19 OCTOBER 2023: TRAVEL TO ARGENTINA
Elfyn will greet you as you board the coach in Wales and will travel with you to London Heathrow and accompany you for the duration of the tour. The direct flight to Buenos Aires with British Airways is scheduled to depart at 22.25hrs - flight time approx 14 hours.
20 OCTOBER 2023: ARRIVAL IN BUENOS AIRES
You are scheduled to land at 08.25 and after clearing immigration, you will be met by your local tour manager who will be with you for the duration of the trip. You will then transfer to your hotel, where rooms will be available after 4pm for the next 4 nights. The rest of the day and evening is at leisure. Guaranteed early check-in available on request and supplement will apply, please ask for more details.
21 OCTOBER 2023: BUENOS AIRES EXPLORATION (B, D)
Start the day visiting the City of Buenos Aires and its main attractions on a half day city tour discovering the areas of Palermo; The region known as Bosques (Woods) and home to many embassies, Recoleta; where you can find its elegant buildings and the most exclusive area of the city; Obelisco; The classic postcard of Buenos Aires and centre of porteños daily life, Plaza del Mayo; Government Palace, Metropolitan Cathedral and City Hall, San Telmo; History and “Tango” neighbourhood, Caminito; Artists area & Puerto Madero; The most modern neighbourhood of the City. This evening transfer to a local restaurant to enjoy international cuisine, regional dishes, desserts and a wide selection of Argentine wines at the La Ventana Tango show, where guests will experience the sensual dance of Tango, which reveals the spirit of Buenos Aires’ beginnings… But first enjoy an hour Tango lesson so you can learn all you need to know about this beautiful dance.
22 OCTOBER 2023: VISIT TO AN ESTANCIA (B, L)
Today enjoy a full day tour around an Estancia in the Pampas to learn about the gaucho lifestyle. Arriving at the “cradle of tradition” you shall experience the great contrast between the hectic metropolis you just left and the quiet charm of another Argentina, that of the gauchos. Proud of its authenticity and old-time ways, friendly San Antonio de Areco has a tangible sense of history and heritage. Estancia - the way of the gauchos: Family owned and operated, this historical cattle ranch has managed to open its gates to visitors without losing its cows, authenticity, love for horses, vegetation and the way of the gauchos. There are over 70 horses at the property, mostly “criollos” which means that, no matter how well acquainted you are with these animals, or if this is your first time amongst them, you will be able to have a close encounter; riding gaucho style, getting a tour of the grounds from a carriage, or simply petting them. Do have a cow! - The moment you open your nostrils to the stories the breeze is telling, you will know that you made the right choice. In the pastoral setting of the Estancia, and grilled slowly over wood, the traditional free-range beef, grants the opportunity to feel and be filled like a true Argentino! Enjoy a delicious BBQ lunch known as an asadao. Chances are you will be returning to Buenos Aires with a deeper understanding of Argentina, its idiosyncrasy, customs, history and the warmth of its people… or that you will have the biggest siesta on your way back digesting all the beef you ate and all the vino you drank at lunch!
23 OCTOBER 2023: FREE DAY (B)
Day at leisure. Optional tour to Colonia del Sacramento in Uruguay – supplement £105 per person.
At 7am pick up in Buenos Aires hotels and transfer to the port to board the boat to Colonia City. Upon arrival in Colonia del Sacramento, enjoy some city sightseeing including the Historical neighbourhoods and museums. Then drive along the coastline, visit to San Carlos real bull’s square. Then there will be time to have lunch before embarkation and arrival at port Buquebus Buenos Aires terminal. Transfer from the port to the hotel.
24 OCTOBER 2023: TRAVEL TO PUERTO MADRYN (B)
After breakfast check out and transfer to airport for your 10.15am flight to Trelew. Upon arrival, scheduled to be 12.15 transfer to Puerto Madryn and enjoy a half day city tour before checking into the hotel for the next 2 nights.
25 OCTOBER 2023: PENINSULA VALDES (B, L)
Depart early in the morning towards the Wildlife Reserve Peninsula Valdes, a UNESCO World Heritage site. After a one-hour drive, arrive in Puerto Piramides before continuing, the journey to Estancia San Lorenzo, a traditional sheep farm, where a spectacular lamb for lunch (included) can be tasted. After lunch, visit a stunning Magellanic penguin colony with about 500.000 penguins located 7km from the main house. The next stop is the Wildlife Reserve Punta Norte, where depending on the time of year, see Southern elephant seals, Southern sea lions and Orcas. Finally, leave for Punta Cantor to observe Caleta Valdes, a large inlet that stretches along the peninsula’s Atlantic coastline. On the way back, make a stop at the Visitor Centre situated on the Isthmus Carlos Ameghino.
26 OCTOBER 2023: TRAVEL TO TRELEW (B)
Today you will depart Puerto Madryn and transfer to your hotel in Trelew and check in for the next 6 nights. Rest of the day at leisure to relax and explore the town.
27 & 28 OCTOBER 2023: EISTEDDFOD (B)
The next 2 days are spent at the Eisteddfod. During the two-day festival, visitors can see artists from around the country and the world, especially from Wales that come to rank the event and contribute to the strengthening of the tradition. You may even be able to participate in the Eisteddfod! You can show your art in Welsh, Castilian, and others languages.
29 OCTOBER 2023: GYMANFA GANU FESTIVAL (B)
Spend the day at the Gymanfa Ganu Festival in Gaiman.
