Group tour in Patagonia from 26.03.-10.04.21 - INTI Tours

Reception at Trelew airport and transfer to your hotel in Puerto Madryn. You will meet your local guide and receive all information about the upcoming trip. Dinner and get to know your travel group before you start your travel adventure together tomorrow!

We leave relatively early for today's day trip to the nature reserve of Península Valdés. After about an hour's drive you will reach the village of Puerto Pirámides, where you will take a boat trip to observe sea birds, sea lions and elephants (departure with other guests). Time for a lunch break. Afterwards you will visit different places of Valdés like the sea lion colony of Punta Pirámides or Punta Cantor with a view of the wonderful coast or Caleta Valdés, where you can explore the landscape and the sea elephant colony on different paths. Return via the Istmo Carlos Ameghino, where you will have time to visit the visitor and information centre. Throughout the day there is the possibility of seeing guanacos, Darwin's ostriches, foxes, maras, armadillos or skunks. Only in the evening you return to Puerto Madryn to your hotel.

After breakfast, check-out at the hotel and drive to Rawson harbour, where you will start a boat trip to discover one of the smallest dolphin species in the world - the so-called "Toninas overa" (exit with other guests). Then continue to Trelew, where you can visit one of the most important palaeontological museums in Latin America. You will get an overview of the geological development of our planet with the help of around 2,000 exhibits, including the largest dinosaur find ever discovered, which was made near Trelew in 2013. Short drive west to the Welsh town of Gaiman, idyllically situated on the banks of the Rio Chubut. Argentina welcomed Welsh settlers in the 19th century, who found their new home here. You have time to explore the typical architecture and try the so-called Té Galés with delicious pastries (optional). Return to the hotel in Trelew.

After about two and a half hours of driving south, you will reach the Punta Tombo nature reserve. This is the site of the world's largest Magellanic penguin colony with up to half a million birds. You will have enough time to observe and photograph the cute animals in their tailcoats on the paths. Time for lunch. Afterwards, there is a long drive on the "Ruta 3" south to Comodoro Rivadavia (about 365 kilometres).

You start today's day in a leisurely manner. You will head west on the "Ruta 26" to Sarmiento. You will cross an area where you will notice oil pumps everywhere. Your guide will explain the importance of oil and its production for the region. On the way you will have a picnic lunch. In the beautiful afternoon light you will go on an excursion through the impressive Petrified Forest in the "Área Natural Bosque Petrificado Sarmiento". Tonight's overnight stay will be in Los Antiguos.

The "Camino del Zeballos" runs along the Argentine-Chilean border more or less parallel to "Ruta 40" to connect the solitary estacias. The "Parque Patagonia Argentino y Chileno" is home to wonderfully wild landscapes and a wide range of wildlife such as foxes, guanacos, armadillos, condors and much more. The road combines four very different types of landscape over a distance of less than 100 kilometres and an ascent from about 200 m.a.s.l. up to 1,500 m.a.s.l., making it the highest road in Patagonia. Steppe, Andean forests, grassy plateaus and impressive snow mountains accompany the entertaining drive. A vantage point gives us a view of the 3,706-metre-high Monte San Lorenzo. Stops for excursions and short hikes make the day perfect. On the way there is a box lunch as a midday snack.

Today we start early, because we have to cross the border into Chile. Heading west along the southern shore of the beautiful Lake General Carrera, you will experience the transition from steppe to Patagonian forest. In this very little visited and developed Chilean region, you will take a unique boat trip on the lake to the mysterious and unique marble caves - the Capillas de Mármol, formed only by wind and water (exit with other guests). In the evening you will finally reach Puerto Tranquilo, where you will spend the night.

We continue south on this little-used section of the Carretera Austral. You will pass Puerto Bertrand with its beautiful lake and make a stop with the possibility of a short hike in the catchment area of the Río Baker and Rio Neff. Picnic on the way. We continue into the Valle Chacabuco and the Parque Nacional Patagonia. Via the Roballos Pass we return to Argentina to Lago Posadas, where you will spend the night in a Hosteria.

During today's journey through the vastness of Patagonia, you will discover the fascinating surroundings of the Posadas and Pueyrredón lakes. A trekking brings you to the so-called Arco de Piedra - the stone arch. You can also marvel at the Cerro de los Indios, the Cueva del Puma, the Laguna Multicolor, the Istmo de los Lagos and the Garganta del río Oro. The day with its very different impressions will remain unforgettable.

Continue on the famous "Ruta 40" and then take a turnoff to the Cañón del Río Pinturas, where the Rio Pinturas has cut deep into the Patagonian plain, creating an impressive gorge. Following a path towards the valley, you will reach the Cueva de las Manos - the most important archaeological site in all of Patagonia. The spray paintings and drawings left by the indigenous people on the walls of the gorge are estimated to be almost ten thousand years old. Afterwards, take a short trekking tour through the impressive landscape to La Posta de los Toldos - a newly established refuge and information centre about the region. Overnight stay at Estancia la Angostura.

Today's journey continues south on the legendary "Ruta 40" through the incomparable Patagonia. A box lunch will be served on the way. The destination is the town of El Chaltén at the foot of the famous Fitz Roy mountain massif, which was created out of nothing. Hiking enthusiasts and mountaineers from all over the world come here to explore the spectacular scenery around Fitz Roy as well as Cerro Torre. With a clear view, even the drive towards the Andes is an experience with magnificent views of the entire massif. Once in the village, you have the opportunity to take a walk through the village and to the nearby "Chorrillo del Salto" - a pretty waterfall. The rest of the day is at leisure.

Two days in El Chaltén are yours to do with as you please. You can do shorter or longer hikes and experience the different spectacular faces around Cerro Torre as well as the Fitz Roy massif. We recommend the day trip to Laguna de los Tres in front of the Fitz Roy massif. You can also take an optional tour to Lago del Desierto.

A three and a half hour drive separates El Chaltén from the tourist town of El Calafate, beautifully spread out on the shores of Lago Argentino. After checking in at the hotel, the rest of the day is at your leisure. Stroll through the nice town or, depending on your taste, go on one of the many half-day excursions offered in the surrounding area - for example, a visit to a typical Patagonian estancia.

Today's day trip to the Perito Moreno Glacier, about 80 kilometres away, starts in the morning. The road partly runs along Lago Argentino to the west and, with a bit of luck, allows you to observe several bird species native to the area - such as black-necked swans, flamingos, various ducks and geese. Condors are also not uncommon near the mountains. The landscape changes dramatically during the journey. The first section is characterised by Patagonian steppe in soft shades like a watercolour painting. Later it becomes mountainous with southern beech forests (Nothofagus) on the mountain flanks and the bright red shining Chilean fire bushes. Soon you catch your first glimpse of part of the glacier front of what is probably South America's most famous glacier. You will first take a boat tour (excursion with other guests) to approach the glacier from the water. Drive through broken-off ice floes towards the glacier wall and experience the "blue wonder of Argentina". After the boat tour, only a short drive separates you from the visitor centre directly above the glacier front. Various footbridges, stairways and viewing platforms have been built here, offering visitors magnificent views of the Perito Moreno. You have enough time to explore the various paths at your own pace - and always hope for a break-off at the glacier front. No matter which way you take - no matter what the weather is like - we guarantee that you will never forget this place! 
This unique day ends with a last dinner together with typical Patagonian lamb from the grill!

Depending on departure time, transfer from the hotel to El Calafate airport. With unforgettable impressions you start your journey home - or you extend your stay. Talk to us about the possibilities, we will be happy to put together a desired extension programme for you.