Gwyl y Glaniad - Patagonia - 2012
After a couple of days taking in the sights of Buenos Aires, this special tour will take you to Porth Madryn, where we will join the locals in celebrating the Landing. The first Welsh settlers arrived on board the Mimosa in late July 1865, and they were disappointed to find poor and semi-arid land. July was also colder than other months, which only added to the difficulties they faced. There will be parades and events in the town to mark the occasion, and the landings will also be re-enacted in costume.
Nearby is Peninsula Valdés, a place where all manner of wildlife can be seen - such as whales, sea lions and much more. Colossal Southern Right Whales will often surface only a couple of metres from the beach, and on the optional whale watching boat tour sometimes they come so close you can almost smell what they had for dinner. We will also visit the lively city of Trelew, named after Lewis Jones, as well as the pleasant and very green town of Gaiman, which is a testament to the irrigation skills of the early Welsh settlers.
After visiting some of the sights of Eastern Patagonia, and meeting the locals at social events arranged specifically for your group, we will make the unforgettable journey across the spectacular arid landscape of the plain to Western Patagonia. On the way we will stop at locations of Welsh interest - there are plenty of stories to tell about the original expedition by the rifleros, who journeyed westward in order to find more fertile lands.
On the western side, we will explore Cwm Hyfryd, where the attractive town of Trevelin lies and where condors can often be seen, as well as the larger town of Esquel, whose dramatic views and friendly atmosphere make it the perfect place to reflect on what will have been a fantastic tour!
This tour will take place in late July/August 2012. If you would like to find out more, including how to reserve a place on this tour, please fill in the contact form below: