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
"Your guides are the most professional and knowledgable I've encounted. Sebastian rolled with the unexpected and helped the entire group of strangers work like a team. We had a host of crazy circumstances... one backpack didn't make it from Santiago, severly people got stomach problems, one guest left his camera in a restaurant that closed for New Years, there were dietary restrictions I'd never even heard of, we had marathon runners and mortals. Sebastian handled each and every event and guest with professionalism and kept us all together as a unit. This is my TENTH active group trip and I have to say... Sebastian Rocks!!"
Cynthia Chamberlin (Orlando, Florida, USA) Dec 2009 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
"The favorite part for the kids was seeing the animals, especially the wild tortoises, and sea lions and birds too. I was surprised to find that the snorkeling was my favorite part because we saw sharks, turtles, etc."

Lesley Caslin (Hamilton, Bermuda) Jul 2009 Tortuga

Outdoor Activities: Argentina & Chile

Patagonia hiking, fishing and climbing is some of the best in the world - but there's plenty of outdoor options for Patagonia vacations.

Patagonia hikingPatagonia vacations should have a certain amount of kicking back and enjoying the views - but if you're going to travel all the way down here, get outside and get into it! Here's a rundown of the most popular outdoor activities Argentina and Chile have to offer, such as Patagonia fishing and climbing. If Patagonia hiking sounds like you, have a look at our 14-day Condor: Patagonia adventure trip for our picks of the best places to bike, kayak and trek in Patagonia.

Patagonia Fishing

Patagonia fishing is something many fly fisherman all over the world only dream about. Fishing aficionados seek trout, salmon and native species like trahira in the rivers and streams of the Andean foothills from November through May. Hot spots include the waterways around Punta Arenas, Puerto Natales, Torres del Paine and Tierra del Fuego, where you will find experienced local guides.

Patagonia Hiking and Trekking

Patagonia hiking is unparalleled in terms of grandeur and unspoilt beauty and there are numerous tracks to choose from. Cloud piercing peaks, lush forests, barren plains, mirrored lakes, massive glaciers - well, you get the idea. There are some quite well-known walks, such as the 4-day "W" trek in Torres del Paine National Park, but also numerous spectacular day hikes to really get into the landscape. Don't miss Los Glaciares National Park.

Hiking and trekking in Patagonia is also a great way to encounter some of the unique wildlife in the region, such as penguins, wild horses, elephant seals, sea lions, guanacos (a relative of the llama), and much more. For a slightly less extreme experience with great Mediterranean style weather and more creature comforts, head to the Lakes District in northern Patagonia.

Climbing Patagonia

There are several famous peaks in Patagonia that mere mortals wouldn't dare even dream of, but there are also plenty of opportunities for more moderate rock climbing in Patagonia. There's no shortage of rock, especially in the western part of Argentina, and much of it still unexplored.

There are hundreds of big established routes on the more well known peaks, such as Monte Fitz Roy, Cerro Torre, Fortaleza, the Torres del Paine, Escudo and Cuernos del Paine, but often extreme weather conditions and ice can make these climbs appropriate for more experienced climbers.

Bike Patagonia

Lots of varied terrain makes it easy and enjoyable to bike Patagonia. Rent bikes in El Calafate to explore Los Glaciares National Park on 2 wheels or there are popular circuits in Bariloche, Los Alerces National Park, San Martin de los Andes and Ushuaia. In the Lakes District, there are plenty of old farm roads to take you from town to town.

Kayak Patagonia

There are so many waterways and bodies of water in the region, it's only natural to take a break from terra firma and kayak Patagonia. Popular options include the Strait of Magellan from Punta Arenas and Grey Lake or the Serrano River in Torres del Paine National Park for glacier watching.
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