KING CRAB ROUTE EXCURSION IN 4X4 IN TIERRA DEL FUEGO

Visit the end of the world in Argentina! Delight yourself with a sea lunch and sail the Beagle Canal like a Fueguian sailor, while watching the sea lions and penguins.

In the morning, a 4×4 vehicle picks us up at the hotel and we leave Ushuaia crossing valleys, rivers and mountains until we reach the “Ruta de la Centolla” – King Crab Route. This rural tourism corridor was born just in 2017 and leads to Puerto Almanza, literally the last inhabited corner of Argentina located 70 kilometers from Ushuaia. A few families live here and wish to make known the work of the fishermen in the area, dedicated to the fishing of king crabs, spider crabs, trout and mussels.

The King Crab Route takes us to a refuge in the forest; a cabin surrounded by 500-year-old lenga trees and with a spectacular view to the Cornú Hill and Glacier. Here we learn about the ways and lifestyle of the local community, tasting homemade marmalades and pastries accompanied by our typical mate, coffee and tea.

After this first cultural encounter, we leave the cabin behind to go to Victoria Lagoon, in which Patagonian trout abound and from where we can see Andean condor nests. We continue our way into the Harberton Ranch lands. The route follows the Lasifashaj river, offering access to its waters with very picturesque landscapes, and takes us to the Beagle Canal to a point on Navarino Island from where you can see Gable Island and Puerto Williams in Chile.

During the excursion there are many chances to see some small animals such as foxes and muskrats, as well as different types of birds such as witch herons, ruddy-headed gooses, buff-necked ibis, white herons, kingfishers and woodpeckers.

Finally we arrive in Puerto Almanza, where we find the southernmost fishing port in Argentina. Here we embark on another adventure: we board a small boat in search of an impressive colony of sea lions, then continue sailing to the Martillo Island where we will have a close encounter with Magellanic penguins in their natural habitat.

After experiencing nature in all its splendor, we return to the port for a full lunch with fresh spider crab and fish from the Canal, cooked by local fishermen. We will enjoy a pleasant talk and delight in this exquisite seafood while admiring the waters of the Beagle Canal.

GENERAL INFORMATION

  • Operates every day.
  • Duration: Full day – 8 hours.
  • Pick up time: 8:30 am
  • Min. 2 pax.
  • Includes: Spanish/English bilingual guide. Roundtrip transfers In 4×4 vehicle. Three-step sea lunch (entry: natural spider crab, main course: tray with a variety of fish from the Canal, dessert, coffee, non-alcoholic beverages).
  • Not included: Tips or other personal extra costs.
  • We recommend wearing waterproof clothing, coat and shoes.
  • Optional with extra cost: Trekking to Lasifashaj Waterfall after the navigation.

 

HOMEMADE FOOD & WARMTH IN EL CALAFATE

An unforgettable dinner in a warm homey atmosphere. Enjoy a regional homemade meal made with love, between talks and laughs, feeling at home.

The evening’s host is Gabo, who says that what he likes most is to receive visitors; enjoy their company, long chats, mates, walks, and of course, food. His passion is to cook for his guests with love, time and dedication, honoring the popular saying “the kitchen is the heart of the home”.

Gabo welcomes you at his cozy cabin to cook and make you feel at home with the aroma of homemade food, chatting and sharing a drink. He proposes to know El Calafate in a different way, knowing its people and places from the point of view of a local person while sharing a dinner listening to good music and making new friends. 

This experience will take you to savor homemade food in a warm and welcoming atmosphere, with dishes made with regional products, accompanied by wines selected from Argentine and Patagonian wineries that respect the aromas and flavors in a harmonious and pleasant way to the palate.

The dinner proposal includes a welcome drink, entrance, main course, dessert and drinks. It has two fixed menus; a “traditional” one, based on regional cuisine and adapting the raw material of the area in an unforgettable journey of flavors; and the other “vegetarian” menu, designed so that those who opt for this type of food in which most of the ingredients used are selected from local organic farms can also enjoy this experience.

At a large table with a maximum of 12 people, you can taste the delicacies that Gabo cooks in his own kitchen while talking with him and with all the guests, appealing to the principles of the house: enjoy life, feel at home, cook with love and make new friends.

GENERAL INFORMATION

  • The 3-step menus are fixed (may vary) and must be chosen at the time of booking. Please, ask for an alternative dessert dish should the diner request it.
  • Current Traditional menu: Entrance: Zucchini cream soup. / Main course: Braised lamb with mustard with wedge potatoes. / Dessert: Cheesecake with calafate ice cream or white chocolate brownie with semi bitter chocolate ice cream. / Drinks: Mineral water + soft drink or menu upgrade with ½ bottle of Saurus Malbec wine.
  • Current Vegetarian Menu: Entrance: Corn cream soup. / Main course: Vegetable au gratin stew. /  Dessert: Cheesecake with calafate ice cream or white chocolate brownie with semi bitter chocolate ice cream. / Drinks: Mineral water + soft drink or menu upgrade with ½ bottle of Saurus Malbec wine.
  • Transfers and wine are not included.

