Patagonia and Cape d´Horn with Australis Cruise

We are really happy to welcome you in Argentina!

Upon arrival at Ezeiza International Airport your guide will meet and greet you and will introduce you to Buenos Aires, one of the most passionate and cosmopolitan cities of South America.  While you are transferred to your selected hotel,  you will learn about its rich architectural and cultural heritage, modern creative energy, electric nightlife, unique traditions, vibrant arts scene, extensive parks, and warm, friendly hosts that makes it one of the world’s most exciting capitals.
Your guide will assist you at check-in and you will have some time to rest and relax after the long flight.

USHUAIA: "Towards the end of the world”

You will be making an early departure from your hotel to the airport to board your flight down to Ushuaia, the world's southernmost city. Upon arrival, you will be greeted at the airport by a friendly and experienced guide, who'll transfer you to your chosen hotel, and then help you and the city become friends. Your afternoon will be spent at your leisure to walk around as you will. A couple of good hints would be to make your way to the End of the World Museum, and/or the Old Penitentiary Museum. Make sure to enjoy the typical dish at these latitudes: the ridiculously delicious king crab.

This morning you'll visit the Tierra del Fuego National Park, the only one in the country with a maritime coast. Within its 63,000 hectares, you'll find fire-bushes, beech trees, ñires, box-leafed barberries, along with endless profusions of flowers such as its spectacular orchids and violets. Hugging the mountains, you'll follow a road where you'll come across both peat bogs and beaver dams. After crossing the Lapataia River, a magnificent view of Laguna Verde (Green Lagoon) and the upland geese and ibis that come here every summer will present themselves to your astonished eyes. A walk along the path up to Laguna Negra (Black Lagoon) or the Beavers' Path will be suggested at that point - your camera will be amply rewarded if you take either of these up. At Lapataia Bay, you'll witness the testimony of the original inhabitants of the Island (the Yamanas) at a fascinating archaeological site: the "concheros". On the way back to Ushuaia, take a brief stop at Lake Roca, whose colour changes as the weather does.

And from there, The Great Adventure will begin, as you find yourself on board the AUSTRALIS CRUISE. Captain and crew will welcome you with a cocktail reception on board, and then you will depart for the Ends of the Earth, pulling out of the Beagle Channel from Argentine into Chilean territorial waters. The lights of Ushuaia disappear as you turn into the narrow Murray Channel between Navarino and Hoste islands.

 Keep sailing and discover the glaciers!

You never get bored of glaciers! 

Meet the penguins! 

It won't be too late in the morning before you're striding around Magdalena Island - weather permitting, of course. Located in the Strait of Magellan, this landfall was an essential source of supplies for navigators and explorers in the past. Now, it is left to the immense colony of Magellanic Penguins, which you'll stumble across on your walk to the lighthouse that guides ships on their way through the strait. In September and April this excursion is replaced by a Zodiac boat ride to Isla Marta to make friends with the sea lions. After meeting the penguins, the cruise will sail to Punta Arenas, from where you'll then be transferred to Puerto Natales and your selected choice hotel. Your evening is all yours to relax after your big day.

Upon arrival at Punta Arenas Pier, you will be drived  to Puerto Natales, where you’ll be pleasantly surprised with the countless activities to do outdoors and you’ll be amazed by the vibrant colors that paint the sky at sunset, which you’ll see from your kayak or bike. Enjoy the Chilean Patagonian food and take the opportunity to recharge your batteries in this amazing place.

Torres del Paine-National Park
Some quick advice before starting:  Patagonia without a visit to Torres del Paine National Park is almost a sin.  Lucky, then, that you'll be heading straight there this morning. First stop will be the Milodon Cave, which is of anthropological value impossible to overestimate. This old cave is thought to have been home to the prehistoric Patagonian Man, living side-by-side with the extinct, herbivorous Milodon. From there, it's on to Cerro Castillo for a handy coffee stop. Your coffee will be pretty good, but nothing compared to the scenery you'll drink up as you pass the Amargo Lagoon, home to red foxes and condors and backdropped by the dramatic Paine mountain range. But that's just the start.

Your path then winds around the Nordenskjold and Pehoé lakes, together with groups of guanacos and lesser rheas or ñandúes; before exposing the huge Salto Grande waterfall to your astonished eyes. It's on to the Grey Lake area from there, having a lunch stop at the appropriately-named Grey Inn. It's glaciers all the way from there, as you hike through lenga forests and the Grey Glacier's sublime ice-floes. It won't be until late in the afternoon that you make it to your hotel, where you'll have some well-deserved relaxing time, preparing you for the unforgettable experiences that are just around the corner.

Across the Patagonian Steppe. 

Good thing you relaxed yesterday evening, because you'll need to get up early this morning so that you can start your 5 hour bus trip through all the sublimity of the Patagonian Steppe and make it to El Calafate in time for lunch. After that, it's off to your hotel, from where you can take your camera and go for a walk along the shores of Lake Argentino and catch some of its stunning views.

"The breathtaking Perito Moreno Glacier"

Argentina isn't short on natural beauty, but today, you'll get to see one of the most irrefutably beauteous:  the Perito Moreno Glacier.  You'll have very little inclination to argue with UNESCO's decision to dub this a World Natural Heritage Site way back in 1981. Arriving at the Glaciers' balconies, you'll get to spend 4 or so hours walking along the various pathways to drink in its glory from different angles. Gorgeously framed by dramatic mountains, lakes and forests, the Perito Moreno Glacier is one of the most spectacular scenes going around. It owes its fame to its continuous movement, which produces a cyclical phenomenon of advance and backward motion, causing awe-inspiring periods of ice-toppling. You won't believe your eyes, so make sure you take plenty of photos!

Back to the big city! 

After all this excitement, you will be transferred to El Calafate Airport  to head on back to Buenos Aires and your comfortable city hotel.  Have the night out on the town, taking in the many shops, art galleries, bars, restaurants and discotheques with which Buenos Aires is packed.

Come back soon!

After your last sumptuous breakfast, make sure you save some time to buy your last-minute souvenirs and/or photos.  At the scheduled time, you'll be picked up from your hotel to be transferred to Ezeiza International Airport to board your flight back home. It's certain you'll carry the warmth of Argentina's people in your soul, not to mention the natural beauties of this wonderful country in your camera! It wouldn't be too much of a surprise if you're back over this way some time soon.

Argentina’s waiting...