EXPERIENCES

A soft trek for forest and hiking lovers. Breathtaking views together with the magic of the Andean-Patagonian forests will encompass this one-of-a-kind approach to local nature. Departing from hotel, we border Nahuel Huapi Lake driving along a scenic paved road heading west to Llao Llao Municipal Park where we’ll be able to enjoy various circuits. For those wishing to experience soft slope trails we offer a 60-minute hike through the forests featuring different species of trees; myrtle, coihue, ñire, maiten, lenga and larch. We’ll be able to discover hidden beaches, learn about local flora and watch some of the 87 species of identified birds in the area. For those wishing to experience a more demanding hike, we offer an ascent through a mild slope to Cerro Llao Llao, a 60-minute hike to a natural viewpoint featuring breathtaking panoramic views of Tristeza and Blest lake branches and North of Nahuel Huapi Lake as well as the local forests. A rewarding snack will be served at this point before our return to the starting point where a vehicle will be waiting to drive you back to your hotel.

An entire experience that combines a 4x4 expedition, a photographic safari and the possibility of a moment of relaxation in an authentic Patagonian estancia “post”. Leaving from El Calafate, a short route takes us to the entrance to Estancia Huyliche; after passing through its main house, we enter "Estancia 25 de Mayo" natural reserve. The first stop is an old stone post where the first family of the ranch used to live and we will have a brief explanation about these first settlers and the beginnings of El Calafate. We continue the tour in the vehicle until reaching the "section", an authentic ranch located in the immensity of Patagonia, where we will make the second stop, to begin to spot native fauna. We make this third stop front of the exuberant fauna after leaving the vehicle and walking towards the herds of guanacos, with a fantastic interaction with nature. Later, we travel about 4 km in the vehicle until we reach a fossilized oyster deposit -which is 23 million years old-, and we will learn about the paleontology and geology of the place, discovering that the desert where we are was once covered by the sea. Immediately we continue the trail south to the Mirador del Centinela -hill of 1,500 meters above sea level- from where we get a stunning panoramic view of endless basalt walls. Here the fifth stop is made, where the moment of relaxation arrives to feel the wind and the Patagonian immensity. Finally, we return to the "section" where lunch or dinner is served in an authentic ranch post, before returning to El Calafate. The house has a spacious living room with a beautiful view of the 25 de Mayo hill.

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.