NORTHERN PATAGONIA ARGENTINA & CHILE

Day 1 BUENOS AIRES

Arrive in the capital of Argentina. Transfer to the hotel and after a short break we will start visiting Buenos Aires, once called the Paris of the South. We will see the colorful district of La Boca, as well as the beautiful streets of San Telmo. We will visit the Cathedral and Plaza de Mayo - the main square of the city, the site of many historical events, including the May Revolution, as well as demonstrations and protests. Then the elegant and aristocratic district of Recoleta and the famous cemetery which is considered a work of art and the resting place of many famous personalities, such as Evita Peron. Overnight stay in the hotel.

Day 3 RUTA DE LOS SIETE LAGOS

On Day 3 you will visit the famous Ruta de los Siete Lagos “the Seven Lakes Route''. This route winds through one of the most picturesque areas of northern Argentine Patagonia, connecting the popular towns of Villa La Angostura and San Martin de los Andes in the province of Neuquen. You will travel Route 234, which now forms part of the famous Route 40 and cross through two national parks: Lanin and Nahuel Huapi. As the name suggests, you will get to experience seven different lakes along the way. These lakes include Nahuel Huapi, Espejo, Correntoso, Escondido, Villarino, Falkner and Machónico. Each of the lakes has a unique landscape, surrounded by lush forests and untamed landscapes. Once in San Martin de los Andes, on the shore of Lake Lacar, You will get to explore the city and main street. After this you will return to Villa La Angostura for an overnight at the hotel.

Day 4 BOSQUE DE ARRAYANES - BARILOCHE

On day 4 you will tour the breathtaking Arrayanes forest. You will depart on the Futaleufú Catamarán which sails from Puerto de la Mansa (official port of Villa La Angostura) to Bosque Los Arrayanes, located at the extreme tip of the Quetrihué Peninsula.
Due to the sheltered nature of the northern sector of Lake Nahuel Huapi, the waters are extremely calm. You can settle in on the relaxing cruise across the still water while enjoying the wonderful view of the bays(Balsas, Cumelén and Manzano). After sailing 45 minutes, you will arrive at the Los Arrayanes Forest. This old growth forest has ancient trees that are up to 400 years old and can grow to a height of 25 m. with a diameter of over 1 m. The trees have a distinct cinnamon-colored bark and are cold to the touch. And, If you are lucky, you will get to see the trees in bloom, a natural occurrence that transforms the landscape.
In the Forest you will hike the trails with our professional guides who focus above all on the care and respect for the Natural Reserves and National Parks. Along the way, your guide will provide you with interesting stories so you can get a better understanding of the area.
At the end of the tour, you can visit the ‘TeaHouse of the Forest’ which is a picturesque building built in 1933.
The next stop on the tour will be San Carlos de Bariloche (commonly called Bariloche). It is a town in Argentina’s Patagonia region. It borders Nahuel Huapi and is surrounded by the Andes Mountains. Bariloche is known for its Swiss alpine-style architecture and its chocolate, sold in shops lining Calle Mitre, the main street.

Day 5 CRUCE ANDINO

For your 5th day you will have a unique experience venturing through The Andes Mountains beside three beautiful lakes that are connected by four overland legs. This will take you from San Carlos de Bariloche in Argentina to Puerto Varas in Chile. This journey is breathtaking and provides unique experiences throughout the year. There will be beautiful mountainous landscapes in this leg of your trip which will take you through the most colorful region of Patagonia. You will sail across Lago Nahuel Huapi and observe the grandeur of the lush forests and birds that often fly close to the boat. The next lake will be Lago Frias where you will experience beautiful views of Cerro Tronador until you reach Peulla. Here you will have time for a break in an ecological lodge which is a paradise for nature lovers. The lodge offers a place for you to get lunch (additional cost). After lunch we will head to Lago Todos los Santos. Weather permitting, there will be breathtaking views of the Osorno and Puntiagudo volcanoes. We will then continue to Puerto Varas passing by Lago Llanquihe for more impressive views of Osorno and Calbuco. Arrival atPuerto Varas for an overnight at the hotel.

Day 6 ALERCE ANDINO NP

On day 6 you will go on a hiking trip to the Alerce Andino National Park. It was established in 1982 as part of the Moderate Rainforest Biosphere Reserve in the Southern Andes and is located 1.5 hours from the city of Puerto Varas. The Trip will be through forests consisting of larch, Evergreens, Coigüe de Magallanes and Lenga. Larch or Lahuen are some of the oldest species on earth and can reach over 60 meters tall and 2,600 years old! With a bit of luck, you might also be able to see fauna like pudus, gray foxes and chingues. There is even a chance to see a puma, a güin or mountain monkeys that live in the area! In the treetops and near the steep walls of the Andes, you have the chance to see condors, black woodpeckers, huet huets, kingfishers, peucos, caiquén, cachudito and torcaza. The countless lakes are also filled to the brim with native fish called "percatrucha". The total length of the trail is almost 8 kilometers starting at Laguna Triangulo and returning along the same path (maximum altitude 551m and around 6-8 hours round trip).

