Description
Day 1:
Reception at El Calafate airport and transfer to hotel. Accommodation. Free time. According to your arrival time you can consider one of the optional add-on excursions available (ask).
Day 2:
At early morning, breakfast and departure for full day excursion 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:
At early morning, breakfast and departure for full day excursion Gourmet Glaciers Experience: This fabulous excursion consists of a full day aboard the María Turquesa Cruise. Two pleasures are combined: to sail between glaciers and to enjoy excellent cuisine in the same navigation with incredible views.
The departure starts early in the morning from your hotel where we pick you up to take you to Punta Bandera where at 09:00 hs. you embark on the Private Port La Soledad. This tour of the majestic Lake Argentino allows you to "live" unique landscapes of Los Glaciares National Park, from another perspective, almost in contact with the glaciers. Crossing the Escuadra Bay and the Wall of Condoreras, the first two glaciers found on the slopes and mountain tops appear and this feature is called "hanging": Seco Glacier and Heim Glacier. Then, we continue through the Argentino lake heading south so as to take the Canal Spegazzini to reach the glacier of the same name. The navigation allows a striking approach to this glacier that has front walls between 80 and 135 meters above the level of the lake. We later continue to Puesto de Las Vacas - an extremely calm bay in the Spegazzini Canal, where the Captain silences the engines to allow passengers to share an interesting walk coordinated by our team of guides.
Later, the ship will stop in front of the barrier of icebergs that prevents the entrance to the Upsala Channel, and if the weather conditions allow, we admire the Upsala and Bertacchi glaciers in the distance. Lunch time with unforgettable panoramas (Gourmet lunchbox with non-alcoholic beverages included). Then we navigate through Los Témpanos Channel towards the north wall of the Perito Moreno Glacier where the boat also stops to watch and listen to the constant detachments of huge blocks of ice.
Return to Port is set to 6PM, from where we take you back to your hotel.
NOTE: When booking you can request access to the Premium sector of the María Turquesa Cruise (capacity only 20 passengers max.), which includes full lunch with alcoholic beverages plus cafeteria services without cost during the entire navigation. Ask us for this option.
Day 4:
Breakfast at hotel, 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!
