If you are short of time and based at El Calafate but want to see the incredible Torres del Paine National Park we offer you this full day excursion.

Description

This full-day tour will offer stop offs at most of the viewpoints of Torres del Paine National Park. The transport will be in a modern, comfortable bus with professional drivers, accompanied by bilingual guides.

Upon arrival to the Chilean side of the border there will be a rest period whereupon passengers can exchange money and buy breakfast.

After about one hour the tour will continue in the direction of Torres del Paine National Park.

The first stop off will be around 11:40hrs at the viewpoint “El Lago Sarmiento”, and
here you will be able to get off the bus and take pictures. The next stop will be at Laguna Amarga, at 12:30hrs, which is one of the main entrances into the park. At this point, you will need to pay the National Park Entrance Fee.

Apart from seeing the impressive mountain peaks of Torres del Paine, the next stop will be the “Lago Nordenskjold” viewpoint. This is a tranquil lake where you will likely (if there is no wind) be able to see the reflexion of the Torres del Paine massif in its still water.

The next stop will be the “main attraction”, which will be the mighty peaks of the Torres del Paine “cuernos” or horns as they are called in English.

The bus should arrive to the Pudeto area around 1:30hrs. From this point, we will begin a one-and-a-half-hour trek to see the “Salto Grande” (large waterfall) and beyond this the “Cuernos del Paine”. This is the typical sight of Torres del Paine known the world over.

Once everyone has taken in the spectacular views we will continue the trip beside Lake Pehoe and on to the CONAF Administration Centre arriving at around 16:00hrs. Here there is a fine presentation of the geography of the Park as well as information on the geographical history, flora, and fauna. Once everyone has rested the return to El Calafate will begin at around 17:00hrs.

Included

• Box Lunch
  • 1 Soda Drink or Bottle of Water
  • 1 Ham and Cheese Sandwich
  • 1 Cereal bar
  • Biscuits (cookies)

Not Included

• Torres del Paine National Park Entrance Fee
• Approx Ch$30,000 (approx. USD50) Chilean Pesos in high season. Rates vary according to Chilean CONAF changes and exchange rates

Patagonia is raw nature and its prehistoric formation is evident in many areas. Geological rock formations that were created millions of years ago, for example, glaciers formed from the fall of the first snow flake hundreds of thousands of years ago and remnants of forests (petrified forests) that were growing millions of years ago.

If you have an interest in geographical history then this excursion is for you.

Conditions

Restricted to people aged between 10 years to 65 years of age and who possess a level of reasonable fitness. This excursion is not suitable for pregnant women or people who are overweight, and it is the guides who will decide this in the event of a difference of opinion. No smoking is permitted on or during this excursion.

Description

Pick-up from your hotel at 08:00hrs. The excursion route heads east from El Calafate and onto highway 40 and to head north through open Patagonic Steppe with magnificent views of Lago Argentino. The journey crosses the River Santa Cruz and through the La Leona river valley from where, on a clear day, there is a view of Mount Fitzroy in the distance.

At La Leona hotel, a historical landmark, there is a rest for 15 minutes before continuing for a further 10km along the Southern shore of Lake Viedma and on to Los Hornos hill. At the top of this hill is a large depression formed by water erosion and this is where many fossils can be found. The area here consists of loose, dry, clay-like soil through which ancient, petrified tree trunks are clearly visible. Clients will be able to walk around the area for about 3 hrs before the return journey to El Calafate.

Backpack, outdoor trekking clothes (warm, water-proof and wind-breaker jacket, trekking pants (or trousers for the English), sturdy outdoor trekking boots, hat, sun glasses, lip balm, sun-screen cream, camera and water bottle.

Included

• Pick-up and return transfers
• Box lunch

We offer a great opportunity to visit an authentic Patagonian estancia where you can see sheep dogs herding sheep, the shearing of sheep and horseback riding.

Description

Only 22km away from El Calafate the El Galpon Estancia offers a tea reception, a guided visit to a sheep-shearing shed to see a sheep-shearing demonstration and a sheep, flock-gathering show with sheep dogs. After the demonstration’s, guests can then choose to either go for a horseback ride or on a guided foot-tour expedition to the nature reserve "La Laguna de los Pajaros" (bird watching of over 40 migrating species).

Backpack, outdoor trekking clothes (warm, waterproof and wind-breaker jacket, trekking pants (or trousers for the English), sturdy outdoor trekking boots, hat, sun glasses, lip balm, sun-screen cream, camera and water bottle.

Included

• Pick-up and return transfers

For guests based in El Calafate this excursion will enable you an opportunity to visit the zone of El Chalten, which is 220km from El Calafate and takes about 3hrs to reach in the bus or private transfer (if requested). The village is primarily a trekkers destination, but it also offers incredible views, when clear, of dramatic mountain peaks.

We offer a full day excursions from El Calafate for those who either wish to trek or just take in the sights.

Description

Starting at 07:00hrs in El Calafate you will travel along Ruta 40, bordering Lake Argentino until you reach the River La Leona where, shortly afterwards the bus will stop at an historic and rustic hotel for a break.

After a coffee the trip continues along a stretch of road bordering Lake Viedma with the Andes in the background and, on a clear day, the peaks of Fitzroy and the Tower can be seen ahead.

Upon arrival to El Chalten there will be two options, depending which one has been pre-booked. These are described below.

It is suggested to bring sunglasses, sunscreen protector cream, hiking boots, warm jacket and waterproof jacket.

Included

• Transport
• Guides
• Lunch (note, you need to advise us of any medical issue or dietary restriction you have at the time of reservation)

It is always nice to know something about the place you stay at. Here we offer a half-day city tour to get to know El Calafate, its history and surroundings.

Description

A guided city tour with complete cultural and historic information.

This is an opportunity to get to know the history of the Patagonic region and the evolution of its inhabitants. Also included will be a trip along the shores of Argentino Lake and the cave-wall paintings at Wlichu caves.

Backpack, outdoor trekking clothes (warm, water-proof and wind-breaker jacket, trekking pants (or trousers for the English), sturdy outdoor trekking boots, hat, sun glasses, lip balm, sun-screen cream, camera, water bottle and box lunch.

Included

• Pick-up and return transfers

Not Included

• Lunch