Patagonia - Apex Expeditions Patagonia really is the “end of the world,” as it is known by...

PatagoniaMarch 15 – 29, 2015

W W W. A P E X - E X P E D I T I O N S . C O M 8 0 0 . 8 6 1 . 6 4 2 5 / 2 0 6 . 6 6 9 . 9 2 7 2

© Ig

nacio

Yúf

era

Photos: Torres del Paine National Park; Puma.

If Patagonia really is the “end of the world,” as it is known by adven-

ture travelers, that end is certainly climactic. This pristine and wild

region at the southern-most tip of South America has no shortage of

jaw-dropping sights, from the Seussian spires of the Towers of Paine,

to the pods of Blue Whales off Chiloé Island. Its haunting landscapes

have been chronicled by the likes of Darwin, W.H. Hudson, and St.

Exupéry. Our 2015 itinerary will take you to the iconic highlights of

this remote region, focusing on the staggering array of wildlife on

offer—from the ubiquitous Llama-like Guanaco and the majestic

Andean Condor, to the Orcas as they hunt sea lions off Peninsula

Valdés, and the ghost-like Puma of Torres del Paine National Park.

Expedition Over view


Sunday, March 15: Buenos Aires Arrive in Buenos Aires and transfer to the Caesar Park Hotel in the stately Recoleta district. In the afternoon, explore the city’s many storied neighborhoods, including the cobbled streets of San Telmo, colorful La Boca, and the political center of this “Paris of South America.” Though known for its cosmopolitanism, Buenos Aires also has its share of natural delights – the Costanera Sur Ecological Reserve near down-town is home to over 300 bird species, and on an easy stroll down its paths you can see Rufous Hornero (the national bird of Argentina), Chalk-browed Mockingbird, Baywing, the surprisingly bold Guira Cuckoo, and much more. Return to the hotel for a welcome dinner and overnight.

Monday, March 16: Trelew / Punta Delgada, Peninsula Valdés Depart Buenos Aires on a flight to Trelew, in Argentina’s wildlife-rich Chubut Province. Upon arrival, drive through a perfectly treeless landscape, the endless knee-high scrub interrupted only by windmills and the occasional Guanaco. But it’s Valdés’ coastline that earns it its reputation as one of South America’s great-est wildlife treasures. Punta Delgada is home to about 14,000 Southern Elephant Seals, and is the only colony in the world reported to be growing. Southern Right Whales use these protected waters for mating and calving. The South American Sea Lion breeds here in large numbers between February and April, a fact that the area’s Orcas are well aware of. Our arrival coincides with the Orcas’ “attack season,” and our primary focus here will be to witness their unique and spectacular hunting technique, often visible right from land. Dinner and overnight at El Faro Hotel.

Tuesday, March 17: Punta Delgada, Peninsula Valdés As South American Sea Lions give birth along the peninsula’s coast, pods of Orcas arrive offshore, poised for a most dramatic hunting ritual—riding waves onto the beach at Valdés’ northern tip, the Orcas hurl themselves onto the beach to snatch at sea lion pups, dragging them out to sea, often in full view of gathered spectators.

I t inerar y

Photos: Orcas Hunting South American Sea Lions, La Casa Rosada in Buenos Aires, Peninsula Valdés.


For the best chance at seeing these Orcas in action, we will dedicate most of our stay on Valdés to viewing them, making sure to be front and center at high tides, as this is typically when their activity peaks. Dinner and overnight at our hotel.

Wednesday & Thursday, March 18 & 19: Peninsula Valdés Enjoy two additional full days for yet more Orca action and to explore the peninsula, declared a Natural Heritage Site by UNESCO. Patagonian Grey Foxes, Greater Hairy Armadillos, Magellanic Penguins, Patagonian Hog-nosed Skunks, and Emu-like Lesser Rheas can be seen roaming the brush, and the peninsula has a high diversity of bird species. Dinner and overnight at our hotel.

Friday, March 20: Bariloche Today, we drive back to Trelew for a flight west to San Carlos de Bariloche in a region affectionately called “Argentinean Switzerland.” In the winter, this picturesque city and its surrounding mountains are synonymous with skiing, but Bariloche’s pristine beauty is apparent year-round. With its charming stone and wood houses and local breweries and chocolatiers, this “queen” of the Andean Lakes District offers plenty to explore. We will dine and overnight at the luxurious Alma del Lago Hotel, overlooking Lake Nahuel Huapi.

