by Maximo Ghioldi    

Following Bruce Chatwin tracks

"A constant anguish tortures me for far away things."
(Herman Melville. Moby Dick)

   

The Trip:

1st day/night: Rome/Milan - Buenos Aires.
Departure on Fridays from Rome/Milan with an overnight flight to Buenos Aires.

2nd day: Arrival in Buenos Aires.
Arrival at the Int'l Ezeiza Airport in BA, transfer to Aeroparque Jorge Newbery and domestic flight to Neuquén; transfer to Villa El Chocón. Visit of the Paleonthological Ernesto Bachman Museum where the Giganotosaurus carolini, the biggest carnivore dinosaur ever existed, is placed; dinner and night La Posada del Dinosaurio, El Chocón, Shuttle km. 87.

3rd day: Dinosauros at Los Barreales.
After breakfast, paleontologic tour; footprints of dinosaurs at the Exequiel Ramos Mexia Lake; the Carmen Funes Paleontological Museum. Here, the 40 mt long Argentinosaurus huinculensis , the biggest herbivorous dinosaur ever existed will be seen; lunch at a local restaurant and then visit of the paleontological site of Los Barreales; return at sunset to El Chocón; dinner and night La Posada del Dinosaurio a El Chocón, Shuttle km. 344

4th day: El Chocón - San Antonio Oeste via Choele-Choel.
After breakfast, departure to San Antonio Oeste, along the Rio Negro Valley and the Bajo del Hualicho (75 mt below sea level). Lunch at a local restaurant; dinner and night at Hotel Mirador del Golfo, Las Grutas/S.A.Oeste Hotel Mirador del Golfo, Las Grutas/San Antonio Oeste, Shuttle km. 473.

5th : S.A.Oeste - Puerto Madryn e El Doradillo.
Cruising around Patagonic road n. 3, visit of Puerto Madryn with the opportunity to enjoy a breathtaking sunset on El Doradillo beach, an extraordinary place to watch the ballenas francas (Southern Right Whale) just a few metes away from the shore. Lunch in a local restaurant; dinner and night Hotel Península, Puerto Madryn, Shuttle km. 318.

6th day: Tour Penisola de Valdes.
The full day is devoted to watch the beautiful Patagonic fauna such as sea elephants and sea lions, guanacos - the South American camels - the ñandú - the Patagonic ostrich, to conclude with a boat tour on Golfo Nuevo, to watch the enormous ballenas francas (Southern Right Whale); lunch at a local restaurant; dinner and night Hotel Península, Puerto Madryn, Shuttle km. 218.

7th day: Puerto Madryn - Los Altares via Trelew - Gaiman.
Going around patagonic roads, visit of Gaiman , the most famous town of Patagonia. Leaving Gaiman we continue trough the remote NR #25 among canyons and colored Mesa. Late in the afternoon, stop at Los Altares, on the South bank of the Chubut river. Lunch at a local restaurant; dinner and night ACA Motel, Los Altares, Shuttle km. 353.

8th day: Los Altares - Alto Río Senguer.
After breakfast, trip continues cutting Est - West- trough the Mesa Patagonica. Due to adverse climatic conditions the # 63 road may be closed during the winter months. Alto Rio Senguer can be reached by an alternative route along the Chubut River by the National Road # 25, and then by the NR #40.

Late in the afternoon, stop at Alto Rio Senguer. Lunch at a local restaurant; dinner and night Hospedaje Bety Jay, Alto Río Senguer, Shuttle km. 368.

9th: day Perito Moreno (Estancia Los Toldos) via Rio Mayo.
On the road to Estancia Los Toldos. At Rio Mayo we take the famous Road 40 heading for Perito Moreno and Estancia Los Toldos, 20 km north of "Cueva de las Manos". Lunch at a local restaurant; dinner and night Hostería Cueva de las Manos, Shuttle km. 235.

10th day: Los Antiguos, Cueva de Altamira and Cueva de las manos.
After breakfast, trekking to Cueva de Altamira and Cueca de las Manos, painting from 9,400 B.C.; back pack lunch. In the afternoon trip to Los Antiguos and Buenos Aires Lake (The Chilean General Carrera Lake). Dinner and night Hostería Cueva de las Manos, Shuttle km. 372.

11th day: Ea. Los Todos -Ea. La Angostura.
After breakfast, again on the road to Cardiel Lake and Ea. La Angostura. Back pack lunch, dinner and nigh Estancia La Angostura, a typical patagonian farm, Shuttle km. 350.

12th day: Ea. La Angostura - El Chaltén (Mount Fitz Roy) - El Calafate.
Early in the morning the trip continue South bound on Road 40, visit of El Chalten with a sightseeing of the beautiful Mount Fitz Roy and arrival at El Calafate. Lunch at local restaurant, dinner and night Hotel Shehuen, El Calafate, Shuttle km. 456.

13th day: Tour of the Perito Moreno glacier.
All day tour of the Perito Moreno glacier; dinner and night Hotel Shehuen, El Calafate, Shuttle km. 162.

14th day: Flight to El Calafate - Ushuaia.
Free morning at El Calafate; transfer at noon to the airport and air transfer to Ushuaia; dinner and night Hotel Los Ñires, Ushuaia.

15th day: Tour of the city of Ushuaia, the most Southern town in the Austral hemisphere and Tren del fin del mundo.
After breakfast , cruise of the fuegins channels; In the afternoon transfer by train to the National Park of Tierra del Fuego by the Tren del Fin del Mundo (train of the End of the world); dinner and night Hotel Los Ñires, Ushuaia.

16th day: Flight Ushuaia - Buenos Aires.
After breakfast, transfer to the Ushuaia airport and flight to Buenos Aires. Bed and Breakfast Hotel Castelar, Buenos Aires.

17th day: Buenos Aires.
Free day, departure in the evening for Italy; meals and night on board of the plane.

18th day: Arrival to Rome/Milan.
End of our assistance.