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El Calafate Day Trip: La Leona Petrified Forest
4.7
22 Ratings
El Calafate
Embark on a fascinating day trip from El Calafate to La Leona Petrified Forest. Explore a lunar landscape filled with petrified logs and dinosaur fossils, learn about the area’s geological features, and visit the historic Hotel La Leona. Enjoy stunning views and comfortable transportation throughout the journey.
Embark on a fascinating day trip from El Calafate to La Leona Petrified Forest. Explore a lunar landscape filled with petrified logs and dinosaur fossils, learn about the area’s geological features, and visit the historic Hotel La Leona. Enjoy stunning views and comfortable transportation throughout the journey.
Duration:
8 hours
Cancellation:
24 hours
Highlights
- El Calafate - Begin your journey with a hotel pickup in El Calafate, then travel with your guide in a comfortable, air-conditioned coach for an approximately 21-mile (33-km) drive along Route 40, taking in the breathtaking scenery that unfolds around you.
- Lago Argentino - Marvel at Argentino Lake, the Santa Cruz and La Leona rivers, and enjoy…
- El Calafate - Begin your journey with a hotel pickup in El Calafate, then travel with your guide in a comfortable, air-conditioned coach for an approximately 21-mile (33-km) drive along Route 40, taking in the breathtaking scenery that unfolds around you.
- Lago Argentino - Marvel at Argentino Lake, the Santa Cruz and La Leona rivers, and enjoy expansive views of the majestic Andes mountains, including the snow-capped, jagged peaks of Fitz Roy, the tallest mountain in Los Glaciares National Park.
- Parador La Leona - Enjoy a brief 15-minute stop at Hotel La Leona, a significant historical site, where you can gather supplies and explore its quaint museum. Continue the journey along the southern shore of Lake Viedma to the base of Cerro Los Hornos, reaching Estancia Santa Teresita.
- La Leona Petrified Forest - Disembark to begin a guided walk through the land’s depression, discovering petrified logs on the surface, some measuring up to 1.20 meters in diameter! Encounter fossil remains of various dinosaur species that once roamed the area. The trek lasts 3 hours, with duration subject to weather conditions.
- El Calafate - Return on foot to the starting point and travel back to El Calafate by bus, pausing once more at La Leona before being dropped off at your hotel.
What's Included
- Hotel pickup and drop-off
- Professional guide
- In-vehicle air conditioning
- Bottled water and lunch
- Hotel pickup and drop-off
- Professional guide
- In-vehicle air conditioning
- Bottled water and lunch
What's Not Included
- Gratuities
- Gratuities
Additional Information
Embark on an unforgettable day trip from El Calafate to the mesmerizing La Leona Petrified Forest. Stroll through a dreamlike, lunar-esque terrain dotted with ancient petrified logs and dinosaur fossils. With an expert guide, uncover the area’s remarkable geological marvels on a relaxed hike. Before your journey, visit the historic Hotel La Leona, rich…
Embark on an unforgettable day trip from El Calafate to the mesmerizing La Leona Petrified Forest. Stroll through a dreamlike, lunar-esque terrain dotted with ancient petrified logs and dinosaur fossils. With an expert guide, uncover the area’s remarkable geological marvels on a relaxed hike. Before your journey, visit the historic Hotel La Leona, rich with captivating stories. Enjoy the comfort of an air-conditioned coach as you travel between sites, taking in breathtaking views of Argentino Lake, the Santa Cruz and La Leona rivers, and the stunning Mt. Fitz Roy.
- Minimum age is 6 years
- Not recommended for participants with back problems, heart complaints or other serious medical conditions
- It is recommended that you bring sunblock and wear comfortable clothes and shoes
- Seasonal tour operating October to April
- A minimum of 2 people per booking is required
- 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.
Location
El Calafate
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.
