La Leona Petrified Forest
La Leona Petrified Forest
La Leona Petrified Forest
4.5
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4.5
260 reviews
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Ron S
Bogota, Colombia27 contributions
Jan 2020
This place is not highly promoted by the tours in town, but definitely not to be missed. The terrain is unreal with a landscape unlike any we've seen. Our guide was amazing as she shared the history and culture of the area. Yes...there are REAL dinosaur bones and fossils you can actually pick up and hold there. The hike is not as strenuous as it would seem. Don't miss this place!
Written 3 January 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
angelwink
Seattle, WA39 contributions
Nov 2014 • Couples
When we went to Patagonia last year we went to El Calafate for the glacier and wanted to go to El Chalten to hike Mt Fitz Roy. Most traveller takes a mini tour bus to get to-for between these 2 towns but I came to know about Bosque Petrificado La Leona from TA and decided to book a day tour as it can be combined with our journey.
Please note that not many travel company which operates out of El Calafate do this tour so our B&B owner went to great length to track down this tour for us! The tour company is called Morresi Viajes and they will arrange a mini bus to take you to El Chalten after the tour finishes and returns you to La Leona.
The tour group was very small (only 5 people including myself and my BF), and our tour guide was a very knowledgeable gentleman who's well versed with the local geological history (I had to dig deep into my college Geology 101 class to keep up!).
The hike around the petrified forest was not hard at all but the most challenging aspect of the area is the wind (similar to El Chalten). Unlike the Fitz Roy hike where you can find relieve from the wind amongst the trees, in the petrified forest there are no trees so our guide had to find rock shelter for us so we can stay out of the wind and enjoy our lunch.
The tour includes a packed lunch but it's just a standard sandwich and a couple pieces of fruit, just to level set expectation.
Bosque Petrificado La Leona was a truly fascinating place and the desert like landscape was a huge contrast to Parque Nacional Los Glaciares, which we visited the day before. I would highly recommend visiting this place en route to El Chalten from El Calafate.
Note: I was told that Bosque Petrificado La Leona is actually a private property so I don't think it's possible to just rent a car and turn up. It's best to join a guided tour since you don't really want to get lost in that area.
Please note that not many travel company which operates out of El Calafate do this tour so our B&B owner went to great length to track down this tour for us! The tour company is called Morresi Viajes and they will arrange a mini bus to take you to El Chalten after the tour finishes and returns you to La Leona.
The tour group was very small (only 5 people including myself and my BF), and our tour guide was a very knowledgeable gentleman who's well versed with the local geological history (I had to dig deep into my college Geology 101 class to keep up!).
The hike around the petrified forest was not hard at all but the most challenging aspect of the area is the wind (similar to El Chalten). Unlike the Fitz Roy hike where you can find relieve from the wind amongst the trees, in the petrified forest there are no trees so our guide had to find rock shelter for us so we can stay out of the wind and enjoy our lunch.
The tour includes a packed lunch but it's just a standard sandwich and a couple pieces of fruit, just to level set expectation.
Bosque Petrificado La Leona was a truly fascinating place and the desert like landscape was a huge contrast to Parque Nacional Los Glaciares, which we visited the day before. I would highly recommend visiting this place en route to El Chalten from El Calafate.
Note: I was told that Bosque Petrificado La Leona is actually a private property so I don't think it's possible to just rent a car and turn up. It's best to join a guided tour since you don't really want to get lost in that area.
Written 17 October 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
pedroporqueras
29 contributions
we did La Leona on our way to Chalten! we called MORRESI VIAJES and we arranged to meet guide in Parador La Leona! that is where we met our amazing guide MIGUEL ALONSO who was informative & very fun!
we drove for 30mins with some great faraway views if Mount Fitz Roy until we crossed into a private ranch! then..THE MOON!
we walked for 3 hrs across THOUSANDS of huge dino bones & fossil araucaria trees! if you are hoping to see reconstructions (like one if the previous reviews) better go to a museum! it is a wonderful hike with just 1 mild climb! my 8 year old was in front of the group of the time so it is doable for anyone willing to experience the most amazing excursion we've done in years! and we've done many!!! Do NOT miss it!
we drove for 30mins with some great faraway views if Mount Fitz Roy until we crossed into a private ranch! then..THE MOON!
we walked for 3 hrs across THOUSANDS of huge dino bones & fossil araucaria trees! if you are hoping to see reconstructions (like one if the previous reviews) better go to a museum! it is a wonderful hike with just 1 mild climb! my 8 year old was in front of the group of the time so it is doable for anyone willing to experience the most amazing excursion we've done in years! and we've done many!!! Do NOT miss it!
