Description
Day 1:
Reception at El Calafate airport. Transfer to hotel and accommodation. Free time.
Day 2:
In the morning, after breakfast, depart to Full Day Glaciers National Park Excursion including Minitrekking on the Glacier: It is one of the most impressive activities to take in The Glaciers National Park.
This one-day tour begins at El Calafate, early morning, with the transfer to the "Bajo de las Sombras" bay harbor, situated 22 km from the entrance of The Glaciers National Park and 8 km from the Glacier.
There, you go on board in order to reach the opposite coast of Peninsula de Magallanes, crossing the Rico Branch of Lake Argentino.
The navigation takes about twenty minutes, and the whole excursion lasts four hours, including one hour for lunch.
Once at the opposite shore and off board, specialized guides will take the group (of approximately 20 people) along a coast path that leads to the southern margin of the glacier after a 30-minute trip.
There, experts will help you put crampons under your shoes, necessary to walk on ice. Likewise, the basic technique to use them is explained, a speech about the origin of the glacier and the regional flora and fauna is given.
Then, you will begin to climb the glacier slowly, walking for about one hour, stopping occasionally just to take some pictures. It is a unique opportunity to appreciate in situ the different formations of the glacier (drains, cracks, etc.) and the varied hues of the ice that constitute a show by themselves. No words can explain the sensation experienced.
The trek is of medium difficulty, being the grounds irregular; however, they are firm and safe. Bilingual trekking guides are available for the whole trip.
On the way back, an alternative path is used through the forest, allowing a different panoramic view of the glacier. At the shelter, there is time to have a light lunch or a soup (not included but reccommended). After that, the group goes to navigate back towards the starting point. During the navigation there will be approaches to the front wall of the glacier so that you can to appreciate it’s real proportions.
There is a time to visit the catwalks before or after the navigation (it depends on the timetable chosen). In this case, it is not necessary to pay for a regular excursion to Perito Moreno Glacier (which consists of the sight of the glacier from the catwalks).
NOTE:
Warning : On account of the characteristics of the trek, people of age 65 and older, and 10 and younger are not allowed to take the excursion, nor are overweight people, pregnant women or those physically handicapped.
Smoking is not permitted at any time, either on board, in the forest, in the glacier or in the shelter.
Recommendations:
Wear trekking boots or sneakers. Rubber boots, Aprés Ski boots and heels are not permitted.
Wear thick socks, preferably woolen or cotton ones.
Wear sports clothes, or the like, long pants for both women and men, sweatshirts, a pile sweater, etc. and a waterproof jacket.
Take gloves and sunglasses.
Day 3:
In the morning, after breakfast, depart in Excursion Full Day Chalten Adventure: This is a full day excursion which allows the visitor to enjoy one of the most complete trekking paths in El Chaltén, have lunch by the shore of Capri Lagoon, take unbelievable photographs and return to El Calafate at night, tired and happy of having been part of a true Patagonian experience.
Details:
Departure from El Calafate is early in the morning, bordering Lake Argentino until La Leona river. Through its canyon the route is traversed so as to get to the antique road hotel "Paso la Leona". There, a brief stop is made in order to rest and then the journey continues along the border of Lake Viedma where the first sights of the imposing Fitz Roy can be seen in the background. Total travel time up to El Chaltén is about 3 hours; it may vary according to road and weather conditions.
The icon to visit once in El Chaltén is the colossal mount Chaltén or Fitz Roy, with its defying rocky needles that challenge the most daring mountaineers in the world.
No special skills required, only the will to enjoy a leisure day, accompanied by a mountain guide who will show you the trail and share the journey with you.
We have chosen a path that permits to tour the area with practically no ascensions, alternating flat terrain with descents, untill arriving back in Chaltén town.
Participants meet with the guide very close to Hostería El Pilar from where, at 11:15, the trek to one of the most spectacular panoramic points of Los Glaciares National Park starts. Afterwards, the trail goes though an autochtonous Lenga and Ñire wood of exceptional beauty sheltered from the wind, until reaching a view of Piedras Blancas Glacier. This spot is some 90 minutes from the starting point.
Then the trekking continues up to the base of Mt. Fitz Roy, called El Chaltén in aborigin language, a word that means "vulcano". At 2 PM approx. the base campsite is reached where a mountain lunch inclusive of hot soup, main course and dessert is served inside a cozy eating tent in order to relax and recover your energies.
