Holidays in Bariloche, El Calafate, and El Chaltén: Lakes & Glaciers of Patagonia

This tour starts from Puerto Pañuelo aboard a private boat; you are going to visit Los Arrayanes National Park, which has a trek circuit of about 12KM inside the forest.

Arrayanes is unique in the world with centennial specimens.

These trees have a cinnamon-like bark with white spots, orange blossom like flowers and purplish fruits with good taste. The Arrayanes Forest has been declared intangible area and a Natural Monument.

After that we’ll sail to Las Balsas Relais & Chateaux for lunch. Then we continue sailing until arrive to Anchorena Port – Victoria Island. You may take a tour or a walk around the island and visit a former coniferous nursery.

To finish this tour we embark again in order to return to Puerto Pañuelo.

Today, we will go through the Lakes region, getting astonished by the amazing views along the way !

We travel along the RN 40 until we reach the Route 231, where we head west. Some stretches of the road skirts the Lake Nahuel Huapi, revealing the Cerro Cathedral in the background.

After passing by Puerto Manzano, we reach Villa La Angostura, a true mountain village, characterized by its meticulous and clean architecture. A few miles away, the 7 lakes road starts: lakes Espejo, Escondido, Villarino, Falkner ,Hermoso and Machonico, are just part of the beautiful landscape that remarks this region.

Once we reach San Martin de los Andes, on the shore of Lake Lacar , we will be able to explore the city and the main street. We return to Bariloche along the same path, or along Junin de los Andes road, according to the conditions of the road.

We set off for the trailhead located at the base of Cerro Catedral, one of the largest ski areas in South America. From here we take the trail up to Van Titter creek through a regenerating forest. The trail becomes steeper and upon reaching the Piedritas hut we take a short break to enjoy the beautiful Beech forest. An hour later, we arrive at the Frey hut located in a glacial cirque at the foot of Laguna Toncek, surrounded by golden granite spires that draw climbers from around the world.

After breakfast, transfer to the airport and flight to El Calafate.

Arrival in Calafate and transfer to the hotel.

We dedicate this day to one of the World’s Natural Wonder: the Moreno glacier.

A beautiful, short trail, will lead us from the shores of the lake to the upper viewpoints.

The roar of the chunks of ice falling inside the glacier or from the glacier into the lake, the frequent collapse of the front seracs into the turquoise water, makes out of this day a very special and unique experience. We will drive 80 km (1 and a half hour) to get and come back from the glacier across the steppe, watching a wide variety of birds.

Due to unusual favorable local conditions, this glacier is the only one in the world that shows a closure and rupture process. The road leads to the very front of the glacier, which will be only meters away from your eyes.

The Upsala Glacier is one of the largest in Los Glaciares National Park. To sail through the Argentino Lake among icebergs and mountains and then visit Estancia Cristina is an interesting combination of nature, adventure, history, and pleasure. This full day program offers alternatives for those who prefer a quite day of touring and history as well as for those who look forward to activities with adventure, like trekking and going on a four wheel drive. The excursions that are surrounded by the Andes mountains, glaciers and Argentino Lake leads us to get in touch with a natural, unique, remote environment, with culture and lifestyle of the pioneers and the interesting relationship of them with famous explorers of the past century.

The program includes:

Duration of 4 wheel drive: 3 hours

• Drop: 550 m.o.s.l.
• Level of demand low
• Boarding and departure at port Punta Bandera (NPC), 08.15 hrs, in our modern and comfortable boat.
• Sailing among icebergs and stunning scenery overlooking the western front of the Upsala glacier and then through Cristina Canal to the point of disembarkment at the Estancia.
• Arrival at Estancia Cristina 11:30 hs.
• Stay at the Estancia for 6 hours
• Lunch at the Estancia with a 3-course menu
• Guided visit to the Costumbrista museum (old shearing shed)
• Ascent in all-terrain vehicles, travelling 9.5 km through mountainous roads
• Arrival to the Continental ice shelter
• 30 minute walk
• Visit the oriental front of Upsala Glacier. Lake Guillermo, Southern Patagonian Ice and Andes.
• Return to the farm house of the Estancia and board at 17:30 hrs. Arrival to Puerto Banderas at 19:00 hrs approximately.

NOTE: If the maximum number of passengers is exceeded, visitors will be divided in turns by the tour coordinator of the Estancia.

Transfer back to the lodge.

After breakfast, we will head to El Chalten, located at the foot of the mythical Mount Fitz Roy, still one of the most beautiful sights and a must for travelers that visit southern Patagonia.

To arrive to El Chalten we travel about 220 km from El Calafate, we take the mythic route 40 and then the route 23 enjoying wonderful impressions of the Patagonian steppe, along the Rio La Leona surrounded by the Lakes Argentino and Viedma, Viedma Glacier, and always keeping in the view the mountain range, we arrive at this magnificent tourist village where you will enjoy a fascinating experience.

El Chalten is an ideal place to practice trekking, especially as we approach Fitz Roy (Chalten), Cerro Torre, the glaciers Torre and the lagoons Capri, Torre and De los Tres among many other, incredibly beautiful places.

Our menu of activities will allow all kinds of passengers to enjoy this fascinating place, regardless of their previous experience or age. The treks may be done independently using the autoguided paths or with our guides.

Breakfast at the hotel, and transfer to the airport in El Calafate at an agreed-upon time.

If you are interested in Patagonia, we invite you to check out our other Patagonia Tours.

We invite you to see our Argentina Tours, where you can experience the true Argentine culture.