Bromeliads Down Under - Cairns Australia

SOUTHERN PATAGONIA
DATES: Arrival to Rio Gallegos Tuesday, February 26, 2008
Departure from Ushuaia Wednesday, March 12, 2008 OR Thursday, March 13, 2008 (Depending which flight you get)

In order to provide the best service in our Southern Patagonia tour and give more comfort to our participants, we have decided to employ a 20 seat minibus instead of a 12 seat minivan. Because of this, we will have extra seats available for this tour which is already confirmed.

PRICE $3150 based on double occupancy. All inclusive tour (transfers, hotels, meals). As you may know, Southern Patagonia is an expensive destination, hotels are of course of much higher quality than our cactus tours.

CONFIRMED SO FAR: 8 PARTICIPANTS
AVAILABLE SEATS: 4 PARTICIPANTS

Guillermo Rivera
South America Cactus Expeditions
Cordoba, Argentina
((54) 351-4852581
Email: rivera@intecar.com.ar
Website: http://www.cactusexpeditions.com.ar

Details:
Visit Southern Patagonia. The best way to explore the immense and varied geography of Patagonia is also the hardest way. Only by crossing it as we do, by land do you earn your appreciation of the vastness of these arid plains, cut by deep ravines and swept by near-continuous winds. In this way you travel from the wildlife-rich Atlantic ocean shores westward to within view of the Patagonian Icecap, then on to the renowned granite landmarks of Fitzroy. After a side trip to the impressive Perito Moreno Glacier we cross into Chile to hike amid the wonderful mountains in Torres del Paine National Park. We continue the final leg to Tierra del Fuego, the Land of Fire, former home of the original Bigfeet -- the Patagons

This trip is rated moderate. You might participate in day hikes of varying degrees of physical challenge, carrying just a daypack, or do optional activities during these days. On just two days we drive relatively long distances (but nothing compared to our Northern Patagonia tour!!); where possible we break the driving up with stops at sites of compelling interest.

16 days, traveling on comfortable bus, all transportation, meals, park entrance fees, and hotels included. Price: $ 3150 (DOUBLE OCCUPANCY, all inclusive)
Day 1
Arrival to the city of Rio Gallegos.
Meeting at the airport and transfer to Hotel
Welcome and Introductory speech
Optional tour to birding site for those who are not tired after a long trip
Dinner City restaurant
Accommodations at Hotel Austral.
Day 2 and 3
Trip to Puerto San Julian:
Our first destination, Monte Leon National Park, is home to thousands of Magellanic penguins, pink flamingos, sea lions and herds of guanacos. We'll visit the penguin colony and get a close but respectful look at them. Monte Leon National Park was recently created thanks to the efforts of the Patagonia Land Trust, a nonprofit organization that focuses on restoring Patagonia wildlands.
We arrive to Puerto San Julian in the afternoon.
The following day, a maritime excursion will take us to Cormorant and Justice islands where we will see black neck cormorants, penguin, and possible some dalphins.
Lunch: Sierra Leon National Park
Dinner: Las Julianas Restaurant
Accommodations at Hotel Bahia
Day 4
Trip to El Chalten:
We start early in the morning, and take a road to the west. This is a long drive but we’ll likely see ñandu (rhea, a small ostrich) as we make our way. Closer to the Andes, we start traveling along the north shore of Lago Viedma, to finally arrive to the village of Chalten in Los Glaciares National Park, gateway to the Fitzroy massif.
We enjoy two full-day hikes in this region of impressive granite spires reaching 11,170 ft/3,405 m.
El Chaltén is a village settled inside National Park Los Glaciares, in the heart of the patagonic southern mountains, at the foot of mythical Mt. Fitz Roy
The summit of its unmistakable majestic silouete is almost always covered in a cloud that the Tehuelche thought was smoke, mistake that gave origin to the name Chaltén, which means volcano.
Lunch-Picnic
Dinner at Hosteria
Accommodations at Hostería Kalenshen – El Chalten
Day 5 & 6
Trip to Laguna del Desierto.
We take a small bus to Laguna del Desierto.
Our first hike, (2 hrs) we take us to the Huemul Glacier, and some outstanding views of the Fitzroy.
In the afternoon, short hikes are planned.
The next day, a long hike to Fitzroy Basecamp on the Rio Blanco is schedule. From here a steep switchback trail up the moraine leads to a stunning viewpoint directly across Laguna de los Tres to the famed Fitzroy glaciers and summits. Optional hike according to weather conditions is one to Cerro Torres (same length but easier).
Accommodations at Hostería Kalenshen – El Chalten
Day 7 & 8
Drive to El Calafate.
We drive south 230 km. to the town of El Calafate, on the south shore of Lago Argentino. El Calafate is a bustling tourist town where travelers from all over the world congregate. It’s an opportunity to do laundry, mail postcards, and shop for souvenirs in this busy tourist town
The next day we travel west 80 km. to the famed Perito Moreno Glacier, which flows eastward down into Lago Argentino from the South Patagonia Icecap. A boardwalk gives you excellent views within 200 meters of the face of the glacier!
In the afternoon, a small boat will take us closer to this incredible wall of ice.
Accommodations at Hotel Posta del Sur.
Day 9
Drive to Puerto Natales.
During our route west into Chile, we view more of the zone’s wildlife such as ñandu (rheas), guanacos, and foxes.
We arrive in the scenic town of Puerto Natales in the afternoon
Accommodations at Lodge Weskar
Day 10
Drive to Torres del Paine National Park.
As we enter Torres del Paine National Park on the Chilean side of the frontier, the landscape turns much greener that what we have seen thus far. The park is on UNESCO’s World Biosphere Heritage list. We see abundant troops of guanaco, as well as flamingos and large flocks of Austral geese
Accommodations at Hostería Torres, Paine National Park
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Note: I have pictures included with this document - should you wish to see the entire document, please request same from LynnHudson@BromeliadsDownUnder.com