See the best of South America’s spectacular Patagonia region on this 9-day tour from El Calafate. With a combination of guided activities and free time, this tour allows you to easily make the most of your time in Patagonia. Discover some of Patagonia’s most beautiful features, including the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Perito Moreno Glacier and Torres del Paine National Park in Chile, with a guide. Then use your free time to explore Patagonian towns or go on an adventure like hiking to Mt Fitz Roy.
Highlights
- 9-day tour of Patagonia from El Calafate
- Visit the World Heritage-listed Perito Moreno Glacier in Los Glaciers National Park
- Cross the border into Chile and explore Torres del Paine National Park, where you’ll see wildlife and various lakes, including Laguna Amarga and Lago Pehoe
- Enjoy lots of free time to explore the towns of El Calafate, El Chalten and Puerto Natales on your own
- Breakfasts, eight nights of accommodation and transportation between sites included
- Choice of four types of accommodation allows you to suit this tour to your style and budget!
What You Can Expect
Perito Moreno Glacier
Beginning in El Calafate, this 9-day tour of Patagonia allows you to discover the stunning beauty of one of South America’s most famous regions with an expert guide.
Guided activities include a visit to Los Glaciers National Park, where you’ll take a boat cruise for up-close views of the Perito Moreno Glacier, and a visit to Torres del Paine National Park, where you’ll see picturesque natural features like alpine lakes and the steep granite pillars of the Torres del Paine Mountains.
During your free time, you can hike to Mt Fitz Roy and explore the three Patagonian towns where you’ll spend your eight nights: El Calafate, El Chalten and Puerto Natales. Throughout the experience, learn about the region’s history and wildlife from your knowledgeable guide.
Breakfast is included at your accommodation each morning; dinner can be enjoyed during your free time each evening (your guide will be happy to recommend local places). Depending on the day, you’ll have time for lunch either while visiting one of the national parks or hiking and exploring El Calafate, El Chalten or Puerto Natales
Please see the Itinerary section below for details on each day of the tour.
Guided activities include a visit to Los Glaciers National Park, where you’ll take a boat cruise for up-close views of the Perito Moreno Glacier, and a visit to Torres del Paine National Park, where you’ll see picturesque natural features like alpine lakes and the steep granite pillars of the Torres del Paine Mountains.
During your free time, you can hike to Mt Fitz Roy and explore the three Patagonian towns where you’ll spend your eight nights: El Calafate, El Chalten and Puerto Natales. Throughout the experience, learn about the region’s history and wildlife from your knowledgeable guide.
Breakfast is included at your accommodation each morning; dinner can be enjoyed during your free time each evening (your guide will be happy to recommend local places). Depending on the day, you’ll have time for lunch either while visiting one of the national parks or hiking and exploring El Calafate, El Chalten or Puerto Natales
Please see the Itinerary section below for details on each day of the tour.
Itinerary
Day 1:
When you arrive at El Calafate International Airport, you’ll be transported to your hotel by a professional guide. After check-in, you have the rest of the day free to explore local shops and restaurants around town, or venture outside El Calafate to surrounding areas like Laguna Nimez, where you’ll see a beautiful sunset (the front desk personnel at your selected accommodation can give you information on transportation, hiking and more).
Overnight: Your choice of accommodation in El Calafate
Day2: (B)
After an early breakfast, head out for a full-day guided excursion to Los Glaciers National Park, where you’ll see Perito Moreno Glacier. Admire beautiful views of this UNESCO World Heritage Site on a boat cruise, which allows you to see the glacier up close.
Then take a walk on nearby trails with your guide to viewing platforms, were can see the 19-mile-long (30 km) Perito Moreno Glacier from different perspectives. Stop for lunch at the park before continuing your exploration.
After your visit to the national park, you’ll be driven back to your El Calafate hotel, where you’ll have free time to eat dinner on your own and relax.
Overnight: Your choice of accommodation in El Calafate
Day 3: (B)
Today is a free day. Enjoy breakfast at the hotel before heading out to spend the day as you wish and explore El Calafate on your own.
Overnight: Your choice of accommodation in El Calafate
Day 4: (B)
When you’ve finished breakfast, depart by bus for the drive north to El Chalten. After the approximate 3-hour drive past Viedma and Argentino Lakes, arrive in El Chalten and have the rest of the day free to get familiar with the town at your leisure.
Overnight: Your choice of accommodation in El Chalten
Day 5: (B)
After breakfast, head out to one of the many nearby trails for an optional self-guided hike. You’ll receive all necessary trekking information from your guide before you leave your accommodation. There are full-day hiking options to Mt Fitz Roy, located on the border of Argentina and Chile, as well as shorter, 2- to 3-hour hiking trails near the mountain. Don't forget to pack a lunch if you decide to take one of the full-day hikes!
If you don’t want to hike, enjoy another free day to discover more of El Chalten on your own.
Overnight: Your choice of accommodation in El Chalten
Day 6: (B)
Enjoy an early breakfast and spend your last few hours in El Chalten at your leisure. In the early afternoon, you’ll be driven to the bus station for your bus ride back to El Calafate, where you’ll have the evening free to do as you wish.
