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Highlights
Walk your way to the most recognizable scenes of Argentinian Patagonia
Get up close to Mount Fitz Roy and Cerro Torre, two of the most recognizable mountains in Patagonia and the world.
See your reflection in Laguna de los Tres and Laguna Torre, pristine alpine lakes of unbelievable shades of blue.
Camp, stay in mountain lodges, and relax in hotels to enjoy a mix of more rustic and more modern accommodations.
Snap photos of the most iconic glaciers in Patagonia, ice cracking off and creating massive waves in the glacial water.
Is there any destination more legendary than Patagonia? For some, this is the pinnacle of mountain experience, and the El Calafate to El Chaltén Trekking Adventure is a highlight reel of the most recognizable sights in this pristine area.
Begin in El Calafate, the gateway to Los Glaciares National Park, heading straight into the mountains to discover the pale blue ice of the Perito Moreno Glacier. Watch the ice cleave off from the glacier, startling condors into the wide sky. Hike to the undisputed best sights of Patagonia, discovering the towering summits of Mount Fitz Roy from the shores of Laguna de los Tres and the spires of Mount Torre and its satellite peaks from Laguna Torre. Stay in campsites and refuges used by top mountaineers for many years, immersing yourself in the spirit of this place. With no technical skills required, the El Calafate to El Chaltén Trekking Adventure is a hiking adventure fit for any adventurous traveller with the best of Patagonia on their bucket list!
Is there any destination more legendary than Patagonia? For some, this is the pinnacle of mountain experience, and the El Calafate to El Chaltén Trekking Adventure is a highlight reel of the most recognizable sights in this pristine area.
Begin in El Calafate, the gateway to Los Glaciares National Park, heading straight into the mountains to discover the pale blue ice of the Perito Moreno Glacier. Watch the ice cleave off from the glacier, startling condors into the wide sky. Hike to the undisputed best sights of Patagonia, discovering the towering summits of Mount Fitz Roy from the shores of Laguna de los Tres and the spires of Mount Torre and its satellite peaks from Laguna Torre. Stay in campsites and refuges used by top mountaineers for many years, immersing yourself in the spirit of this place. With no technical skills required, the El Calafate to El Chaltén Trekking Adventure is a hiking adventure fit for any adventurous traveller with the best of Patagonia on their bucket list!
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El Calafate to El Chaltén Trekking Adventure Itinerary
Day 1 Arrival
Making it to El Calafate means making it to the gateway to Los Glaciares National Park, the gem of Patagonia. If you’ve got time after travelling, you can go birdwatching at Laguna Nimes or visit the ice museum, perhaps with a drink at the ice bar included.
Overnight Location: Hotel in El Calafate
Distance: None
Meals: None
Day 2 Perito Moreno Glacier Excursion
Waking up in Patagonia, your first adventure will be to the Perito Moreno Glacier. Drive to the port where you’ll take a boat to the glacier, giving you a unique view of its icy blue sheer sides. Keep an eye on the sky for condors and eagles!
Continue along the Canal de Los Témpanos to the northern face of the glacier. Pass Bahia Toro, a unique black sand beach, where you can hop off the boat to enjoy a quick walk around this fascinating area. A thundering waterfall is your endpoint, and here your guide will tell you all about the glacier you just saw. Grab a hot drink at the nearby cafe before departing the Perito Moreno area and grabbing a bus to El Chaltén.
Overnight Location: Hotel in El Calafate
Distance: Flexible
Meals: Breakfast
Day 3 Hike to Piedra del Fraile and Pollone Glacier
After breakfast and a cup of hot coffee, begin with a ride to Rio Electrico. This is the starting point of a hike through the Electrico Valley, which leads you through an enchanting forest. Arrive at Piedra del Fraile, which will be your overnight location. After a break for lunch, you will continue hiking through the valley to the Pollone Glacier. Expect it to be a bit windy- you’re heading headfirst into the wind from the Continental Icefield!
Upon arriving at the glacier, you’ll be appreciating wild nature at its very best. Rock and ice dominate the landscape, and you’ll be able to get a peek of the northern face of iconic Mount Fitz Roy. Take a breather beside a hidden lagoon before hiking back to your refuge for the evening.
Overnight Location: Mountain Lodge at Piedra del Fraile
Distance: 6 hours, 15km
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner, afternoon tea
Day 4 Laguna de los Tres and Mount Fitz Roy
This morning, depart for the Piedras Blancas Glacier viewpoint for a quick, beautiful start to your day. You’ll hike to the Poincenot campsite to drop some bags, then continue up to Laguna de los Tres. This is the closest you can get to Mount Fitz Roy without any technical climbing, and the view of the distinct jagged peaks atop the impossibly blue lake is truly one of the best in Patagonia.
You’ll eat lunch at the lake if the weather allows, then descend back to camp for the evening.
Overnight Location: Poincenot Campground
Distance: 7-8 hours, 17km
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner, afternoon tea
Day 5 Hike to Laguna Torre
Waking up in an unbeatable campsite, enjoy breakfast before starting out through the forest. You’ll pass a collection of small lakes along this relatively flat path, then drop into a glacial valley that leads to Laguna Torre. Geologists and photographers alike love this valley for its perfect U shape.
