Route 40 in Patagonia

Itinerary: Com. Riv. – Pto. Deseado – Ruta 40 – Chalten - Calafate

Duration:7 Nights / 8 Days
Season:October / April
Total Km.: 1950 km. (1290 km. paved, 660 km. gravel)

 

 

Day 1: COMODORO RIVADAVIA – PUERTO DESEADO.

Reception at Comodoro Rivadavia airport. Transfer to Puerto Deseado. For the first 80 km, the road goes along the coast of San Jorge Gulf.  Bays, gulfs and cliffs lead the traveler into Caleta Olivia in Santa Cruz Province. Later on driving through the steppe we arrive in Pto. Deseado, a fishing port featuring a deep estuary, first explored by Magellan and Cavendish in 1520 and 1586. Lodging at Hotel Los Acantilados. Dinner.
Total: 280 km. (paved road)

 

Day 2: PUERTO DESEADO.

In good weather conditions: full day expedition to Isla Pinguino. A two hour ride in the open ocean in a semirigid zodiac to visit the only place on the whole Patagonian coast where the Rock Hopper Penguin can be observed. Walk across the island for about 3 hours through a Magellan Penguin colony, dive-bombing skuas, the historical abandoned lighthouse, the ruins of an old sea lion factory and the Rock Hooper Penguin Colony located on the highest area of the island. Box lunches.

 

Otherwise, we will visit different sites on the "Ria del Deseado". This area is a wildlife reserve where seals and dolphins swim close to the shore. Seabirds such as Imperial Cormorants, Magellan Penguins, Magellan oystercatchers and the rare Gray Cormorants can be observed as well.

Another option is to visit the Cabo Blanco lighthouse and surroundings, also a marine wildlife observation area.

Lodging: Hotel Los Acantilados. Dinner.

 

Day 3: PUERTO DESEADO – LOS ANTIGUOS

Today´s journey crosses Patagonia from the Atlantic Ocean across the steppe to the great Meseta of Lago Buenos Aires.

Lunch at the authentic patagonian bar/restaurant "El Pluma”, located near the great valley of Rio Deseado. Then we take the mythical Route 40, the longest in the country (4600 km). 

Distance: 600 km (paved road)

 

Day 4: LOS ANTIGUOS– PAINTED CAVES OF THE PINTURAS RIVER – LAGO POSADAS 

The adventure starts with a drive to the gorges of Pinturas Valley. We visit the Cuevas de las Manos (prehistoric cave paintings), it was a sacred site for the Tehuelches and their. The oldest paintings are said to be 9000 years old. Designs are easy to recognize. Different techniques and colors can be observed. 

 

After a nourishing box lunch, we drive towards the Perito Moreno National Park, one of the most remote places along Ruta 40 and less visited areas in Patagonia.

The Park protects this patagonian fauna and flora as well as a lake and river system. Remarkable numbers of guanacos (lama guanicoe) can be sighted. Lodging and dinner at Estancia La Oriental. Home cooked meals are shared with the owners and other guests.fake watches

Distance: 260 (gravel road)

 

Day 5: PERITO MORENO NATIONAL PARK

An exciting, full day wildlife safari through the Park. We go deep into the wilderness. You can easily observe guanacos, choiques (rhea americana), red and gray foxes, patagonian hares, flamingos, Magellan Geese, Condors. Pumas (felis concolor) and Huemules (American deer) are very difficult to spot. Sightseeing vistas of the Cordillera de los Andes as well as of a complex lake system that includes Lake Belgrano, Azara, Burmeister, and Lake Nansen. Visit to the Belgrano Peninsula, where we learn about Guanacos´s habits  behavior, as hundreds of them hang around the hilly peninsula. Box lunch.
In the afternoon we drive up to Rio Lacteo, the river that carries glacier sediments all the way from the San Lorenzo Mount (3740 m.)

Lodge and Dinner at Estancia La Oriental. Distance:60 km(gravel road)

 

Day 6: PERITO MORENO NATIONAL PARK – ESTANCIA EL CONDOR

The journey takes you across 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. Also birds of prey like falcons or eagles. Estancia El Condor stands on the imposing Andean Range, on the shores of Lake San Martin and its turquoise waters.

Distance: 440 km(390 gravel road, 50 paved road)

 

Day 7: ESTANCIA EL CONDOR

At this Estancia we take a walk through woods of  native species (Nothofagus subantartica), do trekking to great natural viewpoints of San Martin Lake, the Avellaneda Peninsula and the ranch headquarters. This is the perfect region to observe condors, black buzzard eagles among many other Patagonian birds. Box lunch.

Lodging and dinner at Estancia El Condor.

 

Day 8: ESTANCIA EL CONDOR – EL CHALTEN

Drive to El Chalten. From the road we observe the great Viedma Lake and its Glacier originated in the continental snow fields. El Chalten is a small town right in Los Glaciares National Park, at the foot of Fitz Roy (3405 m.) or Chalten (native word meaning volcano), one of the most beautiful mountains in the world.

Distance: 260 (140 paved road, 120 gravel road)

 

Services

• 07 nights
• 07 dinners without beverages / 07 box Lunch
• On board Safari Isla Pingüino / Ría del Deseado
• Tickets Cueva de las Manos Provintial Reserve
• Private Transportation according to itinerary
• English/Spanish Guide

 

Additional itinerary / private or regular service: El Chalten - El Calafate - Perito Moreno Glacier.

Day 8: El Chalten

Lodging at Hosteria. Optional trekking to Laguna Capri or Scenic point of Cerro Torre.

Day 9: El Chalten

Optionals: Full day trekking (base camp of Cerro Fitz Roy or Laguna Torre). Visit to Lago del Desierto. Lodge at Hosteria in el Chalten.

Día 10: El Chalten – El Calafate

Transfer to El Calafate. In the afternoon, tour to Perito Moreno Glacier.

Lodging in a Hotel.