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Customer Ratings
4.7
(22 Ratings)
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Karyn_k
Mar 7, 2026
Moderate hike in a scenic area - This hike is rated as a moderate hike and it is challenging for someone who doesn’t do a lot of hiking but wants to challenge themselves. The hike is over 3 hours and 3 km long, we stopped for lunch along the trail. There are spots where there are steps dug into the trail and ropes to hold onto. I would recommend using hiking poles if you’re not a hiker. The scenery was amazing and I couldn’t believe the amount of petrified trees and bones we saw. The last part of the hike is the most difficult because you go down into the canyon then pretty much straight up to get out. The guide did not push us to go too fast and was careful to not get ahead of any of us, she did a great job.
Review provided by Viator
M3809teclaudiag
Feb 1, 2026
Wonderful experience - What a interesting and entertaining trip, we learned a lot and had fun. The included lunch was perfect and our guide gave us a lot of information and he really loves nature.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Elizabeth_w
Dec 30, 2025
Amazing remote experience - This place was a unique hiking experience. There is only one company who goes there and it was 6 of us and a guide. Quiet peaceful hike. The fossils and petrified wood are awesome and you can get up close and even touch them. The guide Pol was wonderful, knowledgeable, & friendly. The hike was about 2-2.5 hrs with lots of stops. Very windy like the rest of Patagonia but well worth a visit. Take water and a hiking pole to stabilize yourself from the wind. Beautiful.
Review provided by Viator
Alip873
Dec 29, 2024
La Leona Petrified Forest. Excellent day out. - The guide, Paull our driver were fabulous. We loved the fascinating terrain, the geology, and fossilised trees. The trek was well thought out, and care and safety from the guide was outstanding. The driver returned the items I accidentally left on the bus to our hotel afterwards. The tour was great. I highly recommend it.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Carol_g
Apr 29, 2024
Magical experience - Outstanding views! The long journey was made bearable by the excellent driver of our car. In addition he drew our attention to a variety of wildlife we had never seen before.
Review provided by Viator
Joe
Jan 14, 2023
Amazing scenic hike of a natural wonder not far from Calafate - Amazing and seemingly underrated day trek. I don’t understand how this isn’t a more popular trek for people staying in El Calafate. We absolutely loved the hike - around 3 hours in total, and not too far from town. The petrified forest is an amazing canyon with fossils and petrified wood. A true geological wonder that doesn’t get enough attention. Leo was a fantastic guide and I would highly recommend this!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
111andyk
Jan 8, 2023
Incredible Adventure - This was an amazing day. The less populated side of the Patagonian adventure is not one to be missed. The petrified trees and dinosaur bones in the midst of the barren yet magnificent landscape left us with the feeling being in a true adventure. I traveled with my wife and kids (7, 9) and all had a great time. The trek was easy for all to complete. Leonardo (guide) and driver were exceptional pair. Both were very knowledgeable, friendly and helpful. Highly recommended. Drive time was about 1:15 one way from el Calafate.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Daniel_k
Mar 12, 2022
Very interesting place to... - Very interesting place to visit. The trip was amazing, Recommend it to all.
Thee tour operator nice and professional.
Review provided by Viator
Nomad604875
Mar 23, 2020
Excellent discovery near El Calafate - We were lucky enough to be able to do this activity "solo" with the guide. Indeed, we were only two + the guide and what a Service! Pick-up at the hotel and then we leave for the day in what looks like a Moon setting. Interesting guide (speaking English and Spanish) explaining the Geology and History of the places (+ of course the explanations on the Dinosaurs and the Petrified Forest). We can only recommend this excursion if you have a day to devote to it (return scheduled around 4:00 pm). Thanks to our guides for their sympathy, humor and professionalism:)
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Sneeuverskrik
May 5, 2024
Cancelled - The excursion, scheduled for 30 April 2024, didn't take place due to lack of numbers. I'm disappointed, but at least I was advised timeously and refunded promptly. From a traveller's point of view though, it begs the question: given how overcrowded some tours are (e.g Todos Los Glaciares, with a different tour operator), can't operators sometimes take a loss when their overheads aren't covered?
Review provided by Tripadvisor
