AR23 - CHILE - ARGENTINA - Interpatagonia Tour
New 10 Day / 9 Night Program

Puerto Madryn Whale (Ballena)

Carratera Austral (Austral Road)

DAY 01 COYHAIQUE - BALMACEDA
Reception at the Balmaceda airport and transfer to hotel. During the trip to the hotel in Coyhaique (57 klm) you will be able to observe spectacular views like the Falls of Río Pollux, the China Wall, Foitzic Lake, Mount Mackay the beautiful Patagonian Steppe Plains, among others. Dinner and Lodging.

DAY 02 COYHAIQUE - LAGUNA SAN RAFAEL - COYHAIQUE
Early departure for Puerto Chacabuco, where we will begin a light adventure tour to the Milenario Glaciar San Rafael (San Rafael Glacier) . On the road you will be able to appreciate The Virgin Falls (Salto de la Virgen), Velo de la Novia (Bridal Veil Falls), The Farrellón Tunnel ( Túnel Farellón), The Simpson River ( Rio Simpson), The English Cake (Queque Inglés) and in Puerto Aysén, The President Ibáñez hanging bridge (puente colgante Presidente Ibáñez). Once in Puerto Chacabuco we will board the Catamaran. We will cruise for approximately 4 hours through the Patagonian fjords and channels before we arrive at the San Rafael Glacier and it's 20,000 year old ice field. We will be served breakfast on board the Catamaran in the morning and lunch before we arrive at the glacier. Our stay will be prolonged to allow sufficient time to view the San Rafael Glacier in all it's glory. The captain will skillfully approach the iceberg to give us the best possible view. We will return to Pto. Chacabuco and travel back to Coyhaique. Lodging.

DAY 03 COYHAIQUE (CHILE) - COMODORO RIVADAVIA (ARGENTINA)
Breakfast. Our journey into Argentina will start on our third day. We will cross the border to Argentina at the Huemules border control checkpoint located less than 500 meters from the main terminal of the Balmaceda airport. We will pass through the beautiful Patagonian plains passing the town of Blanco before finally arriving at the city of Sarmiento, from there we will continue south arriving at the Petriied Forrest. After our visit to the Petrified Forrest, we will return to the highway where we will begin to see the oil pumps that will guide us the rest of the way to Comodoro Rivadavia (The oil extraction capital of Argentina) on the Atlantic Coast. Lodging in the Hotel Comodoro or similar.

DAY 04 COMODORO RIVADAVIA - PUERTO MADRYN
Breakfast. We will continue our tour arriving first at the city of Trelew where we will visit the Paleologic Museum, later we will continue our journey to the city of Puerto Madryn where we will be staying at the Hotel Peninsula with a marvellous view of the entire Gulf of Peninsula Valdés.

DAY 05 PENÍNSULA VALDÉS - PUERTO PIRÁMIDE
Breakfast. In the morning we will depart on a complete day excursion to the Natural Reserve of Peninsula Valdés (Reserva Natural Península Valdés), where we will visit the Interpretation Center of the Carlos Ameghino Isthmus and view the Island of the Birds (isla de Los Pájaros), Later we will visit Puerto Pirámide where we will embark on our Whale Watching adventure. From there we will enter the peninsula, surrounded by the typical landscape of the Patagonian Steppe Plains, travel to Punta Delgada and Caleta Valdés (or Caleta Valdés and Punta Norte, depending on the location of the fauna and the time of the year) observing the land and marine fauna that are offered by the great biodiversity of this reserve. Return to the hotel. Rest.

DAY 06 PUERTO MADRYN
Breakfast. Depart on a City Tour with Ecocentro. We will begin traveling through the central area of the city, passing by the General San Martin Plaza, the church and historic buildings, then continue advancing north toward Domecq García. We will pass by the Pujol Chalet, The Provincial Museum of Oceanografic and Natural Sciences that has nine rooms dedicated to exhibits of the flora and fauna of the region, besides geology elements, Welsh history, anthropology and oceanografic material contributed by the Argentine Army. We arrive at the INDUSTRIAL AND FISHING PARK where we can view the Aluminium Plant of Aluar and the Storni Jetty.
We begin our return to the city heading South toward the COASTERA AVENIDA ROCA, passing the Comandante Luis Piedrabuena and the Monumento a la Gesta Galesa, built to commemorate the centennial of the foundation of our city; continuing on this route we will arrive at the COASTAL BOULEVARD ADMIRAL GUILLERMO BROWN (COSTERO BOULEVARD ALMIRANTE GUILLERMO BROWN) travelling through the residential area of our city until we arrive at PUNTA CUEVAS: The sight of the ruins of the first Welsh colony in the zone. These Caves were recognized as historical in the year 1865 and are recognized as the first housing of Puerto Madryn and some of the oldest homes in all of patagonia.
After a short walk we arrive at the view point where we will see the MONUMENT TO THE INDIAN TEHUELCHE (MONUMENTO AL INDIO TEHUELCHE), from here we can enjoy a wide panoramic view of the city, and view all of the sites we had visited throughout the day.
The journey concludes in the ECCOCENTRO: scientific and cultural learning center dedicated to promote and to diffuse knowledge regarding the protection of the sea. Combining science with education in artistic expressions.
There are no established paths, you are invited to enjoy the different spaces, requiring you to take the initiative and let your curiosity guide your journey through the center. You will be offered the possibility to enjoy different spaces featuring recordings, photography, drawings and reproductions of animals. Among other things we will discover the characteristics of the oceanic currents and the varieties of algae, obtain an understanding of the behavior of the whales and observe the differences between Seals, Sea Lions, Walruses and Orcas.
Return to the hotel. Lodging