Saturday, March 21: Lakes Crossing Today, we make our way toward Chile via a series of pristine mountain waterways. There are twelve major lakes in the area. Between the lakes are rivers, waterfalls, and thermal hot springs. We will cross the Andes at the stunning Tronador Hill, with its nine massive glaciers. We will have a great view of the region’s six volcanoes, Villarica being the highest at 9,395 feet. Aside from its likeness to the Alps, early German immigration to the area gave it a distinctly German feel. We stay the night in Puerto Varas, known locally as the City of Flowers, its German heritage clear in its architecture and abundant gardens. Overnight Solace Hotel.

Sunday, March 22: Seno Reloncaví After an early breakfast, we drive south along the shore of Seno Reloncaví to the small fishing port of La Arena where we board our vessel for a full-day excursion of wildlife viewing and photography. The nearby Farallones National Marine Sanctuary is a breeding sanctuary for Imperial, Rock, and Red-legged Cormorants as well as an important haul-out station for South American Sea Lions, which can number many hundreds of individuals. Our main target, however, will be to see and photograph the Pincoya Storm Petrel. Discovered in 2011 during an international expedition led by Peter Harrison, this is the first completely new seabird species to be unearthed in over 60 years. Throughout the day we will be laying chum slicks as we journey west across the inland waters of Seno Reloncaví to attract the Pincoya Storm Petrel and other seabird species such as Pink-footed and Sooty Shearwaters, in addition to other albatross and petrel species. By late afternoon we will have made a complete transit across Seno Reloncaví and will reboard our bus to drive to Ancud, on the island of Chiloé, for dinner and overnight at Panamericana Hotel Ancud.

Monday, March 23: Ancud / Puñihuil Misty Chiloé is a unique and storied island, having evolved independently from the rest of Chile, thereby escaping much of its colonial influences. It’s well known for its mythology of witchcraft, ghost ships, and forest gnomes. As we drive west to Puñihuil, Chiloé’s distinctiveness will reveal itself in the architecture we pass: the famous Chiloté wood shingles and palafitos, houses mounted on stilts along the water’s edge. At Puñihuil, we embark local boats and head out into the Pacific for a wildlife-watching trip. Our main target will be the Blue Whales that can be seen here

Photos: Magellanic Penguins, Lakes Crossing, Puerto Varas with Osorno Volcano, Pincoya Storm Petrel.


frequently between January and April each year. We’ll also keep an eye out for the South American Marine Otters, Magellanic and Humboldt’s Penguins, that live on the tiny islands off the coast, as well as the many species of birds found here, which may include Southern Royal Albatross, Buller’s Albatross, and Salvin’s Albatross, which visit South America from their New Zealand breeding grounds at this time of year. Return to Ancud for dinner and overnight.

Tuesday, March 24: Puerto Montt / Punta Arenas / Puerto Natales Drive to nearby Puerto Montt, and catch a flight south to Punta Arenas, an oddly sprawling metropolis at the edge of the Strait of Magellan. From here, you travel north along the Ruta del Fin del Mundo, the Highway to the End of the World, to Puerto Natales, the gateway to Torres del Paine National Park. From the gentle slope where Natales is situated, one can see the Riesco Mountain Range, the Paine Massif, and the Southern Ice Field Glaciers. Stay tonight at the elegant Hotel Costaustralis, on the edge of the astonishing Última Esperanza fjord.

Wednesday, March 25: Torres del Paine National Park Often deemed the eighth wonder of the world, Torres del Paine National Park is a marvel among Patagonian marvels. A UNESCO Biosphere Reserve at the southern tip of the Andes, the park houses remarkably diverse landscapes, from the other-worldly granite spires of the “horns and towers of Paine,” to the massive icebergs at Lago Grey; from the virgin lenga forests, to the eerily deserted pampas. Torres del Paine is home to the Chilean Huemul Deer, Patagonian Hog-nosed Skunk, Chilla and Culpeo Foxes, Lesser Rheas, Black-chested Buzzard-Eagles, and Andean Condors back from the brink of extinction. Explore the park for three days, concentrating on its eastern portion in hopes of tracking the park’s most elusive inhabitant, the Puma. Dinner and overnight at Hosteria Las Torres.

Thursday, March 26: Torres del Paine National Park Torres del Paine is a remote refuge where it’s common to see relaxed and inquisi-tive animals at close range. Laying eyes on the mighty Puma, however, is something else. Even with populations into the hundreds in a relatively small area, the Paine Puma prefers to keep its reputation as “the ghost of the Americas.” Still, March is the best time to find them here, as females are actively hunting to provide food for their growing cubs. To see a female Puma and her cubs against the magnificent mountain backdrop is an experience not soon forgotten. Expert trackers will help us find and follow Pumas at a prudent distance. Dinner and overnight at our hotel.

