Arrival in Comodoro Rivadavia airport, reception and transfer in a private
van to Perito Moreno, visiting on the way the impressive Petrified Forests
in Sarmiento. The visit åof the forest will take about an hour and a
half and we will follow a trail with amazing vistas of a seemingly lunar landscape.
Lunch at a cozy small farm – Chacra El Labrador and visit to its cherry
plantations (located in the heart of the Patagonian steppe).
We resume our trip to drive to Perito Moreno and reach the ESTANCIA TELKEN.
Accommodation and dinner.
Total km drive: 440 (185 of gravel road and 255 of pavement).
Approx. time: 9 hours
Full day visit to the famous Cave of the Painted Hands. Drive to the Pinturas
River Valley. Pinturas means “paintings” in Spanish and the river
and valley are so called precisely because of the abundance and magnificence
of the cave paintings which we will visit, in particular the series of caves
known as “Painted Hands”, one of the most impressive expressions
of rupestrian art datin from more than 9000.
We resume our trip to Bajo Caracoles and then head to lakes Posadas and Pueyrredon,
one of the lowest depressions of glacier origin in Patagonia, at 200 m below
sea level and fed by the Furioso and Oro rivers.
Arrival at Hosteria LAGO DEL FURIOSO, with an amazing location in an isthmus
that divides the two lakes and with a gorgeous view of the Furioso River canyon.
Accommodation and dinner.
Total km drive: 300 (230 of gravel road and 70 of pavement).
Approx. time: 9 hours
Full day visit of the region with its imposing landscapes: Oro River Valley,
Furioso River Canyon (a fabulous geological site), and views of Mt. San Lorenzo,
highest of the Southern Patagonian Andes from a lookout point at Mirador del
Nevado.
Mt San Lorenzo is a huge granite massif of great beauty. Famous among the climbers
all over the world due to the reports of Rev. Padre Maria de Agostini who was
the first to climb it in 1943.
Total km drive: 50 km all gravel.
Full day southbound drive in the legendary Patagonian steppe to Lago San Martin,
along the way we will stop as many times as desired to spot the fauna of the
area: lesser rheas, hares, the Mara (Patagonian hare), foxes and piches (kind
of a smaller armadillos) and guanacos (family of the South American camelids).
Lunch at LA SIBERIA, located between the route 40 and Lake Cardiel, and whose
special dish is the Patagonian lamb cooked in oven.
Arrival to Lake San Martin, one of the best kept secrets in Patagonia, maybe
the less visited and one of the most spectacular in the area with deep emerald
waters.
Accommodation at ESTANCIA LA MAIPU and dinner.
ESTANCIA LA MAIPU is maybe the place that best summarizes a true Patagonian
Estancia. Not only for its history, connected with the first inhabitants of
the area and also the first immigrants but also for its being still in production
(an important wool production – Corriedale Sheep), its amazing location
which adds landscapes and areas of incredible beauty and the possibility to
enjoy it at its most: unique horserides of various levels of difficulty, amazing
treks, a small site Museum (a gem in Patagonia), a beautiful and comfortable
house and the charming attention of their hosts (the family Leyenda).
Total km drive: 520 of gravel road.
Approx. time: 8 hours
Day hike to Vega de la Medialuna, Laguna Talca and a Condor nesting site.
This area shows the transition between the Patagonian steppe and the Andean
Forest.
Amazing vistas of the estancia, the pens, Lake San Martin and the Peninsula
Avellaneda beneath. The trail cuts into the Southern beech forest with species
of Nothofagus such as: Lenga, ñire, old men´s beard and fungus
such as the Llao Llao. Excellent opportunities to observe the local fauna as
the Woodpecker, Magellanic geese, flamingoes, eagles and condors.
Drive back to Route 40 and then turn again towards the W to reach El Chalten,
a small windswept town at the foot of the impressive Mt. Fitz Roy. (3405m)
El Chalten is regarded to be the youngest village founded in Argentina, in
1985 to develop this remote corner of Argentina. It was first –and only – visited
by the local climbers as well as mountaineers from all over the world who arrived
attracted by the spell of these granite massifs of incredible beauty and challenging
walls.Today it is slowly developing and growing to become a charming village.
Accommodation at HOSTERIA EL PILAR or CASA DE PIEDRA. Accommodation.
Dinner on own.
Total km drive: 250 of gravel road (road reparations are being conducted)
Approx. time: 5 hours
Full day hike Fitz Roy base camp (Poincenot and Rio Blanco) to enjoy impressive views of Mt. Fitz Roy, sacred and venerated by local tehuelche groups and believed to be a volcano, they called it “Chalten” (exhaling fumes mountain).
For those who want to venture we will hike up to Laguna de los Tres, a 45
min. Hike of incredible beauty and slightly demanding but which will reward
us with magnificent views.
Three glaciers drain into this greenish lagoon with majestic Mt. Fitz Roy towering
above. Enjoy breathtaking views to SE Lake Viedma and the endless Patagonia
steppe, matchless Fitz Roy and although only 2 ½ km and a 400 m drop,
this is a steep upwards trail.
*Optional activities:
For those who do not want to hike there is the possibility to navigate the
Viedma Lake and get to the glacier of the same name.
In this case the transfer to the pier to board the boat is included, but participants
are to pay for their ticket.
* Or visit Lago del Desierto.
Approx. time: 6 hours
Morning drive to El Calafate along the Patagonian steppe. Arrival by noon
and transfer to your hotel or airport. Accommodation NOT included.
El Calafate is a charming small village with good facilities and the gateway
to the magnificent PERITO MORENO GLACIER and LOS GLACIARES NATIONAL PARK.
Located in the Southwestern area of Santa Cruz Province, this park, created
in 1937, stretches over 240000 acres. Due to its spectacular beauty, its glaciological
and morphological interest and the danger of extinction of part of its fauna,
the UNESCO declared it a “World Heritage Site” in 1981
Total km drive: 230 km
• Lodging in double bedroom in “ESTANCIAS” with full pension.
• All transfers from airport to the accommodation.
• Wround transportation within Patagonia.
• All excursions and specified.
• Guides: Spanish – English and Italian.
• Vehicle: Minibus Mercedes Benz Exprinter- 2003. Eight reclining and
comfortable seats.
Not includes
• Domestics Flights in Argentina..
• Flights to Buenos Aires
• Optional visits.
• Personalequipment.
• Anything not specified on the technical description of this trip.
