In First Person: A Weekend in El Calafate
Adventure in the land of the glaciers
Our colleague Tom and his girlfriend visited Calafate recently for their first experience of the glaciers. They had a wonderful time. Read on to learn about their adventures.
Ice and Adventure Mini-Trekking
A great experience. Seeing both sides of the glacier as well as walking on it means there is no chance of feeling like you haven´t fully made the most of the trip to one of Argentina´s most famous natural showcases. Undoubtably, the full force of the glacier is best observed and felt from the pasarelas, but being able to quietly watch some calving whilst eating lunch at a secluded refuge gave the day a nice personal feel.
The hike on the ice was not especially difficult, so I would feel comfortable recommending the tour for a wide range of ages. It was extraordinary to get up close to the glacier and I don´t exaggerate when I say the landscape felt at times otherworldly in its appearance. The sheer size and age of the glacier is overpowering.
The whiskey on the ice after the walk is a fun touch which was unexpected and took the tour up a level. Especially when one considers the tag line of the ice being older than whiskey…
The company is clearly a well-oiled machine, exuding professionalism and run to a tight time schedule with helpful guides. The talk on the bus beforehand was useful and well delivered.
Todo Glaciares Tour
The best views of the trip, when we felt like we saw nature at its most untouched.
When the tour started, we were slightly nervous – having been on a large trip the day before which still manged to maintain a personal feel – Todo Glaciares seemed to be larger and less personal.
But when the boat gets going and you’re out on the deck with the sun on your face and the icebergs at your side, any semblance of stress or irritation dissipates in an instant.
We were treated to a beautiful day which made the views on the tour the best we had had all trip. Gliding close by to enormous icebergs of all shades of blue felt as with the day before, ethereal. Being able to closely approach glaciers by boat added a whole new dimension to our newly found appreciation for the icy behemoths. The slight overcrowding of the boat doesn´t matter at all when you reach the final destination.
The refuge for the lunch stop was well equipped with some great views of the Spegazzini glacier. I think there used to be some kind of walk in the forest, which appeared to be shut when we were there – if this was open, I think it would have enhanced the day, as exploring some of the landscape as well as looking at it from designated viewpoints would have been great. Perhaps more adventurous youths may feel confined, but the views really are unmissable.
The Darwin Experience
Perhaps our favourite of the three experiences. Made so by a superb guide who made the whole experience feel risk free, alongside being very knowledgeable about the surrounding Patagonian steppe.
We had heard the same information for two days in a row on the coaches about our surroundings (fully expected due to doing separate tours with two different companies.)
Nevertheless, it was refreshing to be accompanied by someone who went off script and didn´t feel like he was reading the same daily monologue (he may well have been but at least it didn´t feel like it!). Of course, having only six passengers helps with this enormously, but that is by design.
First impressions were that it was good to see a side of Patagonia that differed from the ice (not that we ever got bored of it). The trip to the starting position is bumpy but offers a good chance to see some local wildlife.
It´s worth noting that the kayaking is not an adrenaline fuelled adventure but rather a serene glide down a turquoise river that needs constant attention to ensure you stay on the right line.
As beautiful as the kayaking was, the highlight must be the lunch that followed. Feeling like we had earned it due to our exertions, we were treated to a highly premium experience. Arriving to a gaucho toasting focaccia, we soon enjoyed an unlimited flow of wine taking in the sounds of the river we had just been floating down. Provoleta, roasted tomatoes and the best chimichurri I´ve had in Argentina started off the feast.
Given the smaller nature of the tour (only six participants) it was easier to make conversation and bring the whole group closer together. The subsequent offerings of juicy steaks, a variety of salads and a light chocolate mousse served to top off a memorable morning.
For more information please contact our LEISURE department:
Matias Gomez mgomez@atpdmc.com
