by Maximo Ghioldi    

North-Patagonia glaciers and Ushuaia.
A trip among dinosaurs, whales, walruses, penguins and glaciers, a unique trip along the Andes, to the whale's gulf, to the glaciers of the Austral Patagonia and to the Tierra del Fuego. .

"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 Gigantosaurus carolinis, the biggest carnivore dinosaur ever existed, will be seen; dinner and night La Posada del Dinosaurio, El Chocón, 87 km by shuttle bus.

3rd day: Dinosauros at Los Barreales.
After breakfast, paleontologic tour; footprints of dinosaurs at the Exequiel Ramos Mexia Lake; the Carmen Funes Paeontological Museum. Here the 40 mt long Argentinoaurus huinculensi , the biggest herbivor dinosaur ever existed is located; 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, El Chocón, 344 km by shuttle bus.

4th day: Villa El Chocón - Villa La Angostura.
GFull day dedicated to a trip to the 7 Lake road; After breakfast, departure to Villa La Angostura along the shore of the Nahuel Huapi Lake. Due to adverse climatic conditions the 7 lake road may be closed during the winter months. Villa La Angostura can be reached by an alternative route along the Limay River by the famous National Road # 237, and then by the NR #40 and NR # 231;lunch at a local restaurant; dinner and night Hotel Angostura, Villa La Angostura, 340 km by shuttle bus.

5th day: Villa Traful, Cascate, Lago Espejo, Correntoso.
An all day trekking. Lunch at a local restaurant; dinner and night Hotel Angostura, Villa La Angostura, 75 km by shuttle bus.

6th day: Lago Nahuel Huapi and Penisola Quetrihué.
Cruising on Nahuel Huapi lake on the 1934 historical Huemul II boat; trekking in Arrayanes wood and in the Quetrihué peninsula; back pack lunch; dinner, and night Hotel Angostura, Villa La Angostura.

7th day: Villa La Angostura - Hoyo de Epuyén via S. C. de Bariloche.
After breakfast, an amazing trip through the lake district of the Cordillera of the Andes, sightseeing of the beautiful El Bolsón (the hippie town of the 60'); lunch at the local restaurant. Dinner and night Hostería Las Pataguas, Hoyo de Epuyén, 287 km by shuttle bus.

8th day: Hoyo de Epuyén.
Day of rest and, eventually, trekking to the surrounding mountains, to the prehistoric stone paintings, and to the condor's nests or sightseeing of El Bolsón; dinner and night Hostería Las Pataguas, Hoyo de Epuyén.

9th day: Hoyo de Epuyén - Leleque - Esquel - Trevelin.
South bound for the all day on the famous NR # 40; Visit of the etno-antropologic museum in Leleque, where the true history of Patagonia is found: from the original indigenous people to colony period, to the 1900 anarchist revolts to end with the two American bandits Butch Cassidy and Sundance Kid; Toward Trevelin, the most Western Welsh town of Patagonia. Lunch at a local restaurant, dinner and night Cabañas Wilson, Trevelin, 145 km by shuttle bus.

10th giorno: Trevelin.
After breakfast, excursion by the Viejo Expreso Patagónico train from Esquel to the Indian Mapuche community of Nahuel Pan. In the afternoon, visit of the Malacara Museum, ainfall of Nant y Fall and ancient Welsh water mill. The areas of Trevelin and Cholila are famous not only for the adventures of the American outlaws but also for the quality of the excellent cow meat. Lunch at a local restaurant; dinner and night Cabañas Wilson, Trevelin, 105 km by shuttle bus.

11th day: Trevelin - Los Altares.
After breakfast, trip continues cutting West-Est trough the Mesa Patagonica. Leaving road NR # 40 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 A.C.A. Motel, Los Altares, 348 km by shuttle bus.

12th day: Los Altares - P. di Valdés via P. Madryn and El Doradillo.
Going around patagonic roads, visit of Gaiman and Puerto Madryn with the opportunity to enjoy a breathtaking sunset on El Doradillo beach, an extraordinary place to see on the shore a few metes away the ballenas francas (Southern Right Whale). Lunch in a local restaurant; dinner and night Hotel Península, 417 km by shuttle bus.

13th day: Tour Penisola de Valdes.
A full day 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 in Golfo Nuevo, to watch the enormous ballenas francas (Southern Right Whale). Lunch at a local restaurant; dinner and night Hotel Península, Puerto Madryn, 304 km by shuttle bus.

14th day: Puerto Madryn - Punta Loma.
Free time in the city; lunch at a local restaurant. Visit of natural reserve of Punta Loma (it includes sightseeing of sea lions). Sunset at the El Doradillo beach; Return to Puerto Pirámides; dinner and night Hotel Península a Puerto Madryn, 185 km by shuttle bus.

15th day: Volo Trelew - El Calafate via Buenos Aires.
After breakfast transfer to Trelew airport. Domestic flight via B. Aires to El Calafate. Dinner and night Hotel Shehuen, El Calafate, 70 km by shuttle bus.

16th day: Tour of the Perito Moreno glacier.
All day tour of the Perito Moreno glacier; dinner and night Hotel Sheuen, El Calafate, 162 km by shuttle bus.

17th day: Tour of Lake Argentino and Uppsala glacier.
After breakfast transfer to Puerto Banderas ad boarding on a ship for a sightseeing of Lake Argentino, seeing of Uppsala and Spegazzini glaciers; dinner and night Hotel Sheuen, El Calafate.

18th 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.

19th day: Tour of the city of Ushuaia, the most Southern town in the Southern emisphere and Train to the End of the World.
After breakfast crusing of the fuegins channels; In the afternoon transfer by train to the National Park of Tierra del Fuego by the Train of Fin del Mondo (End of the world); Dinner and night Hotel Los Ñires, Ushuaia.

20th day: Fight Ushuaia - Buenos Aires.
After breakfast transfer to the Ushuaia airport and flight to Buenos Aires. Bed and Breakfast at Hotel Castelar, Buenos Aires.

21st day: Buenos Aires.
Free day. Bed and Breakfast at the Hotel Castelar, Buenos Aires.

22nd day: Buenos Aires.
Free day. Bed and Breakfast at the Hotel Castelar, Buenos Aires.

23rd day: Buenos Aires.
Free day. Bed and Breakfast at the Hotel Castelar, Buenos Aires.

24th day: Buenos Aires.
Free day; Departure in the evening for Italy. Meals and night on board of the plane.

25th day: Arrival to Rome/Milan.
End of our assistance.