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The La Leona Petrified Forest excursion is ideal if you want to discover a Patagonian steppe landscape where nature preserves millions of years of history. You can take the tour from El Calafate or from La Leona Parador, located between El Calafate and El Chaltén. During this tour, you’ll explore an ancient forest exposed by the action of wind and water. During approximately 3 hours of intermittent hiking, you’ll be able to observe petrified tree trunks and dinosaur fossils in a setting that allows you to travel back in time through Patagonia’s geology. A unique tour to discover the remains of an ancient landscape that remains untouched in the middle of the steppe.
Price
Adult12+ years
$ 180,000ARS
Child6 to 11 years
$ 90,000ARS
StartEnd
10:15 am2:45 pm
Free cancellation up to 24 hours before start
Guide throughout the excursion
Visit to petrified forest and trekking
Optionals
Transfer from your hotel and lunchbox
$ 70,000ARS
Trekking boots
$ 29,600ARS
Recommended
Finish in El Chaltén
Free
Availability
Highlights
1 / 2
Included
Included
Included
Food
Lunchbox
Included
Lunchbox with salad, ham and cheese sandwich, seasonal fruit, brownie and mineral water. Included only if the excursion starts from El Calafate.
Good to know
It is recommended to bring hiking boots or sneakers, jacket or windbreaker, warm clothing, hat, sunscreen and sunglasses.
When booking this tour,
we'll give you a free airport transfer to your hotel
we'll give you a free airport transfer to your hotel
Free airport transfer
Book any tour with us and the transfer is on us, so planning your trip is much simpler.
How does the benefit work?This benefit applies to the arrival leg, covering the transfer from El Calafate airport to your hotel in the city. Please note that it does not include the return trip to the airport. You will be able to enter your flight details and arrange the transfer in the next step.
Description
La Leona Petrified Forest is a tour in which you visit a Patagonian steppe area located between El Calafate and El Chalten, aimed to those who enjoy outdoor activities and adventure. The tour includes 3 hours discontinuous walking on a terrain where wind and water were responsible for uncovering dinosaur fossils and trunks, which remained hidden for millions of years.
The tour can be booked departing from El Calafate or directly starting at La Leona. La Leona Petrified Forest is halfway between El Calafate and El Chaltén. When the tour is booked with the transportation service, after leaving your hotel, you can see Lake Argentino, Rio Santa Cruz, and Rio La Leona, having majestic panoramic views of the Andes Mountains, including Cerro Fitz Roy. The tour starts at Parador La Leona where you will make a 15 minutes visit to to the historical site to then continue the journey along the southern margin of Lake Viedma until reaching Cerro Los Hornos at Estancia Santa Teresita.
Upon arriving at the petrified forest and Cerro los Hornos, you will see for the first time the massive depression of the terrain where the trunks and petrified fossils are. The exploration trek begins, lasting approximately 3 hours, including time to eat a lunchbox. Throughout the trekking, you will see large numbers of petrified trunks lying on the surface, some with a diameter of 1.2 meters, testimony that during ancient times the climate was very different from today and allowed the existence of a full forest. There have also been uncovered fossils of different types of dinosaurs that can be discovered with the help of the guide.
As the petrified forest is located in a natural depression of the terrain and next to Cerro Los Hornos, it is sheltered from the wind and in general climatic conditions are very good, thus facilitating the exploration of the area.
At the end of the trekking, you return to Parador La Leona where the tour finishes. If booked with transportation service the shuttle will take you back to your hotel in El Calafate.
The tour can be booked departing from El Calafate or directly starting at La Leona. La Leona Petrified Forest is halfway between El Calafate and El Chaltén. When the tour is booked with the transportation service, after leaving your hotel, you can see Lake Argentino, Rio Santa Cruz, and Rio La Leona, having majestic panoramic views of the Andes Mountains, including Cerro Fitz Roy. The tour starts at Parador La Leona where you will make a 15 minutes visit to to the historical site to then continue the journey along the southern margin of Lake Viedma until reaching Cerro Los Hornos at Estancia Santa Teresita.
Upon arriving at the petrified forest and Cerro los Hornos, you will see for the first time the massive depression of the terrain where the trunks and petrified fossils are. The exploration trek begins, lasting approximately 3 hours, including time to eat a lunchbox. Throughout the trekking, you will see large numbers of petrified trunks lying on the surface, some with a diameter of 1.2 meters, testimony that during ancient times the climate was very different from today and allowed the existence of a full forest. There have also been uncovered fossils of different types of dinosaurs that can be discovered with the help of the guide.
As the petrified forest is located in a natural depression of the terrain and next to Cerro Los Hornos, it is sheltered from the wind and in general climatic conditions are very good, thus facilitating the exploration of the area.
At the end of the trekking, you return to Parador La Leona where the tour finishes. If booked with transportation service the shuttle will take you back to your hotel in El Calafate.
Itinerary
9:00
Pick-up at hotel
100 km distance
10:15
Visit to Parador La Leona
Arrival Ea. Santa Teresita
Trekking in the petrified forest
3:00 hs duration
14:45
Return to Parador La Leona
Return to El Calafate
16:30
Drop off at hotel
Included ActivitiesOptional ActivitiesTimings, order, and activities may vary based on the day's organization
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Frequently Asked Questions
Discover the questions other travelers also had before booking.Does the hike include climbing the colorful hills?
No. The hike takes place primarily in the lower valley and does not include the ascent to the colorful hills. However, during the approach to and descent from the valley, you will enjoy panoramic views of the highest rock formations and the area's distinctive landscape.
What happens if it rains before the excursion?
As the terrain is clay and eroded, trail conditions can be affected by rainfall. If it rains the day before, the activity will be evaluated based on the amount of rainfall and the condition of the terrain, always prioritizing the safety of the participants.
If the passenger ends the excursion in El Chaltén, where is their luggage stored during the hike?
The luggage remains stored in the vehicle that makes the transfer until the start of the tour.
Where is the lunch stop during the tour?
The lunchbox is served in a natural space protected from the wind, allowing for a comfortable break in a sheltered environment and in contact with nature.
How is it recommended to dress for the excursion?
As the weather in Patagonia can be unpredictable, we recommend dressing in layers, including:
- Thermal clothing.
- Fleece sweater or jacket.
- Waterproof jacket or windbreaker.
- Waterproof pants.
- Hiking boots. You can also wear sports shoes with laces, although hiking boots are the recommended option to make the most of the experience.
It is also important to bring:
- Gloves.
- Sunglasses.
- Sunscreen.
- Backpack.
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