Wild Patagonia for Hikers Tour with 5 Reviews by Say Hueque Argentina & Chile Journeys

16 daysDuration

Private TourPrivate experience, no group joining

99 peopleMaximum group size

5 - 79 yearsAge range for participants

English, SpanishGuide language

Moderate

Involves sustained activity requiring a reasonable level of fitness and endurance.

1500mHighest point reached

Starts

El Calafate, Argentina

Ends

Ushuaia, Argentina

Highlights

Explore the Perito Moreno Glacier

Travel to the remote village of El Chalten

Visit Torres del Paine National Park

Discover Tierra del Fuego National Park

Itinerary

Ready to lace up your boots for the ultimate hiking adventure? The "Wild Patagonia for Hikers" trip delivers a thrilling 16-day exploration of Argentina’s and Chile’s most dramatic landscapes, perfectly suited to energetic young adults. Discover the legendary trails of El Chaltén, known as Argentina’s trekking capital, where the mighty Fitz Roy Mountain towers over a wonderland of glaciers, lakes, and forests.

Immerse yourself in the wild grandeur of Torres del Paine National Park, famed for its blue icebergs, towering cliffs, and wildlife-rich pampas. Witness the awesome Perito Moreno Glacier—one of the world’s few advancing glaciers—fed by the vast Southern Patagonian Ice Field.

Push further south, crossing the storied Strait of Magellan to reach Ushuaia, the world’s southernmost city. This adventure isn’t just about epic hikes and jaw-dropping vistas—it’s a rare opportunity to experience the full spectrum of Patagonia’s untamed beauty, from its unique flora and fauna to its staggering mountain scenery.

The USP? An immersive trek through the heart of Patagonia, featuring iconic national parks and legendary trails, all tailored for passionate hikers seeking a true test of endurance and wonder.

day 1 - El Calafate – El Chalten

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.

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

This 3-hour trip will allow you to enjoy the desert of Southern Patagonia on the famous Route 40.

You will pass through La Leona River, which connects Lake Argentino and Lake Viedma. By the river, you will see La Leona Road House where once Butch Cassidy and Sundance Kid after robbing a bank were hidden for almost a month.

El Chalten is the top-rated trekking destination, the Argentinean capital of trekking. Located at the foot of the Fitz Roy Mountain, surrounded by glaciers, lakes, rivers, and forests, it is still a hidden gem of our south. The charming little village, which is also the start point for most paths, is a paradise for walkers and trekkers alike.

Once you arrive in El Chalten, you will spend the rest of the day at leisure to relax or explore the areas around the town. You can explore the surroundings, have a stroll around a little waterfall, or just relax in the local brewery.

Type of service: Shared.

Included: Transportation mentioned above.

Duration: 3 hours approximately.

Note: bare in mind that the luggage should be equivalent to a bag up to 18k. Excess baggage will pay an extra charge.

Accommodation:2 Star Hotel at Posada del Barranco

day 2 - A self-guided hike in El Chalten

Prepare yourself for an exciting day in the wild. El Chalten offers a wide range of hiking paths with varying difficulties. You can choose where and when to go, paths are self-guided and very well marked and maintained.

From the main door of your hotel, you can go for a short 3 kilometers (1.8 miles) walk to Cerro Torre viewpoint—it will take you around 1 hour. Enjoy Rio de las Vueltas and lenga forest with its amazing views, be prepared to see all kinds of birds—This is a great woodpecker spotting opportunity!

For true hiking lovers, continue all the way to Base Torre or go for an 8 hour-long hike to see the most impressive view of the Fitz Roy Mountain and emerald waters of Laguna de Los Tres. Although this hike becomes difficult in the last part, it’s totally worth it. Seize the day, wake up early and watch the sunrise at the Laguna de Los Tres (see Fitz Roy peaks turning red)—A true once in a lifetime opportunity.

Accommodation:2 Star Hotel at Posada del Barranco

Meals:Breakfast

day 3 - El Chalten

Today, our recommendation for truly hiking lovers: make all the way to Cerro Torre and Laguna Torre, one of the most famous hiking trails in the area. Walk into the wild for about 8 hours and 20 kilometers, 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 will pass by the De Agostini campsite and continue until 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 kilometers (1.2 miles) down up the hill.

