Explore Argentina and Chile’s most iconic destinations on this Best of Patagonia 9-day adventure. Walk beside Perito Moreno Glacier and take a boat cruise along its 60m face. Hike or horse ride in the Patagonian Andes and take in the spectacular scenery of Fitz Roy and Chalten. Stunning mountain vistas, enormous glaciers and hiking trails abound in South America’s favourite region, Patagonia.
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At the airport you will meet your transfer to start your 3 hour long trip to El Chaltén (shared service).
You will travel along the famous Route 40, surrounded by the Patagonian steppe. On the road you’ll see: Lake Argentino, the biggest southernmost lake in Patagonia, and Lake Viedma, the largest Argentine lake formed by the melting of glaciers, in this case, Viedma Glacier. This lake leads to La Leona River, which connects both lakes, and where stands La Leona Road house, the place where the famous thieves, Butch Cassidy and Sundance Kid hid-out for a month. After discovering other rough gems of this particular landscape, you’ll reach El Chaltén, and your transportation will leave you at your hotel.
El Chaltén is the top rated hiking destination in Argentina .This charming little village, located at the foot of Fitz Roy Mountain, surrounded by glaciers, lakes, rivers and forest, is the start point for most hiking trails. A paradise for climbers and hikers alike.
Duration: 3 hours
Included: transportation mentioned above, no guide.
Note: keep in mind that the luggage should be equivalent to a bag up to 18k. Excess baggage will pay an extra charge.
A unique excursion to enjoy one of the most rugged areas of Patagonia. It is an unforgettable experience to explore nature with “the five senses”. Enjoy beautiful panoramic road with permanent wonderful images to take photos, between forests and river. From the wharf of Punta Sur sailed for about 50 minutes sighting the Huemul and Crestón glaciers. Choose to walk on one of the three perfectly marked trails of the Vespignani Glacier Reserve according to the difficulty. After treking through one of the most beautiful forests in the region, sailing back to the pier and to El Chalten. Shared service.
Not included: Ticket to Huemul glacier
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch Box
*Alternative options: Guided hikes in the park can also be arranged on request.
Enjoy an early walk on your own around town or a short easy hike during the morning: you can walk to El Chorrillo del Salto, 3-4 hours away from the village and get to a little waterfall encircled by native trees and flora, like the Patagonian Orchid.
This afternoon you will board your bus back to El Calafate (shared service).The 3 hour long driving back will be a good opportunity to rest or just relax, enjoying the passing landscape at your window.
Once you arrive at El Calafate, the bus will leave you at your hotel. It’s your chance to try the tender and exquisite Patagonian Lamb or a heavenly tasting Calafate ice-cream. At Calafate, food options are varied: from veggie delicacies to the best demonstration of international cuisine. You can choose a fancy restaurant or a traditional local tavern to spend an unforgettable time.
Duration: 3 hours
Included: transportation mentioned above, no guide.
Meals Included: Breakfast
In the morning, we’ll drive you to Glaciers National Park (shared service) to take the 6 hour long Perito Moreno Glacier tour. Get prepared to play with the giants!
Glaciers National Park has been a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1981 with home to 200 approximately glaciers. Half of this park is occupied by the campo de hielo patagónico (Patagonian ice field), the largest ice field after Antarctica. You will travel 40 km (about 25 miles) from El Calafate to the park, enjoying the views of the Patagonian steppe. Once inside the park you will take the walkways to explore the different viewpoints, and get comfortably close to the Perito Moreno Glacier. If you’re lucky, you may get to see a piece of ice break off and fall from the glacier wall, sinking forever in the lake. For about one hour, a bilingual guide will provide you with all the information you want to know!
After this visit you will take a boat ride that will take you close enough to fully appreciate the 80 m (262 ft) high ice walls of Perito Moreno! You’ll never feel closer to this gigantic and impressive natural masterpiece.
At the end of this exciting day, we’ll take you back to your hotel in El Calafate (shared service).
Duration: 6 hours
Included: transportation mentioned above, boat ride, bilingual guide (English / Spanish)
Note: For even more adventure, you may want to consider either taking the Big Ice or Mini-Trekking excursion (at an extra cost). Both allow you to hike on the glacier!
Please inquire to book.
- National park Los Glaciares entrance included
Meals Included: Breakfast
In the morning, you’ll make your way to the bus station to start your trip to Puerto Natales—Your Chilean journey is about to begin!
Private transfers to the bus station are available at additional rates.
