Best Hikes in Patagonia, 15-Day Option
■ February 27 - March 12, 2008
Plan your departure from the U.S. for February 26 or earlier
Plan your departure from Argentina for March 13 or later
■ March 15-29, 2008
Plan your departure from the U.S. for March 14 or earlier
Plan your departure from Argentina for March 30 or later
■ March 14-28, 2009
Plan your departure from the U.S. for March 13 or earlier
Plan your departure from Argentina for March 29 or later

Best Hikes in Patagonia, 12-Day Option
■ March 1-12, 2008
Plan your departure from the U.S. for February 29 or earlier
Plan your departure from Argentina for March 13 or later
■ March 18-29, 2008
Plan your departure from the U.S. for March 17 or earlier
Plan your departure from Argentina for March 30 or later
■ March 17-28, 2009
Plan your departure from the U.S. for March 16 or earlier
Plan your departure from Argentina for March 29 or later

Discover the best mountain hikes in Argentine and Chilean Patagonia! On this trip, you'll sample trails in three distinct portions of Patagonia. In northern Patagonia's "Lake District" a wonderland of deep forests and cobalt lakes adorn the feet of the craggy peaks of the Andes in Argentina’s Nahuel Huapi National Park. In southern Patagonia the iconic spires of Monte Fitzroy, Cerro Torre and the Torres del Paine massifs pierce the wind-scrubbed skies above the Patagonian icecap. Finally, majestic fjord and mountain landscapes await in the Fuegian Andes on the island of Tierra del Fuego at the tip of the South American continent. In each of these areas we've assembled a series of hikes that deliver "mountain and view" experiences so you can thrill to some of the planet's most exciting mountain landscapes! Most evenings will be spent in comfortable inns and "hosterias." You'll spend two nights in comfortable, fully-supported backcountry camps in the heart of the Los Glaciares National Park, an experience we know will enrich your travel experience in these wild lands at the end of the earth!

Day 1
Overnight in Bariloche
Dinner included
Arrive in Buenos Aires, Argentina and connect with your flight to Bariloche in the Argentine Lake District. You will be met on arrival in Bariloche and transported to a four-star hotel just outside Bariloche town directly on the shores of the lovely Lago Nahuel Huapi. Settle into your superior room for a comfortable three-night stay! A welcome dinner in the hotel's restaurant awaits you this evening.

Day 2
Overnight in Bariloche
Breakfast, lunch & dinner included
Travel by 4WD vehicle into the mountains. Hike to the peaks of Cerro Lopez and Pico Turista at the northern end of the Nahuel Huapi Traverse. Enjoy panoramic views over the lake-studded parklands of Nahuel Huapi. Andean condors can sometimes be seen here, and on a clear day, the view westward extends to the symmetrical, snowcapped summit of Volcan Osorno in Chile! A more challenging option takes you beyond Cerro Lopez through spectacular mountain landscapes to the Refugio Segre perched on the rock-rimmed shores of Laguna Negra. Just beyond the lake, descend via the Arroyo Goye to the shores of Lago Perito Moreno and return by vehicle to Bariloche.

Day 3
Overnight in Bariloche
Breakfast, lunch & dinner included
This morning, ascend by cable car or chairlift up to the high ridge near the Punta Nevada. Follow a trail past the bristling mountain spires of the Cerro Catedral to the Refugio Frey; this hike is part of the classic Nahuel Huapi Traverse. From Refugio Frey, descend the Arroyo Van Titter to Villa Catedral. A short shuttle ride returns you to Bariloche.

Day 4
Overnight in El Calafate
Breakfast & dinner included
12-Day Option begins this day
Morning at leisure. Transfer to Bariloche Airport for an afternoon flight to the old wool trading station of El Calafate on the southern shore of the enormous Lago Argentino. Upon arrival in El Calafate, transfer to your hotel. Remainder of afternoon is at your leisure in El Calafate.

