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16 Day itinerary in Argentina, South America

Trekking Patagonia

Sail to see the Perito Moreno Glacier from close. Hike near the stunning Mount Fitz Roy and stay in Torres del Paine National Park. Travel to Ushuaia, the most southern city of the world and sail the Beagle Channel. During this 2-week Patagonia Hiking trip in Argentina and Chile, you’ll discover th... Read More

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MicaelaCynthia

By Micaela and Cynthia

Overview

Physical Difficulty

Demanding
help_outline

Recommended Age

Everyone

Operated in

English, Spanish

GUIDANCE

On Some Day Trips

starting point

El Calafate

trip type

Private

trip attributes

Kayaking

Hiking

Meet local people

Historic & cultural landmarks

Outdoors & Nature

Start

Night

End

Highlights

1

El Chaltén

2

El Calafate - Perito Moreno Glacier

3

Ushuaia

4

Torres del Paine National Park

Itinerary

INN expand_more

Day 1

place Transfer El Calafate Airport / El Chaltén Hotel

Welcome to Southern Patagonia! The town of El Calafate is located in the Patagonian steppe, an extreme and deserted place with an amazing landscape. It is on the border of Lago Argentino (Argentina’s biggest lake) and it is considered the capital of the glaciers. It is the gateway to visit the world-renowned Perito Moreno Glacier, one of the only glaciers in the world that is still advancing. At the appropriate time, you will be transferred from El Calafate Airport to your hotel in El Chalten. This 3-hour trip will allow you to enjoy the desert of Southern Patagonia on the famous Route 40. You will pass through La Leona River, which connects Lake Argentino and Lake Viedma. By the river, you will see La Leona Road House where once Butch Cassidy and Sundance Kid after robbing a bank were hidden for almost a month. El Chalten is the top-rated trekking destination, the Argentinean capital of trekking. Located at the foot of the Fitz Roy Mountain, surrounded by glaciers, lakes, rivers, and forests, it is still a hidden gem of our south. The charming little village, which is also the start point for most paths, is a paradise for walkers and trekkers alike. Once you arrive in El Chalten, you will spend the rest of the day at leisure to relax or explore the areas around the town. You can explore the surroundings, have a stroll around a little waterfall, or just relax in the local brewery. Type of service: Shared. Duration: 3 hours approximately. Note: bare in mind that the luggage should be equivalent to a bag up to 18k. Excess baggage will pay an extra charge.

Day 2

place Day at leisure in El Chalten

Prepare yourself for an exciting day in the wild. El Chalten offers a wide range of hiking paths with varying difficulties. You can choose where and when to go, paths are self-guided and very well marked and maintained. From the main door of your hotel, you can go for a short 3 kilometers (1.8 miles) walk to Cerro Torre viewpoint—it will take you around 1 hour. Enjoy Rio de las Vueltas and lenga forest with its amazing views, be prepared to see all kinds of birds—This is a great woodpecker spotting opportunity! For true hiking lovers, continue all the way to Base Torre or go for an 8 hour-long hike to see the most impressive view of the Fitz Roy Mountain and emerald waters of Laguna de Los Tres. Although this hike becomes difficult in the last part, it’s totally worth it. Seize the day, wake up early and watch the sunrise at the Laguna de Los Tres (see Fitz Roy peaks turning red)—A true once in a lifetime opportunity.

Meals: Breakfast

Day 3

place Day at leisure in El Chalten

Today, our recommendation for truly hiking lovers: make all the way to Cerro Torre and Laguna Torre, one of the most famous hiking trails in the area. Walk into the wild for about 8 hours and 20 kilometers, this is a moderate difficulty hike so no previous experience is needed! It starts at that gorgeous wooden sign with the Laguna Torre and the woodpecker at his side that you probably have already seen if you visited the Cerro Torre Viewpoint the previous day. From there, you will continue through a multi-colored landscape: snow-capped mountains will rein over the native forest of lengas and ñires. You will pass by the De Agostini campsite and continue until the front moraine…you can hit the summit in 15 minutes! From here you can descend to the lagoon and see a floating iceberg passing by or continue to the Mascardi viewpoint, 2 kilometers (1.2 miles) down up the hill.

