Refugio de Glaciares: a day of science

A day of science

Refugio de Glaciares proposes you to live "A day of Science", a full day of activities guided by specialists with which you will explore and discover the secrets of one of the pristine natural environments of southern Patagonia.

Activities:

Eastern Cagliero glacier - Rosa lagoon.
Milodón lagoon.

Geographic location

Refugio de Glaciares is located in the heart of the Río de las Vueltas valley, 27 km from El Chaltén.

Itinerary

At 8:30 in the morning, the company's private transfer will pick you up at the El Chaltén Bus Terminal.

At 10 am, after traveling 27 kilometers along Provincial Route 41, you will arrive at the future Research Center of this private Nature Reserve.

The park ranger will be waiting for you there to explain what the reserve is about, what the walk is like and the guidelines to follow during the activity, to then begin the first section with the information on Forest Sciences.

At 10:30 a.m. the guided walk you have hired begins:

Eastern Cagliero glacier - Rosa lagoon

Operates: Monday, Wednesday and Friday
Walking time: 5:30 a.m.
Total distance: 8 km approx.
Slope: 250 m.

The first section of this path crosses 1.50 km of lenga forest, crossing a flat and intervened terrain until reaching the crossing of the Del Puesto stream.

From there, the second section begins a slight slope bordering the Puesto stream for another 2 km to the Laguna Rosa mallín area, a wetland that houses stable populations of great biological and conservation value such as the Huemul and the Pato de the torrents.

In this habitat, the Reserve carries out conservation actions, so it will be the right time for the guide to start the second talk, in the field of Biological Sciences.

Finally, in the third and last section of the path you will border the lagoon for another 800 meters, getting close enough to the imposing Cagliero Este glacier to contemplate the atmosphere of hanging glaciers and moraines that gives rise to the third talk in the field of Geological Sciences.

After lunch and sharing an unforgettable moment of contemplation, we return to the base. At 4 p.m. the company transfer goes to the El Chaltén bus terminal, where it arrives at 6:00 p.m. and the activity ends.

Milodón lagoon

Operates: Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.
Walking time: 6 hours
Total distance: 12 km approx.
Slope: 190 m.

This trail runs 6 km until it reaches the Milodon lagoon.

In this area you will observe the impact of the past cattle ranching activity in the Estancia, you will know transects of huemules and Torrent duck nesting sites.

Upon reaching the Milodon lagoon, you can see a wide valley flanked by hills and glaciers.

At 3:30 p.m. we return to the starting point of the path. At 4 p.m. the company transfer goes to the El Chaltén bus terminal, where it arrives at 6:00 p.m. and the activity ends.

Accommodation in the Reserve

The tourist Estancia offers 10 rooms in its Research Center, a space for warm interaction between researchers and guests.