Highlights
- Enjoy the scenic trails in Argentina's trekking capital
- Take a boat tour to get close to Perito Moreno Glacier
- Snowshoe around the shore of Laguna Esmeralda
- Walk along the icy surface of a glacier
Brief Itinerary
| Day | Highlights | Overnight |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Arrive in El Chaltén & Get Oriented | El Chaltén |
| Day 2 | Hike to Laguna de Los Tres | El Chaltén |
| Day 3 | Explore Mountain Trails Around Laguna Torre | El Chaltén |
| Day 4 | Trek to Loma Pliegue de Tumbado | El Chaltén |
| Day 5 | Transfer to El Calafate & Visit the Glaciarium | El Calafate |
| Day 6 | Experience the Perito Moreno Glacier | El Calafate |
| Day 7 | Fly to Ushuaia & Explore | Ushuaia |
| Day 8 | Go on a Guided Trek in Tierra del Fuego National Park | Ushuaia |
| Day 9 | Hike to Laguna Esmeralda | Ushuaia |
| Day 10 | Trek to Glacier Vinciguerra & Laguna de los Tempanos | Ushuaia |
| Day 11 | Depart Ushuaia |
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive in El Chaltén & Get Oriented
Welcome to El Chaltén! This small Patagonian village, nicknamed "the trekking capital of Argentina," sits on the shores of Lago Argentino. It's a gateway to Los Glaciares National Park, with towering peaks rising 10,000 feet (3,048 m) above the windswept landscape. As you drive into El Chaltén, enjoy incredible views of Mount Fitz Roy.
Check into your hotel, then take the rest of the day to acclimate to the area. If you're up for a short outdoor adventure, well-marked trails lead away from town. Or walk around the village and have a relaxing evening in one of El Chaltén's many restaurants and craft beer bars. For dinner, sample local dishes like roast Patagonian lamb, rib-eye steak, and empanadas. Then get some rest before tomorrow's early start.
Day 2: Hike to Laguna de Los Tres
Day 3: Explore Mountain Trails Around Laguna Torre
Head out of town on foot with your guide for a memorable hike to Laguna Torre. Cross a glacial valley that's long fascinated geologists due to its perfect "U" shape, the result of the area once being covered by large swaths of ice. The 12-mile (20 km) hike will take you through bright green forests and around lagoons until you reach the shores of Laguna Torre.
The glacial lake sits at the foot of the sharp granite peak of Cerro Torre, where you'll also see the glacier that feeds the lake. After spending some time at the water's edge and admiring the views, you'll return to El Chaltén along the same path. The entire hike takes between seven and eight hours. You'll have the evening free to relax at your hotel or enjoy the town's restaurants and bars.
Day 4: Trek to Loma Pliegue de Tumbado
Today you'll hike to Loma del Pliegue Tumbado. The trek takes around seven hours and features excellent views over the valleys of Cerro Fitz Roy and Torre, the Patagonian steppe, and the vast Lake Viedma. Get ready for unforgettable Patagonian postcard views! You'll begin by leaving El Chaltén on the footpath that heads toward Laguna Toro. Ascend for about an hour, crossing over small streams and passing through forests.
Then you'll start to walk across an alpine terrain where delicate flowers grow. It's also possible to spot the remains of marine fossils that are about 100 million years old. You may experience Patagonian wind and snow up here, even in summer! You'll finally arrive at the viewpoint to take unique photos of the Torre and Fitz Roy massifs. After breaking for lunch with a magnificent view, return to El Chaltén to spend one more night before traveling onward.Chat with a local specialist who can help organize your trip.
Day 5: Transfer to El Calafate & Visit the Glaciarium
After breakfast, you'll make the wonderfully scenic three-hour drive to El Calafate. The city is known for its proximity to some of Argentina's most impressive glaciers and its location on Lago Argentino, Argentina's largest freshwater lake. After checking in at your hotel and getting settled, you'll have the afternoon and evening free to stroll around town and do some sightseeing.