Admire the stellar sight of Laguna Torre framed by Mount Torre, one of the most difficult mountains to conquer in the world due in part to its permanent ice mushroom cap formed by strong, cold winds.
After lunch, you’ll head back to El Chaltén through the Fitz Roy Valley.
Overnight Location: Hotel in El Chaltén
Distance: 7-8 hours, 21km
Meals: Breakfast, lunch
Day 6 Tour Concludes
Your 6 days in Patagonia are sure to be days you never forget. To complete the tour, you’ll grab a bus to El Calafate and depart from the local airport. Until next time!
Overnight Location: None
Distance: None
Meals: Breakfast
El Calafate to El Chaltén Trekking Adventure Price and Dates
This guided hiking tour in Argentinian Patagonia is run as a private tour for your group and the price depends on the number of participants and the class of accommodation you prefer.Prices below are per person.
2-Star Hotels
- Guided groups of 2: from USD1655 per person
- Guided groups of 3+: on request
4-Star Hotels
- Guided groups of 2: USD1865 per person
- Guided groups of 3: on request
Accommodation on the El Calafate to El Chaltén Trekking Adventure
This tour is based in hotels, mountain lodges, and campsites. The hotels are 1-4-star depending on which class of accommodation you book. The lodge has shared bathrooms and the campsite has rustic amenities. Tents are 2-person.
In some cases, the accommodation listed below may need to be substituted for other comparable accommodations.
Single Rooms and Solo Travelers
Rooms are double occupancy or higher. If you would prefer a single room where available, you can pay a supplement. Single occupancy may not be available in all locations. Solo travellers may be required to pay a supplement.
What’s Included in the El Calafate to El Chaltén Trekking Adventure?
Meals
5 breakfasts, 3 lunches, 2 dinners, and 2 afternoon teas are included.
Accommodations
Accommodations for 5 nights are included. Accommodations before or after the tour are not included but can be added as a supplement.
Transportation during the Tour
Transfers according to the itinerary are included. Rides on the bus between El Calafate and El Chaltén are included. Porters can be hired to transport up to 15kg of personal equipment as a supplement.
Also Included
- Guide services
- Camping and safety equipment
Not included
- Flights
- Meals, drinks, or snacks not previously mentioned
- Gratuities
- Travel insurance
- Optional excursions
- Visas if required
- Anything not mentioned as included
- Some entrance fees
Optional Extras
- Optional activities or excursions
- Entrance fee to Perito Moreno glacier (around USD25 per person)
- Porter services
- Additional nights before or after the tour
- Equipment hire if needed
- How hard is the El Calafate to El Chaltén Trekking Adventure?
- Do I need a visa to travel to Argentina?
- Are meals included on the El Calafate to El Chaltén Trekking Adventure?
- Do I need insurance?
- How do I get to El Calafate to start this tour?
- What should I bring?
- Is El Calafate to El Chaltén Trekking Adventure in English?
- Where does the El Calafate to El Chaltén Trekking Adventure end?
- Do I need special vaccines to travel to Argentina?
- Are there any travel restrictions for Argentina?
- When is the best time to travel to Argentina for this tour?
We rate this tour as a 3/5. While you don’t need any technical climbing skills, you should be comfortable with 2 days of hiking up to 17km over sometimes hilly terrain and one day of hiking up to 20km on flatter terrain. The conditions in Patagonia tend to be unpredictable, so you should be comfortable completing hikes in strong wind, rain, or hot sun.
Check with your local country about visa requirements. You could also try this website, though you should verify with your government.
5 breakfasts, 3 lunches, 2 dinners, and 2 afternoon teas are included. The meals on this tour have been evaluated by a nutritionist to ensure they offer the energy required. Please let us know if you have any dietary restrictions.
Yes, it is mandatory to have health and medical insurance to join this trip. Get your Travel Insurance.
You can fly into El Calafate Airport (FTE). Transfers in El Calafate are not included, but you can take a taxi to your hotel.
Cooking, first aid, and camping equipment is provided, including tents and sleeping bags. You should bring a 40-litre backpack, warm hat, fleece jacket, waterproof jacket, waterproof pants, a buff or scarf, hiking boots, sunglasses, trekking poles, lip balm (it’s dry in Patagonia), sunscreen, water bottle, headlamp, and warm gloves. Any equipment you don’t own can be rented locally if needed.
Yes, your guide will be English-speaking.
The tour ends in El Calafate. The bus you will take back into town will drop you off at the airport around 10:30/11 AM local time.
Check with your family doctor.
Please check with your local government about travel restrictions before you book your tour. This map from the US Department of State provides an overview of the current status in countries around the globe. The UK‘s Foreign Office and Government of Canada also provide advice on foreign travel. Note that the travel advice may change depending on your nationality.
The best time to visit Argentina for this tour is between December and February when the weather is at its warmest, but you should still be prepared for variable conditions and wind.
Customer Ratings
Walk Patagonia is an expert of the region, and they work with the most reliable and trustworthy operators: they recommend the best Hoteliers and local transport operators available. This operator avoids working with the low-cost operators that offer attractive prices but unreliable services.
