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8 Day itinerary in Argentina, South America

Patagonia Adventure: El Calafate, El Chaltén & Torres del...

Discover the dramatic landscapes of Argentine Patagonia with this immersive itinerary. Travel from El Calafate to El Chaltén and into Chile’s Torres del Paine National Park, experiencing glaciers, mountain hikes, and the Patagonian steppe. This Argentina journey includes scenic transfers, iconic tre... Read More

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Maria ConstanceQwerty Travel Argentina

By Maria Constance and Qwerty Travel Argentina

Overview

Physical Difficulty

Average
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Recommended Age

Minimum 12

Maximum 85

Operated in

English, Spanish

GUIDANCE

On Some Day Trips

starting point

El Calafate

trip type

Private

trip attributes

Nature & Widlife

Patagonia Adventures

Wildlife

Eco

Hiking

Adventure

Landscapes & Sceneries

Day Trips & Excursions

Photography

Meet local people

Purposeful Travel

Water & Coastline

Nature & Wildlife

Start/End

Night

Highlights

1

Marvel at the sheer face of Perito Moreno Glacier up close

2

Hike legendary trails in Argentina’s trekking capital, El Chaltén

3

Traverse Route 40 and enter Torres del Paine’s wildlands

4

Spot native guanacos and ñandus in Patagonian steppe

Itinerary

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Day 1

place Day 1: Arrival in Patagonia | El Calafate Village Welcomes You

Arrive at the airport in El Calafate, where you transfer directly to your accommodation at Michelangelo Hotel Calafate. After checking in, you have the remainder of the day to rest following your journey or begin exploring El Calafate at your own pace. This lakeside town serves as the main gateway to Los Glaciares National Park and the renowned Perito Moreno Glacier. You can choose to relax at your hotel or wander through the village to get acquainted with its atmosphere and local surroundings.


El Calafate is named after a native berry-producing bush, and local legend says that tasting its fruit ensures your return to Patagonia.


Accommodation:

  • Standard Accommodation: Michelangelo Hotel Calafate
Day 2

place Day 2: Perito Moreno Glacier | Nautic Safari Thrills

Begin your morning with an 80-kilometer drive from El Calafate to Los Glaciares National Park. On arrival, you explore a series of walkways and balconies that offer panoramic views of the towering Perito Moreno Glacier. Walk along ramps and stairs to reach various lookout points, where you can observe the glacier’s blue ice and listen for the sounds of shifting ice. Later, board a boat for a one-hour ride that brings you within 150 meters of the glacier’s massive face, providing a close-up perspective of its scale and movement. After your glacier experience, return to Michelangelo Hotel Calafate for the evening.


The Perito Moreno Glacier is one of the few advancing glaciers in the world, sometimes moving up to two meters per day.


Guide: Included for the day

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation:

  • Standard Accommodation: Michelangelo Hotel Calafate
Day 3

place Day 3: El Calafate to El Chaltén | Enter Patagonia’s Trekking Capital

Travel by regular bus from El Calafate to El Chaltén, enjoying dramatic Andean scenery during the journey. Arrive in El Chaltén, a village established in 1985 and known as Argentina’s National Capital of Trekking. The skyline features Mount Fitz Roy and Cerro Torre, both attracting hikers and climbers from around the world. After arriving, take time to experience the charm of this small mountain community before settling into your room at Fitz Roy Hosteria de Montaña.


El Chaltén is located at the edge of the Southern Patagonian Ice Field, which is the second largest contiguous extrapolar ice field on Earth.


Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation:

  • Standard Accommodation: Fitz Roy hosteria de montaña
Day 4

place Day 4: Hiking Freedom in El Chaltén | Choose Your Trail

Spend the day exploring the hiking trails of El Chaltén at your preferred pace. You can embark on a full-day trek to Capri Lagoon, ascend to the well-known Laguna de los Tres, or take on the challenge of reaching Cerro Torre. Each route features striking mountain peaks, turquoise lakes, and the region’s distinctive natural beauty. After your chosen adventure, return to your double room at Fitz Roy Hosteria de Montaña for the night.


