Adventures In Patagonia

Arrive in Buenos Aires, Argentina's capital, located on the southern shores of the Rio de la Plata. Since its founding by Pedro de Mendoza in 1536 the city has thrived on trade and its vibrant streets are filled with an eclectic mix of European architectural styles, with Spanish, French and Italian classicism rubbing shoulders with remnants of Victorian grandeur. For those arriving on time our Leader plans to meet you in the hotel reception at 6pm for the welcome meeting and for those that wish, there is the chance to go out for dinner. There are no activities planned today, so you are free to arrive in Buenos Aires at any time. If you would like to receive a complimentary airport transfer today, you'll need to arrive into either Aeroparque Internacional Jorge Newbery (AEP) or Ezeiza International Airport (EZE), a 30 minute or 1 hour drive respectively from our hotel. Should you miss the meeting, your leader will inform you of any essential information as soon as you catch up. If your flight arrives earlier in the day, you could explore this lively city by wandering the streets of the arty San Telmo district, admiring the impressive architecture and relaxing parks in Palermo, or enjoying the traditional Porteno pastime of people watching from the many sidewalk cafes.

We're experiencing the city as a Porteno (a Buenos Aires native) today, using the local buses and exploring on foot. Each neighbourhood of Buenos Aires has a distinct character, with grand Italianate architecture rubbing shoulders with winding cobbled streets or tree-lined avenues. To get a feel for the heart of the city, we'll walk towards its founding point at the Plaza de Mayo, where the President's dusty-pink mansion is located. Every big event in Buenos Aires's history has been witnessed by the Plaza, from the continued protests of the 'Madres de la Plaza de Mayo', going back to Eva Peron's mass demonstrations in 1945. From here, we hop on a bus towards the colourful vibrancy of La Boca. Settled originally by Italian migrants, the area is famed for its bright houses, a ramshackle affair of corrugated iron, and the tango dancers who perform in the streets. We'll visit a local 'cafecito' during our tour, taking a traditional Porteno elevenses of coffee and pastries. We end our morning in bohemian San Telmo, with its small one-way streets, historic mansions and walls covered with street art. Our Tour Leader will suggest lunch at a traditional restaurant here, for those who wish. It's worth noting that this city tour is approximately 5 hours in length, and will involve several hours of walking, in order to see the highlights. The afternoon is free to explore, with much on offer. You could stay and explore San Telmo, which is particularly interesting when the antiques market takes over the cobbled streets. Or visit Recoleta Cemetery, the final resting place of Argentine luminaries, including Eva Peron. For book lovers, the Ateneo Grand Splendid, set in a converted theatre, is one of the most impressive bookstores in the world. This evening we have an opportunity to enjoy something of Buenos Aires' nightlife, perhaps going to a tango show and soaking up the pulsating rhythms of this most Latin of dances.

Today we transfer to the airport for the flight to Ushuaia, the world's southernmost city, spectacularly located on the Island of Tierra del Fuego at the very tip of the South American continent. Beyond this remote port lies the Beagle Channel and then the open waters of The Drake Passage, where the deep rich waters of the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans converge amidst some of the most challenging seas on earth. This afternoon is free to explore the city as you choose. You may wish to stay on land, visiting what was once the old prison of Ushuaia, now the Maritime Museum and an excellent portrait of the harsh realities of life on these unforgiving oceans. Alternatively, there are three different boat trips off the coast that allow you to get closer to the awesome nature in this part of the world: 1. Harberton Estancia and Isla Martillo. This excursion takes you to the oldest ranch in the Tierra del Fuego, dating back to the late 1800s, before boarding a boat to the Isla Martillo, home to a large penguin colony. This excursion is run by the only company permitted to let visitors disembark and walk among the penguins. Magellanic penguins are the largest colony, but you may also see Gentoo penguins or King Emperor penguins. On the way back to land, you should also spot sea lions at a neighbouring island. 2. Beagle Channel catamaran and penguin spotting. This option sees you taking a catamaran boat through the Beagle Channel, cruising around several different islands wildlife spotting, including sea lions and cormorants and the two penguin colonies on Isla Martillo. Although you don't get off the boat, you will see all the Magellanic and Gentoo penguins on the island, as well as, luck permitting, the King Emperor penguin. 3. Beagle Channel boat to Sea Lion island and Bird Island. This last boat trip doesn't take you out to see the penguins, but it is an amazing overview of the area's wildlife. The bleak scenery of the Beagle Channel will really come to life on this trip. All excursions here in Ushuaia should be pre-booked before departure. Important note: flight schedules in Argentina change constantly. You may depart in the very early hours for your internal flight, and if so breakfast will be taken in flight rather than at the hotel. Alternatively, you may have a longer morning in Buenos Aires and depart in the late afternoon. If that's the case then we will switch the itinerary around so that the boat excursions are done tomorrow afternoon.