Day 5
Overnight in El Chalten
Breakfast, lunch & dinner included
Spend morning visiting the viewpoints at the Perito Moreno Glacier in the Los Glaciares National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Later, travel by vehicle to the Fitzroy Sector of Los Glaciares park. Spend the evening in a lodge in the village of El Chalten whose unpaved streets lend it the air of a frontier town.

Day 6
Overnight at Laguna Torre Camp
Breakfast, lunch & dinner included
Hike along Cerro Torre trail following the course of the Rio Fitzroy bound for Laguna Torre Camp in the heart of Los Glaciares National Park. The trail passes through open scrublands and scattered stands of lenga and ñirre, both varieties of the southern beech (Nothofagus sp). Once you reach the camp, a short walk over a glacial moraine brings you to the shores of the Laguna Torre. Weather permitting, you'll enjoy a spectacular view of the thin, granite spire of the Cerro Torre reflected in the waters of this glacier-fed lake (icebergs are often seen floating in the lake). Enjoy the evening in Laguna Torre Camp. You'll be close to nature and fully immersed in the grand spectacle that is the Patagonian Andes!

Day 7
Overnight at Laguna Capri Camp
Breakfast, lunch & dinner included
After breakfast, you'll have the opportunity to ascend the rugged trail to the Mirador Maestri for stunning views of the serrated mountain wall known as the Cordón Adela rising above the Glaciar Torre, a tongue of the Patagonian icefield. The Cordón Adela is comprised of several ice and snow-encrusted pinnacles including the famous Cerro Torre. After admiring the view, return to Laguna Torre and hike via the Madre and Hija lakes to arrive at Laguna Capri Camp. The view of Monte Fitzroy rising above the serene waters of Laguna Capri is outstanding! The campsite at Laguna Capri has been called one of the finest wilderness campsites in South America! Enjoy another evening amidst the splendor of the mountains!

Day 8
Overnight at El Chalten
Breakfast, lunch & dinner included
Hike up the spur trail to the Fitzroy Viewpoint and the Laguna de los Tres for the picture postcard views of Monte Fitzroy. You may feel this view alone is "worth the journey" to Patagonia! Descend into the valley of the Rio Blanco and continue to the Laguna Piedras Blancas where you can admire the spectacle of the icefalls of the Piedras Blancas Glacier spilling into the lake. The landscape here is rocky, bleak and austere, but powerful and inspiring all the same! Follow the course of the Rio Blanco through southern beech woodlands to its confluence with the Rio Electrico. From this point, travel by vehicle back to El Chalten and settle in for a two-night stay.

Day 9
Overnight at El Chalten
Breakfast, lunch & dinner included
Hike to the Loma del Pliegue Tumbado, a broad ridge south of the Rio Fitzroy. The views from atop the Loma del Pliegue Tumbado are frequently considered some of the finest in the region! This hike will take you through a variety of environments including Patagonian steppe, lenga forests and the marshlands known as mallín. From the open ridgetop, the 360 degree views can be overwhelming! You'll be surrounded by a panorama of soaring peaks, glaciers spilling into immense turquoise lakes and the vast Patagonian steppe stretching away to the east. Overnight at a lodge in El Chalten.

Day 10
Overnight at Torres de Paine National Park, Chile (Cerro Paine area)
Breakfast, lunch & dinner included
Today, travel across the Patagonian steppes to the Torres del Paine National Park in Chile. Overnight in a very comfortable lodge (hosteria) on an old estancia within the national park.

Day 11
Overnight at Torres de Paine National Park, Chile (Cerro Paine area)
Breakfast, lunch & dinner included
From the door of the lodge, depart on a hike to the renowned Torres del Paine Lookout. This is unquestionably the most spectacular hike in the national park. Ascend the narrow valley of the Rio Ascencio framed by the peaks of Cerro Paine and Cerro Almirante Nieto. The route passes through heath meadows and dwarf lenga forests before reaching the Campamento Torres (used by climbers as a base camp). The route steepens and threads it way through boulders and to reach the Torres del Paine Lookout. Enjoy the stupendous and "never-to-be-forgotten" view of the Torres del Paine, three massive granite towers that ring a glacier-carved, lake-filled cirque. The tallest tower, the Torre de Agostini, rises to a height of 9,350 feet. When you're ready, retrace your steps to the comfort of the hosteria.