DÍA 07 PUERTO MADRYN - BARILOCHE
Breakfast. Check out. Transfer in private mini-bus with air-conditioning. Lunch during the trip is not inluded. Arrival to San Carlos de Bariloche. Lodging in hotel Aconagua.

DÍA 08 BARILOCHE
Breakfast. Morning free. In the afternoon, short excursion. The journey starts from Bariloche bordering the Lake Nahuel Huapí heading toward the East. We will arrive to the Zone of Llao Llao where we will visit the San Eduardo Chapel, Built for the architect Bustillo where you will have a magnificent view of the Hotel Llao Llao. Continuing the circuit we will pass by the parque Municipal Llao Llao (Llao Llao Municipal Park) and Villa Tacúl (Tacúl Village). There are two options on our walk through the forest that are clearly marked with signs. The Lake Escondido (Lago Escondido), the Angostura River (Rio Angostura), and Lopez Bay (Bahía Lopez) are points of interest along the route to the Panoramic Point (Punta Panorámico), where we will have an excellent view of Lake Moreno (Lago Moreno) and the Llao Llao Region. Later, taking the same route, leaving behind the Lake el Trébol, we will arrive at Avenida Bustillo again, visitng Mount Campanario (Cerro Campanario), where there is a chair lift that will transport us to the pastry shop at the top of the hill, where we will enjoy one of the best views in the world accompanied by some delightful Argentinian desserts. The chair lift ticket is not paid by the tour. Once we descend the hill, we will turn to the right and walk a short distance back to our hotel. Lodging.

DÍA 09 BARILOCHE - PUERTO MONTT
Breakfast, at 10:00 AM our guide will come to your hotel to take us to the bus terminal to catch our bus that will depart at noon with a final destination of Puerto Montt, Chile. We will arrive at 19:00 hours. Reception at the Bus Terminal and Transfer to the hotel, Dinner and Lodging.

DÍA 10 PUERTO MONTT - AEROPUERTO
Breakfast, at the hour stipulated we will be transported to the aiport at Puerto Montt for our return journey.

Includes:

• 9 Nights 10 days .
• Private bus transport through Pto. Montt.
• Bus equipped with fully reclining seats Pto. Madrynn - Bariloche and Bariloche - Pto. Montt.
• All meals included in Chile.
• Catamaran ticket with breakfast, lunch, dinner and open bar.

Not Included:

• Wines, liquors and soft drinks.
• Telephone calls.
• Laundry service.
• Air fare Santiago - Balmaceda and Pto. Montt - Santiago.
• Airport Tax.

Notes:

• Identity Card or Passport required by the Chilean Coast Guard for all passengers.
• Prices regularly fluctuate for air fares. Please Contact Us for our current rates.
• la temporada de avistaje seguro de ballenas comienza el 15 de Julio hasta el 15 Diciembre, antes o despues de estas fechas no garantizamos buen avistaje.
• The peak of the whale whatching season is July 15 through December 15, before or after these dates we can not guarantee good viewing.

• Prices subject to change.
• Tour starts in Santiago.
• Valid Agust 1, 2007 / December 15, 2007.
• Departures subject to climatic conditions and a minimum of 4 passengers and maximum of 10 passengers.

DEPARTURE DATES 2007 (Starting in Santiago)
Departures Sunday through Friday. No available departures on Saturdays.

Depending on the number of passengers, other departures can be arranged, but after December 15 we do not guarantee viewing of Whales. The whales begin to migrate in the first weeks of December.

CLOTHING: For the whale watching portion of the tour, we advise you to bring a waterproof jacket with a hood or a good hat, the tour is on a slightly windy sea and the whales strike the water with their tails and sometimes splash the boat. For every passenger a life jacket is available as a safety measure.
Hotelsa operates on the Chilean side and her sister company in Argentina is " Receptivo Comodoro ". All vehicles are insured and meet all safety requirements enforced by the department of transport and tourism in the Republic of Argentina.

CHANGES AND ALTERATIONS: Hotelsa
reserves the right to change the program, hotels or itinerary for the safety of their paasengers, if the climatic conditions in the Patagonia call for it.

PAYMENT FORMS:
50 % upon reservation.
50 % ten days before departure date.