Kayak & Trekking Experience Río La Leona

A 14 km full day adventure to discover the delightful La Leona River and take a hike through Los Hornos Mount. Explore a glacial river surrounded by the Patagonian steppe and learn about geology!

In the Santa Cruz province it is said that Río La Leona is one of the most beautiful rivers in the Patagonian steppe. With a 70 km flow of turquoise waters, this glacial river is born at the Viedma Lake and discharges at the Argentino Lake.

An interesting fact: its name was given due to a female puma attack (colloquially called “leona”, which means lioness) that suffered Francisco Pascasio Moreno, the famous Perito Moreno, on an expedition towards the Santa Cruz River in the summer of 1877.

Surrounded by the most arid steppe, with no trees and framed by a wide tiered valley, La Leona provides the scenery for today’s adventure.

After an early pick up from the hotel in El Calafate, we are driven towards Luz Divina, a rural inn. On the way the guide tells us about this faraway place and the river we are about to navigate. Glaciers, flora and fauna complete a very interesting informative talk.

Once at Luz Divina, we get familiar with the kayak equipment and pay attention to the technical brief to know the paddling basics. Even if you don’t have any previous experience kayaking, this activity can be easily done by anyone!

All equipped and instructed, we finally go down to La Leona River. The first paddling stretch takes about an hour and a half. Until we get used to this activity, which for some is the first time ever to get into a kayak, it’s impossible not to be captivated by this outstanding landscape of natural beauty and geological history; to take in this vast environment where the sound of silence is so overwhelming. An untouched scenery that many years ago astonished explorers such as Darwin or Moreno with the contrast of the ocher steppe and the turquoise glacial waters.

The next stop is at Los Hornos Mount, one of the oldest formations in the world. At this mount we take a 2 hs hike discovering the beginnings of Patagonian geography. Petrified trees and dinosaur fossils are witnesses of ancient times where the Earth’s conditions and weather were very different than nowadays.

At this place we will also have a brief lunch (not included) and a hot tea to regain energies for the next paddling stretch.

Back again on our kayaks, after 45 minutes more navigating through La Leona, we reach the final stop of the adventure at Arroyo Turbio. We are welcomed at Estancia La Irene and after settling in and putting away the kayak gear, the team bids farewell with a delicious cold beer before returning to El Calafate.

GENERAL INFORMATION

  • Daily departures. Full day excursion.
  • Operates from October to April.
  • Requires Min. 1 pax – Max. 8 pax.
  • Min. age required is 12 years old.
  • Very active excursion. Implies moderate physical effort. No previous trekking or kayaking experience needed.
  • Pax should wear trekking shoes, comfortable clothes for paddling (thermal t-shirt, polar jacket or sweater, etc.), thermal or lycra leggins, additional underwear (in case it gets wet while kayaking), sunglasses and sunscreen, backpack or bag to keep personal items in the vehicle.

SERVICES INCLUDED

  • Calafate Hotels pick up (starts at 7:30 am) & drop off (4:30 pm). Can be arranged to and from airport depending on flight schedule.
  • Double Kayak and paddles.
  • Safety briefing & Technical equipment: neoprene suit and boots, semi-dry jacket, cockpit cover, helmet, mittens, life jacket, waterproof bag.
  • Bilingual guides (Spanish-English)
  • Snack (hot drinks, cookies or brownies, nuts).
  • Insurance pack for tourism activities.

SERVICES NOT INCLUDED

  • Box lunch.
  • Transfers from/to El Chaltén.

 

Andean Flavours & Refined Wines in Cafayate

Salta´s wines are a true reflection of the colorful andean scenery, history and ancestral traditions. Such are the ones produced by Finca Quara in Cafayate. This is their story.

It is well known that Cafayate is one of the most important wine production areas in Argentina, where the special weather conditions and terroir originate high quality and refined wines. Warm sunny days, cool nights, dry climate and low rainfall make of this town the home to 70% of the vineyards in the Calchaqui Valleys.

José Fortunato Lavaque arrived from Lebanon towards the end of the 19th century and decided to settle in Cafayate, the most prosperous town in Salta at that time. Attracted by the Valley’s´ unique landscape, he begun his new life here and started his own winery, which was kept on going during the next century.

In the 80s, Rodolfo Lavaque (4th family generation) took over the family business and a few years later acquired a piece of land from another winery, where he established Finca Quara. Rodolfo is known for being one of the main characters in the reactivation of the wine industry in the North of Argentina in the 90s and the years to come.

Nowadays, inspired by their father’s example and vision, the 5th family generation makes world famous high quality wines: Alpaca, Quara Single Vineyard and Quara Reserva.

