La Leona Petrified Forest
150-million-year-old fossils in the Patagonian steppe
Walk among 150-million-year-old petrified trunks in the heart of the Patagonian steppe!
La Leona Petrified Forest is a full-day guided excursion from El Calafate, 7 hours in total, with a 4.7 km interpretive walk among petrified trunks and fossil remains, and a picnic included. It is run by Morresi Viajes EVyT, with daily departures from October 1 to April 30. The site is 15 km off Route 40, between El Calafate and El Chaltén, and the excursion can be combined with the trip between the two towns.
It is an experience to discover the vastness of the Patagonian steppe and its natural history. About 150 million years ago, long before the Andes and the Patagonian glaciers formed, this region had a temperate climate and was covered by large araucaria forests and abundant vegetation, home to dinosaurs and other prehistoric species. Intense volcanic eruptions buried the trees under ash and sediment which, over millions of years, slowly replaced the wood with minerals: that is how the petrified trunks and the dinosaur bone remains preserved here today were formed.
Itinerary
This is a full-day activity, 7 hours in total, leaving from and returning to El Calafate. It includes a 4.7 km interpretive walk, with 60 m of elevation change, among petrified trunks and fossil remains.
Schedule
- Departure from El Calafate: 9.00 a.m..
- Drive north on Route 40, along the La Leona River valley.
- Stop at Parador La Leona.
- Gravel road west to Cerro Los Hornos, on Estancia Santa Teresita.
- Interpretive walk among the fossils, with a stop for the picnic.
- Estimated return to El Calafate: 4.00 p.m..
Along Route 40 to Cerro Los Hornos
The trip leaves El Calafate heading north on the legendary Route 40, along the La Leona River valley. There is a stop at Parador La Leona, to learn about its history and as a rest stop, before turning west onto a gravel road. On reaching Cerro Los Hornos, on Estancia Santa Teresita, the vehicles are left behind and the walk that takes you back millions of years begins.
The walk among the fossils
From the edge of the huge basin where the petrified trunks lie, you get your first view of the site, and from there the exploration walk among the fossils begins. Halfway through there is a stop for the picnic, in a sheltered spot.
Trunks over a meter in diameter
During the walk you can see fossil remains, some over a meter in diameter, as well as geological formations and traces of a landscape that lets you imagine what Patagonia was like in Jurassic times.
A living paleontological site
Along the way, the guide helps interpret the fossil finds, whether mammal bones or plants; several of the finds from this site are on display at the La Plata Museum. The clay ground is safe to walk on, and the trail descends into a large basin shaped by wind and water, which keeps revealing new fossils over the years.
Activity facts
- Difficulty: moderate.
- Total walk: 4.7 km.
- Elevation change: 60 m.
- Altitude: 270 m above sea level.
- Daily scheduled service from El Calafate: departure at 9.00 a.m. and estimated return at 4.00 p.m..
- Groups of 2 to 16 people.
Included services
- Transfers to and from El Calafate, from the meeting point at 1319 Libertador Ave and Bustillo, or from hotels located between downtown and 2000 Libertador Ave. Hotels further west are picked up first, at an extra cost.
- Bilingual guide (Spanish / English).
- Access to the paleontological site.
- Interpretive walk.
- Picnic with drinks.
Not included
- Refreshments at Parador La Leona.
- Alcoholic drinks.
Recommendations
We recommend bringing:
- Comfortable shoes with a good non-slip sole.
- Comfortable clothes for walking.
- A warm layer and a windbreaker.
- Sunscreen, a hat or cap and sunglasses.
- A refillable water bottle: the vehicle carries mineral water for refills.
Things to know
- Operates from October 1 to April 30.
- Departures confirmed with a minimum of 2 and a maximum of 16 people.
- The activity depends on the weather.
- Not recommended for people with reduced mobility or for children under 6.
Combining with El Chaltén
Because of its location between El Calafate and El Chaltén, the Petrified Forest lets you combine both destinations in a single trip.
- From El Chaltén: take the scheduled bus at the El Chaltén bus terminal to Parador La Leona. The Petrified Forest excursion starts there and, at the end, you continue in the excursion vehicle to your hotel in El Calafate.
