ESCONDIDO LAKE AND FAGNANO CLASSIC
Difficulty: LOW
Departures: AM
Duration: 5 hours
Not Included: Lunch (each passenger pays for their lunch according to the chosen menu)
Suggested Attire: Hiking boots, lightweight warm jacket, and raincoat.
This excursion is purely contemplative, aimed at enjoying the tranquility of the Fuegian landscape and its southern Andes. The tour departs by bus from Ushuaia along National Route No. 3 heading north after picking up passengers from their respective hotels. As the city is left behind, the imposing sight of Mounts Olivia and Cinco Hermanos presents itself. Then, the Carbajal Valley, formed by an immense peat bog exploited for commercial purposes, comes into view.
Continuing along the route, various valleys where different winter activities take place (such as dog sledding, snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, snowmobiling) can be seen on both sides. Our next stop is the Harwen Winter Center, home to the national snow sculpture festival and part of the final stretch of the provincial cross- country ski trails. Also located there is the world’s southernmost artisanal Gin distillery.
Reaching the highest point for crossing the Andes in Tierra del Fuego Argentina, we arrive at Paso Garibaldi. This is a scenic viewpoint with spectacular views of Hidden and Fagnano Lake and the old National Route No. 3 amidst the Patagonian Andean forest, a landscape of stunning beauty.
The journey continues, returning to the route to pass by the active and significant-sized Bronzovich sawmill on the shore of Hidden Lake.
Next, we reach Fagnano Lake, where we descend again to appreciate and understand the immense magnitude of the lake, one of the largest in South America, stretching over 100 km long and 7 km wide.
On the way back to Ushuaia, we will stop at one of the winter centers and have time to enjoy a typical local dish: Spit-roasted Fuegian Lamb (lunch not included). After dessert, there will be a moment of relaxation before resuming the last 20 km back to Ushuaia, arriving around 4 pm.
LAKES 4X4 (OFF ROAD)
Difficulty: LOW
Departures: AM
Duration: 7 hours
Includes: Lunch and drinks at the mountain refuge
Suggested Attire: Hiking boots, lightweight warm jacket, and raincoat.
Embark on an adventure from Ushuaia and explore the impressive Tierra Mayor Valley. Enjoy panoramic views and visit the facilities during a brief stop. Continue to the amazing Paso Garibaldi, a perfect place to capture photos before turning off Route 3 to the old Padin sawmill where an exclusive circuit that takes you to the balconies of LagoFagnano awaits you. Enjoy lunch in our exclusive dome and get ready for an exciting off-road experience before heading back to the city.
CANOES OPTIONAL
Departure from the hotel in the morning towards the Lakes via Route 3, which runs through part of the Fuegian mountain range and allows us to access Garibaldi Pass, a scenic point from where we can see our objectives, Hidden and Fagnano Lakes. We begin the descent and deviate from the route onto old lumberjack trails. The 4×4 vehicles allow us to reach places where access would be impossible otherwise, forests, mud, rocks, etc. Fagnano Lake surprises us with its dimensions and incredible landscape.
The adventure continues with the challenging crossing of Fagnano Lake to reach an internal route that leads us to Escondido Lake, smaller in size but surrounded by an incomparable natural setting. In case of choosing the option with canoes and after an introductory talk from our guides, we prepare the canoes and start paddling. The view from the water surprises us. After a 45-minute canoeing session, we return to the point where the vehicles were left to begin the return to the Nunatak Refuge in the Tierra Mayor valley, where while lunch is prepared, we will have time for a hike in the surroundings. After lunch, we return to Ushuaia.
