Best Of

Part 2

Day 6: Puerto Natales to El Calafate. Fairly early start for the bus ride to Argentina. Very smooth border crossing. We had a later lunch at a restaurant in El Calafate - very good - I had the trout. We checked into the Hotel Xelena - lovely water views. I liked the Hotel. I have read comments about thin walls, but that was a non-issue for us, as everyone staying there appeared to be similar tourists who were early to bed and early to rise.

At 4:45 p.m. the group went by bus to the Glacier Museum. Very informative and fun visit. Back at the Hotel, we were provided a snack in our room with a bottle of wine. We supplemented with a salad we bought at the bar area and split. Very pleasant to relax and enjoy while watching the sun fading over the Lake.

Day 7: Upsala Glacier and Estancia Cristina. We had another good day for a cruise to a glacier. It was partly cloudy and there was no wind. The cruise on Lake Argentino was nice, and then we headed to the Upsala Channel, where we could view the glacier and many stunning icebergs. Lots of picture taking. Then, we sailed to Estancia Christina.

Our TD had previously advised us of an option of a long hike at the Estancia. It is a 9 mile hike above the Lake and then down into Fossil Canyon and then to the Estancia. We were advised that the hike is challenging because the hikers needed to move quickly to get down to the Estancia for the sail back. Four from our group, including my husband and me, chose to take this optional hike. (Sometimes there is no availability and sometimes the weather precludes it). Our TD discussed it with the group a couple of days prior, as it needed to be reserved.

The four of us were driven in a 4 by 4 to the Upsala Viewpoint area, and 4 non-Tauck people joined us for the hike. The guide recommended using one hiking pole. The rest of the Tauck group said they also were driven up to the viewpoint, then to the Estancia for a nice lunch, lots of wine, a mate tea demonstration and a visit to the museum. Positive reports from the group.

The hike we took was not as difficult as the one we took two days earlier (although there were a couple of rocky areas where the guide recommended sitting down and sliding). As we were told, it was challenging because the guide kept a very fast pace. She did stop several times in Fossil Canyon to discuss the many marine fossils we could see. Between the fossils and the changing colors of the rocks, the canyon was beautiful and otherworldly. The latter part of the walk was through streams and meadows and trees starting to show their fall colors. We did have some drizzle at around the halfway point. I really enjoyed the hike, and appreciate being given the choice to take it. We made it back to the Esctancia for a quick refreshment and then back to the boat. Dinner at the Hotel at either the bar or the restaurant at previously reserved time. We chose the restaurant, and were able to enjoy the Thursday night Tango show. A great day.

Day 8: Perito Moreno Glacier. Very nice day, partly cloudy, no wind. This glacier is amazing and spectacular. It was calving quite a blt. Our guide led the group around the walkways and there was free time to just wander and watch the glacier. We had a designated time to meet up at the Park restaurant, which we could walk up to (30-40 minutes) or take our bus. We walked, wanting to savor every moment of the views. Good lunch at the restaurant with wine. We went back to the Hotel and rested/napped before our group dinner in town. Others chose to be dropped in town for shopping and meet the group at the restaurant. Good dinner at the Mako restaurant.

Day 9; Our flight to Buenos Aires was rescheduled to 2 hours later, so we had a relaxing early morning. It was another nice day, and my husband and I took a long walk along the lakeside promenade prior to the group's 10:30 departure for the airport. We arrived in Buenos Aires at 4:30 p.m. Traffic was heavy on Saturday evening, but we did have a short tour of the sights. Very good included dinner at the Sofitel. Nice room and the Sofitel is in the nice Recoleto area.

Day 10: The group had a very full day tour to, first, San Antonio de Areco to visit a silversmith. I found it interesting. It was another lovely day and we had time to walk around the small town, visit the Church, enjoy the ambience. Then, we drove to an Estancia, where we had an excellent barbeque lunch and gaucho show. Back to the hotel to freshen up. We had our farewell reception at the Hotel, and then were transported to the dinner and Tango show, which was outstanding.

Day 11: We had a leisurely last morning because we had a 4:00 p.m. pickup for an evening flight. We took our time with breakfast and then walked over to the nearby Bascilica and Cemetary and visited both. The Cemetary, where Eva Peron and other notables are entombed is very interesting. We then went back to the Hotel and checked out (late checkout not available) and left our luggage with the bellmen. We enjoyed a light lunch and walking around the Recoleto area, and through some of its beautiful parks and the shopping center across the street from the Sofitel. Back at the hotel, we freshened up and changed clothes in the spa area. The pickup was early and we had a smooth ride to the airport. Uneventful trip home on American Airlines to JFK and then Chicago.

Clothing: we were prepared for windy, cold and rainy weather. While we were remarkably fortunate to have good weather, we still used most of the outerwear that we brought, sometimes alone and sometimes in various combinations. We both brought a puffer jacket, a fleece and a good raincoat. We both brought good hiking pants and I had a pair of stretch hiking pants that can be worn alone or layered. For the two long hikes, we wore lined water resistant hiking pants, and they worked out very well. Many in the group had rain pants that they wore as a second layer. We brought both hiking boots and hiking shoes and wore both. At times I wore a buff, a beanie and light gloves. I brought, and did not use, a wool scarf and heavy gloves. My husband also brought and used a baseball cap and I did sometimes wear a sun hat with chin strap.