Wild Patagonia For Hikers

You have just got to Patagonia!—your dreamed trip is about to start. Upon arrival in El Calafate you will take a public bus to start your 3 hour long trip to El Chaltén. You’ll travel along the famous Route 40, surrounded by the Patagonian steppe, pass through La Leona River, which connects Lake Argentino and Lake Viedma and where stands La Leona Road house, where the famous thieves, Butch Cassidy and Sundance Kid hided for a month.

After discovering other rough gems of this particular landscape, you’ll reach El Chaltén and we’ll leave you at your hotel. El Chaltén is the top rated hiking destination in Argentina. This charming little village sits at the foot of Fitz Roy Mountain and it’s surrounded by glaciers, lakes, rivers and forest. It’s also the jumping-off point for most hiking trails. A paradise for sunny walkers and hikers alike.

Enjoy your first afternoon of leisure in Patagonia to relax in the local brewery or explore the surrounding areas—Maybe stroll around a little waterfall…

Today be prepared for an exciting day into the wild. El Chaltén offers a wide range of options of hiking paths of varied difficulty. You can choose where and when to go, since paths are self-guided and very well marked and maintained. It’s really important, before taking any hiking trail, to pass by the National Park Visitors’ Centre to check the conditions of each hiking path.

From the main door of your hotel, you can go for a short and easy 3 kilometres walk to Cerro Torre viewpoint—it will take you around 1 hour. Enjoy Rio de las Vueltas and lenga forest amazing views and be prepared to see all kind of birds—This is great woodpecker spotting opportunity!

Today, our recommendation for truly hiking lovers: make all the way to Cerro Torre and Laguna Torre, one of the most famous hiking trails of the area. Walk into the wild for about 8 hours and 20 kilometres, this is a moderate difficulty hike so no previous experience is needed!

It starts at that gorgeous wooden sign with the Laguna Torre and the woodpecker at his side that you probably have already seen if you visited the Cerro Torre Viewpoint the previous day. From there, you will continue through a multi-colored landscape: snow capped mountains will rein over the native forest of lengas and ñires. You’ll pass by the De Agostini campsite and continue till the front moraine…you can hit the summit in 15 minutes! From here you can descend to the lagoon and see a floating iceberg passing by or continue to the Mascardi viewpoint, 2 kilometres down up the hill.

If you liked Laguna Torre’s hiking trail, you’ll love our second hiking favorite: Laguna de los Tres and the base of Mount Fitz Roy. Go for a medium difficulty, 8 hour long hike to the most impressive views of Rio de Las Vueltas valley. You’ll cross Del Salto Stream, its icy water held by orange-tinted rocks which defies the breathtaking views of Mount Fitz Roy.

This hike becomes difficult in the last bit: a 400 metres steep slope separates you from your final goal! The reward will be more than fabled: the sun sparkling over the emerald waters of Laguna de los Tres, its haunting glacier and the pristine Fitz Roy peaks. A little secret: seize the day, wake up early and watch sunrise at the Laguna de los Tres to see them turning red—A lifetime opportunity for nature lovers.

Enjoy an early walk around town or a short easy hike during the morning: you can walk to El Chorrillo del Salto, 3-4 hours away from the village and get to a Little waterfall encircled by native trees and flora, like the Patagonian Orchid.

Bear in mind that in the afternoon you will board your bus back to El Calafate, so you need to be back in time.The 3 hour long driving back will be a good opportunity to rest or just relax enjoying the passing landscape at your window.

Once you arrive at El Calafate, the bus will leave you at your hotel. It’s your your chance to try the tender and exquisite Patagonian Lamb or a heavenly tasting Calafate ice-cream. At Calafate, food options are varied: from veggie delicacies to the best demonstration of international cuisine. You can choose a fancy restaurant or a traditional local tavern to spend an unforgettable time.

In the morning, we’ll drive you to Glaciers National Park to take the 6 hour long Perito Moreno Glacier tour. Get prepared to play with the giants!

Glaciers National Park has been a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1981 and home to 200 approximately glaciers. Half of this park is occupied by the campo de hielo patagónico (Patagonian ice field), the largest ice field after Antarctica. You will travel 40 km (about 25 miles) from El Calafate to the park, enjoying the views of the Patagonian steppe. Once inside the park you will take the walkways to explore the different viewpoints, and you’ll feel really close to the Perito Moreno Glacier. If you’re lucky, you may get to see a piece of ice break off and fall from the glacier wall to sink forever into the lake. During about one hour, a bilingual guide will provide you with all the information you might want to know…and things you might have never thought about. After this visit you will take a boat ride that will take you close enough to fully appreciate the 80 meter (262 feet) high ice walls of Perito Moreno! You’ll never feel closer to this gigantic and impressive natural masterpiece.

El Calafate is much more than haunting glaciers…and today is your perfect opportunity to discover why. Inside Glaciers National park, at the end of NR 15, after a 1 h 30 drive over a rubble road, sits Nibepo Aike Ranch one of the oldest and traditional Patagonian ranches of the area.



