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Highlights
Immerse yourself in the best parts of Patagonia, eploring the best of both Chile and Argentina
Hike to a viewpoint over Mount Fitz Roy, the most iconic and recognizable mountain in Patagonia.
Kayak along the sparkling waters of Lago del Desierto, where a hanging glacier and mountains surround you.
Cruise from Los Glaciares National Park in Argentina to Torres del Paine National Park in Chile.
Explore some of the most photographed glaciers in Patagonia on boat rides and from the trail.
No need to choose between the Argentine and Chilean sides of Patagonia, because the 13-day Best of Patagonia Tour covers the best of the region across both countries! Experience the best of Argentina’s Los Glaciares National Park and Chile’s Torres del Paine National Park, the paths that hold the most iconic sights in all of Patagonia.
You’ll start the best of Patagonia adventure in Argentina, seeing the massive Perito Moreno Glacier, the petrified forest, Laguna Torre, and Mount Fitz Roy all in a few days. You’ll kayak across Lago del Desierto, admiring the hanging glaciers, and hike to panoramic viewpoints, watching icebergs float in mountain-clad lakes. Hop on the bus to Chile, hiking to the Towers, trekking through the lush green French Valley, and sleeping in remote mountain huts. For an adventure that gets to the heart of Patagonia in both countries, the best of Patagonia tour is the perfect choice.
No need to choose between the Argentine and Chilean sides of Patagonia, because the 13-day Best of Patagonia Tour covers the best of the region across both countries! Experience the best of Argentina’s Los Glaciares National Park and Chile’s Torres del Paine National Park, the paths that hold the most iconic sights in all of Patagonia.
You’ll start the best of Patagonia adventure in Argentina, seeing the massive Perito Moreno Glacier, the petrified forest, Laguna Torre, and Mount Fitz Roy all in a few days. You’ll kayak across Lago del Desierto, admiring the hanging glaciers, and hike to panoramic viewpoints, watching icebergs float in mountain-clad lakes. Hop on the bus to Chile, hiking to the Towers, trekking through the lush green French Valley, and sleeping in remote mountain huts. For an adventure that gets to the heart of Patagonia in both countries, the best of Patagonia tour is the perfect choice.
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Best of Patagonia Tour Itinerary
Day 1 El Calafate
Welcome to El Calafate, the gateway to Los Glaciares National Park! 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
Start the Best of PAtagonia tour today with one of the park’s most-visited sites, 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 disembark from the boat to enjoy a walk around this amazing 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 and spend some time adventuring on your own before departing the Perito Moreno area.
Overnight Location: Hotel in El Calafate
Distance: Flexible
Meals: Breakfast
Day 3 Hike to Piedra del Fraile and Pollone Glacier
After breakfast, you’ll be off to a trailhead in the petrified forest. Walk while you learn about the geology of this unique area where dinosaurs roamed 70 million years ago.
After lunch, you’ll be transferred to El Chaltén, with the rest of the afternoon free to do as you please.
Overnight Location: Hotel in El Chaltén
Distance: Flexible
Meals: Breakfast, lunch
Day 4 Laguna de los Tres and Mount Fitz Roy
This morning, depart for the Piedras Blancas Glacier viewpoint for a beautiful start to your day. Continue to the Poincenot Campground, where mountaineers from all over the world camp between their adventures. After a break here, you’ll hike 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.
Descend via Laguna Capri, another pretty spot. Celebrate your hike tonight at a local restaurant.
Overnight Location: Hotel in El Chaltén
Distance: 8-9 hours, 22km
Meals: Breakfast
Day 5 Kayaking at Lago del Desierto
This morning on the Best of Patagonia Tour, you’ll drive to Lago del Desierto, a gorgeous trip to an even better location. Your kayaking instructor will teach you the basics once you arrive, and then you’re free to take to the water to explore the hanging Huemul Glacier and admire the surrounding mountains.
Overnight Location: Hotel in El Chaltén
Distance: 7 hours kayaking
Meals: Breakfast
Day 6 Hike to Laguna Torre
Enjoy some time to explore freely today as you hike to Laguna Torre without a guide (but with plenty of preparation from one!). You’ll pass through different kinds of forests and beside several 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: 6 hours, 20km
Meals: Breakfast
Day 7 Trek to Loma del Pliegue Tumbado
Your final adventure in Patagonia is another self-guided expedition, but this one starts right outside the front door of your hotel. Hike out along a lesser-walked trail that culminates in a 260-degree viewpoint of Fitz Roy, Viedma Lake, and the Patagonian steppe. What a view! Keep an eye out for marine fossils on the trail back.
You’ll bus back to El Calafate tonight to start a new leg of your adventure.
Overnight Location: Hotel in El Chaltén
Distance: 6-7 hours, 18km
Meals: Breakfast
Day 8 El Calafate to Puerto Natales
So long for now, Argentina! You’ll spend today travelling across the border to Puerto Natales, Chile. You’ll have some time in the evening to review the route for the next few days and ask any questions you may have.