Meals: Breakfast

Day 4

place Day at leisure in El Chalten

If you liked Laguna Torre’s hiking trail, you’ll love our second hiking favorite: Laguna de Los Tres and the base of Mount Fitz Roy. Go for a medium-difficulty experience, an 8- hour-long hike to the most impressive views of Rio de Las Vueltas valley. You’ll cross Del Salto Stream, its icy water held by orange-tinted rocks which defies the breathtaking views of Mount Fitz Roy. This hike becomes difficult in the last bit: a 400 meters (1312 feet) steep slope separates you from your final goal! The reward will be more than fabled: the sun sparkling over the emerald waters of Laguna de Los Tres, its haunting glacier, and the pristine Fitz Roy peaks. A little secret: seize the day, wake up early and watch the sunrise at the Laguna de Los Tres to see them turning red—A lifetime opportunity for nature lovers.

Meals: Breakfast

Day 5

place Transfer El Chalten Hotel / El Calafate Hotel

At the appropriate time, you will be picked up to board a bus to go from your hotel in El Chalten to your hotel in El Calafate. The 3-hour long drive will be a good opportunity to rest, relax and enjoy the passing landscapes at your window. Type of service: Shared Duration: 3 hours approximately

Meals: Breakfast

Day 6

place Full Day Perito Moreno Glacier & Safari Boat

We will pick you up from your hotel early in the morning to take you to Los Glaciares National Park located at 50 miles from El Calafate, home of the magnificent Perito Moreno Glacier. Los Glaciares National Park has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1981 when its almost 200 glaciers were discovered. Half of the park is occupied by the Patagonian ice field, the second largest ice field after Antarctica. Upon arrival to the National Park, your guide will show you the different walkways from where you will be able to walk in front of the colossal ice wall, and, if you are lucky, perhaps see some landslides. When the ice breaks and falls, the world holds its breath: all other sounds stop at the earth's surface. - Nautical Safari tour The departure point is “Bajo de las Sombras” pier, located about 6km away from the Glacier’s walkways. On this tour, you will go on a cruise across Lake Rico, passing in between icebergs that have calved off the front of the Perito Moreno glacier. Reaching the Icebergs Channel, the boat will stop at a safe distance from the glacier to continue to sail down its front, allowing for spectacular views of the ice wall and any breaking and floating icebergs. Type of service: Shared Duration: 8/9 hours Included: Transportation mentioned above, bilingual guide (English/Spanish) Not included: Entrance fee to the National Park, Lunch Difficulty: Low

Guide: Included for the day

Meals: Breakfast

Day 7

place Day at leisure in El Calafate

Today you will have a free day in the city.

Meals: Breakfast

Day 8

place Full-Day Torres del Paine from Calafate with drop-off at the National Park

In the early morning, you will be picked up to go on a full-day excursion to Torres del Paine National Park (shared service). Along the road, you might be able to see rheas, guanacos, Patagonian hare, and even condors. Keep an eye out for wild guanacos as they roam the windy plains. After crossing the Patagonian steppe from North to South for about two hours, you will arrive at the border post “Cancha Carrera” (time spent at the border may vary). Don't worry about the Spanish there, because your tour guide will assist travelers with customs documentation. It is important to remember that today you are crossing the border into Chile. Please make sure you have your passport. Before entering the National Park, make a stop at the Sarmiento Lake panoramic viewpoint, to get your first full view of the massive Paine landscape and its wild animals! Around midday, you can choose to end your excursion in Laguna Amarga and go to your hotel inside the park, or continue and take a short walk along the coastline of Amarga Lagoon, reach Paine Fall, and eat lunch outdoors while enjoying the views of Rio Paine and the Towers. At the end of this panoramic journey and after making short stops at key viewpoints, you will be dropped off at Portería Laguna Amarga. Upon arrival at Laguna Amarga, you will take a shuttle to Las Torres area. Type of service: Shared Duration: 5 or 9 hours depending on your choice Included: Transfers, bilingual guide (English/Spanish), box lunch, drop-off at the park Not included: Entrance fee to the National Park Travel season: From October to April Note: Depending on the travel schedule of the day, you may be dropped off at Laguna Amarga around noontime or in the afternoon. Also, depending on weather conditions, lunch could be outdoors or in the vehicle

Guide: Included for the day

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Day 9

place Day at leisure in Torres del Paine

Torres del Paine is one of the most beautiful protected areas in South America, and the best way to explore it is by foot. If you enjoy hiking and nature, this place is going to be one of the highlights of your trip. Depending on where your lodge is located inside the park, you will be able to explore different paths— Please check with your travel advisor which are the best options from your location. If you haven't done it, our recommendation is to take a self-guided hike to Base las Torres. This is the most famous hike of the park since it takes you to the base of the Towers, and it’s a challenge for climbers from all over the world. It takes between 8 and 10 hours to complete and it provides breathtaking views of these massive granite mountains that grow next to a blue lagoon and up to the sky.

