Hostel Del Glaciar
Pioneros, El Calafate
Argentina

Los Pioneros 251
Z9405 El Calafate
Santa Cruz
Argentina

tel/fax: +54-2902491243

Pre-tour accommodation can be arranged for you at this hotel. Please contact your agent or Kumuka for details and costs.

Please note that the 22.12.07 departure from El Calafate will depart from the following hostal:

Hostal Del Glacier Libertador

Ave Libertador 587, El Calafate, Santa Cruz. Tel: ++54 - 2902 - 491792

El Calafate - Perito Moreno Glacier.  After breakfast we depart by bus en route to the Magellan Peninsula, where the entrance of  the Glaciers National Park is located. The highlight of this area is the Perito Moreno Glacier, which, because of unusually favourable local conditions, is one of the world's few glaciers in equilibrium. The glacier is a massive field of ice towering  60 metres high and reaching five kilometres across. It is an awesome sight to behold, and even more so when massive chunks of ice break off and plunge into the icy water of De los Tempanos Channel below: the roar of the gigantic ice rocks falling and crashing into the waters of the channel is a unique and memorable experience. Our bus will drop us off just in front of the glacier, allowing us to stroll along the walkways to view the glacier from different viewpoints. This is followed by a boat trip that brings us very close to the glacier ice walls ensuring that you get spectacular views from all the best vantage points. We return to El Calafate using a different route to the one we arrived by.

Glacier Adventure - Mount Torre.  Early next morning, a hearty breakfast provides us the energy for this demanding and spectacular day. All we need today are crampons, harnesses and a daily backpack containing gloves, sunglasses, water, and our cameras. We depart from our camp, crossing River Fitz Roy river using a Tyrolean (horizontal rope fixed on both sides of the river) and our harnesses, followed by a hike around the lake towards the glacier. Once on the glacier, we put our crampons on and start our trek on the glacier, visiting and exploring cracks, caverns and waterfalls. After fixing our security devices, we receive ice climbing tuition and can practice this exciting activity! (Approx 8hrs)

We then return to El Chalten around 6 pm where we take a bus to El Calafate and spend the night there.

Las Torres - Ascensio River Valley.  Today we undertake one of the most spectacular and classical treks in the park: the Torres Trail. After breakfast we transfer by bus to start of the trail, crossing a suspension bridge and trekking up the slopes of Mount Almirante Nieto, bordering the Ascencio River (approx 1 hour). After an ascent, we reach a valley and the trail leads us through the forest (approx 2 hours), in the midst of stunning landscapes, to Las Torres base camp. We trek for one hour more to reach the Las Torres Viewpoint, an amazing natural amphitheatre at the bottom of the famed vertical granite towers that reach 2800 meters height. Not only does it provide beautiful views of the surrounding mountains and valleys, but also breathtaking views of the towers. We then return along the same trail and transfer back to camp for dinner.

Torres del Paine - Punta Arenas.  We leave Torres del Paine after breakfast, bound for nearby Puerto Natales. There we have time to lunch and stroll around this little port town and its port. Leaving Puerto Natales in mid-afternoon, we continue travelling south, stopping to visit the Ottway Sound Colony of Magellan penguins before we finally arrive in Punta Arenas in the early evening.

Tierra Mayor Valley - Ushuaia. Today we visit the surroundings of the refuge area; we'll enjoy the wonderful Esmeralda (Emerald) Lagoon, where we trek through the largest peat bog in the southern hemisphere and learn about the the geography and geology of this unique area. We'll also take in the view of the Ojos del Albino Glacier, heading into Ushuaia in the afternoon.  The rest of the day will be free for you to explore the city before enjoying dinner in the World’s Southernmost City.

Hotel Antartida

Rivadavia 172
Ushuaia
Tierra del Fuego
Patagonia
Argentina
tel/fax: +54-2901-435761

Please note that the 27.11.07 departure will finish at the following hostal:

Hostal Malvinas, Gobernador Deloqui 615, Ushuaia, Tierra del Fuego. Tel: ++54 - 2901 -  422626

The Pre-Departure meeting is held at 6pm THE DAY BEFORE the scheduled departure date. The pre-departure meeting is held to discuss the tour itinerary in more detail, meet your crew and fellow passengers.

In addition the crew will check that all passengers have the necessary travel documents, insurance and immunization certificates for the tour. It is IMPORTANT that you attend this meeting. Please advise KUMUKA or your AGENT if you CANNOT attend this meeting.

All passengers MUST bring:
1. Passport.
2. Vaccination Certificate.
3. Travel Voucher.
4. Travel Insurance Policy.

Your passport is a valuable document and you should exercise extreme care in keeping it safe. We recommend that you keep your passport on you at all times, preferably in a money belt that is worn under your clothing. It must be valid for at least six months after the end of your tour and it must have at least one blank page for each visa required. We advise that you take copies of relevant pages in your passport and any visas that you may purchase in case of loss or damage. Your tour leader will require your passport details at the pre-departure meeting. Again, we recommend that you have a photocopy of all passport details, kept separate.

Vaccinations:
It is necessary to obtain an International Certificate of Vaccination before travelling. This is a record of your injections and should be issued with your first inoculation. Make sure that after each injection your certificate is dated, signed and stamped.

