Great Patagonian Traverse

  • Best price guaranteed
  • No booking fees
5 Based on 4 Reviews
  • duration 15 days
  • tour type Small group Request as private
  • age requirement 18-99 yrs
  • max group size 12
  • guiding method Fully guided
  • Tour Code BM-16396
  • Footprint Carbonneutral CO2 emissions resulting from all trips on Bookmundi will be offset via investments in carbon reduction projects.
  • Operated in English
map
  • Starts Balmaceda, Chile
  • Ends Punta Arenas, Chile
HIGHLIGHTS Download trip notes
  • Traverse Patagonia from the remote northern part to the south
  • Trek the spectacular ‘W’ Trek in Torres del Paine National Park
  • Ascend to the base of Torres del Paine for one of the most unforgettable mountain views in the world
  • Undertake day walks in impressive Los Glaciares National Park
  • Travel from Argentina to Chile via a little known route, crossing lakes and rivers by boat
  • Marvel at the magnificent Perito Moreno Glacier
  • Search for Patagonian wildlife
  • Show more
The "Great Patagonian Traverse" tour starts from Balmaceda and ends in Punta Arenas. The "Great Patagonian Traverse" tour is a trekking and hiking trip that takes 15 days taking you through Balmaceda, Las Torres, Punta Arenas, Grey Glacier Mirador and 6 other destinations in Argentina and Chile. This is a guided small group tour that includes accommodation, transport, meals and others.

Seasoned trekkers now have a new playground in Patagonia. The opening of a new route linking Chile and Argentina offers a traverse of untouched national parks, from the Southern Ice cap to the towers of Paine. This trek is sure to captivate the most seasoned trekker and offers the opportunity to traverse Patagonia, travelling its length from Coyhaique in the north to Puerto Natales in the South, mostly on foot and by boat via some of the most captivating and untouched national parks in the region. We begin in Balmaceda with a long drive down the Austral road to our lodge at Puerto Guadal, where the lake gives way to a breathtaking mountain vista beyond compare. Our forays into the mountains surrounding the lake set the scene for the rest of the trip. Our journey takes us via Villa O'Higgins, so named for the hero of Chilean independence, Bernardo O'Higgins, before joining our boat to cross Lago O'Higgins, with the Southern Patagonian Icefield in our midst. A recently opened pass between the shores of Lago O'Higgins in Chile and Laguna del Desierto in Argentina offers a unique way to continue our traverse and offers a side to Patagonia rarely seen by other trekkers. Of course our trip does not end there and continues to Los Glaciares National Park, home to a stunning array of granite spires including Cerro Torre and Cerro Fitz Roy and onwards to El Calafate where another perspective of the Southern Patagonian Icecap at the Perito Moreno Glacier is on offer. Of course no trip to Patagonia is complete without trekking in the Paine National Park. Here complete the 'W' trek and enjoy forays to the Grey Glacier, up the French Valley and the Ascensio Valley before we finally ascend to the base of Torres del Paine for one of the most unforgettable mountain views in the world, before driving across the pampas to Punta Arenas where our traverse concludes.
ITINERARY Expand All
  • Day 1 : Join Balmaceda (before 12:00), drive to Puerto Guadal via Coyhaique
  • Day 2 : Full day trekking in the Veranada area
  • Day 3 : Trek to Lake Leones to view the Leones Glacier
  • Day 4 : Transfer to Villa O'Higgins
  • Day 5 : Embark at Bahamondez port, cross Lago O'Higgins by boat
  • Day 6 : Cross into Argentina via Laguna Redonda and Laguna del Desierto
  • Day 7-8 : In El Chalten, Los Glaciares National Park
  • Day 9 : Drive to El Calafate and visit Perito Moreno Glacier
  • Day 10 : Drive to Torres del Paine National Park
  • Day 11 : Trek to the Grey Glacier mirador
  • Day 12 : Hike to Refugio Los Cuernos & The French Valley
  • Day 13 : Trek to Las Torres
  • Day 14 : Trek up the Ascensio Valley to the base of Torres del Paine and return to Las Torres
  • Day 15 : Drive to Punta Arenas airport where trip concludes
WHAT'S INCLUDED
Accommodation
  • Comfortable lodges and hotels
Meals
  • 14 breakfasts, 14 lunches, 10 dinners
Transport
  • One group transfer included in Balmaceda on day 1 and from Torres del Paine to Punta Arenas on day 15
  • All internal ground transport by private bus for groups of 7 or more people, and public bus for groups of up to 6 travellers in Argentina. In Chile private transportation for all group sizes.
Guide
  • Expert bilingual guide
Others
  • Refugios or camping (incl all equipment required) in Torres Del Paine and basic homestay/estancia in Candelario Mancilla
  • All national park and site entry fees
  • Horses to carry equipment on day 6
  • Boat trips on Lago O'Higgins and Laguna Desierto
  • Group medical kit
WHAT'S EXCLUDED
  • Internal flights
  • Meals not indicated in the itinerary
  • Bottle water, aerated and alcoholic beverages
  • Items of a personal nature such as phone calls, laundry, etc.
  • International airfares and departure taxes
  • Travel Insurance
CUSTOMER REVIEWS
5 - Excellent
Based on 4 reviews
  • Anonymous
  • On Jan 03 2019
5 - Excellent
Excellent
The Great Patagonian Traverse was a fantastic trip with a good humoured, supportive and energetic group led by an experienced and skilled problem-solving guide. Every day brought new locations and experiences and a chance to... Read more
  • Anonymous
  • On Dec 14 2018
5 - Excellent
Excellent
This is a trip to experience some of the most awe inspiring scenery in the world, which sometimes were coupled with challenging walking conditions in the famous Patagonian winds. Our Tour Leader, Herve, provided excellent... Read more
  • Anonymous
  • On Mar 07 2018
5 - Excellent
Excellent
The Great Patagonian Traverse was a wonderful adventure with its combination of busing, boating and trekking through a variety of landscapes that were so different to what we have previously experienced, along with a combination... Read more
  • Anonymous
  • On Dec 14 2016
5 - Excellent
Excellent
This trip is one of the best ways to see the less traveled areas of Patagonia. All transportation is prearranged which allows you to easily go to some of the hard to reach places. I would strongly recommend this trip to someone... Read more
REQUEST A PRIVATE, CUSTOMIZABLE DEPARTURE By design, this is a group tour. You can however request a private, customized version of this tour for yourself or your private group of people. Private departures are usually more expensive, but come with these benefits:
  • Personal Itinerary can be tweaked and customized.
  • Protected Travel within your own bubble.
  • Professional Access our Travel Specialists' insider knowledge.
  • Privacy Enjoy a tour focused solely on you or your travel group.
Request a private and/or personalized departure To design a private tour, we'll ask you some more information in the following steps.
Why Book with Bookmundi
What are customers saying about Bookmundi
Excellent
4.65 Average 687 Reviews
GOOD TO KNOW Download trip notes
CANCELLATION

