VETS Patagonia/Buenos Aires 2025
Main Trip Day by Day
DOWNLOAD THE TRIP BOOKLET— CLICK HERE!!
February 2025
We are delighted to announce our VETS Adventure Series expedition to Patagonia, with visits to both Chile and Argentina, trekking on foot and in vehicles with wild pumas, plus condors, guanacos, rheas and much more in the magnificent Torres del Paine National Park.
We will also have an optional pre-trip to see the Magellanic & King Penguins and an optional post-trip to Iguazu Falls & Hummingbirds.
Veterinarians will be earning Continuing Education credit as they travel with their Families to an amazing and beautiful part of the world.
The Main Trip— Day by Day
Friday, February 7, 2025: Arrive in Santiago, Chile
Your flight will arrive in Santiago, Chile. We will check into an airport hotel at the Courtyard Marriott Chile Airport. There will be an evening welcome dinner and drinks!
Saturday, February 8, 2025: Flight to Puerto Natales and bus trip to Torres del Paine
The morning of February 8th, the group will fly a scheduled flight to Puerto Natales, then bus to Torres del Paine National Park and our hotel, the Rio Serrano.
A view out the window of the Rio Serrano Hotel
am – We will have a four hour bus ride to Torres del Paine. Based on weather and wildlife, we hope to stop and sightsee along the way. Lunch will be en route or on arrival at the resort (lunches are part of your resort fee.)
We will arrive at the Rio Serrano Hotel. We will be here for 3 nights. Fodor’s says “this grand hotel has great service and magnificent views of the entire Torres del Paine mountain range, with the Serrano River and windswept forest in the foreground. The rooms are comfortable, with knit carpets and large windows.”
We’ll have vehicles with guides for ~15 adventures with two to three visiting the pumas while the other 3-4 are visiting other critters and areas of this astounding national park.
We plan to have our first available Puma Trek (there will be a group rotation to ensure that all Attendees get at least 2 Puma Treks, if desired. Optional Activities do cost extra and they include: Base Towers Trips, Paine Lookouts, French Valley, Ferrier View Point, Grey Glacier Navigation, Serrano Navigation, Horseback Riding Nutria River, Cuermos View Point.
pm – Welcome Dinner for the VETS Adventure Travelers!!
Some Excursions available through the Rio Serrano!
Nutria River - I don't see this on the Rio Serrano website?
Sunday, February 9: Torres del Paine
“ The Andean condor is one of the largest flying birds in the world, with a wingspan that can reach up to 3 meters or more. Its plumage is predominantly black, with white spots on the wings and a large crest of feathers on the top of the head. Males and females are similar in appearance, but males are usually slightly larger.
In Chile, the Andean condor lives mainly in the mountainous regions of the Andes, in areas with cliffs and rocky slopes. It feeds mainly on carrion, that is, it feeds on dead animals that it finds in its habitat. Its incredible ability to fly for long periods and at high altitudes allows it to travel great distances in search of food.
The condor has great cultural importance in many Andean communities in Chile and other South American countries. It has been part of the beliefs and myths of pre-Columbian cultures and continues to be a symbol of strength, power and freedom for many people in the region.
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Monday, February 10: Torres del Paine National Park, in Chile’s Patagonia region, is known for its soaring mountains, bright blue icebergs that cleave from glaciers and golden pampas (grasslands) that shelter rare wildlife such as llama-like guanacos. Some of its most iconic sites are the 3 granite towers from which the park takes its name and the horn-shaped peaks called Cuernos del Paine.
am – Breakfast
Condor Viewing and Exploring the Park. Optional Excursions (“Navigations”) as noted above and on the hotel website (www.rioserrano.com.) Puma Trekking based on assigned Groups.
Lunch (on your own) at Hotel or a Box Lunch
pm – Condor Viewing and Exploring the Park. Puma Trekking based on assigned Groups.
Group Dinner at the Hotel on February 10th.
“The puma, also known as the mountain lion or cougar, is a large wild cat native to the Americas. It is an adaptable and solitary predator that can be found in various habitats, including forests, grasslands, and mountains, making it well-suited to live in the Patagonian region.
In Patagonia, the puma plays an essential role in the ecosystem as a top predator, helping regulate prey populations and maintain ecological balance. It preys on a variety of animals, such as guanacos (a type of camelid), deer, and smaller mammals.”
“One of the iconic animals that inhabit the Patagonian region is the guanaco (Lama guanicoe). Guanacos are members of the camelid family and are closely related to llamas, alpacas, and vicuñas. They are well-adapted to the harsh Patagonian climate and can be found in various habitats, including grasslands, shrublands, and mountainous regions.
