14 Day South American Glaciers, Forests & Lakes with 4 Day Patagonia Cruise

DAY 1 - Depart for Argentina
Depart for Argentina

DAY 2 - Arrive in Buenos Aires
Arrive in cosmopolitan Buenos Aires; transfer to your hotel. The city's beauty is apparent as you drive through this 19th century "Paris of South America" with its elegant architecture, wide tree-lined boulevards, striking monuments and sprawling parks. The rest of the day is yours to get acquainted with this city that has a distinct European flavor. Tonight, enjoy dinner with your fellow travelers and Tour Manager to celebrate your arrival in Argentina. We recommend that you select flights which arrive no later than 4 PM
Overnight: Buenos Aires
Meals: Dinner

DAY 3 - Tour Buenos Aires, Tango Lessons
Discover the city's highlights this morning on a tour that includes the Plaza de Mayo, Metropolitan Cathedral and Casa Rosada (government palace); see the balcony where Eva and Juan Peron made their speeches. Then, on to the colorful La Boca neighborhood, a working class barrio, and the old quarters of San Telmo and Caminito, a mix of colonial style homes, narrow lanes, artists' lofts and very trendy cafes. Drive to the Recoleta Cemetery, final resting place of many of the wealthiest and most important Argentine historical figures. The grounds here cover more than four city blocks, filled with tombs adorned by works of local and international sculptors, and more than 6,400 mausoleums including the tomb of Eva "Evita" Peron, always heaped with flowers and letters from adoring fans. Spend the rest of the afternoon exploring some of Buenos Aires neighborhoods and fabulous collection of shops before this evening's tango lesson with professional Argentine Tango dancers. The evening is at leisure to discover the vibrant nightlife or, join the group for an optional Argentine Dinner and Tango Show at famed Café de los Angelitos
Optional: Buenos Aires Dinner & Tango Show
Overnight: Buenos Aires
Meals: Breakfast

DAY 4 - Buenos Aires to El Calafate
Spend a morning at leisure in sophisticated Buenos Aires before flying to contrasting El Calafate, a small city strategically nestled on the shores of Lago Argentino, named for the berry that, once eaten, guarantees your return to Patagonia. This once quaint city, gateway to Los Glaciares National Park and the great Perito Moreno Glacier, is dotted with shops, restaurants and cute cafes that perfectly combine leisure and adventure. Arrive in El Calafate in the evening
Overnight: El Calafate
Meals: Breakfast

DAY 5 - Excursion to the Perito Moreno Glacier, Los Glaciares National Park
An unforgettable day filled with astonishing scenery as you travel to the Perito Moreno Glacier at Los Glaciares National Park, declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. This park, established in 1937, is the largest ice cap outside of Antarctica and Greenland with an ice field that controls the world's third largest reserve of fresh water. You'll observe the glacier's massive ice wall, almost 3 miles wide and over 240 feet high above the lake's surface, from a cliffside promenade that overlooks the constantly shifting ice. The easy access to this site has crowned Perito Moreno as one of the most visited glaciers in the world. Afterwards, return to El Calafate
Overnight: El Calafate
Meals: Breakfast

