Discovering the Magic Route

Day 1: Arrive in El Calafate - Perito Moreno Glacier
Early arrival at El Calafate airport. Reception and transfer to the hotel. Lunch. Half day trip to Perito Moreno Glacier, located in Los Glaciares National Park. This imposing ice river, which is 3 km wide and 50 meters (164 feet) high, descends from the Patagonian Continental Ice, provoking ice cracks and explosions during its slow forward movements. Because of its breathtaking beauty and unusual behavior, it was declared a World Heritage Site by the UNESCO. Dinner.

Day 2: El Calafate - Upsala Glacier - Onelli Bay
Breakfast. Day at leisure for an optional tour: full day lake excursion to Upsala Glacier and Onelli Bay, cruising among hundreds of icebergs that have broken off the glacier. Upsala is the largest continental glacier in the Southern Hemisphere. The height of its walls varies between 60 to 80 meters (196 to 262 feet) and it has an area of 595 km2 (229 square miles). Lunch. Return to the hotel. Dinner.

Day 3: El Calafate - Helsingfors
Breakfast. Transfer to Helsingfors Inn on Helsingfors vehicles. This typical Patagonic ranch was founded at the beginning of the XIX century by a Finnish pioneer who fell in love with the solitude and the greatness of the landscape. Now it welcomes guests offering all the necessary facilities for comfort. Lunch. In the afternoon, trekking to Estancia “Los Hermanos”. This ranch, located only 5 km (3 miles) away from the inn, belongs to the same owners. Here the premises and the typical activities of a Patagonic farm can be observed. Return to the Inn. Dinner.

Day 4: Helsingfors - Viedma Glacier
Breakfast. In the morning, we sail towards Viedma Glacier. After having navigated for 40 minutes from the pier at the inn, we arrive to the front of the imposing glacier. From the zodiac it is possible to observe ice breaking off from the glacier, thus originating icebergs. Once we have landed and after a five minute’s walk, we will reach the ice, which will let us live a unique experience: getting into the caves that are formed at the edge of that same glacier. Return to the inn. Lunch. Dinner.

Day 5: Helsingfors - Laguna Azul - Fitz Roy
Breakfast. In the morning, horseback riding to Laguna Azul (Blue Lagoon), a volcanic formation fed by a small but attractive glacier. We will leave behind both Lake Viedma and the imposing Fitz Roy Mountain to get into an Andean – Patagonic wood. After some hard climbing, we reach a beautiful landscape surrounded by snow-covered peaks and an icy river that melts into the waters of Laguna Azul. Box lunch. We return to the inn through a path that borders the serpentine course of Ramstrom river.

Day 6: Helsingfors - El Chaltén - Lake Viedma
Breakfast. In the morning, we will sail and trek towards Del Morro Lagoon. After sailing through an arm of Lake Viedma, which gets into the Andes Mountains, we will get into Del Morro Lagoon, a crystalline water mirror that reflects the green woods that surround it. An ideal spot to enjoy trout fishing. Return to the inn. Lunch. Transfer to La Leona on Helsingfors vehicles, and later on continuing to El Chaltén by regular bus line. Dinner.

Day 7: El Chaltén - Piedras Blancas Glacier
Breakfast. Full day trekking to Piedras Blancas Glacier, passing through Mt. Rosado and Mt. León. We will border Chorrillo del Salto river, from where we can get a breathtaking view of the Fitz Roy and Saint Exupery massifs. We will hike to Capri Lagoon, enjoying a stroll along mountains, rivers, forests and the beautiful scenery of Patagonia, world renowned for trekking. We will continue to Río Blanco, up to the Camp site to begin the ascension to Laguna de Los Tres, at the foot-hill of Mt. Fitz Roy (8 hours). Box lunch. Return to the hotel. Dinner.

Day 8: El Chaltén - Fitz Roy
Breakfast. In the morning, optional trekking to Torre Lake, skirting the Fitz Roy River, and through a lenga wood where it is common to see red head woodpeckers and flocks of parrots. Arrival at the camp site, the climbing expeditions base, continuing to Bidwell Camping and admiring an excellent panoramic view of Torre Lake, Las Adelas Glacier, Torre Glacier and Cerro Torre (6 hours). Box lunch. Return to the town. Dinner.

Day 9: El Chaltén - Fly out from El Calafate
Breakfast. Early departure to El Calafate by regular bus line. Reception at the bus station and transfer to the airport, or continuation towards Torres del Paine (Chile).