Patagonia: the Ultimate Adventure

Welcome to Southern Patagonia!

The town of El Calafate is located in the Patagonian steppe, an extreme and deserted place with an amazing landscape.

It is on the border of Lago Argentino (Argentina’s biggest lake) and it is considered the capital of the glaciers. It is the gateway to visit the world-renowned Perito Moreno Glacier, one of the only glaciers in the world that is still advancing.

Upon arrival at El Calafate, you will be met at the airport and transferred to your hotel.

Type of service: Shared.

Included: Transportation mentioned above.

We will pick you up from your hotel early in the morning to take you to Los Glaciares National Park located at 50 miles from El Calafate, home of the magnificent Perito Moreno Glacier.

Los Glaciares National Park has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1981 when its almost 200 glaciers were discovered. Half of the park is occupied by the Patagonian ice field, the second largest ice field after Antarctica.

Upon arrival to the National Park, your guide will show you the different walkways from where you will be able to walk in front of the colossal ice wall, and, if you are lucky, perhaps see some landslides.

When the ice breaks and falls, the world holds its breath: all other sounds stop at the earth's surface.

You will start the adventure from the main balcony and then, have some free time to wander freely until the meeting time agreed with your guide. For lunchtime, the National Park offers a service area with a restaurant and a snack bar (lunch is not included).

For a different perspective of this impressive glacier, you can take a 1-hour boat ride to sail along the massive glacier wall that rises 240 feet above Argentino lake and in between floating icebergs (not included, but may be added and paid for on the spot, subject to availaility).

After exploring the park, you will be taken back to your hotel.

Type of service: Shared

Duration: 8/9 hours

Included: Transportation mentioned above, bilingual guide (English/Spanish)

Not included: Entrance fee to the National Park, Lunch

Difficulty: Low

Nautical Safari tour

The departure point is “Bajo de las Sombras” pier, located about 6km away from the Glacier’s walkways. On this tour, you will go on a cruise across Lake Rico, passing in between icebergs that have calved off the front of the Perito Moreno glacier. Reaching the Icebergs Channel, the boat will stop at a safe distance from the glacier to continue to sail down its front, allowing for spectacular views of the ice wall and any breaking and floating icebergs.

This excursion lasts approximately one hour and provides a totally different perspective of the Perito Moreno glacier, with almost constant falling walls of ice from its front. That is what makes this option the best complement for the conventional visit to the walkways.

Type of service: Shared

Duration: 1 hour. Hourly departures from 10 am to 3 pm (Note: timetables may change)

Not included: Entrance fee to the National Park

Difficutly: Low

Today you will have a free day in the city.

**This day you are visiting a National Reserve. Please remember that National Park Fee is not included.

In the early morning, you will be picked up to go on a full-day excursion to Torres del Paine National Park. It will be a long day but we believe it deserves every hour. Along the road, you might be able to see rheas, guanacos, Patagonian hare, and even condors. Keep an eye out for wild guanacos as they roam the windy plains.

After crossing the Patagonian steppe from North to South for about two hours, you will arrive at the border post “Cancha Carrera” (time spent at the border may vary). Do not worry if you do not speak Spanish because your tour guide will assist you with customs documentation. It is important to remember that today you are crossing the border into Chile. Please make sure you have your Passport!.

Before entering the National Park, we will make a stop at the Sarmiento Lake panoramic viewpoint, to get your first full view of the massive Paine landscape and its wild animals! Around midday, you will take a short walk along the coastline of Amarga Lagoon, reach Paine Fall, and eat lunch outdoors while enjoying the views of Rio Paine and the Towers.

At the end of this panoramic journey and after making short stops at key viewpoints, we will take you back to your hotel in El Calafate, arriving late in the evening.

Type of service: Shared

Duration: 14 hours (the estimated time inside the Park is 6 hours)

Included: Transfers, bilingual guide (English/Spanish), box lunch

Not included: Entrance fee to the National Park

Travel season: October to April

Note: Important! 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

The transportation will be dropping off travelers who are staying at nearby hotels on the drive to and from the National Park

At the appropriate time, you will be transferred from your hotel to El Calafate Airport.

Type of service: Shared

Included: Transportation mentioned above