Living the glacier beyond the catwalks.

Have you ever wondered how cold the ice could be? Technically it’s 0°C or 32°F, of course. But there is a special way to truly feel the ice by exploring one of the most incredible and unique glaciers in the world. We invite you to discover one of Argentina´s natural wonders-  The Perito Moreno- a one-of-a-kind glacier.

This amazing experience begins in the small port of Bajo de las Sombras- located within the National Park and 1.30 hour away from El Calafate town. Here you board a boat and sail the Rico arm of the lake, enjoying the fresh air and stunning views of the Perito Moreno glacier’s front wall.

After 20 minutes of navigation, upon arrival to the other side of the lake, you greeted by a specialized bilingual mountain guide, who leads you to a small refuge where you can leave your personal items and go to the restrooms. As you will be trailing through the wilderness, there are no toilets so take advantage of it!

In groups of no more than 20 people, you will follow your guide along a long walkway within the forest until reaching the shores of the lake once again. The guide explains about flora, fauna and general glaciology of the region and also about the particular phenomenon that happens in the Perito Moreno Glacier which eventually produces its cracking.

Before stepping on the ice, you will be given a helmet and a pair of crampons – the guide will show you how to use them – and here’s where the true experience begins!

Now you become more than just a witness of this natural ice paradise with plenty of ice formations of the most incredible blues. You are now part of it. The glacier catches you in many ways as soon as you set foot on it. You start building a new connection with nature while you walk inside it… deeper and deeper.

Your ears are now filled with the sound of nothing but the whisper of the crampons burying inside the ice. Your eyes are now full of shapes, shades, hues of white and blue and you just can’t get enough of the views. Forget about the camera, the social media and the rest of the world: There is no way a photograph can portrait this beauty. More important than this: it cannot treasure the true feeling of this place. Take your time to be filled by its peace, its temperature, its everlasting sensation.

There’s no better way to peak this amazing experience than with a glass of whisky served on the glacier’s rocks. The best way to say: “Cheers to new adventures!”

At the end of the trekking, you return to the refuge along the same path through the forest and then board the boat on your way back to town. The glacier will still be gazed so there’s enough time to continue enjoying this stunning landscape.

Australis Cruises: Feel. Sail. Explore.

On board Australis Luxury Expedition Cruise Company, join a unique venture through the waterways of southern Patagonia including Cape Horn, the Strait of Magellan (which celebrates 500 years of its discovery in 2020), Tierra del Fuego and the Beagle Channel.

We invite your guests to visit one of the most remote places in the world, where nature is pristine and wild, aboard Ventus and Stella Australis Expedition Cruises. Go through southern fjords and channels until reaching the mythical Cape Horn.

Marvel at the presence of glaciers and Magellan Penguins in the vastness of Tierra del Fuego at the southern end of Patagonia.

During Australis sailings, admire nearly a dozen glaciers, including Pia Glacier, one of the most active in Patagonia, as well as the string of glaciers that cover the Darwin Mountain Range on the Beagle Channel.

Marvel at the presence of penguin and seabird colonies such as albatross and cormorants, who will join travellers along their journey. The daily zodiac rides afford you the unique opportunity to experience the most remote corners of Tierra del Fuego.

Discover the wonders of one of the most spectacular natural environments in the world, led by Australis expert guides, who are professionally trained in the natural history of the Magallanes Region. Enjoy thematic lectures on board, where you will learn about glaciology, native ethnicities, geographical landmarks, and the flora and fauna of Southern Patagonia.

We are the Alchemists… Let us spin your client’s dreams into realities!

Glamping in Patagonia.

Patagonia is a place we always like to return to, it is so extensive that there is always a new spot to discover.

Let us show you our amazing glamping experiences surrounded by pure nature. These are the perfect getaway for those who are looking to getting closer to nature with uncompromising privacy and in hang with ALCHEMY`s  true high-end services.

Our Glamping experiences are a great and relaxing way of  making memories in untouched locations! Given the remoteness of our chosen spots, in the middle of the wilderness, the experience is 100% unplugged- staying away from social media usually invites to a relaxed ambience and promotes long talks and connecting amongst each other.

ALCHEMY prepared a wide range of exclusive outdoor activities such as rafting and trekking, all in different levels. We complemented these with activities like exclusive parties, live music and entertainment, among others.

ALCHEMY has the proven capability to make you feel like home away from home, even in the most pristine and undiscovered places. Allow the below photographs of our latest Glamping experience to speak for us…

We included full board service with a chef onsite. A perfect way to enjoy great outdoors and relax through culinary delicacies.

Get cozy in front of the fire and watch the sky colors change as the sun sets over the horizon. At night, watch the night sky from your hot tub surrounded by pure nature.

It only takes some minutes on luxury helicopters to get lost in amazing sceneries of Patagonia.

Guests enjoyed our live musical surprises, paired up by your favorite drink… making up for memorable moments!

Every day was different! We prepared personalized outdoor activities during the stay. It’s all about the perfect combination of relaxing and adrenaline!

Glamping is also an eco-friendly travel option, with a low carbon footprint. Our aim is to leave no trace and to let the natural environment remain in its original state.

