EXPERIENCES

The first strategic point when travelling by the Los Alerces National Park is Villa Futalaufquen, located 50 km away from Esquel and bounded on the west by the majestic Andes Mountain Range. It occupies a total area of 263,000 hectares that place it fourth in size among the national parks of Argentina. Its proximity to the mountain range allows the development of a dense Andean Patagonian forest and in the area of higher rainfall a Valdivian forest grows where the Alerce or Lahuan stands out. This millennial tree is slow growing and its specimens can live between 3000 and 4000 years of age and measure more than 70 meters high. We also visit the Museum of Interpretation, Rock Paintings - 2.5 km from Villa Futalaufquen -, Hotel Futalaufquen and Puerto Limonao. We continue to the north to see the Irigoyen waterfall and then we skirt the Futalaufquen lake; we can see the Arrayanes River that starts in the Verde Lake, cross a bridge and walk approximately 1 hour between the Patagonian forest and the Valdivian jungle. Here we will have time to have lunch (not included) before going back to Esquel, passing through Trevelin.

The Argentino Lake is the third biggest lake in South America. Surrounded by mountains and fed by giant glaciers, this lake astonishes with its immensity and special color. It was exactly that light blue color, the mountains covered in white and the light blue sky what motivated Francisco P. Moreno to name it “Argentino”. “Nativo Experience – Lakes and caves” is a 4x4 activity through the Argentino Lake’s shore, with an anthropological approach that tours man’s presence along the years in this region. The aim is to rediscover the first expeditions of the brave ones who dare to go into the unknown and how their first interaction with the natives was. Thus, among cliffs and views to the Andes Mountain Range, one personally feels the Tehuelche world along 20km. Stopping for taking pictures will help to go even deeper in typical flora and fauna details, as well as trying to understand the legacy left by those natives through their cave paintings. Imagination will be set free among chenques and awnings, immersed in thousands of years of history. On the lake’s shore, there are millennial caves where Tehuelche culture left its mark printed on the rocks to be read. After visiting them, participants finish the tour having lunch or dinner inside another big cave.

Early in the morning we depart to Valdés Peninsula. At the entrance the fee to the World Heritage Area is paid; then arrival at the Ameghino Isthmus where we stop at the Interpretation Center. We continue to Puerto Pirámides where (between June and December) we can embark for a close encounter with the ballena franca Whale (optional). After that we visit Punta Pirámides lobería (seals settlement). Then we leave to Caleta Valdés where we will have time to have lunch (optional) and we will see an elephant seals settlement. We will pass by a penguin rookery in formation, where (between September and April) we will have the opportunity to see some specimens of the "Magellan" type from the top of a cliff. During the tour we can observe Patagonia typical fauna (maras, choiques, guanacos, and piches) and different birds. In case we fail to sail in the morning for bad weather, we will go to Pirámides Port for whales sighting. Late in the afternoon we arrive in our accommodation.