Patagonia Photo Tour: October 2014

Explore Patagonia with renowned National Geographic photographer, Tommy Heinrich. This unique photo tour takes place during the height of the Patagonian summer and exposes participants to Patagonia's most spectacular mountainous areas in both Chile and Argentina, top wildlife viewing spots and some of the most remote and seldom seen national parks & isolated islands of southern Chile.

Do something awesome everyday!

DAY 1 - Oct 25: Arrive Buenos Aires. City Tour & Tango Show (D)

Arrive to Buenos Aires. Reception and Transfer to a central located Hotel. In the Afternoon Sightseeing tour visiting all main highlights: Pink House, Parliament, La Boca, San Telmo and the exclusive Recoleta area. Meet your Photo-Tour Leader. Overnight at Hotel BUE GRAND. Dinner & Tango Show. Tonight's hotel - Buenos Aires: Grand Hotel

DAY 2 - Oct 26: Fly Buenos Aires to Calafate onward to El Chalten (B,D

Transfer to the airport for morning flight to El Calafate. Upon arrival in Calafate we will meet with our private transport to travel to El Chalten, a mountain village near Fitz Roy Massif. Our drive across the Patagonian steppe will take approximately 3 hours. From El Chalten we continue to Laguna del Desierto and after a short boat ride we get to our Lodge AGUAS ARRIBA where we overnight. Dinner. . Tonight’s hotel – Aguas Arriba Lodge

DAY 3 – Oct 27: Laguna del Desierto(B,L,D)

Today we do our first walk in the area to reach photo spots for the Fitz Roy. A moderate walk along the Lake with fantastic views of glaciers and the west face of Fitz Roy (3405m). Back to our Lodge. (walk aprox 6 hrs). .

DAY 4 – Oct 28 – Fitz Roy & Cerro Torre – Calafate (B,L,D)

This morning we start our trek to Cerro Torre base-camp hiking to Capri Lagoon down by the trail to Madre e Hija Lagoons through a dense forest following the Fitz Roy River. We reach the Mount Torre Valley and the Laguna Torre glacier (walk aprox 5hrs). Walk back to El Chalten where we take our vehicle back to El Calafate. Tonight’s hotel – Calafate: Hotel Eolo

DAY 5 – Oct 29 – Perito Moreno Glacier (B)

Full day excursion to the magnificent Perito Moreno Glacier, one of the few advancing glaciers. Huge icebergs from the glacier will collapse into the lake. The roar of the gigantic ice rocks falling and crashing into the waters of the channel is a unique experience. Walks along the footpath to view the Glacier from different viewpoints. We return to our Hotel in El Calafate.

DAY 6 – Oct 30 – Chile’s Paine National Park (B,D)

We depart early morning from El Calafate to Torres del Paine National Park in Chile, through a spectacular landscape of the Patagonia steppe where plenty of wildlife could be seen. Cross the border at Cancha Carrera and continue to the North surrounded by magnificent scenery. Finally arrive to our hotel located in front of the Massif with stunning views of the Horns & Towers. Tonight’s hotel – Torres del Paine: Hotel Tierra Patagonia

DAY 7 – Oct 31 – Puma wildlife photos - National Park (B,L,D)

Early morning depart searching for the American Lion, the Puma. Our specialist guides will take us to the places where this elusive animal can be seen. Definitely one of the Highlights of this trip. PM visit the Park most famous highlights while enjoying some beautiful walks where you will be surrounded by the flora and fauna facing the marvelous mountains that form part of the Paine Massif. Salto Grande & Chico and Lake Nordeskjold. Back to Hotel.

DAY 8 – Nov 1 - Punta Arenas - board Stella Australis: Strait of Magellan (B,D)

4 Day Cruise aboard Stella Australis

AM time for last shooting. Drive south to Punta Arenas and head to the Port where we board the Stella Australis Cruise ship at 6:00 pm. After a welcome cocktail reception offered by the Captain and his crew the ship will depart for “the uttermost part of the earth”. Our trip takes us through the Strait of Magellan and Beagle Channel to explore one of the most breathtaking wilderness regions in the world: Southern Patagonia and Tierra del Fuego.

DAY 9 – Nov 2 – Ainsworth Bay & Tuckers Islet (B,L,D)

At dawn, we will be navigating through Almirantazgo Sound, arriving at Ainsworth Bay, within Alberto De Agostini National Park. From the distance we will see Marinelli Glacier descending from Darwin Mountain Range and appreciate how the land comes back to life after ice retreat. We will also take a walk to discover a beaver dam in the stunning sub-polar Magellan forest. On the beach, we might enjoy the view of Southern Elephant Seals, although sighting cannot be guaranteed due to colony’s unpredictable location. Later, we will sail to Tuckers Islets, and after lunch, onboard Zodiac boats, we will be sailing to get close to a colony of Magellan Penguins (endemic to the Southern Hemisphere) and Cormorants. In September and April this excursion is replaced by a short walk to a nearby glacier at Brookes Bay.

DAY 10 – Nov 3 – Pia Glacier (B,L,D)

We will be navigating along the Northwest arm of the Beagle Channel to reach Pia Fjord, where disembarking is scheduled. We will take a short hike to a panoramic viewpoint from which we can appreciate the spectacular Pia Glacier whose main tongue extends from the mountain tops down to the sea. After this unforgettable experience, our sailing will continue along the Beagle Channel through the majestic “Glacier Alley.

DAY 11 – Nov 4 – Cape Horn & Wulaia Bay (B,L,D)

We will be sailing through Murray Channel and Nassau Bay to reach Cape Horn National Park, where disembarking is schedule (weather permitting). The mythical Cape Horn was discovered in 1616 and is a sheer 425-meter (1,394-foot) high rocky promontory. For many years it was an important navigation route for sailboats between the Pacific and Atlantic oceans, and it is known as the “End of the Earth”. The park was declared a World Biosphere Reserve in 2005. In the afternoon, we will go ashore at historical Wulaia Bay, originally the site of one of the region’s largest Yamana aboriginal settlement. Charles Darwin landed there in 1833, during his voyage on the HMS Beagle. This area is also renowned for the mesmerizing beauty of its vegetation and geography. We will walk through a Magellan forest of lengas, coigües, canelos, ferns, and other endemic vegetation to reach a panoramic viewpoint.

DAY 12 – Nov 5 – Ushuaia & Buenos Aires (B)

Arrival in Ushuaia, Argentina’s most important city in Tierra del Fuego and the southernmost city in the world. Disembarking is scheduled at 8:00 am. Time to explore Ushuaia City. Noon transfer for Flight AR1853 14.05/17.33 This Flight arrives to EZE International Airport possible to connect with Intern Flights …..or ask about our additional tours and recommendations in Buenos Aires and/or Iguazu Falls.