Adventure in Los Glaciares & Torres del Paine National Parks

Start of this adventure exploring two icons of Argentine Patagonia: El Calafate and El Chaltén. Upon arriving at El Calafate airport, a transfer will be waiting to take you to the hotel. The rest of the day is free to relax or explore the city at your own pace. In the evening, dinner is included. It is a special "closed-door" dinner during which you will meet your travel companions and the guide. Accommodation at Hostel Base – Shared Room with Shared Bathroom
Accommodation at Double or Single Base – Private Room with Private Bathroom
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner

After breakfast, we’ll walk to the tourist pier to begin our excursion. Our first stop is Alicia Island, home to a colony of South American sea lions. From there, we’ll sail to Bird Island, where we’ll observe king and imperial shags near their nests. During spring and fall, we may even see their young. Next, we’ll head east toward another small island where, depending on the season, we may spot South American fur seals. Nearby, we’ll visit Les Eclaireurs Lighthouse, an iconic symbol of Ushuaia, built in 1919. Here, we’ll also have a view of the island where rock shags reside. On our return to Ushuaia, we’ll disembark at Bridges Island for a guided nature walk. During this walk, we’ll learn about the native Yamana people and visit the region’s largest Yamana "concheros" (shelly deposits). As we explore the island, we’ll reach its highest panoramic point, offering stunning views of the Beagle Channel and the town of Ushuaia in the distance. Throughout the trip, we’ll enjoy refreshments such as coffee with liquor, various teas, delicious hot chocolate with biscuits and cookies, and of course, Argentina’s traditional beverage, mate. After lunch, we’ll regroup for an unforgettable evening. We’ll end the day in a truly unique way: exploring Mount Martial as daylight fades and savoring a regional dinner amidst the tranquility of the forest in our mountain dome. Our journey begins with a walk through the Fuegian forest, along trails created by lumberjacks a century ago. Along the way, you’ll take in stunning views of Ushuaia Bay and the surrounding mountains. This scenic hike concludes at our cozy Mountain Dome, where we’ll enjoy a fireside regional dish. It’s a different way to experience the End of the World—and of course, it wouldn’t be complete without a good toast to cap off the day!

Accommodation at Hostel Base – Shared Room with Shared Bathroom  

Accommodation at Double or Single Base – Private Room with Private Bathroom  

Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner

Early in the morning, before the first coffee, we can try to match up the morning light getting pink in Fitz Roy granite walls. You only need this to feel the trip is worthwhile. But, of course, the day offers much more. After breakfast, carrying only day personal items such as our parka, gloves, our camera, water bottle and box lunch, we hike along Fitz Roy trail up to Rio Blanco, climber’s basecamp to the east side of the mountain. From here a steep 1-hour trail leads us to one of the most spectaculars viewpoints of the National Park: Laguna de los Tres, with its zephyr blue color, lies at the foot of the massif, offering full close-up views of Fitz Roy massif spires and glaciers. Each wall raises something from 600 to 1500 mts above the surrounding glaciers. Fitz Roy, with its 3405 mts above sea level, is considered the “King of Patagonia” and also considered one of the three most beautiful mountains on Earth (together with Alpamayo in Perú and K2 in the Karakoram). We hike back to our camp in the late afternoon.   Accommodation: Campamento Full - Carpa doble o single           Comidas incluidas: Desayuno, Vianda, Cena 

Today we walk south along Lagoons Madre and Hija Valley and down to Fitz Roy River valley, where we meet Cerro Torre trail. The trail runs along beech forest, bogs and shrubland and leads to Laguna Torre, enclosed by moraines and with Glacier Grande calving in its west side. It is usual to see icebergs pushed by the wind in the coast of the lagoon. The thin and elegant 3128 mts of Cerro Torre group and the Adela range in the background complete this spectacular view. In the afternoon we hike back to El Chalten along Cerro Torre trail. Accommodation at Hostel Base – Shared Room with Shared Bathroom     Accommodation at Double or Single Base – Private Room with Private Bathroom                       Meals Included: Breakfast, box lunch 

