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Argentina

Best of Patagonia / Hiking the Patagonia Classics / More Patagonia Treks / Discovery Tours
Buenos Aires / More Patagonia / Iguazu Falls / Lake District / Salta / Mendoza / Ibera / Valdes Peninsula
Antarctic Cruises / Expedition Cruises / Best of Northwest / Mountain Bike Tours / Winter Trips

Pampa Linda Lodge can accommodate up to 36 guests in either flats or double or triple bedrooms. Breakfast, full board, activities maid service and laundry are included. All bedrooms have got a private bathroom as well as room-to-room telephone lines. Guests also have access to mountain bikes, TV lounge, table-tennis table, board games, library and roofed barbecue area on rainy days. A splendid fireplace always invites guests to share some unforgettable moments.

The love the owners feel for nature is clearly reflected in the way this lodge has been decorated as most of the materials found here are typical of this area.Having its own electric turbine, this tourist resort causes minimal ecological impact on the wonderful environment surrounding it.

From its gardens, one can visit the orchard and the corrals where horseback rides start.

Both guests and visitors alike always come to the restaurant to enjoy not only the frank and open view to Mount Tronador and its glaciers but also to try the fabulous specialities offered here. Either in the dining room or in the roofed barbecue area special lunches and dinners can be prepared on request. One typical choice is that of the “Asado Criollo” (Argentinean barbecue). Most of the dishes prepared in the restaurant are carefully elaborated with natural organic vegetables, dried fruits, diary products and homemade bread and cheese.

Because it has a privileged location within the Nahuel Huapi National Park, Pampa Linda has access to an array of marvelous landscapes. It is an ideal place for both active visitors and those who prefer less-demanding outings. We offer our guests the necessary advice and guidance for trekking and horse riding. We have very good horses and comfortable saddles to explore different mountain trails. There are other options, such as rafting, available upon previous consultation. The activities for our guests, included in our "Pampa Linda" Program, are scheduled and recommended by our host guide, who has considered the prevailing weather conditions. On the other hand, those staying half-board without activities, or coming for a day visit, may contract some of the excursions in situ.

If you stay for only 2-3 nights at PAMPA LINDA, we suggest, depending on the weather conditions, taking half-day explorations to discover the valley, and spend a whole day to get to Laguna del Ilón, and if you still have some energy left, go to Mirada del Doctor, where you will most likely be able to enjoy the flight of the Condor.

In order to tour the area more and make the most out of the variety of landscapes, we suggest you to stay for at least 4-5 nights. Thus, you will be able to ascend to the Otto Mailing shelter, and, if you are horse riders, you can climb to the summit at Cerro Volcánico.

HALF-DAY EXPLORATIONS:
These are year-round activities as long as weather conditions help. They are easy and ideal to share with the family, as children put up with them very well and truly enjoy the experience of exploring paths on foot, horseback or bikes.

" Trekking or bike ride to Saltillo de las Nalcas
The path to get to Saltillo begins 500 m away from Hostería Pampa Linda. There is a sign indicating a diversion, and after crossing the Río Manso bridge, there is an interactive path where you may learn to recognize the different species inhabiting our mountains. The path leads into a natural tunnel made of Colihue canes, up to a clearing which leads to Saltillo de las Nalcas, a cascade consisting of two waterfalls approximately 40 m each. There is a path leading to the lower waterfall and crossing it from behind, since it is 15 m away from the foot of the rocky wall.
It is a very special spot to rest in, hear the water fall and watch the rainbow formed by water drops against sun rays. We recommend taking a good book to settle in this magnificent scenario and take the time to be caught by literature.Difficulty: easy Duration: 1 to 2 hours Note: flat land without any major difficulties; may be ridden on bikes.

