Highlights
- Learn about local culture while touring Buenos Aires
- Get up close to the stunning Perito Moreno Glacier
- Trek around glacial lakes and lagoons
- Go for drinks at Argentina's first ice bar
- Cruise down the Beagle Channel in Tierra del Fuego
Brief Itinerary
| Day | Highlights | Overnight |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Arrive in Buenos Aires, Explore | Buenos Aires |
| Day 2 | Fly to El Calafate | El Calafate |
| Day 3 | Perito Moreno Glacier Hike | El Calafate |
| Day 4 | Enjoy a Scenic Transfer to El Chaltén | El Chaltén |
| Day 5 | Hike to Laguna de Los Tres | El Chaltén |
| Day 6 | Trek Around Laguna Torre | El Chaltén |
| Day 7 | Return to El Calafate, Visit the Glaciarium | El Calafate |
| Day 8 | Fly to Ushuaia, Explore | Ushuaia |
| Day 9 | Beagle Channel Cruise | Ushuaia |
| Day 10 | Return to Buenos Aires, Depart |
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive in Buenos Aires, Explore
Welcome to Argentina! The capital city of Buenos Aires is known as the "Paris of South America," thanks to its mix of European architecture and Latin American culture. When you arrive at the airport, a driver will be waiting to transfer you to your hotel in the city center.
Buenos Aires is the birthplace of tango, and you'll have the chance to see tango dancers performing with live music as you explore downtown. Head south into the neighborhood of San Telmo, walking along cobblestoned streets, this is a great area to soak up the city's historic charm, stop in a traditional café, browse through the antiques at the elegant Mercado San Telmo marketplace, and sit down for dinner at a classic parrilla (steakhouse).
Day 2: Fly to El Calafate
After breakfast, you'll head to the airport for a three-hour flight south from Buenos Aires to El Calafate. Known as the gateway to Argentina's glaciers, the city is located on the shores of Lago Argentino, the nation's biggest freshwater lake. If possible, select a window seat to enjoy stunning views of the Southern Patagonian Ice Field along the trip. You'll transfer from the airport to your hotel for check-in. You can then spend the rest of the day relaxing or strolling around town and visiting its charming cafés and boutiques.
Day 3: Perito Moreno Glacier Hike
Get ready to explore Los Glaciares, National Park. As you enter the park, you'll catch your first glimpse of the majestic glacier known as Perito Moreno. This expansive ice mass flows from the Andes Mountains into the waters of Lago Argentino, ending abruptly in a great wall curving around the lake. View the glacier from one of the park's many viewing platforms, accessible via a network of catwalks that run along the shores of the lake, offering the best vantage points. With a little luck and patience, you may witness "calving," the inspiring sight of ice breaking off the glacier's edge and crashing into the calm waters below.
Believe it or not, you'll be trekking on top of this glacier today! Your excursion involves walking over the ice, fully outfitted with crampons and an ice ax. Traversing Perito Moreno is an amazing adventure and a perfectly safe one, as you'll be accompanied by certified bilingual guides who know the terrain. Enjoy the thrill of crossing over deep blue ice crevices and hiking over meltwater streams as you see the glacier up close.
Day 4: Enjoy a Scenic Transfer to El Chaltén
After breakfast, head to the bus station in El Calafate to board a bus to El Chaltén. Grab a window seat and get ready to enjoy the incredibly scenic northbound journey that covers 124 miles and takes around three to four hours. You'll ride along Ruta 40, the famous Patagonian highway that cuts through great expanses of barren steppe and reveals views of snowy peaks on the horizon. El Chaltén sits at the foot of the iconic Mount Fitz Roy and is nicknamed "Hiker's Paradise" due to the abundance of mountaineering options around.
Tomorrow you'll get out and explore, but for today, just relax in town and have a beer or a meal in one of several cozy restaurants and bars that cater to outdoor enthusiasts.