No additional cancellation fees apply for this Great Patagonian Traverse tour. You can cancel the tour up to 72 days prior departure and avoid paying the full amount, but your deposit paid is non-refundable. No refund applies for cancellations within 71 days of departure.

Payment

For any tour departures within 24 July 2024, full payment is required. For tours that depart later than 24 July 2024, a deposit of 314 USD is required to confirm the tour, and the remaining balance will be charged 71 days before trip departure.

Travel Insurance

Great Patagonian Traverse tour requires that you have adequate and valid travel insurance covering medical and personal accidents, including repatriation costs and emergency evacuation. World Nomads offers travel insurance for independent travelers and intrepid families.

Visa

For this Great Patagonian Traverse tour getting the required visa(s) is the responsibility for each individual traveller, as visa requirements vary depending on your nationality. We recommend to check with your local embassies representing the countries that you are traveling to, as part of this itinerary.

For Solo Travelers

A twin share room may not always be available for solo travelers as it depends on the final number of people on the tour. If you have picked twin share room while booking, and that option is not available, we will get back to you after booking. A single room might then be available against an additional fee.

COVID-19 Safety Measures

This trip incorporates the following COVID-19 measures:

  • This tour has received the World Travel and Tourism Council’s Safe Travels stamp, which provides travellers with assurance that COVID-19 health and hygiene global standardised protocols have been adopted.
  • Smaller group sizes have been implemented on this tour to protect against COVID-19 and to ensure that the tour complies with local authorities’ guidelines.
  • Rigorous hygiene safety measures will be followed in transportation, accommodation and meal venues.
  • Guides are trained in our COVID-19 response plan that has been developed in line with state government medical provisions.
  • All travellers 18 years and older will be required to be fully vaccinated atleast 14 days prior to departure.
NEED HELP OR HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT THIS TOUR?
If you have any question about this tour or need help with planning a trip, please do not hesitate to get in touch with us. We're ready to help.
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