Day trips Nature & adventure Outdoor activities Tours Day Trips From Sightseeing

On this tour, you will walk among penguins and observe sea lions, guanacos, and other species. The tour includes guided trekking and a packed lunch, making it ideal for exploring Monte León National Park.

Highlights

• Travel in a 4x4 overland vehicle and spot native wildlife.
• Enjoy a 1.5-hour trek among a penguin colony.
• Walk along the Lobería and Cabeza de León trails and observe the sea lions.
• Tour guide throughout the excursion, food, and binoculars.

Description

The Monte León 4x4: Seals and Penguins excursion offers you a unique opportunity to explore this national park from El Calafate. The experience combines the sea, the coast, and the steppe with a landscape full of Patagonian wildlife. It includes a walk among penguin nests to a viewpoint from where you can see the cliffs. In addition, you will visit the famous Cabeza de León and go sea lion watching. The excursion begins with Overland 4x4 picking you up at your hotel in El Calafate at 6:30 a.m. to head to Monte León National Park, the first national park with a coastline. On the way, you will cross the Patagonian steppe from west to east on Provincial Route 9, with views of the Santa Cruz River and its valley. You will also see native Patagonian animals such as guanacos, foxes, choiques, and even, on some occasions, pumas. You will make stops at scenic spots and will be able to climb up to the viewpoint in our Overland 4x4 vehicle to take in the spectacular views offered by this valley. Very close to the coast, you will go on a 1.5-hour easy hike along the penguin trail, where you can walk among the penguins and their nests and observe the entire colony from the viewpoint. Monte León has one of the most important colonies of this species in Argentina. The excursion continues in a 4x4 to the Lobería and Cabeza de León Trail, where you can reach the edge of this imposing cliff that resembles a reclining lion and gives the national park its name. Here you can observe colonies of South American sea lions and, occasionally on the coast, cetaceans such as right whales, southern dolphins, or black and white Commerson's dolphins. The next stop on the tour will be at the Monte León Island Viewpoint, where you can observe huge colonies of cormorants and other seabird species characteristic of this environment. Finally, you will return to El Calafate along the same gravel road, arriving at approximately 9:30 p.m. after visiting Argentina's only national park with sea, coastline, and Patagonian steppe, where you can observe birds and animals that are very difficult to see elsewhere.

Includes

Transfer from your hotel in El Calafate to Monte León National Park aboard a 4x4 Overland vehicle 1.5-hour trek among a penguin colony

Important Information

• Bring: warm clothing, waterproof jacket and pants, hiking boots, gloves, and a hat.

Easy cancellation

Cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund