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BotanizingArgentinePatagonia

TheNARGSToursandAdventuresCommitteehasplannedtwotourstothePatagoniaregionofArgentinainearlyDecember2020.The12-daymaintourwillstartintheNorthernLakesDistrictofPatagonia(sometimesreferredtoastheSwitzerlandofSouthAmerica),travelnorthbyvanthroughalpineandforestvenues,andthentothegrasslandsandsemi-desertatthenorthernendofPatagonia.Immediatelyfollowingthemaintour,wehaveplanneda5-dayextensiontotheareaaroundElCalafateintheSouthernLakesDistrict.Thetimingofeachtourwasselectedtocoincidewithexpectedbloomtimes.Forbothtours,well-knownbotanistandauthorMarcelaFerreyrawillbeourguide.Requeststoparticipateintheextensiononlywillbeconsideredifspaceisavailable.Amoredetaileditineraryisprovidedbelow.NorthernPatagoniaTourDates:November30–December11,2020Cost: $3,800forDoubleOccupancy

$4,700forSingleOccupancy

SouthernPatagoniaExtensionDates:December12–December16,2020Cost: $1,660forDoubleOccupancy

$1,960forSingleOccupancy

ItineraryforNorthernPatagoniaTourDay1(November30):BuenosAirestoBarilocheWewilldepartBuenosAiresatmid-dayforBariloche.Uponarrival,wewillmeetupwithanyparticipantswhohavearrivedearlierandthendrivetoascenicvista.TherewewilltoviewthebeautyofthemagnificentAndeanRangetothewest,LakeNahuelHuapiandthecityofBarilocheonitssouthshore,andtheimpactofchangesinprecipitationontheforeststothewestandthesteppeintheeast.Aftersettlingintoourhotel(wewillbehereforthenext3nights),wewillhavedinnertogetheratalocalrestaurant.Day2(December1):CerroCatedralinBariloche

CerroCatedralisabeautifulgranitemountainbestknownasthelargestskicenterinSouthAmerica.Itsnamecomesfromitsmanypeaksthatlooklikespires.WewilltravelbybustoCatedralVillageandthenascendbycabinandchairlifttoapproximately6500feetabovesealevel(fasl).Theviewfromthesummitismagnificent.Themountainisrichinalpinesandmostofthemshouldbeinbloomatthistimeoftheyear.SomeofthespecieswehopetoseeincludeCallianthemoidessemiverticillata,Violasacculus,V.petraea,Oxaliserythrorhiza,Ourisia

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fragans,Oreopolusglacialis,andseveralspeciesofNassauviaandSenecio.WewillreturntoBarilochearound6pm,andshouldhavetimetovisitdowntownbeforeorafterdinner.

Day3(December2):Route23toPilcaniyeu.Wewilltraveltotheeastthroughthelowermountainsandsteppehabitats.ThesteppeisoneoftherichestecosystemsinPatagonia.WewilltraveltoPilcaniyeu,asmalltownat60kmfromBariloche.ClosetoBariloche,wewillstoptolookforseveralorchidspeciesincludingChloraeaalpina,C.magellanicaandC.cylindrostachya,andalargeOxalisadenophyllapopulation.Lateron,wewillstopindifferentplacestolookforAustrocactuspatagonicus,Junelliasucculentifolia,J.tonini,J.patagonica,J.tridactylites,Violaescondidiensis,Sennaarnothiana,andmanymore.Day4(December3):BarilochetoSanMartíndelosAndesviaPasoCórdoba.WewillleaveBarilocheafterbreakfast.WewillinitiallybeonRoute237asitrunsalongtheLimayRiverandcrossestheEnchantedValley,averyattractivevolcanicrockformationwithrare

formationscausedbytherainandwinderosion.Lateron,wewillturnontounpavedRoute63untilitconnectswith7LakesRoute,whichwewillfollowtoSanMartíndeLosAndes.Alongtheway,wewillstoptolookforViolavolcanica,Nastanthusscapigerus,Oxalisnahuelhuapiensis,Pozoavolcanica,Mutisiaspinosa,andmore.WewillalsotravelthroughaxericforestdominatedbyAustrocedruschilensisandlateronthroughaforestwithvariousNothofagusspecies.WewillhavedinnerandspendthenightinSanMartindeLosAndes.