Day 7 VINCENTE PEREZ ROSALES NP

During this Full Day tour in Vicente Perez Rosales national park you will visit the Petrohue waterfalls, navigate the Emerald lake, hike in the slopes of Osorno and weather permitting, you can marvel with the view of most of the volcanoes in the area. If it is a rainy or cloudy day, you will still be able to see the amazing flora and fauna as well as the outline of the volcano in the distance. The hike will be approx. 7 km long.
We will then be transported to Petrohue port. From here we will take a local motor boat that will bring us to "La Poza". We will hike from the lake shore on part of the trail known as "Los Alerces" before we head to the next trail "La Desolación". The trek will end with an ascent to the top of a small waterfall where you will have time to enjoy lunch.
On the way back we will cross some of the lahars where melted snow from the volcano runs into the lake, bringing sediment that gives the lake its turquoise colored waters.
Most of the trails we use were made in the first half of the century by settlers seeking the snowy slopes for skiing and the alerce trees for building the typical wooden houses in Pto.Varas. This is the most visited area of the park and where you can enjoy the flora and experience stunning views of the lakes.

Day 8 ISLAND OF CHILOE

We will begin our excursion by heading to the town of Pargua, south of Puerto Varas. From her,e you will board a ferry and sail through the Chacao Channel, which separates the mainland from the Big Island of Chiloé. During the ferry ride we will be able to observe sea lions, pelicans and other typical marine birds of this region. We will dock in the town of Chacao and start making our way to the city of Ancud. Here we will see Fort of San Antonio, a historical site located in the upper part of the city, built at the end of the 18th century and is part of one of the last Spanish fortifications in our country. We will also visit the Foundation of Patrimonial Churches, Plaza de Armas and its Municipal Market that offers various dining options and crafts. We will then continue our tour to Dalcahue, a city located in front of Quinchao Island. Its waterfront has a traditional Gastronomic Market of Palafitos as well as a spectacular view. While there, we will visit the Crafts Fair and walk towards the Church of Our Lady of Sorrows. The church was built in the typical Chiloé style and is a World Heritage Site. Later we will continue our trip to the city of Castro, capital of the Big Island of Chiloé. Along the way we will stop to take pictures at the Palafitos Manuel Montt and will visit the San Francisco Church in front of the city's Plaza which has the largest craft market on the Island. We will also go to the Gamboa Viewpoint where you can see beautiful panoramic views of its World-renowned palafittes. Overnight stay in the hotel in Castro.

Day 9 ISLAND OF CHILOE

On day 9, you will follow the route taken by naturalist Charles Darwin which includes the Huillinco and Cucao Lakes as well as the Pacific Ocean. The tour includes a visit to the city of Chonchi, known as the "City of Three Floors" for its different slopes. Some of the standouts will be the church which is a World Heritage site, the Museum of Traditions, and the waterfront and craft market. From there we will continue to the town lake of Huillinco where you can tour a cemetery and see the characteristic houses of Chiloé and its iconic dock. The visit to the Chiloé National Park includes a scenic walk along the "El Tepual" trail where you can see the Chiloé forest which includes a stop at the visitor center. Here you can learn about the history of the area and see various types of typical Chiloén tools such as an apple press. To end the day, we will go to the Pacific Ocean where you can marvel at the wide beaches and horizon. We will then return to Castro in the afternoon.

Day 10 ISLAND OF CHILOE

On day 10 we will visit Tepuhueico Park which is located 45 km south of Castro. The wide diversity of flora and fauna will accompany us as we walk its trails. You will be surrounded by old growth forests with native trees that exceed 40 m in height. Mañíos, Coigües, Tepas, and other species can be seen as we enter the park.
Due to its remote nature there is a high concentration of protected species that predominate, such as the huillín, the güiña, the Chilote fox, the pudú (the world's smallest deer), and the monito del monte just to name a few. It is the ideal place for bird watching. The Chucao, Huet Huet, Woodpeckers, and a great variety of species can often be seen during the tour. The day will conclude with a trip back to the mainland of Puerto Montt for an overnight stay.

Day 11 PUERTO MONTT – SANTIAGO, CHILE

Day 11 will conclude our time in Patagonia and we will travel to Santiago. This capital and largest city sits in a valley surrounded by the snow-capped Andes and the Chilean Coast Range. Once in Santiago you will visit the iconic places in this cosmopolitan city. This includes Plaza de Armas with the Cathedral and old Post building, the presidential palace. We will also see the La Moneda neighborhood which is a tiny neighborhood with architecture inspired by styles from London and Paris. While there we will visit the historic church of San Francisco. This will conclude with a walk to the famous San Cristobal hill, where you will use the cable car to go to a viewpoint that looks out over the city. Here you will be able to admire the panoramic view of sites and the Andes mountain range.

Day 12 VALPARAISO

On day 12 we will go to Valparaiso. Valparaíso is an iconic coastal town instantly recognizable for the vividly painted houses that line the hillside. This bohemian (and colorful) side of Valparaíso has actually been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is home to many artists, musicians and poets. Valparaíso forms a natural amphitheater facing the sea where most of the city sits on the hill. It exists in a chaotic harmony with the tangible and intangible culture, customs, and traditions of the “porteño” (the locals of Valparaíso). You will visit various sites of great architectural and historical interest. The Alegre and Concepción hills have scenic strolls and viewpoints where you can hear stories about the immigrants that arrived in Valparaíso when this important Port was considered “The Jewel of The Pacific Ocean'' (before the Panama Canal). You will also see Sotomayor square and learn about the history of its heroes at Muelle Prat. We will stop for lunch at a restaurant that overlooks the Pacific Ocean. After lunch we will return to Santiago.

Day 1 BUENOS AIRES

Day 2 BUENOS AIRES – BARILOCHE – VILLA LA ANGOSTURA