South: Patagonian Glaciers
This exciting adventure begins in a typical Argentine Estancia, in the pristine Los Glacieres National Park, into the UNESCO Heritage since 1981, which extends over an area of over 12,000 hectares up to the border with Chile and owes its name to the huge ice cap of Andean cordillera, from which take origins 47 glaciers.
The original estancia, founded at the beginning of the century to crowd those wastelands, is located on the lakebank of Argentine Lake with an amazing view over the Chalten and Cerro Torre. From here, we will lose our comforts and will leave to our adventure getting on the saddles of our tireless Creole horses. Exploring this corner of the world on horseback is a nuique privilege: we will reach places where very few human beings have set foot, we are going to sleep in makeshift shelters, cooking our dishes with the fire, like the gauchos do; we will pass through the forest of the Andes, we will admire crystal-water lakes, the bluest sky you have ever seen in your life, and the breathtaking view on the almost unexplored glacier of Frias, Gorra and Dickinson. The horse will be our only friend, and vehicle, there are no rails or roads, just the hugeness of the mountains in front of which the human being can’t do anything but admire them silently.
Shared guaranteed departure dates, minimum 1 person departing from Italy
Further dates on request from NOVEMBER to MARCH. Stays at the estancia available from September to May
PARTICIPANTS: MIN 2 MAX 8
Self-drive transfer from the airport to the town of El Calafate. From the main office of the estancia there will be a pick-up at half past 4 p.m. and a transfert of approximately one hour to reach Estancia Nibepo Aike. (You can ask for transfert in other schedules, upon payment). Dinner and overnight stay.
Day dedicated to explain and to prepare the horses for an early departure the following morning. You have some free time to explore the surroundings, walking or riding a bike. It can be decided to take part at the following activities: an horseback hike (for 1 hour in the morning or 2 hours in the afternoon), to partecipate at milking cows or at sheep shearing. Overnight stay at the estancia.
Get in the saddle to start the climb of Cordon de los Cristales Mountain, with a beautiful view upon the surrounding lakes, like Brazo Rico, Lago Roca and Cerro Frias. We will observe the typical Patagonian vegetation and we will follow the trackes used to move herds and flocks, until to reach at the outpost called La Rosada, in time for having lunch. This small refuge, built in 20's, is nowadays used from the gauchos to control the cattle. Extremely rural, warmed by a small wood stove, it doesn't have no water or electricity. In the afternoon we will go to the border with the Chile, symbolically bounded with a fence and a sign, the South of the South. Overnight stay at La Rosada.
We will exit from the dense thicket to the great valley of Rio Cachorro, upon whose we will discent until the riverbed of Cachorro river. We are going to see the glacier's origin to continue the hike until the Lagoon Three of Avril. We will arrive to the namesake outpost where we are going to pass the night, heated by a lantern light. The name takes origins from the foundation date of the main estancia.
After breakfast we will leave from the outpost to reach the lakebank of Argentine Lake and get close to the glaciers. It can be possible, upon payment, to organize a boat excursion from the outpost to come to visit the hidden glaciers: Frias, Dickson and Gorra, a unique place, where just a few people have arrived. A mix of boating and forest trekking to reach at the three glaciers. Overnight stay at Puesta Laguna.
Comeback at the estancia along the southern part of Argentine Lake. Arrival in time for lunch, for a last, great barbecue. Transfert to El Calafate's office at half past 2 p.m. and then independent transfert to the airport (for a fee in different schedules). It's possible to go ahead with the vacation and to go to visit the famous Perito Moreno.
Tariff per person, starting from:
| Departure | Double |
|---|---|
| From 4 January 2023 to 20 March 2023 | € 1,420 |
| From 2 November 2023 to 21 November 2023 | € 1,650 |
Notes
(B / L / D): B = breakfast; L = lunch; D = Dinner
| Single supplement in standard room – 2 nights: |
€ 80 |
| Superior double room supplement – 2 nights: |
€ 50 |
Shared guaranteed departure dates, minimum 1 person departing from Italy:
Difficulty level: From ° to °°°°°
DURATION: 6 DAYS / 5 NIGHTS
DIFFICULTY: °°° (INTERMEDIATE)
ACCOMMODATION: LOCAL ESTANCIA + AVANPOSTI
EQUIPMENT: SOUTH AMERICAN MONTURA (TREKKING / WORK)
HORSES: CRIOLLOS
GAIT: 4-6 HOURS PER DAY IN THE SADDLE – Moderate gaits
TYPE : ITINERANT TREKKING WITH FRUGAL OVERNIGHTS
ACCOMMODATION:
Overnight in a typical Estancia of the Patagonian region. It is located between the “Los Glaciares” National Park and the southernmost arm of Lake Argentino. The estate covers an area of over 12,000 hectares up to almost the border of Chile. Originally a sheep and cattle farm, only a few hundred remain today.
Equipped with 10 simple rooms with private bathroom, common room with cozy fireplace and dining room with grill corner. Homemade cuisine always varies with fresh products of own production.
Rustic outposts, authentic points of support for the gauchos to control grazing cattle. There is no electricity or running water. It is cooked on the fire next to the horses left to graze. An authentic adventure that requires a good spirit of adaptation.
Note: The itinerary described above is to be considered indicative. It could be subject to variations due to weather conditions or circumstances beyond our control.
Exchange rate 1 EUR = 1.08 USD
Exchange rate variations with fluctuations greater than 3% will lead to an adjustment of costs and will be communicated within 20 days of departure.
The tariff includes
The tariff does not include
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