At a Glance
Delve into a realm of jaw-dropping marvels over 4 days of intriguing sights and irretrievable winter experiences as you marvel at Los Glaciares National Park from a unique vantage point of a boat. Get intimate and lose yourself to the picturesque glaciers, including the Perito Moreno with unforgettable boating adventures, and cruises along river channels, while the quaint laid-back El Calafate town awaits your indulgence with surprises.
Begin this epic adventure into an extraordinary world with an arrival in El Calafate town just at the tip of the Los Glaciares National Park. Settle into your hotel, and proceed into wild Patagonia to behold the monumental Perito Moreno Glacier in its full glory. Cruise along Lake Rico to the iceberg channels for enchanting glacier sights and sounds. Watch as they crack, hiss, ...
Trip Highlights
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What's Included
- 3 nights' accommodation at a 4-star hotel in El Calafate on a twin share basis
- Meals as specified
- Park Fees
- Boat rides as included in the itinerary
- All transportation as included in the itinerary
- One bilingual guide during the excursions
Itinerary
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On your first day of the trip, arrive at El Calafate, a small picturesque town perched on the tip of Los Glaciares National Park, where it radiates natural beauty, laid-back charm, and a distinctive allure. Explore this touristy town and gateway to the Los Glaciares National Park at your pace. The town sits by the shores of Lake Argentino, offering idyllic views of the attractive lake and the flamingos that besiege its shores. Check out the Glaciarium, a museum for the glaciers in the Southern Patagonia Ice Field and other glaciers, visit a local market for souvenirs, taste Patagonia's traditional food, drink local beer in tango bars, and walk through the streets to admire its scenes. |
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After having a healthy dose of this gorgeous town, the Boutique Hotel Kau Yatun is all yours for the night as it awaits to absorb you into its warm embrace. Lodged at the backdrop of the Patagonian pampa vegetation, the hotel's surroundings emit an adorable curb appeal with pine and Aspen trees on its flanks. Settle into one of its spacious cosy rooms, with large windows for views of the surroundings or unwind by the fireplace with a glass of wine. |
Boutique Hotel Kau Yatun, El Calafate
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Today, behold the beauty and glory of dawn in El Calafate and inhale the refreshing Patagonian air to tune your senses with the new environment. A hearty and delicious breakfast is next and serves as your fuel on the trip. After breakfast, we'll board a bus from the hotel to the wild and wondrous Patagonia. The drive takes us to the monumental and magical Perito Moreno Glacier, towering 60 m and priding itself as a highlight attraction in the Los Glaciares National Park. Enjoy a boat cruise for an hour along the beautiful Lake Rico to stop at the “Bajo de las Sombras” bay, which is separated from the glacier balconies by just 6 km. At this bay, we take another boat to sail further into the iceberg's channel, where the river is just a liquid version of the spectacular glaciers. We'll sail past the Perito Moreno's jagged front and threatening frame to a safe distance where we drink in the views and capture its picture-perfect sights with our eyes or camera. The highlight of the excursion here is the sight of the glacier ice breaking off from its parent ice mass into the water, offering a unique, dual perspective of nature - beauty, and tragedy. If you are a nature lover and environmentally conscious, the sight is a depressing reminder of our changing climate, beyond beauty. Afterwards, we proceed to the lake's footbridges which are strategic overlooks to behold the beauty of the entire scenery. Take your time to soak in all the surrounding beauty and observe the glacier closely. More importantly, leverage the footbridges and their safe proximity to listen to the sounds of this mighty ice block cracking as it succumbs to its natural inclination to shift eternally. We'll head back to the hotel after this thrilling excursion to rest for the night and prepare for the next day's experience. |
Boutique Hotel Kau Yatun, El CalafateBreakfast, Lunch |
Today, a delightful breakfast sets you up for a long, graceful sail on the park's river channels, where outstanding beauty, magic, and thrills await in Argentinian glaciers. After breakfast, we drive from El Calafate to Puerto Punta Bandera to board a catamaran headed for Argentino Lake. Lago Argentino is Argentina's largest freshwater lake, fed by many rivers from the glaciers. From this lake, we embark on a journey into the miraculous for butterfly feelings as we sail through Argentine Patagonia river channels. First on the list of glacier sights is the awe-inspiring Upsala glacier, on the east side of Southern Patagonia Ice Field, named after a Swedish university, Uppsala. So imposing in the frame, it's visible from the Upsala canal at a distance of 10 -15 km as we navigate towards it. This glacier sighting depends on the arrangement of the glaciers on this day, because they are constantly retreating, although the movements are subtle. Done with the Upsala and its grand views, we proceed on the catamaran cruise to the Spegazzini channel leading to the Spegazzini glacier. While this glacier isn't as massive as the rest of the numerous glaciers in the park, it merits our visit and recognition for its imposing height at 137 metres (440 feet). After the visit, we return to Puerto Punta Bandera via the river channels, savouring its sublime natural views once more before transferring to El Calafate. |
Boutique Hotel Kau Yatun, El CalafateBreakfast, Lunch |
This morning, we relish the last taste of Patagonian breakfast, ending our adventures in El Calafate. Emotional farewells are in order as we depart hoping to return someday as enjoy a transfer to the airport for your onward travels. NOTE: This itinerary is provided as an example only – prevailing conditions and local arrangements may cause variation. |
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More Info
- The start and finish point is Calafate
- Major commercial flight provide convenient access to Calafate. The closest major airport to El Calafate is Comandante Armando Tola International Airport (FTE) and is 21 km from the center of El Calafate.
