Cynthia & Eduardo tell us of their love of the outdoors, Running Las Loicas and taking clients trekking in the unknown beauty spot – Lago Posadas in Argentina

Cynthia and Eduardo, tell us a bit about yourselves

Eduardo Shule is a Mountain Guide and Mountain Biking Guide with more than 10 years working in Patagonia. He likes to enjoy nature exploring and finding new places all the time. He is a sportsman, he practised sports all his life including BMX mountain biking to rock climbing, kayaking and trekking. He climbed many mountains in Argentina and Perú. He worked for different companies in El Chaltén and Torres del Paine guiding groups of foreign people. He speaks fluent English.

Cynthia Cortés has a Bachelor of Tourism and has worked in tourism since 1998 in Buenos Aires and Patagonia. She worked as a tour leader with foreign groups in all Santa Cruz, Torres del Paine and Ushuaia. She speaks English like a second language and a little of German. She enjoys nature and being outside, trekking, rock climbing and she practises acrobatics in aerial silk. She is very keen on meeting people and knowing about their different cultures.

What is Las Loicas and what was your inspiration for setting it up?

Las Loicas is a family company (run by its owners) settled down in Lago Posadas, a typical Patagonian village at the bottom of the Andes. As we are lovers of Patagonian history and landscapes we wanted to show our clients the least visited and unknown places in it.

Where is Las Loicas based?

In Lago Posadas, northern Santa Cruz province, Argentina. It is 47 miles from route 40, 125 miles from Perito Moreno town and 348 miles from El Calafate.

What’s the best way of getting to Las Loicas?

With Swoop Travel :o)!! Logistically, fly from Buenos Aires to Comodoro Rivadavia and then take a regular bus to Perito Moreno Town (224 miles away). There is only one bus per week from Perito Moreno to Lago Posadas (Tuesday).

                                                   Lago Belgrano in Perito Moreno National Park

The region is still wild and unknown, can you tell us more about it please?

For the Argentinians it is a 85 % unknown destination, for the rest of the world 99% unknown. Lago Posadas is a great example of different geological periods, with colourful rocks, basalt dikes, glacial trails and sea sediments. There are two big lakes separated by a narrow isthmus and rough rivers such as Oro River.

This area was also an important settlement for native people (the Pre-tehuelches), which is the reason why there are archaeological sites everywhere with lot of interesting formations, rock painting and petroglyphs. (Cerro de los Indios and the Cave of the Hands – UNESCO Heritage)

The village has only 350 inhabitants, this used to be one of the most important points in the wool route to the Atlantic at the beginning of the 20th century. Most of this wool was taken to the British ports in England. The village was created inside Lago Posadas Estancia founded by an English company.

Bruce Chatwin was also here and you can still see the window of the old Lago Posadas Hotel in his famous book “Patagonia”.

                                                                  Basalt Dike at Monte Zeballos

What are the highlights of a trip with las Loicas?

The no-trail treks following guanacos footprints. The view of the Posadas and Pueyrredón lakes from the highest viewpoint. The ascent to Leon Mount in Perito Moreno National Park. Trekking along the Basalt Dikes in Mount Zeballos. Staying in a typical Patagonian estancia around gauchos and horses.

If you just have 1 week to spend with Las Loicas, what would you recommend doing?

The Overland Tehuelche tour (5 days – 4 nights) visiting Los Antiguos – Monte Zeballos route – Lago Posadas – Cueva de las Manos – Perito Moreno National Park and Route 40.

What’s the accommodation like in Lago Posadas?

It depends on the passenger requests. We work usually with estancias (you can stay in a refugio with shared room and bath – or the main house with private room), small hosterias (run by their owners) and hostels.

                                        The narrow isthmus between Lago Posadas and Lago Pueyrredón

If you’d like to find out more about what Eduardo and Cynthia offer and if you’d like to visit this region, get in touch: charlotte@swooptravel.co.uk.