Day 12
Overnight at Torres de Paine National Park, Chile (Lago Pehoe area)
Breakfast, lunch & dinner included
Travel by vehicle to the Pudeto boat dock on Lago Pehoe. Motor across the lake to its western tip from where you'll begin a hike into the valley of the Rio del Francés. The hike into the Francés Valley which separates the Cuernos del Paine from the massive peak of Cerro Paine Grande is a "not-to-be-missed" excursion to one of Torres del Paine's scenic wonders! The route skirts the western shore of Lago Skottsberg under the hanging glaciers of Cerro Paine Grande before heading south into the Francés Valley proper. The route crosses a boulder-strewn area before arriving at a natural viewpoint. Directly across the valley is the hanging Francés Glacier which periodically sends chunks of ice crashing into the valley. To the east, the craggy summits of the Cuernos del Paine ("Horns of Paine") rise in splendor while down-valley views extend all the way to the enormous Lago del Toro on the southern perimeter of Torres del Paine Park. Retrace your steps to the boat dock, ferry across the lake, and check into a simple, but spectaculary-sited hosteria on the shores of windswept Lago Pehoe.

Day 13
Overnight at Torres de Paine National Park, Chile (Lago Pehoe area)
Breakfast, lunch & dinner included
Travel by vehicle to the south shore of Lago Grey. A hike will allow you to explore the gray sand beach at the south end of the lake, littered with blue icebergs calved from the Grey Glacier at the opposite end of the lake. Hikers in search of a more vigorous outing can hike to a viewpoint on the eastern shore of Lago Grey which affords a stunning panoramic view over Lago Grey and the Grey Glacier. Return to the hosteria at Lago Pehoe for the evening.

Day 14
Overnight at Ushuaia
Breakfast, lunch & dinner included
Depart Torres del Paine National Park this morning to travel by vehicle back to El Calafate. From El Calafate, fly to Ushuaia, Argentina, the principal town on the storied island of Tierra del Fuego. Overnight in a comfortable hotel in Ushuaia.

Day 15
Overnight at Ushuaia
Breakfast, lunch & dinner included
Sample the trails of Argentina's Tierra del Fuego National Park. The hikes to Cerro Pampa Alta or Cerro Guanaco (on what are sometimes known as "the ridges at the end of the world") both offer spectacular views over the Beagle Channel to the Peninsula Dumas and Isla Navarino in Chile. Enjoy a farewell dinner this evening; overnight in Ushuaia. Depart Ushuaia tomorrow afternoon for your flight home or onward connections.

Other Details about this Trip

Best Hikes in Patagonia, 15-Day Option
Trip Dates (2 departures in 2008; 1 departure in 2009):
■ February 27 - March 12, 2008 (Trip Leaders: John Osaki and two Argentine hiking guides throughout the trip).
■ March 15-29, 2008 (Trip Leaders: John Osaki or Walking Softly escort and two Argentine hiking guides throughout the trip).
■ March 14-28, 2009 (Trip Leaders: John Osaki or Walking Softly escort and two Argentine hiking guides throughout the trip).
Price: $5,395 (for 2008 departures; 2009 price TBA)
Single Room for entire trip: $1,450 (Single accommodations are subject to availability and may be limited.)
Meeting Point: Bariloche, Argentina (connect through Buenos Aires, Argentina)
Departure Point: Ushuaia, Argentina (flights to the U.S. connect in Buenos Aires, Argentina)
Accommodations: Thirteen nights in small hotels/inns (3, 4 and 5-star); all rooms with private bath. Two nights in fully supported backcountry camps in the Monte Fitzroy area of the Los Glaciares National Park. Sleeping quarters at the camps will be in 3-person igloo-style tents which will each house either a single traveler or two persons who are traveling together. A sleeping bag and insulating mattress along with a cotton liner will be provided. The camps also feature a dining tent, a kitchen tent, tables, benches or chairs and a full set of table service and kitchenware. Sanitary facilities are available. Fifteen breakfasts, thirteen box lunches, and fifteen dinners are included.

