The Pioneer Project - el Condor

A protected paradise.

A challenge at the foot of the mountains.

ÂŤCivilisation has not yet seen it. We will call it Lake San Martin, for its waters lap the solid base of the Andes, the only pedestal worthy of bearing the heroic figure of the great warriorÂť.

Perito Francisco Pascasio Moreno

At the end of the world, the beginning of a new one.

Ae

n Martin

or and Lake Sa

tancia El Cond

rt of the Es rial view of pa

are located condor roosts Nesting and lls. wa ff cli essible on high, inacc

Like a closely guarded secret, Lake San Martin in Patagonia conceals incredible natural beauty. A rugged, forested landscape surprises visitors with its astonishing tranquility. A privileged area - a refuge for nature.

This is where Cielos Patagonicos, with their experience from Estancia Los Huemules and 14 years in rural tourism behind them, has initiated the Pioneers Project at Estancia El CĂłndor.

The Pioneers project envisions a future for Lake San Martin, on one of the most impressive estancias in the mountains of Southern Patagonia, with an innovative, recreational and conservation plan.

From the Condors’ roosting viewpoint you can appreciate two of the eight inlets of Lake San Martin.

The enigmatic Lake San Martín can be reached from El Calafate after a 3-4 hour journey along National Highway Nº 40 and Provincial Highway Nº 31.

Its turquoise waters cover an area of over 100 000 hectares at 255 metres above sea level. It is one of the deepest lakes in the world with a maximum depth of 836 metres. Its imposing inlets, linking Argentina and Chile, emphasise its irregular perimeter of 525 km.

Fed by the melting of the Southern Patagonian Ice Cap and major rivers such as the Mayer, its waters flow into the Pacific Ocean through the Pascua River.

Along its northern edge, at the end of the Chilean Southern Highway, lies

A R G E N T I N A

the small town of O'Higgins. On the Argentine side, Port Andes existed a century ago, but with time and the agricultural crisis, most people left the

SANTA CRUZ

is.

Black-faced ib

Red fox

.

ng for walks e an ideal setti

rfalls provid ms and wate Dozens of strea

Oc éan oA tlá

n

C H I L E

ti c

o

area. Today, only scattered estancias remain.

The search for closeness to nature.

Pleasure comes from less structured experiences: contemplation, silence, the surprise of the unexpected.

A vast, mysterious privilege.

Nana Beach, beyond the Mackenna Peninsula.

The path of pioneers, the future of conservation.

Francisco Moreno discovered it in 1877 and some 30 years went by until Jimmy Radboone reached what is now known as Estancia El C贸ndor. In 1968 Daniel Fern谩ndez Canga acquired the estancia, and used the buildings near the mouth of the C贸ndor River.

Cielos Patagonias bought the estancia in 1999. The cattle were removed, thus initiating the process of forest recovery. Over the years we have developed various tourist activities such as horseback riding, hiking and fishing. These low environmental impact activities have allowed us to care for and study the estancia, thus forming the basis of The Pioneers Project.

Arvejilla.

d

Stony river be

3RD CUENCA

SUBDIVISION RÍO

MACKENNA

4TH SUBDIVISION MARTÍNEZ DE ROZAS

1ST

SUBDIVISION 12 200 ha Cóndor river

2ND

SUBDIVISION 12 400 ha Grande river

2ND SUBDIVISION RÍO GRANDE

3RD 1ST

SUBDIVISION

CASCO

SUBDIVISION 5 683 ha Mackenna river

4TH

SUBDIVISION 9 532 ha Martínez de Rozas river

Riding up the high valleys of El Condor.

The sky with its feet on the ground.

Old saddlery near the estancia headquarters.

The reservoirs of water - wet meadows - play a vital ecological role.

Glaciers, lakes, mountains and forests invite you to witness the wonders revealed - so magnificent yet fragile.

The challenge is to ensure that today's landscape will continue to exist forever.

From El C贸ndor a mountainous landscape carved by glacial action and polished by time can be seen. A succession of terraces rise from the lake up to a height of over 2000 metres on Mount Astillado, its magnificence taking us by surprise. Nature unfolds in all its glory.

The Andean forest invites you to discover its trees; Antarctic beeches, high deciduous beeches and evergreen beeches. Visitors are enthralled by sightings of condors, eagles, guanacos and even the almost extinct huemul deer. Dozens of lakes and the Condell and Condor Rivers flow through the valleys giving rise to a coastline of bouldered and gravel beaches, and challenging cliffs. This backdrop invites one to fish for trout and salmon. Going up the mountains you can glimpse the majestic Lake San Martin and the unique landscape is crowned by the peaks of Mount Fitz Roy.

The source of the C贸ndor River.

terfalls.

Dozens of wa

rest.

es of native fo 2 700 hectar

One of the

that ies of orchids fourteen spec

ia El C贸ndor.

nc grows on Esta

The Pioneers Project includes 12 200 ha, and its design is appropriate for the topography and for conservation values. Only 300 ha will be developed, with minimal impact. The remaining 97.5% is a private, regulated, natural reserve with public access.

The proposal consists of 180 lots of between 1 and 5 ha grouped into different sectors with Provincial Route N潞 41 as the main axis. This route runs through Estancia El C贸ndor to the border with Chile, connecting it with El Chalt茅n and O'Higgins town, thus creating an incomparable tourist

The use

circuit that includes navigable sections.

sings easier.

es river cros of horses mak

Development and care.

Guanaco herds graze in the high meadows during summer.

