Exploring Patagonia Nov 11–23, 2009 / Feb 3–15, 2010 / mar 7–19, 2010 / oct 17–29, 2010
• 13-day journey with a 4-day cruise around Cape Horn • Explore Torres del Paine National Park, Buenos Aires, and Santiago torres del paine, chile
Itinerary : 13 Days Days 1 & 2 U.S./Buenos Aires, Argentina Depart on an overnight flight to Buenos Aires. Transfer to our hotel in the heart of the fashionable Recoleta neighborhood and explore the nearby galleries, museums, and cafés. Enjoy a short tango performance at our welcome dinner tonight. Loi Suites Recoleta (D) Trekking in Torres del Paine National Park
Carved by fjords and capped by glistening glaciers, Patagonia is a natural wonderland. Cruise through a landscape of thick forests and icebergs to the tip of Cape Horn and the Strait of Magellan. Then continue to Patagonia’s crown jewel—Torres del Paine National Park—and end our journey in Santiago, Chile’s vibrant capital. David Scott Silverberg
Geographer, photographer, and explorer David Scott Silverberg has been working on South America’s “Southern Cone” for the past 18 years. He teaches on a variety of topics regarding Argentina and Chile, has extensively explored the Torres del Paine, and has a deep appreciation for the region’s literature, poetry, cuisine, and complex politics. A National Geographic grantee, David also served as executive director for research at EarthWatch Institute. David will join the February and March departures. Kitty Coley will join the November 2009 departure.
Trip Highlights
• Follow Patagonia’s pristine fjords past vast glaciers, and trace the voyages of great explorers around the legendary Cape Horn. • Encounter unique wildlife, including guanacos, rheas, gray foxes, and Magellanic penguins. • Spend four nights at the spectacular Explora Lodge, hiking and riding horseback amid the granite spires, glacial lakes, and waterfalls of Torres del Paine National Park. • Venture into the colorful artists’ quarter of La Boca and enjoy a tango performance in captivating Buenos Aires.
To reserve your space today, call toll free: 1-888-966-8687. Reserve online at www.nationalgeographicexpeditions.com
Day 3 Buenos Aires Spend the day discovering Argentina’s cosmopolitan capital, known as “the Paris of South America.” On a city tour, see the historic presidential palace—Casa Rosada—and the cathedral in Plaza de Mayo. Continue to the remarkable Recoleta Cemetery, burial site of Eva Peron. Enjoy lunch nearby, or attend an empanada cooking demonstration before sampling this local specialty. Later, explore the artists’ quarter of La Boca and admire the classic and contemporary architecture of Puerto Madero, a recently revived district along the banks of the Río de la Plata. Loi Suites Recoleta (B,L)
Days 4 Buenos Aires/Ushuaia Fly to Ushuaia, the southernmost city in the world. Embark the Via Australis or Mare Australis and sail toward the famed Beagle Channel. Via Australis or Mare Australis (B,L,D)
Day 5 Cape Horn, Chile/ Wulaia Bay Weather permitting, take Zodiacs to the legendary Cabo de Hornos (Cape Horn) for a panoramic view from the southernmost tip of South America. Later, explore Wulaia Bay, where Charles Darwin landed during his voyage on
the H.M.S. Beagle. Choose one of two walks to experience the spectacular beauty of the Magellanic forest. Via Australis or Mare Australis (B,L,D)
Days 6 Chico Inlet/ Piloto and Nena Glaciers As we navigate the Magdalena Channel, spot penguins, dolphins, sea lions, and Andean condors, and view the amazing Gunter Plüshow Glacier. Cruise into Chico Inlet on a Zodiac, and get a close-up view of Piloto and Nena Glaciers. Via Australis or Mare Australis (B,L,D)
Day 7 Magdalena Island/ Punta Arenas Take a morning walk on Magdalena Island, home to a colony of 120,000 Magellanic penguins. Disembark in Punta Arenas and continue across the southern pampas, looking for herds of guanacos and rheas, gray foxes, Patagonian hares, and black-necked swans. Check into the deluxe Explora Lodge in Torres del Paine National Park, our home for the next four nights. Explora Patagonia (B,L,D) Days 8, 9, & 10 Torres del Paine National Park During the next three days,
tailor your exploration to your interests, choosing among a variety of hiking and horseback riding excursions in the park. Discover Grey Lake and its incredibly blue ice sculptures; hike through beech forests along the shore of Laguna Azul; and venture to Salto Grande, a glacial waterfall set against stunning views of the majestic 11,000foot Grand Paine Mountains. Photograph wildlife near the northern limits of the park or relax at the hotel, taking advantage of its wonderful amenities. Enjoy evening lectures and cap off your stay in the park with a festive traditional barbecue. Explora Patagonia (B,L,D Daily) Day 11 Torres del Paine National Park/Santiago Today, drive to Punta Arenas airport for the flight to Santiago, stopping for lunch along the way. Arrive in Santiago this evening and check in to our hotel. Plaza el Bosque Park and Suites (B,L)
Days 12 & 13 Santiago/U.S Our full-day exploration of Santiago includes a visit to La Chascona, the former home of Nobel poet Pablo Neruda; lunch at Santiago’s bustling fish market; and a farewell celebration at a Chilean winery. This evening, transfer to the airport for your overnight flight home, arriving the next day. (B,L)
Optional Extensions Easter Island Post-Trip Extension, 6 Days Chile’s Atacama Desert Post-Trip Extension, 6 Days
Note: Itinerary details and pricing are subject to change and may vary slightly. Please call 1-888-966-8687 for updated information.
Expedition Cost Category A Salto Chico $9,590 Category AA Cordillera Paine $10,890 Category AAA Suite Exploradores $11,890 Categories A, AA, and AAA refer to ship categories; Salto Chico, Cordillera Paine, and Suite Exploradores refer to rooms at the Explora Lodge. Prices are per person, double occupancy. For single accommodations in Category A–Salto Chico, add $2,500. All flights within Argentina and Chile are included in the expedition cost. Round-trip economy airfare from Miami to Buenos Aires, and return from Santiago, is not included and is estimated at $1,000.
Accommodations Explora Patagonia Torres del Paine National Park, Chile Located on the shores of Lake Pehoe in the heart of Torres del Paine National Park, Explora Lodge offers its guests intimate contact with the magnificent natural world of remote Patagonia. The lodge’s Salto Chico rooms look out on the Salto Chico waterfall while the Cordillera Paine rooms feature mountain views of Macizo del Paine. Amenities include a heated indoor lap pool, two outdoor Jacuzzis, a sauna, exercise equipment, massage salons, a game room, a dining room, and a bar. Via Australis (or Mare Australis) The Via Australis has 63 outside-facing cabins and were built specifically to cruise the spectacular Patagonian waterways. All cabins are the same size and feature a large window, an en suite bathroom, and individual temperature controls. Cabins are available on three levels: Category A on the second level, Category AA on the third level, and Category AAA on the top level. Facilities include an open deck, two lounges, a library, a game room, and a single seating dining room. National Geographic has reserved 16 cabins on each of these departures. Photos: sunrise at Torres Del Paine © iStockphoto.com / Gerad Coles • Trekking at Torres Del Paine national Park© © iStockphoto.com / Bruce Block