Day5(December4):SanMartíndeLosAndestoVillaPehueniaWewillleaveSanMartinafterbreakfast,headingtoJuníndeLosAndes,Aluminé,andVillaPehuenia.Ontheway,wecrossthesteppefollowingtheAluminéRiver(famousforkayakingandfishing).AlongthewaywewillbelookingforCalceolariapolyrrhiza,Alstroemeriaaurea,Glandulariaaraucana,andRhodophialamendocina.Intheafternoon,wewillarriveinVillaPehuenia,asmallvillagenearAluminéLakeandaveryrare,relictualforestofAraucariaaraucana.Thesceneryisbreathtaking,withmountains,crystallinewaters,lotofislandsandpeninsulasand,ofcourse,themonkeypuzzletreethatgivesamysteriousandsacredfeeltothelandscape.WewillspendtwonightsinVillaPehuenia.

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Day6(December5):CerroBateaMahuidainVillaPehuenia.AfterbreakfastwewilltraveltoBateaMahuidaMountainandasmallskicenterthatbelongstoaMapuchecommunity,oneoftheaboriginalgroupsthatliveinthisarea.Wewillstayonthe

busuntilwereachacrateratapproximately5600faslthathostsasmalllake.FromherewecanenjoybeautifulviewsofthesurroundingsandseveralvolcanoesinArgentinaandChile.ThemountainhostsalargepopulationofViolacotyledonthatgrowsamongRhodophialaandicola,Oxalisadenophylla,Tristagmapatagonica,Chloraeaalpina,C.magellanica,andmanymore.Itisaneasytowalktotheverytopatabout6200fasl,butclimbingisnotnecessarybecausethemostofthespeciesarearoundthelake.

Day7(December6):VillaPehueniatoZapalaviaPrimerosPinosPass.AfterbreakfastweleaveVillaPehueniaforZapala.WewillfollowagravelmountainroutethatrunsalongtheLitránRiverwithAraucariaaraucanascatteredeverywhere.Therouterisestocloseto6000faslatPrimerosPinosPasswherewewillstoptoseeViolacoronifera,oneoftherarestandmostspectacularrosulateviolas.OtherspecialspeciesforthisdayincludeViolatrochlearis,V.pachysoma,Calandriniaaffinis,Jaborosavolckmanii,severalspeciesofJunellia,andmanymore.IntheafternoonwewilltravelontoZapala,wherewewillspendonenight.Day8(December7):LagunaBlancaandCaviahue.WewillspendthemorninginLagunaBlancaNationalPark.TheparkprotectsagoodexampleofPatagonianSteppewithmanyinterestingplants,includingPterocactusaraucanusandP.australis,Violatectiflora,Pantacanthaameghinoi(theonlyspeciesinthisgenus),Gutierreziaspathulata,Maihueniapatagonica,andmanyspeciesofJunelliathatconvertthesteppeintoa

blueandvioletshowyfield.WewillthencontinuetowardCaviahue,withstopstoseenativeBougainvilleaspinosaandArgyliarobustaamongotherspeciesgenerallyfoundinmontaineareas(scrubforests)ratherthansteppe,andtoseeArgylliabustillosiiandTropaeolumincisum.IntheafternoonwearrivetoCaviahue,averyattractivevillagebyCaviahueLakeatthebaseofmightyCopahueVolcano,withAraucariatreesgrowingonveryshowybasalticoutcrops.WewillbeinCaviahuefortwonights.