" Trekking or horse ride to Ventisquero Negro and Cascada Garganta del Diablo. At the foot of Cerro Tronador.
Taking a path from the hotel (hiking or by bike) we will get to the end of the valley; the first part of the way is framed by the impressive silhouette of Cerro Tronador which later fades away as we get into the thick forest of Coihues. Thunder, resulting from glacier ice break-offs, announces we are getting closer. The excursion goes on skirting the Río Manso basin upwards, through a graveled trail leading to a view of the Ventisquero, which descends vertiginously through a rocky wall. Many lateral paths will allow a deeper exploration of the magnificent valley. You cannot miss the trail leading to the birth of Rio Manso. This steep descent starts 50 m from "Puente blanco", on the turn behind a big rock, on a vehicle road leading to the foot of the mountain. There are no signs, but the tracks are marked clearly. This is a very special path which offers a very particular view of the Pampa Linda plain. The road then continues 1 km more, leading to the foot of the mountain where you can take a short hike to the Garganta del Diablo cascade. You will enjoy excellent panoramic views along this trail. If you go on horseback, instead of taking the road, you will follow a path leading to the birth of Río Manso in the Ventisquero Negro, where you will get the best view of the Glacier. You can only reach this site on horseback because you have to wade across the river.

The Ventisquero Negro is 7km away from our hotel. This receding Glacier is nourished by continuous and deafening ice avalanches sliding from about 700 m above. The ice, after falling and eroding the slope, accumulates at the end of the valley, creating the Ventisquero Negro. It was named "Ventisquero Negro" ("black glacier") after the black ice, which is saturated with rocks and sand. Light can not enter easily into it and give it that typical glacier brightness.

Difficulty: easy Duration: 4 to 5 hours Note: for your safety, we suggest that you stay away from the ice. Take appropriate shoes, warm clothes, sun screen, mosquito repellant and sun glasses.

" Trekking to Mirador del Valle viewpoint
The steep slope gets into the Coihue forest, becoming steeper as the reedbed becomes thicker. After about a 1 ½ hour walk, you reach the top of a cliff. The trail continues going upwards surrounding the cliff until you get to its highest wall. This viewpoint offers a very nice view of the Pampa Linda valley. The track continues through Loma del Medio to Piedra Pérez, descending to the coffee-shop "Jerman" at the foot of the mountain. We suggest you that go only with a mountain guide, as it is not properly signposted. Otherwise, use the same trail you came from to return.
Duration: 4 hours. Difficulty: moderate to demanding Note: very steep

" Trekking or horse ride to Castaño Overa Glacier
Taking the trail to the Otto Meiling shelter from Pampa Linda, after a 3 km horse ride or trek, we cross the Río Castaño Overa. Lenga (Nothofagus Pumilio) specimens appear progressively, which contrast with their vivid colors in the fall. The Lenga is a deciduous tree unlike the Coihue, which is an evergreen tree. In the last stretch, in between tree cups, a spectacular view of an ice wall of white and blue reflections can be spotted. Likewise, a fantastic 500 m cascade deriving from the hanging glacier can be seen through the woods, and further on, there are the Cerro Tronador summits. At the top of the rocky wall lies the threatening glacier Castaño Overa at a precarious balance. Glacier advancement from the top pushes ice chunks off the cliff. Ongoing and unpredictable ice chunks roar chaotically against valley walls, honoring the mountain that produces them: the Tronador ("Thunderer"). With a little patience, you can witness the fall of these enormous ice masses weighting hundreds of tons. We get to the surroundings of the glacier Castaño Overa alluvial cone. This glacier has cliffs over 600m high. Ice chunks crumble against the wall, falling to a thousand pieces in roaring avalanches.
Duration: 4 to 5 hours. Difficulty: moderate Note: do not approach the foot of the wall, as ice break-offs are unforeseeable and dangerous.

" Trekking or horse ride to Cascada del Glaciar Alerce
On horseback or with the necessary hiking equipment, we head north taking the trail to the Otto Meiling shelter and wade across Río Castaño Overa, to follow the path to Paso de las Nubes. Skirting rivers and mountain flood meadows, the landscape ranges from a high wood of Coihues (Nothofagus Dombeii) to bush woods of berberis and Colihue canes. Plants are hundreds of years old with trunks of vast diameters (up to 3 m) and heights (up to 25m). On the trail, we can see the Patagonian cypress woods, which are not very common in this area, and the Alerce Glacier towards which we are headed. As we leave the trail Paso de las Nubes, we reach the foot of the Alerce cascade: a crystal white water cascade descending fiercely from the top of the glacier. From this point, we recommend to access the Alerce lagoon with a specialized guide.
Difficulty: moderate Duration: 4 to 5 hours

ALL-DAY EXPLORATIONS:
These circuits may be done in summer, when mountain tops are clear of snow. They are moderately difficult, and do not have any major difficulties, but goodwill is necessary to spend an entire day in the mountain. After long rains, paths may be slippery and, in such cases, you should be more careful in steeper stretches.

