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Patagonia Tour, Argentina: Valdez (Penguins & Whales + Ushuaia + El Calafate + Iguazu

Argentina Tour (incl Valdez + Patagonia) + Iguazu Falls + Rio

15 NIGHTS FROM:

$2,963

Per person sharing

Scheduled flights quoted separately

AYG15B

• Patagonia Tour, Argentina

• Buenos Aires

• City Tour & Tango Show

• Valdez Peninsula

• Penguins & Whales

• Sea Lions & Seals

• Ushuaia

• Tierra del Fuego National Park

• El Calafate

• Iguazu Falls

This Patagonia tour in Argentina is ideal for wildlife, as after visiting exciting Buenos Aires you will fly to the Valdez Peninsula, which is home to the largest colony of Magellan penguins on the continent (Oct-March). You can also see whales (May-Dec), sea lions & seals. Then fly to Ushuaia & El Calafate in spectacular Patagonia & Iguazu Falls. English speaking guides, all transfers & sightseeing included. Min 2 / max 16.

Detailed itinerary ▶

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Day 1

You will be met at Buenos Aires Airport and transferred to your hotel in this exciting city, situated on the estuary of the Río de la Plata - the 'River of Silver'.

Check in and relax in this capital of Argentina, known for its wonderful architecture, tango dancing and rich culture, including the highest concentration of theatres in the world.

Day 2

Today your exciting tour of Argentina begins, starting with a half day tour of Buenos Aires - a cosmopolitan city influenced by the many immigrants who helped form it and offering beautiful architecture, history and culture.

Our tour starts at the Plaza de Mayo, the historical, political and cultural centre of the city. Here you can see the Pink House (Presidential Palace), the Pyramid de Mayo and Metropolitan Cathedral. We then continue south to the Italian port neighbourhood of La Boca, with its colourful houses in Caminito Street and many 'cantinas' (small restaurants).

We also visit the residential neighbourhood of Palermo with its elegant mansions surrounded by spacious parks, before arriving in glamorous Recoleta, where there is the option to visit the famous cemetery where Eva Peron is buried, with its rich architecture (pay locally). Next to the cemetery is the church of Our Lady of Pilar, the Recoleta Cultural Centre (originally a convent) and the Palais de Glace exhibition centre.

In the evening you will be collected for a Tango Show. Born in the brothels of the city amongst a racial mix of Gauchos, Italian, Spanish and African immigrants, this dance and its music originated as a combination of Cuban and Spanish rhythms, with some polka and African beat. Enjoy the show and dinner, including mouth-watering Argentinian beef and Malbec wine.

Note: On escorted group tours please note that for operational reasons it is sometimes necessary to substitute one hotel with another of a similar quality.

Day 3

At leisure to explore the fabulous city of Buenos Aires independently.

You can enjoy its many shops and restaurants, or take an optional walking tour of San Telmo, the oldest neighbourhood in Buenos Aires. Alternatively take a tour to San Elmo, Tigre and the vast Parana River Delta, or a full day excursion to a traditional Estancia (ranch) where you can admire the skills of Argentinian 'gauchos' (cowboys).

You can also explore some of the city's museums, such as the Naval Museum, or take a full day excursion by high-speed hydrofoil ferry to the charming colonial city of Colonia del Sacramento in Uruguay.

Day 4

Transfer to Aeroparque Airport for your onward flight.

You will be met at Trelew Airport and transferred 1-hour to Puerto Madryn on the coast of northern Patagonia.

Trelew is the gateway to the rich marine life of the Valdes Peninsula. This region has strong links to the culture of Wales, as a result of Welsh settlement in this part of Argentina.

Check in and enjoy the afternoon at leisure in this maritime city.

Day 5

Today is devoted to exploring the marine life of the rocky Valdes Peninsula.

We drive 1-hour to this World Heritage site that is home to important breeding colonies of sea lions and elephant seals. These marine animals are preyed on by orcas, which have adapted their hunting techniques to local coastal conditions. From June to November, over 2,000 southern right whales gather here to give birth - making this the largest breeding population of southern right whales in the world.

Our first stop is at Puerto Pirámides, where an optional whale watching boat ride can be taken. Outside of whale watching season, you can see sea lions, cormorants and possibly bottlenose dolphins. After lunch (own account) we visit the sea lion colony at Puerto Pirámides.

Our next stop is at Punta Canor, a panoramic viewpoint over the peninsula and Caleta Valdes. From the rocky cliffs you can get close views of a colony of sea elephants. During the day we may also spot terrestrial wildlife such as guanacos, piches, maras, ostriches and foxes, as well as many different bird species.