Take a day tour to explore the estancia (ranch) and immerse yourself in the rural culture of Patagonia. Nibepo Aike is the only ranch that maintains sheep and Hereford cattle breeding as its main occupation. You can visit its green-yellow tinted parairie, learn about it’s founder who arrived to these lands at the beggining of 20th century, witness a shearing demonstrations and a test for horse reins. At the end of the day, a grilled lambed will awaits sizzling in its Patagonian traditional cross stake (This is a suggestion, the tour is not included)

In the early morning, we’ll pick you up to start your trip to Chile and your full day visit to Torres del Paine National Park. It’s a long day but it worth every minute.

First, we’ll drive through the Patagonian steppe in an overland during 2 h 30 (you might be able to see rheas, guanacos, Patagonian hare, and even condors!) till reaching the border to Chile at Cancha Carrera, where we’ll go through customs. Things to take into account: 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. And please don´t forget your passport!

We’ll keep on traveling amid isolated and windy landscapes, occasionally punctuated by guanacos and native green-orange tinted bushes: here you’ll truly feel the momentous solitude which characterized Patagonia.

The park won’t amaze you at first sight. Like a shide lover, it will unveil its enthralling natural beauties little by little. Through winding road, we’ll make different stops to have a close up view of Cascada Paine (Paine Waterfall), Paine Range at Lake Sarmiento and of Paine Horns at Lake Nordenskjold. Depending on the weather, we’ll perform a 1 hour long walk to reach the lake and get closer to the striking horns. At midday, and after having stopped by the Lago Pehoé Viewpoint to gaze the vastness of French Valley, we’ll have our box lunch at this mountainous backdrop.

At the end of this fabled excursión, we’ll leave you at Laguna Amarga where your transfer will pick you up and take you to your hotel.

Torres del Paine is one of the most beautiful protected areas of South America, and the best way to explore it is by foot. If you like hiking and nature, this should be one of the highlights of your trip. Depending in which area of the Park you are logging, you will be able to explore different paths—Please check with your travel advisor which are the best options from your location.

Our recommendation is to take by your own the hike to Base de las Torres del Paine. This is the most famous hike of the park since it takes you to the base of Paine Horns (2600 m.o.s.l.), a challenge for climbers all over the world. It takes 8-10 hours for the round trip.

The very first 2 hours are very tiring, since you are walking up, leaving the valley where the Hosteria and Refuge Torres del Paine sit. You’ll cross Ascensio Valley talking its windy path and gazing Ascensio River till getting to the first stop, Refugio El Chileno. From here, you’ll continue for one hour through a lenga forest—the changing landscape will be a palliative for tiredness! You’ll finally get to the moraine, the last beat of the trek and the hardest. The last hour will be in permanent ascend but take it easy, you’ll definitely make it to the top! Every effort will be compensated with breathtaking views of this massif granite mountains that grow next to a blue lake and up to the sky.

Today, prepare yourself to continue this hiking adventure on the other side of the park. We’ll pick you up at your accommodation to take you in a one hour ride to Pudeto area where you will take a 45 minutes navigation to the opposite shore of Lago Pehoé. You can take with you a day pack with your values and the things you might need for today and tomorrow—For your convenience, our local operator can keep your luggage until tomorrow. Please let us know in advance. We recommend you to leave it properly closed with a lock and don’t leave goods such as jewelry or money.

At your arrival you’ll go by your own to Paine Grande Refuge (just a few meters away), where you’ll overnight. From here we recommend you to enjoy the French Valley Hike. This is a unique opportunity to visit one of the most difficult areas to be reached inside the park since there are no nearby road access. But, with two legs in good shape, you’ll definitely make it!

What will you find in French Valley? Hanging glaciers, pristine woods, and some haunting jagged peaks: the multi-colored Paine Grande and the forbidding Paine Horns. You can also cross the hanging bridge over the French River to have stunning views of French Glacier, or continue to the French Valley Plateau or down to the Pehoé River and the glacier. Take into account that, this last two, though amazing experiences, will demand an extra effort since you’ll have to hike a rocky path alongside the moraine. You will get back to the campsite skirting Lake Skottberg.

In the early morning, and after enjoying a delicious breakfast, you will hike approximately 4 hours from Refugio Paine Grande to the Grey Mountain Hut. This is an amazing hike which will lead you meet Grey Lake and its floating glaciers, some stunning views of the massive Southern Ice Field and the Grey Glacier that pinch together and extend their white cloak far beyond eyes can see.

You have a boat scheduled for this day. Right after the hike, you’ll take the cruise at Grey Lake’s beach and after crossing the blue waters punctuated by floating icebergs and dramatically framed by glaciers and snow-capped mountains, you’ll get to Hosteria Grey.At your arrival, a transfer will be waiting for you to take you in a 3-4 hour long trip throughout mountainous and dry steppes to finally reach Puerto Natales where you’ll overnight.

Today you’ll make your way to the bus station of Puerto Natales to depart to Punta Arenas. Being there 30 minutes before the departure is the best to avoid any last minutes inconvenience. This is a 3-4 hour long trip in a standard bus through the steppe, crisscrossed by mountains and fjords waters. At your arrival to the bus station at Punta Arenas you’ll make your way to your hotel—you can walk or take a taxi for around 5-7 dollars.