" Horse ride and/or trekking to Laguna Ilón and Mirada del Doctor
The horse trail skirts the Río Manso, which must be waded across once and again because of its plentiful flow. Then there is an upward slope which goes through the thick Coihue woods. It is a very steep slope which gains altitude very quickly and leads to a clearing where you can already breathe mountain air. The landscape changes, there are mountain flood meadows and Lenga woods. After approximately 2 hour's ride, we will reach the shores of Laguna Ilón, with its enormous beach of fine sand where you can enjoy a rewarding rest and an incredible landscape which reflects on the crystal water. At this point we can appreciate a privileged view of Cerro Tronador with its gigantic ice masses.

After lunch, you can ride on horseback for another hour to ¨La Mirada del Doctor¨. This is a unique natural balcony. After an hour, we tie the horses and continue on foot to incredible granite rocks offering an amazing view. Here, lake Frey, Brazo Tristeza of lake Nahuel Huapi and the western wall of Cerro Catedral can be seen. At this point, condors are frequently spotted flying over this region. If you chose to hike, instead of going up the winding trail through the woods, you will cross the river once and reach the mountain flood meadows following a steep but safe trail. Hikers should be very well trained in order to get to Mirada del Doctor, as it will require another 3 hour's hike.
Difficulty: demanding Duration: 7 to 9 hours. Sea level: 600 m Laguna Ilón Note: do not forget a bathing suit in summer.

" Trekking or horse ride to Refugio Otto Mailing
From the hotel we get into the woods following a trail which is often used by Andean fans whose goal is to reach the top of Cerro Tronador and/or for technical ice climbing training. After a 2 ½ hour horse ride/ 3 ½ hour trek in constant ascent, we reach a clearing where the horses are tied and there is a wonderful aerial view of the glacier Castaño Overo hanging from a cliff as well as an immaculate white landscape of Cerro Tronador. From here, we hike to the Otto Meiling shelter (1 hr). At this point, you will be 2,000 m above sea level, and you will be able to enjoy and play on the high-altitude snow of Cerro Tronador.
Difficulty: demanding Duration: 7 to 9 hours Sea level: 1,260 m

" Horse ride to Cerro Volcánico
We head South from the barnyard to Cerro Tronador. We ride a trail through the woods, crossing rivers, streams and river beds. After 2 hours, skirting an area of the lagoon La Rosada, we continue our way up for one more hour. The landscape changes a lot as we go upwards and get into the core of the mountain range. We will cross mountain flood meadows, woods and challenge steep hills. The last stretch is the most impressive: the trail leads into the woods of Lenga bushes and the soil is covered by volcanic gravel and flagstones. We will leave the horses here to continue hiking. We will be at the foot of Cerro Volcánico, a perfect cone of red and black stones contrasting with the patches of snow left from the winter. The soil escapes under our feet, making the ascent to the border benchmark at the top more tiring. From the top, the view takes your breath away. We are facing Los Andes mountain range at the border with Chile. In the horizon, the different mountain tops of the range. To the North you will see the majestic Cerro Tronador with its three summits (the Argentino, Internacional and Chileno), framed by Volcán Osorno and Puntiagudo. To the South, at the end of the valley, you will see the mountain flood meadow Cauquenes, known as the broken mirror, and to the South-East is lake Fonck.
Duration: 9 hours. Difficulty: very demanding Sea level: 1,200 m Note: due to the type of soil, we suggest to only go on horseback. Since it will be a long day crossing many mountain flood meadows, it is important that you have prior horse-riding experience.

GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS:

For half-day or full-day explorations we suggest that you bring the following along: adequate hiking shoes, even if circuits are ridden on horseback, because there is always a stretch to hike, and it is better if you have a anti-sliding shoe-soles, warm clothes (remember we are near glaciers so winds may be glacial!, sun screen, mosquito repellant, sun glasses and a small backpack for hikes.)

For horse riding, there is no need of having prior experience since horses are very docile and the guide that will accompany you will look after the whole group, showing you what to do during the entire day. Personal effects, cameras and additional jackets will be taken in individual saddlebags, so you don't need to bring backpacks for horse rides.

Price per person in US$ (minimum of 2 nights)

Prices include roundtrip transfers from Bariloche, meals, accommodations, activities