Antarctica - beginning, mid or end February

Hi,
Am in the midst of planning a trip to Antarctica in February 2014.

I have zeroed down on a few dates and excursions and would like some advice on which dates would be ideal for maximum wildlife watching.

3rd - 13th Feb
13th - 22nd Feb
24th Feb - 6th March

I have figured out that whale watching is at its peak in February - later the dates, better. But then again, the penguins and seals may be gone by end February. Right now, I am inclined to finalise 13-22 February as my excursion dates - but would still like to hear from intrepid travellers who have actually managed to there about their opinion.

Any advice to help me decide will be highly appreciated.

Thanks
Sasha.

El Calafate+El Chalten+TDP in 4.5 days

Hi There,

I have spent a couple of weeks reading the forums and researching. I would like to ask for a bit or help and clarification to put all the pieces of the puzzle together. This is what I have so far:

Day 1 - Tues 26th Feb - fly from BA to El Calafate arrive at 10am. Thinking of leaving our bags at our accommodation and going straight to the glacier. I believe that the last bus from town leaves at 1pm. Is this enough time to see the glacier by boat and do a walk? Last bus back to El Calafate is 4pm? OR would it be best to take our large backpacks with us and carry them around?
Day 2 - Day tour from El Calafate to TDP. Stay in El Calafate another night OR get dropped off at the end of the day tour in El Chalten
DAY 3 - Travel to El Chalten. Day hike in El Chalten
DAY 4 - Day hike in El Chalten
DAY 5 - Travel back to El Calafate. Flight to BA at 16.30

QUESTIONS:
Woul... more »

Whale Watching

Hey friends.
We'll be flying into Ushuaia Feb 7 and then spending about a month making our way up to El Calafate, stopping in TdP and El Chalten. I was wondering if there is a place along the way to take a boat out and see some whales. I've also heard that there are some places you can see them from the shore, which would be killer! If you have any advice please send it my way! Thanks so much!
Eric

Help: Torres del Paine (TDP) versus Ushuaia

From el calafate we are debating ...

• Torres Del Paine ???

• flight to Ushuaia ???

Where to next in Argentina???

Hi All,
Thinking of going back to Argentina in April or September 2013 and wanted to ask this question..........i have been to the Salta region and the El Calafate region and am now looking for the next "area" to explore. I will have 6 weeks.
Both aforementioned areas were a photographers heaven and now i am looking for a similar area. I am not so much into cities but more into photographing scenery, flora and fauna.

Any suggestions most welcome :}

Spanish lessons + Tango in Buenos Aires, February

Hi there!

I am going together with my boyfriend to Buenos Aires in mid february and we want to maybe spend one week there learnings spanish and dance Tango :)

Does anyone know of any good way of combining these two activities, any affordable schools that does both etc? Or anyone that has done anything similar and would like to share their experiences?

We are travelling on a budget, so the tango and spanish lessons have to be affordable.

Thanks!

• Linisen

Tracking the W in Torres del Paine

Hi!

I would like to track the W-track in the middle of December and I don't want to carry a tent with me. That's why I tried to book a tent at the camp sites. Tents seem still to be avaiable at the Torres and Cuernos camp site, but not at Paine Grande. Is it a big risk to start hiking and hope that I still will get a tent at Paine Grande, when I arrive there? If I don't get a tent there, is it possible to return to Puerto Natales the same day from Refugio Paine? My plan ist the following:

day 1: arrive from Puerto Natales with the morning bus, hike to las Torres and sleep at the camp site of refugio Torres

day 2: hike to refugio Cuernos and sleep there at the camp ground

day 3: hike to camp site Britanico and then to Refugio Paine Grande.

day 4: ???? Maybe Refugio Grey, then take boat to Hostería Lago Grey and return to Puerto Natales

Do you have some good advice? more »

I'm a woman on a 15 Day Solo trip around Argentina- Advice & Meetup?

Hi Everyone!

I am a 26 year old female teacher about to leave on my winter break and I'm hoping to meet some people so I don't spend the whole trip by myself. I have about 15 days (I arrive in BsAs on Dec 17 and leave from there on Jan 2) to spend seeing as much of Argentina as I can. I'm kinda the go with the flow kind of girl, but I have a general idea of where I want to go. I will be traveling alone so I hope to meet some people along the way to share my journey. I like to stay in hostels so I can meet new people, but I would still like to meet up (especially during Christmas and New Years Eve!!) for a coffee or an ice cream if there are any locals reading this!

My general itinerary looks like this:
Buenos Aires: Dec 17-18
Overnight bus: 18
Iguazu Falls: 19-20
Bus to Salta: 21
Salta: 22-25
Overnight bus to Mendoza
Mendoza: 26-27
Overnight bus to Bariloche
Bariloche:... more »