Meals: Breakfast

Day 10

place Pudeto Crossing Navigation

- Transfer Hotel Las Torres / Pudeto Today, prepare yourself to continue this hiking adventure on the other side of the park. We will pick you up at your accommodation to take you to Pudeto area where you will take a 45 minutes navigation to the opposite shore of Lago Pehoé. You can take with you a day pack with your values and the things you might need for today and tomorrow. For your convenience, our local operator can keep your luggage until tomorrow. Please let us know in advance, we recommend you to leave it properly closed with a lock and do not leave goods such as jewelry or money. Type of service: Private Duration: 1 hour - Pudeto Crossing Navigation From Pudeto you will take 30-minute navigation to the opposite shore of Lago Pehoe. Upon arrival, you will walk up to Paine Grande Refuge (just a few meters away from the pier), where you will spend the night. This is a unique opportunity to visit one of the most inaccessible areas inside the park since it can't be reached by vehicle. From here, we recommend that you take a self-guided hike to the French Valley. In this valley, you will find hanging glaciers, pristine woods, and some jagged peaks like the multicolored Paine Grande and the Paine Horns. Type of Service: Shared Duration: 30- 45 minutes of navigation Included: Navigation ticket

Meals: Breakfast

Day 11

place Lake Grey Navigation and transfer to Puerto Natales

- Navigation one way Refugio Grey / Hostería Grey Sailing to Glacier Grey is an excursion not to be missed. It allows you to enjoy an incomparable landscape composed of floating icebergs, exuberant vegetation, and imposing mountains. You will go first to Hotel Lago Grey to do the navigation check-in, and then we will walk for 30 minutes along the beach of the lake to the Grey III Catamaran's boarding point. After 1 hour and 15 minutes of navigation, we will be near the Grey Glacier's foot. You will be able to appreciate from a very short distance all the beauty and magnitude of the ice walls of more than 20 meters that the glacier offers as a spectacle. Type of service: Shared Duration: 3 hours Included: Navigation ticket, bilingual local guide on board (English / Spanish) - aperitif with thousand-year-old ice Not included: Transfers In/Out to Lago Grey Hotel, entrance fee, food, extras not indicated Difficulty: Low Travel season: November to February. On other dates, the departure requires a minimum of 20 people. Note: This excursion is subject to weather conditions. Please be ready at the hotel 1 hour before departure. Transfer Hosteria Grey / Puerto Natales Hotel - At the appropriate time, you will have a transfer to your hotel in Puerto Natales. Type of service: Private Duration: 3/4 hours

Guide: Included for the day

Meals: Breakfast

Day 12

place Bus ticket Puerto Natales / Punta Arenas

Today you will go on your own to Puerto Natales bus station to take a bus to Punta Arenas. Punta Arenas is the Chilean southernmost city, sited at the Magellanic Strait, and the leading port for Antarctic cruises and scientific research. Before the construction of the Panama Canal, Punta Arenas was the most important maritime crossroad between the Pacific and the Atlantic Ocean, thus, the city grew as a commercial center surrounded by European-type buildings. There are colorful houses, standing out from a backdrop of snow-capped mountains. Upon arrival in Punta Arenas, you will go to the hotel by yourself. Type of service: Shared Duration: 3 hours Included: Bus ticket Not included: Food, extras Travel season: October to March **Note: December 25th and January 1st buses available only after 1:00 PM. We reccommend that you arrive at the bus station 30 minutes before the departure time to avoid any last minutes inconvenience

Meals: Breakfast

Day 13

place Bus ticket Punta Arenas / Ushuaia

In the early morning, you will go on your own to the bus station to embark on a full-day bus trip to Ushuaia. This is a 12 hour long trip on a semi-reclinable bus, crossing the Patagonian steppe. Although the bus trip is long and tiring, it will allow you to know more about the Chilean territory: yellow and green grasslands, Chilean gauchos riding into the wild, and grazing unworried sheep will roll on the square landscape of your window until you reach the ferry crossing. It will take around 45 minutes to cross the mythical Strait of Magellan and hit the road again to cross the border and finally enter Tierra del Fuego Island in Argentine lands. As the end-of-the-world most famous city approaches, grazing sheep will turn into wild guanacos, and horses, snow-capped mountains, and evergreen woods will arise in the vicinity of Ushuaia. Once you get the "Southernmost City in the World" passport stamp, you will realize this intrepid journey through Patagonian remote roads was worth it. Upon arrival in Ushuaia, you will make your way to your hotel. Ushuaia is a small city, really easy to get around on foot. The Yamanas, its first inhabitants, called it Ushuaia, which means 'protected bay' in their language. Ushuaia was officially incorporated into the Republic of Argentina in 1884, and it soon became a penal colony in order to establish a permanent Argentine settlement. Take the afternoon to explore the town, learn of the region's history at the Prisoner's Museum or visit the Galleria of Fueguian History. Please, do not forget the local gastronomy! Ushuaia is the number one place to try the best seafood in Argentina. Type of service: Shared Duration: 12 hours Included: One-way bus ticket Not included: Transportation to/from hotel Travel season: October to April Note: We recommend that you arrive at the bus station 30 minutes before the departure time to avoid any last minutes inconvenience. Take into account that you will be crossing borders, so have your passport ha

