INCREDIBLE PATAGONIA
departures: November 14-29, 2016 January 11-25, 2017
PERU
BRAZIL BOLIVIA
PARAGUAY
CHILE
SANTIAGO
3
BUENOS AIRES URUGUAY
nts
3
nts
ARGENTINA
“Incredible Patagonia”
2-hour flight
TORRES DEL PAINE
3
EL CALAFATE
3
3- hour flight
nts
nts
USHUAIA 1- hour flight
3
nts
Incredible Patagonia DAY 1 - BUENOS AIRES D Arrival to Ezeiza International Airport. Reception and transfer to hotel in Buenos Aires. 03 nights of accommodation with breakfast. Free time to rest or walk the city at your own. Welcome Dinner in local restaurant. DAY 2 - BUENOS AIRES B D In the morning, Tradicional City Tour visiting the best of Buenos Aires: La Boca, San Telmo, 9 de Julio Avenue and the Obelisk, Puerto Madero, Corrientes Avenue, Colón Theatre, Recoleta. We pick you up from your hotel to travel around the most emblematic points in the city. 9 de Julio Avenue –Colon Theatre – The obelisk – Diagonal RoqueSaenz Peña Avenue – Plaza de Mayo: here we make a stop and visit Buenos Aires Metropolitan Cathedral – visit to San Telmo town, Parque Lezama – La Boca: guided tour around Caminito and craft fair, here you will have free time to take photographs. Trip around La Boca Port – Puerto Madero and Retiro towns. Palermo town. Bosques de Palermo [Palermo woods] (Galileo Galilei Planetarium) Monument of the Constitution and the Four Argentinian Regions – Recoleta town (Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes [National Museum of Fine Arts] Nuestra
Señora del Pilar Church, Recoleta Cemetery) End of guided tourist circuit. Optional: Dinner Tango Show in La Ventana DAY 3 - BUENOS AIRES B L In the morning, start excursion to a traditional “Estancia” or farm in the Pampas. This excursion called Fiesta Gaucha” includes meals and activities. Pick you up at your hotel. Transportation by bus along Panamericana route towards the north and to the ranch. Welcome with “empanadas”, juices and wines.
DAY 5 - USHUAIA B D After breakfast, we start excursion to Tierra del Fuego National Park. This incredible park, offers a beautiful environment. We visit Bahía Lapataia (End of 3 National Route), Lago Roca, etc. Optional: Train of the End of the World! Later, we return to Ushuaia to take a Beagle Channel Navigation. During this navigation we visit the Isla de los Lobos (Sea Wolves Island), the Isla de los Pájaros (Birds Island), and the Faro Les Eclareirs (Lighthouse). You can enjoy a beautiful view of Ushuaia City from the Beagle.
Visit to the Manor House, a small museum which displays gauchos’ tools, furniture crockery and different utensils. Here you will have free time to ride horses, go on outings by “zulki” (2-wheel carriage) and carriages. Includes lunch and free drinks!
DAY 6 - USHUAIA B D After breakfast, we start excursion to the north or Ushuaia to visit Lago Escondido (Escondido Lake) and later, Lago Fagnano (Fagnano Lake) in the middle of the island of Tierra del Fuego.
Lunch:“chorizo” [highly-seasoned sausage], “morcilla” [blood sausage], “asado”, beefs, “vacío” [thin flank] or chicken, salads. Drinks: mineral water, sodas, beer, red or white wine. Dessert: coffee and “pastelitos” Tango, folklore and dance shows. Herd exhibition, Gaucho Ring Race, ‘Cuadreras’ Race [horse race]. End of the activities. Return to the hotel. Overnight. DAY 4 - BUENOS AIRES - USHUAIA B D After breakfast, transfer to J. Newbery Airport to take flight to Ushuaia. Arrival, reception and trasfer to hotel. 03 nights of accommodation with breakfast.
DAY 7 - USHUAIA - EL CALAFATE B D After breakfast, transfer to Ushuaia Airport to take flight to El Calafate. Arrival, reception and transfer to hotel. 03 nights of accommodation with breakfast DAY 8 - EL CALAFATE B D After breakfast, we start excursion to visit the incredible Perito Moreno Glacier. We can enjoy the incredible experience of this collosus of ice, with enormous blocks of ice falling into the Argentino Lake, with a thonderous crash. Optional activity: minitrekking over the Perito Moreno Glacier. Optional:Minitrekking to walk over the ice of the glacier. Please note it have to be booked in advance. El Calafate is 80 km from Perito Moreno Glacier along a paved road (50 km.). The last 30 are within Los Glaciares National Park. From de very beginning, the trip brings you many
pleasant surprises. Upon leaving El Calafate, to your right, you encounter Redonda Bay, in Argentino Lake teeming with a great variety of fowls: black neck swans, flamingos, flying steamer ducks, Southamerican coots and upland geese. The distinctive yellow hue of the country side is due to a course grass that grows in this area called the broom sedge.
