Expedition Patagonia

Day 1: El Calafate, Argentina

Arrive in El Calafate, where we meet our Expedition Leader and enjoy a Welcome Dinner this evening.

Day 2: Petrified Forest / El Chalten

We spend today driving across the broad expanse of the Patagonian steppe that sprawls northeast from El Calafate. Along our drive we admire gorgeous views of Lago Argentino, cross several river valleys and marvel at the panorama of the Southern Andes and Mount Fitz Roy. At La Leona Petrified Forest we take a gentle hike through fossilized remnants of a warm, humid prehistoric Patagonia. We’ll see enormous tree trunks that date back millions of years, heaps of fossilized broken bones, and occasionally whole leg bones of large reptiles, some of which are still in the process of being identified. Wind and water erosion occur rapidly, so each season we encounter new surprises. Continuing to El Chalten, we arrive in the small town known as the Trekking Capital of Patagonia.

Day 3: Chorillo Salto Waterfall Hike or Laguna Torre Trek

An easy hike to Chorillo Salto waterfall takes us to a lookout known for condor viewing. A more strenuous option is an all-day trek to Laguna Torre, one of the most exquisite settings in Patagonia. A trail through beech forest and bog ascends to the lake, nestled at the base of Mount Torre. The granite spire rising above the lake has been eroded by wind and ice into one of the world’s most distinctive alpine profiles. Below the peak, icebergs float peacefully on the lake, drifting with the wind.

Day 4: Viedma Glacier Trek

An exciting adventure awaits today: a trek on the Viedma Glacier, the largest in Los Glaciares National Park. We cruise by boat across Lake Viedma to the glacier’s face, then don crampons to walk safely atop the ice as we examine the crevasses and caves beneath the glacier’s rugged blue surface. Viedma Glacier  is part of the Southern Patagonian Ice Field, one of 48 outlet glaciers that flows down from the nearly 6500-square-mile mass of ice. The national park that is the glaciers’ namesake—Los Glaciares—was created in 1937 and became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1981.

Day 5: Lago Argentino / Perito Moreno Glacier

This morning, we enjoy bird watching on Lago Argentino, Patagonia’s largest freshwater lake fed by the glacial meltwater of several rivers. More than 40 migratory species frequent the lake, including black-necked swans, flamingos and silvery grebes. Next, it’s on to one of the world’s most spectacular natural wonders, Perito Moreno Glacier. One of very few advancing glaciers on the planet, Perito Moreno is Patagonia’s most famous. Nearly 200 feet high, it winds down from the perpetual snowfields of the Andes to its terminus in Lago Argentino. Here, it crowds the water with enormous floating rafts of ice that calve from its massive face. We’ll do some light hiking in the area for varied views of the glacier and icebergs.

Day 6: Upsala Glacier Cruise / Estancia Cristina

We cruise by catamaran across Lago Argentino to magnificent Upsala Glacier, a large valley glacier with an imposing blue face nearly five miles across. Unlike Perito Moreno, this glacier is retreating rapidly, leaving a jagged puzzle of ice floes. We disembark at Estancia Cristina, an early 20th-century sheep farm where the traditional gaucho way of life once prevailed. After a gourmet lunch of lamb roasted on a spit—one of the culinary highlights of our trip—we’ll ride in 4-wheel-drive vehicles to a lookout for stupendous views of the surrounding peaks and Lago Argentino far below.

Day 7: Torres del Paine National Park

Driving across pampas and steppe, we enter Chile and Torres del Paine National Park. A UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, beautiful and pristine, the park is home to a host of wildlife, including pumas and guanacos. A remarkable array of birds lives here: we may see eagles, hawks, lesser rheas, buzzards and South American condors returned from the brink of extinction. Dominating the horizon are the famous “horns and towers of Paine,” igneous rock spires millions of years old. We stay at renowned EcoCamp Patagonia, offering low-impact luxury in the wilderness. Our domed suites in this renowned accommodation are modeled on traditional Kawesqa native huts, blending artfully with the wild landscape. Warm and wind-resistant, our nomad-style dwellings afford superlative views and an unparalleled immersion in nature. There are plenty of hours ahead to drink in this stunning landscape. During the southern summer the sun sets around 11 p.m., offering magical evening light by which to admire the furry guanacos grazing on the steppe and the mythical-looking peaks on the horizon, bathed in the sunset glow.

Day 8: Laguna Inge / Botanical Safari / Lake Pehoe

Rising at dawn to see the sunrise (weather permitting), our day begins early with a hike to Laguna Inge, watching overhead for Andean condors and eagles hunting hares and small rodents. Our return route from the lake winds around Almirante Nieto Mountain, taking us back to the EcoCamp where we’ll enjoy a guided exploration of the flora around the camp. This afternoon we drive across the park, surveying the snow-clad massif of Paine Grande, highest in the range, and Los Cuernos, famed for its black granite, horn-like spires. On a calm day, brilliant blue Lake Pehoe reflects the serrated peaks like a mirror. We follow its shoreline to Salto Grande Falls, a thunderous cataract pouring into the lake from Lake Nordenskjold above. We return to EcoCamp in time for a hearty dinner.

Day 9: Torres del Paine Hiking

Today we travel to the eastern side of the park to follow the “sendero de la fauna” -- the animals’ trail – so dubbed for the many guanacos often seen along the way. It winds through a favorite puma hunting area where we may see the remains of these camelids upon whom the big, tawny cats have preyed. High rock formations flank the path, serving as dwelling and lookout points for the pumas. They are highly elusive, however, and sightings are rare. We’ll also visit a cave en route with ancient paintings decorating the walls, mostly representing guanacos. This afternoon we return to EcoCamp and spend the afternoon exploring the flora and fauna of the surrounding environs.

Day 10: Seno Otway / Punta Arenas

A wondrous sight is in store today, as we visit one of the two largest penguin colonies in Chile. Here in Seno Otway, some 10,000 Magellanic penguins come to breed on the sound each summer. We’ll delight in their antics, watching them waddle and fall flat on their faces as they negotiate obstacles on land. Yet they are remarkably graceful in the water, and agile swimmers. Our grand adventure concludes in one of the world’s southernmost cities, Punta Arenas on the Strait of Magellan, where we enjoy a farewell dinner to celebrate our final night in Patagonia.

Day 11: Punta Arenas / Home

A transfer to the airport is provided for flights home.