Get ready for tomorrow's visit to the nearby glaciers by visiting the Glaciarium. This interactive museum offers hands-on displays and an ice bar where you can take a break for drinks. If you'd rather explore the outdoors, check out the birds at the Laguna Nimez Nature Preserve just outside town. Stop in the quaint cafés and shops around El Calafate, then have dinner in a local parrilla (steakhouse) before getting some rest at your hotel.
Day 6: Experience the Perito Moreno Glacier
Today's adventure takes you to the famous Perito Moreno Glacier in Los Glaciares National Park. Transfer from your hotel to the port, where you'll board a boat and start your day sailing along the Témpano Canal. The journey takes you past stunning landscapes, glaciers, and mountains, and you'll disembark several times for short hikes. Walk through some of the oldest forests in the area, admire pristine waterfalls, and take in impressive panoramic views.
As you enter the park by boat, you'll catch your first glimpse of the majestic Perito Moreno. This expansive ice mass flows down from the Andes and out over the turquoise waters of Lago Argentino, ending abruptly in a great wall that curves around the lake. Witness "calving," the awe-inspiring sight of ice breaking off the facade and crashing into the tranquil waters below. The boat will drop you near the visitor's center, where you'll have time to explore the boardwalks and viewing platforms offering sweeping views of the glacier. Head back to El Calafate for the evening.
Day 7: Fly to Ushuaia & Explore
After breakfast in El Calafate, you'll pack up and transfer to the airport for your flight to Ushuaia, the southernmost city in the world. Located on a bay in Tierra del Fuego, the city sits between the jagged peaks of the Martial Mountains and the silver waters of the Beagle Channel, where Charles Darwin famously sailed. After dropping off your things at your hotel, walk along the waterfront to marvel at the mountains and scenic shoreline.
Visit Ushuaia's Maritime Museum, housed in a building that was once a prison, or the Museo del Fin del Mundo (End of the World Museum). Located on the waterfront, this small museum features fascinating exhibits on the region's natural and Indigenous history. Then enjoy dinner in a local seafood restaurant—be sure to try the centolla (king crab).Day 8: Go on a Guided Trek in Tierra del Fuego National Park
Today, you'll spend most of your time in Tierra del Fuego National Park. Your experienced guide will show you the best hikes, lakes, and lookout points, from seaside mountains to freshwater rivers to subantarctic forests and tranquil bays. Begin with a 4.3-mile (7 km) hike on a coastal path that follows the Beagle Channel. You'll have excellent views of the channel along the way and pass remnants of ancient settlements once occupied by the native Yámana people.
At the end of the hike, enjoy a delicious lunch with views of the Río Lapataia and Lago Roca. After lunch, you'll begin another walk on the La Lenga Trail, reaching the southernmost point of the Pan-American Highway before returning to the city of Ushuaia for the night.
Day 9: Hike to Laguna Esmeralda
This morning, your guide will pick you up at your hotel and you'll begin traveling north on the beautiful National Route 3. Heading away from the Beagle Channel, you'll discover one of the most remarkable valleys on the island. From here, you'll start a hiking adventure over a peat bog until reaching a forest full of native lenga trees. Cross beaver dams and follow a stream to reach the gorgeous Laguna Esmeralda. Relax and have a picnic while enjoying views of glaciers. Then head back along the same trail and return to Ushuaia.
Day 10: Trek to Glacier Vinciguerra & Laguna de los Tempanos
After breakfast, travel just outside the city to start today's hike. Begin by walking along a stream and ascending through the magical Fuegian forest. The peat landscapes begin to surround the trail as you continue to hike beyond the timberline to the imposing Laguna de los Témpanos, the Vinciguerra Glacier, and incredible ice caves. Savor the remoteness of your Patagonian surroundings on this last trek of your trip, then head back to Ushuaia to celebrate with a final dinner.
Day 11: Depart Ushuaia
More Great Patagonia Itineraries
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