ARGENTINA: MORE THAN A TANGO
A cultural tour of Argentina

Argentina, the second biggest state of South America, has a surface of 2.8 million square kilometers. The country has 33 million inhabitants and nearly half of them live in the surroundings of Buenos Aires, one of the most cosmopolitan cities of the world. Argentina is a fascinating land of contrasts where the exceptional is almost commonplace. It’s home to an abundant wildlife, enjoys a unique culture, and delights in an astonishing variety of landscapes from tropical rain forest in the north to the remote vastness of the Antarctic in the South. Three big landscapes form the country: the Andes in the west, the northern and western flatland as well as the wide plains of Patagonia in the South. The country that is stretched in length has three climatic zones: tropic in the north, moderate in the center and polar in the extreme South. The Indian aborigines only live in the north-western Andean region and in the north-east province of Misiones. The rest of the population is mainly composed of European immigrants. The official language is Spanish, but in bigger towns English is also quite common.

Day 01: Arrive Buenos Aires
Upon arrival in Buenos Aires, transfer from the airport to the hotel. Check in starts from 1400 hrs.
Overnight: Hotel Americas Towers (3 nights)

Day 02: Buenos Aires
After breakfast you will visit the most important sites during a city tour. You will drive to the Plaza de Mayo, with the Casa Rosada, the pink house, seat of the government, the Cabildo (town hall) and the Metropolitan Cathedral, home of the Archbishop of Buenos Aires. The tour goes onto the district San Telmo. Until 1888 this part of the city was a river port, today San Telmo is one of the most modern and desired places to live in Buenos Aires. The worker district La Boca is famous for its colourful tin-houses and its history as living district of Italian seamen and dock workers in the 19th century. The Barrio Norte called Recoleta is the quarter of the rich of Buenos Aires. On the cemetery of Recoleta one will find the grave of Eva Duarte who became famous as Evita Perón. Continue along the widest avenue in the world, the Avenida 9 de Julio, and continue to the Plaza Lavalle with the Federal Court of Justice and the Teatro Colón, to Palermo with its parks and gardens. Return to the hotel. (B)

Day 03: Buenos Aires
Enjoy a complete day out in the pampas! After a 2 hours drive to Los Cordales we will reach the Estancia Santa Susana, where the guests will be welcomed by Gauchos with a drink. There is time to visit the Estancia and the daily life of the Gauchos will be explained. Sulky and horse rides will show you the charm of Argentine countryside, its scenarios, and the incomparable wild aroma. Then follows a rustic Barbecue (Asado) lunch with fine meat and sausages. After lunch, a folklore show will present regional music and dances. During the Fiesta Gaucha guests will experience these men's agility with their horses on the Estancia. After the afternoon coffee and tea time you will return to Buenos Aires. (B, L)

Day 04: Buenos Aires / Trelew ((Flight) / Puerto Madryn (Drive)
In the morning transfer to the national airport and flight to Trelew. Upon arrival in Trelew transfer to Puerto Madryn, located on the Atlantic coast, to your hotel.
Overnight: Hotel Peninsula (2 nights) (B)

Day 05: Puerto Madryn
Full day excursion to discover the wildlife and scenery of the nature reserve Valdés. Unusual geographic features exist in Peninsula Valdes, providing the ideal scenery for the proliferation of several unique botanical and zoological species. Every year hundreds of whales swim through the southern seas to seek shelter in the quiet waters of the Nuevo and San Jose Gulfs during their breeding season. Thousands of sea-elephants roam along miles of beach on the east side of the peninsula. Rock, sand and gravel create the ideal setting for the world’s only land colony of these impressive mammals. (B)

Day 06: Puerto Madryn / Trelew (Drive) / Ushuaia (Flight)
In the morning visit Punta Tombo, one of the world’s largest colonies of Magellan Penguins on the main land. They are just everywhere: on the hills, on the road and in the sea - thousands of penguins. Later on continue to the airport in Trelew for the flight to Ushuaia, the world’s southernmost city on Fireland.
Overnight: Hotel Los Nires (2 nights) (B)

Day 07: Ushuaia
In the morning you will go on a half day tour to the Tierra del Fuego National Park, where you will get the impression as if time goes slower than anywhere else. The long stormy winters and the width of the sky formed a very simple and modest way of living. The National Park is crossed by many rivers which flow into the Beagle Channel. Drive through the park to enjoy the landscapes and have a little walk. (B)

Day 08: Ushuaia / Calafate (Flight)
Transfer to the airport and flight to El Calafate . Pick up at the airport by our local guide and transfer to the hotel.
Overnight: Hotel Posada Los Alamos (2 nights) (B)

Day 09: Calafate
Today guests will go on a full day tour to the Perito Moreno Glacier. After a drive through the National Park Los Glaciares one arrive all of a sudden in a forest full of colours, before one sees - equally unexpected - the glacier Perito Moreno. This is one of the few glaciers that are still growing. Every 4 to 5 years it covers the gap between the mainland and itself and grows into the Lago Argentino. Eventually the ice cannot resist the enormous pressure of the water and crashes with a frightening noise. One can watch this glacier spectacle every day when single ice blocks fall into the lake. Considering that the glacier is 5 km long and 70 m high one can imagine the noise this makes. Here we will have 2 hours to experience the glacier before driving back to Calafate. (B)

Day 10: Calafate / Buenos Aires (Flight)
Transfer to the airport for the flight back to Buenos Aires. Upon arrival transfer to the hotel.
Overnight: Hotel Americas Towers (1 night) (B)

Day 11: Depart Buenos Aires
After breakfast you will be transferred to the airport for your flight out. (B)

Departure Dates
2010 English Speaking Departures Jan 08 & 29, Feb 12 & 26, Mar 19, Apr 02, Sep 10 & 24, Oct 15 & 19, Nov 12 & 26
Inclusions
Tour Price Includes Tour Price Does Not Include Hotels as mentioned (or similar) Meals as mentioned (B=Breakfast L=Lunch) All sightseeing and transfers on seat-in-coach basis Services of local English Speaking Guides Entrance fees to the sites included in the itinerary Any airfares & Airport taxes Visa fees / Insurance Tips / Beverages
Tour Price
We accept payment in US $ (US Dollars), CA $ (Canadian Dollars) or equivalent EURO (for clients outside North America). Bestway Tours & Safaris offers conversion rate protection. Once full payment has been received, and no modification has been made to the tour itinerary, we will honour that rate. For complete payment procedures, please download Bestway_Payment_Info.pdf Note: to read this file you must have Adobe Acrobat.
Departure Double Occupancy Single Room Supplement 2010 US $ 2495 US $ 995
Estimated International Airfare - International airfare is NOT included in this tour
Canada - West Coast N/A USA - West Coast US $ 1400 Canada - East Coast N/A USA - East Coast US $ 1200
Participants
This tour operates on a minimum of 02 participants.
Notes
Customised Itinerary If you would like to have a tour on dates other than the above ones or with a customised itinerary, please contact us and we will be happy to work out an exclusive program for you. Foreign Language Departures Please contact us for information on French, German, Italian and Spanish speaking departures. You may e-mail us at bestway@bestway.com or call us at 604.264.7378. Residents of U.S.A./Canada may call us toll free at 1.800.663.0844.