Chalten Desert Lake is a spectacular full-day tour in which you travel through the town of El Chalten and the Canyon of Las Vueltas River in a setting of incomparable natural beauty. You will sail in Lake Desert (Lago del Desierto) and hike for 1 hour in the forest towards the Vespignani Glacier.
The tour begins when we pick you up at your hotel in El Calafate at 7:00 a.m. to, then, head towards the mythical Route 40 in the direction of Chaltén. This route borders Lake Argentino, crosses the Santa Cruz and La Leona rivers, and reaches, after 1 hour 15 minutes, the old hotel route called Parador La Leona (almost a museum of the Route 40), where you can have coffee with homemade cakes.
Later, you continue bordering Lake Viedma, with the Andes Mountains in the background and, before reaching Chaltén, you will make a stop at the viewpoint of the Viedma Glacier. From here you can see a beautiful view of the Viedma Glacier, the Andes Mountains and the emblematic Cerro Fitz Roy and Cerro Torre. These towering mountains are a must-see for any visitor to Patagonia, and the tour provides ample opportunities for photography and exploring its trails. After 3 hours and 220 km journey, you will arrive at the picturesque town of El Chaltén.
In the city center of Chalten, you change vehicle to then travel 37 km through the Canyon of Las Vueltas River towards Lake Desert in a gravel road surrounded by a forest. Along the way, stops will be made at panoramic points that allow you to enjoy views of the hills and waterfalls near the route. The guide will wait for you in Chalten while you visit Desert Lake and its surroundings.
Upon arrival at Lake Desert, you will embark to sail for 1 hour (round trip) this beautiful water mirror surrounded by mountains and glaciers. Upon reaching the middle of the lake, you will disembark to start the self-guided mountain trekking. You will visit the nature reserve for 2 hours where you can choose one of the three trails with different levels of difficulty to the Vespignani Glacier for trekking. The person in charge of the nature reserve will welcome you after disembarking and will advise you about the trails depending on your condition. After trekking through this spectacular natural landscape little explored, you can have lunch and take refuge in the dome located in the forest and in front of the lake until you embark again.
About 3:00 p.m. the return to El Chalten starts, where you will be received again by the guide, to then head towards El Calafate where you will arrive at 8:00 p.m. finishing the tour.
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