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El Calafate Day Trip: La Leona Petrified Forest
4.7
19 Ratings
El Calafate
Embark on a fascinating day trip from El Calafate to La Leona Petrified Forest. Explore a lunar landscape filled with petrified logs and dinosaur fossils, learn about the area’s geological features, and visit the historic Hotel La Leona. Enjoy stunning views and comfortable transportation throughout the journey.
Embark on a fascinating day trip from El Calafate to La Leona Petrified Forest. Explore a lunar landscape filled with petrified logs and dinosaur fossils, learn about the area’s geological features, and visit the historic Hotel La Leona. Enjoy stunning views and comfortable transportation throughout the journey.
Duration:
8 hours
Cancellation:
24 hours
Highlights
- El Calafate - After hotel pickup in El Calafate, travel with your guide by air-conditioned coach for an approx. 21-mile (33-km) drive along Route 40, immersing yourself in the stunning scenery that unfolds before you.
- Lago Argentino - Admire Argentino Lake, Santa Cruz and La Leona rivers, and sweeping views of the impressive Andes mountains,…
- El Calafate - After hotel pickup in El Calafate, travel with your guide by air-conditioned coach for an approx. 21-mile (33-km) drive along Route 40, immersing yourself in the stunning scenery that unfolds before you.
- Lago Argentino - Admire Argentino Lake, Santa Cruz and La Leona rivers, and sweeping views of the impressive Andes mountains, including the snow-blown jagged peaks of Fitz Roy, the highest mountain in Los Glaciares National Park.
- Parador La Leona - We will make a stop of approximately 15 minutes in the Hotel La Leona, important historical site, where we can stock up and explore its small museum. We will continue our way along the south of Lake Viedma to the edge of Cerro Los Hornos to reach the Estancia Santa Teresita.
- La Leona Petrified Forest - Here we will get off the vehicle to start our walk. We will trek through the depression of the land where we will find petrified logs that lie on the surface, some of up to 1.20 meters in diameter! We can also see fossil remains of different types of dinosaurs that inhabited the place. The duration of the trekking is 3 hours (time for trekking depends on weather conditions).
- El Calafate - Walk back to the starting point and return to El Calafate by bus, making a stop in La Leona before being dropped off at your hotel.
What's Included
- Hotel pickup and drop-off
- Professional guide
- In-vehicle air conditioning
- Bottled water and lunch
- Hotel pickup and drop-off
- Professional guide
- In-vehicle air conditioning
- Bottled water and lunch
What's Not Included
- Gratuities
- Gratuities
Additional Information
Embark on an unforgettable day trip from El Calafate to the mesmerizing La Leona Petrified Forest. Stroll through a dreamlike, lunar-esque terrain dotted with ancient petrified logs and dinosaur fossils. With an expert guide, uncover the area’s remarkable geological marvels on a relaxed hike. Before your journey, visit the historic Hotel La Leona, rich…
Embark on an unforgettable day trip from El Calafate to the mesmerizing La Leona Petrified Forest. Stroll through a dreamlike, lunar-esque terrain dotted with ancient petrified logs and dinosaur fossils. With an expert guide, uncover the area’s remarkable geological marvels on a relaxed hike. Before your journey, visit the historic Hotel La Leona, rich with captivating stories. Enjoy the comfort of an air-conditioned coach as you travel between sites, taking in breathtaking views of Argentino Lake, the Santa Cruz and La Leona rivers, and the stunning Mt. Fitz Roy.
- Minimum age is 6 years
- Not recommended for participants with back problems, heart complaints or other serious medical conditions
- It is recommended that you bring sunblock and wear comfortable clothes and shoes
- Seasonal tour operating October to April
- A minimum of 2 people per booking is required
- IMPORTANT: If you wish to cancel your tour, please note that no refund will be granted from the 24th of December to the 02nd of January. All sales are final between those dates.
Location
El Calafate
The pick up transfer is only from selected centrally located hotels. If your hotel is outside the geographic area, we will confirm you the closest meeting point. Indicate the name and address of your hotel.
