El Chalten Stunning

EL CHALTEN STUNNIG
While it is our intention to adhere to the route described below, there is a certain amount of flexibility built into the itinerary and on occasion it may be necessary, or desirable to make alterations. The itinerary is brief, as we never know exactly where our journey will take us, (remember we are in South America). Due to our style of travel and the regions we visit traveling, with All Territories can be unpredictable. The dossier is a general guide to the tour and region and any mention of specific destinations or wildlife is by no means a guarantee that they will be visited or encountered. Please contact us for more information if needed. mauricio@traveltourgroup.com 

Day 1 Arrive El Calafate
Arrive at El Calafate at any time. Meet at El Calafate airport and transfer to the hotel. Time to explore this little town. 

Day 2 El Chalten
Early in the morning we take the bus to the trekking capital of Argentina, El Chaltén. This town is located in the north end of Glacier Park. Hikers and climbers from all over the world arrive here, waiting for good weather to undertake the challenges presented by nature, the Fitzroy.

Once we arrive there, we go to the hotel and our local guide will meet us for a briefing and to get ready for the next days camping in nature. Then take a walk in town, explore this little place, go for a coffee or a local beer and relax.

Day 3 Laguna de los Tres
Today after breakfast we take a 30 min. bus ride to Hosteria El Pilar. Here we will take a nice trail through a beech forest towards the Poincenot Base camp (2.30 hs); on the way there are great views of the Piedras Blancas Glacier and the Rio Blanco Valley. From this camp a steep trail goes up 45 minutes to 1 hour to Laguna de los Tres, vantage point for an absolutely stunning view, weather permitting, of the complete Fitzroy Massif. This is the closest lookout to see Mount Fitz Roy, after this point only climbers can continue. We’ll have lunch here enjoying one of the most beautiful mountain sceneries of the world. Once back to Poincenot, our base camp, via the same trail that we took on our way up, we’ll head to laguna Capri (1.30 hs) for a relax time and wait for dinner at Capri Base camp. Estimated time: 8hs. Aprox. Distance: 15 kms.

Day 4 Cerro Torre
This day we will take a trail along the Madre & Hija Lakes (1 hour from Capri). On the way there will be plenty of photo opportunities both of the mountains and crystal lakes. Once we leave the lakes behind the trail goes down until we reach the Torre Lake trail that follows the Fitz Roy River valley (2 hs). Torre Lake is one hour from this point. A great mountain landscape will receive us behind the glacial moraine: Cerro Solo, the Adela’s Range, Glacier Torre and the legendary spire: Cerro Torre, the impossible mountain that climbers all around the globe are trying to climb every year. Our camp is located in a short walk of 20 minutes from the mentioned lake.

Before dinner we’ll have time to relax enjoying a snack or perhaps some hot tea. Estimated time: 6 hs. Aprox. Distance: 9 km.

Day 5 Torre Glacier Ice Trek – El Chalten

After breakfast we take a 30 minutes hike on the moraines around the lake, there we will have to cross the Fitz Roy River on a tyrolean rope, and start walking on a very steep trail to reach the glacier. Here the guide will put us the crampons on and before starting he will give all necessary instructions on technique and how to walk on an ice mountain, a real glacier. Curious ice formations and crevasses will give a chance to practice the basics of ice climbing and to explore this stunning place. There we will have a closer view of Cerro Torre, the “impossible peak” among beautiful spires and snowcapped mountains. We will take the same way back to camp. We will have a snack before returning to El Chaltén (3 hs). Estimated time: 9/10 hs. Distance aprox.: 20 km.

Day 6 El Calafate
Today after breakfast we will take a bus back to El Calafate for a transfer to the airport, or contact our sales department for extend your holidays. 

Trip Code: AECS
Trip Name: El Chalten Stunning
Duration: 6 Days/5 nights
Group Size: Min 4 pax – Max 14 pax

INCLUDED

3 nights Simple hotels/hostels

2 nights camping
Trekking at El Chaltén
Bus to El Chaltén and back to El Calafate

Bilingual local guides while hiking

Cerro Torre ice trek and ice climbing

Meals while camping

NOT INCLUDED

Pre & post tour accommodation
International, domestic flight and departure tax
Travel Insurance
Tips, baggage portage and other extras not specified.
Optional Activities
Meals not specified

Personal equipment
Entrance to Los Glaciares National Park
Transfer In-Out

EL CHALTEN STUNNING
While it is our intention to adhere to the route described below, there is a certain amount of flexibility built into the itinerary and on occasion it may be necessary, or desirable to make alterations. The itinerary is brief, as we never know exactly where our journey will take us, (remember we are in South America). Due to our style of travel and the regions we visit traveling, with All Territories can be unpredictable. The dossier is a general guide to the tour and region and any mention of specific destinations or wildlife is by no means a guarantee that they will be visited or encountered.
Please contact us for more information if needed. mauricio@traveltourgroup.com

Important Notes
1) Shorter/longer stays, hotel upgrades and extra trips all possible.
Please contact our sales department for more information. mauricio@traveltourgroup.com
2) Visas: You may be required to obtain a travel visa to visit Argentina, also all countries require a valid passport (with a minimum 6 months validity). Contact your local embassy, or consulate for the most up-to-date visa requirements, or see your travel agent. IT IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY TO HAVE THE CORRECT TRAVEL DOCUMENTATION.
3) This trip is not available between May and September due to weather conditions.

Accommodation: Simple Hotel, Camping

Joining Hotel
The hotels used in El Calafate will be detailed in your voucher. Please refer to your travel voucher for specific hotel details.