Overnight Location: Hotel in Puerto Natales
Distance: None
Meals: Breakfast
Day 9 Towers of Torres del Paine
Today you’ll start with a bus into Torres del Paine, driving across open steppe and passing estancias (ranches). You’ll drop your bags at a hotel and start hiking up to the Towers, ending at a large moraine with a perfect viewpoint. Enjoy lunch in this pristine place, admiring the aptly named Towers rising into the sky.
Return to the hut or campsite (depending where there’s availability) and enjoy dinner.
Overnight Location: Mountain hut or campsite in Torres del Paine
Distance: 8 hours, 22km
Meals: Breakfast, dinner
Day 10 Hike to Refugio Los Cuernos
After breakfast, pack up your lunch and begin your hike, passing the Inge Lagoon, where condors like to hang out. Ascend towards the base of Almirante Nieto, crossing the Bader River. You’ll stop your hike at Refugio Los Cuernos, your overnight destination.
Overnight Location: Mountain hut or campsite in Torres del Paine
Distance: 4-5 hours, 13km
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 11 Trekking the French Valley
Fuel up at breakfast for a more challenging hike today. You’ll be trekking up to the Paine massif in the French Valley, a splendid natural basin surrounded by hanging glaciers and mountains. At the entrance to the valley, you’ll scramble over a few boulders and enter a dreamy lush area, relatively rare in this region. Continue to a viewpoint over the towering summits nearby, a truly sublime spot to have your picnic.
After lunch, skirt around the southwest side of Paine Grande, the park’s highest peak. You’ll hike through evergreen forests to tonight’s mountain hut.
Overnight Location: Mountain hut or campsite in Torres del Paine
Distance: 9 hours, 18km
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 12 Gray Glacier Trek
Early this morning, begin hiking along a narrow path, passing sections of the huge Southern Patagonian Ice Field, a geological feature that actually hides a handful of unclimbed mountains. Hike up to the lookout point for Grey Glacier, a massive ice sheet flowing between summits. After lunch, you’ll board a boat to sail around the glacier, being treated to an up-close view of the lines and cracks.
You’ll end the night in Puerto Natales. Celebrate the end of your epic journey!
Overnight Location: Hotel in Puerto Natales
Distance: 4 hours, 11km
Meals: Breakfast, lunch
Day 13 Tour Concludes
How incredible was that journey? After covering Patagonia from one side to the other, it’s time to head home. You can either fly out of Puerto Natales or return to El Calafate by bus.
Overnight Location: None
Distance: None
Meals: Breakfast
Best of Patagonia Tour Price and Dates
This guided hiking tour in Patagonia is run as a custom 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 USD4105 per person*
- Guided groups of 3+: on request
4-Star Hotels
- Guided groups of 2: from USD4735 per person*
- Guided groups of 3+: on request
*-Please note that the pricing depends on your travelling dates, as well as the size of your group.
Accommodation on the Best of Patagonia Tour
This tour is based in hotels and mountain huts. The hotels are 1-4-star depending on which class of accommodation you book. The huts offer rustic accommodations. If there is no availability at the huts, you will camp with all necessary equipment provided.
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 Best of Patagonia Tour?
Meals
12 breakfasts, 4 lunches, and 3 dinners are included.
Accommodations
Accommodations for 12 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. Public bus tickets as needed are included. Luggage transfers between hotels are included.
Also Included
- Guide services
- Some entrance fees
- Kayaking excursion
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
- Additional nights before or after the tour
- Equipment hire if needed
- How hard is the Ultimate Patagonia Tour?
- Do I need a visa to travel to Argentina or Chile?
- Are meals included on the Ultimate Patagonia Tour?
- Do I need insurance?
- How do I get to El Calafate to start this tour?
- What should I bring?
- Is the Ultimate Patagonia Tour in English?
- Where does the Ultimate Patagonia Tour end?
- Do I need special vaccines to travel to Argentina or Chile?
- Are there any travel restrictions for Argentina or Chile?
- When is the best time to travel to Argentina for this tour?
We rate this tour as a 4/5. While you don’t need any technical climbing skills, you should be comfortable with several days of hiking up to 8+ hours over 22km on mountainous terrain and a full day of kayaking. The conditions in Patagonia tend to be unpredictable, so you should be comfortable being out 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.
12 breakfasts, 4 lunches, and 3 dinners are included.
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.
You should bring a 60-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.
If you need to camp, camping equipment will be provided.
Yes, your guide will be English-speaking.
The tour ends in Puerto Natales. You can either fly out of the Teniente Julio Gallardo Airport (PNT) in Puerto Natales or take the bus back to El Calafate to fly out of the El Calafate Airport (FTE).
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.