- From El Calafate: the excursion leaves from your hotel and, after the Petrified Forest walk, continues to Parador La Leona, where you take the scheduled bus to the El Chaltén bus terminal.
Option with your own vehicle
If you are traveling in your own vehicle, you can join the group at Parador La Leona. You meet the guide at 10.30 a.m.; from there you follow the guide vehicle for 15 km on a gravel road to the start of the walk, and the return to the Parador is estimated at 2.30 p.m. This option is confirmed with a minimum of 4 people, and two-way radios are handed out so you can follow the guide's directions on the way.
Location
La Leona Petrified Forest lies on Estancia Santa Teresita, at the foot of Cerro Los Hornos. It is reached from Parador La Leona, on Route 40, along a 15 km gravel road heading west, halfway between El Calafate and El Chaltén. The blue line shows the route along Route 40 from El Calafate to Parador La Leona (about 105 km), and the dashed orange line the stretch between Parador La Leona and El Chaltén (about 110 km), covered by scheduled bus in the combined option.
Combined option: scheduled bus to El Chaltén
Useful links
- Private transfers
On your own schedule, between El Calafate and El Chaltén - Regular buses and shuttles
For the combined option with El Chaltén - Excursions in El Chaltén
Other guided activities in the area - Where to stay
Accommodation in El Chaltén
What people who have done it say
“What a interesting and entertaining trip, we learned a lot and had fun. The included lunch was perfect and our guide gave us a lot of information and he really loves nature.”
“This place was a unique hiking experience. […] The fossils and petrified wood are awesome and you can get up close and even touch them. The guide Pol was wonderful, knowledgeable, & friendly. […] Very windy like the rest of Patagonia but well worth a visit.”
“We loved the fascinating terrain, the geology, and fossilised trees. The trek was well thought out, and care and safety from the guide was outstanding.”
Frequently asked questions
Updated: October 6, 2026
La Leona Petrified Forest is operated by Morresi Viajes EVyT, based in El Calafate.
You can send your message using the "Chat on WhatsApp" button, or the "Send your inquiry" button. To get in touch by phone, call +54 2902 49-2276, from 08:00 AM to 08:00 PM (Argentina Time / UTC-3).
To book, use the "Send your inquiry" button. Your inquiry goes straight to Morresi Viajes EVyT, with no intermediaries. They will reply confirming availability for your dates, the price and the payment options. You can also use the "Chat on WhatsApp" button.
It is a daily scheduled service from El Calafate: it leaves at 9.00 a.m. from the meeting point at 1319 Libertador Ave and Bustillo, or from hotels located between downtown and 2000 Libertador Ave. (hotels further west are picked up first, at an extra cost). The estimated return to El Calafate is at 4.00 p.m..
Yes. From El Chaltén, take the scheduled bus at the bus terminal to Parador La Leona, where the excursion starts; at the end, you continue in the excursion vehicle to your hotel in El Calafate. From El Calafate, the excursion leaves from your hotel and, at the end, continues to Parador La Leona, where you take the scheduled bus to El Chaltén.
Yes. You meet the guide at 10.30 a.m. at Parador La Leona; from there you follow the guide vehicle for 15 km on a gravel road to the start of the walk, and the return to the Parador is estimated at 2.30 p.m. This option is confirmed with a minimum of 4 people.
The difficulty is moderate: 4.7 km with 60 m of elevation change, at 270 m above sea level, on firm clay ground. It is not recommended for people with reduced mobility or for children under 6.
It includes transfers to and from El Calafate, a bilingual guide (Spanish and English), access to the paleontological site, the interpretive walk and a picnic with drinks. It does not include refreshments at Parador La Leona or alcoholic drinks.
It operates from October 1 to April 30, with daily departures confirmed with a minimum of 2 and a maximum of 16 people. The activity depends on the weather.
Comfortable shoes with a good non-slip sole, comfortable clothes for walking, a warm layer and a windbreaker, sunscreen, a hat or cap, sunglasses and a refillable water bottle: the vehicle carries mineral water for refills.
On your own schedule, between El Calafate and El Chaltén
For the combined option with El Chaltén
Other guided activities in the area
Accommodation in El Chaltén
