While it is our intention to adhere to the route described below, there is a certain amount of flexibility built into the itinerary and on occasion it may be necessary, or desirable to make alterations. The itinerary is brief, as we never know exactly where our journey will take us, (remember we are in south america). Due to our style of travel and the regions we visit traveling, with Tierras Vivas can be unpredictable. The dossier is a general guide to the tour and region and any mention of specific destinations or wildlife is by no means a guarantee that they will be visited or encountered.
Please contact us for more information if needed.

 
1) Shorter/longer stays, hotel upgrades and extra trips all possible.
Please contact our sales department for more information or check out our Taylor Made section.

 

2) Visas: You may be required to obtain a travel visa, also all countries require a valid passport (with a minimum 6 months validity). Contact your local embassy, or consulate for the most up-to-date visa requirements, or see your travel agent. IT''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''''S YOUR RESPONSIBILITY TO HAVE THE CORRECT TRAVEL DOCUMENTATION.

3) This trip is not available between May and September due to weather conditions.

Accommodation:  Simple Hotels/hostels

Joining Hotel: 
El Calafate
Hostería Cauquenes de Nimez
Calle 303 nº 79
El Calafate - Santa Cruz
Argentina
Tel/Fax 54-2902-492306

Joining Instructions: 
Internal flights to/from El Calafate and arrival and departure transfers are not included in the price of your tour.
If you wish, at the time of booking please inform Tierras Vivas of your flight information to book this transfers.
There is a transfer company at the airport that can take you to the hotel of your choice in the centre of the town. Their counter is at the customs exit and charges about $15.

Arrival Complications: 
We don't expect any problems, and nor should you, but if for any reason you can not commence your trip as scheduled, please contact your starting point hotel, requesting that you speak to or leave a message for your trip leader/local operator or to the emergency contact details provided in this dossier. If you are unable to get in touch with your leader/local operator, please refer to our emergency contact details. If you have pre-booked an airport transfer and have not made contact with our local operatos/representative within 30 minutes of clearing customs and immigration, we recommend that you make your own way to the Starting Point Hotel, following the Joining Instructions. Please apply to your travel agent on your return for a refund of the transfer cost if this occurs.

Local Emergency Contact
If you need emergency assistance, you can contact us locally at the following phone numbers:
Cell. + 54 9 11 54 77 68 46

Should you need to contact Tierras Vivas during a situation of extremely serious need, someone from our Operations staff will answer a mobile line at any time. If for any reason you do not receive an immediate answer, please leave a detailed message and contact information, so we may return your call and assist you as soon as posible
Phone: +51 08423 5211
Mobile: +51 884 97020 20

Checklist of what to take:

      * Passport (with photocopies)
      * Travel insurance (with photocopies)
      * Airline tickets (with photocopies)
      * USD cash
      * Credit and debit cards
      * Vouchers and dossier
      * Any entry visas or vaccination certificates required
      * Camera and film
      * CD/MP3 player
      * Reading/writing material
      * Binoculars
      * Cover for backpacks
      * Fair sized daypack
      * Wool hat, mitts or gloves (preferably water proof)
      * Strong plastic bags to help keep gear dry
      * Sleeping bag (this can also be hired locally for approximately        
        $5USD/day-these are high quality and warm)
      * Anti-inflammatory tablets (e.g. Ibuprofen)
      * Thermal underwear
      * Fleece top
      * Windproof/waterproof jacket
      * 5 shirts/t-shirts
      * Sun hat
      * 1 pair of shorts
      * 1 pairs of long trousers
      * 2 pair hiking pants/track pants
      * Hiking boots/ sturdy walking shoes
      * Sport sandals
      * Sun block
      * Sunglasses
      * Toiletries (biodegradable)
      * Watch or alarm clock
      * Water bottle
      * Pocket knife
      * Small flashlight
      * First-aid kit (should contain lip salve, Aspirin, Band Aids,     
         anti-histamine, tablets for mild cases of diarrhea, re-
         hydration powder, and extra prescription drugs you may be 
         taking).

Meal Budget: 
Daily allowance USD30 for meals not included. For additional expenses, please contact our sales department for more information.

 
Emergency Fund: 
Please, make sure you have access to at least an additional USD200 (or equivalent) as an emergency fund, to be used when circumstances outside our control (eg. a natural disaster) need a change to our planned tour. This is a rare occurrence! But you never know…

Departure Tax: 
USD30 Chile
USD18 Argentina

Optional activities:

El Calafate:
Mountain bike rental $4/hour
Horseback riding $20-$60
Cruise Upsala Glacier $45 (10 Hrs)
Cruise Moreno Glacier $12 (45 mins)
Moreno Ice Trekking $75 (8 Hrs)

El Chaltén:
Horseback riding $20-$30 (half day)
Ice climbing (Tower Glacier) $60
Trip: Laguna del Desierto $15
Viedma lake and glacier $65

Puerto Natales:
Entrance Cerro Dorotea $5
Horseback riding $65 and up

Punta Arenas:
Tour Fuerte Bulnes $6
Museum entrance $2

All prices are in USD.

A Couple of Rules: 
Illegal drugs will not be tolerated on any trips. Possessing or using drugs not only contravenes the laws of the land but also puts you  at risk. Smoking marijuana and opium is a part of local culture in some parts of the world but is not acceptable for Tierras Vivas travellers. Our philosophy of travel is one of respect towards everyone we encounter, and in particular the local people who make the world the special place it is. The explotation of prostitutes is completely contrary to this philosophy. Our group leader/local operators has the right to expel any member of the group/tour if drugs are found in their possession or they use prostitutes.

Travel Insurance: 
Travel insurance is compulsory in order to participate on any of our trips. When travelling on a trip with us, you will not be permitted to join the tour until evidence of travel insurance has been sighted by your leader or local operator, who will take note of your insurance details. When selecting a travel insurance policy we require that at a minimum you are covered for medical expenses including emergency repatriation. We strongly recommend that the policy also covers personal liability, cancellation, curtailment and loss of luggage and personal effects. If you have credit card insurance we require proof of purchase of the trip (a receipt of credit card statement) with a credit card in your name. Contact your bank for details of their participating insurer, the level of coverage and emergency contact telephone number.

Responsible Travel:  
Tierras Vivas has been responsible to offering low-impact tours that benefit traveller and host alike. We work with local communities, businesses and individuals to develop sustainable tourism opportunities that help local economies while minimizing negative environmental and cultural impacts.

Keeping in Touch: 
If you need to be contacted while travelling we recommend that you set up an email address that can be accessed on the road, rather than relying on postal mail. Ciber cafes are becoming increasingly commonplace and cheap throughout the regions we visit, and have quickly become the preferred way for our leaders and travellers to stay in touch. If someone wishes to contact you in an emergency while you are on one of our trips we recommend that they contact your local booking agent, or refer to our Emergency Contact.