Responsible Tourism

Patagonia Adventure and Tierra del Fuego

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Where this adventure takes you.

Argentina and Chile

Explore the highlights of Patagonia's remote and beautiful mountain area. Admire the towering peaks as you hike the in major mountains ranges of the Fitz Roy and Torres del Paine massifs on this exciting, yet not too strenuous trekking adventure.
All your efforts are rewarded with superb views of the granite spires of mount Fitzroy, Cerro Torre and an optional ice hike on the Torre Glacier. An entire day dedicated to visiting the centre piece of Los Glaciares national park, the Perito Moreno Glacier, one of the world's few advancing glaciers and an unforgettable sight.
Next you are off to Chile and its Paine National Park with its mountain and ice gems: the base of the triple towers of Torres, the French Valley and the Grey Glacier are one of Patagonia's most scenic and dramatic trekking areas.
At the end of your tour, another highlight await as you take a trip to the end of the world: Tierra del Fuego and Ushuaia, the southernmost town of the world. Snow-capped peaks drop dramatically into the sea and we head off for a series of short walks through Tierra del Fuego's coastal National Park. Later on, seize your opportunity to cruise through the Beagle Channel and enjoy the wildlife.

The Itinerary.

Day 1 Airport to El Calafate
Day 2 Bus to El Chalten. Walk to Laguna Capri with panoramic view of Fitz Roy. Camp.
Day 3 Walk to Mount Fitz Roy based camp and to Laguna de los Tres where we camp.
Day 4 Walk: Mount TorreValley to glacier-fed Torre Lagoon. Set up camp.
Day 5 Hike in the area or ice trek on Torre Glacier (optional). Hostel.
Day 6 Free time in El Chalten (i.e visit the Desierto Lake). Return to El Calafate. Hostel.
Day 7 Visit to Perito Moreno Glacier (boat trip for close up views, optional). Hostel.
Day 8 Transfer to Torres del Paine National Park. Drive through Patagonian steppe with great views along the way. Camp at Pehoe.
Day 9 Walk along the gushing Ascensio River to Torres basecamp for stunning view of the granite towers. Camp at Pehoe.
Day 10 Crossing Pehoe Lake by boat, walk up beautiful French Valley. Camp at Pehoe.
Day 11 Walk to Grey Glacier Viewpoints with fantastic views of the mountain range and lake. Continue to Puerto Natales.
Day 12 Travel south to the Magellan Strait, boat crossing to Tierra del Fuego. Camp at Estancia Las Hijas with Asado waiting (traditional BBQ)
Day 13 Visit the working Estancia. Continue to Tierra Mayor Valley, walk around Esmeralda Lagoon. Mountain lodge.
Day 14 Walk: Tierra del Fuego National Park. In the afternoon a cruise on the Beagle Channel
Day 15 Free time in Ushuaia. Transfer to Ushuaia airport.

The benefits you bring in taking this tour.

All Andean Trails activities are governed by our high respect for the environment and the people who live in it. We aim to make a positive impact both in the UK and in the Andean countries we work in (Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Chile, Argentina, Guyana, Cuba). We agree with the principals of sustainable development and specifically promote environmentally aware and responsible travel in the Andean countries, in order to preserve the heritage of the people who live there and to help protect their environment.

Throughout Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Chile, Argentina Guyana and Cuba we work together with local people, paying them a fair price, and putting money into the local economy. We do this by using local agents, local trek staff and experienced and qualified local mountain and cultural guides who have an in-depth knowledge of their own country.

We use locally owned services such as hotels and restaurants, paying a fair price for those services. We buy fresh local produce for all of our treks from markets and small shops in each departure town. In preference we choose local over imported goods. We use public transport whenever possible and feasible.

We are committed to working in conjunction with local communities in all the countries in which we operate.

In addition to this, we have been able to support the Huchuy Yachaq community project in the marginalised neighbourhood of Hermanos Ayar, on the outskirts of Cusco, with the help of everybody who has travelled with Andean Trails since 1996.

Every year we donate a percentage of our profits to this community project.

The project has been set up by volunteer social workers and teachers to provide much needed social and educational support to the children and families of this neighbourhood. Children are encouraged to attend study and games sessions held each afternoon and participate in holiday projects. Our contributions so far have paid for educational books and games, tables and chairs, improvements to the structure of the basic community owned building and the addition of functioning toilets, materials for the children to take to school, school books, holiday programmes.

We contribute a minimum of USD 3000 each year so that all of the community's 110 children can get to and from school and have all the books and materials they need.

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