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Summer 2023: 5 excursions to do if you are on vacation in El Calafate

2023-01-31T09:41:07.169Z


Proposals for the season in this destination of Santa Cruz. The famous Perito Moreno glacier is the most emblematic place and the one that is most linked to El Calafate. But this destination in Santa Cruz, with six thousand inhabitants, serves as the base for many other excursions and experiences in our always fascinating Argentine Patagonia. The glacier is part of  Los Glaciares National Park , the largest park in the country and a Unesco World Heritage


The famous Perito Moreno glacier is the most emblematic place and the one that is most linked to El Calafate.

But this destination in Santa Cruz, with six thousand inhabitants, serves as the

base for many other excursions and experiences

in our always fascinating Argentine Patagonia.

The glacier is part of 

Los Glaciares National Park

, the largest park in the country and a Unesco World Heritage site in 1981.

It has more than 700,000 hectares, protects glaciers and continental ice, and the most famous -because it is also the most accessible since it can be seen from the walkways- is the Perito Moreno.

Seeing its thick mass of ice, its landslides and the changing colors with the light is a marvel that we should enjoy once in a lifetime.

Among the vegetation, the lenga, the ñire and the guindo always stand out.

And with luck, animal lovers will be able to see a huemul, as well as a large number of birds, lagoons, melting rivers, lakes and imposing hills.

Here are

some must

-sees to take into account on your next visit to El Calafate, beyond walking the catwalks in front of the Perito Moreno.


1. Boat ride in front of the glacier

Seeing the Perito Moreno glacier from the catwalks is a fascinating experience.

And perhaps it is even more so

on board a ship

, which sails close to its impressive walls.

Navigation to the Perito Moreno Glacier in El Calafate.

The glacier has a surface similar to that of the entire city of Buenos Aires.

On the excursion you can see how the huge pieces of ice break off and fall into the water with a great roar.

The crystal clear icy waters and the landscape leave anyone breathless.

The excursions, which leave from El Calafate, usually last all day.

But there are other cuts that are made from the park.

Data.

Navigations are offered from $6,000 on the north face of the Perito Moreno Glacier (www.patagoniachic.com).

2. El Chalten

200 kilometers from Calafate, El Chaltén is one of the must-see towns in the area, founded within the Los Glaciares National Park.

The place became an unmissable center for trekking in the country.

And its location is unbeatable: at the foot of Cerro Fitz Roy and on the banks of the Río de las Vueltas.

El Chalten, ideal destination for trekking,

The trails are clearly marked and there are routes for everyone, both for the experienced and for those who want to walk slowly and enjoy the scenery.

Excursions to the Lago del Desierto Provincial Reserve also depart from there.

The place is small so it is important to check accommodation availability before going.

Data.

 Enter www.elchalten.tur.ar.

All walks are free and there is no admission to pay to enter these areas of the park.

3.Glacierium

Located in El Calafate, it is a museum and center dedicated to disseminating knowledge about Patagonian ice and its glaciers.

"One of the few glaciological interpretation centers in the world," he says in his promotion.

Glaciarium.

Photo Daniel Rodriguez

The exhibition halls, developed in two pavilions, describe the process of ice formation, tell the story of its explorers and the processes carried out by glaciers.

There is a section dedicated especially to the Perito Moreno glacier, with multimedia projections and detailed explanations of its behavior.

Data. 

General admission costs $3,000 and $2,000 for retirees and students (www.glaciarium.com).

4. Kayak on the La Leona river

The La Leona river is one of the most beautiful in the Patagonian steppe.

And it is characterized by its green waters -almost milky- as a result of its glacial origin.

There the kayak ride service is offered -there are other operators that combine it with trekking- to enjoy the landscape actively.

It is a full day activity, with a route of about 14 kilometers, which includes paddles, technical equipment, guides and a welcome snack, as well as transfers and insurance.

Data.

 The full day excursion costs $25,000 per person (www.kayaksantacruz.com.ar).

5. Patagonian ranch

Nibepo Aike Ranch, El Calafate, Santa Cruz.

Photo Louis Franke

In addition to offering accommodation, the

Nibepo Aike ranch

 -with more than 110 years of history and 56 km from El Calafate- offers a Field Day program, from 10 am to 3 pm, which includes a tour of the corrals and sheds area of ​​the estancia, where the family museum is located with a collection of objects and photos of the history of the family and the estancia.

There is a sheep herding, shearing demonstration, milking depending on the season, a show of gaucho skills and there is also time for a horseback ride or a walk, before having lunch in the barbecue area with roast Patagonian lamb and a variety of salads.

In addition, it has special horseback riding programs with different durations and trekking to Los Baguales, 3 days and 2 nights.

Nibepo Aike Ranch, El Calafate, Santa Cruz.

Photo Louis Franke

Data.

Field Day without transportation, $15,000 per person.

Children under 10 pay half.

45-minute horseback ride, $3,800.

Country day and Cristales horseback riding (3 hours), without transportation, $25,300 per person (minimum age for horseback riding, 10 years).

Reports: www.nibepoaike.com.ar 

look too

PreViaje 4 is coming: when and to which destinations you can travel

Summer 2023: six Jujuy must-sees for the holidays

Source: clarin

All life articles on 2023-01-31

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