El Calafate Kayak & Hike: Is the La Leona River Tour Worth It?
Planning a trip to El Calafate? Very cool! If that’s the case, you might have spotted the La Leona River kayak and hike tour. That thing certainly got my attention, too. It’s a full-day adventure offering a mix of paddling and trekking through some seriously pretty Patagonian landscapes. It’s almost a chance to ditch the typical tourist spots and see a different side of Argentina. I want to share my thoughts after doing the trip myself, and give you the lowdown to help you decide if it’s the adventure for you.
What’s the La Leona River Tour all About?
Ok, so the La Leona River tour usually kicks off with a morning pickup from your accommodation in El Calafate. Usually it’s a comfy van, which is good because you are going to be sitting in there for a couple of hours! The drive to the tour base itself is like, super scenic, giving you glimpses of the Patagonian Steppe, an area that’s vast, seemingly empty, and kinda beautiful in its own way. Apparently, there’s often a stop at La Leona Roadhouse. I believe it’s an old spot where you can grab a coffee or a snack. It almost feels like stepping back in time. It has a neat, rustic vibe.
The main event, naturally, starts once you reach the river. First there is a safety briefing from the guides. That’s quite important, of course. Then, you get kitted out with gear which includes waterproofs and life jackets. You then hop into your kayak. The paddling is usually pretty gentle. More or less anyone can do it with very little trouble, really. The river winds through some awesome landscapes. That includes canyons and hills, and gives you super photo opportunities. That water itself can be an insane color, like a milky turquoise because of the glacial sediment.
After the kayak portion, there’s normally a hike that leads to the fossil forest. That thing offers unique views of petrified wood and dinosaur bones. This thing is seriously cool! It might be the real highlight of the whole tour, perhaps. The hike is not crazy challenging. It’s pretty manageable if you have a basic level of fitness. Afterwards you will head back to base, then to El Calafate.
My Experience: Kayaking Down the River
My experience kayaking down the La Leona River, basically, was something I’m not going to forget any time soon. We started the day, naturally, with that early morning pickup. That always feels a bit rough when you’re on vacation. The anticipation was building, alright? The van ride gave us a preview of the vast Patagonian landscapes. This almost gave me a better sense of where I actually was. Arriving at the river base, things were very organized. It involved a quick and necessary safety briefing before they bundled us into waterproof gear.
Getting into the kayak for me was pretty fun, yet also, at the same time, slightly nerve-wracking! The water was surprisingly calm. So too it was a lot more relaxing than I had imagined, really. As we paddled, I quickly got taken up by the amazing views all around me. The cliffs seemed to get taller and the river was so very clear you could see all the way to the bottom in sections. Gliding through this waterway felt like something I never knew I needed. Just gliding through those waterways makes you appreciate nature. What I noticed that day, certainly, was the complete stillness broken only by the soft sound of our paddles and the occasional bird call.
Our guide would stop us occasionally. This gave us info about the local geography, animal life, and geological processes at work. You have that classic milky blue water to photograph constantly. If that sounds like you, charge your camera up!
Hiking through the Petrified Forest
Getting to hike through a petrified forest was amazing! To begin with, that trail took us across a pretty varied terrain, including some rocky sections and soft, sandy paths. Having suitable footwear for this is, in a way, important, like hiking boots or sturdy trainers.
It didn’t take too long before we started seeing petrified wood. Some chunks were scattered randomly across the ground! Others were massive tree trunks! They were dating back millions of years. Honestly, it feels pretty surreal walking around this place that used to be a lively forest. The landscape, itself, looked barren with almost no greenery, other than tough desert scrub. Seeing bits of dinosaur bone in between made this otherworldly feel that much more powerful!
That guide explained how this area was once a forest before volcanic eruptions and earthquakes ended up fossilizing it all! This was super interesting, of course! I found I was learning something that day while out in Patagonia.
Who’s This Tour Best For?
Ok, so the La Leona River tour is probably best for active folks and keen nature lovers. I think that’s true because the blend of kayaking and hiking makes it quite engaging for people. These people really appreciate seeing landscapes and historical sites from more or less close up.
If you happen to be comfortable with some physical exertion, the tour would most likely suit you. That, too, goes for you if you’re interested in geology, paleontology, or the history of Patagonia. So you have those covered then you should enjoy it a lot!
It would be pretty awesome for small groups or solo travellers wanting a well rounded adventure without some extremely tough challenges. The activity amounts could probably work ok for families, however the fossil forest hiking might challenge small kids. Always find this information out beforehand!
This might not be the top choice for anyone with significant physical limitations that stops them from getting involved in gentle to moderate physical activity. If that sounds like you then do research, or skip. If you’d just rather kick back and chill while on vacation, then, naturally, loads of other things are around too.
Tips for a Fantastic La Leona River Tour Experience
To have a super awesome La Leona River experience, so, here are some helpful tips, alright?
- Dress in Layers: The Patagonian weather can change very rapidly. It may go from sunshine to rain pretty quickly. Dress in layers. That will give you flexibility to change outfits. You can stay cozy all day. That includes in the kayak and while hiking, ok?
- Wear Suitable Footwear: Hiking boots or super sturdy trainers would work nicely on the trek to the petrified forest. Make certain they are worn in before you come.
- Protect Yourself From The Sun: Remember that even on cloudy days the sun can be super strong in Patagonia, seriously! So put on plenty of high factor sunscreen, wear sunglasses and make certain you have a hat on too.
- Bring a Camera: This might sound pretty obvious, perhaps, but remember to take a camera! The surroundings you will be in are absolutely wonderful. If it is an important day to you, it may just be worth capturing all the awesome moments with you!
- Stay Hydrated and Energized: Be sure to have enough water and some snacks to munch on during that hike. That might include protein bars or trail mix. That’s gonna help keep your energy levels up!
- Listen to your Guide: The tour guides tend to be very familiar with the region and the safety procedures, of course. Be certain you pay close attention to the instructions they are giving to keep things super safe. They might have insider knowledge. Knowledge like this is just something you might find helpful, too!
- Check Weather Conditions: Right before your tour date check the expected weather. This might give you an opportunity to pack suitably and expect any challenges when on tour.
Is It Worth the Money?
When I look back, the La Leona River tour is worth spending money on. I think this is down to how well organized it is, all of the landscapes that you see. Also, the educational part on geology and paleontology which made the adventure well-rounded. The experience has good value, particularly if that floats your boat.
The tour isn’t necessarily the most inexpensive tour you might stumble upon around El Calafate, really. But, thinking about it, what you get back is the mixture of activity plus unique experiences that go way beyond the usual. If seeing Patagonia’s less trampled trails and really gaining knowledge appeals, then I would almost say jump at this opportunity. The moments where you take mental snapshots may just linger far longer than your time there, is that not cool?