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Trek in some of the most celebrated,
rugged, remote and awe-inspiring regions of the world.
Discover the expansive pampas, wild fjords, fiery
volcanoes and spectacular glacial National Parks of
Chile and Argentina. Our 19 day Patagonia Adventure
has been designed for all levels of fitness and ability
and will blow you away in true Footloose style!
 Departing
from Santiago, experience the peaceful and cultivated
landscapes of Chile’s Wine District. Continue
to the striking Lake District and climb the snow-capped
Volcan Villarica (2840 metres) peering down into a
crater full of boiling magma. Venture south over the
Andes into Argentina and hike or bicycle into the
nearby wilderness. Next, hike amongst the impressive
granite spires of the Fitzroy Mountains in Los Glaciares
National Park. Take a boat ride up to the face of
the massive Perito Moreno Glacier, getting close enough
to hear its constant creaking and cracking as chunks
of ice break and fall into Lago Argentino below or
don crampons and walk on the glacier itself.
All this excitement is bound to
work up an appetite, so be sure to sample some fine
local lamb or fish cooked over an open barbecue fire
pit Patagonia style.
Click
here for full tour details and download dossier
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You
never forget your first encounter with a volcano -
that sudden glimpse of barren crater masking a world
of steaming vents, acrid smells and red-glowing lava
rolling and spluttering with seismic intent. Standing
at the foot of Chile's volatile Villarrica, I felt
my own fiery ball of nerves inside as I contemplated
climbing it. The hill hissed and grumbled menacingly.
A villager ambled past, and I managed to squeeze out
in my best Spanglish:
"The volcano… está
bien?"
"Maybe," he shrugged with a toothless grin.
Hardly reassuring. But then drama
and unpredictability are the hallmarks of Patagonia,
the jagged wilderness that stretches across the southern
sweeps of Chile and Argentina.
 Patagonia
is a destination with possibilities as vast as its
horizons, and it fosters hopes as high as the Andes.
Conquering a volcano in a day is just the beginning.
From Santiago to Punta Arenas you can cycle, trek,
ride and raft your way through one of nature's greatest
playgrounds. Around the gateway town of Bariloche,
hundreds of ice-blue lakes reflect their stunning
surroundings with mirror-like perfection. Heading
further south, along iconic Route 40, the landscape
transforms. Thickly-clad mountain forests brim with
prehistoric monkey-puzzle trees, and mould into a
land where the ice-age appears to still be in full
swing. Gigantic granite peaks erupt into the sky,
while colossal ice fields and fragmenting glaciers
stretch out as far as the eye can see.
 In
Argentina's grand Glacier National Park - home to
the towering Mount Fitz Roy - or Chile's equally stunning
Torres del Paine, you can don crampons and head out
to where only dinosaurs and the adventurous have walked
before. And for proof that humans somehow made it
here well before the invention of hiking boots, explore
the fascinating Cueva de las Manos (cave of hands),
a Unesco site featuring rock art painted more than
9,500 years ago.
Whatever your route, Latin America's
'deep south' promises adventure and thrills a-plenty.
Follow in Che Guevara's motorbike trails; hotfoot
it through the hills like Butch and Sundance; or -
as I did on the foothills of Villarica - settle for
a simply sensational view, a soothing maté,
and a soak in the hot springs.
Sarah Kiernan
Footloose recommends Wanderlust,
the UK's leading travel magazine. To subscribe to
Wanderlust click here
or call +44 1753 620 426.
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 Amazon
& Andes 15 days
This fantastic trip will take you from the
low swelter of the Amazon to the cool heights of the
mighty Andes, with a fabulous journey to the ruins
of Machu Picchu.
Belize
& Guatemala Adventure 7 days
Explore sacred Mayan
temples & lush jungles before snorkeling with
sharks in the crystal blue waters of the Caribbean!
Galapagos
Island Explorer 8 days
Island-hop and walk amongst
the giant tortoise of Darwin’s Galapagos on this
unique hotel-based island adventure!
Best
of Brazi 12 days
From Iguaçu’s
spectacular waterfalls and Brazil’s wild Pantanal
to Rio de Janeiro, come join us on this South American
adventure.
 Southern
Patagonia 13 days
A rugged region with pristine
lakes, dramatic mountains and awe inspiring glaciers.
Patagonia and Tierra del Fuego will take your breath
away.
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Order
our brochure here
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The
ultimate journey to the southern tip of South America.
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