Punta Arenas is the Chilean southernmost city, sited at the Magellanic Strait, and the leading port for Antarctic cruises and scientific research. Before the construction of the Panama Canal, Punta Arenas was the most important maritime crossroad between the Pacific and Atlantic Ocean, thus, the city grew as a commercial center surrounding by European-type buildings—It’s colourful houses, standing out from a backdrop of snow-capped mountains are a vision for sore eyes.

What to do in Punta Arenas? You can enjoy the evening by taking a 3 hour long city tour to visit the Mirador Hill and get the most gorgeous views of Magellan Strait, and the Maggiorino Borgatello Museum to see the craft master pieces made by the Onas, Yaganes and other natives of the area.

In the early morning, you will make your way to the bus station to embark on a full day bus trip to Ushuaia. Take into account that you’ll be crossing borders so keep in mind our previous advices.

This is a 12 hour long trip in a semi-reclinable bus, crossing the Patagonian steppe: yellow and green grasslands, Chilean gauchos riding into the wild and grazing unworried sheeps will rolle on the square landscape of your window, till you reach the ferry crossing. It will take around 45 minutes to cross the mythical Strait of Magellan and hit the road again to cross the border and finally enter to Tierra del Fuego Island in Argentine lands.

As the end-of-the world most famous city approaches, grazing sheeps will turn into wild guanacos and horses, snow capped mountains and evergreen woods will arise at the vicinity of Ushuaia. Once you get the “Southernmost City in the World” passport stamp, you’ll realize this intrepid journey through Patagonian remote roads was absolutely worthy.

This bus trip allows you to see the landscape and the other lesser known parts of Chile, but, it is long journey. You can ask your Say Hueque’s travel advisor and, for an additional cost, drive back to El Calafate and take a 1-hour flight to Ushuaia on the next day.

Upon arrival in Ushuaia you will make your way to your hotel (taxis to and from the bus station should cost less than 10 dollars). Ushuaia is a small town, really easy to get around on foot. The Yamanas, its first inhabitants, called it Ushuaia which means “protected bay” in their language. Ushuaia was officially incorporated into the Republic of Argentina in 1884, and it soon became a penal colony, in order to establish a permanent Argentine settlement.

At night, please, don’t forget the local gastronomy! Ushuaia is the best place to try the best seafood in Argentina.

Today we’ll pick you up to make a 8-10 hour long, moderate difficulty, visit to Tierra del Fuego National Park, just 12 km away from the city and lying on the shore of the famous Channel sailed by Charles Darwin.

Once at Ensenada Bay, you will have time to enjoy the view over the Beagle Channel before start hiking along the coast. Six kilometers of wild trail await you where you’ll discover native flora and wild fauna. Discover the remains left by the Yamanas, the native inhabitants of the área.

After this 3 hour hike, you will reach Lake Roca where lunch will be served. After a full homemade picnic you will start the second part of this adventure. Take your oar and plunge to start a 1 h 30 canoeing trip along Lapataia river (only available for children over 5 years old). Make all the way till Lapataia Bay, where the Panamerican Highway and National Route 3 ends at an awe-inspiring landscape. After discovering the unique vastness of this forbidding setting, we’ll take you back to your hotel to rest and enjoy another Patagonian evening.

In 1833 Charles Darwin sailed the Beagle Channel and discover something great. Today is your turn: become another explorer of this channel, primitively named Onashaga Channel since the Onas where its first sailers. You’ll make your way to the tourist pier (at downtown) to embark on a 3 hour long boat trip along the famous Channel (there’s a port tax of around 1-2 dollars you’ll
have to pay).

You will gain panoramas of Ushuaia Bay where the city lies proudly crowned by the Martial Glacier. Unearth the diverse marine wildlife, such as cormorants (flying birds, closely related to penguins) and fur seals which frolic its time away on Alicia Island. Argentina standing at your left and Chili at your right, you’ll sail this natural border till reach the iconic end-of-the-world lighthouse, the ancient guard of the bay.

On your way back, you’ll stop at Bridges Island to walk a wildlife interpretative path, learn about Yaman’s history (the native inhabitants) and see the largest shelly deposits of the region. During the trip, you can enjoy a delicious hot chocolate with cookies or try the mate, the favorite Argentine drink.

Once we get back to the port, you can make your way back to your hotel or stop by a local café or brewery to try the amber cream craft beer with a traditional Patagonian appetizer or explore the town, learn of the region’s history at the Prisoner’s Museum or visit the Galleria of Fueguian History (its restaurant is also very nice!).

Today we’ll take you to the airport or bus station where this travel adventure will come to this end. Don’t be discouraged! You can return whenever you want (we’ll welcome you with open arms) or…continue your trip towards the North area of Argentina, to the beautiful Salta region or the wine area in Mendoza. We have still a lot to offer!—check out our travelers’ favorite trips to Argentina and Chile