Patagonia Tour Departs 17 FEB 2020

CENTRAL – NORTH PATAGONIA

DEPARTS 17 FEB 2020

Patagonia Tour Map

A JOURNEY OF DISCOVERY

Our unique approach is a radical departure from any conventional tour of obvious and commercialised resorts.

PROGRAM

Mon 17 Feb 11.00 – Departure from Sydney flying LATAM to Santiago.
13.30 – Same day arrival in Santiago. Mid afternoon flight to Puerto Montt. Transfer to hotel.
19.30 – Dinner at the hotel (included).

Tue 18 Feb – Morning at leisure.
14.00 – Downtown orientation on foot covering the main highlights of the city.
19.30 – Optional dinner.

Wed 19 Feb 08.30 – Today we drive along the Reloncavi Fjord. The spectacular road unwinds along the fjord and its high rising mountains. Eventually in the most amazing spot, we come across a beautiful traditional chalet (The Andes Lodge) where we can enjoy lovely Patagonian specialities. Return to Puerto Montt by mid afternoon.
19.30 – Optional dinner.

Thu 20 Feb 08.00 – Departure for the historic town of Ancud founded in 1767 by Spain as a strategic military outpost, dominating a splendid natural bay on the north west point of the huge island of Chiloé. After ferrying our mini coach across the strait of Chacao (40 minutes navigation) we arrive at Ancud at 11.00. Local orientation and time at leisure.
13.30 – Departure from Ancud for a local scenic drive, stopping for a brief visit at the heritage Fort of San Antonio: one of the two built by Spain to guard the entrance into the Bay of Ancud.
17.30 – Arrival in Puerto Montt.
19.30 – Optional dinner.

Fri 21 Feb 06.00 – Departure for Hornopiren where at 10.00 we’ll board a ship taking with us our mini coach. The ship navigates four hours along fjords to Leptepu where we disembark and travel 10 km to Fiordo Largo to board a ferry to Caleta Gonzalo from where we will travel another 60kms arriving around 17.30 at Chaiten.
17.30 – Arriving at Chaiten.
19.30 – Dinner at the hotel (included).

Sat 22 Feb 08.30 – Departure for Coyhaique (750 m). This is a fairly long journey but very spectacular indeed, because in a very pristine landscape we will see a succession of snowy peaks, glaciers, lakes, forests and fjords. A truly colourful mix of real unspoilt Patagonia.
18.00 – Arrival in Coyhaique.
19.30 – Dinner at the hotel (included).

Sun 23 Feb 08.30 – Brief down-town orientation on foot and time at leisure.
14.00 – Short excursion (25 km) on a scenic road to nearby Mt. Fraile (1,600 m) which in winter is a ski resort.
19.30 – Optional dinner.

Mon 24 Feb 07.30 – Departure for Lake Carrera. Scenic drive in the Andes through one of the most stunning untamed landscapes of the whole tour.
11.30 – Arrival at Puerto Tranquilo. Boat excursion to the spectacular marble caves. Lunch at local chalet. Return to Coyhaique.
19.00 – Arrival at the hotel.
19.30 – Dinner at the hotel (included).

Tue 25 Feb 08.30 – Scenic drive in a beautiful area which is part of the Aisen Region of Chile. Stop at the magic Lake Elizalde and local scenic walk. Then we drive downhill on a scenic road to the Aisen Fjord for a seafood lunch and return to Coyhaique by mid afternoon.
19.30 – Optional dinner.

Wed 26 Feb 08.30 – Departure for Esquel in Argentina. First we climb a little from the 750m of Coyhaique to the 865m of the Pampa Alta Pass where we cross the border. Then it’s all the way down to the Argentinean plains where we head north, having the Andes on the left hand side all the way.
17.30 – Arrival at Esquel.
19.30 – Dinner at the hotel (included).

Thu 27 Feb 08.30 – Today we cross the Andes and again the border with Chile via a beautiful road to enter the spectacular valley of the River Futaleufu. Local stops and scenic walks will be made en route. Lunch stop at the splendid panoramic Uman Lodge.
17.00 – Arrival in Esquel.
19.30 – Optional dinner.

Fri 28 Feb 08.30 – Scenic drive into the Andes to Lake Futalafquen in the National Park of Los Alerces with a few stops at picturesque lookouts. Lunch in magic chalet set in stunning beautiful unspoilt spot on the banks of the lake! Return to Esquel by mid afternoon.
19.30 – Optional dinner.

