Patagonia overland tour, Villarica
| country: | Patagonia, Chile |
| departures: | 2008: 8 Nov, 16 Nov, 17 Dec, 25 Dec 2009: 24 Jan, 1 Feb, 4 Mar |
| price: | From £800 (21 days) excluding flights. Local payment US $850 |
the amazing things you'll be doing
This isolated region of the world has an abundance of spectacular scenery complemented by small attractive towns. Commencing in Chile’s stunning capital, Santiago, you’ll travel south and take in towering snow-capped peaks and active volcanoes. You'll see deep blue and turquoise lakes, grand forests, immense glaciers and a vast array of wildlife. There are national parks to trek in, glacier cruises to enjoy, volcanoes to climb and many outdoor activities to enjoy such as white water rafting, mountain biking and horse riding. Patagonia is a destination worth discovering and on this adventure of a lifetime you’ll leave no ice-covered stone unturned.
This trip includes excursions to Fitzroy National Park, Moreno Glacier, Torres del Paine National Park, penguin colony, Beagle Channel cruise and Tierra del Fuego National Park. Optional activities (at additional cost) include a volcano climb, white water rafting, horse riding, biking, glacier trek, city & local area tours and museums.
Group sizes are on average 15-24 people (maximum 34) and the recommended age is 18-55 years. Price includes accommodation in hotels/cabins/hostels (17 nights) & camping (3 nights), some meals, transport, tour leader, driver and local guides. Excludes transfers, tips, visas, insurance, personal items, etc. We recommend that you allow US $30 - US $35 per day to cover meals, snacks, drinks, limited souvenirs, laundry, etc.
This trip includes excursions to Fitzroy National Park, Moreno Glacier, Torres del Paine National Park, penguin colony, Beagle Channel cruise and Tierra del Fuego National Park. Optional activities (at additional cost) include a volcano climb, white water rafting, horse riding, biking, glacier trek, city & local area tours and museums.
Group sizes are on average 15-24 people (maximum 34) and the recommended age is 18-55 years. Price includes accommodation in hotels/cabins/hostels (17 nights) & camping (3 nights), some meals, transport, tour leader, driver and local guides. Excludes transfers, tips, visas, insurance, personal items, etc. We recommend that you allow US $30 - US $35 per day to cover meals, snacks, drinks, limited souvenirs, laundry, etc.
day-by-day itinerary
| Day 1-4: | Arrive Santiago - Pucon - This pleasant town on Lake Villarrica is our base for an optional climb of Villarrica Volcano where you will be rewarded with beautiful views. There are also many other activities available including white water rafting and mountain biking through the surrounding countryside. |
| Day 5-7: | Bariloche - Perito Moreno - We make our first stop in Argentina at the charming Swiss-like town of Bariloche, located on a picturesque lake. We head south through forests until we come to the vast windswept region called Patagonia and stay overnight in the small town of Perito Moreno. |
| Day 8-9: | Fitzroy National Park - Lakes, waterfalls and snow capped glaciers dominate stunning Fitzroy National Park. There are various walks available to enjoy the views. |
| Day 10-11: | El Calafate - No visit to this region would be complete without seeing the impressive Moreno Glacier, thought to be the world’s largest glacier still actually growing. We include a boat trip near to the ice wall, an awe inspiring experience, and there is an optional trek on the glacier with crampons. |
| Day 12-15: | Puerto Natales - Torres del Paine National Park - Onto the beautifully situated town of Puerto Natales and then the truly stunning Torres del Paine National Park. The next three nights are spent camping and the spectacularly diverse scenery can be seen on walks and treks from camp. |
| Day 16-17: | Punta Arenas - Río Grande - South to Punta Arenas, the regions major city and a duty free port. Nearby we visit a large penguin colony. Across the Magellan Strait by ferry to Tierra del Fuego before entering Argentina again and staying overnight in the oil mining town of Río Grande. |
| Day 18-21: | Ushuaia - Wander the rugged streets of this pretty town that has views to snow-capped mountains. We visit nearby Tierra del Fuego National Park and also take a cruise on the Beagle Channel seeing many birds and seals. Day 21, Depart Ushuaia |
small group adventure holiday
Typically you will be sharing your experiences with between 4-20 like minded travellers (depending on the trip, operator and how many others are booked on the trip) and you'll have a group leader with you. Whether you are travelling alone or with friends its good value, and a great way to meet new people! While itineraries are pre-planned there is some flexibility and you'll have plenty of privacy. This trip will appeal to travellers of all ages who enjoy meeting new people as well as seeing new places.how this holiday makes a difference
|
Patagonia is a remote, expansive region with many stunning National Parks to visit and trek through. Our Villarrica tour use small, locally-operated minivans into these national parks to conserve the roads and to minimise pollution. Using local vehicles also supports the local businesses and communities.
Our tour leaders encourage passengers to behave in an eco-friendly manner at all times by ensuring that waste is kept on the vehicle. Passengers will camp in Torres del Paine National Park, rather than stay in Refugios, which keeps waste levels to a minimum as bio-degradable products are used wherever possible. In other areas we stay at locally-operated hotels rather than international chains to ensure that local businesses profit. The tour employs educated local guides for many excursions in order to support the local community. The guides are chosen for their detailed knowledge about the history of the region, as well as their dedication to promoting environmental, cultural and historical awareness in this area through their passion for their homelands. They encourage passengers to behave in an eco-friendly manner at all times. We have an extensive list of pre-departure documentation which includes maps, regional advice, responsible travel practices and detailed itineraries, and we send this out to our passengers well before their departure to ensure that when they travel they are socially conscious and respectful of their surrounding environments - both during our tours and before/after. Office policy: We recognise that it is not only on-location staff who have environmental responsibilities but also our administration staff in our offices around the world. All our offices endeavour to be environmentally sound through practising energy conservation, implementing recycling plans and being responsible for the surrounding physical environment. We believe in leading through example and operate in this manner to encourage other businesses and individuals to be considerate of the environment and conserve the natural beauty we currently share. |
Tourism can be good and bad for destinations & local people. We carefully screen every holiday against our criteria for responsible travel. 'Look behind the brochure' to find how each holiday makes a difference (see left). We don't claim to be perfect - there is no global accreditation - but we've led the way since 2001 and screened 1000's of holidays. We invite every traveller to write a review about their experiences and responsible tourism. This valuable feedback is sent to the people who run the holidays. We keep a very close eye on it and take off holidays that don't live up to our standards. |