We return to Puerto Madryn in the late afternoon, where you can walk along the beautiful sandy beach or the promenade that faces Golfo Nuevo Bay. There is also a clifftop museum with exhibits on Patagonian nature and a lighthouse-style tower with wonderful ocean views.

Note: The order we visit the above places may change.

Day 6

After a morning at leisure, transfer 1-hour to Trelew Airport for your onward flight.

You will be met at Ushuaia Airport and transferred to your hotel.

Surrounded by the spectacular mountains and fjords of Pategonia, this southermost city in the world is located on the shores of the Beagle Channel, at the southern tip of the island of Tierra del Fuego (or 'Land of Fire'). Regarded by Argentinians as the capital of Malvinas (the Falkland Islands), you can explore this quaint port town and see the memorial to its citizens who lost their lives in this war.

Day 7

This morning enjoy an excursion to Tierra del Fuego National Park, situated at the very end of the Pan American Highway.

See the foothills of the Andes Mountains as they meet the ocean, with panoramic views of the Beagle Channel. We drive through the Andean-Patagonian forest with its many tree species, orchids and other flowers to visit Ensenda Bay, Lapataia Bay and Lake Acigami (formerley Lake Roca) with its waters that change colour according to the weather. There is also the opportunity to walk through this splendid scenery and see the many beaver dams.

In the afternoon enjoy a boat ride on the Beagle Channel to admire Sea Lion (Lobos) Island, Les Eclaireurs Lighthouse and the Bay of Ushuaia from the water.

Day 8

Transfer to Ushuaia Airport for your onward flight.

You will be met at El Calafate Airport and transferred to your hotel in this small town, situated on Lake Argentino in Santa Cruz province and the gateway to Los Glaciares National Park.

Check in and relax surrounded by the scenery of the spectacular Southern Patagonian Ice Field.

Day 9

Today enjoy a full day excursion to Los Glaciares National Park, the largest national park in Argentina covering an area of over 725,000 hectares and a UNESCO World Heritage site.

This is an area of exceptional natural beauty, with towering mountains and many glacial lakes. The giant ice cap in the Austral Andes that feeds these 47 glaciers is the largest outside Antarctica and Greenland, with over half the park covered with enormous glaciers. You can make your way along walkways in front of the famous Perito Moreno Glacier to get closer views. With luck you may see it "calving", when huge chunks of ice break off the glacier and splash into the lake below.

As an addition to your tour, we have included a 1-hour boat ride to view this spectacular glacier up-close, before returning to El Calafate in the late afternoon. Lunch is for your own account today.

Day 10

At leisure to explore more of El Calafate and the surrounding area independently or take a boat ride on Lake Argentino.

There is the option of a full day All Glaciers Navigation, sailing up the northern arm of Lake Argentino to the western front of the beautiful Upsala Glacier, crossing the impressive barrier of ice floes that break off constantly from the front of the glacier, before continuing up the Spegazzini channel to view the Seco, Heim south & impressive Spegazzini glaciers, arriving back at port around 14.00.

Alternatively you can set out early from Port de la Cruz on the Estancia Cristina cruise, that also sails to the beautiful Upsala Glacier, before continuing up the Cristina channel to a local estancia (ranch) where you can visit the Costumbrista Museum, a former shearing shed. This involves an exciting 4x4 ride up steep gradients, with panoramic views. After an included lunch at the estancia, we walk 30-minutes over glacial erosion to the Continental Ice Refuge to admire the eastern front of the Upsasla Glacier, Guillermo Lake, the Southern Patagonian Icefield and the Andes. We then sail back to Port de la Cruz, arriving at around 19.00.

There is also the option of spending a full day experiencing life on a traditional Patagonian Estancia, where you can enjoy hiking or horse riding through these landscapes and see sheep shearing, with included lunch.

Day 11

Transfer to El Calafate Airport for your onward flight.

You will be met at Iguazu Cataratas Airport and transferred to your hotel located near one of the greatest waterfalls in the world, regarded as one of Latin America's most awe-inspiring sights.

The mighty Iguazu Falls, whose name means "Great Waters", straddles the border between Argentina and Brazil - although almost 80% of the falls are on the Argentinian side. It is situated in a huge tropical rainforest that has been declared a World Heritage Site, with countless flora and fauna species.

Note: Your driver will only speak Spanish.

Day 12

Today enjoy a full day shared tour of the Argentinian side of the incredible Iguazu Falls.

