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Rio Express: Pan de Azúcar y el City Tour Panorámico

This tour starts with a tour of the city center of Rio de Janeiro, with a highlight for the Sambodromo, where the parades of the samba schools take place during the most famous carnival in the world, the Metropolitan Cathedral in the shape of a pyramid With an internal diameter of 96 meters and a height of 80 meters, and the traditional Cinelandia with the Municipal Theater, the National Library and the Assembly building. After touring the center, the tour continues through the neighborhood of Flamengo in the direction of Urca, where the other symbol of the city of Rio de Janeiro is located: El Pan de Azucar, which in Guarani means “high mountain, Tip and isolated “. It was at the foot of this hill that the city of Rio de Janeiro was founded by Estadio de Sá in 1565.
The visit to the Sugar Loaf was made in two stages by a cable car, the famous “Bondinho”, suspended by steel cables. The first stage connects the Playa Vermelha to the Morro de Urca located at 215 meters high and from where you can see Guanabara Bay and its islands, Flamengo Beach, Morro del Corcovado and the bridge that connects Rio to Niteroi. From the Morro de Urca begins the second part of the ascent to the Sugar Loaf at 395 meters high where you can see a unique view of Copacabana Beach and Santa Cruz Fortress and some beaches of Niteroi. After staying on the balconies of the Sugar Loaf you will proceed to the descent using the same cable. At the foot of the hill will be waiting for your transport to take you back to the hotel. End of the walk.

Duration: 5 hours

It does not include a stop for lunch

4X4 BALCONES DE CALAFATE (MEDIO DÍA)

Route: 15 Km. Duration 03 hours. We leave from the hotels in El Calafate to complete a route of approximately 35 kilometers on the line of hills behind the village. The footprint leads us through landscapes of steppe, reaching heights up to 1050 meters above sea level, where we marvel at the variety in tall vegetation. Our first stop is in a natural lookout where passengers enjoy a panoramic view of El Calafate and the central body of Lake Argentino. The tour will offer views of the Andes Mountains and the glacier accumulation zone, towards the Boca del Diablo (narrowest part of the lake, towards the Upsala arm) and if it is clear we will see the Fitz Roy and Torre mountains in El Chaltén and we can contemplate the flight of the Condors. Continuing our ascent we arrive until the Labyrinth of Stones. This is a formation of the Cretaceous period dating back to 85 million years old, once river bed where today we can find fossil remains that refer us to that past. From there we start the descent down the north slope of the hill and we arrive at the Stone of the Hats, curious concretions of iron that only are in 4 places around the world. We return to El Calafate descending without losing sight of the imposing Lake Argentino.

WINTER OPERATION (JULY AND AUGUST):
DEPARTURES: Every day except Tuesdays

DESCRIPTIVE: The excursion allows clients to ascend Cerro Huyliche where they can enjoy wonderful views of El Calafate and El Lago Argentino. Once there in La Confiteria, customers will be able to hire some of the winter activities (snowmobile, tubing, rackets, etc.)

OPTIONS:
OPTION FULL DAY:
Departure from Calafate 10 AM (pick up by hotels 15 minutes before) and return 5.30 PM. Time to enjoy the snow in the Activity Center: 5 hours. Includes snack and lunch.

HALF DAY OPTION:
Exit 1: Departure from Calafate 10 AM (pick up for hotels 15 minutes before) and return 1.30 PM. Time to enjoy the snow at the Activities Center: 1 hour. Snack included

Departure 2: Departure from El Calafate 2 PM (pick up by the hotels 15 minutes before) and return 5.30 PM. Time to enjoy the snow at the Activities Center: 1 hour. Snack included

Full Day Buzios (Duración 10hs).