 This mountain is located immediately south of Cerro Torre valley and offers some of the best views over the different group of mountains, glaciers and lakes that features the area. From the lower terraces to the summit, you can get spectacular views of Fitz Roy, Torre and the spectacular glacier valley in between both. From the summit the bonus is the sight of Paso del Viento and some of the mountains that stick out from the Patagonian Icefield. According to the group capacity, we choose the lower terraces or try the summit, a long but gentle climb in scree. We are back in Chalten by late afternoon.     Accommodation at Hostel Base – Shared Room with Shared Bathroom     Accommodation at Double or Single Base – Private Room with Private Bathroom Meals Included: Breakfast, box lunch 

This day is at leisure to visit the town or to go on optional excursions around the area. In the late afternoon, we return to El Calafate. Accommodation at Hostel Base – Shared Room with Shared Bathroom

Accommodation at Double or Single Base – Private Room with Private Bathroom 

Meals Included: Breakfast, box lunch 

 We dedicate this day to one of the World’s Natural Wonder: the Moreno glacier. This ice field- type glacier flows down from the Patagonian Icefield, a big sheet of ice that with its 22.000 square kilometers is the third largest glacier area in the world, after Antarctica (14 M sq km) and Greenland (1 M sq km). Because unusual favorable local conditions, this glacier is the only one in the world that shows a closure and rupture process. The road leads to the very front of the glacier, which will be only meters away from your eyes. The roar of the chunks of ice falling inside the glacier or from the glacier into the lake, the frequent collapse of the front seracs into the turquoise water, makes out of this day a very special and unique experience. Then we go back to our accommodation in El Calafate. 

Accommodation at Hostel Base – Shared Room with Shared Bathroom Accommodation at Double or Single Base – Private Room with Private Bathroom Meals Included: Breakfast 

Early start for a 6 hs drive to our camp in Paine. We drive across the patagonic steppe, still following by parts the legendary route 40, to get around Sierra de los Baguales, an impressive range in between Calafate and Paine. We cross the Argentinean Chilean border at Cancha Carrera/ Cerro Castillo. After the border crossing, we start our final sprint to Paine National Park, World Heritage by the UNESCO (United Nations Education, Science and Culture Organization). Approaching the Park, we start to see the different mountains that feature the area: Paine Grande, the Horns, Admiral Nieto and the Towers. Once we entered the Park, we go for a short 1 to 2 hs walk to get familiar with the landscape, the wind and the rich wildlife: guanacos, lesser rheas,  condors and all types of wetland and buzzard birds will be available for our eyes and cameras. Also lots of flowers. Back in the bus, we reach our camp at the foot of Paine massif.   Accommodation: Full Camp - double or single tent

Included meals: breakfast, box lunch, dinner 

Full Camps are pitched up early in the season, so we find the camp ready upon arrival. It offers comfortable igloo type tents for 1 or 2 passengers, with insulation mat and sleeping bags. The camp also features a spacious dinning tent, a kitchen tent, tables, benches or chairs and a full set of table service and kitchenware (area with sanitary services). 

Early start for a 6 hs drive to our camp in Paine. We drive across the patagonic steppe, still following by parts the legendary route 40, to get around Sierra de los Baguales, an impressive range in between Calafate and Paine. We cross the Argentinean Chilean border at Cancha Carrera/ Cerro Castillo. After the border crossing, we start our final sprint to Paine National Park, World Heritage by the UNESCO (United Nations Education, Science and Culture Organization). Approaching the Park, we start to see the different mountains that feature the area: Paine Grande, the Horns, Admiral Nieto and the Towers. Once we entered the Park, we go for a short 1 to 2 hs walk to get familiar with the landscape, the wind and the rich wildlife: guanacos, lesser rheas,  condors and all types of wetland and buzzard birds will be available for our eyes and cameras. Also lots of flowers. Back in the bus, we reach our camp at the foot of Paine massif.   Accommodation: Full Camp - double or single tent

Included meals: breakfast, box lunch, dinner 

Full Camps are pitched up early in the season, so we find the camp ready upon arrival. It offers comfortable igloo type tents for 1 or 2 passengers, with insulation mat and sleeping bags. The camp also features a spacious dinning tent, a kitchen tent, tables, benches or chairs and a full set of table service and kitchenware (area with sanitary services). 

