Patagonia Glacier Explorer

Day 1 Arrive Buenos Aires

Upon arrival, check into your hotel and embark on an afternoon cultural and architectural tour of Buenos Aires. Walk through historic streets, visit the city's famous landmarks, and wander through the area called the "Paris of South America" before choosing one of the many restaurants for a delectable dinner.

Day 2 Fly El Calafate, onward to El Chalten (B)

A morning flight takes you to the lively town of El Calafate to begin your Argentina travels. Upon arrival, you'll begin the four-hour drive across the rugged landscape toward Chalten. Along the way, enjoy the magnificent geography of the region as you drive through the mountains, passing stunning lakes and winding rivers. This evening, settle in to your comfortable room in your hotel in Chalten.

Day 3 Laguna de los Tres (B,L)

You'll awake early this morning to begin a full day hike to Laguna de los Tres. The first 10 km gradually ascend through open and forested areas, with stunning views of Mt. Fitz Roy as you proceed. Your route crosses the Rio Blanco before you begin the toughest part of your trek - a fifty-minute climb that zigzags up a 45º slope. Your efforts are more than rewarded when you arrive at the eerily still glacial Laguna de Los Tres, where one of Patagonia's (and, quite possibly, the world's) best panoramic vistas stretches out before you! Enjoy lunch and feast on the views of the colossus of granite, ice, and sky, before heading back down to El Chalten for a free evening and a good night's sleep. 8 hrs hiking covering 13 miles (21 km).

Day 4 Laguna Torre (B,L)

Today is another full day of hiking up to Laguna Torre. Ascend from the De las Vueltas River Valley through dense southern beech forests, and enjoy views of the jagged Mount Torre-Adela range in the distance. You'll continue climbing gradually until you reach Laguna Torre, where you'll be rewarded by a stunning vista: majestic Mount Torre, flanked by the Adela mountains, high peaks, and glaciers spilling blue-white towards the lagoon. Eat lunch by the shores of the lagoon before hiking back to El Chalten for the evening. 6 hrs hiking covering 11 miles (17 km).

Day 5 Back to El Calafate (B,D)

Enjoy a leisurely morning in El Chalten before the four-hour transfer back to El Calafate to El Galpon del Glacier, your home for the next two nights. El Galpon is a working sheep ranch. The lodge is warm and welcoming with delicious homemade food, located just 15 minutes from downtown El Calafate. The homestead covers an area of Patagonian Steppe - a unique ecosystem of rivers, lakes and lagoons. While at the homestead visit the nature reserve and enjoy its many trails - over 40 species of migrating birds pass through here so keep turning your eyes skyward! It is also a working ranch and you'll have the opportunity to tour the shearing sheds and watch the working sheepdogs in action. For those who want to explore by horseback this is also an option.

Day 6 Perito Moreno Glacier (B,L,D)

Today you drive into Parque Nacional Los Glaciares for views of the stunning Perito Moreno Glacier. This huge advancing glacier is more than 3 miles wide at its front and over 20 stories high.

You'll take a boat across Lago Argentino and pass the massive front wall of blue ice, all the while watching for icebergs. After landing on a small beach you start hiking through the beech forest to the icepack of the glacier and have the opportunity to walk on the glacier with crampons. You'll eat your lunch sitting on the lateral moraine of the glacier, where you can absorb the magnificence of the glacier's anatomy and listen to its thunderous concerto of groaning and cracking ice dropping into the lake below. Tonight, sample some of El Calafate's Patagonian nightlife!

Day 7 Return Home (B)

Catch your flight to Buenos Aires and connecting flights homeward, or with more time, take a trek on the Perito Moreno Glacier, cross into Chile to visit Torres del Paine or head north to Iguazú Falls to continue your Argentina travel adventures.