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Patagonia Vacations and Luxury Travel Packages
Patagonia streches for over a thousand miles from La Pampa to Tierra del Fuego. Argentina's mountains are covered with gorgeous glaciers, herds of wild horses still inhabit the valleys. There is fly fishing, ice climbing, skiing, horseback riding, scuba diving, white water river rafting and incredible hiking. On the Atlantic Coast you can see sea lions, huge whales, elephant seals, Magellan penguins and frolicing dolphins. Imposing mammals and sea birds, half-way between real life and fantasy, spend certain seasons on the rough coasts of Patagonia where they complete part of their life cycle. Seals colonies play on the islets and sandbanks. The world’s most important southern elephant seal continental colony is located in Peninsula Valdés. Every year, southern right whales come to Nuevo and San José gulfs to breed. Patagonian hares, “ñandúes” (South American ostrich) and “guanacos” run about the steppes, and the largest colony of Magellanic penguins in the world is located in Punta Tombo. This life cycle repeated since time immemorial, unfolds itself in front of the astonished visitors’ eyes. In the south, Tierra del Fuego and the World’s southernmost city, Ushuaia, are the gateway towards the vast and mysterious Antarctica. With the possible exception of Southern Tierra del Fuego, this is the wildest part of Chile. The towns are young, public transportation is infrequent, and services are few and far between. To get there you must either fly, take a ferry, or drive through Argentina. Perhaps for this reason countless travellers miss out altogether on the Carretera Austral, by passing the region on their hell - bent pilgrimage to Torres del Paine or sticking with the creature comforts of the Lake District. Meanwhile the rivers, glaciers, fjords and vast archipelago of Palena and Aysen remain as remote, pristine and spectacular as ever. In all truth and considering the rewards it's not that hard to get here. Regular flights connect to Puerto Montt with Chaiten and Coyhaique, ferries connect Chaiten, Puerto Aysen , and Puerto Chacabuco with Puerto Montt and Quellon, and there are no fewer than ten separate passes connecting the Carretera Austral with Argentine route 40.
Alerce Andino National Park, located some 30 km south of Puerto Montt. Still largely undiscovered by tourism, the park lures with good hiking trails, millennium-old alerce forests and nearly 40,000 hectares of untouched nature. A trail crosses the park northward from this entrance to the north entrance, with several basic shelters on the way. The country is mountainous, with summits exceeding 1,500 meters above sea level and lots of rivers and lakes. There are also two campgrounds. Parque Pumalín, is not strictly a national park, as it is privately owned and managed, but still very much in the national park tradition in terms of preservation goals. Covering some 270,000 hectares and located next to the Carretera Austral ferry crossing at Caleta Gonzalo. Several trails lead to waterfalls, forests and lakes, while he bulk of the park remains largely off-limits to preserve its pristine nature. To get there you can take the ferry south from Hornopiren to the visitor centre at Caleta Gonzalo, or else arrive from the south (Chaiten) via the Carretera Austral. Queulat National Park, an area which, until the Austral Route was built, around 20 years ago, had been entirely free of human intervention. Trails lead to lakes and waterfalls, and to the park's highlight, a hanging glacier or Ventisquero Colgante. Glacier, Laguna and National Park San Rafael The park protects 1.742,000 million hectares (4.2 million acres) of wilderness that includes a corner of the Northern Patagonian Ice Cap, San Valentin, Patagonia's highest peak at 4,058 m above sea level (13,310 ft), and the most northerly glacier of the southern hemisphere, which goes by the same name. The centrepiece of the park, Laguna San Rafael, lies at the south end of a long , narrow inside passage , where you will find the San Valentin peak and the immense Northern Patagonia Ice fields, one arm of which the San Rafael Glacier flows directly into the lake , calving off huge icebergs to the delight of visiting tourists. The glacier's snout is about 60 m high (200 ft), 2 km wide (1.25 miles) wide and some 45 km (28 mi) long. It is very noisy, and 'active', with continuous creaks and snaps as the ice breaks up. With luck, you may see an iceberg being calved from the ice wall. It is an impressive sight, loud like the crack of a gun and falling into the churning water in seemingly slow motion. Cahuelmo Hot Springs: Enjoy the Thermal baths surrounded by an exuberant and native environment. You can practise sea Kayaking and trekking at our itineraries to Cahuelmo hot- spring. Termas del Amarillo: These charming , rustic springs lie just 5 km off the Austral road, in the midst of dense rainforest near the Rio Michimahuida. There are several 50 - 60 C pools, a scorching mud bath. Termas de Puyuhuapi: Internationally known hot spring centre located in an area of exuberant native vegetation and natural beauty at Dorita's Bay in Ventisquero inlet. Its thermal waters get temperatures of 85ºC and they are recommended to treat skin and rheumatic illnesses. Also, Termas de Puyuhuapi Hotel & Spa offers tours to San Rafael Lagoon, Queulat National Park, cold jungle expeditions, and fly-fishing excursions. This Elegant wooden hotel complex on the west shore of the Puyuhuapi Fjord is Chile top hot springs resort, with three outdoor pools on the fjord itself and a complete Spa with Indoor pool, Jacuzzi, steam bath, massage and thalasotherapy. Lake Yelcho: In this immense lake ringed by high peaks, you can enjoy the milky white glacial waters of a tributary stream mixing with the blue waters of the Yelcho. Over the Lake outlet is Puerto Cardenas , departure point for fishing trips and Lake Cruises. Lake General Carrera: It is the second biggest lake of South America with 1,947 km 2 shared by Argentina & Chile . It is flanked by woods to the west and south, providing a wild sight with its deep blue colour and endless bays. Baker River, a paradise for fly-fishing lovers. Flowing out of Lago General Carrera , the Baker is Chile's highest volume river, with some 30,000 - 50,000 cl/s of surging, aerated, turquoise - green white water. Fishing around Lago General Carrera and the Rio Baker is the centre of fishing activity in this wild , remote region near the end of the Carretera Austral. The fishing excursions in this area start from Puerto Bertrand. |
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