PHOTO OF THE MONTH:

Photo gallery of pictures from our ACTIVE NEW ZEALAND adventure vacation
Iguana Jan 2010
Travelling on two wheels is a great way to meet the locals and slow down to smell the coffee.

MEET OUR GUIDES:

ACTIVE NEW ZEALAND adventure travel guide
Sebastian Hansen
"Sebastian was the best trip leader that we had so far on all our trips. He was very entertaining and knowledgeable. Always ready and eager to help you with any problem that came along. He made sure everyone was happy on this trip. His planning for everything was always done ahead and with care. Everything he did shows that he really enjoys what he is doing and is doing it very, very well. "
Krystyna & Joseph Wcislak (Willowbrook, Illinois, USA) Jan 2010 Condor
News Clips and Reviews
Patagonia - Day One
by Dan Cooperman

Just got back to my room from dinner after my first full day of the Condor tour. It was a lot of driving as we had to make our way from Punta Arenas, which is where I flew in to from Santiago, to Puerto Natales, the launching spot (well almost) for our W hike, a four day/three night, 70 km hike deep into Torres del Paine National Park. Dating back 12 million years, Torres is a hiker's delight located deep in Patagonia. Millions of years ago magma (insert Dr. Evil saying “liquid hot MAGMA”) intrusions failed to make their way to the earth's surface, cooling underground into resistant granite. In the interim, water, ice and snow eroded the softer surrounding terrain to liberate the massive spires for which the park is known. Read more...

Hiking in Patagonia
"We usually go on hiking trips; this was our first "multi-sport," and it was great (even when the activity was difficult). The expertise and care of our guide (Andres) probably exceeded what we have experienced in more "upscale" trips. This is not a four star hotel trip and we didn't expect that. It is a trip where you really get to know Costa Ricans like Carlos at Coyote Beach and see things off the beaten path."

Donna Mitchell (Florida, USA) Feb 2009 Iguana

El Chalten, Argentina

Patagonia's El Chalten is known as the trekking capital of Argentina.

El Chalten is located at the foot of Monte Fitz Roy and is surrounded by glacial lakes for picture perfect vistas in every direction. Getting to the "Trekking Capital of Argentina", at the north end of Los Glaciares National Park, recently got a bit more civilized after they paved the 215km road from the nearest town of El Calafate. But it didn't make the jaw-dropping views up to the jagged granite peaks in front of the Southern Patagonian Ice Fields (the most important continental ice mass after Antarctica) any less surreal.

Bring sturdy hiking boots as there are dozens of options here from day hikes and lookout points to expert climbs and multi-day treks in and around Los Glaciares National Park. Or visit nearby Lago del Desierto to step into a landscape painting of glaciers, waterfalls and forest.

You'll spend 2 nights in El Chalten on the Condor, a 14-day Patagonia adventure that starts and ends in Punta Arenas.

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