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Trekking in Patagonia

Patagonia Hiking Express

Example 9 Day Tour
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Spend nine days trekking through the Patagonian landscape on this Patagonia Hiking Express tour. Explore Perito Moreno Glacier, the Fitz Roy Range, Laguna Torre, El Calafate, Torres del Paine, and more. Hike through glaciers, past massifs, to lagoons, and through glaciated mountain ranges. Enjoy free time to relax and catch up on rest or choose to explore El Calafate and Torres del Paine on this fast paced itinerary through Patagonia.
Trekking in Torres del Paine provides spectacular views of mountains, glaciers and lakesGetting up close to Glaciar GreyDay 6: From the walkways overlooking Perito Moreno glacierEXPLORING! Los Glaciares NP ArgentinaLago Nordenskjold, Torres del Paine, ChileHiking to Perito Moreno GlacierTaking a break during a trek in Torres del PaineHiking in Torres del PaineMount Fitz Roy! Los Glaciares NP, Arg.Glaciar GreyLos Glaciares NP, ArgentinaTorres del Paine, ChileHiking Torres del PainePerito Moreno Glacier is 5 km wideTrekking in Patagonia
Highlights
  • Hike in the majestic Patagonian landscape with views of Torres del Paine
  • Hike to Laguna Torre and Laguna de los Tres in the Fitz Roy Range
  • Hike on Perito Moreno Glacier with crampons
  • Explore all that Patagonia has to offer in a fast but comfortable adventure
Activities
Activity Level: Challenging
Requires high-intensity physical efforts that push the limits of one's fitness. May include tours with multiple days in a row of strenuous physical activity or single requiring more than 7 hours of activity. Recommended for travelers maintaining a demanding fitness level.
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Full Itinerary

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Day 1: Arrive in El Calafate

Arrive to El Calafate on the flight of your choice today where a transfer takes you to your centrally-located hotel. Meet a guide for an orientation and get ready for a great adventure!

Day 2: Transfer to Torres del Paine

  • Hotel
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch
Load up in your vehicle for the 6-hour scenic drive towards the Chilean border* and into Torres del Paine National Park. Cross over the border in 4 x4 vehicle and drive the rest of the way on the bumpy road into the park, exploring its stunning scenery. En route stop for short hikes to get the best views of park highlights. Arrive to the Laguna Amarga where you switch vehicles and shuttle to your hotel. Settle in to your comfortable lodge, Hotel del Paine.

 

Day 3: Torres del Paine Hike

  • Hotel
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch
Tackle the famous Torres del Paine today if the weather is favorable. These three granite towers are the most famous attraction of the park, reaching 9,400 ft high and carved out by glacial forces years ago. The moderate to challenging hike takes about 7-9 hours round-trip, depending on the group pace, and offers a good challenge for well-trodden hikers.

Day 4: Free day Torres del Paine

  • Hotel
  • 1 Breakfast, 1 Lunch
This morning is free for you to take in an optional excursion. You can sail the lake to get a view of Grey Glacier, arrange to go horseback riding, or go hiking to another nearby location. Check with hotel staff about pricing and booking tours locally. 

Day 5: Return to El Calafate

Today transfer to Laguna Amarga, cross the border* back into Argentina, and then take the bus back to El Calafate where you overnight.
 

Day 6: Perito Moreno Glacier | Drive to El Chalten

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! 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 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.) 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.

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. 

From here transfer back to El Calafate for your four hour transfer to El Chalten this evening.

Day 7: El Chalten and Fitz Roy Massif

Get ready for a full day hike in the Fitz Roy Range with a locally licensed trekking guide. Hike to the viewpoint at Laguna de los Tres for one of the most impressive views of the Fitz Roy Massif. A shorter alternative viewpoint  at Piedras Blancas can be accessed along the way (7-10 km each way for an easier hike). Most groups opt for the more challenging hike to Laguna de los Tres, 12km each way. Climb for about 1 hour to your first lookout of Cerro Fitz Roy. Next hike an additional 2 hours to the Rio Blanco campsite. From here continue for another hour up to Laguna de los Tres, where you are rewarded with spectacular views of Cerro Fitz Roy, Laguna Sucia, and Viedma Glacier. Enjoy lunch before heading back to El Chalten.

Distance: up to15 miles (up to 24 km) 
Hiking time: 7 hours
Difficulty: Moderate - Difficult
Highest point: 3871ft (1180m)
Approximate Elevation gain: 2395ft (730m)

Day 8: Laguna Torre Hike

Enjoy another full day of hiking up to Laguna Torre today. 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. Continue climbing gradually until you reach Laguna Torre, where you are 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.

Distance: 11 miles (17 km)
Hiking time: 6 hours
Difficulty: Easy
Highest point: 1968ft (600m)


 

Day 9: Return to El Calafate

  • 1 Breakfast
Your tour concludes with your return to El Calafate, though an additional night, or further services in Buenos Aires can certainly be provided.

With more time, consider one of our more in-depth Patagonia itineraries such as the Ultimate Patagonia Trekking Trip or our End of the World adventure!

Accommodations

Hotel del Paine

Hotel del Paine
Hotel del Paine
Breathtaking views of Patagonia

El Chalten - Hotels

El Calafate - Hotels

Dates & Prices

My Preferred Start Date

Per person starting at
$3,418

Notes

Select a Date
On December 19 departure, includes special holiday dinner on December 24
On December 26 departure, includes special holiday dinner on December 31

See Holiday 2020 itinerary option for pricing and 10-day itinerary option.

Please note: Rate based on booking the first departure to Perito Moreno Glacier. If we are unable to confirm this first departure and the time of booking, please add $250/person for private transfer to and from Los Glaciares National Park.
Included
  • 8 Breakfasts, 2 Lunches, 1 Box Lunch
  • 8 Nights Accommodations
  • 2 Days Locally Hosted Guide Service
  • Accommodations as listed
  • Ground transportation as listed
  • Activities as listed
  • Meals as listed
  • Access to a 24-7 Emergency line while traveling
  • Parque Nacional Los Glaciares Entrance fee
  • Gear Rental: Crampons & Helmets
Excluded
  • Gratuities
  • Travel Insurance
  • Personal Expenses
  • Flight costs (please request a quote)
  • Additional excursions during free time
  • Fuel and transportation surcharges (when applicable)
  • Internal Flights: Buenos Aires - El Calafate - Buenos Aires
  • Entrance fee to  Torres del Paine National Park.

Map

When to Go

Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Good to ideal period to travel, and many people choose to visit at this time.
Chance for unpredictable weather but with fewer visitors.
Typically not offered during this period because of weather conditions.

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This was our first trip to South America and we were a little nervous. But Adventure Life made things so easy! All our questions were answered before we left, and our guide, Vidal, was amazing! He gave us enough space to explore without rushing us along. He also knew where the best picture taking opportunities were, which was great.
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