Accommodation:2 Star Hotel at Posada del Barranco

Meals:Breakfast

day 4 - El Chalten: Hiking in Chalten, a spectacular experience

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 experience, an 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 meters (1312 feet) 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 the sunrise at the Laguna de Los Tres to see them turning red—A lifetime opportunity for nature lovers.

Accommodation:2 Star Hotel at Posada del Barranco

Meals:Breakfast

day 5 - El Chalten – El Calafate

At the appropriate time, you will be picked up to board a bus to go from your hotel in El Chalten to your hotel in El Calafate.

The 3-hour long drive will be a good opportunity to rest, relax and enjoy the passing landscapes at your window.

Type of service: Shared

Included: Transportation mentioned above

Duration: 3 hours approximately

Accommodation:2 Star Hotel at Cauquenes de Nimez

Meals:Breakfast

day 6 - El Calafate: Perito Moreno Glacier Tour

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

Difficulty: Low

Accommodation:2 Star Hotel at Cauquenes de Nimez

Meals:Breakfast

day 7 - El Calafate

Today you will have a free day in the city.

Accommodation:2 Star Hotel at Cauquenes de Nimez

Meals:Breakfast

day 8 - Torres del Paine tour – travel to Chile

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

In the early morning, you will be picked up to go on a full-day excursion to Torres del Paine National Park (shared service). 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). Don't worry about the Spanish there, because your tour guide will assist travelers 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, 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 can choose to end your excursion in Laguna Amarga and go to your hotel inside the park, or continue and 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, you will be dropped off at Portería Laguna Amarga from where your hotel transfer will take you to your accommodation.

Type of service: Shared

Duration: 5 or 9 hours depending on your choice

Included: Transfers, bilingual guide (English/Spanish), box lunch, drop-off at the park

Not included: Entrance fee to the National Park

Travel season: From October to April

Note: Depending on the travel schedule of the day, you may be dropped off at Laguna Amarga around noontime or in the afternoon. Also, depending on weather conditions, lunch could be outdoors or in the vehicle

Transfer Laguna Amarga / Hotel Las Torres

Upon arrival at Laguna Amarga, you will take a shuttle to Las Torres area.

Type of service: Shared

Included: Transportation mentioned above

Accommodation:2 Star Hotel at Hosteria Las Torres

Meals:Breakfast

day 9 - Base of the Torres del Paine

Torres del Paine is one of the most beautiful protected areas in South America, and the best way to explore it is by foot. If you enjoy hiking and nature, this place is going to be one of the highlights of your trip. Depending on where your lodge is located inside the park, you will be able to explore different paths— Please check with your travel advisor which are the best options from your location.

If you haven't done it, our recommendation is to take a self-guided hike to Base las Torres. This is the most famous hike of the park since it takes you to the base of the Towers, and it’s a challenge for climbers from all over the world. It takes between 8 and 10 hours to complete and it provides breathtaking views of these massive granite mountains that grow next to a blue lagoon and up to the sky.

Accommodation:2 Star Hotel at Hosteria Las Torres

Meals:Breakfast

day 10 - Trek to the French Valley

Today, prepare yourself to continue this hiking adventure on the other side of the park.

We will pick you up at your accommodation to take you 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 do not leave goods such as jewelry or money.

Type of service: Private

Duration: 1 hour

Included: Transportation mentioned above

Not included: navigation

Pudeto Crossing Navigation

From Pudeto you will take 30-minute navigation to the opposite shore of Lago Pehoe. Upon arrival, you will walk up to Paine Grande Refuge (just a few meters away from the pier), where you will spend the night.

This is a unique opportunity to visit one of the most inaccessible areas inside the park since it can't be reached by vehicle. From here, we recommend that you take a self-guided hike to the French Valley. In this valley, you will find hanging glaciers, pristine woods, and some jagged peaks like the multicolored Paine Grande and the Paine Horns.

Type of Service: Shared

Duration: 30- 45 minutes of navigation

Included: Navigation ticket

Accommodation:Paine Grande Refugee Other

Meals:Breakfast

day 11 - Grey Glacier – Puerto Natales

Sailing to Glacier Grey is an excursion not to be missed. It allows you to enjoy an incomparable landscape composed of floating icebergs, exuberant vegetation, and imposing mountains.

