EXPERIENCES

Departure from a downtown office in Ushuaia (very close to the port), towards the glacial valleys near the city. A few kilometers from Ushuaia, the Tierra Mayor Valley and the primitive forest begin to open up to welcome us for a walk to reach one of the gems in Tierra del Fuego. We begin a walk through the primitive forest, which for at least 7000 years made life possible for the first inhabitants in these latitudes. Leaving the forest, surrounded by mountains, we find ourselves in a dreamlike landscape: an imposing valley surrounded by snow-capped peaks. The glacial water of the Esmeralda River encounters the engineering feats of the beavers, which found some sort of a paradise here: Surrounded by plenty of food, and despite of the absence of predators, they still apply themselves to their favorite entertainment: the construction of dams. Then we start the ascent towards the Esmeralda lagoon (due to the peat -spongy mass of wet organic material- we suggest the use of rubber boots or perhaps bring spare shoes). The walk to Emerald Lagoon does not present much of a challenge to exercise-loving travelers: with the appropriate clothing, this walk is quite easy and very panoramic. After crossing the valley, we leave behind the lenga forest and begin a sustained ascent along a slightly steep slope. Emerald Lagoon is located at the foot of the Ojo de Albino glacier, between Cerro Bonete and Cordón Toribio in an area of wonderful chromatic amplitude. This is one of the most impressive landscapes in this region! The way back becomes shorter, in a little steep descent, with new panoramic views. We reach the refuge to enjoy dinner (with drinks included, before returning Ushuaia. Attractives: Tierra Mayor Valley, Emerald Lagoon.

The journey begins by leaving the city of Ushuaia, on a route of approximately 75 km towards Puerto Almanza. We traverse glacial valleys adorned with towering snow‑capped peaks, winding rivers, lagoons and peat bogs: a unique visual spectacle. We arrive at the home of local fishermen who will be our hosts for this authentic experience: they will guide us through the entire process, from preparation to the culmination of the king crab harvest. With the assistance of the experienced guides, we ready ourselves to embark in the boat and explore the local fish farms. During the roughly 15‑minute navigation, we will have the thrilling opportunity to haul the nets and collect our own king crabs, which will then be our lunch. Back at the cozy restaurant of our fisherman‑hosts, we will enjoy a delicious three‑course lunch: it begins with the “Beagle Dip”, followed by the exquisite king crab, and concluding with dessert. After this day at the “end of the world”, we begin our return to Ushuaia.

• At 08.30 is the pick up from Hotel in a Van After that, it takes the route to Lodge El Pilar (18 km), where start the hiking to Fitz Roy. Taking the valley of Rio Blanco, we can see the first balcony to Piedras Blancas Glacier. From there we walk another 1.30 h until reaching Rio Blanco Camp site, another hour up the trail reaching Laguna de los Tres. From the lake, there are even better panoramic views of Cerro Fitz Roy! You can also see Laguna Sucia and Lago Viedma in the distance. After lunch (no included) we start the return to El Chaten taking the trail to Laguna Capri. • This tours finishes at about 6 pm. RECOMMENDED CLOTHING FOR ALL THE TOURS IN EL CHALTEN: gloves, sunscreen (facial and labial), cap fleece or wool coat, hat , scarf or neck coat, waterproof jacket, waterproof pants or synthetic fabric, appropriate footwear (preferably trekking boots covering the ankle), sunglasses. Tip: in Patagonia clothing layers should be taken to adapt to frequent changes in temperature.