Patagonia Outdoor Adventures: Bariloche, Ushuaia, Los Glaciares & Torres del Paine - 14 Days

Day 2: Day Hike to Cerro Catedral & Refugio Frey

Yesterday's Circuito Chico hike was a mere warm-up to today's more rugged hike. Leave the hotel this morning with your guide and embark on a guided trek up through the Cerro Catedral massif. The starting point is a ski resort at the base of the mountain, where you'll hop on a chairlift for the ride up to a station at 6,561 feet (2,000 m) above sea level.

Then, hit the trail on a rocky path for an hour. This section is steep, but there will be stops to hydrate and enjoy views of Cerro Tronador, Cerro Negro, and the Valle del Arroyo Rucaco. The hike becomes easier and faster for the next two hours until you arrive at the Schmoll and Toncek lagoons. These mark the entrance to the Frey Valley, known for its otherworldly red granite rock formations.

Break for lunch on the shores of the Toncek beneath the surrounding jagged peaks. Before embarking on the return trek to Cerro Catedral, you'll stop at Refugio Frey mountain hut to learn some regional alpine history. Then, head back down the mountain on a trail passing through rich lenga forests. Eventually, you'll reach the ski center parking lot and catch a transfer back to Bariloche.

Day 3: Full-Day Horseback Ride

Leave early on a drive out of Bariloche along Route 50 south to Lago Gutiérrez. Enjoy a delightful picnic breakfast on the lakeshore, then hop in the saddle for a full-day tour around the Nahuel Huapi wilderness. It's a scenic ride that will take you through cypress forests and across streams as you skirt the southern slope of Cerro Catedral. At noon, there will be a break for a traditional asado (Argentine barbecue) lunch, followed by a final two-hour stint on horseback. This final leg will take you to some incredible viewpoints overlooking the Lake District. After saying goodbye to your horse, you'll transfer back to Bariloche by car.

Day 4: Fly to Ushuaia, Optional Activities

Return to the Bariloche airport this morning, where you'll board a connecting flight to Ushuaia, the southernmost city in the world. Located on a bay in the Patagonian region of Tierra del Fuego, Ushuaia sits between the jagged peaks of the Martial Mountains and the silver waters of the Beagle Channel. This is the same waterway Charles Darwin explored while sailing on the HMS Beagle almost 200 years ago.

A driver will pick you up at the airport for the ride to your hotel. After checking in, feel free to head out and explore Ushuaia's compact city center on a self-guided tour. Highlights include the 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. There will be ample opportunity to do some shopping on Avenida San Martín, plus you can stop in at a local seafood restaurant—be sure to try the centolla (king crab). 

Day 5: Trek & Canoe at Lapataia Bay

Day 7: Perito Moreno Glacier Hike

After breakfast, meet your driver outside to transfer to Perito Moreno, one of the only glaciers in the world that's still advancing. Your adventure starts at Bajo de las Sombras port, where you'll hop on a boat to cross Brazo Rico, a section of Lago Argentino. When you arrive on the other side, you'll receive an introduction to the day's activity— trekking over the colossal ice mass. Following the safety briefing, walk across the picturesque beach toward the glacier, where you can fit crampons onto your trekking boots with your guide's help.

Once you split into smaller groups, you'll spend 1.5 hours traversing the icy expanse, admiring the mesmerizing world of crevasses, seracs, and meltwater streams along the centuries-old ice. Listen as your guide tells you about the glacier's formation and its environmental significance while you feel the ice shifting beneath your feet. After this bucket-list trek, head to land to find a cozy refuge for lunch, then enjoy panoramic views of the glacier from the observation decks. As this full-day adventure ends, return to your hotel in El Calafate for the evening.

From the estancia, you'll embark on a journey by 4WD over an unpaved road ascending into the mountains. Once you reach the Continental Ice Field Refuge, you'll exit the vehicle and begin a 20-minute walk with views of glacial landscapes and Andes peaks until you reach the Upsala viewpoint. Here, you'll have an unobstructed view of the eastern face of the Upsala Glacier as well as Lago Guillermo and the Southern Patagonian Ice Field. In the late afternoon, you'll return to the boat and begin the trip back to El Calafate.

Day 9: Transfer to El Chaltén

In the morning, a shuttle service will pick you up for the three-hour drive north to El Chaltén. This town lies above Lago Viedma and is a major hub for mountain hikes (it's actually known as the "trekking capital of Argentina"). 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 a short hike or spend time relaxing at one of El Chaltén's many cafés and craft beer bars. 

Day 12: Transfer to Torres del Paine (Chile)

Trade Argentina for Chile today as you hop the border on a 5-6-hour bus ride south to Torres del Paine. One of South America's most impressive national parks, Torres is named after the soaring granite pillars that rise over 6,562 feet (2,000 m) above the Patagonian steppe. This pristine wilderness is home to turquoise lakes, rushing rivers, glaciers, dramatic peaks, and dense forests and extends across roughly 700 square miles (1,813 sq km). Once here, you'll check into your hotel, which is located within or adjacent to the park.

Day 13: Day Hike to Base Torres

Lace up your hiking boots for the final trek of the journey, as this morning you'll embark on the most famous day hike in Torres del Paine. The moderately difficult 11.2-mile (18 km) trek to Mirador Base Torres culminates with a rewarding view of the granite torres (towers) that give the park its name.

It starts at the base of Mont Almirante Nieto, where you'll be treated to panoramic views of Lago Nordenskjöld as you journey toward Refugio Chileno, a stop along the park's famous W Trek circuit. Here you can rest for a bit before continuing through a dense lenga beech forest, which gives way to moraine as you near your destination, a crystalline glacial lagoon that reflects the iconic towers. After admiring the view and taking photos, you'll hike back down the trail and return to your hotel.

Day 14: Transfer to Puerto Natales, Depart 

Your grand Patagonia adventure has reached its conclusion. After an early breakfast, leave Torres del Paine with your driver on a 1.5-hour transfer to the airport in the city of Puerto Natales, where you'll board a plane to Chile's capital, Santiago, and meet your connecting flight home. Safe travels!

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