From the Atlantic to the Pacific

Patagonia & Cruise

 

Departures: Tuesdays from September 2000 to April 2001

Meals: According to itinerary. Air Fare: Not included.

Service: Seat in bus. Entrance fees: included

 

Day 1 - Comodoro Rivadavia

Reception at local airport and transfer to hotel. In the afternoon city tour of Comodoro Rivadavia, visit of the Petroleum museum, and Cerro Chenque panoramic point. Continue to Rada Tilly, seaside resort to the south of Comodoro Rivadavia, the Punta del Marques Hill panoramic point that dominates the villa and the sea lion rookery. Accommodation at Austral Hotel. Dinner.

Day 2 - Comodoro Rivadavia / Petrified Woods / Mayo River

Breakfast. Visit to the Petrified Woods J. Ormachea. Discovered in 1927, gathers a group of 65 million years old huge fossilized trunks that reach a 30 meter length and a 2-meter diameter. It is formed by rocky arid land with xerophilous plants, prehistoric conifers and dead palm trees. Continue to Mayo River. Visit Estancia Don José. This estancia develops the breeding and protection of the guanaco, one of the most characteristic of the southamerican camelidae group in the Argentine southern extreme, in semicaptivity. Continue to Perito Moreno Village and Estancia "Los Toldos". Lodging at "Cueva de las Manos" Inn. Dinner

 

Day 3 - Pinturas River Valley

Breakfast. Departure to Pinturas River Canyon. Trekking (Level: moderate). Visit to the Caves of the Painted Hands, one of the greatest expressions of rupestrian American art. This place offers a testimony of the mores and beliefs of the ethnic group that lived there. The scenes were designed in different colours: black, ochre, deifferent shades of yellow, red and violet representing hands, human figures and guanacos. Pic-Nic. Return. Dinner at Inn.

Day 4 - Pinturas River Valley / Paso Huemules / Coihaique / Pto. Chacabuco

Breakfast. Departure along Route Nº 40 to Perito Moreno Village. Continue to Balmaceda (Chile) international crossroad. Free Lunch at Coihaique. Arrival at Pto. Chacabuco and Skorpios I embarkation to carry out the 4 days / 3 nights programme to San Rafael Lagoon always sailing during daytime and lodged in internal double cabins; a high bed and a low bed *. Meals and drinks are included.

 

Day 5 & 6 - Skorpios I

 

Day 7 - Puerto Chacabuco

Breakfast. Disembarkation from 06:00 a.m. onwards. Transfer to Comodoro Rivadavia.

 

OPTIONAL PRE-TOUR

 

Puerto Deseado

 

Day 1 - Comodoro Rivadavia

Reception at Comodoro Rivadavia airport. Departure to Puerto Deseado, one of the most important sea reserves. Accommodation at Acantilados or Isla Chaffers Hotel. Dinner.

 

Day 2 - Puerto Deseado

Breakfast. Sail along the estuary to watch the Cormorans, penguins and great variety of sea birds. Dinner.

 

Day 3 - Puerto Deseado / Comodoro Rivadavia

(This day replace the day 1 of the main program). Breakfast. Visit to the Natural Reserve of "Cabo Blanco", a magnificent rock formation that constitutes the main rokery of sea lions. Return to Comodoro Rivadavia. Accommodation at Austral Hotel. Dinner.

Classic Northwest

 

Departures: Mondays.

Meals: Half board. Air Fare: Not included.

 

Day 1 - San Miguel de Tucumán

Reception at Tucumán airport and transfer to hotel. City tour including visit to Villa Nogues and Mount San Javier. Accommodation at Metropol Hotel. Dinner.

 

Day 2 - San Miguel de Tucumán / Quilmes

Departure for a tour to the Quilmes ruins. Passing through the "Quebrada de los Sosa" viewing the Indian Monument and Mollar with its "Menhires" and the Tafi del Valle summer resort, by an artificial lake. Visit to the Indian ruins of Quilmes. Accommodation at Quilmes Inn. Dinner.

 

Day 3 - Quilmes / Molinos

Departure to Cafayate, through the Calchaqui Valleys, passing Colalao del Valle at Tolombon. Visit to Cafayate, located 1.700 m. above sea level. This town is one of those peaceful, colonial-type settlements that never falls to evoke the feeling of a time long past. In such a wonderful climate, its vineyards produce the most renowned wines. Visit to a wine cellar. The panoramic view of the valleys continues with the Quebrada de las Conchas (gorge) with colorful designs carved in the hills: Amphitheatre, the Castle, the Priest, the Devil’s throat. Driving along mountain roads passing by small typical villages devoted to peppermint farming: Animaná, el Barrial and San Carlos. Arrival at Molinos. Accommodation at Molinos Inn, a charming inn built in the past century facing the old church nearby the museum. Dinner.

 

Day 4 - Molinos / Cachi / Salta

Arrival at San José de Cachi at the foot of the white snow-covered peak of Cachi, with a wonderful view of the surroundings. Visit to the archaeological museum and the church in the ancient town, founded in the XVII century. Following the route passing through Los Cardones National Park, where there is an abundance of this giant cactus, continue to Cuesta del Obispo, called the Condor’s home, reaching 3.720 m. above sea level with a colorful view of the Calchaqui Valley, a natural treasure located in one of the most beautiful landscapes of the country. Transfer to Salta by comercial route. Accommodation at Hotel Salta. Dinner.

 

Day 5 - Humahuaca / Salta

Departure for a drive along the historic Humahuaca Gorge, passing Leon, Volcan, Tumbaya, Purmamarca and its seven-colored mountain, Tilcara with its archaeological museum, the old indian fortress (Pucará), and Uquia Church, arriving finally in Humahuaca. Visit to the Handicraft Fair and the Belgrano’s belvedere. Jujuy city tour. Driving along mountain roads and visiting La Cienaga Dam and Santa Laura Valley, arrival at Salta in the afternoon and accommodation at Salta Hotel or Portezuelo. Dinner.

 

Day 6 - Salta

Day at leisure for optional tours. Dinner.

 

Day 7 - Salta

City tour visiting the major points of interest and transfer to El Aybal local airport.

 

 

Optional tour: (Saturdays, May to Oct):

Tren a las Nubes (Train to the Clouds) to Viaducto La Polvorilla (The Polvorilla Viaduct), 214 km. away at 4.200 meters at sea level, admiring the changing colors of the sharp rocks. The highest spot of this trip is the amazing crossing of the viaduct suspended on the abyss on fabulous pillars.