The Argentina and Chile tour operator specializing in authentic experiences for independent travelers, Say Hueque, is now arranging a first for this region of Patagonia. Adventurous travelers may now sign up for a wild and scenic two-hour whitewater rafting adventure in Los Glaciares National Park accessed from either El Chaltén or El Calafate.
The trip begins on Las Vueltas River, later merging with the Fitz Roy River, in Los Glaciares National Park. This is the first time rafting has been available inside the park. Say Hueque is the only company licensed to make the arrangements.
A landscape that slowly drifts by from the river is seldom seen by other visitors. The rafting route begins with a four km warmup on the Las Vueltas River before heading into eight km of Class III-IV rapids. Guests can relax on the final two km on the conjoining Fitz Roy River.
If staying in Argentina's Trekking Capital El Chaltén, the program is four hours in duration with round-trip transfers provided from town. For those staying in El Calafate, it's a 12 hour package including transfers to/from El Calafate and a meal after the two-hour raft run.
The rafting course inside Los Glaciares National Park offers views of the park's highest peak, Mount Fitz Roy, a technically challenging climbing mountain (named after the captain of The Beagle that charted Darwin's course) on the southern Patagonian Ice Field. The rafting itself is a mix of easy to difficult. A guide accompanies each raft to ensure the safety of all participants. Travelers have time to both enjoy the views and easy paddling but also the exhilaration of challenging Class III-IV rapids.
For more information and a video please see: http://argentina-travel-blog.sayhueque.com/rafting-in-patagonia/
As Say Hueque owner Rafael Mayer explains, "We are a group of Argentine travel professionals who are passionate about our country. We have hiked in Patagonia, felt the mist of Iguassu Falls on our smiling faces, walked along glaciers and cruised the deep blue lakes of South America. We have visited hundreds of hotels, sampled hundreds of restaurants and discovered the best wineries around, so we know exactly where to get a delicious steak, a sublime Malbec and a comfy bed along the way."
Established in 1999, the company creates customized tours for independent travelers throughout Argentina's and Chile´s national parks and cities. Popular destinations and experiences include Buenos Aires, Iguassu Falls, Perito Moreno Glacier, hiking in Patagonia, wine tasting in Mendoza, horseback riding at traditional estancias and glacier cruises.
Say Hueque adopted its name from the last tribal chief that surrendered to the Europeans in their conquest of the American lands, in 1885. The Great Cacique Say Hueque was the leader of a powerful tribe that occupied the region of central Patagonia. Their cultural influence is still very strong at some locations close to the Andes Range.