Best Hikes in Patagonia, 12-Day Option
Trip Dates (2 departures):
■ March 1-12, 2008 (Trip Leaders: John Osaki and two Argentine hiking guides throughout the trip).
■ March 18-29, 2008 (Trip Leaders: John Osaki or Walking Softly escort and two Argentine hiking guides throughout the trip).
■ March 17-28, 2009 (Trip Leaders: John Osaki or Walking Softly escort and two Argentine hiking guides throughout the trip).
Price: $4,995 (for 2008 departures; 2009 price TBA)
Single Room for entire trip: $1,150 (Single accommodations are subject to availability and may be limited.)
Meeting Point: El Calafate, Argentina (connect through Buenos Aires, Argentina)
Departure Point: Ushuaia, Argentina (flights to the U.S. connect in Buenos Aires, Argentina)
Accommodations: Ten nights in small hotels/inns (3, 4 and 5-star); all rooms with private bath. Two nights in fully supported backcountry camps in the Monte Fitzroy area of the Los Glaciares National Park. Sleeping quarters at the camps will be in 3-person igloo-style tents which will each house either a single traveler or two persons who are traveling together. A sleeping bag and insulating mattress along with a cotton liner will be provided. The camps also feature a dining tent, a kitchen tent, tables, benches or chairs and a full set of table service and kitchenware. Sanitary facilities are available. Twelve breakfasts, eleven box lunches, and twelve dinners are included.

Seeing Buenos Aires: Please note that because this trip officially starts in Bariloche, Argentina, an overview tour of Buenos Aires, Argentina’s capital, is not included in as part of this trip. If you wish to experience Argentina's vibrant capital (and attend a tango performance), we suggest you plan to arrive in Buenos Aires two days before the start of the trip. We will organize a half-day "Buenos Aires Highlights" tour (additional cost) for those who are interested. We can also help you with any overnight accommodations you require in Buenos Aires prior to the start of your Patagonia adventure. (We will also be happy to make arrangements for a "Buenos Aires Highlights" tour for those arriving in Buenos Aires in advance of the 12-day version of this trip.)

Airfare (international and Argentina domestic flights) is not included in the trip price. Because of the complexity of the flight arrangements within Argentina, we will gladly help you to find and purchase the best airfares available from your U.S. gateway. Assuming that you use either New York or Miami as your U.S. departure point, the total estimated cost of airfare for this trip is $1,450; this includes the round trip international flights from either New York or Miami to Buenos Aires plus all domestic flights within Argentina. From West Coast U.S. gateways, the total airfare cost will be approximately $1,800. If you are able to secure a frequent flyer award ticket from the U.S. to Buenos Aires, the estimated cost for all flights needed within Argentina is $660 for the 15-day trip and $350 for the 12-day trip.

Adding a day or two in Ushuaia: Please note that because this trip involves only one full day on Tierra del Fuego, you may wish to consider extending you stay in Ushuaia by one or two days if you wish to relax or take part in other activities such as a boat cruise on the Beagle Channel. Other possibilities include visits to the Museo del Fin del Mundo whose collections document the history of the region, and the Yamana Museum, a small museum that focuses on the story of Tierra del Fuego's native peoples (the Yamana, Alakaluf, Selk'Nam and Haush). Note that it may be possible to visit one of these museums on March 13 or March 30 before flying out of Ushuaia.

Walking Softly Adventures, Inc., PO Box 86250, Portland, OR 97286, USA
Toll free 1-888-743-0723 / 503-788-9017 / Fax 503-788-0463
info@walkingsoftly.com / www.walkingsoftly.com