Buzios is a sophisticated spa with a bustling nightlife and cultural. With several inns, hotels, bars, restaurants, art galleries, the city offers many facilities and excellent infrastructure for the comfort of its visitors. Buzios has an eclectic, unique and hectic night life. The city, which became the largest center of fun in Rio, attracts thousands of tourists every year. The famous “Rua das Padras” is the most intense meeting point of the city, with people of all ages, where different languages ??can be heard at different rhythms. The gastronomic option is several and of very good quality, from simple and local places like very sophisticated places. In the Alameda Bardot can be observed the statue in tribute to the actress Brigitte Bardot who spent her vacations in this spa and who was spontaneous promoter of these beaches.

Amérian Executive Mendoza Hotel

Amérian Executive Mendoza Hotel of a four-star superior category is situated on the main downtown landmark of the City of Mendoza, opposite to the square called Plaza Italia, 5 minutes from the pedestrian area, and the business and financial area, where the main banks and the renowned gourmet area on Arístides Villanueva Road, a site known for its numerous pubs and restaurants are located.
Amérian Executive Mendoza Hotel boasts an elegant double-height lobby, where marble finish and furniture details recreate the best of European design. It has 70 fully equipped rooms designed to offer an excellent service to business and pleasure travelers.

Services: Air conditioning – Internet Wi-Fi – Laundry Services – Safe Box – Business Center – LCD TV by cable – Gym – DDI and DDN – Amenities – Minibar – American Buffet Breakfast – Pool – Sauna – Meeting Room – Lounge for Events – Solarium

UPSALA KAYAK EXPERIENCE

Available from November till April – Please check departure days

The Upsala Glacier is one of the most important in the National Park and the second largest in Argentina. With a surface of approximately 850 km2 and the high of its front of 60meters over the level of the lake. Its main front was previously visited by sailing the Upsala channel and had been unseen for several years because of huge lumps of icebergs impeding it. This glacier is famous worldwide due to the amount of ice bergs that break away and float as large ice rafts in the Argentine Lake gathering together side by side.

The Upsala Kayak Experience program is done totally in the Upsala cannel of the Argentine lake and allows sailing in double touring kayaks with the possibility to view giant icebergs, always following safety protocols. With professional guides and small groups of passengers, a two hour guided excursion, with slow paddling and adapted to the levels of each group and weather conditions. You will also be able to see flora and fauna of the area (condors, eagles, wild cows, and lenga and ñire trees) as well as passing closely to many cliffs and mountains.

Full Day Angra dos Reis.( Duración 10 hs )

The history of Angra dos Reis is replete with ships loaded with riches, colonial missions and pirate attacks. This region is divided in the districts of Angra, Cunhambebe, Isla Grande and Mambucaba. The view is exclusive: waters in shades of blue combined with the green of the Atlantic Forest make Angra a charming setting. Ideal for the practice of water sports or for those who prefer to rest and contemplate the nature of the place. It is often possible to see dolphins swimming near the beaches and invite the visitor to a sea bath. In its islands, bars, restaurants and shops with local crafts are waiting for the tourist. A boat ride on the main islands of the region is obligatory for those who wish to enjoy the beauty of this region.

CERRO FRÍAS (MEDIO DÍA)

Open almost all year long – check available activities according to season

The “Estancia Alice” (ranch) is located 25 kms West of El Calafate, and close to a vast nature reserve in the mountains, near to the National Park Los Glaciares. Our trips are a great opportunity to discover the region. This area is considered a unique part of Patagonia. The dense glacial colour of the Argentino Lake offers stunning vistas of the circling mountains. Majestic landscapes await you on the Cerro Frias trip.

The Frias Mount, 1095 mt high, is located in the middle of a valley, offering unique views of the Argentino Lake and Andes Mountains. The hills of the National Park Los Glaciares with panoramic views is breathtaking. Also potencial wildlife viewing.

All our trips depart from your hotel in El Calafate. After a short trip by the same route to Perito Moreno Glacier, you’ll arrive to the gate of the Estancia Alice. Fantastic scenery surrounds as you climb up Cerro Frias.

In the Estancia we offer 4 guided activities (4×4 -Trekking – Zip Line – Horseback riding) at the same time, by differents trails, allowing to the groups to do differents activities and join them to eat together, at the end of each activity.

