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Inn Hosteria Senderos

We are now a few minutes away from El Chaltén where we’ll be staying at Inn Hosteria Senderos. After making a stop at La Leona (next to its river, which has the same name) and driving through the emblematic Route Nro 40 we reach Route Nro 23, which allows us to observe from the distance how we are getting closer to the stunning Mt. Fitz Roy.

Before the official arrival at the Bus Terminal it is necessary to make a stop at the National Parks Administration´s Office, where you will receive a briefing on the location and the different activities available, as well as recommendations for your visit to the National Park. This briefing is given to every visitor before they enter at El Chaltén.

Finally we arrived at Inn Hostería Senderos, located in front of the Bus Terminal at El Chaltén. It is a cabin made of wood and stone with a typical Patagonian style, designed in the fashion of old estancias of the 1920s

We were warmly welcomed by the owners, who treated us with utter kindness. The lobby area instantly caught our attention with its beautiful fireplace. Passing through a large corridor lies the Restaurant which serves author cuisine´s courses with a Patagonian touch, from Tuesdays to Sundays, and every morning delights their guests with a delicious buffet breakfast.

After making the check in at the front desk we were escorted to our rooms.Hosteriaa Senderos has a total of 21 rooms. We were provided with rooms which have views to Mt. Fitz Roy (Senderos is one of the few Hosterías at El Chaltén that has rooms with view to Mt. Fitz Roy, allowing travellers to enjoy the view of a unique and beautiful sunrise). There are no televisions in the rooms: the exquisite views are a show on themselves, as every true lover of nature will surely appreciate. However there is no reason to panic: there is a room for multiple uses where guests will find a 32 inch LCD Tv and a computer with access to internet. Moreover, Senderos has free wifi access in the hole building. Some times there were interruptions with the internet service due to the fact that El Chaltés is a remote location which does not always have good internet connection, but most of the time we did not even notice since we were spending a wonderful time outdoors, walking along the trails that lead to different highlights of El Chalén.

From Hostería Senderos we are really close to the meeting point where most of the treks begin. We highly recommend the Lago Torre Trek or the “Laguna de Los Tres” Trek, of which we will tell you more about in the Newsletters to come.

Hostería Senderos is without doubt the point of departure and arrival for your stay at El Chaltén. It is a place which you cannot miss the opportunity of staying during your passing through this beautiful village of the Argentine Patagonia.

FACT SHEET

Senderos Inn has 20 double bed-rooms and one Family Suite that can acommodate 4 guests.

The Inn was totally made of wood, with many warm details in Lenga wood and white furniture of excellent quality.

The main goal of the Inn is to treat every guest as unique, because as well as having a nice place we also have a very professional and friendly staff. We put an extra effort into that.

Senderos Inn has 3 different room categories: CLASSIC, PREMIUN and SUITE, according to the views from their windows to the Fitz Roy Mountain and the Torre Mountain.

The 9 Classic rooms have inner views, the Premiun rooms have a view to the Fitz Roy and the Torre Mountains.

In both room categories you´ll have the same furniture, the same size and the “same quality in white”.

Our 2 Suites “Senderos Suites” have the best views and are bigger in size with full amenities. They are both located on the second floor.

Senderos Inn will remain closed:

2015: May 1st to September 21st

2016: May 1st to September 21st

The reopening of the Inn will take place on September the 21st 2015 and will stay opened until May 1st 2016.

Buffet Continental Breakfast is included in the rate.

These rates will be valid from November 1st 2015 until October 31st 2016

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Wine, Trekking and High Mountains

Mendoza welcomes us with its Andean beauty, the Aconcagua keeping watch like a powerful and silent giant that´s been on its feet for thousands of years. This is the land that adopted the Malbec grape as its own and saw it grow till it became the emblematic vine of our country. With plenty of dazzling views it offer to us a Wine, Trekking and High Mountains programme,travelling through unforgettable places.

Placed among the main wine-growing capitals,this is one of the most important destinations in Argentina, attracting both local and forign tourists that love its wines and its culture and who come here expectantly to experience the adventure and the adrenaline through its diverse mountain activities.

During this 4 days programme we´ll get on a Mountain Truck taht is a Dakar 4×4 Mercedez Benz Atego 1725 style truck,brand-new and equipped with 25 seats especially designed to be used in the “much less known Mendoza”, a new experience in a new destination, that led us make the High Mountain trip by Villavicencio,a well-known hotel that belongs to the most important Mineral Water Bottling Company, which is now about to be reopened. At this place we´ll visit the beautiful gardens and the sorrounding area situated in a Biological Reserve by the same name. During this trip we´ll see impressive rock formations,beautiful landscapes and the Aconcagua Mountain in all its glory.

