Argentina Patagonia Explorer

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.

This three-day trekking adventure begins today as you hike through an ancient, subantarctic beech forest to the Piedras Blancas Glacier. Your route runs parallel with the Rio Blanco until 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 with one of Patagonia's, and possibly the world's, best panoramic vistas! Enjoy lunch and take in the view of Mount Fitz Roy, which hovers above you amidst the clouds. Continue on to your campsite at Poincenot.

Distance: 9 miles (14 km) 
Hiking time: 7 hours
Difficulty: Moderate - Difficult
Highest point: 3871ft (1180m)
Approximate Elevation gain: 2395ft (730m)

After breakfast, you will start the trek to Camp Torre and pass two lagoons appropriately named Madre and Hija (Mother and Daughter). You'll be passing through a living natural history lesson on glaciation and learn about the history that created this stunning landscape. Keep your eyes out for Andean condors, Magellenic woodpeckers and other Patagonian wildlife along the way. This segment lasts four hours to get to the camp. There is an optional extra hike from Lago Torre to Mirador Maestri for an extra two hour hike to the old base camp for climbers who explored the Torre Massif in the early 1970's.

Distance: 7 miles (10 km) 
Hiking time: 6 hours
Difficulty: Moderate
Highest point: 2460ft (750m)
Approximate Elevation gain: -328ft (-100m)

Enjoy your breakfast after waking up at the Torre Campsite. Hike back to El Chalten town to rest after two full-day treks.

Today, travelers have a choice between three amazing adventures!  Here are the options:

1. Half-Day Horseback Riding Adventure with Estancia Lunch or Dinner (meal included depends on AM or PM excursion)
Ride through the most remote corners of an authentic Patagonian estancia on horseback for an unforgettable half-day adventure. With a bilingual guide, immerse yourself in nature as you cross lush ñire and lenga forests, flowing streams, and breathtaking mountain ranges. Along the way, take in stunning panoramic views of the Estancia and its spectacular surroundings.
After the ride, El Establo Restaurant awaits with a carefully crafted selection of traditional regional cuisine—prepared and ready for you to savor.

Starting time: 11 a.m. / 6 p.m.
Duration: 4.5 hours, including transfer times.
Approximate horseback riding duration: 1 hour and 30 minutes.
Approximate distance covered: 8 km (5 miles).
Children under 8 years old can ride with an adult
Maximum weight: 100kg / 220lbs


2.  Lago del Desierto & Vespignani Glacier Excursion (Box lunch included)
This unforgettable experience combines navigation and trekking with a visit to the northern area of Los Glaciares National Park and the provincial reserve of Lago del Desierto.  Depart by bus from El Chalten towards Punta Sur dock at Lago del Desierto. From there, sail for about 50 minutes spotting glaciers along the way and disembarking for a while in Punta Norte. Arrive to the Vespignani Glacier area where an expert guide will lead you to the trailheads of three different hikes and give you more information. All of the hikes are self-guided and require different levels of difficulty and effort. You will be given time to enjoy your preferred trekking activity. After hiking, hot chocolate, tea, coffee, and a snack will be awaiting you before boating back on the Lago del Desierto towards Punta Sur. From the dock, your bus will to take you back for another evening in El Chalten.

3.  Full Day Creston Glacier Hike (Box lunch included) 
Cerro Crestón is located in the Lago Del Desierto area, about 37 km along Route 23 north of El Chaltén. With tall Lenga forests, glaciers and the imposing Cerro Crestón, this valley provides some of the most captivating trekking options. The day before the activity starts, a brief meeting will be held with the guide to confirm all details and check your necessary equipment for the morning's adventure. In the morning, a private transfer will pick you up at the hotel in El Chaltén and bring you to the meeting point for a 9:30 meet-up with your guide. Start the trek by hiking for about 40 minutes to the mountain's refugio, where a hot drink will be waiting for you. After about 20 minutes of a wonderful walk through a large lenga forest the surroundings will open up to an impressive view of the glacier and the Crestón peak. From here, continue gaining elevation out of the forest and into a boulder field landscape eroded by the glacier. This is the most demanding part of the trek. After walking 2 hours through this type of terrain, you will reach the foot of the glacier. Here, take a moment to put on your necessary equipment to walk on the glacier. Getting to the glacier depends on the weather, and travelers' physical condition. After enjoying lunch up at the glacier, return to the refugio and then back to El Chalten to rest up after a big day.  

