Excursion Mid-voyage land adventure: el calafate adventure tour at Ushuaia

Experience the breath-taking natural panorama and grandeur of Los Glaciares National Park during this immersive, four-night overland excursion to El Calafate. This small, picturesque village on the southern border of Lake Argentino, a beautiful oasis amidst the barren Patagonian landscape, is the gateway to Los Glaciares National Park. This expansive park is home to the massive Upsala and Perito Moreno glaciers, whose icy, ever-shifting landscape is ideal for hiking, boating, and sightseeing. Highlights of your journey include incredibly panoramic, off-road, 4WD tours, boat rides and hiking treks at Lake Argentino, the Cristina Ranch, and Perito Mereno and Upsala glaciers. On the final night of your Argentine journey, a delicious dinner and captivating tango show at the renowned ‘Rojo Tango’, Buenos Aires’ most exclusive tango house, cap off your unforgettable El Calafate adventure in grand style.

FULL DESCRIPTION:

04MIDUSH-B El Calafate Adventure

Duration: 5 Days/4 Nights

Departs from: Ushuaia at approximately 8:00 a.m.

Re-join ship: Buenos Aires at approximately 7:00 p.m.

Reserve by: At least 90 days prior to sailing.  

IMPORTANT NOTE

This Silver Shore Mid-Land Adventure requires advance booking through Silversea Reservations no later than 90 days prior to the sail date. Requests received after this date may be accommodated on a space-available basis. Tickets are available in limited quantities, and participation cannot be guaranteed for those guests not booking well in advance. A minimum number of participants is required to operate this programme. If this minimum number is not met, Silversea reserves the right to offer the programme at a different rate based on private arrangements, or to cancel the specific departure. Cancellation fee, unless otherwise advised, 90 - 0 days prior to the initial sailing date: 100% of the programme fare per person is due.

Payment in full is due at time of final payment. Bookings made within 120 days of sailing require full payment within seven days of booking or sooner, as specified by Silversea.

All Land Adventure fares are subject to change, and not guaranteed until payment is received in full by Silversea. All Land Adventures are non-transferable, and non-refundable, within 120 days of sailing. Minors under the age of 18 must be accompanied by someone 18 years of age or older. All Land Adventures are owned by independent contractors, and Silversea makes no representations and assumes no responsibility for the services provided by these operators. Land Adventures may be modified by the operators at their sole discretion.

VISA INFORMATION:

Please check with your travel professional for details regarding visa requirements for Argentina. It is the responsibility of each guest to obtain all appropriate visas before cruising.

LOCAL CURRENCY:

The local currency of Argentina is the Argentine Peso; however, local ATMs are available in some locations visited, and credit cards are accepted in most larger shops and hotels (shopping stops are not planned during the programme).

Experience the breath-taking natural panorama and grandeur of Los Glaciares National Park during this immersive, four-night overland excursion to El Calafate.

DAY ONE – Sunday, February 16, 2025 – Ushuaia/El Calafate

After disembarking the ship, transfer to the airport for your scheduled flight to El Calafate

After disembarking the ship in Ushuaia, meet your guide and depart for the short transfer to the Ushuaia Airport. Upon arrival, proceed for check-in and your scheduled, approximately one-hour, 20-minute morning flight.

About El Calafate

The small, picturesque town of El Calafate is situated on the southern border of Lake Argentino, near the edge of the southern Patagonian Ice Field, in the Argentine province of Santa Cruz. El Calafate is surrounded by beautiful trees, with no high buildings and plenty of colourful gardens that make it an oasis in the middle of the barren Patagonian landscape. However, El Calafate is mainly known as the gateway to Los Glaciares National Park, home to the massive Upsala and Perito Moreno glaciers, whose icy, ever-shifting landscape is ideal for hiking, boating, and sightseeing.

Transfer to your hotel for check-in, lunch, and some free time at leisure

Upon arrival, meet your guide and transfer to your hotel for check-in and a delightful lunch, followed by some free time at leisure.

This afternoon, take an exciting, off-road adventure featuring breath-taking views of Lake Argentino

This afternoon, meet your guide, hop aboard a 4WD vehicle, and depart for a picturesque sightseeing drive along off-road trails featuring breath-taking panoramic views of the main body of the huge Argentino Lake.

Enjoy dinner while on tour, then transfer back to the hotel

You will enjoy dinner at a cottage after the tour.

