Ushuaia El Calafate and Torres del Paine 12 days

Ushuaia El Calafate and Torres del Paine 12 days

In Mater we always look for alternative excursions to the ones chosen by the big groups of tourists, without missing to visit the most iconic places we seek that you have more intimate and authentic experiences.

This trip, includes in Ushuaia, a gourmet experience with Ana and Benito, a couple host from a fisher's town, who will share the history of the place and their way of life and will crab fishing and enjoy a gourmet lunch and the secrets of the patagonian cooking style.

In Calafate, you will make a non-traditional excursion to Estancia Nibepo Aike, with demonstration of rural activities and a patagonian lunch. You will also navigate through the Brazo Rico to Playa de Las Monedas and walk until you reach a Perito Moreno glacier viewpoint.

Itinerary

Day 1: Flight to Ushuaia, transfer to the hotel and free day

Stop At: Museo Maritimo y del Presidio de Ushuaia, Yaganes Gobernador Paz, Ushuaia 9410 Argentina
Arrival in Ushuaia, the capital of Tierra del Fuego, and southernmost city in the world. Once there you will be transfer to the hotel and have free time to explore by yourself the town and relax.

We suggest visiting the Museum of the Presidio and Yámana Museum.
Duration: 1 day

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: 3 stars hotel selected in Ushuaia.

Day 2: Excursion to Tierra del Fuego National Park

Stop At: Parque Nacional Tierra del Fuego, Avenida Gral San Martin 1395, Ushuaia V9410BGA Argentina
Early departure from Ushuaia city to discover the nature of the Tierra del Fuego National Park with a specialized guide who will provide all the info of this park where the mountains are accessible from the sea, and the fresh water of rivers and lakes mixes with the sea. On this tour you get to walk through the forest along the Coastal path (low level of difficulty).

Return to the city in the afternoon.
Duration: 4 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: 3 stars hotel selected in Ushuaia.

Day 3: Puerto Almanza: Crab fishing & gourmet lunch with a local couple

Stop At: Puerto Almanza, Ushuaia, Tierra del Fuego Province, Argentina
At morning you will be pick-up from the hotel and transfer along the National Route 3 to spend a day in a fisherman village.  You´ll take some gravel roads through dense native forests, seeing turbales, mountains, rivers and the amazing coastal roads of this area. After a stop for a short trekking, you´ll continue to the village. After meeting our hosting couple, you 'll begin rowing offshore up to find a good spot. You will stop, cast the nests and wait. A deep-blue clear sky seems to be observing us. In the distance, the snow-capped peaks of the mountains dazzle us with its beauty. Live an unforgettable journey in a picturesque village by the sea. You will feel like a local sailing, catching your own crab and cooking at Ana and Benito's house. All while learning the culinary secrets to make it in patagonian style.

Transfer back to your hotel.
Duration: 8 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
Accommodation included: 3 stars hotel selected in Ushuaia.

Day 4: Excursion to Lago Escondido, San Pablo Cabe and Estancia Rolito

Stop At: Perito Francisco Moreno 1398-1310, V9410KSR, V9410KSR Ushuaia, Tierra del Fuego, Argentina
After your breakfast, a transfer will pick you up from your hotel and take you to a new adventure to discover some of the unique pearls buried in this land. You will appreciate Lake Escondido, the little town of Tolhuin and by midday we come to the Provincial Route “A”, where we take a gravel road heading toward the Atlantic Ocean and the San Pablo Cape. At this point, we hike up to an isolated mountain with an abandoned lighthouse at the end. There, you will appreciate the Desdemona, an abandoned ship for almost 40 years ago. You will continue to the Estancia Rolito; a lovely ranch that keeps the spirit of a family business based on sheep farming tradition. You can also take some time to walk around part of the gorgeous 500-hectare ancient lenga forest, taking thick green pathways, visit the shearing shed, where there are already some wool bales from the first shearing.

Transfer back to your hotel.
Duration: 8 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
Accommodation included: 3 stars hotel selected in Ushuaia.

Day 5: Flight to El Calafate and free evening

Stop At: El Calafate, Santa Cruz Province, Argentina
After your breakfast, your transfer will take you to Ushuaia's airport and you will take a flight to the land of glaciers: El Calafate. Arrival and transfer to your hotel.