The Patagonian Andes are very exposed to winds that circle the Antarctic landmass. In addition, the strong marine influence and the effect of the Southern Patagonia Icefield make the weather hard to predict. Winter’s temperature range is between -2ºC/28ºF and 6ºC/43ºF. June, July, and August are the wettest months in Torres del Paine and sub-zero temperatures are common. Nevertheless, the winds are relatively mild in winter. Just as quickly as the weather turns nasty, it can become lovely and sunny. So come prepared for all types of weather!
- Day backpack. (10lt)
- Hiking shoes
- Waterproof parka
- Sandals
- Walking shoes
- Warm waterproof pants
- Sun hat
- Sunscreen
- Sunglasses
Onlyluxe Travel acts as travel agency and work with different tour operators.
Payment Detail
All pricing is in Australian dollars and are quoted on a per person twin share basis. A supplementary price is available (see below). Bookings are not confirmed until full payment and the signed Booking Form has been received by Onlyluxe Travel.
A non-refundable 30% deposit is payable within 7 days of your booking, with the final balance due 90 days prior to departure. If a booking is made 90 days or less before departure, the full payment is payable immediately. Last minute bookings are payable before arrival. Failure to pay on time may result in automatic cancellation of a booking with cancellation penalties payable to Onlyluxe Travel. If you pay by credit card or PayPal a surcharge will be added to the total price.
Single Supplement
All accommodation is twin share. Single guests will share with someone of the same gender. If a single room is demanded, a supplementary price of will apply. The supplementary price refers to our quotation and needs to be stipulated at the time of booking.
General Cancellation Policies
- Outside of 90 days monies will be refunded less 30% of full fee
- Within 90 days prior to arrival all monies will be forfeited
- No refunds will be given in the event of non-arrival, any unused services or unused nights due to flight or weather disruption
- We strongly recommend guests protect themselves with travel insurance and medical insurance
Please Note: Cancellations must be advised in email and will take effect from the date they are received.
Liability
The participant agrees to indemnify Onlyluxe Travel, and its servant, tour operator and agents, in relation to any liability, loss and damage which the tour operator, or its servants and/or agents may incur as a result of the participants, negligence or misconduct during the tour.
Smoking is not permitted on the bus, or in tents or in other accommodation being used by tour operator at the time that a trip is being conducted.
Child Policy
Please consult travel consultant on age limit.
Changes to Itineraries
Local conditions may necessitate changes to sightseeing, walking and driving routes, camping and accommodation locations. While every effort will be made to provide the services and experiences as offered in our brochure, on our website, and in our trip letters, we reserve the right to vary your itinerary. In the event that we are forced to change your arrangements, substitute arrangements of a similar standard will be provided. The tour operator will not be liable where interruptions to itineraries are caused by weather conditions, technical problems to transport used by the tour operator, industrial action, political or civil commotion or other circumstances beyond our control. We refer you to the conditions regarding travel insurance.
Changes in Prices
While we will do its utmost to honour its pricing unforeseen circumstances may mean that prices may be subject to change without notice.
Pre-Existing Medical Conditions and Age Limits
You need to advise Onlyluxe travel and the tour operator on any pre-existing medical condition, mobility impairment and/or disability that might reasonably be expected to increase the risk of your requiring medical attention, or that might affect the normal conduct of a trip and the enjoyment of other trip members. Onlyluxe Travel and the tour operator may require an assessment of your medical condition from a qualified medical practitioner. If you fail to adequately notify the tour operator of any pre-existing medical conditions and/or disability, the tour operator reserves the right, at its reasonable discretion, to cancel your participation in a trip at any time, including after the commencement of your trip, with no right of refund if your medical condition, mobility impairment and/or disability could be reasonably expected to affect the normal conduct of the trip and the enjoyment of other trip members.
Cancellation by The Tour Operator
The tour operator is at the mercy of nature in all her beauty and all her fury. The tour operator will under no circumstance knowingly place at risk the health and well-being of our guests and guides. In the case of natural threats, acts of God and the like (e.g. bushfires, impassable snow, etc) the tour operator may need to cancel a tour with very little notice. In some cases, this can occur after the tour has commenced. The tour operator reserves the right to cancel any tour up to 60 days prior to departure if the minimum number requirement is unable to meet for a tour. If the tour operator needs to cancel for any reason, the cost of the tour or any other costs associated with travel to the designated pick up point, overnight accommodation, meals, etc will not be covered by the Onlyluxe Travel and therefore we strongly recommend travel insurance be taken out prior to travel.
Force Majeure
'Force Majeure' means (without restriction) any event which Onlyluxe Travel or its third party providers could not, even with due care, foresee or avoid. Force Majeure covers events such as, but not limited to, adverse weather conditions, fire and all similar events beyond our control. In the case of Force Majeure Onlyluxe Travel will not accept liability, and reserves the right to change and cancel trips.
Evacuations
In rare circumstances, due to injury or unforeseen illness, the tour operator may need to evacuate you from a remote part of the walk. Helicopter evacuations are expensive and in most cases will be at a cost to the customer.
In the genuine spirit of expedition travel, we encourage exploration and adventure offering flexibility in challenging environments. This itinerary is only a guide and is subject to change due to weather, sea and other conditions beyond our control.
For Australian residents, under the Australian Government Medicare Act, it is prohibited for any domestic travel insurance product to provide any financial reimbursement with regard to ambulance or air ambulance services. We therefore strongly advise our customers to take specific ambulance cover through their health insurance provider. Evacuation cost will not be covered by the Onlyluxe Travel and therefore it is also strongly recommended that our customers take out travel insurance to cover (amongst other things) the costs associated with evacuation.
Travel Insurance
In view of the heavy cancellation penalties applied to cancelled reservations in certain circumstances, we strongly recommends suitable travel insurance be purchased at the time the holding deposit is paid. We recommend insurance cover that covers any loss which may be suffered due to cancellation. We also strongly recommend comprehensive travel insurance against loss of baggage and medical expenses.