Evening primrose.

Melenik Villa O’Higgings

PN BO’Higgings

El Chaltén

PN Los Glaciares

Chile

el Cóndor

Lago Viedma

Lago Argentino

RN 31 Tres Lagos

RN 40 El Calafate

CHUBUT

Puerto Santa Cruz

nt ic o

RP Lago del desierto

Gobernador Gregores

Océ ano At lá

Lago San Martín

SANTA CRUZ

Rich aquatic

e lakes.

its many of th

birdlife inhab

grow Dog orchids

h forest.

ciduous beec

in the high de

an deer, has

d Ande , the endangere e huemul deer

its home in El

Condor.*

Th

1ST

SUBDIVISION

CASCO Residential plots Transfer land (Law 3213/11) Administrative Sector Service Area

* Photograph: taken by WCS (Wildlife Conservation Society) camera trap in Estancia Los Huemules.

Mount Astillado.

The proposal: to develop while protecting SECTOR COSTA

The lots will be grouped in nine nuclei each characterised by their own SECTOR ACANTILADO

environment and landscape identity. There will also be two service areas: one at the Estancia and another administrative/commercial one placed in the centre of the developed area.

SECTOR LEÑA DURA

The building regulations will emphasise environmental protection and the building of homes in a bio-environmental style, promoting the use of noble and austere materials, such as stone, wood and corrugated iron, incorpo-

SECTOR PEÑAZCOS

rating sustainable technology and wise use of energy. The permitted

SECTOR LAGO

development will be reduced to a minimum. There will be no dividing fences; the houses will be scattered throughout the landscape. The services network will be underground. Green corridors will protect lake

SECTOR VALLE

shores and waterways. The introduction of exotic species will not be

SECTOR PAMPA

allowed as they are a threat to biodiversity. To join the Pioneers Project is SECTOR MORENA

SECTOR LEÑERO

The Pioneers Project covers 122 00 ha.

300 ha of occupied plots (2.5% of the total area).

The remaining 97.5% forms a Private Nature Reserve, held in perpetuity and owned by the property owners, with regulated public access.

to accept the challenge of conservation.

Like the precise mechanisms in a watch, so are the relationships between the flora and the fauna, climate, waterways and topography.

Nature invites us to live in harmony.

The high deciduous beech and Antarctic beech leaves change colour from green to red, before being lost at the onset of winter.

Baseline studies and environmental monitoring help to ensure that urbanisation and the status of the Natural Reserve is carefully managed. This allows us to control, among other things, the sewage treatment system, tourism activities, and also identify unacceptable changes early and so avoid irreparable damage.

The development plan includes: a drinking water network, generation of hydroelectric power for the public service areas, provision of individual energy systems for each plot and sewage treatment. A system of low impact gravel roads is planned, as well as reception centres, a waste removal system and a visitor’s centre.

A 60 km network of trails and overnight refuge huts will also be integrated into the Plan for Recreational Use.

nd, the mouth

grou . In the back ush in bloom

Fireb

Hundreds of

waterfalls.

Prickly heath.

of the Grande

River

Male Magellanic woodpecker

El lago habla, cuenta sus secretos, y nos convierte en custodios del lugar en beneficio de todos.

Thousands of hectares of native forest invite you to enjoy the fresh air.

Commitment to the environment, investment in life.

an flag The Argentini

Fishing in Lake

to Estancia Entrance gate

emules

itors to Los Hu

welcoming vis

Azul.

s.

Los Huemule

Estancia Los Huemules is the forerunner to the Pioneer Project at Estancia El C贸ndor. That experience laid the foundations of development that cross d bridges to Walkways an ms. rivers and strea

Cielos Patagonicos promotes in natural areas of high environmental value and scenic beauty.

Estancia Los Huemules is located 17 km from El Chalt茅n and occupies an area of 6 000 ha. 95% of the estancia is preserved as a Natural Reserve with public use where low impact activities are carried out. Construction began in mid 2005 and was completed in late 2007. Completion of the constructed areas was a prerequisite for approval of the title deeds, as omoted. tivities are pr

Environm

y tourist ac entally friendl

specified by the province in 2008. www.loshuemules.com

Lake Azul, Los Huemules Natural Reserve.

Following the path of Estancia Los Huemules.

The lake whispers, shares its secrets, and converts us into custodians of this place for the benefit of everyone.

Respecting the delicate balance of nature, man can find his place in nature’s plans.

Main houses

of Estancia El

C贸ndor.

Sunset in El C贸ndor

e trees.

ing among th

Horseback rid

Torrent ducks.

n

en withdraw cattle have be In El C贸ndor t recovery. res fo r fo y wa to make

Condell River.

In El CĂłndor there are 180 plots of land safeguarded by a Nature Reserve.

Over 7 km of protected coastline.

There are 2 major rivers, more than 30 lakes and countless streams.

There are more than 2 700 ha of native forest, inhabited by our Patagonian fauna.

El lago habla, cuenta sus secretos, y nos convierte en custodios del lugar en beneficio de todos.

In el CĂłndor there is a future.

Make history – become a pioneer.

om.

Morel Mushro

Grande River.

Like the precise mechanisms in a watch, so are the relationships between the flora and the fauna, climate, waterways and topography.

Nature invites us to live in harmony.

www.cielospatagonicos.com

PIXMAP | FLORIAN VON DER FLECHT | CELINE FRERS | FRANCISCO BEDESCHI | JORGE CAZENAVE | GUSTAVO APRILE | CECILE DOMENS