Argentina Wildlife Adventure

DAY 1: BUENOS AIRES

Buenos Aires airport reception and transfer to overnight at Awwa Suites or similar. Afternoon guided exploration of Costanera Sur Nature Reserve, just a few minutes from the heart of the city. Accompanied by a local conservationist, walk through this beautiful area and urban wildlife habitat that has remained largely untouched by the city's expansion.

DAY 2: TRELEW PUNTA TOMBO

DAY 3: PENINSULA VALDES

Full day excursion to explore Peninsula Valdes for the finest wildlife viewing in Patagonia. The plankton-rich Falkland Current provides food for the peninsula's large colonies of South American sea lions and Southern elephant seals. Visit breeding grounds of sea lions and elephant seals, observe flocks of migratory shore birds and watch for guanacos, rheas, maras, hairy armadillos, Elegant-crested tinamous and fox running freely across the steppe. Between mid-February and April, orcas patrol the shores near Punta Norte for young sea lions. Here we can observe the technique of 'intentional-stranding', a hunting style practiced only by the orcas of the Valdes Peninsula. Overnight at Hosteria del Nomade. [BL]

DAY 4: EL CALAFATE

Transfer to the airport for flight to El Calafate, a small mountain town that serves as a base for explorations of the Patagonian Continental Ice Cap and Los Glaciares National Park. The ice cap runs 560 miles from North to South and is the origin of 47 major glaciers, including the famous Perito Moreno Glacier. Overnight at the former estancia Kau Yatun Hotel or similar. [B]

DAY 5: PERITO MORENO GLACIER TREK

You'll be collected from your hotel in the morning and travel by motorc oach to a spectacular lookout of Perito Moreno Glacier in Los Glaciares National Park. Permanently advancing along its 3-mile-front, columns of ice over 20 stories high peel off the face and crash into Lago Argentino creating massive icebergs. We cross Lago Argentino by catamaran along the front wall of the glacier to the edge of the Patagonian Ice Cap. Watch and listen as the glacier calves enormous shards of ice into the lake. We disembark, walk through the beech forest and have a safety briefing before strapping on crampons and hiking up onto the ice pack. Watch for Andean condor and Buff-necked Ibis. Overnight at the former estancia Kau Yatun Hotel or similar. [BL]

DAY 6: LAGO ROCA AND NIBEPO AIKE

Enjoy a half-day excursion to Lago Roca, a beautiful mountain lake, and Estancia Nibepo Aike. Set within Los Glaciares National Park, this traditional estancia dating from the beginning of the 20th century-offers an impressive view over Lake Argentina and an introduction to the activities of a sheep-breeding ranch. After a delicious and traditional lamb asado cooked over the open flame for lunch we have options to hike along the coast of the lake, opt for a horseback ride through the vast property, or climb the Crystal Mount lookout point where condors often fly overhead. On a clear day you can see Torres del Paine in Chile, the various arms of Lake Argentina and the Patagonia Ice Cap. There is also free time to walk, shop and enjoy local restaurants in town. Overnight at Hotel Kau Yatun. [BL]

DAY 7: FLY TO THE IGUAZU FALLS

Transfer to El Calafate airport for morning flight to Iguazu where we are greeted and escorted to the Panoramic Hotel for overnight in a River View Room. This restored boutique hotel is a popular gathering place for local residents from around Misiones province and is located within town, a short distance from a fun, open-air exchange market for Brazilian and Argentine goods. Stroll the streets on your own and take in the scene or enjoy the tropical weather poolside, overlooking the meeting point between the Iguazu and Parana Rivers. Overnight at the Panoramic Hotel. [B]

DAY 8: IGUAZU FALLS

Today we explore the tropical rain forests and multiple waterfalls of Iguazu National Park with our naturalist guide. Iguazu Falls consists of 275 separate waterfalls along a nearly two mile long fall line along the Iguazu River on the border between Argentina and Brazil. Spectacular falls plunge 260 feet in a thunderous roar of mist and rainbows among giant ferns, vines and orchids. Today will be our introduction to the rainforest ecosystem full of butterflies, monkeys, caiman, peccary, deer and abundant birdlife especially parrots, toucans, hummingbirds and guan. There are miles of trails, a train to the Devils Throat overlook, walkways with foot bridges, and a boat crossing to more trails. Vantage points around the falls let you photograph the cataracts and rainbows from many different angles. Overnight at Panoramic Hotel in River View Room. [B]

DAY 9: SAN IGNACIO AND IBERA WETLANDS

We leave Puerto Iguazu in the early morning for a full day of adventure driving through some of the most beguiling regions of Argentina. [8 hrs total drive time over some unpaved roads] Traveling south through Misiones province to San Ignacio Mini we explore the ruins of a beautiful mission founded by the Jesuits in the early 1600s and protected as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Threatened by the political and economic power that the Jesuits seemed to hold, the Spanish and Portuguese crowns expelled the sect from their kingdoms in the late 1700s (as portrayed in the movie The Mission) and the ruins were nearly reclaimed by the jungle. We explore the rich architectural complex with our resident guide before continuing into Corrientes Province and the Iber Wetlands, the second-largest wetland in the world after the Pantanal in Brazil, often referred to as the Serengeti of South America. From the town of Posadas we transfer to Rincon del Socorro, a historic hosteria set amidst a 30,000 acre wildlife refuge and haven. Overnight in Rincon del Socorro. [BLD]

DAYS 10-11: IBERA WETLANDS

DAY 12: BUENOS AIRES

Transfer to the Posadas Airport for an afternoon flight to Buenos Aires. Airport reception and transfer in to the Awwa Suites hotel, well-located in the Recoleta neighborhood. The famous Recoleta cemetery, the Evita Museum (have lunch here!) and the zoological park and gardens are all within a few blocks. Overnight at the Awwa Suites in a balcony room. [B]

DAY 13: BUENOS AIRES AND DEPARTURE

Enjoy a free day to walk or shop in this vibrant city, join a bicycle tour, kayak on the Parana River delta, or ask about our Four Balconies of Buenos Aires tour for an in-depth look at the city with a local experts who introduce us to the city, its history, its style, and the peculiar psychology of Porteo residents (tours not included and are available at an additional cost). The hotel room is available for day-use until your evening transfer to the airport for flight departure. [B]