After dinner, re-board your coach and transfer back to the hotel.

Overnight accommodations at a Deluxe Hotel – El Calafate         

DAY TWO – Monday, February 17, 2025 – El Calafate

After breakfast at the hotel, meet your guide and transfer to Los Glaciares National Park

After breakfast at the hotel, meet your guide and depart for the scenic, approximately 1.5-hour transfer to Los Glaciares National Park, an approximately 1,482,632-acre (about 600,000-hectare) protected area covered by an ice mantle.

Marvel at the magnificent Perito Moreno Glacier, its glacier wall, ice field, and Lake Argentino

With an approximately 3.1-mile-long (about five-kilometre-long) front wall soaring approximately 180 feet (about 60 metres) above the lake and approximately 99 square-mile (about 257-square-kilometre) ice field surface, the Perito Moreno Glacier is one of the world's largest, and few remaining, advancing glaciers. It is currently grinding its way down the Cordillera directly into an arm of the enormous Lago Argentino. About every three years, the glacier cuts off the flow of water into the lake, resulting in an immense accumulation of pressure as the water behind the glacier rises.

Proceed for lunch at the Nativos restaurant inside the National Park

Proceed for a delicious lunch at the Nativos restaurant, located inside the National Park. After lunch, re-board your coach and transfer to the pier.

Discover the captivating northern face of the Perito Moreno Glacier via boat

Upon arrival, embark your awaiting boat for a panoramic, approximately one-hour boat-ride along the De Los Tempanos Canal of Argentino Lake to admire the northern face of the Perito Moreno Glacier from the water. Shortly after departing the port, the northern face of the glacier can be observed from a totally different perspective than that of the catwalks.

Marvel at the glacier from up-close, and see pieces of it breaking off and falling into the water

When close to the glacier, the boat sails its whole front, according to the allowed distances that guarantee participants’ safety. The aim is to admire the landscape and enjoy both the silence and roar that announces the glacier’s pieces breaking off, then falling into the water. After witnessing this natural phenomenon, continue to the opposite shore.

Transfer back to the hotel for some free time to freshen-up before dinner

Following your boat-ride, disembark your vessel and commence the approximately two-hour drive back to the hotel, with some free time to freshen-up before dinner.

Dinner is at the hotel.

Overnight accommodations at a Deluxe Hotel – El Calafate         

DAY THREE – Tuesday, February 18, 2025 – El Calafate

After breakfast at the hotel, drive to the Puerto Bandera Pier at Los Glaciares National Park

After breakfast at the hotel, meet your guide and depart for the approximately 1.5-hour drive to the Puerto Bandera Pier at Los Glaciares National Park.

Take a sightseeing cruise along Lake Argentino, past icebergs and mountains

Upon arrival, embark a comfortable, modern boat for the panoramic, approximately two-hour ride to the Estancia Cristina (Cristina Ranch). En route, sail through Lake Argentino among icebergs and beautiful mountains.

Visit the Cristina Ranch for a 4WD-ride on the Feruglio Cordon

Next, enter the charming Cristina Channel, then visit the Cristina Ranch, established in 1914 by British settlers. After disembarking your boat, take a guided stroll by the Caterina River and stop by the old sheep-shearing facility-turned museum. Next, each group is assigned a 4WD vehicle with a driver/guide. Your picturesque route traverses the Feruglio Cordon for approximately 6.2 miles (about 10 kilometres) to the Hielos Continentales Lodge. Upon arrival, depart your vehicle for a short walk on glacial erosion terrain up to the Upsala Glacier Lookout Point.

At the Upsala Glacier Lookout Point, marvel at Lake Guillermo, the glacier, and a vast ice field

Upon arrival at the Upsala Glacier Lookout Point, marvel at the sweeping panoramic views of Lake Guillermo, the imposing Upsala Glacier’s eastern front, and the South Patagonian Continental Ice Field.

Re-board your 4WD vehicle and return to the Cristina Ranch for a barbecued lamb lunch

Following your scenic trek, walk back to your 4WD vehicle and commence the transfer back to the Cristina Ranch. Upon arrival, proceed for a barbecued lamb lunch. After lunch, some free time is made available to relax or explore the ranch at your leisure.