Something new that we could experience was a visit to Alta Vista Boutique Winery on Eco-motorbikes. These are vehicles that don´t use any kind of fossils fuels nor any kind of oil. As a result we get “neither contaminating gas emissions nor noises that have a negative effect on the environment”. We rode the beautiful paths among the vineyards, tasted first quality wines, home-made liquors and olive oil. We also enjoyed a very good natural lunch at the Mercadito on the way back to the hotel.

As a farewell we´ll do some trekking in the “del 55 Ravine”. It starts 20kms from Villa Potrerillos along National Route 07, and is an excellent choice for beginners. It takes about 3 hours to complete this trip that begins when we enter the Ravine after which this walk is named. Our walk starts as soon as we enter a narrow ravine “del 50 Ravine” through which the “Arroyo de las Cortaderas” flow. For more than an hour you´ll be able to appreciate the indigenous flora such as: jarrilla, ajenjo(wormwood,used to get the Absinth), thyme, different kind of cacti, the cortaderas(or Pampa´s grass), the colourful muscat rose and the wild arugula. We´ll also catch sight of Condores flying high above. The Andes condor is considered to be one of the biggest and one of the heaviest birds in the world, that can fly more than 4000mts high.

The terkking goes on following the paths of a stream that will lead us on our trip,enjoying the lush vegetation and the eroded mountain terrain, crossing at one time or another to each side of this strip of water that is born in the Andes´ higher peaks and then turns into a spectacular water-fall, 20mts high. This is a nice and refreshing surprise in the summertime. A gift from Nature to be fully enjoyed.

Well-trained guides will assist us during the different activities in the programme that we´ll treasure for ever. Our main goal is that every guest takes with him or her a little piece of Mendoza in their hearts after having passed through Argentina.

FACT SHEET

TIPS: At the moment of booking one of the trails excursions, some tips are necessary no matter how hard the trail we follow.

RIGHT OUTFIT: Foot-wear must be comfortable and have a good adherent sole. Warm clothing is important depending on the season of the year. A rain-proof or wind-breaker jacket is always advisable to face the sudden climate changes, especially in mountain areas. Do not forget a cap or a hat, sunglasses, sunblock, bug-spray and a small first-aid kit. We recommend to wear long trousers to avoid bites or scratches.

BASIC ACCESSORIES: A back-pack, whose size will depend on the excursion difficulty degree. On the other hand a swiss-knife, a long piece of string, a flash-light and a whistle are necessary elements that will get us through should we encounter any difficulty. From cutting up food to helping someone injured or asking for help.

Walking-sticks, although not everybody carries them, are useful to lessen the efforts, balance our weight or use it as support on the walks to avoid slipping or falling down.

HYDRATION: Last but not least, always bring the necessary water(2 lts per person minimum) and some food or some snacks such as fruits or dried fruits that will provide us with liquids and energy.

The place: Potrerillos- del 50 Ravine

Difficulty degree: easy, made for beginners in mountain-climbing
Minimum age: 14 accompanied by an adult
Length: 3 hours approximately
Pick-up: 08AM
Return: 02PM
Included in the fare: transfers to and fro. Mountain guide services.
Personal life insurance

The program includes:

* Services mentioned in the program

* 3 Nights accommodation at NH Cordillera Hotel

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The southern face of the Perito Moreno Glacier

Designed for those with an adventurous spirit, who seek adrenaline without much effort and enjoying the natural environment we have for you the “Adventure by the southern face of the Perito Moreno Glacier”.

The trip starts in Calafate. At 09:30AM our tour guide will come and pick us up to begin with the excursion. We´ll drive about 50kms along the Estancias route till we get to Lago Roca(Lake Roca). Along the way we´ll see some characteristic Estancias such as: Nibepo Aike,and Santa Anita. Once we get to the Lago Roca entrance at Los Glaciares National Park we´ll go into the camping area where we´ll rest in the Domo while enjoying of a privileged view. We set off on the right foot,as soon as we arrive we´ll have some welcome drinks and some local cold-cuts and cheeses dishes. This is a good time to relax,enjoy the views and get to know each other.

We would like to tell you a little bit about the backstage of this trip. In the domo after 20 minutes of having arrived the cooks begin to roast the beefs on a furrow-wheel as well as the grilled veggies such us: succhini,eggplants,red peppers,onions and carrots. The furrow-wheel became a tradition in the countryside for the grilling of beef and vegetables. When everything is ready we´ll go back in the domo where the tables are already set. Everything looks really good. Having lunch in such a beautiful place and sharing time with other people makes of it a unique experience.