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Day9(December8):CopahueandSurroundingsAfterbreakfastwewilltraveltoCopahueatapproximately6500fasl,averysmallvillageamongmanyfumaroles,thermalponds,andastrongsmellofsulfur.Wewillexploretheoldcrater,whichisnowanincredibleflowergarden.HerewewillfindadensepopulationofViolapachysoma(exViolacopahuensis)thesamecolorastherocks.OtherspeciesthatshouldbeinbloomincludeViolacotyledon,Olsyniumfrigidum,Ourisiaruelloides,Calandriniacolchahuensis,Gamocarphadentata,Euphrasiameaiantha,andE.chrysanthaamongalonglistofbeauties.IntheearlyafternoonwewillreturntonearCaviahuetovisitsomewaterfallsamongbasalticoutcropsandlookforMaihueniapoeppigii,Grindeliaprunelloides,andmanymore.Day10(December9):CaviahuetoChosMalalviaElCholarAfterbreakfastwewillleaveCaviahueviaamountainroadforChosMalal.ThefirststopwillbeatSaltodelAgrio,awaterfallthatemergesfromawallmadebyvolcaniccolumns.Agriomeans“bitter”becauseofthewater’ssulfurcontentandverylowpH.Duetothewater’shighcontent

ofsulfurandotherminerals,theriverbankisredandyellow.Manyinterestingspeciesgrowhere,includingRhodophialaaraucana,Chuquiragaoppositifolia,andEphedraochreata.Laterintheday,wewillencountertheNeuquénRiverandwillstoptolookforMutisiaretrorsa,Seneciogilliesii,Violatectiflora,Junelliapathulata,Retanillapatagonica,andmore.ChosMalalisasmallandquietcitywithwatercanalsthatirrigatethestreettrees,smallsquares,andapeacefulatmosphere.Wewillbeherefortwonights.

Day11(December10):VolcánTromenAfterbreakfastwewiilheadtoTromenProvincialReservewiththeTromenVolcanoatthecenter.ThegravelrouterunsalongaveryspecialvegetationhabitatknownasthePayuniaregion.Itisaverydryandwarmregionwithaveryxericconditions.OnthewaytoTromen'sbase,wecrossacoldersteppeandmayexploresomealpinezonesinCerroWayle(optional).Ontheway,wewillpassaverylargewetlandandTromenLake,aparadiseforbirdwatchers.CerroWayleisnotverydifficulttoclimbbutrequiressomeeffort.TherewecanfindViolaatropurpureaamongothertruealpines.Otherwise,therearemanyinterestingspeciesattheslopeofTromenVolcanotoenjoy,suchasOxaliscompacta,Olsyniumchrysocromun,Pereziarecurvata,Montiopsisgayana,severalspeciesofNassauviaandJunellia,andtheendangeredAdesmiapinnifolia,among

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alonglistofspecies.WewillhaveafarewelldinnerinChosMalal.Day12(December11):ChosMalaltoNeuquénandflighttoBuenosAires.WewillfollowtheveryscenicRoute40toZapala.Dependingontimeandconditions,wemaybotanizealongtheroute.TheflightbacktoBuenosAireswouldbeinthelateafternoonorearlyevening.

ItineraryforSouthernPatagoniaExtensionTheSouthernLakesDistrictofPatagoniaisoneofthemostbeautifulplacesinArgentina.Mountains,hugelakes,glaciers,andtheimmensityofalandscapewithfewpeopleandscatteredestanciasattractpeoplefromallovertheworld.Itisalsooneoftheharshestplacestolive,notonlyforhumansbutalsoforplantsandanimals.Thecoldweather,strongwinds,snowywinters,andlocallyvariablerainfallhaveresultedinaveryspecialfloraandfaunathataddbeautyandmysterytotheregion.Mostofthespeciesareverysmallordwarfcushionsbutwithbigflowersorabundantsmallones.Whentheyareinbloom,thearidenvironmentlookslikeparadise.Mostoftheregion’sflowersbloominlateNovemberandDecember,butcanvarydependingonspringweatherconditionsandelevation.Ifthespecieslistedbelowarenotinbloom,therewillbeothersthatwewilllookforandenjoy.ThisisaverygoodtimeforthealpineflowersandLomadelPliegueTumbadonearElChalténshouldbefullofthem.Day1(December12):BuenosAir–ElCalafateTheextensionincludesyourtransferfromtheBuenosAiresairporttoyourhotel,yourhotelroomonDecember11,andyourtransferandflighttoElCalafateonDecember12.ElCalafateisasmallandveryattractivecityvisitedbymanyforeignerswhoareexploringsouthernPatagonia.Wewillhaveageneralorientationtotheareaandshouldhavetimetolookforwildflowersthatgrowinorneartown(orenjoysomefreetimetorelax).Day2(December13):PeritoMorenoGlacierWededicatethisdaytovisitingoneoftheWorld’sNaturalWonders–thePeritoMorenoglacier–andnearbyflora.PeritoMorenoisthethirdlargestglacierintheworld(afterAntarcticaandGreenland).TheroarofthechunksoficefallinginsidetheglacierorfromtheglacierintotheturquoisewatersofLakeArgentinowillcertainlymakethedaymemorable.Duringthevisit,wewillwalkthroughabeautifulforestofNothofagusbetuloides(Magellan'sbeech)thatgrowsonlyinsouthernPatagonia.UnderthecanopyweshouldfindEscalloniarubra,Codonorchislessonii,Gavilealutea,Drymiswinteri,Saxifragamagellanica,andmanymore.Individualspeciesmaynotbeinbloomdependingonspringweatherconditions.

