Explora has launched “Super Itineraries,” offering eight to 12 days of travel in Patagonia, combining Torres del Paine and Patagonia National Park in Chilean Patagonia and the Southern Patagonia Ice Field region in Argentinian Patagonia. Combining options for accommodation at multiple Explora lodges in Chilean and Argentinian Patagonia, with transportation between them via air or car transfers, the itineraries offer visitors a chance to explore the tip of South America.
Explora opened its first lodge along Lake Pehoé in the heart of Torres Del Paine National Park in Chile in 1993, offering travelers a chance to visit the UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve via guided hikes, horseback rides, overland drives and catamaran.
In 2021, Explora welcomed visitors to Patagonia National Park in the Aysen region of Chilean Patagonia. The new lodge offers access to protected wildlife via 32 crafted explorations, besides a culinary experience by Pablo Jesús Rivero and Guido Tassi, owner, and consulting chef, respectively, of Don Julio in Buenos Aires. In partnership with Rewilding Chile and CONAF, the company currently manages the 640,000 acres of the national park. The expedition company will improve trails and services for park visitors with more educational opportunities while supporting rewilding and conservation initiatives in the near future.
The end of 2021 saw the opening of El Chaltén, Explora’s debut in Argentinian Patagonia. The lodge offers 30 explorations, including hikes, rock climbing, e-mountain biking and kayaking led by company guides.
Air transportation between Explora’s lodges in Chile is offered by DAP, a Chilean airline that operates charters and scheduled flights in Patagonia. Founded in 1980, the Punta Arenas-based company has a fleet of 30 aircraft comprising airplanes and helicopters. It is responsible for over 80 percent of flights between South America and Antarctica. “Explora Connects” allows travelers to lodge-hop in Beechcraft King Air 300, a twin-turboprop aircraft sized to seat six passengers and two crew.
Explora offers three “Explora Connects” itineraries in Patagonia, inclusive of transportation between lodges via air or ground. The eight-night “Chilean Patagonia” itinerary combines stays at Explora Patagonia National Park and Explora Torres del Paine via bi-directional flights. Air transportation between the two lodges is just an hour and 40 minutes or less versus 24 hours on a commercial flight.
The eight-night “Boundless Patagonia” itinerary combines Explora El Chaltén and Explora Torres del Paine via an eight-hour car transfer (283 miles)—a significant time-saver over a commercial connecting flight across the border of Chile and Argentina.
The 12-night “Deep Patagonia” itinerary combines stays at all three lodges—Explora Torres del Paine, Explora Patagonia National Park and Explora El Chaltén—via air transportation in Chilean Patagonia and car transfer across the border into Argentinian Patagonia.
Besides connecting itineraries, Explora is opening a new season of private flights in Chilean Patagonia, with flights between Puerto Natales airport (near Explora Torres del Paine) and Cochrane airport (near Explora Patagonia National Park). There will be only 350 seats available in total through the season, which runs from October 3, 2022, through April 10, 2023. All flights depart on Mondays.
Explora will take care of all details for visitors experiencing multiple lodges on Explora Connects itineraries, including flight reservations, airport transfers and car transfers between Chile and Argentina.
For more information, visit www.explora.com.
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