Optional: Minitrekking The excursion begins in the embarking pier located in “Bajo de las Sombras” port, about 6 km before the glacier Balconies- where you embark for a 20 minutes navigation across the Rico Arm, enjoying breathtaking views of the Perito Moreno glacier’s front wall. You disembark on the opposite shore, where specialized bilingual mountain guides welcome you and lead you to a small shelter. After checking the last details, groups of not more than 20, follow their guides along the lake’s shore towards the edge of the glacier. Once on the ice the guides put each participant a pair of crampons on, and explain how to use them.
During the first 40 km you travel through the Patagonian steppe. Then, once you enter the National Park there is a noticeable change in the vegetation, now basically formed by nires (nothofagus antartica), guindos (nothofagus betuloides) and lengas (nothofagus pumilio); some isolated canelos (drimys winteri) and many colored flowers, among them the intense red colored notro (embothrium coccineum), the typical flower of the Andean Patagonian Forest. Once at the Glacier, the visitor is overwhelmed by the impressive spectacle and can appreciate the many unforgettable vistas of the glacier from the walkpaths. There is a restaurant, a snack bar, restrooms and a pay campsite within the Moreno Glacier area. This is a full day excursion. Full Day Trip (8 hours aprox)
The two hours circuit that follows introduces you to the fascinating landscape of the glaciers: streams, small lagoons, gullies, cravasses and plenty of ice formations of the most incredible blues. The trekking is moderate. The ice surface over which you walk is irregular, but firm and safe. You will receive explanations about flora, fauna and general glaciology of the region and also about the particular phenomenon that happens in the Perito Moreno Glacier and eventually produces its rupture. After the walk, a stroll through the forest brings you back to the shelter. WHAT TO BRING • Outfit: Sport shoes or trekking boots. Rubber and apres ski boots, as well as high heel shoes are not allowed. Comfortable sports wear, long trousers, warm sweater or pile, water or windproof jacket, sun glasses, sun block, gloves. • Lunch: Passengers must bring their lunch boxes.
IMPORTANT • Restrictions: due to the degree of effort and difficulty that this excursion presents, is NOT allowed for; pregnant women, people with overweight, some type of disability, or health problems. • Age: Between 10 and 65 years old. • All these services are provided daily. The complete tour with transportation from El Calafate takes around 10 hours. • The price does NOT include the entrance fee to National Park Los Glaciares or lunch. • Land transportation from El Calafate to the National Park (80 km) is available if required. It includes an hour visit to the glacier balconies, where one of our guides will receive you.
* The tour may be modified depending on weather conditions and security and the decision of the captain of the boat. DAY 10 - EL CALAFATE - PUERTO NATALES After breakfast, transfer to bus station to take a regular bus to Puerto Natales. Arrival and 02 nights of accommodation with breakfast
DAY 11 - TORRES DEL PAINE NATIONAL PARK B D After breakfast, start excursion to Torres del Paine National Park, visiting Caves of Milodón. Return to hotel. DAY 9 - EL CALAFATE B D After breakfast, we start excursion to visit three incredible glaciers: Upsala, Onelli and Spegazzini Glaciers. This is a wonderful navigation along the waters of Argentino Lake. You can enjoy icebergs floating around in the lake. Boarding time, in the Punta Bandera (47 kilometers from the city of El Calafate), will be at 8:30 AM and the departure will be at 9 AM, after the passengers are informed about the safety and sailing conditions. Once on board we will sail through the North Arm of the Argentino Lake to reach the Upsala Canal, where we’ll find a spectacular Icebergs Barrier. From there we will have a panoramic view of the Upsala Glacier. Afterwards we will navigate the Spegazzini Canal, where we will observe the Seco Glacier to reach the front of Spegazzini Glacier, the highest in the National Park. The return to Punta Bandera Private Port will be at 2:00 pm approximately, depending on the boat.
DAY 12 - PUERTO NATALES - SANTIAGO DE CHILE B D After breakfast, regular bus to Punta Arenas to take flight to Santiago de Chile. Arrival to Santiago and transfer to hotel. 03 nights of accommodation with breakfast.