Written 30 March 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
U2Gator
Tampa, FL258 contributions
Dec 2014 • Solo
I booked via email in September for a December tour. The guide doesn't speak great English, but it doesn't matter that much since mostly a visual place. You get to see petrified wood, weird seabed formations, and fossilized dinosaur bones. Feel like in an ancient desert. Very cool scenery. Probably about a 6-8 km hike I'd guess, not too much uphill. Stop halfway for lunch, which I believe is included.
You have to pay in pesos in advance once you arrive in El Calafate - important to do this as soon as you can so you don't lose your place. Not sure if they take credit card, but I was told to bring pesos. Need to present receipt you get when you pay on the bus. The office is a little hard to find but its basically a block from the supermarket on the main street, and just around the corner - look for glass door and on the inside it says "Morresi Viajes". They are open until 9 pm I believe.
This is also an excellent and cost efficient way to get from El Calafate to El Chalten. They will pick you up at your hotel and for those not returning to El Calafate, a private car picks you up at the halfway point (included in price) and this is cool because you can ask the driver to stop and take pictures of guanaco, Mt Fitz Roy, Route 40 etc.
You have to pay in pesos in advance once you arrive in El Calafate - important to do this as soon as you can so you don't lose your place. Not sure if they take credit card, but I was told to bring pesos. Need to present receipt you get when you pay on the bus. The office is a little hard to find but its basically a block from the supermarket on the main street, and just around the corner - look for glass door and on the inside it says "Morresi Viajes". They are open until 9 pm I believe.
This is also an excellent and cost efficient way to get from El Calafate to El Chalten. They will pick you up at your hotel and for those not returning to El Calafate, a private car picks you up at the halfway point (included in price) and this is cool because you can ask the driver to stop and take pictures of guanaco, Mt Fitz Roy, Route 40 etc.
Written 23 January 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Sparklex1
London, UK73 contributions
Nov 2018 • Friends
Loved it. We found it on trip adviser but its quite tricky to get tickets. We were in El chalten and they agreed via email to pick us up there, stop at the petrified forest and then take us to El Calafate. we ere picked up on time and essentially had a private transfer from El Chalten to La Leona where we met 8 or so other people on a day trip from El Calafate. You then go on a 30min ride in a 4x4 bus to a remote treeless area, which has been scoured by wind and glaciers for thousands of years. There are many petrified trees and the hike is great. There are two guides, we had Leonardo and another whose name i forgot (sorry!). Both were fantastic.
I felt sorry for the guide actually as the group we were with were entirely inappropriately dressed especially in terms of footwear and elderly but their tour leader insisted they do it. One fell and was pulled up the final hill by leonardo who you could see was mightiliy relieved to get them all back in one piece as one tried to rescue her hair and make up.
So this is a great way to break up your transfer from El chalten to El calafate and i dont know why every tour operator does not recommend it. You do need hiking footwear though and it is windy. It is a hike albeit relatively easy and about 3 miles i guess on rough terrain. Quite steep in places. If you have knee issues etc this is not for you.
Place is unique and i have never been anywhere like it anywhere else in the world so from that point of view, very interesting.
Only downside is day hikers get packed lunch whereas those doing transfers for some reason do not. They should offer this as an extra as the lunches were ok! however, we bought a great lamb empanada in la leona for about 70p which kept us going...
Really its a great way to transfer between the two places. If you are in el calafate dont be put off by the somewhat smokey office just off the main street - the guides are a lot friendlier and Leonardo was superb in difficult circumstances given what most of his somewhat glamorous guests had on their feet although i guess not many people in patagonia attempt to hike in gold shoes...
It was fun, we liked it, do it. I think it is a great way to transfer
I felt sorry for the guide actually as the group we were with were entirely inappropriately dressed especially in terms of footwear and elderly but their tour leader insisted they do it. One fell and was pulled up the final hill by leonardo who you could see was mightiliy relieved to get them all back in one piece as one tried to rescue her hair and make up.
So this is a great way to break up your transfer from El chalten to El calafate and i dont know why every tour operator does not recommend it. You do need hiking footwear though and it is windy. It is a hike albeit relatively easy and about 3 miles i guess on rough terrain. Quite steep in places. If you have knee issues etc this is not for you.
Place is unique and i have never been anywhere like it anywhere else in the world so from that point of view, very interesting.
Only downside is day hikers get packed lunch whereas those doing transfers for some reason do not. They should offer this as an extra as the lunches were ok! however, we bought a great lamb empanada in la leona for about 70p which kept us going...
Really its a great way to transfer between the two places. If you are in el calafate dont be put off by the somewhat smokey office just off the main street - the guides are a lot friendlier and Leonardo was superb in difficult circumstances given what most of his somewhat glamorous guests had on their feet although i guess not many people in patagonia attempt to hike in gold shoes...
