EXPERIENCES

This full day excursion in the steppe zone aims at all people who enjoy outdoor activities and adventure, ready to discover new places. The tour includes approximately 3 hours walking on discontinuous ground where wind and water were responsible for uncovering this place, which remained hidden for millions of years. Departure from El Calafate by Route 40, where we can see Argentino Lake, Santa Cruz and La Leona Rivers, a panoramic view of the majestic Andes mountains and Fitz Roy Mount. We will stop for about 15 minutes in La Leona hotel (historical site) and continue traveling along the southern shore of Viedma Lake to reach Cerro Los Hornos slopes (Estancia Santa Teresita). We will look for the first time the great depression of the land where the petrified logs are situated and will start our trekking exploration of fossils, which lasts about 3 hours, including the time for lunch. Throughout the walk we will see lots of petrified logs lying on the surface, some with a 1.2 meters diameter, testimony that during ancient times the climate was very different from today and allowed the existence of a full forest. There have also been uncovered fossils of different types of dinosaurs. This land is sheltered from the wind because it is a natural depression in the ground. This steppe area, therefore, is very dry and weather conditions are generally very nice. After the walk, we begin the journey back to El Calafate on the same path with another stop at La Leona hotel.

We visit a few Welsh settlement located in Rio Chubut Valley. Trelew was named after Lewis Jones, who was a pioneer in the Welsh settlement that started in 1865. Gaiman is a small village with less than 10,000 inhabitants who work mainly in farming activities. Gaiman's main attraction stands on both its high number of typical Welsh buildings and the historic and cultural events that take place in the village every year. Dolavon is also a small village, founded in 1915 and is known as the 'village of the waterwheels'. We also visit Rawson, the capital of the province of Chubut, and enjoy a traditional Welsh tea at Hosteria TyGyn.

We depart from Salta toward San Antonio de los Cobres, Salinas Grandes, and Purmamarca, following a route parallel to the “Train to the Clouds” railway line, through the Quebrada del Toro. We begin the ascent until reaching 4,080 m (13,386 ft) above sea level and arrive at San Antonio de los Cobres. Here we take a break with time for lunch; then we cross Route 40 until we reach the Salinas Grandes, right at the border between Salta and Jujuy. Next, we start the descent via the Cuesta de Lipán—where condors are often spotted—until reaching the town of Purmamarca and its famous Hill of Seven Colors.