DAY 13 - SANTIAGO DE CHILE B D In the morning, traditional city tour visiting the best of Santiago de Chile. Pick up from your hotel to start the traditional city tour of Santiago de chile. We sart visiting the principal streets of Santiago in our vehicle. We will watch the government house called “Casa de la Moneda”, or The Moneda Palace. We can see the neoclassical splendor before continuing onto the ambient Plaza de Armas to admire the filigreed spire of the Cathedral. Another great building is Museum of National History and the Central Post Office. After a stop, we will enjoy the green area of El Parque, or Parque Forest, a sprawling city park based on the design of Paris’ Champs-Elysees. Enjoy the gorgeous greenery and scattered sculptures before venturing to the bohemian neighborhood of Bellavista, home to resident artists and poets, to admire the street art. After a new stop, we can ascend to Saint Lucia hill to enjoy a unique panoramic view of the Andes chain. Finally, our guide will stop in Los Granderos del Alba, a handicraft village with boutiques for unique souvenirs before returning to your hotel. Half Day Activity
Valparaiso. Valparaiso is a picturesque city, with colorful murals and brightly painted houses, the unique town is a feast for the eyes; observe the 43 hills the town tumbles over, riding steep funiculars to admire panoramic vistas of the ocean. Stroll the serpentine streets of the UNESCO World Heritage-listed sight before visiting the Pablo Neruda Museum. It´s La Sebastiana, where an excellent collection of exhibitions presents the famous Chilean poet. After some free time, return to the vehicle to start return to Santiago. Full day trip (8 hours aprox)
DAY 14 - SANTIAGO DE CHILE B D In the morning, start excursion to visit Viña del Mar and Valparaíso. We start from Santiago, to the sinuous road through valleys of Curacavi and Casablance. During the route, we will watch different vineyards and vineyards typical in the area. We arrive to the famous beach of Viña del Mar where we will start a cultural exploration alongside; see the impressive Casino; enjoy a traditional moai statue from Easter Island; and the sweet air of the beautiful park. Then, return to the vehicle to continue to the city located only 2 km:
DAY 15 - SANTIAGO DE CHILE B D After breakfast, free time until transfer to airport
PRICES INCREDIBLE PATAGONIA TOUR Departures: November 14-29, 2016 January 11-25, 2017
SINGLE
DOUBLE
TRIPLE
4490
3890
3770
Internal flights
880
880
880
Optionals Included
240
240
240
Standard Prices
PER PERSON
PER PERSON
PER PERSON
Hotels:
Hotel Pestana Buenos Aires (4* superior) Hotel Fueguino in Ushuaia (4*) Hosteria La Estepa in El Calafate (4*) Hotel Costaustralis in Puerto Natales (4*) Hotel The Singular Santiago (5*) GENERAL CONDITIONS: 1- These are guaranteed departures with a minimum of 10 people confirmed in the group. If we can´t confirm this minimum number of passengers, we will give you the option to take the same program with local guides (with 9 or less people, the tour will be the same, except that tour will not include a tour conductor during the complete itinerary. It will be replaced by different english speaking local guides, and tour will be managed by a tour manager available on the phone 24 hours a day). If client does not accept, deposit will be refunded 100% immediately. 2- For bookng purposes, to reserve your hotel rooms and extras for your trip, deposit of USD 300 per person is required. If you add internal flights too, initial deposit will be USD 500.- per person. The booking form have to be filled with full information in www.departures.ripioturismo to confirm your booking. A confirmation email will be sent by our company with payment details 3- After first deposit, our company will request a second deposit to cover the 30%, when the group is guaranteed by the minimum of passengers. Finally, balance have to be paid 30 days prior departure. 4- Methods of payment accepted are: Bank deposit, Wire Transfers, or Paypal (Paypal account or use of credit cards). If you use your credit card, there is an extra 3% charge
5- Prices are per person, based in single, double or triple rooms. Standard Prices correspond to price per person for the tour detailed in the previous pages, without optionals, and internal flights. Hotels will include standard rooms. Double rooms can be twin or double bed, and triple rooms with double + single, or three single beds. 6- Prices for internal flighs do not include local taxes. Check details for local taxes to be paid in each airport. 7 - Reservation cancellation: cancellations shall be made in writing, without exception, and passengers shall be refunded the price of the trip after a deduction of cancellation charges. The cancellation date shall be the date RIPIO EVT. is dully notified by the passenger. The sum to be refunded to the passenger shall be paid by the company at the company’s premises within 30 days of the date notice was given of the cancellation. If cancellation notice is received 30 days prior to departure, 30% of the down payment made on the reservation shall be deducted to cover administrative expenses. If notice is received within 30 days prior to departure, the company shall retain the total down payment. 8 - Changes made by the company prior to departure: the company may change itineraries, services, departure dates, etc. either in order to provide a better service, or because of acts of God or unforeseen circumstances. Unforeseen circumstances include: strikes, earthquakes, civil war, quarantine, revolutions, fires, adverse meteorological conditions, epidemics, bad road conditions o breakage’s, these being just illustrative. The company reserves the right to cancel the trip due to unforeseen circumstances or because the minimum number of people required to participate in the program has not been reached. In such a case the passenger will be informed in writing and he may opt for: a) Demanding that he be refunded the full price paid to us. b) Deciding on an alternative trip and pay an additional sum of money or get a refund, whatever the case may be, if there is a price difference. 9 - Prices for optionals, are for a package of activities marked in red in the itinerary. If you want to pre-book and confirm in advance these optionals, add this supplement to your final price. 10 - Health: Passengers must be in good health and physical condition. Passengers are responsible for having checkups and the company is not to be held responsible in case they have not been completed.. However, it is the passenger’s responsibility to bring along medicine that has been specifically prescribed to him. 11 - Complaints: neither RIPIO EVT nor service providers shall accept a formal complaint unless it is made in writing within 15 days after the trip has ended. 12 - Insurance: travel insurance is not included in the price of the program. RIPIO EVT strongly recommends passengers to get travel insurance.
Ripio EVT - Leg 10.687 de Ideas Turisticas SRL info@ripioturismo.com - www.ripioturismo.com Phone: +54 11 4855 4684