El Calafate City Sightseeing Tour Including Walichu Caves
Description
Get under the skin of El Calafate and see the ancient rock paintings of Patagonia’s earliest settlers on this 3-hour sightseeing tour. Traveling in an air-conditioned coach, drive to the shores of beautiful Lake Argentino to visit the Walichu Caves, home to rock paintings believed to date back 4,000 years. Next, enjoy a panoramic tour of El Calafate Old Town, and visit the El Calafate Historical Interpretation Center to learn about the area’s incredible history, geology, peoples and glaciers.
Tour Options
Itinerary
This tour begins with the pick up from the hotels at the agreed time.
Relax into your air-conditioned coach or minivan and enjoy the views over the untouched landscapes on route to Walichu Caves. After roughly 30 minutes, arrive at the ancient caves on the shores of Lake Argentino. Marvel at the spectacular milky-blue lake, and follow the trail (own expense) to gaze at the aeons-old rock paintings. Admire the recreated and authentic depictions of humans and animals, and learn from a local guide how they date back around 4,000 years to Paleolithic times and were probably originated created by pre-Tehuelche hunter-gatherers.
Next, drive back to El Calafate for a panoramic sightseeing tour. Drive past the early 20th-century buildings and homes built by its first settlers, as well as the main plaza, church and other landmarks as your guide details the town’s early beginnings. We will see the Coastal Walk, which is close to the Lago Argentino coast.
Finish at the El Calafate Historical Intepretation Center. Explore this informative museum independently (own expense) and uncover the area’s history, wildlife and geology. See the bones of dinosaurs that roamed here millennia ago, and trace the formation of Patagonia’s glaciers and story of the Tehuelche peoples who lived here for centuries before the arrival of colonizers. Either end your tour here to stay on at the museum cafe or souvenir shop, or finish your trip with a hotel drop-off.
Highlights
What's included
Pickup Locations & Times
The pick up transfer is only from selected centrally located hotels. If your hotel is outside the geographic area, we will confirm you the closest meeting point. Indicate the name and address of your hotel.
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- IMPORTANT: If you wish to cancel your tour, please note that no refund will be granted from the 24th of December to the 02nd of January. All sales are final between those dates.
Reviews(17)
That's a nice little tour of El Calafate, see a few things that you normally wouldn't see, probably even do. The guide, so bad I totally having a slip of the mind, was the greatest. Probably the best guide I had in awhile. Very knowledgeable, very inclusive, and the first time switching back and fourth from English to spanish I could follow.
The initial program included a visit to Lagună Nimez , but it was not included in the schedule of our trip. When asked about it, our guide said it is never included in this trip, so why promise and pay for something which does not exist?! I also asked the firm about it but they never bothered to send an answer
The Walichu Caves were very interesting. Our guide Santino, was very friendly and informative and fluent in both English and Spanish The museum was also very informative and well presented. The hydroponic farm was interesting and the food at the end was a very pleasant and unexpected surprise. The tour guide informed us a bit about El Calafate but could have provided a more information about El Calafate as we drove through. The main problem was that we were told the evening before in a message via Viator that our pick-up time was 3pm not 5pm as we had booked, without out any explanation or apology, which disrupted our other plans significantly!
A very well organized tour. The guide was fluent in English and knowledgable. The 3 hours gave a very good genberal view of the history of the region. The Museum is excellent, and the food/drinks offered at the end also very good.
WALICHU IS THE BEST OF ALL CALAFATE. !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! We attended the visit with the whole family and my 9-year-old son Aristides was amazed by what he saw and experienced there, as were all of us! We were received very kindly by an employee (lawyer) who had left the profession to dedicate himself to this. The experience was sublime, the visit is a journey of immersion in the AONIKENK (CHALTEN) culture, it is a performance that takes you to another world. The equipment that they gave us for the visit gave us the native music, the history, the story, the detail, the local color and the love for the Tehuelche culture. The view of the wonderful Argentine Lake made us take THE HEART OF EL CALAFATE IN OUR EYES. No one can leave the city without visiting the Walichu caves. Being there we forget about the problems, it seems like a magical, dreamlike place. The warmth of the people who attended us made us feel that; Without a doubt, we will return one day. I give a standing ovation to those who work there with so much love and professionalism to show those who visit how valuable our roots are and how wonderful it is to know the culture of our native peoples. They are an example to imitate. Thanks a lot. This is not just a walk... it is immersing your soul in the Argentineness that passes through us!!!! Thank you very much. Aristides' mother.
Very friendly. Lots of information over varied sites. Disappointed that the time advertised was incorrect, it meant we wasted a day.
very good experience, good service, professional and attentive staff. recommended for everyone
Beautiful views and very good guidance in caves/cave paintings. There is a stop for bathrooms and snacks. I did late in the afternoon and the tour ended with a dinner in the cave, which I found very busy this part. Overall, it was good, but I would not do it again.
interesting place, where you can appreciate cave paintings of native peoples, is easy to walk, very nice landscape and the guide that accompanied us gave us very good review of everything.
The city of El Calafate has some good things and not as good for the tourist as being: Not so good: lots of dogs from the street. They're not aggressive towards people but they are aggressive towards each other. Night barks that disturb depending on each person and the room that touches you in the hotel. The city is growing and at the moment is not as pleasant as a tourist center. From the good: a center with many dining options buy souvenirs and craft fairs. tourism agencies with very interesting excursions .
