Itinerary

Day 1: Arrive in Buenos Aires

Morning arrival at Ezeiza International Airport (EZE) in Buenos Aires, Agentina’s largest city, often referred to as the Paris of South America.  Your guide will meet you at the airport outside customs and assist with the transfer to our boutique hotel, the Loi Suites, in the heart of Recoleta one of the city’s most elegant and interesting districts. After time to settle in there will be an optional walking tour of Recoleta. In the evening we’ll reconvene for an orientation and a welcome dinner at a local restaurant.
Lunch, Dinner, Loi Suites Recoleta

 Day 2: Puerto Piramides

In the morning we’ll transfer to the domestic airport and board our flight to the Patagonian city of Trelew.  From Trelew we’ll travel by van to the village of Puerto Pirámides in the Peninsula Valdés Nature Reserve and check into our Eco-Hotel. After lunch we will board a semi-rigid hulled inflatable boat for the first whale watching experience of the trip during which we will encounter groups of calving southern right whales.  The sheltered waters of the two gulfs, Golfo San José and Golfo Neuvo formed by the land mass of Peninsula Valdes extending into the South Atlantic provide ideal conditions for whales to mate and breed and play a crucial role in viability of this once endangered species. In the evening we’ll gather for a Patagonian welcome dinner and a detailed discussion of the next several days in the field.
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner / Eco-Hotel

Day 3: Golfo San José

After an early start we depart Puerto Pirámides and drive through the nature reserve to Punta Tehuelche on  Golfo San Jose where we will start our kayaking adventure. On the drive we will see some of the terrestrial species that make a visit to Peninsula Valdes so special, groups of both guanaco lamas and ostrich like Darwin’s Rheas can be seen in the arid steppe rangeland along the roadside. After arriving at Punta Tehuelche we’ll have safety briefing we’ll get familiarized with our expedition kayaks and set out for an afternoon paddle.
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner / Camp

 Day 4: Cerro Monticulo & Playa Fracaso

Kayaking eastward we enjoy the unfolding view of coast the peninsula’s exotic coastline where broad sandy beaches alternate with cliffs and dramatic rock formations. Many of these are home to colonies of nesting seabirds. Along our route we will likely encounter small colonies of sea lion as well as southern right whales, often mother/calve pairs. Throughout the trip mothers and calves can often seen very close to shore, a behavior thought to possibly be a defense against detection by the orca pods. Arriving at our campsite at Cerro Montículo we’ll settle in an then explore the adjacent Playa Fracaso wetland sanctuary where it’s possible to observe nearctic migratory shorebirds: the red knot, white rumped sandpiper, and Hudsonian godwit among others.  This wetland is a rest and feeding stop on the long journey from the Arctic to Tierra del Fuego. We’ll enjoy dinner tonight amid the spectacular scenery of this remarkable campsite.
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner / Camp

Day 5: Beach El 39

Breaking camp we set course for El 39 a broad beach in a spectacular setting between two dramatic headlands. Beach El 39 is a southern right whale research area managed by the I.C.B. (Instituto de Conservación de las Ballenas), an Argentine whale conservation organization affiliated with Whale Conservation Institute & Ocean Alliance. The station is staffed by both local and visiting scientists who are involved in a range of research projects. We’ll have an opportunity is visit the field lab and hear about current research. The beach is backed by hills studded with fossils of prehistoric sea creatures including foot long bivalves. In the late afternoon we’ll head back out offshore for a sunset paddle which particularly beautiful because of the illumination of the coast cliffs reflected in the glassy waters of the gulf.
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner / Camp

 Day 6: Punta Conos & El Puente

After hearty breakfast we’ll set off for our longest paddling day. Following the coastline we head to Punto Conos named for the distinctive cone shaped hills that surround the point. The calm water here allows us to glide silently very close to a shoreline of low cliffs topped by a distinctive broad leaf forest known as restingas that is inhabited by black crowned night herons, cormorants and other birds. Paddling on we pass through the striking natural arch of El Puente (“the bridge”) and land at a small beach for lunch. After eating and relaxing we’ll kayak to a short distance to a large sea lion colony. Our approach encourages the curiosity of these gregariously social animals and they approach our kayaks, swimming around us and under our keels. After the sea lions we’ll paddle back to camp at El 39 arriving in time to relax, enjoy an afternoon snack and socialize before dinner.
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner / Camp

 Day 7: Layover at El 39

Today is a blend of activities kayaking, hiking and or simply relaxing on this beautiful Patagonian beach. There will be opportunities to paddle with southern right whales to get that perfect photo if you haven’t already. As well there will be naturalist led hike to bird and wildlife watch. Tonight’s dinner is a special Patagonian meal served in the wild splendor of this remote beach camp. Gazing up at a crystal clear southern hemisphere night sky ablaze with stars while listening the breathing of passing whales is truly unforgettable
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner / Camp

 Day 8: Tour of Peninsula Valdés

After an early breakfast we’ll pack up to begin our land exploration to see more of the wildlife wonders of Peninsula Valdez. Our route takes us the Magellanic penguin colony at Punta Norte and our first sight of elephant seals at Caleta Valdés. Along the way we’ll see exotic steppe flora and fauna of the steppe.
This richly diverse day of wildlife encounters wraps up with our arrival at Estancia Rincon Chico (rated by National Geographic Traveler as one of the best hotels in South America). Located two miles from Punta Delagada the shoreline of the Estancia (ranch) is the site of one of the greatest yearly congregations of elephants seals in the world (in the thousands). The hotel has hosted film crews from around the world, movie stars and even royalty. Our final Patagonian dinner is amid the hotel’s décor that reflects the history of this remote and roughed region.
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner / Estancia Rincon Chico

 Day 9: Elephant seals and return to Buenos Aires

Our Peninsula Valdes expedition is timed to visit this very special place during mating season when the massive “Beach Master” male elephant seals defend their harems against interloping males. This is one of the world’s great wildlife spectacles and our stay at Estancia Rincon Chico provides us unparalleled access. Departing the Estancia we’ll journey back to the airport in Trelew for our return flight to Buenos Aires.
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner / Loi Suites Recoleta

 Day 10: Departure

Transfer from hotel to Ezeiza International Airport to catch homeward-bound flights.

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