Pla. Valdes & Route 40

Itinerary: Península Valdés - Ruta 3 - Ruta 40 - El Calafate

Duration: 12 nights - 13 days

Season: October - April

Distance: 2500 km (1030 km gravel road, 1470 paved road)

 

Flight from Buenos Aires to Trelew

Day 1: TRELEW - VALDES PENINSULA

Arrival at Trelew airport. Transfer to Pla. Valdés, lodging and dinner at Estancia Rincón Chico. Visit to one of the beaches where the spectacular cliffs shelter an important sea elephant colony.

Distance: 195 km. (130 km paved road, 65 km gravel road) Driving time: 2,20 hours

 

Day 2: VALDES PENINSULA

Full day Tour to Península Valdés. From July thru December, a whale -watch cruise is included. The southern Right Whale (eubalena australis) arrives in these coasts towards the end of the winter to mate and breed. The curiosity of these animals is amazing. It seems they really enjoy the company of man, swimming around the cruise. Sometimes they give great leaps leaps or they might remain with the tail out of the water for a good 15´. Lunch in Puerto Piramide.
We visit Punta Norte where there is a fur seal colony or loberia. Next is Punta Delgada featuring an elephant seal colony. Return to Estancia Rincón Chico. Lodging and dinner.

Distance: 280 km (gravel road)

 

Day 3: VALDES PENINSULA - PENGUIN COLONY OF CABO DOS BAHIAS - BAHIA BUSTAMANTE

Drive south through National Route NR. 3. After 350 km. we come to Camarones, a small fishing village on the shores of the large Camarones Bay. In 1528, the Spaniards arrived to this coast and founded the Nueva Leon province. Its history is not the only attraction. We visit a Penguin colony at Cabo Dos Bahias Reserve. The colony has about 200.000 penguins that arrive to this coast to mate and breed. Some more kilometers along the coast lies Bahia Bustamente, a seaside village set in completely natural surroundings. replica watches

Lodging and dinner at Bahia Bustamente.

Distance: 540 km (300 km paved road, 240 gravel road). Driving time 7 hours.

 

Day 4: BAHIA BUSTAMANTE

Visit to and sailing along Malaspina Cove visiting Sea Lion and Seabird colonies. While sailing, we can watch Sea Lion colonies (3,500 animals during the breeding season), Penguins (60,000) and other  bird colonies as steamer ducks, Herons, seagulls and others. In the afternoon, visit to the Seaweed Industry and Archaeological Sites

Lunch, dinner and lodging at Bahia Bustamante.

Distance: 30 km (gravel road)

 

Day 5: BAHIA BUSTAMANTE - PETRIFIED FOREST - LABRADOR FARM 

First we go to the town of Sarmiento, located between the two most important lakes of the Patagonian Meseta (Musters Lake and Colhue Huapi Lake). Visit to the Petrified Forest Reserve.  Some 65 million years ago, trees were torn down by earthquakes or some other cataclysm. Today we can observe approximately 400 hundred petrified trees around the area.
Sightseeing includes the "Cerros Colorados" (colorful hills) and the Moonlandscape.

Lodging and dinner at a cherry farm called "El Labrador".

Distance: 350 km (150 km gravel road, 200 km paved road) Driving time: 4 hours

 

Day 6: LABRADOR FARM - ESTANCIA LOS TOLDOS

We take the mythical Route 40, the longest in the country (4600 km.). Leaving behind the towns of Rio Mayo and Perito Moreno the road leads to the enormous wild Buenos Aires lake. In the afternoon, we arrive at Estancia Los Toldos, located close to Rio Pinturas Canyon.

Distance: 400 km (360 km paved road, 40 km gravel road) Driving time: 5 hours replique rolex

 

Day 7: ESTANCIA LOS TOLDOS - PAINTED CAVES - POSADAS LAKE

Trekking to Cuevas de las Manos (prehistoric cave paintings). Arriving through Estancia Los Toldos we reach the border of the canyon. That includes trek 40´ minute, crossing the river and climbing to the Caves .
The Cuevas de las Manos was a sacred site for the Tehuelches and their ancestors. The oldest paintings are dated back 9000 years. Box lunch at the rangers house.
Drive south through National Route NR. 40 to Lago Posadas. Located close to a narrow landstrip that scarcely separates the two different colour of lakes: Posadas and Pueyrredon Lake. Lodging and dinner at the Hosteria.

Distance: 170 km (30 km paved road, 140 km gravel road) Driving time: 2,30 hours.

 

Day 8: POSADAS LAKE

Full day expedition visiting the Jurassic Coast of Posadas Lake, “The Arch” and the Isthmus. In the afternoon we explore the Puma cave, the “Laguna de los Colores” and the Gorge of Rio Oro with its white waters descending from Mt. San Lorenzo (3706mts). Its snowy peaks, can be seen from very far away, the highest peak in the southern Andes. It is also a great challenge for the climbers of the world. Father Agostini was the first one to reach its peak in 1943. Lodging and dinner at La Posada del Posadas.
Distance: 70 km (gravel road)
 

Day 9: POSADAS LAKE - EL CHALTEN

Today´s journey takes on a road crossing the Patagonian vastness, interrupted by the lonely Cardiel Lake. Lunch at Estancia La Siberia. On the road there are great opportunities to observe diverse land mammals such us Guanacos, hares, red and gray foxes, armadillos and skunks. Birds of prey like falcons, eagles or condors.
Arrival at El Chalten, a windswept town at the foot of the defiant Mt. Fitz Roy. You will enjoy magnificent vistas of the huge granite walls of the daring Mt Fitz Roy and some other famous peaks.
Distance: 530 km (305 gravel road, 225 paved road) Driving time: 7 hours.

 

Day 10: EL CHALTEN

 Trekking to one of the circuits on the Fitz Roy or Cerro Torre area. There are easy, moderate and difficult trekks ranging from one to 8 hours. All of them have great views of these famous mountains. Lodging and dinner at Hosteria El Pilar. It is also possible to visit Lago del Desierto and enjoy a scenic road thru a huge Nothofagus forest bordering the Las Vueltas River.

 

Day 11: EL CHALTEN - EL CALAFATE

Drive to El Calafate along the coast of Lago Argentino. From the road we observe the great Viedma Lake and its Glacier originating in the continental snow fields. The famous Perito Moreno Glacier, an important river of ice, 3 km. wide by 50 m high. Because it is the only glacier in the world which is permanently advancing, it has been declared a world heritage by UNESCO. Some people consider it to be one of the eight wonder of the world.

Lodging at hotel. Free dinner.

Distance: 220 km (paved road). Driving time: 2:30 hours

 

Day 12: EL CALAFATE

Optional activities (Excursion along Lago Argentino, where we can admire the Upsala Glacier (the largest can be admired), the Spegazzini (the highest) and the Onelli (the most remote, featuring a path 500 meter to get to it, blanketed with a lenga and ñire forest. Minitrekking over the glacier. Full day tour to Estancia Cristina. Lodging in El Calafate. Free dinner.   

Distance: 160 km (paved road)

 

Day 13: EL CALAFATE - BUENOS AIRES

Transfer to the airport. End of our services.

Distance: 30 km (paved road)

 

Services:

• 12 nights
• 08 dinners and 11 box lunch / lunch
• National Park and Province Reserve tickets
• transportation according to the itinerary
• spanish/english driver / guide