El Calafate's La Leona Petrified Forest Day Trip: A Voyage Through Time
4.7
18 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.
Duration:
8 hours
Cancellation:
1 day
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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, which offers breathtaking scenery.
What's Included
- Hotel pickup and drop-off
- Professional guide
- In-vehicle air conditioning
- Bottled water and lunch
What's Not Included
- Gratuities
Additional Information
Embark on an El Calafate day excursion to La Leona Petrified Forest, a moon-like panorama littered with ancient petrified tree trunks and dinosaur remnants. This straightforward 7-mile (12-km) trek allows you to explore the region’s distinctive geology with an expert guide. Prior to the hike, you’ll stop at the historical Hotel La Leona, previously a refuge for mountaineers and notorious outlaws like Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. Journey in the comfort of an air-conditioned coach from one location to another while savoring the picturesque vistas of Argentino Lake, the Santa Cruz and La Leona rivers, and Mt Fitz Roy en route.
- 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.
Customer Ratings
4.7
(18 Ratings)
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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
Helene
Jan 6, 2020
Completely different than the rest of our trip - time well spent - We were both happy we decided to go on this tour. The landscape is something else and the fact that I got to physically hold a piece of wood which was now stone still is one of my vivied memories of nearly three weeks in different parts of Argentina. The guides were informative and very friendly!
Review provided by Viator
Geoffreyr509
Oct 31, 2019
Fascinating petrified remains! - Great walk through a wild landscape of "badlands", with wonderful remnants of trees and dinosaur bones. Great guide who was knowledgeable and very informative.
Review provided by Viator
Mr_trip_tripper
Feb 16, 2019
Lovely easy walk, good guide, really interesting geology - Nice way to spend the day - highly recommended . The walk itself is about 2 hours and is very easy (it’s not 7 miles - more like 3). Fascinating fossilised trees , interesting and beautiful scenery. Nice coffee stop on the way there and back. The driving itself probably takes 2 hours there and 2 hours back
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Jackhunter2018
Feb 6, 2019
Neat Place... - This place was cool albeit pretty barren. We saw Guanaco and fought a stiff wind to get around the track. The hike isn't for the faint of heart or those afraid off heights. Reminded me a lot of the badlands of South Dakota USA.
Having said that, our guides Rosy and Edwardo where the best. Bright and knowledgeable. Edwardo watch my wife like a how to make sure she was safe at all times and guarded her closely in the more challenging areas. So nice to meet thoughtful young people working hard to better themselves and their world. Rosy, Edwardo, we love you guys.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Jessica
May 20, 2016
I highly recommend this tour. It... - <p>I highly recommend this tour. It was a nice change from the glacier tour we did the day before. We got to see a completely different landscape. Angel was a great tour guide. He was very knowledgable and did a great job. Even the ride from El Calafate was enjoyable. We could see Fitz Roy in the distance and the landscape couldn't be more beautiful. During the tour we got the opportunity to hold petrified bone and wood. Don't miss this tour.</p>
Review provided by Viator
Chun
Mar 3, 2017
Drastic landscape change of... - <p>Drastic landscape change of excursions done in the past few days where El Calafate is not just a Glacier tourist spot. The hike was easy for us but for people with walking inconvinience, we recommend that you opt this out. Once again, to visit anything marvellous in El Calafate, you have to spend some time to travel get there. At least, we stopped by Butch Cassidy's hideout. The guide was very informative and knowleadgable about the place especially the Petrified Forest, with the dinosaur bones and etc.</p>
Review provided by Viator
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