A brief stopover in El Calafate including a day trip to the famous Perito Moreno GlacierThe town of El Calafate is in the heart of Argentinean Patagonia nestled on the banks of Lake Argentino and is a popular staging point for visits to different parts of the Los Glaciares National Park, including the awe-inspiring Perito Moreno Glacier.
El Calafate is also within a day's drive of Cerro Chaltén and Torres Del Paine National Park in Chile, with their own, stunning glacial geography and superb hiking.
Day 1: Calafate: Arrival; 'Balcony of Calafate' Excursion
Today, we welcome you at Calafate airport, and transfer you to your hotel.
This afternoon, we make a 4-wheel drive excursion to Cerro Huyliche (Balcony of Calafate): we will climb up the Huyliche Range, reaching3.300 feet above sea level. There is a beautiful landscape to see: the Cordillera de los Andes, the Patagonian steppe and all Lake Argentino’s branches. We see fantastic rocky formations showing the geological evolution of the area. If the day is clear, we will see the Fitz Roy and Cerro Torre Mountains. On the summit we share a maté and then take a short walk to the edge of the balconies.
The way down will be by the south side of the mountain, crossing the Labyrinth of the Stones - curious rocky formations created by wind erosion, where one can find fossils and indigenous remains.
We will have a traditional tea in a mountain refuge, before transferring back to Calafate, where we overnight.
Day 2: Calafate: Perito Moreno Glacier
After breakfast, the bus heads to Perito Moreno where, after a short walk, we obtain our first glimpse of the glacier: standing at over 100m high, it is one of the few glaciers in the world still advancing, and we will have a chance to watch it ‘calving’.
After this exhilarating experience, we return to El Calafate, where we overnight.
Day 3: Calafate: Free Day
Today you have a chance to relax in Calafate's spectacular setting or undertake one of the many activities available in the area, such as:
Horseback Riding to Lago Frias: $US 80
Upsala, Onelli & Spegazzini Glacier Navegation: $US 195
Chalten trekking excursion: $US 135
Torres del Paine full-day visit: $US 195 (Operates Mon, Weds, Fri)
For more information about any of these trips, email us at info@chimuadventures.com
Day 4: Calafate: Airport transfer
At the appropriate time, we transfer you to the airport for onward flight.
Why not combine this trip with a stay in the spectacular Torres del Paine: for hikers, there is the world-famous Torres del Paine Circuit or the shorter W Trek. Or you could go even further south, to Tierra del Fuego for our Ushuaia Stopover.
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El Calafate Tour Fast Facts |
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Accommodation |
Hotel (3*) |
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Inclusions |
Tours Airport transfers Accommodation |
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Difficulty Rating |
1 (easy) |
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Sustainability |
Local foods used on tour, Local, English-speaking guides used Carbon Offsets not available for this tour |
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Single Surcharge |
US$ 140 |
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Notes |
Tour price does not include flights. The 4x4 Balconies of El Calafate excursion is included in the tour price and can be done alternatively on day 3 or 4, depending on your flight schedule. |
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Price dependent on: |
Hotel availability. |
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