EXPERIENCES

This full day excursion in the steppe zone aims at all people who enjoy outdoor activities and adventure, ready to discover new places. The tour includes approximately 3 hours walking on discontinuous ground where wind and water were responsible for uncovering this place, which remained hidden for millions of years. Departure from El Calafate by Route 40, where we can see Argentino Lake, Santa Cruz and La Leona Rivers, a panoramic view of the majestic Andes mountains and Fitz Roy Mount. We will stop for about 15 minutes in La Leona hotel (historical site) and continue traveling along the southern shore of Viedma Lake to reach Cerro Los Hornos slopes (Estancia Santa Teresita). We will look for the first time the great depression of the land where the petrified logs are situated and will start our trekking exploration of fossils, which lasts about 3 hours, including the time for lunch. Throughout the walk we will see lots of petrified logs lying on the surface, some with a 1.2 meters diameter, testimony that during ancient times the climate was very different from today and allowed the existence of a full forest. There have also been uncovered fossils of different types of dinosaurs. This land is sheltered from the wind because it is a natural depression in the ground. This steppe area, therefore, is very dry and weather conditions are generally very nice. After the walk, we begin the journey back to El Calafate on the same path with another stop at La Leona hotel.

One hour will take us approximately to arrive at the GLACIER VIEWPOINT, from there and towards the north we will be able to observe the unexplored South Cagliero Glacier (950 m.a.s.l.), which for years remained alive thanks to its orientation and the accumulation of snow from Neumayer, Cagliero and Loma del Diablo hills. To the south we find the vertical walls of Cerro Treinta Aniversario and its needles, highlighting the Devil's Tooth. From the viewpoint, a short walk takes us to the front of the Glacier where the guides will distribute and regulate the crampons with the boots of the hikers, to begin the third part of our program that is the walk and trekking by the glacier proper; and if the climate is mild, you will have lunch on the Glacier. The average stay over it will be approximately 2 hours, depending on the climatic conditions and the physical level of the group. The return will be made by the same way one way with arrival back to the Information Center approximately 3 hours later. The meeting time with the El Chaltén transfer will be at 5:30 PM.

Quebrada de las Conchas (Shell Ravine) is a magical place where the wind and the water have carved, after many centuries, very curious forms. We will see its very diverse geological formation and incredible landscapes. Departure by car from Cafayate towards the Quebrada de las Conchas; during the journey we will stop to contemplate the most relevant forms of the rock, such as the Garganta del Diablo, El Anfiteatro, El Obelisco, El Sapo, Los Castillos and others. Then the trek is about an hour –moderate difficulty. On the way back to Cafayate we will make a last stop to take a short walk to the Calchaquí River.