DESCRIPTION:

Covering the southernmost parts of Argentina and Chile, Patagonia is an untamed land of fjords rich in marine life, rugged mountains, enormous glaciers, and windswept plateaus. This vast, remote region is largely unexplored and uninhabited, and has captured the imaginations of explorers and travelers including Ferdinand Magellan and Charles Darwin. Darwin’s legendary five-year voyage around the world aboard the HMS Beagle (1831- 1836) included two years on land in South America. During this time he explored and collected specimens throughout Patagonia, all of which influenced his scientific thinking as much as the celebrated observations he later made in the Galapagos Islands.

 

Retrace a portion of Darwin’s land route, examining the natural history of this beautiful land and striving to observe Patagonia as Darwin saw it. See that most of Darwin’s account is as pertinent today as when it was written 170 years ago.

 

In stunning, peaceful Peninsula Valdes, a virtual island joined to the continent only by a narrow strip of land, see waters teeming with wildlife; elephant seals and sea lions, guanacos and sea birds, whales and penguins. In February, it is possible to witness one of the most fascinating wildlife spectacles: the Punta Tombo Magellanic penguin rookery. Plus, Orcas begin to arrive here to feed on sea lions (during the pupping season), hopefully increasing our chances of seeing these phenomenal creatures.

 

Then fly to Ushuaia to explore the gateway to Antarctica: Tierra del Fuego National Park, where all of the ecosystems that typify Argentina can be found, as well as abundant animal life, including guanacos, red fox, and pink flamingos. Spend the afternoon sailing on the Beagle Channel, the waters that Darwin plied and are named after his ship, from where you can spot seals, sea lions, cormorants, penguins, Antarctic birds, and whale and dolphin populations. In Calafate, witness spectacular Glaciers National Park, which boasts 46 major glaciers, the only remains of the last Ice Age, and the third largest concentration of ice in the world. Enjoy a boat trip past floating icebergs on Lake Argentina to Estancia Cristina, an historic sheep ranch with amazing views of mountains and the Upsala Glacier.

 

CONSIDER:

 

 

OPTIONAL EXTENSIONS & ADD-ONS:

An optional post-trip extension to Chile’s Torres del Paine National Park and Santiago is also available.