Day 5: Hike to Laguna de Los Tres
Put on your hiking boots this morning—it's time for a full-day, 16-mile (26 km) excursion into Los Glaciares National Park. El Chaltén is the perfect starting point, as there are a number of trailheads just outside of town, many of which lead to Mount Fitz Roy. Your destination today is Laguna de los Tres. This glassy body of water earned its name—which translates to "Lake of the Three"—because it offers prime views of three peaks. In addition to Fitz Roy, you can see Poincenot and Torre here. You'll follow a trail that leads up through the alpine forest. At the top, take in views of the valley below and Piedras Blancas Glacier. Hike back to El Chaltén for a relaxing evening.
Chat with a local specialist who can help organize your trip.
Day 6: Trek Around Laguna Torre
Today you'll set off on a guided hike from El Chaltén to another Patagonian gem, 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 will take you through bright green forests and around blue lagoons until you reach the shores of the lake.
After spending some time admiring the views, you'll return to El Chaltén along the same path. Enjoy dinner in town before heading back to the hotel.
Day 7: Return to El Calafate, Visit the Glaciarium
After breakfast, you'll make the three-hour drive back to El Calafate. After checking into your hotel, you can relax and spend the afternoon exploring the town and its surroundings. Learn about the region's glaciers at the Glaciarium, a multimedia center featuring an ice museum, interactive displays, and educational information. Then enjoy a drink at the museum's Glaciobar BrancaIt, Argentina's first ice bar—be sure to bundle up, as it's chilly inside!
For dinner, be sure to sample the local cuisine of roast Patagonian lamb, ribeye steak, and empanadas. Wash it all down with a glass or two of malbec.
Day 8: Fly to Ushuaia, Explore
Enjoy a hearty breakfast in El Calafate before transferring to the airport for your one-hour flight to Ushuaia, the southernmost city in the world. Located on a bay in the Patagonian region of Tierra del Fuego, Ushuaia sits between jagged mountain peaks and the silver waters of the Beagle Channel. This is the same waterway Charles Darwin explored when he was traveling on the HMS Beagle almost 200 years ago. Make sure to get out and walk along the waterfront for a better glimpse of the craggy mountains and wide channel. As you stroll amid Ushuaia's colorful buildings, you'll notice an endearing jumble of architectural styles with everything from elegant chalets to humble wooden cottages.
Visit the building that houses Ushuaia's Maritime Museum, which was once an old prison. Constructed at the turn of the 20th century, some 600 convicts occupied 380 cells until the prison's closing in 1947. There's also the Museo del Fin del Mundo (End of the World Museum). Located on the waterfront, this small museum features fascinating exhibits detailing the region's natural and Indigenous history. You'll also find extensive exhibits on birds and sailing.
For an easy afternoon hike, head 11 miles (17 km) outside of Ushuaia to the Laguna Esmeralda trailhead. The shores of this turquoise lake are a great spot to enjoy a picnic lunch and take photos. Back in Ushuaia, for dinner, go out for seafood, particularly centolla (king crab).
Day 9: Beagle Channel Cruise
After breakfast in Ushuaia, head to the pier to board a boat for a local cruise. Today's excursion sails through the Beagle Channel, one of the region's most important waterways. It was named after the HMS Beagle, a 19th-century British ship that once carried Charles Darwin to South America.
As you pass through the channel, you'll get breathtaking panoramic views of the city of Ushuaia and the entire bay. Be on the lookout for diverse marine wildlife, such as cormorants and sea lions, especially near the Lobo and De Los Pajaros islands. If the winds are calm, you can even hop ashore, collect giant shells, and look out to the opposite coast, which stretches across both Chile and Argentina. Before making your way back to Ushuaia, see the famous Les Eclaireurs, the so-called "Lighthouse at the End of the World."
Day 10: Return to Buenos Aires, Depart
Today the trip comes to an end. Head to the airport to make your way to your next destination. Safe travels!
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