Overnight: Your choice of accommodation in El Calafate
Day 7: (B)
After breakfast at your El Calafate hotel, leave Argentina behind and head to Puerto Natales, Chile, by bus. After checking into your hotel, enjoy the rest of the day on your own to explore this Chilean coastal town.
Overnight: Your choice of accommodation in Puerto Natales
Day 8: (B)
Wake up early today for breakfast and a full-day guided excursion to Torres del Paine National Park, one of the most beautiful national parks in Patagonia. Covering 447,260 acres (181,000 hectares), this national park is full of stunning natural beauty. Visit Laguna Amarga, a protected area with an abundance of waterfowl, and enjoy the hiking trails around the park. Admire breathtaking views of the Torres del Paine Mountains, which have heights up to 9,000 feet (2,743 meters). Your guide will point out local wildlife like wild guanacos, caramel-colored animals in the llama family, which can be found roaming the nearby plains. You'll have time to eat lunch in the park during your full-day tour.
After your full day in the park, you’ll be transported back to your Puerto Natales hotel. The evening is yours to do as you wish.
Overnight: Your choice of accommodation in Puerto Natales
Day 9: (B)
After breakfast, you’ll be taken to the bus station for the ride back to El Calafate International Airport.
Note: You have the option not to be taken to the airport if you choose to extend your trip in Argentina
When you arrive at El Calafate International Airport, you’ll be transported to your hotel by a professional guide. After check-in, you have the rest of the day free to explore local shops and restaurants around town, or venture outside El Calafate to surrounding areas like Laguna Nimez, where you’ll see a beautiful sunset (the front desk personnel at your selected accommodation can give you information on transportation, hiking and more).
Overnight: Your choice of accommodation in El Calafate
Day2: (B)
After an early breakfast, head out for a full-day guided excursion to Los Glaciers National Park, where you’ll see Perito Moreno Glacier. Admire beautiful views of this UNESCO World Heritage Site on a boat cruise, which allows you to see the glacier up close.
Then take a walk on nearby trails with your guide to viewing platforms, were can see the 19-mile-long (30 km) Perito Moreno Glacier from different perspectives. Stop for lunch at the park before continuing your exploration.
After your visit to the national park, you’ll be driven back to your El Calafate hotel, where you’ll have free time to eat dinner on your own and relax.
Overnight: Your choice of accommodation in El Calafate
Day 3: (B)
Today is a free day. Enjoy breakfast at the hotel before heading out to spend the day as you wish and explore El Calafate on your own.
Overnight: Your choice of accommodation in El Calafate
Day 4: (B)
When you’ve finished breakfast, depart by bus for the drive north to El Chalten. After the approximate 3-hour drive past Viedma and Argentino Lakes, arrive in El Chalten and have the rest of the day free to get familiar with the town at your leisure.
Overnight: Your choice of accommodation in El Chalten
Day 5: (B)
After breakfast, head out to one of the many nearby trails for an optional self-guided hike. You’ll receive all necessary trekking information from your guide before you leave your accommodation. There are full-day hiking options to Mt Fitz Roy, located on the border of Argentina and Chile, as well as shorter, 2- to 3-hour hiking trails near the mountain. Don't forget to pack a lunch if you decide to take one of the full-day hikes!
If you don’t want to hike, enjoy another free day to discover more of El Chalten on your own.
Overnight: Your choice of accommodation in El Chalten
Day 6: (B)
Enjoy an early breakfast and spend your last few hours in El Chalten at your leisure. In the early afternoon, you’ll be driven to the bus station for your bus ride back to El Calafate, where you’ll have the evening free to do as you wish.
Overnight: Your choice of accommodation in El Calafate
Day 7: (B)
After breakfast at your El Calafate hotel, leave Argentina behind and head to Puerto Natales, Chile, by bus. After checking into your hotel, enjoy the rest of the day on your own to explore this Chilean coastal town.
Overnight: Your choice of accommodation in Puerto Natales
Day 8: (B)
Wake up early today for breakfast and a full-day guided excursion to Torres del Paine National Park, one of the most beautiful national parks in Patagonia. Covering 447,260 acres (181,000 hectares), this national park is full of stunning natural beauty. Visit Laguna Amarga, a protected area with an abundance of waterfowl, and enjoy the hiking trails around the park. Admire breathtaking views of the Torres del Paine Mountains, which have heights up to 9,000 feet (2,743 meters). Your guide will point out local wildlife like wild guanacos, caramel-colored animals in the llama family, which can be found roaming the nearby plains. You'll have time to eat lunch in the park during your full-day tour.
After your full day in the park, you’ll be transported back to your Puerto Natales hotel. The evening is yours to do as you wish.
Overnight: Your choice of accommodation in Puerto Natales
Day 9: (B)
After breakfast, you’ll be taken to the bus station for the ride back to El Calafate International Airport.
Note: You have the option not to be taken to the airport if you choose to extend your trip in Argentina