El Chaltén, amongst the world top 20 destinations

The north American travel magazine Condé Nast Traveler has recently published the best 20 places in the world to visit in 2020, and one of them is Argentinian: the village behind Los Glaciares National Park, El Chaltén town in Santa Cruz province. Declared National Trekking Capital in 1994 this place is home to breathtaking landscapes, glaciers, massive lakes and snowy peaks worth knowing.

The full list of the 20 best places to visit this 2020 includes: 1. Armenia, 2. Bahia in Brazil, 3. Botswana Salt flats, 4. The Canadian Arctic, 5. Canary Islands in Spain, 6. Copenhagen, 7. Dominica, 8. Dubai, 9. El Chaltén in Argentina, 10. Guiana, 11. Metz in France, 12. Mokpo in South Korea, 13. Nashville, 14. Okinawa in Japan, 15. Rwanda, 16. Slovenia, 17. The southern coast of Sri Lanka, 18. South Eastern Australia, 19. Southwest of Michigan, and 20.  Tanger in Morocco.

According to data retrieved by an investigation carried by the accommodation company Booking.com, during 2018 this destination has welcomed travelers from the United States, France, Germany, Brazil and the United Kingdom. In addition, in the beginning of 2019 and based on the comments of travelers from all around the world, it was also named one of the most welcoming destinations in the world. The activities the destination has to offer are several and varied, but trekking is definitely one of the best ways to explore it.

explora El Chalten – Opening 2020

With views to the Electric Valley and the Marconi Glacier, explora El Chaltén will open its doors in 2020. 17 km away from El Chaltén –in the Argentinean Patagonia– the lodge is a headquarter from where to explore a world-renowned destination by those who love nature and trekking.

Patagonia is not a country nor a place. It is a vast territory shared by Chile and Argentina, whose remarkable geography –shaped by mountains, glaciers, lakes, and rivers– offers countless exploration opportunities.

All our programs include accommodations, transfers to and from the airport, meals and beverages, and a selection of exploration routes designed by our outdoors team.

Why explora El Chaltén?

With a unique location, explora El Chaltén is the perfect headquarter from where to visit the amazing geography of the Argentinean Patagonia. We conduct explorations that go off the beaten track and delve deep into the natural surroundings of this region.

Explorations at El Chaltén

To travel through the vastness of the Argentinean Patagonia –from its valley and rivers to its mountains and glaciers– along with our bilingual guides and marked by the seal of the world’s leading expedition company: That is the experience we invite you to enjoy in each of our explorations.

Our rooms

With the typical design of the ancient Argentinean Patagonia estancias, our comfortable rooms are thought to ensure our travelers’ deep rest. They are the perfect place to recharge batteries after a day of exploration.

Awasi Iguazu among Forbes Magazine’s “10 Best Hotels & Resorts Of The Year 2019”

Award-winning travel journalist & bestselling author, Larry Olmsted, gives his lowdown on the 10 Best Hotels of 2019 in the prestigious Forbes Magazine.

“I am reflecting on wonderful travel experiences and revisiting the 10 best hotel experiences I had”, Olmsted writes. “…too much industry focus in on what’s new, rather than what’s good. I’d much rather stay at a great hotel that’s been exceptionally run for 20 years than a sexy new one still working out the kinks, but almost every other 2019 round up is “all new.” My focus is on just the best lodging experiences I had this year that impressed me so much that I heartily recommend them, regardless of price or longevity. Some were properties I visited for the first time, some I’ve stayed at before.”

Among this list of ten, we were delighted to stumble across our very own Awasi Iguazu, our Relais & Chateaux lodge, just 15 minutes from the Iguazu Falls.

“I visited the Awasi location on the Argentine side of Iguzau Falls, one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World and a truly amazing, Bucket List attraction.” – Larry Olmsted for Forbes Magazine.

Olmsted opens with a bit of context on South America’s best hotels: “One of the most unique offerings in travel is South America’s home-grown groups of all-inclusive luxury adventure lodges. These typically have a full-time staff of highly trained guides and a large slate of outdoor activities to choose from daily, while including first rate lodging, dining and beverages, even wine and cocktails, in the rates. It is basically the African safari lodge model applied to active travel, rather than wildlife viewing, and there are several top operators I have covered here at Forbes in the past, including Explora and Tierra, both of which have multiple properties and both of which I highly recommend, but I had not tried Awasi, which is the most luxurious of these big three, with all three of its locations (the other two are in Chile’s amazing Atacama Desert and Torres del Paine National Park in Patagonia, one of the most desirable natural destinations on earth) are members of Relais & Chateaux.

“In the style of the very best safari camps, what Awasi does differently is assign a dedicated private guide and vehicle to each of its sumptuous villas for your entire stay, instead of group activities or changing guides, and then ups the culinary ante with really standout food, sommeliers and shockingly impressive craft cocktail mixologists in a remote setting where this is highly unexpected. The resort has just 14 villas, each large and featuring a private plunge pool and large deck. The call their product “truly all-inclusive” and just about the only extra you can opt for is spa treatments, which are bargains compared to just about any other place, and even normal exclusions such as airport transfers (from either nearby international airport, Argentina or Brazil) are included.”

Olmsted finishes by summing up what sets Awasi apart: “The food and drink are exceptional at any price, the guides and accommodations are first rate, and while in most cases, all-inclusive and top shelf luxury accommodations do not go together, Awasi is a delightful exception.”

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