DAY 6 - Chile Border Crossing, Torres del Paine National Park
Today, travel from El Calafate to Torres del Paine National Park in Chile with its soaring granite pillars above the Patagonia steppe, dominating the landscape of what may be South America's finest national park and surely one of the most impressive sights in the Southern Hemisphere. The main attractions of this National Park are its world-famous mountains and glaciers, as seen on hundreds of photos of Chile. Proceed to the Chile border crossing. After clearing immigration and customs, proceed to your hotel and arrive in time for lunch. In the afternoon, drive through the rugged terrain of the National's Park's far eastern region to Laguna Azul. On arrival, embark on a walk and admire views of the iconic three towers. Take in the inspiring landscape with its jagged peaks, azure lakes, emerald forests, thundering waterfalls and roaring rivers. Tonight, dinner is at the hotel
Overnight: Torres del Paine
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 7 - Full Day Torres del Paine Tour
Be prepared for magnificent panoramas as you make your way into breathtaking Torres del Paine National Park, a 700-square-mile World Biosphere Reserve. Begin with a hike towards Cuernos View Point. Along the way, explore Salto Grande waterfall, where the water from the turquoise Lake Nordenskjold flows through to Lake Pehoe. The path is ideal to appreciate the flora with Paine Grande Mountain dominating the scenery. Following lunch, continue west towards Grey Lake. Take a guided walk across hanging bridges into the dark Patagonian forest before arriving to Lago Grey beach. Weather permitting, you will observe Grey Glacier in the distance, an enormous wall of ice over three miles wide. At dinner tonight, share memories of this fabulous day
Overnight: Torres del Paine
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 8 - Morning Hike in Torres del Paine, Discover Puerto Natales
This morning, depart for a hike and practice identifying the unique flora and fauna of Patagonia. A walk along the shore of Laguna Inges, offers views of Monte Almirante rising to the north and Lake Nordenksjold to the south. Have lunch at your hotel before a scenic drive from Torres del Paine to Puerto Natales. En route, stop at Lago Sarmiento with its deep blue water. The area boasts stunning views of Paine Massif. Located on the shores of the Senoret Channel, Puerto Natales was once a hub of Chile's thriving ranching industry in the early 20th century. It now serves as a thriving adventure sports center and the geographical and cultural center of Chilean Patagonia. View the old fashioned corrugated tin houses strung shoulder to shoulder in the colorful downtown, a relic from the past, now contrasted by modern shops selling outdoor sports gear and gourmet restaurants. Tonight, join your fellow travelers for dinner at the hotel
Overnight: Puerto Natales
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 9 - Embarkation on the Patagonia Cruise
Travel to Punta Arenas, the thriving capitol city of Chile's southernmost region at the edge of the Strait of Magellan. Embark the Patagonian expedition cruise ship where you'll be welcomed on board by the friendly crew with time to get ready for tonight's dinner. Afterwards, the ship sets sail as you begin your great adventure. The journey will take you through the Strait of Magellan and Beagle Channel to explore one of the most breathtaking wilderness regions in the world: Southern Patagonia and Tierra del Fuego
Overnight: Patagonia Cruise
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

DAY 10 - Sail to Ainsworth Bay and Tuckers Islets
At dawn, the ship navigates through the Almirantazgo Sound, arriving at Ainsworth Bay within Alberto de Agostini National Park. This is the perfect spot from which to see the Marinelli Glacier descending from the Darwin Mountain Range in the distance and to appreciate how the land returns to life after glacial retreat. Here, walk to a beaver dam in the stunning subpolar Magellan Forest. Whether on the beach or the island, there's a good chance of sighting Southern Elephant Seals. (Please bear in mind that sightings cannot be guaranteed due to the colony's unpredictable movements.) Later, sail to Tuckers Islets,* and after lunch, board well-equipped Zodiac boats to get close to a colony of Magellanic Penguins (indigenous to the Southern Hemisphere) and cormorants
*In September and April, this excursion is replaced by a short walk to a nearby glacier at Brookes Bay.
Overnight: Patagonia Cruise
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 11 - Pia Glacier and the Beagle Channel
Navigate along the northwest arm of the Beagle Channel today before disembarking at Pia Fjord. From there, a short hike takes you to a panoramic viewpoint from where you can enjoy spectacular views of the awe-inspiring Pia Glacier, whose main tongue extends from the mountaintops all the way down to the sea. After this extraordinary experience, continue your voyage along the Beagle Channel through the majestic Glacier Alley
Overnight: Patagonia Cruise
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 12 - Wulaia Bay and Cape Horn
Go ashore this morning at historic Wulaia Bay, originally the site of one of the region's largest Yamana aboriginal settlements. Charles Darwin landed here in 1833 during his famous voyage on the HMS Beagle; this area is also renowned for the mesmerizing beauty of its vegetation and geography. Then take a walk through the enchanting Magellan Forest of lengas, coigües, canelos, ferns, and other endemic vegetation, to reach a panoramic viewpoint. In the afternoon, the ship sails through the Murray Channel and Nassau Bay to reach Cape Horn National Park, where (weather permitting) you go ashore. Legendary Cape Horn, discovered in 1616, is a sheer 1,394-foot high rocky promontory, declared a World Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO in 2005. For many years, Cape Horn was an important navigation route between the Pacific and the Atlantic, often referred to as the 'End of the Earth'. At tonight's dinner on board, say thanks to the captain and crew on the M/V Stella Australis
Overnight: Patagonia Cruise
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

DAY 13 - Disembarkation and Flight to Buenos Aires
Disembarkation this morning in Ushuaia, and transfer to the airport for your flight to Buenos Aires. On your last night in Argentina, share memories of your fabulous journey through Patagonia during dinner and bid goodbye to your Tour Manager
Overnight: Buenos Aires
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

DAY 14 - Depart Argentina
Transfer to the airport for your departure flight
Meals: Breakfast