Get it while it's green – M&G's Real Patagonia

The primordial beauty of Patagonia is waiting for you...

This spectacular biodiverse region at the end of the planet remains just as pristine as it was when Charles Darwin first recorded its biological wonders aboard Fitroy's Beagle in 1843.

But things are about to change. Two Chilean corporations, owned and backed by billion-dollar foreign conglomerates, are poised to enter the region for the first time with superhighways and electrical power lines next year.

M&G cofounder Rick Montgomery has explored the region extensively and has written about his travels for such magazines as Men's Journal and Travel and Leisure. In 2006, Rick and the other co-founder of M&G, Alessandra Gardino, led the company's first exploratory mission into what Patagonians call

“Real Patagonia.”

This is an expedition for a small group of travelers who are interested in going far off the beaten path see ancient, virgin landscapes that will soon dissappear forever.

We are accepting NO MORE than 13 travelers for this exciting expedition.

We hope you will join us!

The Real Patagonia!

Departure Date: February 14 – 28, 2009, 14 days

Price: $4900 per person, double occupancy

Single supplement: $800

Price includes:

• Travel Insurance from Insure America
• All ground transportation and two Patagonian flights
• Accommodation in deluxe/best available hotels/lodges
• 14 breakfasts, 9 dinners and 3 lunches
• National Park entrance fees
• The Services of an M&G guide and Patagonian specialists
• Sightseeing and activities per itinerary

Not included:

  International Airfare (USA/Buenos Aires, Santiago/USA)

  Customary gratuities for tour guides and drivers

  Optional adventures such as rafting and horseback riding

Trip Highlights:

• Buenos Aires featuring traditional Argentine filet mignon
• Argentine Patagonia including El Calafate, El Chalten and Mt. Fitzroy
• Chilean Patagonia including Coyahaique, Puerto Tranquilo, Futaleufu and Park Pumalin.

Your itinerary:

The journey will begin in Buenos Aires. We will meet you at the airport and transfer you to our centrally-located, deluxe hotel.

Buenos Aires is a massive, complex city – well worth spending more time on a pre-trip if you're interested. Our pretrip program includes an exotic tango show and a traditional Argentine BBQ and gaucho experience.

On our first night we will meet in our hotel lobby for a welcome drink and then walk to an included welcome feast at a famous Buenos Aires steak and chop house.

On Day 2 we will fly hundreds of miles south to the windswept outback town of Calafate located in the heart of Argentine Patagonia's Los Glaciares National Park.

After a cruise through the main attractions of Los Glaciares National Park we will visit the world famous Glaciar Perito Moreno (perhaps the world's most scenic glacier, pictured below) before we make our way to El Chalten, Argentina's treking capital.

El Chalten is resemblant of Banff, Alberta or Aspen, CO in the 1940's. You will see hundreds of ruggid mountain climbers making their way to climb Mt. Fitzroy, a spectacular basalt massif overlooking mysterious Laguna Desierto. Rick Montgomery, your co-leader, is obsessed with Lake Desierto and you will learn why when you see it.

From Chalten, we will make our way over the Andes to Chile by boat, van and maybe even horse. But don't worry, unlike last year's expedition, you will not be required to ride a horse.

Once over the Chilean border, we will travel along the spectacular Carretara Austral making two stops en route for Coyhaique. The exact sightseeing and activity schedule will depend on weather and other developments but you will more than likely see the great Patagonia Ice Cap -- South America's most important glacier, the small town of Cochrane -- the fly fishing capital of Chile and the spectacular but soon-to-be-submerged village of Puerto Tranquilo .

Along the way, you will visit the threatened Rio Baker, Patagonia 's largest river, which is slated to be damned. This is one of the world's most important free-flowing rivers because many environmentalists consider it the first domino; if damned, all of the great Patagonian rivers north of it will eventually fall as well.

Throughout your journey you will enjoy Chilean BBQ known as asado, an assortment of fresh grilled fish including salmon and trout and you will visit all kinds of locals including a young family who live today much like the pioneers of the Oregon Trail 175 years ago.

From Coyhaique we will make our way north to Futaleufu, a town which has dedicated itself to outdoor river activities such as white water rafting, kayaking and fly fishing. Here you will meet one of the kayaking world's greatest legends, Chris Spelius, and take part in the activity of your choice: hiking, horseback riding, canyoning, Class IV paddling…it's up to you!

Next, we continue to Park Pumalin, the world's largest privately-owned nature reserve. Created by the radical environmentalist Doug Tompkins (the former clothing magnate who founded both the North Face and Espirt) Pumalin currently acts as a roadblock to the future industrialization of Patagonia . Tompkins is a friend of M&G guide Rick Montgomery and has vowed to use all of his formidable resources to preserve his park.

Staying in Pumalin you can stroll among ancient alerce trees (Fitzroya cupressoides), an endangered slow-growing conifer which has been called the “Redwood of the Andes .”  It is this tree that inspired the famous Chilean poet Pablo Neruda to write: “If you haven't seen the Chilean forest, you don't know nature.”

From Pumalin, you will travel to Puerto Montt where you will enjoy a tremendous farewell seafood feast. The next day, you can fly to Santiago where you will join your flight home or onwards to Peru for a post trip extension to Lima , Cusco and the amazing Incan ruins of Machu Picchu.

Itinerary Quick Look:

Dates: February 14-28, 15 days

We recommend Lan Airlines for this trip (Lan.com). Great rates from Los Angeles and Miami and you can include a stop in Peru for an extension for pennies more. Lan is part of the One World alliance and it is considered to be one of the best-run airlines in the world.

Pre-trip:
Three days in Buenos Aires . Please ask about this exciting option.

Day 1: FEBRUARY 14: fly USA/Buenos Aires

Day 2: Buenos Aires/Calafate (Gateway to the Glaciers)

Day 3: Calafate - cruise Los Glaciers National Park

Day 4: Glaciar Perito Moreno /El Chalten

Day 5: Andes crossing (L. Desierto area or Chile Chico)   

Day 6: Andes crossing – This is off the beaten path stuff!

Day 7: Andes crossing – the weather will determine our route

Day 8: The Carretera Austral, perhaps the world's “most scenic road.”

Day 9: The Carretera Austral. Visit the awesome Rio Baker.

Day 10: Coyhaique, Patagonia 's largest city.

Day 11: En route to Futaleufu, a paradise for adventurers

Day 12: Futaleufu. Optional adventures available here.

Day 13: Futaleufu/Pumalin. A virtual Garden of Eden.

Day 14: Pumalin/Puerto Montt. Seafood, seafood!

Day 15: FEBRUARY 28: Fly Puerto Montt/Santiago/Peru or USA

Post trip:
visit Santiago ( Chile ) and/or enjoy five days in Peru

Note: this itinerary is only a guideline. Weather and vehicle limitations may require that modifications be made to the daily schedule, particularly in the crossing of the Andes .

Please Contact Us for more information!