 

Buenos Aires, literary city

Buenos Aires is proud of its literary history. Many cultural activities throughout the year contribute to its continuity over the years, making the city a unique literary tour in Latin America.

Buenos Aires is the cradle of national literature icons that marked entire generations: Jorge Luis Borges, José Hernández, Roberto Arlt, Rodolfo Walsh, Victoria and Silvina Ocampo, Alfonsina Storni, Ernesto Sábato and Julio Cortázar, among many others.

Borges & Cortázar, Argentine writers

The literary gatherings in the historic cafes that have once been a nocturnal home for writers and poets, have become unmissable points of the city for its architectural design and history, witnesses of characters that left their mark on the universal literary and artistic history.

The International Book Fair of Buenos Aires is visited by more than one million people every year; offering book signings and conferences of renowned intellectuals, professional lectures for the publishing industry, artistic shows and recreational activities for all ages.

International Book Fair

The Night of the Bookstores is another great event: one night a year, the mythical book stores scattered along Corrientes Avenue take over the city until midnight.

Night of the Bookstores in Corrientes Ave.

We cannot forget to mention the famous bookstore El Ateneo Grand Splendid, chosen by the British newspaper The Guardian as the second most important in the world in its field. Every day, hundreds of curious and avid readers pass by to marvel at its atmosphere. Built on the old Grand Splendid theater cinema in the Recoleta neighborhood, it opened in 1919 and still retains its former splendor and elegance.

El Ateneo Grand Splendid book store

In addition, daily you can find multiple used book fairs in different parts of the city; an excellent opportunity to find classics and lost jewels at more affordable prices.

Undoubtedly, Buenos Aires is a literary city par excellence. In Kallpa Tour we can help you organize a custom tour, to visit all these mythical places and learn about the country’s literary history guided by expert guides.

SNORKELING WITH SEA LIONS IN PUERTO MADRYN

Snorkel surrounded by curious and playful sea lions, who willingly take photos, hug and even smother you with kisses.

Puerto Madryn is the mecca of Argentinian diving activities and only 15 km from Punta Loma, a rookery of Southern Sea Lions. There are not many places in the world where it is possible to snorkel with these marine mammals, but this is one of them. That is why this experience is one of the highlights in the city.

From the service provider office on the coast in Puerto Madryn, we board speedboats and navigate for 25 minutes towards Punta Loma Provincial Reserve, a protected natural area that restricts the permanence time and allows 18 people at the same time. 

On the way, we enjoy a maritime scenario of beaches, cliffs, shipwrecks, whales, dolphins, cormorants and seagulls. Also we receive a briefing including an explanation about the animal’s behaviour, how we must conduct ourselves within the protected area and an introduction to the snorkeling activity and equipment. The neoprene suit we wear maintains body heat and also provides positive buoyancy, therefore, it is not a requirement to know how to swim (although advisable).

As we get closer to the spot, the sea lion noises get louder and louder. Soon, hundreds of them are all around! Adults and cubs. It’s time to get ready and dive in.

If you never snorkeled before, it might be a little uncomfortable at first to get used to the sensation and trying to breathe through the tube, but just try to relax and remember the instructions. Enjoy the experience, look around, paddle softly and when you feel more at ease, you’re good to go.

It’s a surreal feeling to be up close with these creatures, touching and playing with them, going underwater and see them swim so gracefully. Everywhere we turn, there are more sea lion cubs playfully swimming around us. It’s clear that they are used to divers and comfy enough to even kiss us and take selfies.

We remain in the water with the sea lions for 40 minutes, always joined by the instructor. We guarantee that in the end you will wish that the experience lasted longer, even if at first you thought that snorkeling isn’t your thing. To be able to have such an intense and close-up encounter, to observe and play with these curious marine mammals is a fantastic and cherished experience.

After the diving ends, we go back onboard and return to the office, where we return the equipment and change our clothes.

GENERAL INFORMATION

  • Duration: 3½ hs
  • This activity operates daily in the morning. Depending on the time of the year, departure time is adjusted according to high tide.
  • Difficulty: Moderate The passenger must be able to move with the diving fins for 40 minutes, taking into account that it is within a medium in constant motion.
  • Age restrictions: Minimum 7 years old – Maximum suggested 60 to 65 years old.
  • Min. 2 pax required.
  • The current regulations allow visits of no more than one hour and fifteen minutes in the area. The contact activity with the sea lions takes maximum 40-45 minutes.
  • Included: Neoprene suit, two pieces, helmet, boots and gloves. Coat jacket for round trip transportation on the boat. Snack service on board: water, coffee, tea, hot chocolate, alfajores and pastries. Instructor and necessary briefing according to the activity.
  • Not included: Transfers to the service supplier office in Puerto Madryn. Dry suit. DVD with HD photos and videos.
  • The program may be modified or suspended depending on weather conditions, in which case the amount paid will be refunded if it’s not possible to reschedule. Sighting and interaction with the fauna depends on uncontrollable factors, such as climatic changes or reproductive time.