Meals: Breakfast

Day 14

place Full-Day Trekking & Paddling in the National Park

Today, you will be picked up from your hotel to go on a tour to Tierra del Fuego National Park, which hosts beautiful natural landscapes. After traveling for about 6 miles, we will get to the park. Upon arrival, we will go for a hike along an undulating 4-mile-long Coastal Path. As you continue to walk down this path you will be in constant contact with nature and will be able to admire beautiful views from the lakes, sea, and surrounding mountains. After the hike, we will access Acigami Lake or Roca Lake, and near the border of Lapataia River, you will enjoy a comforting hot lunch with a great panoramic view from inside a heated dome-tent, to avoid wind or rain. Afterward, you will be equipped with rubber boots, cover pants, and lifejackets. The excursion will continue from Lake Acigami down the freshwater of Lapataia river aboard inflatable canoes (duckies) until reaching the sea in Lapataia Bay. After a 1-hour paddle (paddling time is subject to weather conditions) your tour will end at the mentioned bay, where the National Route Nº 3 meets its southern end. From there, you will be driven back to your hotel. Type of service: Shared Duration: 8 hours Hiking difficulty: Moderate - Canoeing difficulty: Easy Total trekking length: 4,4 miles (it's a 3-and-a-half-hour walk) Age restriction: Canoeing ride is only available for children over 5 years old Included: Transportation, bilingual guide (English/Spanish), lunch, drinks, and canoeing equipment Not included: Gratuities, National Park entrance fee Notes: Times described are estimated and may vary due to bad weather conditions

Guide: Included for the day

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Day 15

place Half-Day Beagle Channel Navigation

In 1833 Charles Darwin sailed the Beagle Channel and discover something great. Today it is your turn: become another explorer of this channel, primitively named Onashaga Channel since the Onas were its first sailers. At the appropriate time, you will go on your own to the tourist pier (located in the center of the city). You will embark on a 3-hour long boat trip along the famous Beagle Channel. You will gain panoramas of Ushuaia Bay, where the city lies proudly crowned by the Martial Glacier. Unearth the diverse marine wildlife, such as cormorants (flying birds, closely related to penguins) and fur seals that frolic their time away on Alicia Island. Argentina standing at your left and Chile at your right, you will sail this natural border till reaching the iconic Les Eclaireurs lighthouse, the ancient guard of the bay. On our way back, we will stop at Bridges Island to walk a wildlife interpretative path, hear about Yaman’s history (the native inhabitants), and see the largest shelly deposits of the region. During the excursion, you can enjoy a delicious hot chocolate with cookies or try the Mate (strong green tea) the favorite Argentine drink. Once we get back to the port, you will make your own way back to your hotel. Type of service: Shared Duration: 3/4 hours Included: Bilingual guide (English/Spanish) Not included: Port tax (2 dollars), transportation to and from the port Note: Departure time is at 10 AM and 3 PM from Patagonia Explorer Stand, located in the tourist pier

Guide: Included for the day

Meals: Breakfast

Day 16

place Transfer Ushuaia Hotel / Ushuaia Airport

At the appropriate time, you will be transferred from your hotel to Ushuaia airport to take your flight. Type of service: Shared

Meals: Breakfast

What’s Included

Meals expand_less

  • Breakfast (15)
  • Lunch (2)

Transport expand_less

  • Transfers mentioned in the itinerary.

Activities expand_less

  • Tours mentioned in the itinerary.

Not Included expand_less

  • National Park entrance fees
  • International or domestic flights

About Micaela

TEAM LEAD

+1 Local experts

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star_outline 4.87 (15 reviews)

Expertise: 

Cycling

Hiking

Visit markets

Meet local people

Meditation

Historic & cultural landmarks

Outdoors & Nature

Food & Drink

Beach & Sea

I´ve been working in Tourism for 10 years. Being a coordinator, a local guide, and then a travel agent, I forged my personality through the people and places I met along the way. I had the opportunity to visit several places in Argentina.

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