Guanacos are social animals that live in herds and graze on grasses and other vegetation. They have slender bodies, long necks, and large, expressive eyes. Their fur is typically a reddish-brown color, which helps them blend into the surrounding landscape. Guanacos have been an important part of the culture and livelihood of the indigenous people in the region for centuries, providing wool and meat for various purposes.
While guanacos are native to Patagonia, their populations have faced challenges due to habitat loss, hunting, and competition with domesticated animals. Conservation efforts have been made to protect these unique animals and ensure their survival in their natural habitat.
If you plan to visit Patagonia, observing guanacos in their natural environment can be a remarkable experience, as it allows you to witness the diverse and fascinating wildlife that thrives in this remote and beautiful region.”
Tuesday February 11, 2025: Charter Flight to El Calafate
The Glaciers of Argentina!
“El Calafate is an unmissable destination for lovers of nature and impressive landscapes. It offers the opportunity to experience the region’s most spectacular glaciers up close and enjoy various outdoor activities in a stunning natural setting. El Calafate is a very popular tourist destination due to its natural beauty and the possibility of outdoor activities such as hiking, trekking and sailing. It also offers a wide variety of tourist services, such as hotels, restaurants and souvenir shops.”
am & early afternoon: We will take a Charter Flight to El Calafate.
We will be checking into the Xelena Hotel in El Calafate
Optional Tours include: Optional for-a-fee activities such as horseback riding, a zipline, visiting a Glaciarium, Cuevas Walichu, etc. are also available. At the Glaciarium,
pm- Estancia El Galpon del Glaciar— enjoy wine/cheese appetizers and dinner, with music. (TBD). Only 20 kilometers away from El Calafate, on the same way to the Perito Moreno Glacier, is an old sheep farm named “El Galpón del Glaciar”. The establishment is surrounded by 3.5 kilometers of the shore of the Lago Argentino and 1.5 kilometers of the riverbank of the Centinela River.
Wednesday, February 12, 2025: Upsala Glacier
am –Breakfast
Travel to the Upsala Glacier.
Our trip to along the Upsala Glacier includes a boat ride across Lago Argentino (the largest lake in Argentina), a private trip up the mountain in 4 X 4’s for amazing views from above Upsala, lunch at a historical sheep ranch and a return across Lago Argentino. Dinner will be at our hotel.
Lunch and our afternoon activities will be at the Estancia Cristina View Point
Lunch on Tour at the main ranch, but is not exclusive to the VETS group.
pm:- Dinner on Own
We will stay at the Xelena Hotel for three nights total.
Thursday February 13, 2025: Perito Moreno Glacier
“Perito Moreno Glacier: Located in Los Glaciares National Park in the province of Santa Cruz, this glacier is one of the most famous in the world. It is known for its dynamic nature, as it advances and retreats in a cyclical process, creating a spectacular natural show.”
am- Breakfast
Perito Moreno Glacier - Multitrekking (5 hours) or Touching the Perito Moreno Glacier (4 hours) tours
Lunch at the Perito Moreno Glacier Nativos Restaurant
The VETS Adventure Travelers will meet up at the port and stroll through the walkways to have a panoramic view of the glacier.
Group Dinner at Mako Fuego’s Restaurant or Posada Los Alamos.
Overnight at Xelena Hotel.
Friday, February 14, 2025: Buenos Aires City Tour
La Boca, Buenos Aires
am – Breakfast and then Transfer to airport with schedule flights to Buenos Aires.
We will transfer to the Palladio Palace Hotel and check-in.
There will be a Group Lunch at Sagardi Restaurante.
1/2 Day City Tour of Buenos Aires.
Dinner on Own or an Argentinian Experience (optional alternative dinner plan)
Overnight in the Palladio Palace Hotel
Saturday February 15, 2025: Optional Activities, Farewell Dinner
am- Breakfast
Optional Activities: Wine Tasting, Cooking Class, Cultural Tour, Grafitti Tour, The Fabrics of Colón (Colón Fábrica &Teatro Colón)
Lunch On Tour or On Own (depending on your Optional Activities)
Afternoon at the leisure— or . . . Shopping Shuttles!!!
Farewell Dinner at the Cafe Angelitos with Tango Show. Don’t miss a true Buenos Aires experience with a tango show at Café de los Angelitos. Lose yourself in the music of a live orchestra as you watch the dancers’ talented, dramatic interpretations. If you wish, enjoy a delicious dinner during the show.
Overnight at the Palladio Palace Hotel.
