Mt. San Lorenzo & Cueva de las Manos

Pre-Tour

Mount San Lorenzo the highest one of the austral Andes, 3706 m high, can be seen from an incredible distance. It is by itself a mountain of Himalayan dimensions and dominates the scenery like a solitary giant. The place is not much visited, due to the long distances to any single urban center, and because of the poor road and tourist infrastructure, so, we’ll feel here really off the "beaten track". En route to Mount San Lorenzo, we visit Cueva de las Manos (cave of the painted hands), one of the most important cultural testimonies of the ethnic groups that originally inhabited the region.

Departures: Every Tuesday from Comodoro Rivadavia.

Includes:

• 1 night Hotel Belgrano at P.Moreno Vge. HB

• 2 nights Refugio Los Ñires. Half Board.

• 1 wilderness camp at Valle Oro. Half Board.

• 2 days trekking with lunch-box.

• All transfers and tours as detailed in the itinerary.

Note: Trecks are moderate to demanding. The difficulty of the tour is given by the ascensions the third and fourth day, and it can be rgulated according to the group shape.

Day 1 – Tuesday – Bs Aires/Pto. Moreno Village

Board flight southwards to Comodoro Rivadavia. Reception at airport and transfer to the local Bus Terminal to board a regular bus line to Perito Moreno Village (not to be confused with Perito Moreno Glacier), 480 km. crossing the plateau heading the Andes Range. Reception at the Bus terminal and transfer to the Hotel where we lodge.

Day 2 – Wednesday - Estancia Los Ñires

In the morning, we approach by vehicle the Canyon of the Río Pinturas. We set on foot descending 70 meters a steep slope to visit the Cueva de las Manos. It is a group of Indian paintings on the walls of a deep canyon eroded by the Río Pinturas. We return to route 40, and we continue southwards some kilometers, to take a secondary road heading the mountain range up to the beautiful lakes Pueyrredón and Posadas. Once we pass them, we drive a rough road (two hours to travel 50 km.) up to the main house of Estancia Los Ñires. Accommodation at a Lodge.

Day 3 – Thursday - Glacier Oro Camp

We hike Río Oro course along a well-marked trail, with no obstacles. Then, we ascend to an elevation at the foothill of the main peak of Mt. San Lorenzo, flanked by gigantic and almost vertical glaciers that descend from the altitudes. We return part of our way up to a point where we camp.

Day 4- Friday - Estancia Los Nires

After another hike approaching Mt. San Lorenzo, we return to Estancia Los Ñires. We spend the night at the Estancia’s Lodge.

Day 5 – Saturday - El Chalten

Very early in the morning, we leave Estancia Los Ñires, 100 km to Bajo Caracoles, and then southwards another 490 km. up to El Chaltén, to continue with the activities of day 1 of the main program.