Active Adventures in Los Glaciares National Park - 15 Days

Highlights

• See the highlights of Buenos Aires on foot and bicycle
• Hike to lakes and glaciers around El Chaltén
• Embark on the famous Huemul Circuit trek in Patagonia
• Kayak on Lago Argentino near Perito Moreno Glacier

Brief Itinerary

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1: Arrive in Buenos Aires, Optional Activities

Welcome to Argentina! This massive country at the end of South America boasts immense natural beauty—particularly in its far-south Patagonia region. You'll arrive in the enchanting capital of Buenos Aires. Renowned as the "Paris of South America," this city is defined by passion. It's evident in the rich tango heritage and the citizens' limitless enthusiasm for fútbol (soccer), which is hands down the country's most popular sport. 

When you arrive, a driver will be waiting at the terminal to whisk you off to your hotel in the city. After checking in, you can stretch your legs on a self-guided tour. Start at the famous Obelisco monument. Located in the heart of the city, it sits in the middle of 9 de Julio Ave, the world's widest city street (it boasts a whopping 16 lanes). From there, you can walk to the Teatro Colón, one of South America's premier opera houses. The Colon's neoclassical facade has been the face of one of the most handsome buildings in Buenos Aires since its opening in 1908.

Head east from the opera house, and you'll arrive in Puerto Madero, an upscale waterfront neighborhood adjacent to downtown. Nearby is the pink-tinged Presidential Palace known as the Casa Rosada, while further south, you'll wind up on the cobbled streets of romantic San Telmo, the oldest neighborhood in the city. And when dinnertime arrives, do like the locals and enjoy a thick, juicy steak drizzled with chimichurri sauce. Know that Buenos Aires is a culture that thrives after dark, and it's not uncommon for locals to have dinner at 10 pm or later, especially on weekends. 

Day 2: Buenos Aires Bicycle Tour

Today, you'll experience Buenos Aires on two wheels. This half-day bike tour leaves in the early afternoon and covers 10 miles (16 km). Throughout the journey, you'll pass some of the city's most famous and iconic neighborhoods. It starts in historic San Telmo, where you'll stop at Lezama Park to learn about the first settlement of Buenos Aires and how immigration shaped the city historically and culturally. Then continue to Puerto Madero, a mega-port that was once obsolete but has now been transformed into the most modern and sophisticated district of Buenos Aires.

You'll ride east from Puerto Madero to the stately Recoleta neighborhood, whose old French-inspired buildings feature arched doorways and long, yawning windows. It's also home to Recoleta Cemetery, the city's oldest and most famous final resting place. The ride ends amid the sprawling parks and green spaces of the trendy Palermo district. Afterward, you'll leave the bicycle and will have the rest of the day free.

Day 3: Fly to El Calafate, Transfer to El Chaltén

After breakfast, you'll transfer to the airport for the 3.5-hour flight south into Patagonia and El Calafate. Known as the gateway to Argentina's glaciers, this town is located on the shores of Lago Argentino, the nation's biggest freshwater lake. You're now officially in Los Glaciares National Park, one of the country's most popular protected areas. It covers a whopping 2,800 square miles (7,240 sq km) and is home to dozens of awe-inspiring glaciers as well as a portion of the Southern Patagonian Ice Field.

Upon arrival at the airport, a driver will pick you up for the three-hour drive north to El Chaltén. This town lies right above Lago Viedma and is a major hub in Patagonia for mountain hikes. If the skies are clear on the drive in, you'll have incredible views of the iconic massif of Mount Fitz Roy. Once in town, your driver will drop you off at your hotel, and you'll have the rest of the day free. You can embark on short hikes or spend time relaxing at one of El Chaltén's many cafés and craft beer bars. 

Day 4: Guided Hike to Laguna de los Tres

Wake up early and head out on a full-day guided hike. With several trailheads just outside of town, El Chaltén is the perfect starting point for treks into the Fitz Roy range. The route you'll follow today covers 12 miles (20 km) and takes 8-9 hours to complete.

