November 2010 --2 nights Buenos Aires--1 day Tierra del Fuego National Park Ushuaia--4 days Mare Australis cruise through Magellan Straights and to Cape Horn--3 nights at Torres del Paine Eco Camp--2 nights at Estancia el Galpon, El Calafate--Ascent of Perito Moreno Glacier--Return home from El Calafate via Buenos Aires
Checked in early morning to well located hotel. Went for a walk nearby. Got pick pocketed near cathedral by couple who approached us to ''clean the pigeon poop'' off the back of our clothes. Highly recommend the under garment pouch which saved our passports, cash and credit card, but they got the iPhone in my side pocket.
Buenos Aires
Nov 15, 2010
Took the 3 hour 14 stops double decker bus ride. You can get off at any stop and catch the next bus every 20 minutes. Nice itinerary. Pity the Teatro Colon renovation is not quite finished. It was open for performances later, but closed to visitors during the day.
Buenos Aires to Ushuaia flight
Nov 16, 2010
Nice view of low mountains coming in to Ushuaia. Hotel was new, modern, clean. Nice seafood restaurants in town.
Guided tour of town and surrounding area. Strange zoning if there even is any. ''expensive area'' has a small A frame built on the lot next to a large house. Squatters up the hill from a nice rural neighborhood have cleared the forest and built log cabins. Best views are looking down on town and water.
Tierra del Fuego National Park Ushuaia
Nov 17, 2010
Hiked all morning through the pristine park. Guide and driver cooked a delicious chicken BBQ lunch. Later, rafted back to the bus pick up point.
Boarded the 170 passenger Mare Australis at 5 PM.
Ushuaia to Cape Horn
Nov 18, 2010
We found this 170 passenger ship right sized, comfortable, excellent food and plenty of it, crew and tour organizers really friendly. Pity the ship is going to the Chilean coast, but we got the benefit of the last voyage.
Daily excursions ashore from the zodiacs they loaded us on to at the stern. Crew were very attentive to passenger safety.
Cape Horn was very windy, and we were fortunate with the Captain's last hour decision to go ashore in the zodiacs.
Magdalena Island Penguin colony
Nov 19, 2010
A must see, 70 thousand pairs of penguins on one island. Before going ashore, the crew gave a very good penguin documentary talk and slide show.
People walk around the periphery in a roped off area, though penguins have the right of way to get to and from the water.
The penguins walk up so close to you, you could reach out and touch them.
Later that evening, the ship came briefly out of the Magellan Straight and experienced a peak wind speed of 96 knots (110 mph) in the Pacific for about 20 minutes.
Punta Arenas
Nov 20, 2010
Just a quiet little town with not much going on except 100 km/hr winds. You had to time your street crossing carefully, holding on to a lamp post till the light turned green.
6 hour bus ride Punta Arenas to Torres del Paine
Nov 21, 2010
Bus is the only way you can access this pristine park. The ride got more interesting the closer we got.
Glad we upgraded to the Dome Suites, which had own bath room and wood burning stove. Close up views of the Towers from the camp.
Home cooked meals at the camp were delicious. Staff was very friendly.
Rained all day
Nov 22, 2010
We got a bus ride around the Torres del Paine Park, with stops to admire the views in rain and fog. Made us appreciate the nice following day even more.
Spectacular hike though the T. del Paine Park
Nov 23, 2010
Unlike Denali Park Alaska where you get bused in to the middle and don't see much else, Torres del Paine is smaller (only 225K hectares), but we saw every part of it thanks to our little bus.
The hike was about 6 miles through pristine nature, flora, fauna and unforgettable scenery. The guides were full of information and friendly.
Estancia sheep ranch 20 minutes outside El Calafate
Nov 24, 2010
We left the Eco Camp very early for another 6 hour bus ride to El Calafate. Over an hour of passport checking at the border from Chile to Argentina.
This estancia is remotely located and a distinct opposite choice from the busy town of El Calafate. Lakeside tranquility with bird watching, sheep herding, and horse riding.
2.5 hours round trip to ascend and descend the Glacier
Nov 25, 2010
Once you start the climb there is no turning back, but the picture at the top was the reward.
Keep your feet at least a foot apart, and you will not fall. Snap or tie the bottom of your pant leg to keep from catching it on the crampon.
Flight home from El Calafate conecting through Buenos Aires
Nov 26, 2010
Seemingly endless lines through security.
Our best vacation in 40 years.
Nov 27, 2010
Arrived home early morning and started organizing about 700 pictures.
Clara has been a great help and is very knowledgeable. Getting excited already about our trip
David Corey
3 days ago
Franny was knowledgeable with just the right touch. Highly recommend.
Bob
5 days ago
There was no detail left unconsidered in our South American itinerary. Our vague dream was turned into an unforgettable experience and lifelong memories. Our team of planners, guides, hosts, and excursion leaders were amazing and we were so honored to have been able to share their countries with them for a time. We would absolutely work again with Adventure Life-indeed, this was our third trip with them at the helm!
Jamie Park
3 weeks ago
The trip was planned well. They worked through local travel planners in the two countries we visited. The trip planner was fairly knowledgeable, but she could have been better. The hotels selected were good. There were a few things I think they could have planned better related tot he transportation between the various locations we visited, but it was a great trip overall.
MR
4 months ago
Mary Curry found right trip for my budget and the best date that I liked. She made
that reservation when other company's agent could not do it.
Thank you so much!
Theresa AN
4 months ago
Clara has been a great help and is very knowledgeable. Getting excited already about our trip
David Corey
3 days ago
Franny was knowledgeable with just the right touch. Highly recommend.
Bob
5 days ago
There was no detail left unconsidered in our South American itinerary. Our vague dream was turned into an unforgettable experience and lifelong memories. Our team of planners, guides, hosts, and excursion leaders were amazing and we were so honored to have been able to share their countries with them for a time. We would absolutely work again with Adventure Life-indeed, this was our third trip with them at the helm!
Jamie Park
3 weeks ago
The trip was planned well. They worked through local travel planners in the two countries we visited. The trip planner was fairly knowledgeable, but she could have been better. The hotels selected were good. There were a few things I think they could have planned better related tot he transportation between the various locations we visited, but it was a great trip overall.
MR
4 months ago
Mary Curry found right trip for my budget and the best date that I liked. She made
that reservation when other company's agent could not do it.
Thank you so much!
Theresa AN
4 months ago
Clara has been a great help and is very knowledgeable. Getting excited already about our trip
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