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Day3(December14):ElCalafate–BalconesdeElCalafate–ElChaltén-Afterbreakfast,wedriveuptoaplateaunamedBalconesdeElCalafateorCerroHuilicheforawonderfulviewandtowalkandexploreforflowerslikeOlsynium,Junellia,Alstroemeria,andArmeria.Intheafternoon,wedrivetoElChaltén,asmallandpicturesquevillageatthefootoftheFitzRoyandCerroTorremassifs.Ontheway,wecanstoptoseethewildflowersthatareinbloomandforacoffeebreakatLaLeona,anoldestancia.Ifwearelucky,wemayseetheshowyAustrocactusbertiniiinbloomandmanyJunelliaspp.

Day4(December15):ElChaltén–LomadelPliegueTumbadoThehillsofLomadelPliegueTumbadooffersomeofthebestviewsinthearea,includingFitzRoy,CerroTorre,PasodelViento,andspectacularglacialvalleys.Accordingtothegroupcapabilitiesandinterest,wecanexplorethefloraonthelowerterracesofthehillsortrythesummit,alongbutgentleclimbinscree.Thelowerpartofthehillsarecoveredbyshrublandandforest.Abovethetimberline,thealpinefloraisveryrichandshowy.AmongthespeciesthatwemayseeareOxalisenneaphyllaandloricata,Moschopsisrosulata,Nassauviamagellanica,Pereziamagellanica,Hamadryassempervivoides,theinterestingBolaxgummiferacushions,thehairySeneciocryptocephalus,thefleshyAdesmiasalicornioides,thebeautifulMenonvilleanordenskjoeldii,andmanymore.Itisagoodtimeformountainflowers!WearebackinChalténbylateafternoon.

Day5(December16):ElChaltén–RíodelasVueltas–ElCalafateAirport–BuenosAires ThismorningwewilldrivetheroutealongRíodelasVueltaslookingforspeciesinbloom.ThereareseveralplaceswithbreathtakingviewsofFitzRoyandCerroTorre.ThereareseveralplacesfullofCalceolariauniflora,butthepresenceofflowerswilldependonthespringtimetemperature.WemayalsoseeViolareicheiifitisstillinbloom.Intheafternoon,wedrivetotheElCalafateairporttoflybacktoBuenosAires.