Difficulty Level: Medium- High (Requires previous trekking experience)
Duration: 9 hours total, (6 hrs trekking plus transfer time)
Gear: Warm & waterproof clothing, gloves, hat, sunglasses, and appropriate waterproof, high-top trekking boots required
Elevation gain: 900 meters
Total distance: 16km
*This excursion requires a supplemental fee. Please contact us for details.

Today will be free to explore and hike on your own!  By now, you will be comfortable and familiar enough with the area to head out for an independent adventure. A map will be provided to travelers to help navigate trails without a guide.  May we suggest Loma del Pliegue Tumbado?  This hike offers great vantage points of the area you have hiked over the past days with Lake Capri, Torre Glacier, and Mount Fitz Roy as well as of Mount Huemul and Lago Viedma to the south. 

Return to El Chalten area and transfer back to El Calafate in the evening.

Pliegue Tumbado information:
Distance: 13 miles (21 km) 
Hiking time: 8 hours
Difficulty: Moderate
Highest point: 3937ft (1200m)
Approximate Elevation gain: -2624ft (-800m)

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 - a highlight of your Patagonia travels! 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'll start hiking through the beech forest to the icepack of the glacier and have the opportunity to walk on the glacier with crampons (This Glacier trek has a minimum age of 10 and a maximum age of 65. Alternate excursions are available for those under 10 or over 65 years of age). 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. Overnight in El Calafate.

Contact us if you are interested in the Big Ice Adventure, a more active excursion that spends more time on the ice. Click here for more details. 

Today, participate in a program that aims to publicize and share the processes in the art of craft beer. Bariloche, in recent years, has taken a very important turn in the production of craft beer, where passionate brewmasters have developed unimaginable variants giving magnificent results to the palate. In a tour of the best-recognized Bariloche factories, enjoy a tasting of Patagonian flavors in a unique environment. Customize your time in Bariloche. Add full-day hikes or other excursions to build the trip to your preferences.

During Autumn, Winter & Spring: Pick up at 3PM & return at 8PM.

During Summer: Pick up at 6PM & return at 11PM.

A panoramic guided drive will bring you to Lopez Bay, where the adventure begins. Kayaks and guides will be ready to brief you before paddling on Lake Nahuel Huapi and Moreno Lake. There will be enough time to take photos, explore and enjoy the landscape, the coasts and hidden bays inaccessible to most people. A fine lunch will be served on the shore of the lake, where you can relax and breathe fresh air surrounded by pure nature. Reach the lookout of the Tristeza branch on a hike allowing fantastic views of magnificent Mount Tronador, its glaciers and the endless snow of the Andes. A vehicle to discover the beauty of Bariloche surroundings and a short pause at “Punto Panoramico” will let you spot Victoria Island and the mountain range around Lake Nahuel Huapi. Arrive back at the hotel in late afternoon.

Note: The kayak & hike tour only operates Tuesdays and Thursdays

This traditional trip along the southern shore of Lake Nahuel Huapi has a great viewpoint of the Llao Llao Hotel and the lakes, as well as attractions like Saint Edward Chapel, near Port Pañuelo. Seventeen kilometers away from Bariloche City you will find Mt. Campanario, where visitors can take a chairlift to the viewpoint (at an extra cost) and enjoy the incredible views of this wonderful lakes region.

End of journey. Bid farewell and take your flight back home.