The trails around El Chaltén are among the most photographed in South America due to their dramatic vistas and unique landscapes.


Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation:

  • Standard Accommodation: Fitz Roy hosteria de montaña
Day 5

place Day 5: El Chaltén to El Calafate | Return to the Heart of Patagonia

Make your way to the El Chaltén bus station on your own to board the regular return bus to El Calafate. The journey takes approximately three hours, passing through Patagonian steppe and distant mountain peaks. Upon arrival at the Calafate bus station, you transfer to Michelangelo Hotel Calafate for your stay.


El Calafate, situated along Lake Argentino, has grown from a small sheep-farming settlement into a vibrant center for tourism in Patagonia.


Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation:

  • Standard Accommodation: Michelangelo Hotel Calafate
Day 6

place Day 6: Journey to Chile | Torres del Paine National Park

Depart from El Calafate in the morning and travel toward Torres del Paine National Park, crossing the border from Argentina into Chile. As you make your way, observe the changing landscape from the arid Patagonian steppe to the diverse scenery of Chile, which includes stretches of Magellanic deciduous forest. Along the route, watch for native wildlife such as the Patagonian guanaco, a camelid related to the llama, and the lesser Rhea (ñandu), a flightless bird similar to the ostrich. Once inside Torres del Paine National Park, a UNESCO biosphere reserve covering over 242,000 hectares, you encounter a panorama of jagged granite peaks, turquoise lakes, rushing waterfalls, and ice-capped mountains. Begin your exploration of the park with a 15-minute walk to Salto Grande Waterfall, which links Nordenskjold and Pehoe Lakes. The remainder of the day is at your leisure to discover more of the park’s features before spending the night at Hosteria Pehoe.


Torres del Paine was designated a national park in 1959 and is now considered one of South America’s most iconic protected natural areas.


Guide: Included for the day

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation:

  • Standard Accommodation: Hosteria Pehoe
Day 7

place Day 7: Torres del Paine | Your Day in the Wild

Spend the day experiencing Torres del Paine National Park at your own pace. You may choose to hike along scenic trails, observe local wildlife, photograph the pristine glacial lakes, or simply take in the natural surroundings. As evening arrives, return to Hosteria Pehoe, where you spend the night.


Torres del Paine is renowned for its world-class trekking circuits and is home to more than 120 species of birds.


Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation:

  • Standard Accommodation: Hosteria Pehoe
Day 8

place Day 8: Return to El Calafate | Farewell

Take a regular bus from Torres del Paine back to El Calafate. Upon arrival, transfer to the airport for your departure. This marks the conclusion of your Patagonian journey.


The vast landscapes of Patagonia have inspired explorers and writers for generations, often igniting a lifelong passion for wild places.


Meals: Breakfast

What’s Included

Accommodation expand_less

  • Hosteria Pehoe
  • Fitz Roy hosteria de montaña
  • Michelangelo Hotel Calafate

Meals expand_less

  • Breakfast (7)

Transport expand_less

  • Transfer to and from buses in Calafate
  • Bus Ticket Calafate - Chalten - Calafate
  • Torres del Paine tour transport and return
  • Transfer Airport - Hotel - Airport in each destination

Activities expand_less

  • Guided sightseeing in small groups
  • Boat ride in Perito Moreno Glacier
  • Tours mentioned in the itinerary

Extras expand_less

  • Optional tours (available on request)

Not Included expand_less

  • Personal expenses
  • Transfers in Chalten
  • Meals: Lunches and dinners
  • Travel Insurance
  • National Park entrance fees & Cuevas de Milondon entrance ticket
  • International and Domestic flights

About Maria Constance

TEAM LEAD

+1 Local experts

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Expertise: 

Meet local people

Rural home stays

Indigenous culture

Culture & History

Purposeful Travel

Nature & Wildlife

Water & Coastline

After my degree in tourism (2000) I went to Europe to experience new adventures. Always working in the tourism industry. Once I return, we start our own project, our travel agency, offering since 2015 our experience and knowledge to personalize trips

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