Friday, March 27: Torres del Paine National Park Though the southern summer sun sets around 11 pm, three days will barely feel sufficient to see all there is to see in this magnificent park. On this, your last full day in the park, a variety of activities will be offered. You may choose to hike to the Salto del Toro waterfall to view the rushing glacial waters of Lago Pehoe pouring into Lago del Toro. Or you could opt for a more ambitious hike to Valle Ascencio, at the base of the granite massif where the iconic Towers of Paine rise from a glacial lake. Or travel to the painted caves near Lago Sarmiento for some of the best chances to view the Andean Condor. Dinner and overnight at our hotel.

Saturday, March 28: Punta Arenas Today, pack up for a scenic drive back to Punta Arenas. Celebrate with a final dinner and overnight at historical Hotel Cabo de Hornos, overlooking the Strait of Magellan.

Sunday, March 29: Punta Arenas After a last perusal of Punta Arenas, depart on your flight homeward.

Photos: Blue Whale, Puma, Chilean Sorrel, Torres del Paine National Park.

© Ig

nacio

Yúf

era


Peter HarrisonPeter Harrison has led expeditions throughout the world, from the Arctic to the Antarctic and everywhere in between. Peter has written and illustrated over a dozen books, of which Seabirds: An Identification Guide, is considered the bible of seabird identification. Peter is only one of a handful of authors to both write and illustrate bird books, but Peter Harrison is so much more than just a “bird man.” In addition to being a professional birder, entrepreneur, artist, author and screenwriter, Peter has devoted much of his time to conservation efforts. In recognition of his outstanding work in natural history and his dedication to conservation projects, Peter was invited to Buckingham Palace and honored with the title, Member of the British Empire by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. More recently, Peter was invited to Westminster by the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds to receive their prestigious Conservation Gold Medal Award. This honor is bestowed upon one individual each year in recognition of their support and dedication to wild bird protection and global habitat conservation. Past recipients have included Prince Charles and Sir David Attenborough. Exploration and discovery remain a driving force for Peter and during a recent expedition to Chile he led a six-person team to locate, catch and describe the first completely new storm petrel species to be discovered in nearly 100 years, the Pincoya Storm Petrel. It is safe to say that with Peter leading the charge, adventure always abounds.

Shirley MetzShirley Metz’s careers and accomplishments have spanned the globe. Born in Minnesota, she grew up in Europe and Hawaii, graduating from the University of Hawaii in Honolulu. Shirley became a certified diver at age 16 and while at UH did shark research earning her degrees in Marine Biology and Communications. She met her first husband in Hawaii with whom she founded Hobie Sports. She also developed several active clothing lines and consulted to companies such as The North Face.

In early 1988 Shirley visited Antarctica and became inspired to work in Antarctic conservation. To raise awareness, Shirley became a member of an international expedition that would attempt to ski 800 miles from the edge of Antarctica to the South Pole. On January 17, 1989, the nine-member expedition arrived at world’s end; Shirley made history and her way into the Guinness Book of Records as the first woman to ski overland to the South Pole. A member of the Explorers Club and The Society of Woman Geographers, Shirley continues to raise awareness and support for international environ-mental and cultural projects. Following a chance meeting in Antarctica in 1990 Shirley married Peter Harrison and together formed the successful travel firm, Eco-Expeditions. Together with four partners, they also founded Zegrahm Expeditions, a small-ship expedition company.

Shirley continues to lead expeditions, both private and commercial. As a pro-fessional photographer Shirley documents her travels and lectures on various topics, including her South Pole expedition.

“Our lives have been enriched

by the 17 journeys we have

undertaken with the Apex team

leaders. Simply put, no one

does expedition travel better.”

– Jim M., California

Your Expedition Leaders


Jonathan RossouwJonathan Rossouw is one of the world’s most experienced expedition leaders, having guided wildlife trips in over 150 countries on all seven continents. He combines a legendary energy and enthusiasm with a broad knowledge of all aspects of natural history, gained from three decades spent in the pursuit of the world’s mammals, birds, reptiles and coral reef fishes. Indeed, having seen over 8,000 species of birds, 800 mammals and 2,000 coral reef fishes, he will likely experience more species of vertebrate animals than anyone in history!

A medical doctor by training, Jonathan was born and raised on South Africa’s east coast and spent his family vacations in the games reserves of Zululand. It was here that the foundation was laid for a lifelong passion for wildlife and wild places and, in 1996, a “short break” to cycle across South America from Buenos Aires to Cusco led to two years spent guiding at eco-lodges in the Amazon and doing bird surveys in the Andes. He returned to Africa to start a birding travel company, before joining Peter Harrison and Shirley Metz, to assist in expanding their global portfolio of natural history destinations. An accomplished photographer, Jonathan’s images have appeared in many books and magazines, and he has co-authored birding site guides to Uganda, Southern Africa and Madagascar.

