Kayaking in El Chalten

This experience takes place in the Río de las Vueltas. This river belongs to the Santa Cruz River basin. An important portion of the waters of the Río de las Vueltas are of glacial origin, partly coming from the melting of glaciers in the northern area of the PNLG. It rises in Lago del Desierto, at an altitude of 506 meters above sea level, and flows into Lake Viedma at an altitude of 250 meters above sea level.
The starting point is at the operational base located in El Chalten (Av. San Martin 872), where the guides deliver the technical and safety equipment necessary to carry out the activity. Once equipped, they will travel by truck about 21 km along RP 41, towards Lago del Desierto.
Navigation begins at the Laguna Cóndor Viewpoint. Upon arrival, the sailors finish equipping themselves with a jacket, life jacket and helmet, and then a technical and safety talk is given. The section of the river that is navigated is characterized by being shallow and with many meanders. You cross a very beautiful Andean Patagonian forest and the Fitz Roy outlines its northern face on the horizon. You navigate 12 km from Laguna Condor to Estancia Bonanza. The navigation lasts approximately 1:30 h, depending on the flow of the river and wind conditions.
The personal effects will remain in the support vehicle that will wait for us at the end of the journey at the Bonanza ranch, where once dried and changed, a succulent lunch awaits us with a spectacular view of Cerro Fitz Roy. After lunch, the return is by van to the town of El Chaltén.
You can choose not to have lunch and return to El Chaltén at approximately 1 p.m.

GRADES
• Difficulty: moderate.
• Minimum age: 12 years.
• Navigation Time: 1:30 to 2:00 hours depending on weather conditions and river flow.
• Category I rapids.

THE CIRCUIT: see in this link the section of the river traveled in this program.

• Presentation times (08.45 am)
• Location: Rafting & Kayak Base at Av. San Martin 872
• Once equipped, they will travel 21 km to the starting point of the activity.
• They will be given a technical and safety talk
• It takes approximately 1.30 hours to sail
• Arrival at Estancia Bonanza
• End of service without lunch (snack only) 12:30 p.m.
• End of service with lunch at Bonanza 3:00 p.m.

Includes: 

• Equipment (suit, microfleece, jacket, helmet, life jacket, boots, mittens and paddles)
• Kayak guide enabled
• Round trip transfer (to the starting point) and return (from Bonanza to back to El Chaltén
• RC and AP insurance

Does not include:

• Transfer from or to El Calafate
• Optional: Lunch at Bonanza Ranch

• Be over 12 years old. Pregnant women, people with heart disease, and people who have recently had surgery cannot do the activity.
• Bring a towel, a change of underwear, a thermal shirt, sunglasses (with strap) and sunscreen.