Free evening to discover the village on your own.
Duration: 1 day

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: A 3 stars hotel selected in El Calafate, Santa Cruz.

Day 6: Navigation to Perito Moreno Glacier and visit Nibepo Aike Ranch

Stop At: Perito Moreno Glacier, Los Glaciares National Park Argentina
You'll have an early start today for drive across the old ranchs ("estancias") road on a small-group excursion. The guide will explain you about the rural life of the Patagonean farms and the indigenous influence. You will arrive to Estancia Nibepo Aike and enjoy a typical barbecue with the best wines of the country (included).

After lunch, you´ll navigate the South and Rico arms of Lake Argentino and disembark at Las Monedas beach for a walk in the wood (low level of difficulty). After sailing again you will reach the Perito Moreno Glacier. It is an enormous ice mass covering a 250 square km area and is one of the most wonderful glaciers in the world.

It is easy to approach the front of the glacier by walking along the footbridges (free time, around 2 hours). Return to El Calafate during the evening by minibus.
Duration: 8 minutes

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
Accommodation included: A 3 stars hotel selected in El Calafate, Santa Cruz.

Day 7: Bus to Puerto Natales and free day

Stop At: Puerto Natales, Natales, Magallanes y Antártica Chilena, Chile
Today you will take a local bus to Puerto Natales, in Chile (duration 5 to 6 hours).

Free evening to discover the city on your own.
Duration: 1 day

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: A selected hotel in Puerto Natales, Chile.

Day 8: Torres del Paine National Park Las Torres Base Lookout Point

Stop At: Torres Del Paine National Park, Torres del Paine National Park Chile
This day, you must show up at 6:30 am to take the 7:00 am bus to Torres del Paine National Park (2.5 hours). Today you will depart to one of the landmarks of the park, the Las Torres Base Lookout Point.

After the ascent, you will return to the Central Sector to have dinner and sleep.
Duration: 1 day

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: You will sleep in a refuge of Las Torres Base Lookout Point.

Day 9: Torres del Paine National Park - Hiking Sector Francés

Stop At: Torres Del Paine National Park, Torres del Paine National Park Chile
You will walk about 13.5 km along the shore of Nordenskjöld Lake, Almirante Nieto Hill, and the striking Cuernos del Paine. During the hike, you will enjoy magnificent views of Los Cuernos, hanging glaciers, lakes, and the abundant local vegetation and wildlife.

You will have dinner and sleep at the Cuernos or Francés Sector.
Duration: 1 day

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: You will sleep in a refuge of Cuernos or Sector Francés.

Day 10: Torres del Paine National Park - Hiking Cuernos/ Sector Francés

Stop At: Torres Del Paine National Park, Torres del Paine National Park Chile
The day begins with one of the icons of the circuit, the Francés Valley. You will start early with a light hike to the Italiano Campsite. From there, you will begin the climb through the woods (about 2 km) up the Francés River Valley.

After this natural spectacle, you will begin the descent to the Francés Sector.
Duration: 1 day

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: You will sleep in a refuge in the Francés Sector.

Day 11: Hiking Grey Glacier and Pehoé Lake Navigation

Stop At: Torres Del Paine National Park, Torres del Paine National Park Chile
On this day, you will reach the third milestone of the circuit, a place that offers one of the most unforgettable sceneries of the park, the magnificent Grey Glacier.

The trail goes around the Paine Grande Hill, the highest peak in the mountain range (3,050 m), with incredible views of its hanging glaciers. Walking amidst Antarctic Beech (ñirre), Dombey’s beech (coigüe), and Chilean firebush (notro), you will reach the first lookout point of Grey Lake, where we will see floating pieces of glacier. Then, you will return to the Paine Grande Sector and take the 6:30 pm catamaran that will take you to Pudeto. There you will meet the bus that will take you back to Puerto Natales.
Duration: 12 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: You will sleep in a selected hotel of Puerto Natales.

Day 12: End of the trip. Transfer to the bus terminal of Puerto Natales

Stop At: Puerto Natales, Natales, Magallanes y Antártica Chilena, Chile
Breakfast at the hotel and transfer to the bus terminal in Puerto Natales.
Duration: 12 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
No accommodation included on this day.