Departing in the morning gives you the possibility of enjoying a typical barbecue accompanied by vegetables grilled in oven baked goods. On the other hand people who take the afternoon excursion will find inside the quincho of the Alice estancia a place where they can relax and enjoy the snack bar service (not included) before coming back to El Calafate.

Restrictions: This excursion is suitable only for 6 to 60 year-old people. It is not recommendable for overweighed persons. Pregnant women, people with heart illnesses, coordination and motricity problems or other kind of medical issues will not be allowed to take this excursion.

Selva Jeep Aventura en el Parque Nacional de Tijuca

Just a few steps from the streets of Rio lies the thriving oasis of Tijuca, the world’s largest urban rainforest. Contained within the city limits, this lush jungle is home to hundreds of species of plants and wildlife. You will nter the Tijuca Rainforest in an open jeep, truly emphasizing the contrast between the stone jungle of Rio and the lush green backdrop of Tijuca.
Feel the refreshing spray of the Monkey’s and Taunay Waterfalls, pausing to soak in impressive views of Rio and its surroundings at Vista Chinesa. No visit to the rainforest would be complete without actually hiking the trails under the canopy and interacting with this amazing ecosystem. Enjoy an approximately 20 to 30 minute hike along a pleasant trail as you see the plants, animals, butterflies and birds of the rainforest.

Includes: Roundtrip Transfer to Most Hotels in São Conrado, Leblon, Ipanema, Copacabana, Barra, Santa Teresa and Centro

Casa de Uco Vineyards & Wine Resort

Casa de Uco Vineyards & Wine Resort is the result of a wonderful dream. A great vision inspired by the Uco Valley’s exceptional natural resources, where we honor the birthplace of Argentina’s most outstanding wines. Mountains, with superior services and amenities, and daily adventures.

Casa de Uco Wine Resort is comprised of 7 rooms, 9 suites, and vineyard bungalows, each with extraordinary views of the incredible landscape. The secluded bungalows, equipped with a private terrace and garden, are nestled inside the vineyard away from the Resort, offering the utmost privacy with still all the resort services and amenities

We welcome all wine enthusiasts to unearth the magic of Mendoza’s Uco Valley, experiencing the region’s extraordinary wines, following the whole process from grape harvesting to the creation of a unique high quality wine brand, under the careful eye of the industry’s top experts.

At Casa de Uco Vineyard & Wine Resort we invite our guests to live and breath wine culture, in an unbeatable setting at the foothills of the Andes Mountains.

BIG ICE (DÍA ENTERO)

Journey to the center of the Glacier

Departures: from October till April

The excursion begins in the embarking pier located in “Bajo de las Sombras” port, about 6 km before the glacier Balconies- where you embark for a 10 minutes navigation across the Rico Arm, enjoying breathtaking views of the Perito Moreno glacier’s front walls.

After checking the gear, we get ready, pick up the crampons and walk following the lateral moraine, for an hour and a half, until we reach the access to the glacier. After fitting harnesses and crampons on our footwear we start the ice trekking.

There is a breathtaking view of the immense plateau of ice.

During the walk you will be introduced to a number of features within the ice., huge moulins, crevasses, caves, and above all the special feeling of exploring the middle of the ice.

Expert bilingual mountain guides will always lead you, looking after your safety and teaching you the “ways of the ice”.

You will hike for about 3 hours and a half, and spend some time having lunch somewhere on the ice.

Back on the moraine we start our descent back to the port, to take the boat and navigate for 20 minutes, very close to the southern wall.

We are glad to be able to offer one of the most spectacular Ice-hikes in the world.

Important notes: This walk is aimed at fit people between 18 and 50 years of age. There are 7 hours of walking through diverse terrains.

What to bring:
Sunglasses, sun screen, gloves, hat, raincoat jacket, hiking boots, backpack (40lts), food and water bottle.

OBS.: Not included: National Park entrance fee, lunch, clothes and personal stuff.