires

Arrive in the morning and transfer to the Alvear Art hotel for 2 nights. Spend the afternoon exploring the cosmopolitan city’s fusion of European heritage and architecture with vibrant Latin culture. (N)

Day 3: Buenos Aires

Morning tour of the city that includes La Boca, a typically Italian district full of distinctive brightly-coloured buildings. Also visit the elegant district of Recoleta including its cemetery, where Eva Peron is buried. (B)

Day 4: Fly to Ushuaia Board Australis cruise

Morning flight to Ushuaia, the world’s most southerly city. Board the Stella Australis / Ventus Australis for a 4-night cruise around the wild Patagonian landscapes. In between excursions led by expert guides, enjoy lectures on the wildlife, history and geography of the region. (B, D)

Day 5: Cape Horn Wulaia Bay

This morning sail through the Beagle and Murray channels to Cape Horn National Park, where the Pacific and Atlantic oceans meet. Disembark on a windswept headland almost 425 metres high, historically dubbed the ‘End of the Earth’. Later, visit Wulaia bay, which was one of the most important indigenous sites of the region. (B, L, D)

Day 6: Pia glacier Garibaldi glacier

Sail to the Pia fjord and take a shore excursion for a panoramic view of the mountain range from which the Pia glacier originates. Continue sailing to the beautiful sky-blue Garibaldi glacier, one of only three glaciers in Patagonia that is increasing in size. (B, L, D)

Day 7: Agostini sound Aguila glacier Condor glacier

Sail through the Cockburn Channels to reach the spectacular Agostini sound. Disembark in Zodiacs to reach the Aguila glacier and take a walk along the glacier lagoon to the base of the ice wall. Continue to Condor glacier for the opportunity to spot the famous Andean condor. (B, L, D)

Day 8: Puerto Natales

Early in the morning, weather permitting, visit Magdalena Island, home of an enormous penguin colony, with over 120,000 of them in different stages of breeding. Disembark the cruise in Punta Arenas and transfer to Puerto Natales for 1 night at Hotel Costaustralis. (B)

Day 9: Torres del Paine

Torres del Paine National Park is home to an abundance of wildlife including pumas, foxes, guanacos, flamingos and condors. Spend a full day exploring the rich landscape of ancient lenga forest, emerald lakes, waterfalls, and the three iconic granite ‘towers’. Transfer to the Hotel Lago Grey within the park for 2 nights. (B)

Day 10: Torres del Paine

Day at leisure to enjoy optional excursions such as a boat tour on Lake Grey. Get up close to Grey glacier, the largest in the national park, and watch and listen for pieces of ice cracking into the water before drifting across the lake. (B)

Day 11: El Calafate

Cross the border into Argentina and transfer to El Calafate, a small town on the southern shore of Lake Argentino, and surrounded by towering mountains, clear lakes and huge glaciers descending from the Andes. Spend 2 nights at the Kosten Aike hotel. (B)

Day 12: Perito Moreno glacier

Take an optional tour to the magnificent Perito Moreno glacier, famous for its constant movement and dramatic landslides. Walk along observation platforms and take a boat ride on the lake up to the ice wall. (B)

Day 13: Fly to Buenos Aires

Fly to Buenos Aires. Enjoy an optional dinner and tango show to soak up the Argentine culture for your final night. Overnight in the Alvear Art hotel. (B)

Days 14-15: Fly to London

Transfer to the airport and fly to London with British Airways, arriving the following morning. (B) (N)