You will go first to Hotel Lago Grey to do the navigation check-in, and then we will walk for 30 minutes along the beach of the lake to the Grey III Catamaran's boarding point. After 1 hour and 15 minutes of navigation, we will be near the Grey Glacier's foot. You will be able to appreciate from a very short distance all the beauty and magnitude of the ice walls of more than 20 meters that the glacier offers as a spectacle.

Type of service: Shared

Duration: 3 hours

Included: Navigation ticket, bilingual local guide on board (English / Spanish) - aperitif with thousand-year-old ice

Not included: Transfers In/Out to Lago Grey Hotel, entrance fee, food, extras not indicated

Difficulty: Low

Travel season: November to February. On other dates, the departure requires a minimum of 20 people.

Note: This excursion is subject to weather conditions. Please be ready at the hotel 1 hour before departure.

Transfer Hosteria Grey / Puerto Natales Hotel

At the appropriate time, you will have a transfer to your hotel in Puerto Natales.

Type of service: Private

Duration: 3/4 hours

Included: Transportation mentioned above

Accommodation:2 Star Hotel at Amerindia Hostal

Meals:Breakfast

day 12 - Puerto Natales – Punta Arenas

Today you will go on your own to Puerto Natales bus station to take a bus to Punta Arenas.

Upon arrival, you will go to the hotel by yourself.

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 the Atlantic Ocean, thus, the city grew as a commercial center surrounded by European-type buildings. There are colorful houses, standing out from a backdrop of snow-capped mountains.

Type of service: Shared

Duration: 3 hours

Included: Bus ticket

Not included: Food, extras

Travel season: October to March

Note: December 25th and January 1st buses available only after 1:00 PM. We reccommend that you arrive at the bus station 30 minutes before the departure time to avoid any last minutes inconvenience

Accommodation:2 Star Hotel at Hosteria Las Torres

Meals:Breakfast

day 13 - Ushuaia: The City at the End of the World

Welcome to Ushuaia!

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. It 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.

Upon arrival, you will be transferred to your hotel.

Type of service: Shared.

Included: Transportation mentioned above.

Bus ticket Punta Arenas / Ushuaia

In the early morning, you will go on your own to the bus station to embark on a full-day bus trip to Ushuaia.

This is a 12 hour long trip on a semi-reclinable bus, crossing the Patagonian steppe. Although the bus trip is long and tiring, it will allow you to know more about the Chilean territory: yellow and green grasslands, Chilean gauchos riding into the wild, and grazing unworried sheep will roll on the square landscape of your window until 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 Tierra del Fuego Island in Argentine lands.

As the end-of-the-world most famous city approaches, grazing sheep will turn into wild guanacos, and horses, snow-capped mountains, and evergreen woods will arise in the vicinity of Ushuaia. Once you get the "Southernmost City in the World" passport stamp, you will realize this intrepid journey through Patagonian remote roads was worth it.

Upon arrival in Ushuaia, you will make your way to your hotel. Ushuaia is a small city, 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. Take the afternoon to explore the town, learn of the region's history at the Prisoner's Museum or visit the Galleria of Fueguian History. Please, do not forget the local gastronomy! Ushuaia is the number one place to try the best seafood in Argentina.

Type of service: Shared

Duration: 12 hours

Included: One-way bus ticket

Not included: Transportation to/from hotel

Travel season: October to April

Note: We recommend that you arrive at the bus station 30 minutes before the departure time to avoid any last minutes inconvenience. Take into account that you will be crossing borders, so have your passport handy!

Accommodation:2 Star Hotel at Austral Hotel

Meals:Breakfast

day 14 - Tierra del Fuego National Park

Today, you will be picked up from your hotel to go on a tour to Tierra del Fuego National Park, which hosts beautiful natural landscapes.

After traveling for about 6 miles, we will get to the park. Upon arrival, we will go for a hike along an undulating 4-mile-long Coastal Path. As you continue to walk down this path you will be in constant contact with nature and will be able to admire beautiful views from the lakes, sea, and surrounding mountains.

After the hike, we will access Acigami Lake or Roca Lake, and near the border of Lapataia River, you will enjoy a comforting hot lunch with a great panoramic view from inside a heated dome-tent, to avoid wind or rain.