It was fun, we liked it, do it. I think it is a great way to transfer
Written 27 November 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
mabelle2
Kansas City110 contributions
Jan 2015 • Friends
In addition to the glaciers and peaks, this is a different way of seeing the area. This petrified forest is a remarkable landscape. I held petrified dinosaur bones in my hands! Also, petrified dinosaur dung! Wow! Unusual photo opportunities that this dry, eroded landscape affords. This is a desert, though, and in a low area, so if peaks and trees are what you want, this isn't the thing for you On the day we went (early January) it was sunny, but very windy and cold. Still, a very good experience. The hiking isn't very difficult, but there are some narrow cliffside trails and ups and downs. I was glad I had my trekking poles, boots, and wind-protection clothing on me. You can't visit this on your own, you have to do a guided tour since it's on private property. We had our own car, and we did the tour on the day we moved from El Chalten to El Calafate. We met up with the tour at La Leona at about 10am. We left our car at La Leona (good idea, since the road to the Bosque trailhead is very rough) and the bus brought us back there when we finished (about 3pm). We booked online through Walk Patagonia (but I think all the tours here are run by one company) about two weeks in advance. Good idea, since these things are pretty booked up. Marcello, our guide, spoke English very well. He was very knowledgeable!
Written 9 February 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
2BISCUITS
Sydney, Australia391 contributions
Mar 2013 • Couples
Rather than catching the bus from El Chalten to El Calafate we chose to combine the journey with a visit to the Petrified Forest. We left El Chalten by car, drove to the La Leona roadhouse where we could have a coffee and use the bathroom and then we joined some others, a driver and guide and went to a site on private land. We parked right on top of a massive escarpment and looking down it resembled a lunar surface. Our guide Christian was very informative and for the next two hours we walked right down to the valley floor and en route he pointed out a couple of dinosaur bones and some very large petrified trees dating back about 100 million years. We were given a very adequate boxed lunch and sat amongst the strange formations before starting the walk back up.
We found it a fascinating way to spend a few hours. A couple of hints, use the bathroom at La Leona because apart from that you have to find a piece of rock to hide behind! Obviously sturdy shoes and we found our walking poles were quite useful to navigate some of the narrow or steep paths. If you haven't got one of your own, you can borrow one. We did have some people on our tour who were not that fit but they took their time and did not have any issues.
We were then transported on to El Calafate and taken to our hotel. This trip can be done in reverse.
We found it a fascinating way to spend a few hours. A couple of hints, use the bathroom at La Leona because apart from that you have to find a piece of rock to hide behind! Obviously sturdy shoes and we found our walking poles were quite useful to navigate some of the narrow or steep paths. If you haven't got one of your own, you can borrow one. We did have some people on our tour who were not that fit but they took their time and did not have any issues.
We were then transported on to El Calafate and taken to our hotel. This trip can be done in reverse.
Written 22 May 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Claudia M
Madrid, Spain75 contributions
Jan 2017 • Solo
You can only access this piece of land with a tour as the petrified trees and dinosaur bones are on private land, half-way between Calafate and Chalten. If you plan on staying in both Calafate and Chalten try to use the tour as transfer, as you can start the tour in Calafate but then being taken to Chalten, and vice versa. The fossils are very interesting, you wouldn't believe that these trees are actually rocks, they look so much like normal trees. They were scattered everywhere. Compared with the Petrified Forest National Park further inland, this one has more trees, though smaller trees. The tour is easy, the walk short, the guide gave plenty information, and the scenery is great. I enjoyed it a lot. Went with Walk Patagonia.
Written 9 February 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
fozwanderer
Mansfield, Australia181 contributions
Dec 2014 • Couples
A fabulous trip out into the desert. Our guide Eduardo was informative and amusing. We learnt about the history, geology and politics of this vast area. He was so interesting that the 114 kilometres to Los Hornos Hill situated on an estancia flew by. Standing at the top of the depression the view was breathtaking. The walk was not terribly taxing but you need to be fit enough to travel up and down for about 3 hours. Learning about fossilized dinosaur bones and petrified trees was fascinating. The flowers that grow here are also astounding and you might be lucky enough to see one of the flowering cactus. Along the way we saw a fox, guanaco, a rhea with about 10 young chicks and the remains of a guanaco which had been killed by a puma. This was a unique
experience and not to be missed. The lunch which was included was delicious.
experience and not to be missed. The lunch which was included was delicious.
Written 3 December 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
berenice l
Brussels, Belgium16 contributions
Jan 2014 • Friends
If you spend many days in El Calafate, why not go to this bosque petrificado? The landscapes are different from the other places around...very interesting! And I visited it with a guide who really knew what he was talking about!
