Visit uncommon places in Argentinian and Chilean Patagonia. Penguin colonies different from what’s seen till now. Experience the highlights of Magallanes.

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Fernando de Magallanes (1480-1521): He was a Portuguese navigator who discovered the Austral Strait that bears his name and connects the two oceans: The Atlantic and The Pacific. The expedition that took him as far as the Strait was the one that sailed around the world for the very first time.

When we thought about creating this Fly & Drive programme, we focused on the Strait that was named after Magallanes. A place filled with history that divides the Austral zone of Argentina and Chile in two. With this 7 nights programme your travellers will have the possibility of taking self-guided walks with the help of a GPS device. They´ll be able to visit historic “Estancias” still active, drive along routes that go through a myriad of landscapes and reach the Pinguino Rey Park(King penguin) next to Porvenir Village where they´ll be in direct contact with this species that´s not easy to catch sight of on trips to Patagonia.

This round trip, that starts and ends in Ushuaia, is the perfect choice for travellers that love to get acquainted with the history of the place and who look forward to being in contact with nature. They´ll stay at Hotels, Estancias and Inns in faraway locations.

This tour includes two cruises across the Magallanes Strait. The first of the cruises is over Primera Angostura, a short duration trip of about 20 minutes that is the main means of transportation to go from Ushuaia to Punta Arenas and back. The second cruise leaves at 9AM from Punta Arenas towards Porvenir Village and takes approximately 2 hours to reach our destination. Just a few minutes from there you´ll find the Pinguino Rey Park(King penguin).

This circumpolar species lives on the Antarctic Continent where the Western winds blow and build their nests around Inutil Bay on the Big Island of Tierra del Fuego in Chile. At the same time you can sight them in the nearby islands to South America(Malvinas and South Georgias Islands), Africa(Prince Edward and Cozet Islands), and Oceania(Kerguelen and Macquarie Islands). It´s because of this how important it is for Nature lovers to visit this natural paradise as this species is not easy to sight in other parts of the world. Some of the main characteristics of this penguin are: a yellow-orange patch high on the chest, a yellow-orange patch on each side of the head, a black long beak with an orange line down the sides and a hook at the end, and webbed feet with claws for swimming.

Bring your travellers along to experience this trip travelling the routes in Tierra del Fuego and Patagonia while having direct contact with tradition and nature. Ask your Kallpa´s Account Executive for a detailed brochure and set off on a trip with your passengers right now.

The Tigre and Delta area has become, throughout the years, one of the most visited touristic destinations in Buenos Aires. They still have the regular visits but some new and more interesting options have come up to let us get to know a bit more of it and at the same time create a bigger interaction with the environment such as: Full day Trekking and Canoes in the Delta.

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We are now at the Tigre Pier and waiting for the catamaran to dock so we can get onboard. It´s a lovely day , no clouds in the sky and a bright sun is shining.

After sailing for approximately 45 minutes we arrive to the Delta Aventura House. It’s an old house circa 1898 surrounded by a beautiful park and the starting point of the activities we’ll do.

It’s A different plan, we are invited to go on  a trekking for one and a half hour along a trail with many landscapes. A Tour Guide will join us along the way to tell us about the flora, the fauna, the soil, the growing of fruits, etc. Tigre was, at one time, one of the most important centers for the production of fruits in Argentina and began to lose markets to other fruits companies as soon as they started to develop in the Rio Negro region.

When we are back from our walk we can see that the table is ready, the salads are seasoned, the smell of homemade bread is filling the air and last but not least a juicy “asado” made up of the tastiest cuts is waiting for us.

After savouring our dessert and resting for a few minutes on the chaise lounges overlooking the river we walk up to the pier to board our canoes and sail the canals. The canoes are safe and are equipped with life-vests, and during the whole trip a Guide is sailing along us to assist us and to tell us some more interesting details about the region’s ecosystem.

After having rowed for one hour we find ourselves in the house´s garden deck enjoying a nice high tea with fried little cakes, puddings and pastries and having mate, coffee with milk or tea.

This tour is great for those Nature lovers who want to know the Tigre and Delta area in a different way. Contact your Kallpa´s Account Executive  and let your travellers enjoy a different programme.

 

The trekking to Huemul Glacier is an attraction in itself, with a forest of its own considered to be one of the most beautiful places for a walk in El Chalten.

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Before stepping onto our trekking trail of the month, we would like to share with you a curious fact about this destination. Huemul, which happens to be the name of this glacier, is a small deer among the endangered species, whose speed, cunning and size make it almost impossible to see.

We travel 38km to the north from El Chalten, where we can enjoy a gorgeous landscape  in between the mountains, with a view to Mount Fitz Roy. Our tour skirts part of the trail towards Rio de las Vueltas until we get to Laguna del Desierto where you´ll find the namesake Camping Site, starting point  to the Huemul Glacier trekking, where we´ll pay for our visitor´s tickets. The access road is in a private property, that´s why the fee we pay is kind of symbolic (payable personally in place) to just cover some basic services at this place, which is the beginning of our incredible adventure.

At first the road seems to be easy and smooth because the terrain is flat enough to be able to walk fast and without stops. As we begin to skirt brooks and walk across a couple of bridges all of a sudden the road starts changing, at times it gets dark and at some other times it gets  a little steeper. After walking for 1 hour we arrive at the Huemul Glacier.

“Different from all we know” is one of the most repeated phrases when referring to this trekking. And they are right. The trail meanders through a forest that at times turns into something special and makes us think, because of  its unique characteristics, of the movie “ Lord of the Rings” when Frodo goes deep into adventure.

But we´ll have to climb to reach our goal. The road zigzags among trees, that´s why a walking-cane or a stick come in handy,  thus be able to climb the best possible way without putting our steps at risk.

The Huemul Glacier is beautiful and its beauty is not only visible in the ice or the eternal snow, but also in the surrounding area that turns this view into a real postcard.

A slope, that seemed to be the last one, made us think that we were already there and that we had to make just a last little effort. But on the other side we found the much sought after prize: the great emerald lagoon and its glacial water that was waiting for us with its particular beauty.

After a few minutes we started on our way back along the trail led us up to here. The thing is, without a doubt, that the Huemul Glacier trail has a magic of its own that makes it different from other trails, and of course deserves to be visited and admired.

This is an excellent tour that can be enjoyed in our different versions of Fly & Drive or Hike & Drive before going back to El Calafate. You can book it through your Kallpatour´s Account Executive when passing through Patagonia.

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FACT SHEET