Giovanna FasanelliA life-long love affair with the sea propelled Giovanna into the world of marine biology, conservation, underwater photography and natural history documentaries. From an early childhood exploring the rock pools of South Africa’s shorelines she immigrated to Australia and wasted no time in getting her PADI Dive Master certification. She has since logged over 1,000 dives throughout the Indian and Pacific Oceans.

Whilst completing her marine biology degree at Australia’s James Cook University, Giovanna worked at an underwater film company, gaining experi-ence tagging Tiger Sharks and Green Turtles in the Coral Sea and assisting with film production. This opportunity spawned a decade-long career in television, presenting the latest developments in aquaculture and fisher-ies science. In 2013 Giovanna worked with National Geographic Channel in co-presenting a documentary series, Australia: Life on the Edge, as the marine biologist and submarine pilot showcasing stories from around the continent’s shores.

Giovanna’s passion for wilderness and animals has driven her to explore habitats around the world from Snow Leopards in the Himalayas to Komodo Dragons in Indonesia and Mountain Gorillas in Uganda. Fast approaching 100 countries visited, Giovanna has extensive experience as a guide and natural-ist all over the world. A talented photographer and skilled writer, Giovanna’s work is regularly featured in several Australian magazines. Her deep love and concern for the environment has led her to be an advocate for conservation.

Your Expedition Leaders

A colorful and varied

assortment of adventurers,

ornithologists, explorers and

naturalists, the Apex team has

only one mission and that is

to deliver the very best travel

experience possible.


Patagonia March 15 – 29, 2015$12,970 Per Person Rate

$15,120 Solo Rate

15 Days Trip Length

24 Guests Group Size

Buenos Aires / Punta Arenas Start/End

Expedition Details

IncludedApex Expeditions’ rates include all accommodations; all meals, activities and excursions as described in the itinerary;

services of four Apex Expeditions leaders and local guides throughout the itinerary; air within Argentina and Chile,

as noted in the itinerary; all gratuities, local beer and local wines at lunch & dinner; airport transfers, permits and

entrance fees; all taxes.

Not IncludedCosts not included in the price of your Apex expedition include travel to and from start and end point of trip;

premium brand drinks and liquor; travel insurance (Trip Cancellation and Interruption as well as Emergency Medical

and Evacuation insurance); airport departure taxes; excess baggage fees; passport and/or visa fees; items of a per-

sonal nature (phone calls, laundry, souvenirs, etc.); and independent travel arrangements pre- or post-trip.

Payments & Terms20% of the trip cost will confirm your place on the expedition. The final balance is due 150 days prior to departure.

All prices are quoted in U.S. dollars and must be paid in U.S. dollars. Per person pricing is based on double occupancy.

The solo rate is paid by participants who specifically request single accommodations and is subject to availability.

If you are traveling alone and wish to share accommodations, we will try to match you with a roommate of the same

gender. However, if a roommate is not available, the published solo rate will be charged. Upon confirming your

reservation you will be required to pay the published Solo Rate, if we are able to pair you with a roommate, the

applicable difference will be refunded at the time that the final trip payment is due for all participants. Please note that

solo accommodations are limited and cannot always be guaranteed throughout. For our full set of Terms & Conditions,

please visit our web site at www.apex-expeditions.com.

One-of-a-kind adventures to the world’s most fascinating places. Join us.


Patagonia March 15 – 29, 2015

Person 1: (Primary Contact)

Passport Name:

Preferred Name:

Date of Birth:

Email Address:

Mailing Details:

Address:

City: State: ZIP Code: Country:

Phone: Fax:

Double Solo

Person 2: (If applicable and at same address, otherwise please submit a second Reservation Form.)

Passport Name:

Preferred Name:

Date of Birth:

Email Address:

Deposit Information:

My deposit check is enclosed (20% of total tour fare)

Charge my deposit to my: VISA MasterCard American Express

Card #: Expires: CCV Code:

Name on Card:

Signature:

Please return this completed form to Apex Expeditions. E-mail: [email protected] or Mail: 3275 36th Ave SW, Seattle, WA 98126

Reser vation Form

Patagonia - Apex Expeditions Patagonia really is the “end of the world,” as it is known by...

Documents

Transcript of Patagonia - Apex Expeditions Patagonia really is the “end of the world,” as it is known by...