30 OCTOBER 2023: PUNTO TOMBO PROVINCIAL RESERVE (B, L)
Set off early to the Punta Tombo Provincial Reserve, driving along the Patagonian roads for approximately 2hrs to one of the most varied sea bird colonies in the world. Stay at the reserve for no less than 3 hours as you walk along the paths and visit the Punta Tombo Interpretive Centre. Lunch is included here. In the evening, return to the hotel.
31 OCTOBER 2023: DOLPHINS & DOLOVON (B, L)
This morning, travel to Rawson, the province capital city and visit the Rawson Port for Dolphin watching. Next, visit the Egidio Feruglio Paleontology Museum, one of the most important in Latin America specializing in paleontology. Afterwards, continue travelling to Gaiman, a village situated 15km west on the Chubut River’s northern bank. This small town is a very attractive place where the Welsh traditions can still be found at its best. Its typical Welsh tea and cake, its buildings (very well preserved since the times settlers disembarked and settled down in the valley), all in the beautiful setting featured by the valley. After this visit, complete the day by travelling west to Dolavon, along the road that goes around the farmland, there are numerous farms devoted to agro-tourism, offering varied and fine craftsmanship. Return to Trelew in the evening.
1 NOVEMBER 2023: ESQUEL (B, L)
Check out of the hotel after breakfast and board the coach for the drive across Los Altares, you drive from the east of Argentina practically to the Chilean border in the west. The drive will be approximately 8 hours and a boxed lunch will be included. On arrival in Esquel, check into the hotel for the next 2 nights.
2 NOVEMBER 2023: TREVELIN (B)
After breakfast depart from Esquel to visit the Town of Trevelin, along with the Valley of October 16, the Nant Fall Waterfalls (Provincial Reserve), the Nant Fach Flour Mill Museum and the Jordan Family Salmoniculture Station. Over the years, Trevelin has also become an important tourist attraction in the Los Alerces region, offering visitors a wide-range of services, accompanied by the warmth characteristic of the inhabitants of Patagonia. Nestled in a valley of agricultural-livestock production and surrounded by the splendor of the Andes. Back in 1885, a contingent of fifty Welsh families arriving from the coastal region of the province of Chubut, occupied one of the most picturesque and fertile valleys of the Cordillera area, and thus continued with their proposed objectives when leaving their native Wales in 1865: preserve their traditions, their language and their religion. After more than a century, these objectives are fully achieved, being observed in the community and even in the younger generations, the daily practice of language, customs and also their religion. You will also visit the Nant Fach Museum (entrance payable locally) and the Trevelin Regional Museum along with a stop at a Welsh school. At the end of the day, travel back to Esquel.
3 NOVEMBER 2023: BARILOCHE (B, L)
Transfer to Bariloche with a visit en-route to the Leleque Museum. Pablo Korchenewski gave birth to the Leleque Museum. This very much-loved character arrived in Argentina from his hometown in Ukraine in 1948 and five years later he settled down for good in the south of the country. He lived in Río Turbio, where he was a miner, in Puerto Madryn and in other corners of Patagonia. He had always been eager to collect objects that proved the life of our ancestors in the region. After years of collecting and sorting old documents and valuable archaeological collections containing more than 14,000 items, that record became the greatest wealth of the Leleque Museum. On arrival in Bariloche, check in for 1 night’s accommodation.
4 NOVEMBER 2023: BARILOCHE TO BUENOS AIRES (B, L)
This morning, the tour starts in Bariloche, riding down Ezequiel Bustillo Ave; a winding paved road along the Nahuel Huapi lakeshore. Here, see Playa Bonita, from where Huemul Island can be spotted. Continue along this road for another 10 km, and after passing through some beautiful scenery, arrive at Campanario Hill. Here, a chair lift will take you to the top of the hill (1050m) from where you can enjoy one of the most impressive views of this region - Nahuel Huapi and Moreno lakes, El Trébol lagoon, San Pedro and Llao Llao peninsulas, Victoria Island, Otto, López, Goye and Catedral hills, and the main town, San Carlos de Bariloche. Further ahead, and after leaving San Pedro peninsula behind, reach Llao Llao peninsula, with its namesake hilltop hotel and San Eduardo Chapel, two architectural jewels of this region, and go by Pañuelo Port, the starting point of many lake excursions. Further on go by a golf course, cross the bridge over the Angostura river that joins Nahuel Huapi Lake with Moreno Lake, and pass by López Bay at the base of López Hill. Further on, get to the Panoramic Point, a belvedere with a magnificent view of Moreno Lake and Llao Llao peninsula. Then cross the bridge over Moreno Lake at a narrow end, follow the shoreline of El Trébol lagoon, and 2km ahead you meet Ezequiel Bustillo Ave. again and return to Bariloche. In the afternoon, transfer to Bariloche Airport to board the flight to Buenos Aires scheduled to depart at 17.30, landing 2 hours later. Upon arrival, you will be met and transferred to your hotel.
5 NOVEMBER 2023: HOMEWARD BOUND! (B)
After breakfast check out of the hotel and transfer to the airport in Buenos Aires in time for your 13.35 hours and direct flight home.
6 NOVEMBER 2023: TRANSFER HOME
Your flight is scheduled to land at 06.55 and after collecting your baggage, board the coach for the last leg of the journey home to Wales.
KEY: B - Breakfast / L – Lunch / D - Dinner.