Your destination is Laguna de los Tres, a gorgeous lagoon from which you'll enjoy panoramic views of three peaks: Fitz Roy, Poincenot, and Torre. During the trek, you'll also stop at incredible viewpoints looking out to the Piedras Blancas Glacier. When you arrive at the lagoon, you'll break for lunch and have time to relax before descending back to El Chaltén.

Day 5: Mountain Biking at Lago del Desierto

Head out to explore Patagonia on two wheels today. A driver will pick you up at your hotel in El Chaltén for the 90-minute drive north over dirt roads to Lago del Desierto. There, you'll have the option to hit the trail back to El Chaltén right away or relax a little while by the lake and enjoy the views. You can also walk up to the Huemul Glacier or take a boat ride across the lake.

Once you're ready to cycle, begin the 23-mile (37 km) bike ride back to El Chaltén, which takes 6-7 hours to complete. The mostly flat road is located in the valley basin of the Río de las Vueltas, so you can expect a relatively easy trip. This route is also a celebration of wild Patagonian scenery, as you'll cycle past rivers and waterfalls with mountain peaks in the distance. Eventually, you'll arrive back in El Chaltén and will have the evening free.

Day 6: Guided Hike to Laguna Torre

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In the morning, you'll set off on a guided hike from El Chalten to another gem of Patagonia: Laguna Torre. This lake sits at the foot of the granite peak of Cerro Torre and is fed by glacial meltwater. The trail you'll follow runs about 12 miles (20 km) and takes you through bright green lenga forests and around blue lagoons until you reach the lakeshore. After relaxing and admiring the views, you'll return to El Chaltén along the same path. In total, the hike takes between 7-8 hours to complete.

Day 7: Raft the Río de las Vueltas

After breakfast, you'll meet a rafting guide and embark on an adrenaline-pumping adventure down the Río de las Vueltas. The excursion starts at the rafting base camp, where you'll learn the basics of team paddling and how to use a dry suit. Once everyone is comfortable and properly equipped, you'll hop in the raft and descend the Las Vueltas on a route that covers about 10 miles (16 km).

The first section is gentle, which allows time to get accustomed to paddling and the movement of the river. A little while later, you'll enter the rapid zone and really feel your heart pumping. The exhilarating ride is punctuated by the beautiful scenery of the river canyons and its unique rock formations. At the end of the rafting trip, you'll transfer back to El Chaltén.

Day 8: Huemul Circuit (Day 1): Trek to Laguna Toro

In the morning, you'll meet a local guide and hiking group to prepare for the first day of trekking on the famous Huemul Circuit multi-day trek. After organizing the camping materials, your group will depart El Chaltén by foot en route to the trailhead. Once there, you'll start the day's 9-mile (15 km) hike, which takes about seven hours total and begins with an uphill section along a large open plateau known as La Pampa de Las Carretas.

Eventually, after passing through a forest, the trail will open up to stunning views of Lago Viedma. Finally, you'll reach Toro Valley, from which you'll enjoy prime views of the hanging glacier on Monte Huemul. Over the next four days, you'll hike around this mountain peak, which rises 8,432 feet (2,570 m). After crossing a few small bridges and a river, you'll cut through a young lenga forest and arrive at Laguna Toro, where you'll camp for the night.

Day 9: Huemul Circuit (Day 2): Southern Ice Field Views

After an energizing breakfast, you'll break camp and head out on foot for day two, which covers 7 miles (12 km) and takes about 7-8 hours to complete. After about 40 minutes of easy walking, you'll reach the Río Túnel, which you'll cross on foot or via a zipline (depending on weather conditions). The rest of the hike covers a variety of terrains, such as pastures, moraines, and the lower part of the Río Túnel Glacier.

Following the glacier crossing, you'll begin a long and steady upward ascent to the El Paso del Viento mountain pass. From here, you'll enjoy impressive views looking out over the Southern Patagonian Ice Field. Following a well-deserved lunch, you'll begin the descent to Refugio Paso del Viento, where you'll set up camp for the night.