Things to take into account: it’s important to be there half hour before the departure. Most hotels are walking distance from the bus terminal, but if you prefer to take a taxi, roughly you might spend usd 5/7. It is not allowed to take any fresh food, plants, seeds, etc. from Argentina to Chile. They are very strict, and fines can be high. If you are not sure if something is allowed or not, please declare it (they will provide you with a form) and they will inform you if you can carry it or not.
After this 5 hour-long trip, you will have cross hundreds of kilometres of green landscapes dramatically situated between the mountains. Once you arrive to Puerto Natales the guardian Milodon -the last ground sloth that walked the Earth 5000 years ago- will wave its bronze hand at the entrance of this picturesque town. You’ll make your way to your hotel (most are few blocks away from the bus station) and have time to explore this small town, the base to visit the world famous Torres del Paine National Park.
You can walk along the shores of Magellan Strait, or just relax in one of the little cafés of town while admiring its patchwork facade of colorful houses.
At Torres del Paine National Park there are no shops, so Puerto Natales will be your last chance to buy provisions for the next day. Shops don’t provide plastic bags so if you buy something you’ll have to bring your own ecological bag or make some space in your day pack.
Duration: 5 hours
Included: bus ticket El Calafate - Puerto Natales
Not included: transportation to/from the bus station at El Calafate and Puerto Natales
Meals Included: Breakfast
Today we’ll pick you up really early at your hotel (shared service) to take you to the first stop of this adventurous day: Milodon Cave, located 24 kilometers north of town. This natural monument is composed by three caverns and a rocky conglomerate called Silla del Diablo (Devil's chair), due its chairlike shape.
Before getting to the cave, we will pass by La Silla del Diablo and learn about its mysterious legend...a story told by the oldest man in Patagonia who believed that the Devil appeared to those who came to look for him on the dark nights.
We’ll keep on travelling to Torres del Paine National Park, and on the way you’ll get to see Sofia Lagoon, Prat Range, Porteño Lake, and the stunning Grey Lake viewpoint. You’ll go over Serrano Bridge to continue to Grey Lake sector, where you’ll have time to walk along the shore. Once you go back to the parking lot, we’ll take you to a restaurant to rest and have lunch (not included in our service).
After lunch, we’ll head to Salto Grande sector. You’ll visit Nordenskjold Lake view point before continuing by a sinuous route to Amarga Lagoon area. Previously, we’ll make a stop at Paine turquoise waterfall, the source of which is Paine River.
Heading back to Puerto Natales (shared service), we’ll stop at Sarmiento Lake viewpoint to take the last picture of the stunning Torres del Paine.
Duration: 10 hours
Included: transportation mentioned above, bilingual guide
Not included: entrance fee to natural reserves
Included: Torres del Paine National park entrance fee.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Snack
Today we take a day trip to Balmaceda and Serrano Navigation, where you’ll sail the fjords like the first pioneers of Patagonia and discover the natural wonders of the Bernardo O'Higgins National Park. This is a full day trip to be in contact with nature and one of the most awe-inspiring landscapes of Chilean Patagonia.
Meals Included: Breakfast
Today you’ll make your way to the bus station of Puerto Natales to depart to Punta Arenas - shared service (we can also arrange transfer back to El Calafate on request - additional cost). Being there 30 minutes before the departure is the best to avoid any last minutes inconvenience. This is a 3-4 hour long trip in a standard bus through the steppe, crisscrossed by mountains and fjords waters.
At your arrival to the bus station at Punta Arenas you’ll make your way to your hotel—you can walk or take a taxi for around 5-7 dollars.
Punta Arenas is the Chilean southernmost city, sited at the Magellanic Strait, and the leading port for Antarctic cruises and scientific research. Before the construction of the Panama Canal, Punta Arenas was the most important maritime crossroad between the Pacific and Atlantic Ocean, thus, the city grew as a commercial center surrounded by European-type buildings— It’s colorful houses, standing out from a backdrop of snow-capped mountains are a vision for sore eyes.
What to do in Punta Arenas? You can enjoy the evening by taking a 3 hour long city tour to visit the Mirador Hill and get the most gorgeous views of Magellan Strait, and the Maggiorino Borgatello Museum to see the craft master pieces made by the Onas, Yaganes and other natives of the area.
Duration: 3-4 hours
Included: transportation mentioned above
Not included: transportation from and back the bus station at Puerto Natales and Punta Arenas.
Note: tickets will be handed at the stand of the bus company or delivered to your hotel at extra rate.
Meals Included: Breakfast
At the appropriate time you’ll be taken to the airport to take your flight (shared service)
Meals Included: Breakfast