Comprising approximately 275 separate cascades, the falls form a curtain of foaming water that crashes over a vast granite amphitheatre and into the jungle below. Resembling a reversed letter "J", most of the Iguazu River plunges down through an area known as The Devil’s Throat, with the rest spreading out over a wide shelf that splits into hundreds of different waterfalls. There are a series of walkways that lead above, below and behind the falls, with breath-taking views. You can also hope to see monkeys, toucans, parakeets and other wildlife in the rainforest.

When the Devil's Throat section is inaccessible due to flooding, we will visit the Three Borders Landmark instead. This is where the Paraná River meets the Iguazú River - which marks the meeting point of Argentina, Brazil and Paraguay. There is a fair with local handicrafts, and from this point you can see the flags of all three countries. Lunch is for your own account today.

Note: Wear good walking shoes, as you will walk a lot today on metal walkways that can get very slippery when wet. Also take a light raincoat, as you will get wet visiting some sections of the falls.

Day 13

After checking out of your hotel, this morning cross the border for a private tour of the Brazilian side of the Iguazu Falls, with panoramic views of the nearly 2-mile (3 km) cliff edge.

We take an elevator down to the base of the waterfalls and stop at different viewing points. The volume of water flowing over the falls varies greatly depending on seasonal rainfall, but the falls are a spectacular sight at any time of year. The waterflow is highest between October and March, with the heaviest rains from December to February, when many trails are closed.

Afterwards transfer to Foz do Iguassu Airport for your onward flight.

Note: UK citizens do not need a visa for Brazil, but citizens of other countries need to check their requirements. Take a light raincoat, as you will get wet visiting some sections of the falls.

You will be met at Rio de Janeiro Airport and transferred to your hotel in this iconic city - famous for its magnificent setting and enormous statue of Christ the Redeemer looking down from Corcovado Mountain - one of the seven wonders of the modern world.

Rio is also home to the magnificent Copacabana, Ipanema, Leblon and Barra da Tijuca beaches and known for its samba and bossa nova dancing, carnivals and music festivals.

Day 14

Today enjoy a full day shared tour of Rio de Janeiro, known locally as Cidade Maravilhosa (the Marvellous City').

We start by boarding the cog train from Cosme Velho Station to Corcovado (meaning 'hunchback') Mountain, to see one of the world’s most famous landmarks. Enjoy the steep 20-minutes train journey through the dense Atlantic rainforest of Tijuca, with wonderful views of the lush tropical vegetation, and scenic landscapes of the city and its beaches below. Disembark and climb the steps or take the escalators to the base of the towering statue of Christ the Redeemer - one of the 7 wonders of the modern world - and enjoy its spectacular 360 degree panoramas. After descending by cog train, you will drive past some of Rio's most famous beaches - Leblon, Ipanema and Copacabana.

After lunch (own account) your tour continues with a drive through the downtown area, where we stop at the huge Metropolitan Cathedral (Cathedral of Saint Sebastian) built in the form of an ancient Mayan pyramid.

We then drive past Flamengo Park, the largest public park in Rio, to one of the most famous symbols of the city - Sugarloaf Mountain. Here we travel all the way to the top, in two cable cars. The first cable car takes us to Urca Hill, a vantage point with beautiful views of Guanabara Bay and its islands, the Rio-Niterói Bridge and Corcovado Mountain. The second cable car takes us all the way to the top, with wonderful views over Copacabana beach, Santa Cruz fortress and the beaches of Niterói. There is also the option to take a helicopter ride over Rio (pay locally).

In the evening there is the option of enjoying the Roxy Dinner Show held in an historic Art Deco theatre, showcasing music and dance from different regions of Brazil (advance booking strongly recommended).

Note: Shared day tours have a maximum of 20 people.

Day 15

At leisure to explore Rio's extensive beachfront promenade with its modernist swirling patterns, or relax on famous Copacabana Beach or quieter Ipanema.

You can take an optional half day Carnival Experience tour, to experience the excitement of the annual Rio Carnival, with the opportunity to don one of the extravagant costumes.

You can also travel by tram to the Bohemian neighbourhood of Santa Teresa with its winding cobbled streets, or walk down the colourful Selaron Steps to the Lapa neighbourhood, known for its nightlife.

Alternatively you can visit the Tijuca Forest and Botanical Garden with their tall palms, giant Amazonian water lilies and wonderful orchid house, with flowers the size of your hand. A troop of cauchin monkeys roams free in these sprawling gardens that are home to over 8,000 different plant species

You can also visit the Sambadrome (home to the Rio Carnival), the modern Metropolitan Cathedral, the enormous Maracanã Stadium, Rio Aquarium, the Museum of Tomorrow and Olympic Boulevard.

Day 16

Transfer to Rio de Janeiro Airport for your flight home.

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