Route 40 + Carretera Austral

Pre tour meeting: a pre tour meeting in Bariloche will be held at our joining hotel at approx. 6:30pm the night prior. Please ensure you are already in Bariloche.

Today we pass through the town of Esquel where the “Old Patagonian Express” still runs. We have a short stop in Trevelin, a small town with links to Welsh immigrants. In the late afternoon, we cross into Chile and the scenery will immediately change as we arrive into the quaint town of Futaleufu.

Meals: (B), (L), (D)

Overnight at Hotel El Barranco

Today we turn onto the Carretera Austral (Southern Road) a remote, unspoilt region of intense natural beauty and is often referred to as one of South
America’s best road trips. We stop along the way to take photos and admire the spectacular natural vistas. Wild rivers flow through lush forests, waterfalls tumble along steep cliff faces and the world is reflected in mirror lakes.

At lunch time, we arrive at the coastal fishing village of Puyuhuapi, located on the edge of the Chilean Fiords in a setting of incomparable beauty. In the afternoon, we get the rare opportunity to get up close and personal to a spectacular hanging glacier in the Queulat National Park. Enjoy the park’s trails while being surrounded by virgin evergreen forests made up by species like coihue, tepa, and Chilean rhubarbs. Tonight we spend the night in cabins located on the edge of the Chilean Fiords.

Meals: (B), (L), (D)

Overnight at Posada Queulat Eco Lodge

In such a remote and rugged area, you might just like to snuggle up in your cabin, but today you’ll have the opportunity to hike to a nearby waterfall, take navigation to a personally owned island in the fjords or try a little sea kayaking (weather permitting).

Meals: (B), (L), (D)

Overnight at Posada Queulat Eco Lodge

Our drive starts with a windy 33 curves, climbing up to 500m/1500ft above sea level. As we venture through two more valleys we pass through several small country towns that were created when building the road access through this rugged area.
Following along the Simpson River we pass lush pastures, mirror lakes and snow-capped mountains. We continue onto the Coyhaique Reserve and enjoy a short hike (8km/5mi) to the Lago Verde - Green Lake.
It is a short drive from here to Coyhaique town where you can take a walk along the river and enjoy the viewpoints looking across the valley.

Meals: (B), (L), (D)

Overnight at Raices Bed & Breakfast

Today we have a wonderful drive through the Cerro Castillo Reserve with a chance to spot the rare Huemul deer. After lunch, we cross into Argentina and on to the famous Ruta 40 (Route 40). Travelling south through the vast Patagonian plains keep your eyes peeled for armadillos, rheas and guanacos. Tonight, we stop overnight at a remote Patagonian town.

Meals: (B), (L), (D)

Overnight at Hotel Cueva de las Manos

Today we make a special visit to the Cuevas de las Manos (Cave of the Hands) which one of the most important archaeological sites in Patagonia. The caves feature paintings that are the most ancient artistic expressions of the native people of the subcontinent. The paintings were done by the first settlers of these lands, ancestors of the Tehuelche people (or Patagones), and date back to different periods from 9300 to 3300 years ago. The site was declared World Heritage by the UNESCO in 1999. We continue and spend the night in Gobernador Gregores, a small town with links the old caravan trail.

Meals: (B), (L), (D)

Overnight at Hosteria Ruta 40

A morning drive to enjoy the landscapes of the Patagonian Steppe as we head south. Further on we will arrive in El Chalten, and the Parque Nacional Los Glaciares. This ice field is the world’s 3rd largest reserve of fresh water. Enjoy lodgings in our hotel nestled quietly under the imposing peaks of Mount Fitzroy (Chalten), named after the captain of the Beagle, who navigated Darwin’s Expedition of the area in 1834.

In the afternoon, you will have time to take on one of the short hikes available in the area. You can climb up to the eagle and condor lookout points or stroll along the river to a the wonderful Chorrillo waterfall.

Your tour ends in El Chalten this evening.

Meals: (B), (D)