Finca Quara is open to visitors to enjoy different activities to learn about wine production, the winery and vineyards and the Finca’s history. In their own words, Quara designs experiences to combine rural tourism, culture, regional cuisine and wine.

The winery itself is a genuine architectural monument worth of visiting; one of the oldest and best preserved building in the region and inspired by the Renaissance style developed by Andrea Palladio in the Cinquecento.

The wine cellar, surrounded by French oak barrels, creates a unique and mysterious environment with toasted aromas, which makes the perfect place to know and taste Quara’s refined wines.

Under the Glorieta (arbor), it is possible to explore regional flavours paired with the perfect selection of wines, whilst enjoying the delightful mountain scenery.

Wine tasting is always present at any of Quara’s proposals. Even if it is just the guided tour around the finca or including the “Picoteo Salteño” with empanadas or the special Finca Quara Lunch. There are options for every palate!

To find out more about Finca Quara and its visiting and wine tasting alternatives, please contact us. Cheers!

 

Street Food Tour in Buenos Aires

A walking gastronomic tour in Buenos Aires to try some of the national street food icons.

The influence of immigration and the creole imprint made of Buenos Aires an important gastronomic reference worldwide. The culinary diversity and creativity, each time larger and more innovative, have positioned the city as a gastronomic and cultural destination chosen by millions of tourists. This is why Buenos Aires is the 2017’s Iberoamerican Capital of Gastronomic Culture, a recognition given by the Iberoamerican Gastronomy Academy (AIG).

Chefs from all over the world choose the city to educate themselves and travellers arrive looking for the typical asado, Andean dishes, traditional inherited recipes and many other local flavours, textures and aromas.

Pizza al molde
Pizza al molde

We want to celebrate gastronomy in Buenos Aires introducing a special tour that takes you on the search for classic street food that we all Argentineans love. Exploring the city by foot, in the company of one of our expert guides and foodies, this four stops / four fast meals gastronomic experience will give you a taste of what this amazing and diverse city has to offer.

Our guide will pick you up and take you towards the first stop. Then, you will walk around for about 3 hours making a few stops more on the way while he/she tells you all about Argentineans and food, out traditions and tastes, our legacy and influences, and also the full story behind what you’re about to try.

1024px-Choripan_mariposa_By David (Choripan) [CC BY 2.0 (httpcreativecommons.orglicensesby2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons
The famous choripan!
The first tasting stop will be at a food truck in the Costanera Sur for an exquisite and unique choripan. Its name is an acronym from the words chorizo (spicy sausage) and pan (bread), which are the two basic ingredients. It is said that the choripan goes back halfway through the XIX century, when in the countryside the gauchos organized asados to celebrate any occasion, and then started the habit of eating chorizo inside a bread. The choripan has three fast food main characteristics: it’s easy to cook, fast to eat and relatively cheap. Today it’s a main character in any Argentinean barbecue and it’s usually the first treat to serve while waiting for the rest of the meat to be done. Without a doubt, it’s a national classic street food and one of the Argentineans’ preferred dishes.

1024px-Empanadas_salteñas_By travelwayoflife [CC BY-SA 2.0 (httpcreativecommons.orglicensesby-sa2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons
Baked empanadas salteñas
Then you will try an empanada, which is actually a traditional dish from most of the Spanish speaking kitchens. An empanada is, basically, a piece of fine dough stuffed with a salty or sweet filling and cooked in the oven or fried. In Argentina, the empanadas usually have a semicircular shape, a distinctive repulgue (the technique used to close the piece of dough and give it shape) and the filling varies: meat, ham & cheese, corn, tuna, spinach & cheese…these are the classics but there are many more. There are also many varieties of empanadas in most of the country’s provinces, such as the famous empanadas salteñas or the tucumanas, with different kind of doughs, fillings and condiments. We strongly recommend to taste empanadas wherever you go in Argentina.

The last two stops of the tour will pair you up with two Italian inherited and adapted delicacies.