Day 10: Huemul Circuit (Day 3): Cross the Huemul Pass

Pack up this morning and embark on the third day of trekking, which will take you 11 miles (18 km) and requires about 6-7 hours to complete. It begins with a walk along a gently ascending path as you hop over a few streams en route to Paso Huemul. From the top of the pass, you'll witness breathtaking views of Viedma Glacier and Lago Viedma. With a surface area of 198 square miles (505 sq km), Viedma is the largest glacier in Argentina.

At the lookout point, you'll break for lunch. Later, continue walking down a steep and rocky path to the foot of Lago Viedma and your campsite for the evening. Here you can marvel at the massive icebergs floating on the water, which were once part of the glacier.  

Day 11: Huemul Circuit (Day 4): Trek to Bahía Túnel 

You're in for a treat as this morning you get to trek across Patagonia's famous steppe plains. Today's route follows Lago Viedma and covers a distance of 11 miles (18 km), which is primarily flat. It's a relatively easy and scenic hike, during which you'll cross over various streams and rivers. After about seven hours of trekking, you'll arrive at Puerto da Bahía Túnel, a port on the north side of the lake, where a vehicle will be waiting to transfer you back to El Chaltén.

Day 12: Transfer to El Calafate, Optional Activities

After breakfast, you'll hop in a car for the three-hour drive to El Calafate. Upon checking into your hotel, you can relax and spend the afternoon exploring the town and its surroundings. Options include browsing the local shops, doing some souvenir shopping, and hanging out at patio cafés. For dinner, be sure to sample the local cuisine of Argentine staples, such as roast Patagonian lamb, ojo de bife (rib-eye steak), and empanadas. Wash it all down with a glass or two of fine malbec from the Mendoza region.

Day 13: Kayak to Perito Moreno Glacier

Without a doubt, a major highlight in all of Los Glaciares National Park is Perito Moreno, a 96-square-mile (250 sq km) ice formation that is one of the few advancing glaciers in the world. It's the biggest tourist draw near El Calafate, and this morning you'll venture to the southwestern end of Lago Argentino to see it in all its glory. But you won't merely view the glacier from far-off observation platforms—you'll hop in a kayak and paddle toward it.

It starts with a vehicle transfer from your hotel to the group meeting point. There, you'll meet an expert kayaking guide who will offer a safety briefing and paddling lesson. Then the adventure really begins as you put in at "Iceberg Beach." From there, you'll paddle across the teal waters of Lago Argentino until you're about 1,968 feet (600 m) out from the glacier. From this distance, you'll not only see the awe-inspiring site of calving—ice breaking off Perito Moreno's massive walls—you'll also feel its full reverberating force as the crumbling blocks hit the icy waters.

After enjoying this grand spectacle of Mother Nature, you'll return to the beach and take a break to enjoy a box lunch. Later, there will be free time to hike the wooden boardwalks to various viewing points to snap photos of the glacier. At the end of the day, you'll transfer back to your accommodation in El Calafate. 

Day 14: Glaciar Sur Hiking & Boating

Get ready for another exciting full-day excursion to witness the star attractions of Los Glaciares National Park. Today's adventure will take you slightly off the tourist trail to admire some lesser-visited (but no less majestic) hidden glaciers. A car will pick you up from your hotel in the morning for the 37-mile (60 km) drive along a dirt road called Camino de las Estancias. At the end of the road, at the park's southern end, there's a jetty. Here, you'll board a boat, and after sailing for an hour, you'll disembark and begin a 1-mile (2.5 km) trek to the famous Lago Frías.

Once there, you'll hop in a Zodiac and zip over to the opposite side, where you'll continue on the second leg of the hike, which covers 2 miles (4 km). Then trek through a lenga forest and across an ancient glacial valley until finally reaching the upper part of Lago Frías, which is dotted with icebergs. Though it takes much effort to get here, the rewards are worth it, as you'll enjoy stunning views of the Dickson, Cubo, and Grande glaciers. After a break for lunch, you'll begin the return journey.

Day 15: Fly to Buenos Aires & Depart 

For now, you've enjoyed your last Patagonian adventure. In the morning, a driver will pick you up at the hotel and transfer you to the airport in El Calafate. There, you'll take a plane to Buenos Aires and catch your connecting flight home. Adiós!

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