As the local saying goes “when the stomach is full, the heart feels happy”. We leave the domo behind us and we drive for 5kms until we get to the pier.Right here we embark towards Playa de las Monedas on the Brazo Rico River where we´ll disembark and go for a 20 minutes walk in the Lengas Forest until we get to a vantage point from where we´ll have a view of the southern face of the Perito Moreno Glacier.

We then go back and embark again always sailing along the southern face of the glacier.Before the end of the trip the crew “fishes” a floe to have a “whiskey or a vodka on the rocks”. The happy hour on board is at 03:30PM approximate.

On the way back we´ll disembark at the Bajo de las Sombras where a vehicle will be waiting for us to go to the glacier´s boardwalks where we´ll arrive around 04PM. Once here we´ll be able to appreciate the spectacular views of the Perito Moreno Glacier. We´ll stay there until 06:30PM and then go back to Calafate along a traditional road.

An important fact to bear in mind: once we get to the boardwalks around 90% of the visitors that came from Calafate will be gone, so our visit will be a quite one.

FACT SHEET

The tours have a capacity up to fifteen passengers
Minimun pax requirements: 4
Attended by a working group that includes Spanish / English guides.
Pick up 09:00 am. Drop Off near 19 hours. The lunch, served in a special area of the Roca Lake Camp, consist on a disk steak served with grilled vegetables and salads, with typical dessert, drinks and wine.
To make the tour it is important to bring the adequate clothing. Basically comfortable clothes, for walking in the mountain. Enough coat to withstand temperatures of 0 ° C and intense rains. Also glasses and sunscreen lotion.
Tickets to the National Park are not included (USD 35.-)

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Ibera wetlands and mocona waterfalls

Driving your car along these roads surrounded by Ibera wetlands and mocona waterfalls is a trip that will keep coming back into our minds.

The reason for this is that the Fly & drive Iberá wetlands and Moconá Tour will get you closer to the most beautiful destinations in Argentina.

Everything starts when we arrive at our first destination Posadas, where we are given a GPS with all the roads that we should take already loaded. We begin our trip along a route that will take us to the San Ignacio Ruins before arriving in Puerto Valle where we’ll put up for the first three nights.

San Ignacio Ruins are some of the best preserved ruins,among others,in a territory today known as Argentina, Brazil and Paraguay. And the most visited because they are within easy reach. Built in the middle of a dense vegetation,the remains of these “Guaraní Baroque Style Construction” were discovered in 1897,although the restoration didn´t begin until 1940.

The public square was surrounded by the Church, the Cabildo(former town hall),the Cemetery,the Monastery and a bunch of houses. The magnificent Church was built by the Italian priest Juan Brasanelli,who used in the construction local red sandstone. The walls 70 meters tall and 24 meters wide are still standing after more than two centuries.

In 1984 the UNESCO declared the ruins as a “World Heritage Site”. Today the ruins hold the “Museo Jesuitico San Ignacio Miní”. After driving for over 120 kilometers we´ll get to Iberá Wetlands and stay in Puerto Valle.

Iberá Wetlands are the second largest in South America. These “Esteros” are a mixture of swamps,bogs,stagnant lakes and lagoons. Natural wet areas(sloughs) and courses of water of fluvial origins cover an area of 15.000 to 20.000 square kilometers.

The Natural Reserve is host to a large biodiversity,including four species of animals that have been declared “Provincial Natural Monuments”: the neotropical otter, the maned-wolf, the Pampas deer and the marsh deer. It is also home to two Argentinian species of alligator: the yacaré caiman(or black yacaré) and the broad-snouted caiman(or yacare overo), as well as the capybara(world´s largest rodent)and about 350 species of birds.

There are a lot of activities to be done in Puerto Valle, such as visiting a caymans´farm,going for a ride on a boat made of plastic bottles or going for a horseback ride or a bike ride to stay in touch with nature.

We go on our trip driving towards El Soberbio in Oberá(Misiones Province) very close to the Moconá waterfalls. Because of its near location a visit to this place is highly recommended, besides the activities in the Lodge.

The waterfalls,10 meters in height,interrupt for about 3 kilometers the course of the Uruguay River,southwest of San Pedro county,in Misiones Province.

A peculiar characteristic about these waterfalls is that they fall perpendicularly and not transversally to the course of the waters. The canal where the water falls is a geological fault and in some places reaches the height of 170 meters. Not every season is good for visiting them. They are at their best when the volume of water is low. A curious fact: the guaraní word Moconá means: “it swallows everything”.