Overview of Your Classic Patagonia & Torres del Paine Tour
Explore the highlights of famed Los Glaciares National Park of Argentine Patagonia on this classic adventure. Unlike more extended Patagonia tours, this itinerary is designed for travelers with a limited timeframe. Begin in elegant Buenos Aires, where you will spend a full afternoon exploring the capital before flying to the heart of Patagonia. Enjoy a full day of exploration on the pristine Perito Moreno glacier, with an option to don crampons and hike on the glacier. Experience Patagonia’s stunning mountains, crystal clear lakes and hike two classic treks to Mt. Torre and to Mt. Fitz Roy. Our Classic Patagonia Adventure is an excellent introduction to all that the region has to offer.
Hotel Las Torres is a rustic hotel extremely well-situated at a hub of Torres del Paine National Park near the trailheads for several well-known hikes: through the Ascencio Valley to the base of the Towers of Paine, through Valle Encantado to Lago Paine, and along Lake Nordenskjold to Los Cuernos and French Valley. The lodge has 84 cozy rooms with views of nearby hills and rustic, yet stylish, ambiance perfect for resting after an ambitious day exploring the Park. The convenient location and larger size of the hotel allows for around 10-15 different activities to choose from daily each with groups of up to just eight travelers, ensuring ultimate flexibility without sacrificing personal attention. The lodge has many comfortable common areas, a bar with delicious artisan beers and regional wines, an extensive spa, and a restaurant featuring home-styled cuisine that incorporates meats and vegetables from the hotels nearby organic farm.
Trip Features
- 10 Days
- Starting at $7,555 per person
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PHYSICAL RATING
Difficult -
ACTIVITIES
Hiking -
HIGHLIGHTS
Los Glaciares National Park, Torres del Paine National Park, Perito Moreno Glacier, Classic Treks to Mt. Torre and to Mt. Fitz Roy
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Arrive Buenos Aires – 2 Hour Walking Tour
Buenos Aires is a city for walkers. Whether you wish to learn about its engrossing history or just soak up the atmosphere, there is a walking tour here to match your interests.
Upon arrival in Buenos Aires, a Southern Explorations guide will meet you and take you to your hotel. From your hotel, your guide will accompany you by taxi to reach the neighborhood of your choice and then show you the highlights. Safe, flat, and fascinating, these neighborhoods, traveled on foot, will make a memorable component to your Argentina tour.
Spend the rest of the day at your leisure, enjoying the many sights and sounds of this sophisticated metropolis.
Morning transfer to the airport for your flight to El Calafate and El Chalten, the gateway town of Fitz Roy. If the weather is clear, this three to four hour drive is a beautiful part of your Patagonia tour, filled with vistas of the Fitz Roy mountain range. Upon arrival in Chalten, transfer to your hotel. Time allowing, opt for a short hike near the town of El Chalten. Overnight at your charming hotel. (B)
After breakfast, you will start a full day of hiking a Patagonian classic: Mt. Torre, famous for its beauty but also for its climbing difficulty. This is the pinnacle of trekking Patagonia. Every year, countless expeditions attempt to reach the summit, but only a few succeed. After a half hour of hiking, you reach the viewpoint of the Fitz Roy River and Margarita waterfall. Continue for another 30 minutes until you reach the Mirador del Cerro Torre, a lookout facing the Cerro Torre and Adelas ranges. From this point, the trail descends into the valley. The trail ends on the shores of Laguna Torre, offering a stunning view of Mt. Torre surrounded by the Egger and Standhard spires and the Adelas range as a backdrop together with the glacier Torre. You will have time to enjoy the view, eat lunch, and rest before returning on the same trail to the town of El Chalten. (B,L)
Hiking Details: 11-12 miles / Elevation gain: 1,000-1200 ft /Average time: 7 hours
Today’s segment of trekking Patagonia includes a full-day hike to the Laguna Capri base camp (Fitz Roy base camp). The hike towards Fitz Roy features spectacular views of the massif. The peak was sacred and venerated by local Tehuelche groups who believed the mists enshrouding it were volcanic ash, calling it Chalten (God of Smoke). You will begin hiking south from El Pilar, passing Laguna Piedras Blancas on the way to Laguna de los Tres, at the base of Mt. Fitz Roy. Three glaciers drain into this emerald lagoon with majestic Mt. Fitz Roy towering above. Stop en route for lunch and then resume the hike to Laguna Capri, where the image of Mt. Fitz Roy is reflected. You’ll enjoy spectacular views of the sweeping Patagonian steppe and Fitz Roy, highlights of any Patagonia tour. After a full day of hiking, return to your hotel for a good meal and night’s sleep. (B,L)
Hiking Details: 13-14 miles / Elevation gain 2200-2300ft / Average time: 9 hours
Depending on the scheduled departure time of your transfer, you may have the opportunity for more Patagonia hiking including a short trek from town to view Mt. Torre. You will transfer to El Calafate where your guide will meet you at your hotel to discuss the following days activities. You’ll have the rest of the day and evening to tour this charming city on your own. Overnight at a local hotel. (B)
PERITO MORENO GLACIER TOUR
Option 1: PERITO MORENO GLACIER TOUR SIGHTSEEING AND GLACIER CRUISE – minimum 2 travelers
