TRAVESIAS EXPLORA

TRAVESIA TO PATAGONIA
In general terms, Patagonia is the area of South America that is south of the 40° parallel. However, it is important to make a few distinctions. The island south of the Strait of Magellan is known collectively as Tierra del Fuego (Land of Fire). On the Chilean Patagonia there are three zones: the zone between latitude 40ºS and 42ºS known as the Lake Region; and Patagonia North and South, separated by the Southern Ice Field. This ice zone, which both Chile and Argentina share, is the largest after the ice fields of the Arctic. The Southern Ice Field is situated between approximately latitude 48ºS and 51º30'S approximately. The region south of the Ice Field to the Strait of Magellan is called the Patagonia South.

The TRAVESÍA to Patagonia that explora offers consists of traveling the zone that stretches from the Strait of Magellan to the Southern Ice Field, and the Argentine zone between latitudes 51º30' and 48º.

In Chile, the trip is centered in Torres del Paine National Park, using the Hotel Salto Chico as a base (explora en Patagonia); and in Argentina in the village El Chaltén, at the foot of the spectacular peaks Torre and Fitz Roy. Both locations offer trekking to the bases of incredible summits, through valleys and past glaciers that offer travelers access to exceptionally magnificent natural landscapes.

The crossing between the two locations-El Chaltén to Torres del Paine or vice versa-is an impressive experience. Guests travel along the Argentino and Viedma lakes, the River Santa Cruz and the River La Leona. A visit to the Glacier Perito Moreno is optional, which adds 3 hours to the journey.

TRIP DESCRIPTION
Length:
8 nights / 8 days.

Trip season:
Year-round.

Trip start dates:
From Punta Arenas in accordance with programs at explora en Patagonia.
From Buenos Aires / Calafate: same days.

Lodging:
4 nights in Torres del Paine: Hotel explora.
4 nights in El Chaltén: in two of the best available lodges.

Dining in Argentina:
In the best restaurants of El Chaltén.

Number of travelers:
Maximum 6.

PROGRAM

a) From Chile to Argentina

Day 1 Arrival at Punta Arenas and travel through Patagonia to Torres del Paine.
Days 2-3-4 Full days of exploration in Torres del Paine.
Day 5 Travel to El Chaltén, Argentina.
Days 6-7-8 Full days of exploration in El Chaltén.
Day 9 Travel to Calafate / Buenos Aires, Argentina

b) From Buenos Aires

Day 1 Arrival at Calafate and transfer to El Chaltén.
Days 2-3-4 Full days of exploration in El Chaltén.
Day 5 Travel to Torres del Paine.
Days 6-7-8 Full days of exploration in Torres del Paine.
Day 9 Morning departure to Punta Arenas / Santiago.

explora staff:
explora guide and driver, as well as local guides in Argentina.

Equipment:
Shoes for resting in the hotel and walking in town, good waterproof boots for trekking; thermal wear (interior and exterior); parka; gloves; hat; sunglasses; sunscreen; 20-40 liter backpack. Passport, and Argentine visa if required for guest's country.

GENERAL INFORMATION

Location:
Situated within Los Glaciares National Park in Argentine Patagonia, El Chaltén is a village with some 100 inhabitants, located 220 km from Calafate, the closest city (Calafate is 2,600 km from Buenos Aires, the Argentine capital). The trip from Torres del Paine, Chile, is close to 400 km.

How to get there:
Fly to Santiago via an international flight. From there travelers must take an approximately 4-hour flight to Punta Arenas. explora staff receives guests at the airport and transfers them to Torres del Paine, a trip that takes 6 hours.

The journey concludes at the Calafate airport, which has regular 3-hour flights to Buenos Aires.

If the trip is taken in the opposite direction, from El Chaltén to Torres del Paine National Park, our staff will wait at the Calafate airport for guest arrival. From there it is 3 hours (220km) along a dirt road to El Chaltén.

Climate:
Torres del Paine National Park has a microclimate regulated principally by its proximity to the sea, and its low altitude (from 50 meters to 300 meters high), which allows for pleasant temperatures both during the winter and the summer.

Los Glaciares National Park and the area around El Chaltén are slightly higher (450 meters), meaning its climate tends to be colder during the winter. Both are transition zones toward the steppe region, and therefore the climate is very dry. During the winter there is some snow, which typically melts quickly. Wind is a very important factor, above all during the summer, with gusts of up to 110km per hour. This can be a disadvantage but it nevertheless produces a continual change in climactic conditions; for example it can be raining one moment but the wind can shortly disperse the clouds and allow the sun to shine, making the climate an element of emotion.

The most attractive seasons are usually the autumn for the changing foliage colors and the spring for the rebirth of flora and fauna. During the winter there are often days of transparent and radiant sun, and there is sufficient light for a full day of exploration, also making it an attractive season to visit.

Lodging:
In Torres del Paine National Park, lodging is in explora's Hotel Salto Chico. Located next to Lake Pehoé, there are 50 guestrooms and all the equipment necessary for exploring the park. The hotel annex Casa de Baños del Ona has an indoor heated pool, massage salon and outdoor Jacuzzis.

Along with the majestic Mount Fitz-Roy, in the heart of the Patagonian Andes, we find El Chaltén, a small village founded during the mid-1980s. Several trails leave from this village that take hikers to the interiors of the mountains. Lodging in El Chaltén is in the two best hotels available.

Season:
This trip can be taken year-round. There are a surprising and attractive variety of panoramas in Patagonia during the 52 weeks of the year.

RATES
Based on a Cordillera Paine (explora en Patagonia) room.

PROGRAM - 8 NIGHTS
SINGLE ROOM, USD 5545.-
DOUBLE ROOM, USD 3800.-

4 nights in explora en Patagonia and 4 nights lodging in El Chaltén.

GENERAL CONDITIONS

Programs include:
* Roundtrip transfer between airports and initial and final points of the trip.
* Lodging in explora en Patagonia and in El Chaltén.
* Full board. Bar.
* Daily explorations in groups of 6 people maximum, with bilingual guides, and equipment.
* Rates are per person, expressed in US dollars.
* Rates in US dollars are tax exempt according to decree D.L. 825 art. 12 for guests who are foreigners, not residents of Chile and pay in dollars.

Kids:
The Patagonia trip is recommended for kids older than 12.

Pets:
It is not possible to bring pets on any TRAVESÍA explora.

Reservations:
All reservations must be made via written confirmation, either by fax (56-2 228 4655) or
e-mail (reservexplora@explora.com). explora will confirm reservations in the same manner as sent. Reservations will be considered tentative until the guest confirms and pays 30% of the total reservation fee. The remaining must be paid 30 days prior to the guest's arrival at the hotel. Programs at explora are non-divisible and cannot be transferred.

Changes:
Changes to confirmed reservations are allowed according to availability.

Penalties for cancellations are the following:
o 60 to 30 days prior to check-in: US$ 200 per room.
o 29 to 10 days prior to check-in: 30% of the total value of the reservation.
o 9 to 0 days prior to check-in: 100% of the total value of the reservation.

OTHER TRAVESIAS EXPLORA:

Travesía to the Salar de Uyuni and the High Plains of Bolivia and Chile

Crossing the Andes Mountain Range

Travesia to Patagonia

Trip to Easter Island

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RIPIO TURISMO - Incoming Tour Operator Argentina & Chile- Leg. 10.687 Secretaría de Turismo de la Nación Argentina.
info@ripioturismo.com.ar

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