Written 7 February 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hola Fernando, se puede llegar en auto y contratar un guía en el lugar? Muchas Gracias, Gabrierla
Written 27 August 2021
Tendrías que reservar hasta el día anterior
Written 28 August 2021
Hola gente
Tengo una pregunta. Yo pienso alquilar un vehículo y recorrer toda la zona, y tenía pensado pasar por La Leona viniendo desde Calten a Calafate.
¿se puede hacer la excursión igual, llegando a La Leona con tu vehículo?
Saludos.
Marcelo
Written 8 November 2020
Annette W
Phoenix, Arizona
My husband wants to go here but it is requiring a minimum of 2 persons to book. Is it possible that the site is waiting for more persons to book and that the 1 person will then be an option?
Written 4 July 2019
Hola Nacho! Fuiste al fin? Te queria preguntar si se puede ir solo (sin guia o tour) y si necesitas 4x4 para llegar; Te agradezco cualquier recomendación. Saludos!
Written 23 January 2019
Hola Alex!
No puedes ir solo sin guia porque el territirio es privado. No necesitas el auto 4*4.
Te recomiendo ir con guia. Te enseña y explica muchas cosas.
Written 26 January 2019
Hola quisiera saber si es muy exigida. Cuanto dura la caminata? Gracias
Written 30 December 2018
No es un sendero exigente. Algunas suben y bajan y algunas partes del sendero son muy estrechas sin barandas. No es bueno si tienes miedo a las alturas. Al final queda un poco empinado. Nuestros guías fueron muy útiles con las partes empinadas. Como recuerdo, es alrededor de 2 a 2.5 horas de caminata.
Written 7 January 2019
Hello,
I am thinking about doing this trek at the end of the year but am a little apprehensive about the steep ascent at the end that I read about here due to vertigo. My fear of heights isn’t terrible - I don’t faint but my knees do get weak and I usually start crawling. Embarrassing heh.
Would appreciate if someone could let me know just how high is the climb? I would hate to miss this just because of that section.
For reference, I cannot do Capilano suspension bridge but treetop walks in Kota Kinabalu are okay.
Thanks in advance!
Written 1 September 2018
This is a hike down and back up a canyon, relatively easy trek. Parts of the trail in the canyon are narrow ledges, with and without railings, which can be a challenge with vertigo. Hiking back up the canyon is a narrow trail until you get close to the top where it is quite steep. Our guides were great with a steady hand in the rough parts.
From the photos that see of the treetop walks in Kota Kinabalu, you are enclosed. The trail in La Leona are not enclosed and not as high. For your own safety, may not be a good idea with vertigo.
Written 3 September 2018
Hi, I am planning to go to El Calafate for three days. Morning 9am of 7th July I'll be reaching there and shall return on 9th July evening 6pm. I have ceratin queries:-
1. What are the excurssions I must go for?
2. What the excurssions are called in terms of Tourism companies?
3. I just drafted to visit Boat ride and national park on first day (What is the name of this excursion, I dont know. Please help.). On second day, planning to trek for Fitz Roy. On third day, Perito Moreno and walking on the glacier.
Is this feasible?
4. Do I need any special shoes for Fitz Roy trekking? If yes, then how to manage for only one day trek? I mean , is it possible to rent? Where? How much?
5. Is it ok, to take any packages from the travel agencies or just use public transport?
6. What are the names of all the excurssions, I have listed for three days?
7. Approx, how much shall be the expenditure for the all three days?
As, I am travelling with my one friend and our hotel and flight tickets are booked, is the renting of the car good option? Will it be cheap?
Please guide.
Written 25 June 2018
Hello Lucy
We are visiting in March 2018.
Did you go on a trip or stay at Estancia Cristina when you visited La Leona Petrified Forest? Is this near Canadon de los Fosiles?
I'm not sure if the petrified forest and the fossil canyon are on land forming part of Estancia Cristina, so maybe it's a good idea to stay at Estancia Cristina? Or are they are in a different place.
Thanks for your help
Marianne
(London)
Written 29 December 2017
Buenas tardes, hay caminos para llegar o solo es para 4x4?
muchas gracias
Daniel
Written 2 January 2017
Oi Jefferson! Estarei indo em outubro... gostaria de saber o valor do passeio, para que eu possa me planejar melhor! Abraços!
Written 26 September 2016
Le sugiero que se ponga en contacto con la agencia Morresi viajes que son quienes realizan la excursión y ellos sabrán decirle el precio actualizado. Este es el numero de teléfono +54 02902 492276
saludos
Written 28 September 2016
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