Sat 29 Feb 09.30 – Transfer to the Railway Station to board a picturesque Patagonian steam train, which is still kept in immaculate working condition and is reminiscent of days gone by. It’s really like stepping into another age, a feeling strengthened by the Patagonian landscape which seems to have never changed either.
13.30 – End of the journey and transfer back to the hotel. Afternoon at leisure.
19.30 – Optional dinner.

Sun 01 Mar 08.30 – Departure for San Martin de los Andes (600 m). It’s a famous resort on the banks of beautiful Lake Lacar, in the midst of the Andes. On the way to San Martin we border a series of picturesque lakes.
17.00 – Arrival in San Martin.
19.30 – Dinner at the hotel (included).

Mon 02 Mar 08.30 – Morning sightseeing tour in the pretty outskirts of San Martin de los Andes. We do some scenic coastal drives to beautiful lookouts as well as a panoramic uphill drive to a special “balcony” where you can enjoy a refreshment in a local chalet/bar with sweeping views over the stunning landscape of Lake Lacar and the Andes. Return to the hotel by lunch time. Afternoon at leisure.
19.30 – Optional dinner.

Tue 03 Mar 08.30 – Departure for a spectacular scenic drive only 18kms away but taking us to almost 2,000m in the famous mountain resort of Chapelco. This place is endowed with good facilities as well as clearly defined panoramic walks. Return to the hotel by lunch time.
14.00 – With a short 20km drive we now switch from the high altitude resort of Mt. Chapelco to the picturesque lakeside holiday complex of Quila Quina. Local excellent facilities will allow for a pleasant refreshment in an unspoilt cornice of water, bushland and high rising peaks. Relax and enjoy before returning to the hotel.
19.30 – Optional dinner.

Wed 04 Mar 08.30 – Scenic drive from San Martin along the banks of Lake Lacar with stops at picturesque places for refreshment, lunch and scenic walks. Return to San Martin by mid afternoon.
19.30 – Optional dinner.

Thu 05 Mar 08.30 – Very scenic drive along the “Seven Lakes Route” to reach the border with Chile at the Samoré Pass. Then we border Lake Puyehue where we stop for lunch by the lake in panoramic setting with a beautiful view of Volcano Puyehue (2,240m). Continuation to Frutillar on the banks of the huge Lake Llanquihue.
17.00 – Arrival at Frutillar.
19.30 – Dinner at the hotel (included).

Fri 06 Mar 08.30 – Scenic stroll along the beautiful lake promenade of this impeccable picturesque town, to reach a vast panoramic park set on the gentle slopes of a local hill. The sweeping views of the lake and the Andes are superb, but what really graces and enhances the scenic beauty of this park are the historic houses of the original settlers scattered in various panoramic spots so that the whole park has been turned into a heritage museum!! Time at leisure at the park. Return to the hotel at your convenience. Afternoon at leisure.
19.30 – Optional dinner.

Sat 07 Mar 08.30 – Departure for Lake Rupanco and scenic drive to the picturesque east end of the lake which penetrates deeply amongst the high peaks and volcanoes of the Andes. Local scenic walk and lunch. Return to Frutillar by mid afternoon.
19.30 – Optional dinner.

Sun 08 Mar 08.30 – Panoramic circuit of the huge Lake Llanquihue. We follow the coastline to the picturesque town of Puerto Octay set on a beautiful peninsula. Local sightseeing and short strolls. Continuation on the banks of the lake to Ensenada where we stop for lunch in picturesque setting. Then we continue along the scenic coastal drive arriving in Frutillar by mid afternoon.
19.30 – Dinner at the hotel (included).

Mon 09 Mar 12.00 – Transfer to Puerto Montt Airport.
16.00 – Flight to Santiago.

Tue 10 Mar 01.00 – LATAM flight to Sydney.

Wed 11 Mar 09.00 – Arrival in Sydney.

HOTELS

We believe that you are entitled to know exactly what you get for your money and that’s why we clearly state not only the number of stars but also the location of the hotels we use.

Unless you are in a rush tour, where you get to the hotel late at night and leave early morning, we do believe that a good location makes a world of difference to the quality of your holiday.