This private tour allows you to spend the day gazing at the most famous glacier in South America from several angles. You’ll glimpse your first breathtaking views of the glacier down a narrow arm of Lago Argentino with the majestic backdrop of the Andes. As spectacular as this is, the view pales compared to the experiences you’ll have later today. From El Calafate, it is about a two-hour drive on a paved road to reach the Perito Moreno Glacier. Here you will spend time on the catwalks, taking in the mesmerizing views of the constantly calving glacier. The area’s wildlife includes Andean condors, buff-necked ibis, black-chested buzzard eagles and ashy headed geese. An hour-long afternoon tour starts at Bajo de las Sombra where you’ll board a vessel to cross Lake Rico, passing icebergs. On reaching Iceberg Channel, the boat will stop at a safe distance to allow passengers time to photograph the Perito Moreno Glacier’s wall and watch for falling chunks of ice. You will be returned to El Calafate in the afternoon. (B,L)
*Shared boat tour
Option 2: PERITO MORENO GLACIER ICE HIKE – $290 Upgrade Per Person
After breakfast, you will be picked up from your El Calafate hotel. An hour long bus ride takes you to the Bajo de las Sombras port on the shore of Lake Argentino. From there, you will board a comfortable boat for a 20 minute navigation across the lake. The cruise offers incredible views of the Perito Moreno glacier with its massive front wall of blue ice and surrounding field of icebergs. Following a beach landing, you’ll stop at a small shelter where the trekkers will be divided into groups of less than twenty. A short walk along an ancient beech forest takes you to the edge of the glacier, a prime location for photographing this spectacular natural wonder. You will be fitted with crampons and receive a safety briefing from your guides before beginning an unforgettable two hour trek on the glacier, with time for photos and a lunch break. This moderate trek will take you past small streams, lagoons, crevasses, and other ice formations as you explore the fascinating landscape of the Perito Moreno glacier. After completing the trek, you will embark on the boat for the return trip across the lake. A short bus ride brings you to an elaborate boardwalk system located across the lake from the glacier. From here you will be able to view and photograph the glacier from many angles, and possibly witness icebergs calving thunderously into the lake. In the late afternoon, you will return to your hotel for another comfortable night’s rest.** (B,L)
*Shared boat tour
**The upper age limit for the regular Perito Moreno excursion is 65, regardless of fitness level with no exceptions.
Today is a long travel day, but the destination is worth it! This morning youll travel from El Calafate across the Chilean border to Hotel Las Torres in Torres del Paine National Park. Take the evening to get settled in your room and learn more about the myriad of activities available to explore this breathtaking area of Southern Patagonia. (B,D)
Spend these days touring Torres del Paine National Park and nearby areas of interest. Select from a number of Patagonia adventures, each lead by a knowledgeable bilingual guide. Hike up to the base of the giant Towers of Paine, horseback ride through the Enchanted and Ascencio Valleys, trek around the brilliant blue Lake Nordenskjold, visit the archeological sites, or enjoy any number of other activities for any activity level and interest. After full days exploring the area, return each evening to your comfortable accommodations. (B,L,D)
After a last restful night, meet your driver to transfer to Punta Arenas (5 hour drive) for your flight to Santiago and international connection home, marking the end of Southern Explorations. Additional tours and trip extensions can be arranged. (B)
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Phone
1-877-784-5400Included Hotel
El Calafate, Argentina
Trip FAQs
We have so much to share with you! How does this all work? Start with the frequently asked questions below, and if you want to talk to us directly, simply reach out by phone or form.
Talk to a Travel ExpertYou have the flexibility to choose your own travel dates on most of our trips. Certain trips, such as cruises, have fixed schedules. Availability on these trips is always changing so please contact us with your preferred travel time and we can find the perfect itinerary for you
We provide full service tours so in general our trips include all guided activities with professional English-speaking guides, accommodations, transportation, airport transfers, entrance fees and permits, select meals, and pre-departure services. You will be responsible for international airfare while we will book all in-country airfare. Contact one of our expert travel planners for even more details on this specific tour.
The first step is to get in touch with a Southern Explorations travel planner for date availability and information on activities, accommodations and other travel aspirations you may have. Give us a call at 1.877.784.5400, fill out this form or email info@southernexplorations.com.
Yes! All of our posted itineraries can be considered a starting point and we’re happy to tailor a trip to your exact desires. There may be some elements of a trip, such as a cruise or all-inclusive lodge stay, that cannot be modified but we can always adjust the tours around those components.
We have more detailed information about each destination in the Plan Your Trip section of this website. Our team of friendly travel planners is also available to walk you through various options and to work with you on the perfect trip!
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Learn More About PatagoniaTestimonials
We had an excellent experience in Patagonia thanks to Southern Explorations (S.E.) on their “Classic Patagonia and Torres del Paine” itinerary. The program gave us exposure to many of the highlights of the region on a relatively compact schedule but had a great balance of activities vs. free time to explore on our own. Our hotels were in great locations, clean and comfortable. The guides and other transportation operators were friendly / on time and the hikes / activities were great. This was our third trip with S.E. (we also did Inca Trail and Galapagos in prior years) and we continue to be impressed with their professionalism and attention to detail. We hope to travel with them again in the future.
– Derek Williams, Connecticut
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