As the final salted course, a slice of pizza. Of course, this is an international specialty nowadays, but what makes it different in Buenos Aires is the dough’s thickness. From the Italian recipe disembarked presumably in La Boca, we created the pizza al molde, which literally means “mould pizza”. This version has a thick dough, maybe 2 o 3 cm thick, and very oily mozzarella cheese drips on the sides. It’s typical from the pizzerias in the neighborhoods, where hungry people in a hurry pass by and have a slice standing up. The main flavours for the porteños are the fugazzeta (cheese, onions and oregano), ham and peppers and the plain but eternal mozzarella. Probably you didn’t know this, but Argentina is one of the biggest pizza consumers.

pizzerias_g_980_5_0
Mozzarella pizza
choc_frutilla_httpwww.afadhya.com.ar
Strawberry & chocolate artisanal ice-cream

Up to this point you should be not only thirsty but also craving for something sweet, which takes us to the final refreshing tasting of the tour: ice-cream, or as we call it, helado. Also brought to the city by Italian immigrants halfway through the XIX century, more and more artisanal ice-cream shops appeared all around. The national ice-cream flavour king (and it is said for foreigners visiting too) is the dulce de leche (caramel). Probably there is no other classic flavour as famous as this one. And although you may find original and new flavours, even seasonal ones, the classics are ever present: chocolate, vanilla, strawberry, lemon and crema americana (plain cream). You can’t miss the tramontana (cream with dulce de leche and crunchy pieces of biscuit).  

Empanadas, choripan, pizza and ice-cream. As we like to say, panza llena, corazón contento: a full belly makes a happy heart!

Now that you had just a taste of what Argentine cuisine can provide, you surely want to try some more. There are many options in the city and throughout the country where you can enjoy delicious meals. Make sure to contact us for suggestions!

GENERAL INFORMATION

  • Private service up to 8 people.
  • Includes described street food meals with drinks, roundtrip transfers and bilingual guide.
  • Operation: Daily tours year round.
  • Pick up at 11.00 am (by taxi or van, depending on the number of pax).
  • Duration: 3 hs
  • The places to visit and/or order of the meals may vary depending on the guide’s criteria and pax preferences.
  • The last stop can be replaced for a coffee instead of ice-cream.
  • We recommend to dress informal and to wear comfortable shoes for walking.
  • Published rate valid from 30/06/2017 to 31/12/2017.

 

Living in the Jungle in Misiones

Living in the jungle provides unexpected and unique experiences. Animals wandering free in the wild, picking up groceries and medicines from diverse plants and trees, coexisting with a humid climate all year round. Life in the rainforest is lively, colorful and tough.

Yerba Mate plantation trip_Yacutinga Origins

Yacutinga was the first jungle lodge in Argentina, created almost 20 years ago as a project for biodiversity conservation and protection in the northeast of Misiones province, one of the richest natural regions in the country.

Today it has become an ecotourism attraction itself for anyone who enjoys raw nature and who is willing to take part on this environmental and sustainable project. At Yacutinga, guests discover not only the unique curiosities of these magical and vast surroundings but also the deep bond between man and nature. Whilst visiting Yacutinga, guests contribute to a new conservation and sustainability concept in Argentina.

Medicinal plants
Medicinal plants

The Origins program, besides providing a complete jungle interpretation and understanding, promises an unexpected journey to find out about the lifestyle and social reality of the Kagui Pora Guarani community. The idea is to complement this experience reaching native flora and fauna and also getting to know day by day life in the jungle.

This is a 4 days / 3 nights program, starting at the Raices Argentinas inn (only minutes away from the Puerto Iguazú airport) where a special truck picks you up and gets into the subtropical rainforest to take you to the Yacutinga protected area.

Guarani Children Choir
Guarani Children Choir

On the way, the red dirt soil combines with many shades of green, diverse and lush vegetation and jungle noises and aromas that awaken your senses. Signs by the road warn about the presence of many wildlife species that may come your way.

After a few hours, you will finally reach Yacutinga Lodge and probably be greeted with homemade warm chipa (baked rolls made from manioc flour and cheese) and fresh drinks.

Guarani Handycraft
Guarani Handycraft

During the stay, a set of planned activities provide the opportunity to understand life at the rainforest from an environmental and social point of view.

Kayaking at Yacutinga Nature Reserve
Kayaking at Yacutinga Nature Reserve

Kayaking through the jungle waters and hiking into the forest joined by expert ecologist guides. A tour to the yerba mate plantation including an explanation about the mate ritual. Learning about how locals use medicinal native plants for homeopathic medicine; an ancient tradition that allowed the settling of the pioneer families in this rural environment. And, of course, the visit to the Kagui Pora Guarani community and meet its people and learn about their lifestyle in the jungle; comprehending their nature, traditions, habits, myths and legends.

Guarani people & Handycraft
Guarani people & Handycraft

Yacutinga Origins proffers a unique experience for the adventurous traveller. A close encounter with nature and local people at a place where past and future meet to create a curious present. An eye-opening experience for any visitor.

Please contact us for more information about this special program.

Guarani child smile
Guarani child smile