This excursion begins at 6:30 a.m. when we pick you up at your hotel in El Calafate and takes us to Monte León National Park, crossing the Patagonian steppe along the gravel Provincial Route No. 9. During the trip, you can enjoy the impressive views of the Santa Cruz River Valley and observe native wildlife such as guanacos, foxes, choiques and, with a bit of luck, pumas. We`ll stop at panoramic points and you`ll be able to climb up to the vehicle`s lookout point to admire the landscape.
Around 11:30 a.m., we`ll arrive at Monte León National Park, located on the coast of the Atlantic Ocean. The first stop will be on the sea coast, where you can see the Magellanic penguins. Here, you will take a 1-hour and a half trek of low difficulty along the penguin colony trail, walking among the penguins and their nests, and observing the colony from a viewpoint.
The experience continues towards the Lobería and Cabeza de León Trail, where we will reach the edge of a cliff that resembles a reclining lion, giving the park its name. From here, you will be able to observe sea lion colonies and, occasionally, right whales, dolphins or porpoises.
The next stop will be at the Monte León Island Viewpoint, from where you will be able to see enormous cormorant colonies and other seabirds characteristic of this environment.
Finally, you will return to El Calafate along the same gravel road, arriving at approximately 9:00 p.m.