Say Hueque to Explore 150-Year-History of Welsh in Patagonia

The Argentina and Chile tour operator specializing in authentic experiences for independent travelers, Say Hueque - http://sayhueque.com/ announces tours this year to a region of Patagonia settled by the Welsh 150 years ago.

Impressive Wildlife & Cultural Heritage of Patagonian Pioneers delves into Patagonian history as written by European pioneers who emigrated from Wales in 1865. This program also reveals the Galapagos-like environment known as Bahia Bustamante that attracts an abundance of, among others, sea lions, whales and penguins.

The rate for this seven-day tour is from $2,900 per person, double. This includes all transfers, six nights accommodation, six breakfasts, three dinners and lunches, tours and the services of a bilingual (English/Spanish) guide. Departures can be planned year round based on a minimum of two people. Flights are not included in the price, but can be arranged on request.

The echoes of the past lives of destitute Welsh coalminers and their families who departed Liverpool, England, on a ship called the Mimosa, and who landed July 28, 1865 in New Bay (Port Madryn), Patagonia, resonate throughout this landscape. The influx of Welsh immigrants began in Puerto Madryn and this is where the anniversary trip begins. A visit to the Welsh Historical Museum reveals stories of these pioneers who are being commemorated throughout Patagonia this year. Visitors may expect musical events (the Welsh national pastime is singing) and theatricals as part of the celebration. Welsh-style tea houses, or casas de te as they're known in Argentina, will be serving up a cuppa and slices of bara brith (a Welsh fruit loaf served with tea).

Guests then travel to the Valdes Peninsula, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that is defined by a creek called Caleta Valdes and is home to a colony of elephant seals and Franca Austral whales. Here, too, is the village of Puerto Piramides where pods of whales congregate from June to December. A boat escorts guests around the Golfo Neuvo Bay for whale watching. On Day 3 a professional guide takes guests snorkeling with resident sea lions.

Day 4 brings guests to Bahia Bustamante, a seaside village surrounded entirely by nature. The village is located on Patagonia's Atlantic coast where visitors lodge in traditional "houses by the sea." En route is a stop at Dos Bahias Cape where thousands of penguins reside annually during breeding season. Bahia Bustamante is dubbed a "seaweed village", aptly named because of its devotion to the seaweed harvest. Even streets are named for species of seaweed. The village has a population of 40 and has opened its doors to travelers looking for authenticity. The following day, guests visit three ranches inland from the bay: Las Quebradas, Las Mercedes and Las Margaritas. Here all are welcome to roll up their sleeves and help with whatever farm chore is ongoing at the moment, from sheep shearing to lambing.

The next day guests travel by boat through meadows of seaweed to the Versace Archipelago for bird watching and observing sea lions and possibly even Magellanic penguins or a pod of orca whales. This may be followed by a horseback ride through the Patagonian steppe.

For an itinerary and additional details on this special adventure please see: http://www.sayhueque.com/argentina_tours/patagonia/impressive_wildlife_patagonia.php

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