LAKES & MOUNTAINS OF NORTHERN PATAGONIA ITINERARY:
DAY 1 ~ Buenos Aires
Arrive in Buenos Aires, Argentina. You will be met at the
international airport and transferred to the hotel. The
remainder of the day is free to rest, relax, or explore on your
own. You may wish to take an optional sightseeing tour,
including La Boca, San Telmo (antiques market), Costanera Sur
(docks by the river), the Plaza de Mayo (Government House), and
the Recoleta district in the northwest sector of the city,
famous mainly for its nightlife but also well worth a visit by
day. Close by are the National Cemetery with the tombs of many
famous people (among them Eva Peron) and the Museum of Fine
Arts. The downtown district, especially along Calle Florida,
contains many galerias (huge enclosed shopping malls) with
dozens of stores and colorful stands. Meals on your own.
Loi Suites Hotel
DAY 2 ~ Los Alerces National Park
Transfer to the airport and fly to Bariloche, located in
Patagonia's Lake District. You will be met upon arrival and
transferred via a scenic drive to Los Alerces National Park,
which was created in 1937 to protect the last refuge of the
alerce, one of the oldest trees on Earth (and often called "the
redwood of South America"). The park is also home to forests of
maitenes, coihues (the tallest tree species in the Notofagus
family), the relatively rare, beautiful, and aromatic arrayán
tree, and notros tree species, attendant bird and mammal species
(endangered fauna species include the huemul (Andean deer), pudú
(a miniature deer), araucana pigeon, and huiña cat), as well as
many lakes, rivers, and crystal-clear brooks and streams. The
human presence is here, too: traces of primitive cultures in the
way of rock paintings have been found at sites on the Río
Desaguadero.
Arrive at Lago Verde Wilderness Resort, located on the shores of
Lago Verde, a wonderful spot from which to contemplate the
beauty of the area and enjoy Patagonian hospitality. Each of the
resort's three luxury bungalows boasts magnificent views of the
forest and the lake. Meals reflecting the local flavor are
served in the gourmet restaurant or, if you so desire, delivered
right to your bungalow, where a private candlelit dinner can be
arranged! The remainder of the day is free to rest, relax, or
explore on your own. There are many walkways throughout the
park, as well as some for vehicles, horseback riding, and
cycling. Breakfast...Lago Verde Lodge
DAY 3 ~ Los Alerces National Park
Today you can take a full day self guided hike through the
native virgin forest. More than 75 miles of well maintained
trails wend their way throughout the park, and are marked at
intervals with red spots, so it's easy to find your way.
Breakfast...Lago Verde Lodge
DAY 4 ~ Los Alerces National Park
Another full day in Los Alerces National Park. The alerces
in this forest are among the most ancient living things on
Earth, rivaling the bristlecone pines of the mountains of the
Western United States. The gigantic alerce called "El Abuelo"
(The Grandfather) is more than 2,300 years old and around 185
feet tall; it takes more than eight people to encircle its
trunk!
Today you'll have the chance to hike with local guides at Lago
Cisne and enjoy a picnic lunch in view of hanging glaciers,
sparkling lakes, and the park's exuberant vegetation.
Breakfast, Lunch...Lago Verde Lodge
DAY 5 ~ Nahuel Huapi National Park
We leave Lago Verde behind and drive north on gravel roads
through the Cholila Valley to Bariloche. En route we'll visit
the Leleque Pioneer Patagonia Museum, located on the plains of
the Estancia Benetton. The museum displays Patagonia's history,
melded by early Indian communities and the European pioneers who
wrote their story in these lands. After the museum visit, we'll
drive through Epuyén, El Bolsón (the first town in Argentina to
declare itself a nuclear-free zone), and Mascardi Lake, arriving
at the Aldebarán Hotel near Bariloche later in the day. The
Aldebarán Hotel is located on the San Pedro Peninsula, just 14
miles from Bariloche, and is pleasantly situated in a beautiful
setting, with forests, mountains, and Lago Nahuel Huapi
(pronounced nah-well wah-pee) filling the views. Its ten
exclusive rooms overlook the lake, and each has individual
balconies providing you with unlimited enjoyment of nature.
Breakfast, Lunch...Aldebarán Hotel
DAY 6 ~ Nahuel Huapi National Park
Nahuel Huapi National Park is the oldest national park in
Argentina and was created to preserve its unique flora and
fauna. You'll be picked up at the hotel by your guides for an
unforgettable day of hiking in the nearby mountains. An alfresco
gourmet picnic lunch may be the highlight of the day!
Breakfast, Lunch...Aldebarán Hotel
DAY 7 ~ Nahuel Huapi National Park
Today you'll explore Nahuel Huapi´'s deep-blue glacier lakes
and shores up-close from the seat of sturdy two-person kayaks.
We plan to kayak the waters of Lago Nahuel Huapi, the
centerpiece of Nahuel Huapi National Park, but on windy days
we'll move our kayak excursion to one of the nearby (and just as
beautiful) more protected lakes. (Note—the paddling is easy and
no previous experience is needed, but if you prefer not to
kayak, you're welcome to spend the day relaxing at the hotel
enjoying its views, outdoor pool, or spa facilities.) During the
day of paddling we'll take plenty of stops for breaks, snacks, a
long lunch, maybe a walk on a beach, and on warm days we can
swim in the lake. We'll be back at the hotel in the afternoon in
time for you to relax and enjoy the sunset (and perhaps a drink)
before dinner. Breakfast, Lunch...Aldebarán Hotel
DAY 8 ~ Return to Buenos Aires and fly home
The morning is at leisure to savor the last moments of this
incredible getaway. Transfer to the airport in Bariloche and fly
to Buenos Aires. Connect with homeward-bound flight or continue
with other individual travel on your own. Breakfast...
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