 Early in the morning a 1 h drive takes us to Port Pudeto to board the catamarán that crosses lake Pehoe twice a day. Once at the far side of the lake, we leave unnecessary items in our tents and we set out to the French Valley trail. The trail skirts Paine Grande south slopes and lake Skottberg, to take us after 2 hs and a half of continuous ups and downs, to the hanging bridge upon the French River. This breathtaking location is at the foot of both the 2700 mts south east face of Paine Grande (to the west) and the Horns, with its characteristic black sedimentary topping, to the east. We continue walking 1 h further by Italian camp to reach breathtaking viewpoints over the area. After lunch and photos we retrace our steps back to Paine Grande Full Camp. Walking time: 5 to 6 hs. 

Accommodation in Full Camp – Double or Single Tent 

Included Meals: Breakfast, Box Lunch, Dinner 

 Lake Grey trail leads from Pehoe valley across ridges to reach Grey valley. This magnificent valley flows down 60 km from the Patagonian Icefield, featuring the huge glacier calving down in the grey colour lake. Our trail skirts the lake, going up and down the westerns slopes of Paine Grande, offering some of the most impressive sights of the Park. From the trail we can see the south end of the lake where the blue icebergs gather, the mountains rising far in the distance above glaciers Grey and Tyndall. We come back along the same trail, crossing bogs, shrublands and forest. Once again at Paine Grande Refuge we take the boat to cross lake Pehoe back and then we go to our accommodation in Puerto Natales, a picturesque fishermen town located in the shores of the Ultima Esperanza (Last Hope) fiord. 

Accommodation at Hostel Base – Shared Room with Shared Bathroom Accommodation at Double or Single Base – Private Room with Private Bathroom Included Meals: Breakfast, box lunch 

Today we leave Puerto Natales, as our fellow travelers are going south to Ushuaia and we are getting back to the border to reenter Argentina and drive back to El Calafate. Upon arrival to El Calafate, we have the rest of the day at your own to visit town.

Accommodation at Hostel Base – Shared Room with Shared Bathroom  

Accommodation at Double or Single Base – Private Room with Private Bathroom  

Included Meals: Breakfast

After breakfast we transfer to El Calafate airport where our services end.     

Included Meals: Breakfast

• All nights’ Accommodation mentioned in the itinerary
• All Camping Equipment for nights at camp (Tent – Sleeping Bag – Isolated)
• Bilingual tour leader during all the activities (Groups with 6 passengers or more)
• Mountain guides while on trek • Full Day Tour Perito Moreno Glacier
• Lake Pehoe boat trips (in and out) • Beagle channel boat trip
• All transfers El Calafate airport – El Calafate - El Chalten – El Calafate – Torres del Paine – Puerto Natales - El Calafate - El Calafate Airport. • During the trip we combine private and regular buses.
• 12 Breakfast, 8 Box Lunches, 6 Dinners

• Medical and life insurance 

• Tips 

• Drinks and beverages 

• Flights or airport taxes 

• Port tax at Ushuaia. 

• Services not shown or detailed in the program.

This trip begins in El Calafate and ends in El Calafate 

You need to arrive in El Calafate on day 1 of the itinerary. And on the last day of the itinerary, services end, and you will need a flight from El Calafate. 

In general, the cost of a domestic flight is 150 USD, one way. We can help you book these flights. 

Don't hesitate to contact us. bustamantemercedes@gmail.com