Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
58
Day
2
: Perito Moreno Glacier
You'll be picked up right after br eakfast
and driven out to Lago Argentino for the
“Big I ce”
adv enture outfitter with
Hielo y Aventura
(p. 381). Once you spot
your first jaw-dr opping vie ws of P erito
Moreno G lacier, ther e's no turning back.
After traveling by boat across the lake, hike
up the southern side of the glacier . Your
guides will set y ou up with crampons and
lead you deep onto the seemingly endless
mass of ice. You'll skir t cr evasses and
explore its fr ozen horiz ons. Book tomor-
row's trip to Estancia Cristina upon return.
After a good siesta back in town, head out
for a w ell-deserved dinner of Argentine
classics, such as choriz o and blood sau-
sages, and a big piece of tenderloin with
red wine at
La Tablita
(p. 388)—pick up picnic supplies and hit
the trail. Today's trek will take y ou along
the FitzRoy River up to the
Cerro Torre
Lookout
(p. 386). It takes about 4 hours.
Back in to wn, stop b y
Patagonicus
for a
coffee and a sw eet treat. After y our now-
regular siesta, head to the cozy and historic
Ruca Mahuida
(p. 390) for dinner.
Day
5
: Hiking
Up early again, y ou've got a spectacular
day ahead of you on the trail. Your inn will
give you a good br eakfast and pack y ou a
picnic lunch if y ou ask the pr evious day.
The trail today is
Laguna de los Tres
(p. 387), affording a close-up vie w of
Mt.
FitzRoy.
You'll be on the trail for 10
hours, a good full day. But you'll be home
in time for a hot sho wer, a r est, and then
dinner at
Fuegia
(p. 390), which serves
abundant salads and creative curries.
Day
6
: Hiking
Your last day hiking in E l Chaltén will be
unforgettable. After filling up on br eakfast
and loading your pack with lunch and good
rain gear (no matter what the morning
(p. 377).
Day
3
: Estancia Cristina
Another early morning! After boar ding
the catamaran and heading out on the shores
of Lago Argentino, y ou'll enjo y br eakfast
overlooking icebergs and glaciers. B ack
on ground at the aw esome
Estancia Cris-
tina
4
(p . 372), hop into a 4WD
weather is like, pack a good rain jacket),
truck and drive to a lookout o ver the mas-
sive
Upsala Glacier.
The hiking star ts here
and heads along the ancient ridges befor e
dropping into a spectacular glacier-car ved
canyon. Keep your eye out for condors and
fossils. Guides provide your lunch en r oute.
The trek ends with enough time left for y ou
to visit the
estancia
museum, before boarding
the boat and heading back to E l Calafate.
For dinner tonight? H ow about spaghetti
and a fe
your transfer takes y ou 17km (11 miles)
south of E l Chaltén to the
Río E léctrico
and the Hostería El Pilar. From here, you'll
hike up a gradual climb and o ver the pass,
stopping at the lo vely
Laguna C apri
for
rest. B ack at the lodge, head for pizza at
Estepa
(p. 390) for dinner.
Day
7
: El Calafate & Home
If y our flight leav es E l Calafate in the
afternoon, y ou'll need to be on the first
bus out of El Chaltén. Back in El Calafate,
you may have time for lunch before trans-
ferring to the airport and flying to Buenos
Aires, exhausted but invigorated fr om a
week of tr ekking amid fine peaks and
grand glaciers.
w
cervezas
at
La Cocina
(p. 376)?
Day
4
: El Chaltén & Hiking
The first bus of the day heads to E l Chal-
tén at 7:30am, deliv ering y ou there early
enough that y ou'll hav e time to dr op off
your luggage at y
our hotel—
Senderos
Hostería
(p . 389) or
El P uma