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OtherInformationRelatedtoBothToursGuideandLogisticalServices:MarcelaFerreyrawillbeourtourguide.CaminoAbiertowillhandletourlogistics(groundtransportation,lodging,food,etc.).IfyouwouldliketospendadditionaltimeinArgentinaeitherbeforeoraftertheNARGStourorextension,personnelatCaminoAbiertocanprovideassistance.Lodging:AllhotelshavebeenselectedbyMarcelaandCaminoAbiertobasedonpastexperience.Theyaregenerallywithinwalkingdistanceoftowncenters,restaurants,etc.ExamplehotelsareHosteríaLasMarianasinBariloche,HosteríaPlazaMayorinSanMartíndelosAndes,HosteríaLaBalconadainVillaPehuenia,HotelNevadoinCaviahue,HosteríaPicunRucainChosMalal,HosteríaPuertoSanJulianinElCalafate,andHosteríaPuduLodgeinChaltén.DoublebedsinArgentinaaremostlyqueensize.Meals:BarilocheisverycosmopolitanbutmostofthetownsthatwewillbestayinginhavelimiteddiningoptionsandlocalsspeaklittleifanyEnglish.Breakfastwillbeprovidedatthehotelandgenerallyconsistsofeggs,ham,cereals,cheese,toastedbread,jam,localpastries,fruitjuice,milk,tea,andcoffee.Fordaysweareinthefield,wewillprovideaboxlunchandsnacksusinglocallyavailablefoods.Wewillalsoprovidewaterduringallmealsandfieldactivities.DinnersarethemainmealofthedayformostPatagoniansandtypicallyconsistoflamb,pasta,casseroles,soup,andsalad.Toaccommodatepersonaldietarypreferences,wewillgiveeachparticipantalistofdinneroptionsforreviewandselectionpriortoarrival.Beveragesotherthanwatercanbepurchasedbyparticipantsbasedonlocalavailability.Themaintourincludes11breakfastsandlunches(everydayexceptDay1)and11dinners(allexceptDay12).Theextensionincludes5breakfasts(everyday),4lunches(everydayexceptDay1),and4dinners(everydayexceptDay5).GroundTransportation:Air-conditionedvansorminibusesdrivenbyprofessionaldriverswillbeusedduringthetourandextension.Hikes:Thegoalofthetouristobotanizeandisnotatestofenduranceorclimbingskills.Tourparticipantsshouldbeinreasonableshapeandabletotraverseuneventerrain.Duringthemaintour,wewillgenerallybeatelevationsof1,000-4,000fasl(somehikesmaygoupto6,500fasl).Duringtheextension,wewillgenerallybeatelevationsof600-3,500fasl(somehikesmaygoupto5,000fasl.Weather:WewillbevisitingPatagoniaduringthedryseason,buthighwinds(especiallyinsouthernPatagonia)andrainarealwaysapossibility.Ambienttemperatureswillgenerallybebetween40and70oFinnorthernPatagoniaandbetween40and55oFinsouthernPatagonia.Gear:Bepreparedforvariableconditions.Bringclothesthatcanbelayered,goodrainandwindclothing,andadaypack,aswellasmountainshoes,asunhatthatties,sunscreenandbugrepellant.

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Books:ThebestreferenceisFlowersofthePatagonianMountainsbyMartinSheaderavailablethroughtheAlpineGardenSocietyandotherplaces.ItscompanionvolumePatagonianMountainFlowerHolidaysbyHilaryLittleisalsogreatforanyonewantingtoexplorethisplantsman’sparadise.GroupSizeandPrice:Bothtourshavebeendesignedtoaccommodateupto20people.Pricingisbasedonaminimumof15peopleonthemaintourand10peopleontheextension.Iftheseminimumsarenotmet,NARGSmayneedtocancelthetourorincreasetheprice.SupplementalInformationRelatedtoInternationalandDomesticFlights:ItisexpectedthattourparticipantswillbeflyingintoArgentinafromvariouslocationsandthatsomemaywanttospendadditionaltimeinSouthAmericaaspartoftheirtrip.Tomeeteveryone’sneeds,tourparticipantsareresponsibleforbookingtheirowninternationalflightsintoandoutofBuenosAires.DomesticflightstoorfromBariloche,Neuquén,andElCalafatewillbecoordinatedbyCaminoAbierto.However,itisnotcurrentlypossibletoconfirmflightschedulesorpricesfortravelinNovemberandDecember2020.Asupplementalcostwillbeprovidedtotourparticipantsinearly2020fortheflights(in2019,thecostforcoachclassticketswouldbeapproximately$200forthemaintourand$250fortheextension).Whatisnotincludedinthetourandextensionprices:• Internationalflights• HotelandotherexpensesinBuenosAiresbeforeandafterthetourandextensionexceptas

notedabove• Beveragesexceptthoselistedaboveduringmealsandfieldactivities• Travelandmedicalinsurance• Tipsforguidesanddrivers• Servicesnotdetailedintheprogram