Compulsory Inoculations:
Yellow Fever for Bolivia, Brazil, Ecuador, Paraguay and Peru but only if arriving from an infected area.

Recommended inoculations:
Yellow fever, hepatitis A, diphtheria, typhoid, tetanus and polio.

We also recommend:
- A dental check-up prior to travelling.
- That you know your blood group in case of emergency.
- That if you have any pre-existing medical conditions which might affect you on tour, you make these known to your tour leader and your agent/Kumuka at the time of your booking.

Medical Supplies:

We advise that all passengers bring along their own personal first aid kit.  Below is a list of some recommended items:
Band Aids/Bandages, Laxatives, Upset stomach remedy, Anti-diarrhoea remedy, Panadol/Aspirin, Rehydration remedy, Antiseptic cream/powder, Sterile dressing, Any relevant course of medication such as contraceptive pills.
A complete Travellers Medical Pack can be purchased for approximately US$25 at most Vaccination Centres, Chemists and outdoor travel shops.

We suggest passengers budget for between US$25-30 per day for personal expenses, souvenirs, evening out, alcoholic drinks etc. Be aware that some countries are more expensive than others and that if you are travelling through several your expenses will vary enormously. Similarly there will be some days when you spend nothing at all and others when you exceed your budget.

Take your money is US dollars only. This the only foreign currency readily exchanged in Latin America.

Traveller’s cheques should be AMERICAN EXPRESS. American Express is the most widely accepted. Cash is far easier to exchange than Travellers Cheques, but also more risky as once lost, is irreplaceable.

However, we do recommend that you take some US dollars cash in small denominations ($10 and $20). In many countries, you may exchange US Dollars traveller’s cheques for US cash, or retrieve US dollars cash from ATMs (with a credit card), usually for a small commission but please do not rely solely on this option.

Credit cards are accepted frequently, particularly in the larger cities. They can also be used to get money from ATMs. Visa, MasterCard and American Express are the most widely accepted credit cards. Visa being the most useful.

How much should I take?

• The best rule for packing is to limit your self to a weight limit of 20 KGs. It will inconvenience you and your fellow passengers if you bring more. If your luggage does not arrive at the airport, please inform your crew at the Pre Departure Meeting.
• A frameless or internally framed backpack is the best way to carry your belongings since it is easy to lift on and off vehicles. Please note that we do not recommend that passengers bring suitcases.
• A small daypack is practical for keeping general items (e.g. camera, books, wallets etc.) at hand when your main pack is out of reach. It is also handy for day trips and excursions. This can also be used for carrying 2 days of clothing so it is not always necessary to unload the large backpacks every night.
• Sleeping Bag - a good quality sleeping bag, rated for sub-zero conditions is the best for tours, which travel through the Andes and Patagonia. You can purchase extra blankets in South America cheaply. We recommend a Four Seasons sleeping bag.
• Inner Sheet - for your sleeping bag. Can also be used as a sleeping bag when it's hot.
• Sleeping Mat - A self-inflating mat. "Thermarest" is best, although a compressed foam mat is adequate.
• Mosquito Net -if you wish to sleep outdoors. All tents have built in mosquito nets.
• We also recommend that you keep your passport, credit cards travellers cheques etc. on you at all times, preferably in a money belt worn under your clothes.

TRAVEL TIP: You might be tempted to buy a few souvenirs here and there, so leave a little room for those extra purchases!!

All types of camera film are readily available in Latin America; however, it is often cheaper to purchase it in your country of origin or through duty free.

As a guideline, most people use approximately one to two rolls of 36 per week. Fast film (200-400 ASA) may be useful at times and black & white film is nice to use for portraits of local people. A zoom lens is also useful.

Please remember, we are guests in the countries through which we travel and we may sometimes inadvertently cause offence by taking photographs without first asking permission.

Most Latin American countries have very strict rules about taking photos of army, police or any official personnel; restrictions apply at borders, bridges and any government building. Please exercise care in this regard as the penalty may be to have your film and/or camera confiscated. It is absolutely forbidden by law to take photos at any borders, as they are all active military installations.

We have put a lot of thought and effort into locating the most appropriate type of accommodation for each tour. We choose our hotels, guesthouses and hostels for their location, comfort, security and hygiene standards. All are located near the city centre usually within easy walking distance of services and facilities. Most rooms are on a twin, double or triple share basis with private bathrooms.

Accommodation is not included in the city of departure or arrival (unless within the specified tour dates). Passengers doing a combination tour will have accommodation included when passing through a joining city (maximum 2 nights) providing they have booked on the combination tour code. 

You should allow US$25 to US$40 per day to cover food and accommodation during this time.

The more you put into your tour the greater the experience you will get from your trip. It is all about participation and mucking in with your fellow passengers!

Please note: The longer Kumuka tours are combinations of shorter tours. Lima and La Paz are also pickup and drop off points for passengers so new faces and personalities will join the tours.

Under no circumstances are any illegal drugs allowed on any part of the trip. Anyone discovered in possession of any such drugs, will be asked to leave the tour immediately without question or refund.