Discovering the Magic Route (AR 035)
Helsingfors - Fitz Roy

Trekking & sailing through forests, glaciers and lakes.

Departures: daily from November to March
Guide: mountain - Spanish / English.
Meals: full board. Air Fare: not included.

Los Glaciares National Park is perhaps one of the truly untouched areas in the southern hemisphere where 47 major glaciers descend from the Continental Ice Field falling into the lakes. This tour starts at Estancia Helsingfors, a magical place by Lake Viedma, surrounded by snowed-capped mountains, crystaline water lakes and old trees. Continue to El Chaltén, name given to Mt. Fitz Roy by the aborigines, located in the heart of Los Glaciares National Park. Its natural surroundings offer a priviliged scenery with multiple alternatives to practise outdoor activities such as trekking, hiking and mountain climbing by the Fitz Roy massif area.

Day 1- El Calafate – El Chaltén
Arrival at El Calafate airport (*) and transfer to El Chaltén by regular bus line. Accommodation. Dinner.

Day 2 – El Chaltén
Continental breakfast. Full day trekking to Río Blanco Glacier, passing Mt. Rosado and Mt. León. Border Chorrillo del Salto river, where a breathtaking view of the Fitz Roy and Saint Exupery massifs is observed. Walk to Capri Lagoon, enjoying a stroll along mountains, rivers, forests, the beautiful scenery of Patagonia, world renowned for trekking. Continue to Rio Blanco up to the camp site to begin the ascention to Laguna de Los Tres, at the foothill of Mt.Fitz Roy (8 hours). Box lunch. Return to the hotel. Dinner.

Day 3 – El Chaltén
Continental breakfast. In the morning, optional trekking to Torre Lake, skirting the Fitz Roy River, and through a lenga wood where it's common to see the red head woodpeckers and a covey of parrots. Arrival at the camp site, the climbing expeditions base, continue to Bidwell Camping and admire an excellent panoramic view of Torre Lake, Las Adelas Glacier, Torre Glacier and Mt. Torre (6 hours). Box lunch. Return to the town. Accommodation. Dinner.

Day 4 – El Chaltén
Continental breakfast. Departure towards the pier of Bahia Tunel, 17 km. from El Chalten, to board the boat to Viedma Glacier. This imposing glacier that goes to the Lake Viedma in a funnel shape, is the second biggest of this National Park, after Upsala Glacier. The glacier brakes into icebergs of different sizes that drift along the waters. We will sail right in front of the glacier and follow a guided trek nearby the glacier visiting the ablation area and the ice caves. Box lunch. Return to the hotel. Dinner.

Day 5– El Chaltén / Helsingfors
Early transfer by regular bus line to La Leona. Continue 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 you offering all the necessary facilities for your comfort. Accommodation. Lunch. In the afternoon, departure for an excursion to "Laguna Azul" (Blue Lagoon). A short hiking trail will take you to Alfredo Valley, and then continue on to Laguna Azul, a volcanic formation fed by a small but attractive glacier. The return will be along a road that borders the water torrent back to the valley. Enjoy the imposing view of Mt. Fitz Roy massif on the other side of Lake Viedma. Arrival at Helsingfors Inn. Dinner.

Day 6 - Helsingfors
Breakfast. In the morning, join an optional hiking to Moyano Glacier. After 40 minutes sailing across Lake Viedma to Seno Moyano (Moyano Inlet), surrounded by mountains covered by forest, disembark at the end of this narrow strait. After a short walk along a lovely stream, reach the glacier, its front wall falls into a wonderful lake, called ''Lago Verde' (Green Lake) by the primitive inhabitants of the area. Return to Helsingfors Inn. Lunch. In the afternoon, visit Estancia “Los Hermanos”. This ranch, located only 5 km 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 7- Helsingfors/ El Calafate
Breakfast. Early departure by regular bus line to El Calafate. Reception at the bus station and transfer to the hotel. Accommodation. Half day excursion to the Perito Moreno Glacier (lunch not included), located in Los Glaciares National Park. This imposing ice river, 3 km. wide and 50 mt. high, descends from the Patagonian Continental Ice provoking ice cracks and explosions during its slow forward movements. Because of its breathtaking beauty and unusual behaviour it was declared a World Heritage Site by the UNESCO. Dinner.

Day 8- El Calafate
Breakfast. Transfer to El Calafate airport.
Note: in case of flying from Río Gallegos, optional bus transfer to El Calafate (316 km) (*).