Afterward, you will be equipped with rubber boots, cover pants, and lifejackets. The excursion will continue from Lake Acigami down the freshwater of Lapataia river aboard inflatable canoes (duckies) until reaching the sea in Lapataia Bay. After a 1-hour paddle (paddling time is subject to weather conditions) your tour will end at the mentioned bay, where the National Route Nº 3 meets its southern end.

From there, you will be driven back to your hotel.

Type of service: Shared

Duration: 8 hours

Hiking difficulty: Moderate - Canoeing difficulty: Easy

Total trekking length: 4,4 miles (it's a 3-and-a-half-hour walk)

Age restriction: Canoeing ride is only available for children over 5 years old

Included: Transportation, bilingual guide (English/Spanish), lunch, drinks, and canoeing equipment

Not included: Gratuities, National Park entrance fee

Notes: Times described are estimated and may vary due to bad weather conditions

Accommodation:2 Star Hotel at Austral Hotel

Meals:Breakfast, Lunch

day 15 - Cruise along the Beagle Channel

In 1833 Charles Darwin sailed the Beagle Channel and discover something great. Today it is your turn: become another explorer of this channel, primitively named Onashaga Channel since the Onas were its first sailers.

At the appropriate time, you will go on your own to the tourist pier (located in the center of the city). You will embark on a 3-hour long boat trip along the famous Beagle Channel. 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 that frolic their time away on Alicia Island.

Argentina standing at your left and Chile at your right, you will sail this natural border till reaching the iconic Les Eclaireurs lighthouse, the ancient guard of the bay.

On our way back, we will stop at Bridges Island to walk a wildlife interpretative path, hear about Yaman’s history (the native inhabitants), and see the largest shelly deposits of the region. During the excursion, you can enjoy a delicious hot chocolate with cookies or try the Mate (strong green tea) the favorite Argentine drink.

Once we get back to the port, you will make your own way back to your hotel.

Type of service: Shared

Duration: 3/4 hours

Included: Bilingual guide (English/Spanish)

Not included: Port tax (2 dollars), transportation to and from the port

Note: Departure time is at 10 AM and 3 PM from Patagonia Explorer Stand, located in the tourist pier

Accommodation:2 Star Hotel at Austral Hotel

Meals:Breakfast

day 16 - Ushuaia

At the appropriate time, you will be transferred from your hotel to Ushuaia airport to take your flight.

Type of service: Shared

Included: Transportation mentioned above

Meals:Breakfast

Get Trip Brochure & Exclusive Discount

Download a detailed PDF brochure and unlock an exclusive discount for this tour

What's Included

All transfers mentioned, including airport pickups and drop offsHotel accommodation for 12 nights and 3 nights of campingBreakfastsRound trip bus service: El Calafate to El Chalten and backOne way bus service: Puerto Natales to Punta ArenasOne way bus service: Punta Arenas to Ushuaia

What's Excluded

Customer Reviews

Read what other travelers have to say about Wild Patagonia for Hikers

5.0

based on 5 reviews

Tour Availability

Select your preferred departure date and secure your spot

Loading availability...

Good to Know

Cancellation

Payment

Travel Insurance

Other Practical Information

Do you need help from our trip consultants?

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.

Our travel experts are ready to help.

Why Book with Bookmundi

Earn USD 129+ in travel credits.

Best price guaranteed.

No credit card or booking fees.

100% financial protection.Bookmundi is a member of the Danish Travel Fund which guarantees for any payment made via us. Our guarantee covers all travelers, irrespective of nationality.

Carbon neutral tours.Algorithms and machine learning enables Bookmundi to calculate the carbon footprint for each tour. We then subsequently offset carbon emissions for all tour bookings on Bookmundi via investments in carbon reduction projects to help combat climate change.

25,000+ trip reviews, with an average rating of 4.8 out of 5.

What are customers saying about Bookmundi

4.67/5

Excellent based on 808 customer reviews from

Anonymous

Sistema di prenotazione semplice e intuibile. In caso di necessità le istruzioni presenti sul sito sono risultate utili e chiare. Nessun problema riscontrato

5 days ago

Europe

Asia

South America

Africa

North America

Oceania

Polar

Food, wine, events and nightlife

Adventure and sport

Wildlife, landscapes and nature

Boat tours, water sports and marine wildlife

Sightseeing, attractions, culture and history

Air tours, road trips and transfers

Beach, romance, getaways and relaxation

Special interests and hobbies

Hi there

Highlights