Joining Instructions
Internal flights to/from El Calafate and arrival and departure transfers are not included in the price of your tour.
If you wish, at the time of booking please inform Travel Tour Group of your flight information to book this transfer.
There is a transfer company at the airport that can take you to the hotel of your choice in the centre of the town. Their counter is at the customs exit and charges about $15.

Arrival Complications
We do not expect any problems, and nor should you, but if for any reason you can not commence your trip as scheduled, please contact your starting point hotel, requesting that you speak to or leave a message for your trip leader/local operator or to the emergency contact details provided in this dossier. If you are unable to get in touch with your leader/local operator, please refer to our emergency contact details. If you have pre-booked an airport transfer and have not made contact with our local operator/representative within 30 minutes of clearing customs and immigration, we recommend that you make your own way to the Starting Point Hotel, following the Joining Instructions. Please apply to your travel agent on your return for a refund of the transfer cost if this occurs.

Emergency Contact
If you need emergency assistance, you can contact us locally at the following phone numbers:
Cell. + 54 92604393359
Should you need to contact Travel Tour Group during a situation of extremely serious need, someone from our Operations staff will answer a mobile line at any time. If for any reason you do not receive an immediate answer, please leave a detailed message and contact information, so we may return your call and assist you as soon as possible
Tel.: +54 9260 4000968
Cell. + 54 92604393359

Checklist of what to take

* Passport (with photocopies)
* Travel insurance (with photocopies)
* Airline tickets (with photocopies)
* USD cash
* Credit and debit cards
* Vouchers and dossier
* Any entry visas or vaccination certificates required
* Camera and film
* Binoculars
* Cover for backpacks
* Fair sized daypack
* Wool hat, mitts or gloves (preferably water proof)
* Strong plastic bags to help keep gear dry
* Anti-inflammatory tablets (e.g. Ibuprofen)
* Thermal underwear
* Fleece top
* Windproof/waterproof jacket
* 5 shirts/t-shirts
* Sun hat
* 1 pair of shorts
* 1 pairs of long trousers
* 2 pair hiking pants/track pants
* Hiking boots/ sturdy walking shoes
* Sport sandals
* Sun block
* Sunglasses
* Toiletries (biodegradable)
* Watch or alarm clock
* Water bottle
* Pocket knife
* Small flashlight
* First-aid kit (should contain lip salve, Aspirin, Band Aids,
Anti-histamine, tablets for mild cases of diarrhea, re-
hydration powder, and extra prescription drugs you may be
taking).

Meal Budget
Daily allowance USD30 for meals not included. For additional expenses, please contact our sales department for more information.
mauricio@traveltourgroup.com

Emergency Fund
Please, make sure you have access to at least an additional USD300 (or equivalent) as an emergency fund, to be used when circumstances outside our control (e.g. a natural disaster) need a change to our planned tour. This is a rare occurrence! But you never know…

Optional activities
El Calafate
Moreno Glacier
Mountain bike rental
Horseback riding
Cruise Upsala Glacier (10 Hrs)
Cruise Moreno Glacier (45 mins)
Moreno Ice Trekking (8 Hrs)

El Chaltén
Horseback riding (half day)
Ice climbing (Tower Glacier)
Laguna del Desierto

A Couple of Rules
Illegal drugs will not be tolerated on any trips. Possessing or using drugs not only contravenes the laws of the land but also puts you at risk. Smoking marijuana and opium is a part of local culture in some parts of the world but is not acceptable for Travel Tour Group travelers. Our philosophy of travel is one of respect towards everyone we encounter, and in particular the local people who make the world the special place it is. The exploitation of prostitutes is completely contrary to this philosophy. Our group leader/local operator has the right to expel any member of the group/tour if drugs are found in their possession or they use prostitutes.

Travel Insurance
Travel insurance is compulsory in order to participate on any of our trips. When traveling on a trip with us, you will not be permitted to join the tour until evidence of travel insurance has been sighted by your leader or local operator, who will take note of your insurance details. When selecting a travel insurance policy we require that at a minimum you are covered for medical expenses including emergency repatriation. We strongly recommend that the policy also covers personal liability, cancellation, curtailment and loss of luggage and personal effects. If you have credit card insurance we require proof of purchase of the trip (a receipt of credit card statement) with a credit card in your name. Contact your bank for details of their participating insurer, the level of coverage and emergency contact telephone number.
Travel Tour Group is a Travel Assurance provider, and in case you are interested in get our proposal, please contact us to the following email: mauricio@traveltourgroup.com

Responsible Travel
Travel Tour Group has been responsible to offering low-impact tours that benefit traveler and host alike. We work with local communities, businesses and individuals to develop sustainable tourism opportunities that help local economies while minimizing negative environmental and cultural impacts.

Keeping in Touch
If you need to be contacted while traveling or if someone wishes to contact you in an emergency while you are on one of our trips we recommend that they contact your local booking agent, or refer to our Emergency Contact.

AVAILABILITY & PRICES

This trip is available from October till April. For Christmas, New Year and Easter, request space and more information to our sales department.  mauricio@traveltourgroup.com

Departs every Sunday from October 25fh, 2020 until April 11th, 2021.

For other departure dates, please contact our sales department.     

Cost per pax in double USD1.920.-

Cost per pax in single USD2.250.-

Local Payment USD400

Local payment
Most of our adventure trips involve a local payment.
This amount is the final payment for your tour. Paying locally facilitates the flow of funds into countries that we travel through and also helps to reduce the overall price of the tour, allowing us to keep our tours at a competitive price, passing our costs savings on to you.

Rates can be modified without notice and upon availability at the moment of the booking

Departure Dates 2020/21
Departures from October to April. For Christmas, New Year and Easter, request space and more information to our sales department. mauricio@traveltourgroup.com