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Customer Ratings
4.7
(19 Ratings)
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Alip873
Dec 29, 2024
La Leona Petrified Forest. Excellent day out. - The guide, Paull our driver were fabulous. We loved the fascinating terrain, the geology, and fossilised trees. The trek was well thought out, and care and safety from the guide was outstanding. The driver returned the items I accidentally left on the bus to our hotel afterwards. The tour was great. I highly recommend it.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Carol_g
Apr 29, 2024
Magical experience - Outstanding views! The long journey was made bearable by the excellent driver of our car. In addition he drew our attention to a variety of wildlife we had never seen before.
Review provided by Viator
Joe
Jan 14, 2023
Amazing scenic hike of a natural wonder not far from Calafate - Amazing and seemingly underrated day trek. I don’t understand how this isn’t a more popular trek for people staying in El Calafate. We absolutely loved the hike - around 3 hours in total, and not too far from town. The petrified forest is an amazing canyon with fossils and petrified wood. A true geological wonder that doesn’t get enough attention. Leo was a fantastic guide and I would highly recommend this!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
111andyk
Jan 8, 2023
Incredible Adventure - This was an amazing day. The less populated side of the Patagonian adventure is not one to be missed. The petrified trees and dinosaur bones in the midst of the barren yet magnificent landscape left us with the feeling being in a true adventure. I traveled with my wife and kids (7, 9) and all had a great time. The trek was easy for all to complete. Leonardo (guide) and driver were exceptional pair. Both were very knowledgeable, friendly and helpful. Highly recommended. Drive time was about 1:15 one way from el Calafate.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Daniel_k
Mar 12, 2022
Very interesting place to... - Very interesting place to visit. The trip was amazing, Recommend it to all.
Thee tour operator nice and professional.
Review provided by Viator
Nomad604875
Mar 23, 2020
Excellent discovery near El Calafate - We were lucky enough to be able to do this activity "solo" with the guide. Indeed, we were only two + the guide and what a Service! Pick-up at the hotel and then we leave for the day in what looks like a Moon setting. Interesting guide (speaking English and Spanish) explaining the Geology and History of the places (+ of course the explanations on the Dinosaurs and the Petrified Forest). We can only recommend this excursion if you have a day to devote to it (return scheduled around 4:00 pm). Thanks to our guides for their sympathy, humor and professionalism:)
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Fabriciolobo2016
Mar 10, 2020
Sensational - The journey to the petrified forest lasts about an hour and a half, this time that passed quickly, much due to the good preparation of the guide, who was giving us very didactic explanations about the place and its formation. Quick stop before starting the walk at a road-side bar as described. The place of the walk itself is quite open, so sell a lot and you get very exposed to the sun. Do not forget about the sunscreen. It is about two and a half hours walk, with smaller stops and a larger stop for lunch, which is provided to us. The effort is moderate, there are climbs that require more, but I found nothing exaggerated. The view is breathtaking: from the lunar landscape, through a few pieces of fossils of prehistoric animals to many petrified trees. It’s a very diverse landscape that doesn’t even look like the same place that houses the glaciers or the Argentine Lake. I thought it was worth it.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
55alexias
Jan 22, 2020
La Leone - Great! All very interesting. The very austere landscape. The 2 guides super friendly, aware and very patient explaining everything. Worth it! Thanks for the wonderful day:)
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Julioc948
Feb 23, 2020
Different experience - It was very interesting because in addition to seeing petrified trees we also saw fossils of dinosaurs and other animals. The place is deserted and looks like lunar surface.
The guide Rossio was very professional and competent, in addition to friendly and attentive.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Sneeuverskrik
May 5, 2024
Cancelled - The excursion, scheduled for 30 April 2024, didn't take place due to lack of numbers. I'm disappointed, but at least I was advised timeously and refunded promptly. From a traveller's point of view though, it begs the question: given how overcrowded some tours are (e.g Todos Los Glaciares, with a different tour operator), can't operators sometimes take a loss when their overheads aren't covered?
Review provided by Tripadvisor