Ride back to the Punta Bandera Pier via boat, then transfer back to the hotel via coach

At the conclusion of your visit, embark your boat for the approximately one-hour boat-ride back to the Puerto Bandera Pier. Upon arrival, re-board your private coach for the approximately one-hour drive back to the hotel, and some free time to freshen-up before dinner.

Dinner is at the hotel.

Overnight accommodations at a Deluxe Hotel – El Calafate         

DAY FOUR – Wednesday, February 18, 2025 – El Calafate/Buenos Aires

After breakfast at the hotel and check-out, transfer to the airport for your flight to Buenos Aires

After breakfast at the hotel and check-out, meet your guide and depart for the approximately 30-minute transfer to the El Calafate Airport. Upon arrival, proceed for check-in and your scheduled, approximately two-hour, 55-minute morning flight to Buenos Aires. A boxed lunch is served in-flight.

Transfer to your hotel for and check-in and some free time to freshen-up before dinner

Upon arrival at the airport in Buenos Aires, meet your guide and transfer to the Casa Lucia Hotel for check-in and some free time to freshen-up before dinner.

Enjoy a delicious dinner and captivating tango show at Rojo Tango

This evening, meet your guide and transfer to the nearby Faena Hotel & Universe. Upon arrival, proceed for a delicious dinner and tango show at Rojo Tango, the city’s most exclusive tango house and trendiest spot for traditional dance and music. Designed by Philippe Stark, the ‘Rojo Tango Cabaret’ is a fascinating show that tantalises the senses. The sounds, colours, aromas, flavours, and sensual movements of the skilled dancers combine to create a uniquely captivating and entertaining experience. At the conclusion of your visit, re-board your coach and transfer back to the hotel.

Overnight at the Casa Lucia Hotel – Buenos Aires

DAY FIVE – Thursday, February 20, 2025 – Buenos Aires

After breakfast and check-out, meet your guide fro a sightseeing day in Buenso Aires.

After breakfast at the hotel and check-our, meet your guide and depart for a day of sightseeing in Buenos Aires. During the day you will enjoy a local lunch.

Transfer to the pier and embark the ship

In the early evening, transfer to the pier and embark the ship.

Please note: This Mid-Voyage Land Adventure requires an extensive amount of walking, at times over uneven, rocky, grassy, icy, slippery, and natural surfaces and inclines, with a few steps to negotiate to get on/off the coaches and 4WD vehicles, board/de-board the airplanes and embark/disembark the boats, and many steps at the sites visited. This tour is recommended for active guests in good physical condition. This tour is not suitable for pregnant guests, guests with back and/or neck problems, guests with heart and/or respiratory conditions, guests prone to motion sickness, guests prone to seasickness, guests with a fear of heights, guests who suffer from vertigo, guests with limited mobility, and guests who utilise a wheelchair. Guests are advised to wear warm, comfortable clothing (long-and-short-sleeved shirts, shorts, and long pants) in layers with flat, non-slip, and closed-toe walking shoes or sneakers, and bring sun protection, insect repellent, sunglasses with a strap, a hat that covers the ears, extra socks, a weatherproof jacket, raingear, small backpack for land visits (for cameras, bottled water, etc.), camera, plastic bag to keep your camera or photographic equipment dry, medications, binoculars, and US Dollars, local currency, or credit cards for purchases. Guests must carry their passports and ship’s ID at all times. Although frequently encountered on this type of tour, wildlife sightings are not guaranteed. The tour sequence, timings, and itinerary may vary. Space on this tour is extremely limited; we suggest you book well in advance to avoid disappointment.  

Programme Includes:

Three-night stay a Esplendor Hotel – El Calafate

One-night stay at the Casa Lucia Hotel – Buenos Aires

Scheduled flights: Ushuaia/El Calafate and El Calafate/Buenos Aires (Economy-Class). Business-Class is available upon request at an additional charge and subject to availability, as most aircraft do not offer business seating

Local airlines restrict baggage allowance to one soft luggage with a maximum weight of approximately 33 pounds (about 15 kilograms) per person, plus one carry-on luggage with a maximum weight of approximately 17 pounds (about eight kilograms). Supplement for excess luggage is to be paid directly at the check-in counter.

Four breakfasts, five lunches (lunch served in-flight on Day Four) and four dinners, with drinks included.

All sightseeing and transfers as per itinerary

Not Included:

Any meals and drinks not specified above, gratuities to drivers and tour guides, laundry, telephone calls, cancellation insurance and other personal items.