At 3.30 PM approx. the campsite is left to descend obtaining new views of river Las Vueltas, Lake Viedma and Rosado hill. The group is back in El Chaltén by 6 PM. From there and after having spent a great journey in contact with nature and mountains, return in bus to El Calafate begins with an estimated time of arrival at 9PM
TIPS:
Do carry sunglasses, solar protector, comfortable shoes, waterproof jacket and warm clothing. A small backpack is almost indispensable to put your personal items in it so as to be able to walk safely with your hands free.
Day 4:
After breakfast, transfer to the airport to take the flight to Ushuaia (not included in final price).
In Ushuaia, reception at the airport and transfer to hotel. Accommodation and free time.
Day 5:
In the morning, after breakfast, depart for Full Day Excursion National Park: Trekking and Canoes: It is a full day excursion in which you will be touring the Tierra del Fuego National Park until reaching the coasts of Roca Lake; thence you will canoe, rowing through the park’s lakes and rivers until reaching the Beagle Channel.
The excursion begins around 9 and 9:30 during the morning. The guide will be picking you up at your hotel and from there, you will head towards the West though the National Route 3.
Once you have reached the Tierra del Fuego National Park, there is a nice Trek through paths that cross right through the forest and border the coasts. At this point you will be touring the most beautiful part of the park. This part lasts approximately three and a half hours (7km). Everywhere and all around you there will be abundant vegetation such as Lenga Beech (lengas), Antarctic Beech (ñires), coihues, orchids, Winter's Bark (canelos), Embothrium (notros), etc.
When arriving at Roca Lake there will be some time for you to rest and have lunch. Lunch consists of an outdoors picnic including cheese, cold cuts, potatoes, eggs, soup, good sandwiches, drinks and desserts. If the weather should not allow this outdoors picnic, there is a place where you can have the picnic indoors.
After lunch, the preparation for the canoes begins. The guide will be providing you waterproof clothing and rubber boots as well as some pointers regarding canoeing. Each canoe can take up to two passengers.
Tierra del Fuego National Park, filled with lovely and calm rivers, lagoons and lakes, comprises one of the most beautiful landscapes you can sail through in these safe canoes. The first part of the voyage goes from Roca Lake to Lapataia river. Soon after, you will encounter the Verde Lagoon and sail through until arriving Ovando river which flows into Lapataia Bay. The sailing lasts approximately an hour and a half.
Once in Lapataia Bay, you will make a stop in order to have some coffee, or even mate, and to rest for a while (approx. 45 minutes) in a rustic place where the yámana aborigines used to live.
Right after, the last rowing segment awaits for you and you will go through the Beagle Channel where the currents are stronger.
On your return, there will be some refreshing drinks prepared for you, the transport will take you to Ushuaia and the sunset in the background.
The arrival is at 6 pm. approximately.
Note:
It is advisable to wear comfortable shoes, the excursion does not require trekking shoes though.
It is important to take a warm jacket, even in summer.
It is not recommended for the elderly.
Day 6:
In the morning, after breakfast, depart for Full Day Excursion Off road Lakes: The tour starts at approximately 9 in the morning, with the departure from the hotel, taking National Route N °3 northbound. When leaving the Beagle Channel, the landscape reveals Mount Olivia and Mount Cinco Hermanos on the horizon, as well as the Carbajal Valley where the peat is exploited. The road leads to the Tierra Mayor Valley, where you can see mounts Bonete and Alvear and some cirque glaciers. Then you cross the winter center "Cerro Castor", place where in winter thousands of tourists and many residents practice their favorite winter sports (Ski in all its modalities, Snowboard, Sledges with dogs, etc.)
You then continue along the route until reaching a height of 450 meters above sea level to cross the Andes Mountains, and from the viewpoint "Paso Garibaldi" you can enjoy the most incredible panoramic views of Lake Escondido and Lake Fagnano. The trip continues to the Bronsovich sawmill and from there the provincial route 119 to travel about 10 km and find the Off Road circuit, an old footprint of lumberjacks that leads, going through a centenary
Lengas forest (and some obstacles!), to Lake Fagnano. There, in the middle of a beautiful forest, at mid-morning, the guide will propose a break with coffee or tea and biscuits. The off-route journey takes about an hour along the shore of the lake, sometimes along the coast, sometimes through the forest ... and also through the water!
At the end of the Off Road part, the excursion continues to a beautiful place located near the lake, to enjoy a tasty lunch and wonderful views. Finally, after a magical day, we begin the return to Ushuaia where we arrive around 5 PM.
Day 7:
Breakfast and, at scheduled time, transfer to airport.
End of our services.
Please contact us if you wish to extend your stay in this destination or continue your trip elsewhere in Argentina!
