SANTA CRUZ RIVER EXPEDITION

7 day program

An incomparable journey in the heart of Patagonia

We make the journey, crossing the Patagonian steppe, where we can observe guanacos, choiques, foxes and a great variety of birds. The same river that was navigated by Hernando de Magallanes, Perito Moreno, Carlos Moyano, Fitz Roy and the Viedma brothers among others. We will walk through Fossil Bay where Darwin began to question the evolution of species and contemplate the immensity with its silence and harmony.

We will visit pioneer ranches that forged the economic development of the region in the early 1900s with wool production. Also Pavón Island of Commander Luis Piedra Buena and the estuary of Puerto Santa Cruz.

There will be five nights of wild camping, where teamwork and collaboration is essential so that we can all enjoy this experience.

Starting Location: El Calafate – Charles Fhur Bridge

Finishing Location: Puerto Santa Cruz

Total distance to cover: 351 km in 6 days of kayaking

Itinerary

One day before starting the journey we met at the hotel to get to know each other and explain the operation of the journey, test the equipment, finalize details and distribution of the load.

Day 1: 7.30am we leave for the Charles Fhur Bridge where we will begin the expedition. We will have to fill the kayaks with all the necessary items for the 7 days of travel. We begin paddling from Charles Fhur Bridge to Estancia La Porteña, estimated 57km.

Day 2: We will paddle from Estancia La Porteña to passing Condor Cliff, estimated 66km.

Day 3: We will paddle from Condor Cliff to Estancia La Barrancosa, estimated 54km.

Day 4: We will paddle from Estancia La Barrancosa to Estancia Los Plateados, estimated 66km.

Day 5: We will paddle from Estancia Los Plateados to before Isla Pavón, estimated 69km.

Day 6: We will paddle from Pavón Island to Puerto Santa Cruz, (estimated 39km) waiting for the ebb and together with the tide to reach Puerto Santa Cruz, where the river meets the Argentine Sea. We will spend the night in a hotel in Puerto Santa Cruz.

Day 7: Return to El Calafate, hotel night included.

The campsites are wild places in the steppe or near abandoned ranches located on the banks of the Santa Cruz River. Every day when they reach the end of the tour, participants will set up their tents and will have free time to walk around and enjoy the sunsets and its skies, the steppe with its wild flora and fauna.

We estimate rowing days of 7 to 8 hours a day, making stops approximately every two hours to relax our arms and eat something. According to weather conditions, group conditions or any other external factor, they may be modified for the safety of the participants or to complete the itinerary.

Every morning, after breakfast, each participant will disassemble their tent and reassemble their kayaks to continue the tour.

Difficulty: Medium, according to weather conditions.

Includes:

Kayak guides authorized by the Argentine Naval Prefecture and the Tourism Department of the Province of Santa Cruz
Civil liability and personal accident insurance for adventure tourism activities.

Technical equipment:

Double kayak, paddles, cockpit cover.
neoprene suit (Long John), semi-dry jacket, neoprene boots, life jacket, paddling mittens.
A waterproof bag of 30 liters per person.

Camping equipment:

Tents for 2 people.
Kitchen items.

Foods:

Breakfast, marching ration, snacks and dinners during the journey.

Accommodation (double occupancy):

2 nights in a hotel in El Calafate (Day 1 and 8).
5 nights of wild camping (during the journey).
1 night in a hotel in Puerto Santa Cruz (day 7).

Transfers: By private vehicle

Transfer to the starting point of the journey.
Transfer from Puerto Santa Cruz to El Calafate.

Does not include:

Flight to and from El Calafate.
Sleeping bag and insulation.
Personal hygiene items.
Meals on days in El Calafate and Puerto Santa Cruz.
Expenses caused by abandonment of the expedition.

Recommended clothing:

Thermal interiors.
Lycra leggings and thermal shirt (to wear under the wetsuit).
Warm socks.
High rubber rain boots.
Hat for sun and warmth.
Gloves.
Sunglasses with strap holder.
Down or synthetic jacket.
Polar diver.
Buff type collar.
Comfortable walking shoes.
Short and long sleeve t-shirt.

Necessary equipment to bring:

Sleeping bag.
Thermal insulator.
Flashlight and spare batteries.
Sunscreen.
Utility knife.
Waterproof or nylon bag.

Note: Bring the minimum essentials for the trip since the kayak compartments have a limited capacity, and you also have to store food and camping items.

The extra clothes you want to take for the days after the expedition can be taken by our vehicle to Puerto Santa Cruz.