Fireland Adventure

"Chile - Argentina"

When the first Europeans arrived at this legendary island at the lower tip of Patagonia, they discovered the large bonfires, built by the hunter-fisher-gatherer Indian tribes in order to protect themselves from the penetrating cold of these extreme southern reaches. The first Spanish navigators to sight these fires from the shores named the large island "Tierra de los Fuegos" (today Tierra del Fuego), which means "Fire Island" in English.
Tierra del Fuego contains all the different ecosystems, which typify Patagonia on one single island: South Atlantic coast, bushy steppes, Andes surrounded by glaciers, snow, lakes and forests. As if this weren't enough, the island also has a unique sub-Antarctic rainforest. Unexpectedly, lush beech forests, covered with a magic carpet of green mosses and lichens, waving in the wind in this enchanted forest. The legendary Beagle Channel, explored by Darwin, is home to abundant wildlife: sea lions, penguins, cormorants, etc
Puerto Natales to Ushuaia or Fireland Adventure visits the most interesting part of the southern section of our Adventure Tour. We start at Puerto Natales, picturesque fishermen and tourist town, and drive south across the Magellan Strait into Tierra del Fuego. We visit a typical Patagonian ranch, a mountain refuge in the Tierra Mayor valley and eventually discover the secrets of the “city of the end of the world”. We take a boat trip in the Beagle Channel and hike in Tierra del Fuego National Park.

The Itinerary

Day 1: (Tuesday) Puerto Natales
We meet in our Meeting Point to get to our Hostel. In the evening you are at your own to visit this picturesque fishermen town.
Lodging in a Hostel room with shared bathroom or Hosteria or Inn, double or single room with private bathroom. .

Day 2: Puerto Natales – Río Grande
Long drive today, though quite worthwhile. We leave Puerto Natales to face the southernmost part of the continent. We head towards the legendary Magellan Strait, which we will keep on sight up to Primera Angostura, where we board the Ferry in which we will cross the Strait. This Pass, discovered by Hernando de Magallanes in 1520, was the natural and logical way to all vessels until de Panama Channel was open at the beginning of the XXth century. You will find yourselves wondering how those brave men dare to sail those waters in such fragile caravels!!! Once in Tierra del Fuego (literally, Land of Fire, due to the fires seen by the first white sailors in the coast, done by the local Indians to cook and heat) we enter Argentina through Paso San Sebastián. A couple more of hours to reach Estancia Las Hijas, where our Full Camp will be waiting for us, as well as a lamb cooked in the classical Patagonian barbecue style. A dinning saloon, toilettes and showers are available tonight.
Lodging at Full Camp in double or single tent (area with sanitary services)
Meals: Breakfast, box lunch, dinner.

Day 3: Río Grande - Tierra Mayor valley
In the morning we learn about the ranch activities and how dogs deal with the sheep. By mid morning we continue south to Solar del Bosque, a small and cozy mountain refuge located in the Tierra Mayor valley, where we’ll spend the rest of the day. After lunch, we go hiking to Laguna Esmeralda, a beautiful lagoon with Glacier Ojos del Albino in the background. We walk back to our lodge across terrain that has been modified by the beavers, which were introduced in the area from Canada by middle of the last century.
Lodging in Mountain Lodge with shared bedrooms and bathrooms
Meals: Breakfast, box lunch, dinner.

Day 4: Ushuaia – Tierra del Fuego National Park – Beagle Channel boat trip
We leave behind the valley and a half an hour drive leads us to Ushuaia, the southernmost city of the World. We leave our luggage in our hostel or hotel (we will not check in, as it is still early in the morning) and continue to Tierra del Fuego National Park. This National Park is in the south west corner of the argentinean side of the Island, thus in the border with Chile. The main attraction of the Park and the whole Island actually are the mountains coming down to the sea. We make a short hike in this area. In the afternoon, a boat trip in the Beagle channel allows us to see the different species of sea birds and mammals that leave in this corner of Earth.
Lodging in a Hostel room with shared bathroom or Hosteria or Inn, double or single room with private bathroom.
Meals: Breakfast and box lunch.

Day 5: Ushuaia – Ushuaia Airport
Morning at your own to visit the town, which is located in the north coast of the Beagle channel. Then town features interesting museums and its typical architecture. In the afternoon we are transferred to Ushuaia airport to take our flight to Buenos Aires. Our services end at the airport.
Meals: Breakfast

General Information

Read our customers' feedback about this journey.

Rated: Easy/Moderate. Paths are really easy to follow and non demanding. This is definitely not hard adventure.

Similar journeys can start from Ushuaia with lodging in either tourist or first class hotels in town. Contact us for a quotation.


Departure dates
Guaranteed fixed departures every Tuesday from 24 October 2006 to 24 April 2007
French, German and Italian departures every 3 weeks. Please enquire

Private departure:
Any day between end of October and mid April

Fixed departures
	Hostel room	Inn double room	Inn single room
USD	$ 540	$ 600	$ 660
EUR	€ 448	€ 497	€ 547
GBP	£ 302	£ 336	£ 369

(*) Price last updated on 24 October 2006. Current price may vary due to elements out of our control, so please always check by sending us a quotation request .

Private departures Hostel Room
	1	2	3	4
USD	$ 1585	$ 971	$ 812	$ 706
EUR	€ 1315	€ 806	€ 674	€ 586
GBP	£ 887	£ 543	£ 455	£ 395

(*) Price last updated on 24 October 2006. Current price may vary due to elements out of our control, so please always check by sending us a quotation request .

Private departures Inn Room
	1	2	3	4	SGL Supp.
USD	$ 1665	$ 1012	$ 852	$ 745	$ 40
EUR	€ 1381	€ 840	€ 707	€ 618	€ 33
GBP	£ 932	£ 567	£ 477	£ 417	£ 22

(*) Price last updated on 24 October 2006. Current price may vary due to elements out of our control, so please always check by sending us a quotation request .
Single Room supplement already included in 1 person price


Included:
Bilingual tour leader during all the trip.
Mountain guides while on trek.
Beagle channel boat trip.
All transfers Puerto Natales - Río Grande – Ushuaia – Ushuaia Airport.
During the trip we combine private and regular buses.
Lodging and meals as mentioned in itinerary (select hostel or Hosteria/Inn accommodation)

Not included:
Entrance fees to National Parks.
Medical and life insurance.
Tips.
Drinks and beverages (all foods are without alcoholic or non alcoholic drinks).
Flights or airport taxes.
Port tax at Ushuaia.
Optional excursions.
Services not shown or detailed in the program.